Fluid dispensing apparatus
First Claim
1. A fluid dispensing cartridge comprising:
- a fluid reservoir;
a dispensing assembly fluidly coupled to the fluid reservoir including;
a dispensing housing having a cavity therein;
a pump assembly having a movable pump piston, a piston spring disposed around the pump piston and a deformable member positioned within a pump assembly housing, the deformable member positioned between the dispensing housing and the pump assembly housing and fluidly sealing an opening of the cavity, the opening laterally offset from an outlet of the dispensing assembly that is configured to allow fluid to flow out of the dispensing assembly, and the pump piston having a portion extending out of the pump housing and dimensioned to receive a force applied by an external actuator; and
a nozzle valve assembly comprising a deformable valve, a nozzle and a spring biasing the deformable valve in a direction of the nozzle, the deformable valve dimensioned to be deformed between a first position forming a fluid seal between a surface of the deformable valve and a fluid conduit formed within the nozzle and a second position removing the fluid seal to allow fluid to flow through the fluid conduit, andwherein the cavity and the deformable member collectively define a metering chamber and the deformable member is configured to be deformed from a concave configuration in a rest position, the rest position corresponding to a first metering chamber volume, to a substantially flat configuration in an eject position, the eject position corresponding to a second metering chamber volume that is smaller than the first metering chamber volume; and
a mounting portion positioned between the fluid reservoir and the dispensing assembly, the mounting portion comprising an inner surface and an outer alignment surface extending from the fluid reservoir to the dispensing assembly, the inner surface defining a fluid chamber between the fluid reservoir and the dispensing assembly such that the mounting portion is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir and the dispensing assembly, the entire outer alignment surface comprising a horizontal cross-sectional shape configured to be received in a similarly shaped receiving assembly and a mounting tab extending from the outer alignment surface, the mounting tab configured to be received within a mounting slot of the receiving assembly.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid dispensing apparatus includes a fluid reservoir and a dispensing assembly. The dispensing assembly includes a housing and a deformable member that define a metering chamber that is configured to receive a predetermined volume of fluid from the fluid reservoir. The deformable member is deformed from a rest position to an eject position and the deformation causes the volume of the metering chamber to change which results in a change in fluid pressure within the metering chamber. An increase in the fluid pressure within metering chamber causes a predetermined volume of fluid within the metering chamber to be ejected and a decrease in the fluid pressure within the metering chamber causes fluid to be drawn into the metering chamber from the reservoir.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A fluid dispensing cartridge comprising:
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a fluid reservoir; a dispensing assembly fluidly coupled to the fluid reservoir including; a dispensing housing having a cavity therein; a pump assembly having a movable pump piston, a piston spring disposed around the pump piston and a deformable member positioned within a pump assembly housing, the deformable member positioned between the dispensing housing and the pump assembly housing and fluidly sealing an opening of the cavity, the opening laterally offset from an outlet of the dispensing assembly that is configured to allow fluid to flow out of the dispensing assembly, and the pump piston having a portion extending out of the pump housing and dimensioned to receive a force applied by an external actuator; and a nozzle valve assembly comprising a deformable valve, a nozzle and a spring biasing the deformable valve in a direction of the nozzle, the deformable valve dimensioned to be deformed between a first position forming a fluid seal between a surface of the deformable valve and a fluid conduit formed within the nozzle and a second position removing the fluid seal to allow fluid to flow through the fluid conduit, and wherein the cavity and the deformable member collectively define a metering chamber and the deformable member is configured to be deformed from a concave configuration in a rest position, the rest position corresponding to a first metering chamber volume, to a substantially flat configuration in an eject position, the eject position corresponding to a second metering chamber volume that is smaller than the first metering chamber volume; and a mounting portion positioned between the fluid reservoir and the dispensing assembly, the mounting portion comprising an inner surface and an outer alignment surface extending from the fluid reservoir to the dispensing assembly, the inner surface defining a fluid chamber between the fluid reservoir and the dispensing assembly such that the mounting portion is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir and the dispensing assembly, the entire outer alignment surface comprising a horizontal cross-sectional shape configured to be received in a similarly shaped receiving assembly and a mounting tab extending from the outer alignment surface, the mounting tab configured to be received within a mounting slot of the receiving assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification