Fluid dispensers with increased mechanical advantage
First Claim
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1. A dispenser comprising:
- a housing;
a reservoir positioned in the housing that contains a supply of a fluid to be dispensed;
a dispense mechanism configured to dispense a discrete quantity of the fluid from the reservoir, the dispense mechanism comprising;
a lever member having a first lever section accessible on an exterior side of the housing, a second lever section, and a fulcrum connected between the first lever section and the second lever section, the fulcrum pivotally supported within the housing so that the lever member is moveable between a rest position and a dispense position upon application of an input force to the first lever section; and
an actuator configured to provide two contact points with the second lever section as the lever member is moved from the rest position to the dispense position, the actuator comprising a first contact surface that contacts the second lever section at a first one of the two contact points and a second contact surface that contacts the second lever section at a second one of the two contact points, such that the mechanical advantage provided at the first contact point is greater than the mechanical advantage provide at the second contact point, such that an output force applied to the actuator at the first contact points is greater than an output force applied to the actuator at the second contact point.
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Abstract
A fluid dispenser includes a dispense mechanism that provides for increased mechanical advantage. The dispense mechanism includes a lever member and an actuator. The lever member includes a first lever section that receives application of an input force and a second lever section that applies an output force to the actuator. The lever member and/or the actuator are configured to provide at least two contact points between the actuator and the second lever section during the course of a dispensing stroke such that the mechanical advantage provided at a first one of the at least two contact points is greater than the mechanical advantage provided at a second one of the at least two contact points.
106 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A dispenser comprising:
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a housing; a reservoir positioned in the housing that contains a supply of a fluid to be dispensed; a dispense mechanism configured to dispense a discrete quantity of the fluid from the reservoir, the dispense mechanism comprising; a lever member having a first lever section accessible on an exterior side of the housing, a second lever section, and a fulcrum connected between the first lever section and the second lever section, the fulcrum pivotally supported within the housing so that the lever member is moveable between a rest position and a dispense position upon application of an input force to the first lever section; and an actuator configured to provide two contact points with the second lever section as the lever member is moved from the rest position to the dispense position, the actuator comprising a first contact surface that contacts the second lever section at a first one of the two contact points and a second contact surface that contacts the second lever section at a second one of the two contact points, such that the mechanical advantage provided at the first contact point is greater than the mechanical advantage provide at the second contact point, such that an output force applied to the actuator at the first contact points is greater than an output force applied to the actuator at the second contact point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification