Ramped actuator for engagement flange on removable dispenser cartridge

• US 8,413,852 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2011
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gotohti.Com Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gotohti.Com Inc.
• Inventors: Ophardt, Heiner, Jones, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P
• Assistant Examiner(s): NICHOLS II, ROBERT K
• Application Number:
  US13/334,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20120325857A1
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 222/383.1, 222180-1813, 222/518, 2223216-3219, 222/509, 222524-525, 222/325, 403/329, 239/602, 239/600, 239/DIG.12
• US Class Current: 222/181.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1207 Dispensing from the bottom of the dispenser with a vertical piston
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/025 with manually operated pistons G01F19/005 takes precedence

Abstract

An improved arrangement for removably coupling a replaceable cartridge to a housing of a dispenser with the cartridge carrying a piston pump with a movable piston element to be coupled on insertion with an actuator plate of the housing. A ramp mechanism is provided on the actuator plate to engage the piston element and during insertion of the cartridge into the housing move the piston element to a position relative the actuator plate which facilitates proper coupling including a resilient member which prevents radial movement relative a catch member of the housing from a coupled orientation unless the resilient member is deflected from an unbiased inherent configuration.

Claims

1. A dispenser for dispensing fluid comprising:

a housing,

a fluid containing reservoir having an outlet,

the housing supporting the reservoir in a dispensing position,

the reservoir being insertable into said housing to assume said dispensing position and removable therefrom for replacement,

a valving mechanism disposed across the outlet for dispensing fluid from the reservoir, the valving mechanism comprising a reciprocally movable element for reciprocal movement along an axis relative to the housing when the reservoir is in the dispensing position to dispense fluid,

the housing including an actuator mechanism for actuating the reciprocally movable element, the actuator mechanism movable relative the housing between a first position and a second position, the actuator mechanism including a catch member, the catch member having a central cavity formed therein coaxially about the axis,

the movable element including an engagement mechanism to engage the catch member and releasably couple the movable element to the actuator mechanism in a coupled orientation in which movement of the actuator mechanism between the first position and the second position results in axial reciprocal movement of the movable element, in the coupled orientation the movable element located coaxially within the cavity,

the engagement mechanism comprising a resilient member extending radially outwardly from the movable element in an unbiased inherent configuration, the resilient member being resiliently deflectable radially from the inherent configuration to deflected configurations of different radial extents than the inherent configuration and biased to return to the inherent configuration when deflected from the inherent configuration,

the catch member including an axial entranceway extending circumferentially about the axis axially into the cavity for passage of the movable element in moving from an axial uncoupled orientation in which the movable element is axially aligned with the cavity axially spaced therefrom to the coupled orientation,

the entranceway having a diametrical extent which permits movement of the movable element axially relative the catch member through the entranceway when the resilient member is in one of the deflected configurations yet preventing movement of the movable element axially relative the catch member through the entranceway when the resilient member is in the inherent configuration,

wherein from the coupled orientation on moving the movable element radially relative the catch member engagement between the catch member and the resilient member on the movable element deflects the resilient member radially from the inherent configuration to one of the deflected configuration permitting the resilient member and catch member to move radially from the coupled orientation to a radial uncoupled orientation in which the reservoir may be removed from the housing,

in the coupled orientation the resilient member while in the inherent configuration engaging with the catch member to prevent moving the movable element radially relative the catch member from the coupled orientation to the radial uncoupled orientation,

the catch member including a radial exitway extending radially from the cavity for passage of the movable element in moving from the coupled orientation to the radial uncoupled orientation,

the exitway having a circumferential extent relative the axis which permits movement of the movable element radially relative the catch member through the exitway when the resilient member is in one of the deflected configuration yet preventing movement of the movable element radially relative the catch member through the exitway when the resilient member is in the inherent configuration,

the cavity is defined within a circumferential axially extending side wall of the catch member with the exitway extending radially through the side wall,

the side wall having an exterior surface facing radially outwardly from the cavity,

ramp camming surfaces on the exterior surface of the side wall on opposite circumferentially spaced sides of the exitway for engagement with the moveable element such that on moving the movable element radially inwardly from the radial uncoupled orientation engagement between the opposed ramp camming surfaces and the movable element moves the movable element axially wherein with-movement of the moveable element radially from the radial uncoupled orientation to a position in which the movable element is coaxial with the cavity the movable element is moved from the radial uncoupled orientation to the axial uncoupled orientation.

2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the movable element having a fluid discharge passageway axially therethrough through which fluid from the reservoir is dispensed axially through the movable element, the discharge passageway having an inner end which receives fluid from the outlet of the reservoir and an outer end out of which fluid is dispensed.

3. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the side wall having an interior surface facing radially inwardly into the cavity,

exit camming surfaces on the interior surface of the side wall on opposite circumferentially spaced sides of the exitway for engagement with the resilient member such that from the coupled orientation on moving the movable element radially outwardly into the exitway engagement between the opposed exit camming surfaces and the resilient member compresses the resilient member radially to reduce the width of the movable member normal to the axis sufficiently that the movable member may pass radially through the exitway from the coupled orientation to the radial uncoupled orientation.

4. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

the cavity is defined between a radially extending inner end wall and a radially extending outer end wall spaced axially from the inner end wall,

the entranceway extending axially through the inner end wall,

entry camming surfaces on opposite radially spaced sides of the inner end wall about the entranceway for engagement with the resilient member such that from the axial uncoupled orientation on moving the movable element axially into the entranceway engagement between the opposed entry camming surfaces and the resilient member compresses the resilient member radially to reduce the width of the movable member normal to the axis sufficiently that the movable member may pass axially through the entranceway from the axial uncoupled orientation to the coupled orientation.

5. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

a radial exitway extending radially from the cavity through the side wall for passage of the movable element in moving from the coupled orientation to the radial uncoupled orientation,

in the coupled orientation the resilient member while in the inherent configuration engaging with the side wall of the catch member to prevent moving the movable element radially relative the catch member from the coupled orientation to the radial uncoupled orientation by reason of the exitway having a width normal to the axis less than a diameter of the resilient member while in the inherent configuration.

6. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said resilient member comprises a plurality of resilient finger members spaced circumferentially of the axis about the movable element,

each finger member coupled to the movable element at a fixed end of the finger member and extending to a distal end portion,

each finger member assuming in the inherent configuration an unbiased position,

each finger member being resiliently deformable from its unbiased position to biased positions.

7. A dispenser as claimed in claim 6 wherein the finger members are resiliently deformable from their respective unbiased positions to biased positions in which the distal end portions can be moved radially through the catch member of the actuator member in a radial direction from the coupled orientation to the radial uncoupled orientation.

8. A dispenser as claimed in claim 7 wherein:

each resilient finger extends from its fixed end to its distal end in a direction selected from the group of extension directions consisting of;

radially outwardly;

radially outwardly and axially;

radially inwardly;

radially inwardly and axially; and

axially, and

each finger member being resiliently deformable from its unbiased position to biased positions in which the distal end portion is moved in a direction selected from the group of deflection directions consisting of;

radially inwardly;

radially outwardly;

radially inwardly and axially;

radially outwardly and axially; and

axially.

9. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

the resilient member comprises a plurality of resilient finger members spaced circumferentially of the axis about the movable element,

each finger member coupled to the movable element at a radially inner end of the finger member and extending radially outwardly to a distal end portion,

each finger member assuming in the inherent configuration an unbiased position,

the finger members being resiliently deformable from their unbiased position to biased positions in which the distal end portions are moved radially inwardly.

10. A dispenser as claimed in claim 9 wherein:

the resilient member comprises a plurality of resilient finger members spaced circumferentially of the axis about the movable element,

each finger member coupled to the movable element at a radially inner end of the finger member and extending radially outwardly to a distal end portion,

each finger member assuming in the inherent configuration an unbiased position,

each finger member being resiliently deformable from its unbiased position to biased positions;

(a) in which the distal end portion is moved radially inwardly sufficiently to let the distal end portions move radially pass the catch member of the actuator member in a radial direction; and

(b) in which the said distal end portions are moved radially inwardly sufficiently to let the distal end portions move axially pass the catch member of the actuator member in an axial direction.

11. A dispenser as claimed in claim 10 wherein when the movable element is in the axial uncoupled orientation, on first cycling of the actuator member between the first position and the second position, the actuator member engages the distal end portions of the finger members to deflect the distal end portions to their biased positions and on the movable element assuming the coupled orientation, said distal end portion of the finger members returning to their unbiased positions coupling the movable element and catch member of the actuator mechanism in the coupled orientation.

12. A dispenser as claimed in claim 4 wherein:

the cavity is defined between two axially spaced radially extending end walls of the catch member, a first inner end wall having an interior surface directed axially outwardly into the cavity and a second outer end wall having an interior surface directed axially inwardly into the cavity,

in the coupled orientation engagement between the axially directed surfaces on the movable element and the interior surfaces of the end walls maintaining the movable element in the cavity against removal therefrom by movement in an axial direction,

said resilient member comprises a plurality of resilient finger members spaced circumferentially of the axis about the movable element, each finger member coupled to the movable element at a radially inner end of the finger member and extending radially outwardly to a distal end portion,

each finger member assuming in the inherent configuration an unbiased position,

each finger member being resiliently deformable from its unbiased position to biased positions in which the distal end portion is moved radially inwardly,

the finger members are resiliently deformable from their respective unbiased positions to biased positions in which the distal end portions are moved radially inwardly sufficiently to let the distal end portions move radially through the catch member of the actuator member in a radial direction from the coupled orientation to the radial uncoupled orientation,

the resilient finger members extending both radially outwardly and axially inwardly from their radially inner end to their distal end,

the finger members having axially outwardly and radially outwardly directed cam surfaces for engagement with the caroming surfaces on the exterior surface of the side wall on opposite circumferentially spaced sides of the exitway to compresses the resilient member radially,

the finger members having an axially inwardly facing catch surface axially inwardly of the cam surface to engage the interior surface of the first inner end wall,

the finger members having an axially outwardly facing catch surface axially outwardly of the cam surface to engage the interior surface of the second outer end wall.

13. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

the side wall extends axially relative the axis and circumferentially relative the axis to define the cavity therein coaxially about the axis,

the exitway extending radially from the cavity through the side wall.

14. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the resilient member comprises an annular ring member about the axis, and

one or more axially extending slots are provided in the annular ring member assisting deflection of the resilient member from the unbiased inherent configuration to the deflected configurations.

15. A dispenser as claimed in claim 14 wherein:

each slot also extends either radially or annularly about the axis, and

each slot is defined between a pair of spaced opposed slot side walls, in deflection of the resilient member from the unbiased inherent configuration to the deflected configurations the spaced side walls being displaced relative to each other.

16. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the resilient member comprises an annular ring member about the axis,

an axially extending annular slot provided in the annular ring member assisting deflection of the resilient member from the unbiased inherent configuration to the deflected configurations,

the slot extending axially from an axially open end of the slot on an axially detected surface on the resilient member to a blind end of the slot in the resilient member, and the slot extending annularly about the axis, and

the slot defined between a pair of radially spaced opposed slot side walls with each side wall extending from the blind end to the open end,

wherein in deflection of the resilient member from the unbiased inherent configuration to the deflected configurations the spaced side walls are displaced relative to each other.

17. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ramp camming surfaces engage the engagement mechanism of the moveable element.

18. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ramp camming surfaces engage the resilient member of the engagement mechanism of the moveable element.

19. A dispenser for dispensing fluid comprising:

a housing,

a reservoir,

the housing supporting the reservoir in a dispensing position,

the reservoir being insertable into said housing to assume said dispensing position and removable therefrom for replacement,

the reservoir comprising;

(i) a chamber for retaining fluid having an outlet, and

(ii) a valving mechanism disposed across the outlet for dispensing fluid from the chamber, the valving mechanism comprising a reciprocally movable element for reciprocal movement along an axis relative to the housing when the reservoir is in the dispensing position to dispense fluid,

the housing including an actuator mechanism for actuating the reciprocally movable element, the actuator mechanism movable relative the housing between a first position and a second position, the actuator mechanism including a catch member,

the reciprocally movable element including an engagement mechanism to engage the actuator catch member and couple the reciprocally movable element to the actuator mechanism,

the engagement mechanism comprising a resilient member extending radially outwardly from the reciprocally movable element in an unbiased inherent position, the resilient member being resiliently deflectable radially from the unbiased inherent position to a deflected position of a different radial extent than the unbiased inherent position and biased to return to the unbiased inherent position when deflected away from the unbiased inherent position toward the deflected position,

wherein when the reservoir is inserted into the dispensing position, the engagement mechanism and catch member assume relative positions;

(a) a coupled orientation in which the engagement mechanism engages the catch member for reciprocal movement of the reciprocally movable element to dispense fluid with movement of the actuator mechanism between the first position and the second position,

(b) an axial uncoupled orientation from which on a first cycling of the actuator mechanism between the first position and the second position, the engagement mechanism and catch member are moved relative to each other such that the catch member is forced axially into the resilient member,

wherein from the uncoupled orientation on relative forcing the catch member axially into the resilient member engagement therebetween deflects the resilient member radially sufficiently to permit the catch member to move axially relative the resilient member from the uncoupled orientation to the coupled orientation, where in the coupled orientation the resilient member returns to the unbiased inherent position, and

(c) a radial uncoupled orientation wherein from the coupled orientation on moving the movable element radially relative the catch member the catch member moves radially from the coupled orientation to the radial uncoupled orientation in which the reservoir may be removed from the housing,

ramp camming surfaces on an exterior surface of the actuator mechanism for engagement with the moveable element such that on moving the movable element radially inwardly from the radial uncoupled orientation engagement between the opposed ramp camming surfaces and the engagement mechanism moves the movable element axially wherein with movement of the moveable element radially from the radial uncoupled orientation to a position in which the movable element is coaxial with the cavity the movable element is moved from the radial uncoupled orientation to the axial uncoupled orientation.