Dispensing pen

• US 8,540,124 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2007
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lucas Packaging Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lucas Packaging Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Francavilla, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, STEPHANIE ELAINE
• Application Number:
  US11/974,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20090095777A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,175 Days
• Field of Search: 222/391, 222/386, 401/84, 401176-182
• US Class Current: 222/391
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3104 Caps for syringes without needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/24 Ampoule syringes, i.e. syringes with needle for use in combination with replaceable ampoules or carpules, e.g. automatic ampoules or carpules A61J1/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3137 Specially designed finger grip means, e.g. for easy manipulation of the syringe rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3158 performed by axially moving actuator operated by user, e.g. an injection button
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31593 Multi-dose, i.e. individually set dose repeatedly administered from the same medicament reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0011 moved by a screw-shaft

Abstract

The present invention is related to a dispensing device. The dispensing device includes a container; a dispensing opening located at one end of the container; a plunger located inside the container; a push button associated with the plunger; and a drive mechanism configured to drive the plunger linearly inside the container from a first position towards the dispensing opening when the push button is pressed and to hold the plunger at a second position, wherein the second position is closer to the dispensing opening than the first position.

Claims

1. A dispensing device, comprising:

a container;

a dispensing opening located at one end of said container;

a plunger located in said container;

a push button associated with said plunger, said push button having a stop edge; and

a drive mechanism configured to drive said plunger linearly inside said container from a first position towards said dispensing opening when said push button is pressed and to hold said plunger at a second position, the drive mechanism including

a push rod in contact with said plunger for moving said plunger linearly inside the container, said push rod being aligned with the push button and including at least one ratcheting tooth;

an elastic element positioned around said push rod;

a retaining mechanism movably connected to said push rod when said push rod is driven towards said second position and configured to engage with said push rod to hold said plunger at said second position, said retaining mechanism including a plurality of grooves configured to engage with the at least one ratcheting tooth of the push rod, said plurality of grooves constructed and arranged to provide a defined dosage through said dispensing opening; and

a collar having a recess for receiving said stop edge, said recess having a first edge and an opposed second edge,

wherein movement of said stop edge from a rest position adjacent said first edge of said collar to an actuating position closer to said opposed second edge of said collar compresses said elastic element against said opposed second edge of said collar and moves said push rod from said first position to said second position, said second position being closer to said dispensing opening than said first position, and

wherein said push rod is advanced in a linear and a non-rotatable direction to dispense a same defined dosage through said dispensing opening each time said drive mechanism drives said plunger.

2. The dispensing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a dosage chamber configured to link a content of said container to said dispensing opening; and

a tip associated with said push button and configured to enter and exit said dosage chamber;

wherein said tip is configured to press out a product located in said dosage chamber by said dispensing opening.

5. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein said push button and said push rod are collinear.

6. The dispensing device of claim 5, wherein a central axis of said push button and a central axis of said push rod are aligned, said central axis of said push button extending along said central axis of said push rod.

3. A dispensing device, comprising:

a container;

a dispensing opening located at one end of said container;

a plunger located in said container;

a push button aligned with said push rod, said push button having a stop edge; and

a drive mechanism configured to move said push rod from a first position to a second position when said push button is pressed, and to hold said push rod at said second position, the drive mechanism including

a push rod in contact with said plunger for moving said plunger linearly inside the container, the push rod including at least one ratcheting tooth;

an elastic element positioned around said push rod;

a retaining mechanism movably connected to said push rod when said push rod is driven towards said second position and configured to engage with said push rod to hold said plunger at said second position, said retaining mechanism including a plurality of grooves configured to engage with said at least one ratcheting tooth of the push rod; and

a collar having a recess for receiving said stop edge, said recess having a first edge and an opposed second edge,

wherein movement of said stop edge from a rest position adjacent said first edge of said collar to an actuating position closer to said opposed second edge of said collar compresses said elastic element against said opposed second edge of said collar and moves said push rod from said first position to said second position,

wherein the movement of said push rod from said first position to said second position presses said push rod against the plunger to move the plunger closer to the dispensing opening, and

wherein said push rod is advanced in a linear and a non-rotatable direction, and wherein a same defined dosage is dispensed through said dispensing opening each time said drive mechanism advances said push rod and causes at least one ratcheting tooth to engage one of said plurality of grooves.

7. The dispensing device of claim 3, wherein said at least one ratcheting tooth includes a ramped outer surface, said ramped outer surface sloping toward said dispensing opening.

4. A dispensing device, comprising:

a container;

a dispensing opening located at one end of said container;

a plunger located in said container;

a push button associated with said plunger, said push button having a stop edge; and

a drive mechanism configured to drive said plunger linearly inside said container from a first position towards said dispensing opening when said push button is pressed and to hold said plunger at a second position, the drive mechanism including

a push rod in contact with said plunger for moving said plunger linearly inside the container, said push rod being aligned with the push button and including a plurality of grooves having a pitch configured to provide a defined dosage through the dispensing opening;

an elastic element positioned around said push rod;

a retaining mechanism movably connected to said push rod when said push rod is driven towards said second position and configured to engage with said push rod to hold said plunger at said second position, said retaining mechanism including ratcheting teeth configured to engage with said plurality of grooves of the push rod; and

a collar having a recess for receiving said stop edge, said recess having a first edge and an opposed second edge,

wherein movement of said stop edge from a rest position adjacent said first edge of said collar to an actuating position closer to said opposed second edge of said collar compresses said elastic element against said opposed second edge of said collar and moves said push rod from said first position to said second position, said second position being closer to said dispensing opening than said first position.

8. The dispensing device according to claim 4, further comprising:

a dosage chamber configured to link a content of said container to said dispensing opening; and

a tip associated with said push button and configured to enter and exit said dosage chamber,

wherein said tip is configured to press out a product located in said dosage chamber by said dispensing opening.

9. The dispensing device according to claim 4, wherein the push button and push rod are collinear.

10. The dispensing device of claim 4, wherein a central axis of said push button and a central axis of said push rod are aligned, said central axis of said push button extending along said central axis of said push rod.

11. A dispensing device, comprising:

a container;

a dispensing opening located at one end of said container;

a plunger located in said container;

a push button associated with said plunger; and

a drive mechanism configured to drive said plunger linearly inside said container from a first position towards said dispensing opening when said push button is pressed and to hold said plunger at a second position, the drive mechanism including

a push rod in contact with said plunger for moving said plunger linearly inside the container, said push rod including at least one ratcheting tooth; and

a retaining mechanism movably connected to said push rod when said push rod is driven towards said second position and configured to engage with said push rod to hold said plunger at said second position, said retaining mechanism including a plurality of grooves configured to engage with the at least one ratcheting tooth of the push rod, said plurality of grooves constructed and arranged to provide a defined dosage through said dispensing opening,

wherein said push button is collinear with the push rod,

wherein said second position is closer to said dispensing opening than said first position, and

wherein said push rod is advanced in a linear and a non-rotatable direction to dispense a same defined dosage through said dispensing opening each time said drive mechanism drives said plunger.