Dual chambered fluid dispenser with mixing chamber

• US 8,136,700 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2008
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 1Touch Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation US (Sealed Air)
• Inventors: LaFlamme, Roger J., Warner, Jim F.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGO, LIEN M
• Application Number:
  US12/035,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20080203110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• Field of Search: 222133-135, 222 94- 96, 222/102, 222/106, 222/213, 222/214, 222/207, 222/145.4
• US Class Current: 222/135
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3261 Flexible containers having several compartments

Abstract

A dispensing device is provided that includes at least two separate reservoirs therein and a dispenser for mixing and delivering a substantially equal metered dose of fluid material from the reservoirs with each dispensing operation. In one example, the present invention relates to a dispenser for mixing and delivering hair colorant that allows the user to dispense a metered dose of the hair colorant components in a manner that measures and mixes those components with each dispensing operation. An optional applicator may be provided for even distribution of the dispensed hair colorant material.

Claims

1. A fluid dispensing device, comprising:

a first flexible fluid reservoir containing a first fluid, the first flexible reservoir having an interior, an exterior and a first opening therethrough;

a first metered dispensing pump for outputting a measured amount of the first fluid from the first fluid reservoir, the first metered dispensing pump having a flexible dispensing button protruding from the interior to the exterior of the first flexible fluid reservoir through the first opening;

a second flexible fluid reservoir containing a second fluid, the second flexible reservoir having an interior, an exterior and a first opening therethrough;

a second metered dispensing pump for outputting a measured amount of the second fluid from the second fluid reservoir, the second metered dispensing pump having a flexible dispensing button protruding from the interior to the exterior of the second flexible fluid reservoir through the first opening;

a mixing chamber to receive and mix the output of the first and second metered dispensing pumps;

an exit aperture through which mixed first and second fluids are delivered.

2. The fluid dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the first and second metered dispensing pumps have parallel outputs that dispense into the mixing chamber.

3. The fluid dispensing device of claim 1, the first and second metered dispensing pumps each comprising:

a flexible metering chamber within the flexible dispensing button with a predetermined volume, disposed in fluid communication with each pump'"'"'s respective fluid reservoir;

a first valve disposed between each pump'"'"'s respective fluid reservoir and the flexible metering chamber to permit unidirectional fluid flow from each pump'"'"'s respective fluid reservoir into the metering chamber thereby filling the predetermined volume of the metering chamber, the metering chamber further including an output port; and

a second valve, having a second valve output port, in fluid communication with the mixing chamber and permitting unidirectional fluid flow of a volume of fluid substantially equal to the predetermined volume of the metering chamber from the metering chamber via the second valve output port.

4. The fluid dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the exit aperture directs the mixed first and second fluid into an applicator.

5. The fluid dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the first and second metered dispensing pumps are positioned adjacent one another such that a user depresses them simultaneously.

6. The fluid dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the first and second fluids are first and second parts of a hair colorant system.

7. The fluid dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the first and second fluids are first and second parts of a hair conditioning system.

8. A fluid dispensing device, comprising:

a first flexible fluid reservoir containing a first fluid;

a first metered dispensing pump for outputting a measured amount of the first fluid from the first flexible fluid reservoir;

a second flexible fluid reservoir containing a second fluid;

a second metered dispensing pump for receiving the first fluid output from the first metered dispensing pump and mixing the first fluid output with a measured amount of second fluid from the second fluid reservoir;

an exit aperture through which mixed first and second fluids are delivered; and

wherein the first and second metered dispensing pumps each further comprise;

a flexible metering housing, having a metering chamber therein with a predetermined volume, disposed in fluid communication with the first and second fluid reservoirs;

a first valve disposed between each pump'"'"'s respective fluid reservoir and the flexible metering housing to permit unidirectional fluid flow from each pump'"'"'s respective fluid reservoir into the metering chamber thereby filling the predetermined volume of the metering chamber, the flexible metering housing further including a metering housing output port; and

a second valve, having a second valve output port permitting unidirectional fluid flow of a volume of fluid substantially equal to the predetermined volume of the metering chamber from the metering chamber via the second valve output port.

9. The fluid dispensing device of claim 8, wherein the first and second metered dispensing pumps are arranged to dispense in a serial fashion.

10. The fluid dispensing device of claim 8, wherein a volume of the second metered dispensing pump is larger than a volume of the first metered dispensing pump.

11. The fluid dispensing device of claim 8, wherein the exit aperture directs the mixed first and second fluid into an applicator.

12. The fluid dispensing device of claim 8, wherein the first and second metered dispensing pumps are positioned adjacent one another such that a user depresses them simultaneously.

13. The fluid dispensing device of claim 8, wherein the first and second fluids are first and second parts of a hair colorant system.

14. The fluid dispensing device of claim 8, wherein the first and second fluids are first and second parts of a hair conditioning system.

15. The fluid dispensing device of claim 8, wherein a volume of the second flexible fluid reservoir is larger than a volume of the first flexible fluid reservoir.

16. A fluid dispensing device, comprising:

a flexible fluid reservoir having an interior, an exterior and a dividing wall forming a first reservoir and a second reservoir, the first reservoir containing a first fluid and the second reservoir containing a second fluid,

a first opening in the flexible fluid reservoir;

a metered dispensing pump for outputting a measured amount of fluid from the fluid reservoir, the metered dispensing pump having a flexible dispensing button protruding from the interior to the exterior of the first fluid reservoir through the first opening; and

wherein the dividing wall is configured to rupture upon applying sufficient pressure to the flexible reservoir allowing the first and second fluid to mix within the flexible fluid reservoir.

17. The fluid dispensing device of claim 16, wherein a volume of the second reservoir is larger than a volume of the first reservoir.

18. The fluid dispensing device of claim 16, wherein the output of the metered dispensing pump is directed into an applicator.

19. The fluid dispensing device of claim 16, the metered dispensing pump comprising:

a flexible metering housing, having a metering chamber therein with a predetermined volume, disposed in fluid communication with the flexible fluid reservoir;

a first valve disposed between the flexible fluid reservoir and the flexible metering housing to permit unidirectional fluid flow from the flexible fluid reservoir into the metering chamber thereby filling the predetermined volume of the metering chamber, the flexible metering housing further including a metering housing output port; and

a second valve, having a second valve output port permitting unidirectional fluid flow of a volume of fluid substantially equal to the predetermined volume of the metering chamber from the metering chamber via the second valve output port.