Fluid delivery system

• US 5,954,268 A
• Filed: 08/25/1998
• Issued: 09/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microlin LLC
• Original Assignee: Microlin LLC
• Inventors: Gordon, John H., di Palma, Giorgio, Wold, Truman, McEvoy, John I., Joshi, Ashok V.
• Primary Examiner(s): WELDON, KEVIN P
• Application Number:
  US09/139,446
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 222/386.5, 239/34, 239/53-56, 239/211, 428/24, 428/34.1, 428/26, 428/905
• US Class Current: 239/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/12 Apparatus, e.g. holders, therefor

Abstract

A fluid delivery apparatus includes a housing having an open end and an interior surface. The interior of the housing defines a cavity within the housing. The cavity, in combination with a piston-like member, defines a reservoir for containing a fluid (e.g. such as an aromatic or other solvent or a solvent in which has been dissolved an aromatic substance). The piston has a port, and fits in piston-like arrangement within a cylinder contained within the housing. The piston moves within the housing, and movement of the piston acts to displace fluid from the port upon contraction of the reservoir (e.g. when the annular piston is driven into the device). Preferably, a fluid tight membrane covers the housing'"'"'s open end. The apparatus also preferably further includes a conduit to transport fluid from the housing of the reservoir. The conduit has, on a first end, an exterior circumference sized and shaped to interact with the port of the annular member. On the second end of the conduit is preferably associated a sponge, wick or equivalent fragrance dispenser.

Claims

1. An apparatus for delivering a fluid, said apparatus comprising:

a housing including a first end and an interior surface defining a first cavity;

a moveable member slidably associated with the interior surface of the housing, said moveable member, together with said first cavity, defining a reservoir for containing the fluid, said reservoir, upon movement of the moveable member in a first direction, being compressed;

an aperture in the movable member, and in fluid communication with the reservoir;

means for moving the moveable member in the first direction to thus compress the reservoir so as to expel fluid from said reservoir through said aperture in a second direction opposite that of the first direction; and

the housing further comprises a second cavity filled with a fluid, said second cavity being fluidically isolated from said first cavity.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fluid comprises a liquid having a fragrant aroma.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first cavity and second cavity are separated by a frangible wall.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fluid is selected from the group consisting of pest repellents, insecticides, water, and mixtures thereof.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing comprises an open, cylindrically shaped canister having a closed end and an open end.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said moveable member comprises an annular and flat piston.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reservoir contains a fluid comprising a beneficial substance dissolved within a volatile fluid.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a flexible hollow rod associated with the aperture of the movable member.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an O-ring placed around an exterior surface of the movable member and sized to interact with the first cavity to contain the fluid.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the flexible hollow rod has, on a first end, an interior circumference and an, exterior circumference, the exterior circumference of the flexible hollow rod sized to interact with the aperture of the movable member in fluid-tight arrangement.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a fragrance dispenser associated with a second end of said flexible hollow rod for dispersing the fluid expelled from the reservoir and transported through the aperture and flexible hollow rod to said fragrance dispenser.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising an emanator associated with a second end, and a one-way valve placed in the flexible hollow rod for allowing fluid to travel towards the second end, but preventing the return of said fluid to the first end.

13. An apparatus for delivering a fluid, said apparatus comprising:

a housing including a first end and an interior surface defining first cavity and a second a cavity fluidically isolated from said first cavity by a frangible wall;

a moveable member slidably associated with the interior surface of the housing, said moveable member, together with said first cavity and said second cavity, defining a reservoir for containing the fluid, said reservoir, upon movement of the moveable member in a first direction, being compressed;

an aperture associated with the first end of the housing, and in fluid communication with the reservoir; and

means for continuously and uninterruptedly displacing substantially all of the fluid in the reservoir upon single actuation of the moveable member, wherein the displacing means comprises;

means for moving the moveable member in the first direction to thus compress the reservoir so as to expel fluid from said reservoir through said aperture in a second direction opposite that of the first direction; and

means for piercing the frangible wall between the first cavity and the second cavity.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the second cavity comprises a fluid under pressure.

15. An apparatus for delivering a fluid, said apparatus comprising:

a housing including a first end and an interior surface defining a first cavity;

a movable member slidably associated with the interior surface of the housing, said moveable member, together with said first cavity, defining a reservoir for containing the fluid, said reservoir, upon movement of the moveable member in a first direction, being compressed;

an aperture in the movable member and in fluid communication with the reservoir; and

means for continuously and uninterruptedly displacing substantially all of the fluid in the reservoir upon single actuation of the moveable member, wherein the displacing means comprises an electrochemical cell.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the electrochemical cell is positioned in a second cavity fluidically isolated from the reservoir.

17. A method for displacing fluid comprising the steps of:

providing a housing including a first end and an interior surface defining a first cavity, and a second cavity associated with the first cavity, said second and said first cavity being separated by a frangible wall;

introducing a fluid into said housing;

positioning a movable member into slidable association with the interior surface of the housing, to, in turn, define a reservoir for said fluid, wherein the movable member includes an aperture; and

actuating the moveable member, to in turn, continuously and uninterruptedly displacing substantially all of the fluid in the reservoir, wherein the step of actuating the moveable member further comprising the step of piercing the frangible wall.

18. A method for displacing fluid comprising the steps of:

providing a housing including a first end and an interior surface defining a first cavity;

introducing a fluid into said housing;

positioning a movable member into slidable association with the interior surface of the housing, to, in turn, define a reservoir for said fluid, wherein the movable member includes an aperture; and

actuating the moveable member, to in turn, continuously and uninterruptedly displacing substantially all of the fluid in the reservoir, wherein the step of actuating the movable member comprises the step of activating an electrochemical cell associated with the first cavity.