Method of dispensing a fluid with metered delivery

• US 8,123,073 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2007
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 1Touch Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation US (Sealed Air)
• Inventors: LaFlamme, Roger J., Pekar, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): JACYNA, J CASIMER
• Application Number:
  US11/946,066
• Publication Number:
  US 20080069628A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,553 Days
• Field of Search: 222/1, 222/207, 222/94, 222209-213, 222/372, 222/383.1, 401183-186, 401/188.R, 401/205, 401/206, 401/270, 401/282, 401/283
• US Class Current: 222/1
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/056 Reciprocating pumps, i.e. with variable volume chamber wherein pressure and vacuum are alternately generated
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/1018 comprising a pad, i.e. a cushion-like mass of soft material, with or without gripping means
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/1045 with one or more internal reservoirs, e.g. rupturable microcapsules
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/04 Appliances specially adapted for applying liquid, e.g. using roller or ball
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1208 by means of a flexible dispensing chamber
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 7/03 containing soap or other cleaning ingredients, e.g. impregnated
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1032 actuated without substantial movement of the nozzle in the direction of the pressure stroke B05B11/103 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/002 with feed system for supplying material from an external source; Supply controls therefor B05C17/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/00569 with a pump in the hand tool
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/00583 the container for the material to be dispensed being deformable
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/025 with manually operated pistons G01F19/005 takes precedence

Abstract

A method of dispensing a fluid comprises providing a container made from flexible material and having an outer surface, a first opening and an interior fluid storage region therein. The method further comprises providing a volume of fluid within interior fluid storage region and providing a flexible metering housing, having a metering chamber therein with a predetermined volume, disposed in fluid communication with interior fluid storage region. The method further comprises providing an intake valve disposed between container and flexible metering housing permitting unidirectional fluid flow from interior fluid storage region into metering chamber. The method further comprises providing an exit port in fluid communication with container with an output valve disposed between exit port and metering chamber, depressing and releasing flexible metering housing, and filling the metering chamber with a volume of fluid by vacuum force in an amount by the volume of the metering chamber.

Claims

1. A method of dispensing a fluid, comprising:

providing a container made from flexible material and having an outer surface, a first opening and an interior fluid storage region therein;

providing a volume of fluid within the interior fluid storage region;

providing a flexible metering housing extending outwardly from the first opening of the container, the flexible metering housing having a bottom periphery sealed about the interior fluid storage region of the first opening, the metering housing further having a metering chamber therein with a predetermined volume, disposed in fluid communication with the interior fluid storage region;

providing an intake valve disposed between the container and the flexible metering housing permitting unidirectional fluid flow from the interior fluid storage region of the container into the metering chamber;

providing an exit port in fluid communication with the container with an output valve disposed between the exit port and the metering chamber;

depressing the flexible metering housing;

releasing the flexible metering housing;

filling the metering chamber with a volume of fluid by vacuum force in an amount by the volume of the metering chamber;

depressing the flexible metering housing again;

urging the volume of fluid within the metering chamber through the exit port via the output valve; and

collapsing the container with the unidirectional flow of the intake valve as fluid is evacuated from within the container;

wherein the metering chamber is filled with the fluid regardless of an orientation of the container with respect to gravity; and

wherein the fluid is dispensed regardless of the orientation of the container with respect to gravity.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

dispersing fluid that has exited through the exit port proximal to the outer surface of the container.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of urging the volume of fluid is urging the volume fluid outwardly in a radial pattern.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

preventing the intake valve from being blocked.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing a fluid conduit have a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the output valve and at the second end to the exit port defined by the container;

routing fluid from the metering chamber and out through the exit port; and

wherein the fluid conduit is positioned through the interior fluid storage region of the container.

5. A method of dispensing a fluid, comprising:

providing a container made from flexible material and having an outer surface, a first opening and an interior fluid storage region therein;

providing a volume of fluid within the interior fluid storage region;

providing a flexible metering housing extending outwardly from the first opening of the container, the flexible metering housing having a bottom periphery sealed about the outer surface of the first opening, the metering housing further having a metering chamber therein with a predetermined volume, disposed in fluid communication with the interior fluid storage region;

providing an intake valve disposed between the container and the flexible metering housing permitting unidirectional fluid flow from the interior fluid storage region of the container into the metering chamber;

providing an exit port in fluid communication with the container with an output valve disposed between the exit port and the metering chamber;

depressing the flexible metering housing;

releasing the flexible metering housing;

filling the metering chamber with a volume of fluid by vacuum force in an amount by the volume of the metering chamber;

depressing the flexible metering housing again;

urging the volume of fluid within the metering chamber through the exit port via the output valve;

collapsing the container with the unidirectional flow of the intake valve as fluid is evacuated from within the container;

wherein the metering chamber is filled with the fluid regardless of an orientation of the container with respect to gravity; and

wherein the fluid is dispensed regardless of the orientation of the container with respect to gravity.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

dispersing fluid that has exited through the exit port proximal to the outer surface of the container.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of urging the volume of fluid is urging the volume fluid outwardly in a radial pattern.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

preventing the intake valve from being blocked.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

providing a fluid conduit have a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the output valve and at the second end to the exit port defined by the container;

routing fluid from the metering chamber and out through the exit port; and

wherein the fluid conduit is positioned through the interior fluid storage region of the container.

10. A method of dispensing a fluid, comprising:

providing a container made from flexible material and having an outer surface, a first opening and an interior fluid storage region therein;

providing a volume of fluid within the interior fluid storage region;

providing a flexible metering housing extending outwardly from the first opening of the container, the flexible metering housing having a bottom periphery sealed about the interior fluid storage region of the first opening, the metering housing further having a metering chamber therein with a predetermined volume, disposed in fluid communication with the interior fluid storage region;

providing an intake valve disposed between the container and the flexible metering housing permitting unidirectional fluid flow from the interior fluid storage region of the container into the metering chamber;

providing an exit port in fluid communication with the container with an output valve disposed between the exit port and the metering chamber;

depressing the flexible metering housing;

releasing the flexible metering housing;

filling the metering chamber with a volume of fluid by vacuum force in an amount by the volume of the metering chamber;

depressing the flexible metering housing again;

urging the volume of fluid within the metering chamber through the exit port via the output valve;

collapsing the container with the unidirectional flow of the intake valve as fluid is evacuated from within the container;

providing at least one notch in the container for aiding in flow of fluid about the outer surface of the container;

wherein the metering chamber is filled with the fluid regardless of an orientation of the container with respect to gravity; and

wherein the fluid is dispensed regardless of the orientation of the container with respect to gravity.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

dispersing fluid that has exited through the exit port proximal to the outer surface of the container.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of urging the volume of fluid is urging the volume fluid outwardly in a radial pattern.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

preventing the intake valve from being blocked.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

providing a fluid conduit have a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the output valve and at the second end to the exit port defined by the container;

routing fluid from the metering chamber and out through the exit port; and

wherein the fluid conduit is positioned through the interior fluid storage region of the container.