Contamination-safe multiple-dose dispensing cartridge for flowable materials
First Claim
1. A dispensing cartridge for dispensing a flowable material from a container of the type which does not produce an internal vacuum when said flowable material is dispensed, and for preventing external contaminants from entering said container, said dispensing cartridge comprising:
- a) a housing;
b) an attaching means for attaching said housing to a delivery port of said container in an air-tight manner;
c) a delivery block located inside said housing and having;
1) an input port for receiving said flowable material exiting said container through said delivery port;
2) an internal channel commencing at said input port and terminating in at least one output port;
d) a flexible sheath for enveloping said delivery block such that a portion of said flexible sheath covers said at least one output port thereby producing at least one sleeve valve permitting only the outflow of said flowable material from said at least one output port;
e) an outlet valve formed by an end of said flexible sheath downstream of said at least one sleeve valve, said outlet valve permitting only the outflow of said flowable material therethrough; and
f) a dispensing port in said housing for dispensing said flowable material exiting through said outlet valve.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dispensing cartridge is designed to dispense multiple doses of a flowable material from a collapsible container, i.e., from a container of the type which does not produce an internal vacuum as the flowable material is dispensed. The cartridge has a housing for protecting a delivery block enveloped by an elastic sheath. The delivery block receives the flowable material from the collapsible container through an input port and delivers it through an internal channel with branches to at least one output port. Sleeve valves are created at the output port or ports by the sheath. In a preferred embodiment an end of the sheath forms an outlet valve downstream of the sleeve valves. The cartridge prevents external contaminants such as air and its constituents, oxygen, nitrogen, water vapor and other atmospheric gases as well as other air-borne contaminants including smoke, dust, pollen and microorganisms from entering the container and can be mounted on tubes, bags, infusion containers, syringes, pouches, collapsible reservoirs, bellows-type containers and the like. In a particularly advantageous embodiment the dispensing cartridge is permanently bonded to the container to produce an integrated dispensing system.
142 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A dispensing cartridge for dispensing a flowable material from a container of the type which does not produce an internal vacuum when said flowable material is dispensed, and for preventing external contaminants from entering said container, said dispensing cartridge comprising:
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a) a housing; b) an attaching means for attaching said housing to a delivery port of said container in an air-tight manner; c) a delivery block located inside said housing and having; 1) an input port for receiving said flowable material exiting said container through said delivery port; 2) an internal channel commencing at said input port and terminating in at least one output port; d) a flexible sheath for enveloping said delivery block such that a portion of said flexible sheath covers said at least one output port thereby producing at least one sleeve valve permitting only the outflow of said flowable material from said at least one output port; e) an outlet valve formed by an end of said flexible sheath downstream of said at least one sleeve valve, said outlet valve permitting only the outflow of said flowable material therethrough; and f) a dispensing port in said housing for dispensing said flowable material exiting through said outlet valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A dispensing cartridge for dispensing a flowable material from a container of the type which does not produce an internal vacuum when said flowable material is dispensed, and for preventing external contaminants from entering said container, said dispensing cartridge comprising:
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a) a housing; b) an attaching means for attaching said housing to a delivery port of said container in an air-tight manner; c) a delivery block located inside said housing and having; 1) an input port for receiving said flowable material exiting said container through said delivery port; 2) an internal channel commencing at said input port and terminating in at least one output port; d) a flexible sheath for enveloping said delivery block such that a portion of said flexible sheath covers said at least one output port thereby producing at least one sleeve valve permitting only the outflow of said flowable material from said at least one output port; e) an outlet formed by an end of said flexible sheath downstream of said at least one sleeve valve; and f) a dispensing port in said housing for dispensing said flowable material. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification