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Fluid dispensers with increased mechanical advantage

  • US 9,408,502 B2
  • Filed: 02/25/2015
  • Issued: 08/09/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
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; and

    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 such 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, wherein movement of the lever member between the rest position and the dispense position results in application of an output force by the second lever section; and

    an actuator configured to receive application of the output force from the second lever section;

    a pump configured to receive the output force from the actuator and apply a corresponding dispensing force to the reservoir to dispense the discrete quantity of fluid from the reservoir,the second lever section configured to provide at least two contacts points with the actuator as the lever member is moved from the rest position to the dispense position, the second lever section comprising a base segment connected to the fulcrum and providing a first contact point with the actuator and a branch segment connected distally adjacent to the base segment and providing a second contact points with the actuator, the base segment having a thickness that is relatively greater than a thickness of the branch segment, such that a mechanical advantage provided at the first contact point is relatively greater than a mechanical advantage provided at a second contact point, such that an output force applied to the actuator at the first contact point is relatively greater than an output force applied to the actuator at the second contact point.

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