Dispenser having an improved metering chamber
First Claim
1. An apparatus for dispensing liquids, pastes, creams or pellets comprising:
- a cylinder including an interior surface defining a circumference of the cylinder and having an opening at one end of the cylinder and at least one port on the interior surface of the cylinder;
at least one biasing member, disposed within the cylinder, including;
a first end in a substantially fixed position relative to the cylinder; and
an opposite second end being closer to the cylinder opening than the biasing member first end is to the cylinder opening;
a piston assembly, disposed for being partially received in the cylinder through the cylinder opening, including;
a rod extending through the biasing member and having a first end which is further from the cylinder opening than the biasing member first end and having a second end disposed exteriorly of the cylinder;
a flange extending from the rod and having a surface facing the second end of the biasing member;
means, mounted on the piston rod near the second end of the rod, for receiving an actuating force to move the piston assembly flange surface in a direction towards the fixed position first end of the biasing member;
at least one hinging member, mounted on the first end of the piston assembly rod, including first and second opposing surfaces;
means, disposed within the cylinder in a substantially fixed position relative to the cylinder, for pushing the hinging member second surface in a direction approximately towards the port when the hinging member is moved with the piston assembly rod so that the hinging member first surface can be forced against the cylinder interior surface to substantially close the port;
means for stopping movement of the piston assembly when the piston assembly actuating force receiving means moves a predetermined distance away from the cylinder opening; and
a seal, disposed within the cylinder, on the piston assembly rod and between the piston assembly flange surface and the biasing member second end, which continuously engages a circumferential segment of the cylinder interior surface when the piston assembly is prevented from movement by the stopping means, the biasing member second end is exerting a force on the seal and the stopped piston assembly flange surface is exerting an opposing force on the seal, and which continuously engages a circumferential segment of the cylinder interior surface when the piston assembly rod is moved in response to an actuating force which is sufficient to overcome an opposing biasing member force, the moved piston assembly flange surface is exerting a force on the seal and the biasing member second end is exerting an opposing force on the seal.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cylinder including an opening and inlet and outlet ports. A biasing member, within the cylinder, includes a first end fixed relative to the cylinder and a second end closer to the opening. A rotatable slidable member includes an angled first surface on which the biasing member second end is disposed, an opposite second surface closer to the opening and a variable width surface for closing the inlet port. A piston has arotatable rod and a flange surface which faces the second surface of the slidable member. On the piston rod is at least one hinging member. A protrusion fixed relative to the cylinder pushes the hinging member when the piston is moved so that this hinging member can close the outlet port. A plurality of these hinging members define an umbrella-shaped seal for losing the port at various rotational positions of the rod. An O-ring seal is disposed between both the piston flange surface and the slidable member second surface. This seal continuously engages a circumferential segment of the cylinder interior surface when the piston is prevented from movement, the slidable member second surface is exerting a force on the seal and a piston flange surface is exerting an opposing force on the seal and continuously engages a circumferential segment of the cylinder interior surface when the piston is moved, a piston flange surface is exerting a force on the seal and the slidable member second surface is exerting an opposing force on the seal.
40 Citations
40 Claims
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1. An apparatus for dispensing liquids, pastes, creams or pellets comprising:
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a cylinder including an interior surface defining a circumference of the cylinder and having an opening at one end of the cylinder and at least one port on the interior surface of the cylinder; at least one biasing member, disposed within the cylinder, including; a first end in a substantially fixed position relative to the cylinder; and an opposite second end being closer to the cylinder opening than the biasing member first end is to the cylinder opening; a piston assembly, disposed for being partially received in the cylinder through the cylinder opening, including; a rod extending through the biasing member and having a first end which is further from the cylinder opening than the biasing member first end and having a second end disposed exteriorly of the cylinder; a flange extending from the rod and having a surface facing the second end of the biasing member; means, mounted on the piston rod near the second end of the rod, for receiving an actuating force to move the piston assembly flange surface in a direction towards the fixed position first end of the biasing member; at least one hinging member, mounted on the first end of the piston assembly rod, including first and second opposing surfaces; means, disposed within the cylinder in a substantially fixed position relative to the cylinder, for pushing the hinging member second surface in a direction approximately towards the port when the hinging member is moved with the piston assembly rod so that the hinging member first surface can be forced against the cylinder interior surface to substantially close the port; means for stopping movement of the piston assembly when the piston assembly actuating force receiving means moves a predetermined distance away from the cylinder opening; and a seal, disposed within the cylinder, on the piston assembly rod and between the piston assembly flange surface and the biasing member second end, which continuously engages a circumferential segment of the cylinder interior surface when the piston assembly is prevented from movement by the stopping means, the biasing member second end is exerting a force on the seal and the stopped piston assembly flange surface is exerting an opposing force on the seal, and which continuously engages a circumferential segment of the cylinder interior surface when the piston assembly rod is moved in response to an actuating force which is sufficient to overcome an opposing biasing member force, the moved piston assembly flange surface is exerting a force on the seal and the biasing member second end is exerting an opposing force on the seal.
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2. An apparatus for dispensing liquids, pastes, creams or pellets comprising:
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a cylinder including an interior surface defining a circumference of the cylinder and having an opening at one end of the cylinder and at least one port on the interior surface of the cylinder; a biasing member, disposed within the cylinder, including; a first end in a substantially fixed position relative to the cylinder; and an opposite second end closer to the cylinder opening than the biasing member first end is to the cylinder opening; a piston assembly, partially received in the cylinder through the cylinder opening, including; a rod extending through the biasing member and having a first end which is further from the cylinder opening than the biasing member first end and having a second end disposed exteriorly of the cylinder; a flange extending from the rod and having a surface facing the second end of the biasing member; means, mounted on the piston rod near the second end of the rod, for receiving an actuating force to move the piston assembly flange surface in a direction towards the fixed position first end of the biasing member; at least one hinging member, mounted on the first end of the piston assembly rod, including first and second opposing surfaces; means disposed within the cylinder in a substantially fixed position relative to the cylinder, for pushing the hinging member second surface in a direction approximately towards the port when the hinging member is moved with the piston assembly rod; means for stopping movement of the piston assembly when the piston assembly actuating force receiving means moves a predetermined distance away from the cylinder opening; and a seal, disposed on the piston assembly rod between the piston assembly flange surface and the biasing member second end, which continuously engages a circumferential segment of the cylinder interior surface. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for dispensing liquids, pastes, creams or pellets comprising:
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a cylinder including an interior surface defining a circumference of the cylinder and having an opening at one end of the cylinder and an outlet port; a biasing member, disposed within the cylinder, including; a first end in a substantially fixed position relative to the cylinder; and an opposite second end closer to the cylinder opening than the biasing member first end is to the cylinder opening; a piston assembly partially received in the cylinder through the cylinder opening, including; a surface facing the second end of the biasing member; means, disposed exterior of the cylinder, for receiving an actuating force to move the piston assembly surface in a direction towards the fixed position first end of the biasing member; a rod extending through the biasing member and having a first end which is further from the cylinder opening than the biasing member first end; means for stopping movement of the piston assembly when the piston assembly actuating force receiving means moves a predetermined distance away from the cylinder opening; and a seal, disposed between the piston assembly surface and the biasing member second end, which continuously engages a circumferential segment of the cylinder interior surface; and a hinging member, disposed on the first end of the piston assembly rod, for substantially closing the outlet port when the piston assembly is prevented from movement by the stopping means. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for dispensing liquids, pastes, creams or pellets comprising:
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a cylinder including an interior surface defining a circumference of the cylinder and having an opening at one end of the cylinder, an inlet port and an outlet port; at least one biasing member, disposed within the cylinder, including; a first end in a substantially fixed position relative to the cylinder; and an opposite second end being closer to the cylinder opening than the biasing member first end is to the cylinder opening; a piston assembly, disposed for being partially received in the cylinder through the cylinder opening, including; a surface facing the second end of the biasing member; means, disposed exterior of the cylinder, for receiving an actuating force to move the piston assembly surface in a direction towards the fixed position first end of the biasing member; a rod extending through the biasing member and having a first end which is further from the cylinder opening than the biasing member first end and having a second end disposed exteriorly of the cylinder; and a flange, extending from the rod on which the piston assembly surface is disposed; means for stopping movement of the piston assembly when the piston assembly actuating force receiving means moves a predetermined distance away from the cylinder opening; a seal, disposed within the cylinder and between the piston assembly surface and the biasing member second end, which continuously engages a circumferential segment of the cylinder interior surface when the piston assembly is prevented from movement by the stopping means, the biasing member second end is exerting a force on the seal and the stopped piston assembly surface is exerting an opposing force on the seal, and which continuously engages a circumferential segment of the cylinder interior surface which is sufficient to overcome an opposing biasing member force, the moved piston assembly surface is exerting a force on the seal and the biasing member second end is exerting an opposing force on the seal; at least one hinging member, disposed on the first end of the piston assembly rod, for substantially closing the outlet port when the piston assembly is prevented from movement by the stopping means; and means, disposed on the piston assembly rod, for substantially closing the inlet port when the piston assembly is moved a predetermined distance in response to an actuating force sufficient to overcome an opposing biasing member force.
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18. An apparatus for dispensing liquids, pastes, creams or pellets comprising:
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a cylinder including an interior surface defining a circumference of the cylinder and having an opening at one end of the cylinder and at least one port on the interior surface of the cylinder; at least one biasing member, disposed within the cylinder, including; a first end in a substantially fixed position relative to the cylinder; and an opposite second end being closer to the cylinder opening than the biasing member first end is to the cylinder opening; a slidable member including; a first surface on which the biasing member second end is disposed along; an opposite second surface being closer to the cylinder opening than the slidable member first surface; and an outer circumferential surface for substantially closing the cylinder port when the slidable member is moved within the cylinder to a predetermined position; a piston assembly, disposed for being partially received in the cylinder through the cylinder opening, including; a surface facing the second surface of the slidable member; and means, disposed exterior of the cylinder, for receiving an actuating force to move the piston assembly surface in a direction towards the fixed position first end of the biasing member; means for stopping movement of the piston assembly when the piston assembly actuating force receiving means moves a predetermined distance away from of the cylinder opening; and a seal, disposed within the cylinder and in a face-to-face relationship between both the piston assembly surface and the slidable member second surface, which continuously engages a circumferential segment of the cylinder interior surface when the piston assembly is prevented from movement by the stopping means, the slidable member second surface is exerting a biasing member generated force on the seal and the stopped piston assembly surface is exerting an opposing force on the seal, and which continuously engages a circumferential segment of the cylinder interior surface when the piston assembly is moved in response to an actuating force which is sufficient to overcome an opposing biasing member force, the moved piston assembly surface is exerting a force on the seal and the slidable member second surface is exerting an opposing biasing member generated force on the seal.
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19. An apparatus for dispensing liquids, pastes, creams or pellets comprising:
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a cylinder including an interior surface defining a circumference of the cylinder and having an opening at one end of the cylinder and at least one port on the interior surface of the cylinder; a biasing member, disposed within the cylinder, including; a first end in a substantially fixed position relative to the cylinder; and an opposite second end closer to the cylinder opening than the biasing member first end is to the cylinder opening; a slidable member including; a first surface on which the biasing member second end is disposed along; an opposite second surface closer to the cylinder opening than the slidable member first surface; and an outer circumferential surface for substantially closing the cylinder port when the slidable member is moved within the cylinder to a predetermined position; a piston assembly, partially received in the cylinder through the cylinder opening, including; a surface facing the second surface of the slidable member; and means, disposed exterior of the cylinder, for receiving an actuating force to move the piston assembly surface in a direction towards the fixed position first end of the biasing member; means for stopping movement of the piston assembly when the piston assembly actuating force receiving means moves a predetermined distance away from the cylinder opening; and a seal, disposed within the cylinder and in a face-to-face relationship between both the piston assembly surface and the slidable member second surface, which continuously engages a circumferential segment of the cylinder interior surface. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An apparatus for dispensing liquids, pastes, creams or pellets comprising:
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a cylinder including an interior surface having an opening at one end of the cylinder and an inlet port and an outlet port on the interior surface of the cylinder; a piston assembly, disposed for being partially received in the cylinder through the cylinder opening, including; a rod having a first end disposed within the cylinder and a second end disposed exterior of the cylinder; and means, mounted on the piston rod near the second end of the rod, for receiving an actuating force to move the piston assembly further within the cylinder; at least one hinging member, mounted on the first end of the piston assembly rod, including first and second opposing surfaces; and means, disposed within the cylinder in a substantially fixed position relative to the cylinder, for pushing the hinging member second surface in a direction approximately towards the outlet port when the hinging member is moved with the piston assembly rod so that the hinging member first surface can be forced against the cylinder interior surface to substantially close the outlet port.
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32. An apparatus for dispensing liquids, pastes, creams or pellets comprising:
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a cylinder including an interior surface having an opening at one end of the cylinder and an inlet port and an outlet port on the interior surface of the cylinder; a piston assembly, partially received in the cylinder through the cylinder opening, including; a rod having a first end disposed within the cylinder and a second end disposed exterior of the cylinder; and means, mounted on the piston rod near the second end of the rod, for receiving an actuating force to move the piston assembly further within the cylinder; at least one hinging member, mounted on the first end of the piston assembly rod, including first and second opposing surfaces; and means, disposed within the cylinder in a substantially fixed position relative to the cylinder, for pushing the hinging member second surface in a direction approximately towards the outlet port when the hinging member is moved with the piston assembly rod to substantially close the outlet port. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification