Liquid dispenser nozzle assembly

• US 5,025,957 A
• Filed: 09/11/1989
• Issued: 06/25/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Atrion (Atrion Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ryder International Corporation (Atrion Corporation), PK Scientific Incorporated
• Inventors: Kanner, Rowland W., Ranalletta, Joseph V., Williams, Fred E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, Robert P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): REISS, STEVEN
• Application Number:
  US07/406,053
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 604/294-298, 222/189, 222/209, 222/213, 222/215, 222/490-492, 222/494, 222/420, 222/421
• US Class Current: 222/189.09
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0008 Introducing ophthalmic products into the ocular cavity or retaining products therein putting in contact lenses A61F9/0061; introducing or retaining media in cavities of the body in general A61M31/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/145 using air filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1468 Containers characterised by specific material properties
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/302 having inlet or outlet ports
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/00444 with provision for filtering or cleaning the air flow drawn into the container
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/007 being opened by deformation of a sealing element made of resiliently deformable material, e.g. flaps, skirts, duck-bill valves
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/047 characterised by the outlet or venting means B05B11/041 and B05B11/042 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/048 characterised by the container, e.g. this latter being surrounded by an enclosure, or the means for deforming it B05B11/041, B05B11/046 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/147 for snap-on caps
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/2056 lift valve type lift valves not opened by deformation B65D47/24
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/2081 in which the deformation raises or lowers the valve port
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0055 Containers or packages provided with a flexible bag or a deformable membrane or diaphragm for expelling the contents

Abstract

A liquid dispensing nozzle assembly is provided for mounting on a liquid container and dispenser having a flexible wall and liquid storage cavity for manually squeezed dispensing of a liquid from the cavity through the nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly maintains the liquid, such as contact lens saline solution, in sterile condition during storage and repeated dispensing of the liquid from the container cavity. The nozzle assembly includes a liquid conduit for communication from the container cavity to a liquid discharge port from the nozzle assembly to enable dispensing of the liquid displaced by manually squeezing the flexible wall of the container. The nozzle assembly also includes an air aspiration conduit separate from the liquid conduit for aspirating air into the container cavity to replace the dispensed liquid. The nozzle assembly includes a partitioned diaphragm including separate portions respectively included in the liquid conduit and the air aspiration conduit. The air conduit portion of the diaphragm can include a filter which is hydrophobic and air permeable but impermeable to bacteria to prevent entrainment of bacteria with the aspirating flow of air into the liquid storage cavity of the container.

Claims

1. An elastomeric diaphragm structure for controlling liquid flow from a storage container or the like, integrally comprising;

a resiliently deflectable valve element for biased sealing against a valve seat to form a one-way valve therewith and allowing only one-way flow of liquid therebetween when said valve element is resiliently unseated from the valve seat to open said valve; and

an air filter portion integrally formed with said valve element, for filtering air aspiration into said storage container.

2. The diaphragm structure according to claim 1, wherein said air filter portion is deflectable under liquid flow pressure during dispensing of liquid from said container.

3. The diaphragm structure according to claim 2, wherein said deflectable valve element and said air filter portion are arranged adjacently within said diaphragm structure such that said deflection of said air filter portion induces deflection and opening of said valve element to enable passage of said liquid therethrough during dispensing discharge from said container.

4. The diaphragm structure according to claim 1, wherein said air filter portion is integrated by insertion during molding of said diaphragm structure.

5. The diaphragm structure according to claim 1, wherein said air filter portion is impermeable to both bacteria and flow of said liquid therethrough and is permeable to air thereby enabling only aspiration of air through said filter portion.

6. The diaphragm structure according to claim 1, wherein said air filter portion comprises an annular configuration surrounding said valve element.

19. The combination according to claim 3, further comprising diaphragm means having a first portion including said compressible column defining said valve element, and a second portion defining a portion of said air aspiration conduit means.

20. A combination according to claim 19, wherein said second portion comprises at least one aperture formed in said diaphragm means for air flow therethrough.

21. A combination according to claim 20, further comprising an air permeable and bacteria impermeable filter member covering said at least one aperture for preventing entrainment of bacteria with said aspirating air flow into said liquid container cavity.

22. A combination according to claim 21, wherein a plurality of said apertures are formed in said diaphragms and are covered by respective portions of said filter member, and wherein said air aspiration conduit means is configured so as to direct said aspirating air through at least two of said apertures and corresponding filter portions in a sequential manner whereby said aspirating is filtered at least twice prior to entering said liquid container cavity.

23. A combination according to claim 21, wherein said filter member and diaphragm are carried between an adapter element and nozzle housing comprised within said nozzle structure.

24. A combination according to claim 23, wherein said adapter element includes separate passageways for communication between said liquid container cavity and said respective liquid and air aspiration conduit means.

25. The combination according to claim 19, wherein said diaphragm means further comprises a tubular portion and wherein said open valve directs said liquid flow therefrom into said tubular portion.

26. A combination according to claim 25, wherein said liquid discharge port is defined at one end of said tubular portion.

27. The combination according to claim 19, wherein said diaphragm means comprises an integrally molded elastomeric diaphragm.

28. A combination according to claim 19, further including means for holding said second portion of said diaphragm means stationary during air flow through said air aspiration conduit.

7. A liquid dispensing nozzle assembly for mounting on a liquid container and dispenser having a flexible wall and liquid storage cavity for manually squeezed dispensing of liquid from the cavity through the nozzle assembly and for maintaining the liquid, such as contact lens saline solution, in sterile condition during storage and repeated dispensing of the liquid from the container cavity, said nozzle assembly comprising:

a liquid discharge port;

liquid conduit means for communication from the container cavity to said liquid discharge port to enable dispensing of said liquid through said port during said manually squeezed liquid dispensing;

an air aspiration conduit means for aspirating air into said cavity to replace the liquid dispensed therefrom; and

a partitioned diaphragm means integrally including a deflectable valve element within said liquid conduit means and a filter portion within said air aspiration conduit.

8. The nozzle assembly according to claim 7, wherein said filter portion is impermeable to both bacteria and flow of said liquid therethrough and is permeable to air thereby enabling only aspiration of air through said filter portion.

9. The nozzle assembly according to claim 8, wherein said filter portion forms an enclosing wall within said liquid conduit means.

10. The nozzle assembly according to claim 9, wherein said filter portion is deflectable under liquid flow pressure during dispensing of liquid through said liquid conduit means.

11. The nozzle assembly according to claim 10, wherein said deflectable valve element and said filter portion are arranged adjacently within said diaphragm means such that said deflection of said filter portion induces deflection and opening of said valve element to enable passage of said liquid therethrough for dispensing discharge from said nozzle assembly.

12. The nozzle assembly according to claim 11, wherein said filter portion comprises an annular configuration surrounding said valve element.

13. The nozzle assembly according to claim 7, wherein said diaphragm means comprises an integrally molded elastomeric diaphragm in which said filter portion is integrated by insertion during molding of said diaphragm.

14. A valve structure for controlling liquid flow from a nozzle structure on a liquid storage container or the like, comprising a resiliently deflectable valve element for biased sealing against a valve seat to form a one-way valve therewith and allowing only one-way flow of liquid therebetween when said valve element is resiliently unseated from the valve seat to open said valve, said valve element comprising a compressible column having opposing axial end surfaces which are normally compressed against respective valve surfaces of said nozzle structure including said valve seat for preventing said liquid flow through said valve, said column being further compressible to resiliently unseat one of said column end surfaces from said valve seat to allow said one-way liquid flow while said opposing column end surface remains stationary and compressed against said respective valve surface.

15. A valve structure according to claim 14, further comprising an elastomeric diaphragm member peripherally secured to said column for exertion of said hydraulic pressure against said diaphragm member in order to produce resilient deflection of said diaphragm member and said further compression of said column and said resilient unseating thereof with said diaphragm deflection.

16. A valve structure according to claim 15, wherein said diaphragm member includes an annular configuration peripherally joined to a generally cylindrical side surface of said column between the end surfaces thereof.

17. A valve structure according to claim 16, wherein said column has a generally cylindrical configuration peripherally joined to a central tubular portion projecting therefrom for discharge of said liquid therethrough.

18. A valve structure according to claim 14, in combination with said nozzle structure for mounting on said liquid storage container having a flexible wall and liquid storage cavity enabling manually squeezed dispensing of liquid from the cavity through the nozzle structure and for maintaining the liquid, such as contact lens saline solution, in sterile condition during storage and repeated dispension of the liquid from the container cavity, and wherein said nozzle structure comprises a liquid discharge port;

liquid conduit means for communication from the container cavity to said liquid discharge port to enable dispensing of said liquid through said port during said manually squeezed liquid dispensing; and

an air aspiration conduit means separate from said liquid conduit means for aspirating air into said cavity to replace the liquid dispensed therefrom, wherein said one-way valve controls flow of liquid within said liquid conduit means.

29. A combination according to claim 18, further comprising an air permeable and bacteria impermeable filter member and wherein said air aspiration conduit means comprises at least two passageways covered by separate portions of said filter member and wherein the configuration of said air aspiration conduit means is such as to direct air flow through said two portions of said filter member in a sequential manner whereby said aspirating air is filtered at least twice prior to entering said liquid containing cavity to prevent entrainment of bacteria with the aspiration air flow into said liquid container cavity.

30. A combination according to claim 29, wherein said filter member is hydrophobic in order to prevent permeation of the filter member by the liquid and thereby facilitate aspirating air flow therethrough.

31. A valve structure according to claim 14, in combination with said nozzle structure for mounting on a liquid container and dispenser having a flexible wall and liquid storage cavity enclosed within an inner flexible envelope within said flexible wall for manually squeezed dispensing of liquid from the cavity through the nozzle structure and for maintaining the liquid, such as contact lens saline solution, in sterile condition during storage and repeated dispensing of the liquid from said inner envelope, wherein said nozzle structure comprises a liquid conduit including a liquid discharge port for communication from the storage cavity within said inner envelope to discharge said liquid through said discharge port during said manually squeezed liquid dispensing;

and an air aspiration conduit separate from said liquid conduit for aspirating air within said flexible wall of said container; and

wherein said one-way valve controls flow of said liquid within said liquid conduit.

32. A combination according to claim 31, further including diaphragm means comprising a first portion including said compressible column and a second portion defining a portion of said air aspiration conduit means.

33. A combination according to claim 32, wherein said diaphragm means comprises an integrally molded elastomeric diaphragm.

34. A combination according to claim 33, wherein said diaphragm means further comprises a tubular portion and wherein said valve element is deflectable to permit said liquid flow past said valve element into said tubular portion.

35. A combination according to claim 31, in further combination with said inner envelope and wherein said air aspiration conduit is in communication with an air chamber at least partially surrounding said inner envelope.

36. An elastomeric diaphragm structure for controlling liquid flow from a storage container or the like, comprising an integral resiliently deflectable valve element for biased sealing against a valve seat to form a one-way valve therewith and allowing only one-way flow of liquid therebetween when said valve element is resiliently unseated from the valve seat to open said valve, and a tubular portion integrally formed with said valve element such that said resilient unseating of said valve element to open said valve permits said liquid flow past said valve element into said tubular portion for discharge therefrom, said valve element comprising an elastomeric annular column including first and second generally axially opposing annular surfaces which are normally compressed against respective valve surfaces of a nozzle structure including said valve seat for preventing said liquid flow through said valve, said column being further compressible to resiliently unseat one of said opposing annular surfaces from said valve seat to allow said one-way liquid flow while said opposite annular surface remains stationary and compressed against said valve surface.

37. A diaphragm structure according to claim 36, wherein said elastomeric annular column forms an outwardly flared annular base portion at one end of said tubular portion.

38. An elastomeric diaphragm structure for controlling liquid flow from a storage container or the like, comprising an integral resiliently deflectable valve element for biased sealing against a valve seat to form a one-way valve therewith and allowing only one-way flow of liquid therebetween when said valve element is resiliently unseated from the valve seat to open said valve, and a tubular portion integrally formed with said valve element such that said resilient unseating of said valve element to open said valve permits said liquid flow past said valve element into said tubular portion for discharge therefrom, said valve element comprising a compressible spring means which is normally compressed against said valve seat for preventing said liquid flow through said valve, said spring means being further compressible by sufficient hydraulic pressure by said liquid to unseat said spring means from said valve seat for said one-way flow.

39. A valve structure for controlling liquid flow from a nozzle structure on a liquid storage container or the like, comprising a tubular element for discharge of said liquid therethrough and a resiliently deflectable valve element for biased sealing against a valve seat to form a one-way valve therewith, said valve element comprising a compressible column formed adjacent said tubular element and having a sealing ring at one end thereof normally compressed against said valve seat to prevent said liquid flow through said valve, said column being further compressible to resiliently unseat said sealing ring from said valve seat to allow said one-way liquid flow into said tubular element for discharge therefrom.

40. A valve structure according to claim 39, further comprising an elastomeric diaphragm member peripherally secured to said column for exertion of hydraulic pressure from said liquid against said diaphragm member in order to produce resilient deflection of said diaphragm member and said further compression of said column to unseat said sealing ring.

41. A valve structure according to claim 40, wherein said diaphragm member includes an annular configuration peripherally joined to a generally cylindrical side surface of said column.

42. A valve structure for controlling liquid flow from a nozzle structure on a liquid storage container or the like, comprising a resilient deflectable valve element for biased sealing against a valve seat to form a one-way valve therewith and allowing only one-way liquid flow therebetween when said valve element is resiliently unseated from said valve seat to open said valve, said valve element comprising a compressible column having an axial end surface normally compressed against said valve seat for preventing said liquid flow through said valve, said column being further compressible to resiliently unseat said column end surface from said valve seat to allow said one-way liquid flow;

and an elastomeric diaphragm member peripherally secured to said column for exertion of hydraulic pressure from said liquid against said diaphragm member in order to produce resilient deflection of said diaphragm member and said further compression of said column and said unseating of said column end surface with said diaphragm deflection.

43. A valve structure according to claim 42, wherein said column has a generally cylindrical configuration peripherally joined to a central tubular portion projecting therefrom for discharge of said liquid therethrough.

44. A valve structure according to claim 43, wherein said column, diaphragm member and tubular portion are integrally molded.

45. A valve structure according to claim 42, wherein said diaphragm member includes an annular configuration peripherally joined to a generally cylindrical side surface of said column.