DISPENSER

• US 20070257129A1
• Filed: 03/14/2007
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eli Lilly and Company, Aircom Manufacturing Inc. (Kimball Electronics, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Eli Lilly and Company, Aircom Manufacturing Inc. (Kimball Electronics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lyon, Gregory, Trompen, Mick, Meyer, Jeffery, Winkle, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 9,179,645 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/44
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/001 Ear-tags
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 13/003 Devices for applying insecticides or medication A01K27/007 takes precedence; for veterinary purposes A61D7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 27/007 with insecticide-dispensing means

Abstract

A dispenser that delivers a small but consistent and sustained amount of liquid over an extended period of time, particularly useful but not limited to dispensing pesticides when worn by cattle. The dispenser has a shell having an opening. A reservoir is disposed in the shell and holds a pesticide or other liquid. A wick is in fluid communication with the reservoir. An end of the wick is positioned adjacent the opening and has a greater capillary attraction or wicking ability than the reservoir, whereby during use of the dispenser the wick draws fluid from the reservoir and deposits it on the animal upon contact.

Claims

1. A dispenser for dispensing a liquid onto an animal, comprising:

a shell having an opening;

an attachment member for attaching the dispenser to an animal;

a reservoir disposed in the shell and containing a substantially nonvolatile liquid, the reservoir being made from a material that retains the liquid by capillary forces; and

a wick in fluid communication with the reservoir, the wick having a first end positioned adjacent the opening and having a greater capillary attraction than the reservoir.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the wick has a second end contacting the reservoir.

3. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the wick has a greater density than the reservoir.

4. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the wick and reservoir both are comprised of porous material and the wick has a smaller pore size than the reservoir.

5. The dispenser of claim 4, wherein the material composition of the wick and the reservoir is the same.

6. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the first end of the wick protrudes from the opening.

7. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the first end of the wick is substantially flush with the opening.

8. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the first end of the wick is recessed from the opening.

9. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the liquid contained in the reservoir is selected from the group consisting of medicaments, growth hormones, therapeutic agents, drugs, repellants, pheromones, pesticides, insecticides, scents, and combinations thereof.

10. The dispenser of claim 9, wherein the liquid has a viscosity in the range of from about 40 to about 80 cps.

11. The dispenser of claim 9, wherein the dispenser has a weight of at least about 20 g when filled.

12. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein the dispenser has a weight of at least about 25 g when filled.

13. A dispenser for dispensing a liquid onto an animal, comprising:

a shell having an opening;

an attachment member for attaching the dispenser to an animal;

a reservoir disposed in the shell and containing a liquid to be dispensed, the liquid having a viscosity of from about 40 cps to about 80 cps; and

a wick in fluid communication with the reservoir and having a first end positioned adjacent the opening.

14. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein the liquid is substantially nonvolatile.

15. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein the reservoir is comprised of a material which retains the liquid by capillary attraction, the wick having a greater capillary attraction than the reservoir, whereby the wick draws the liquid from the reservoir.

16. The dispenser of claim 15, wherein the wick has a greater material density than the reservoir.

17. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein the dispenser has a weight of from about 20 g to about 35 g when filled.

18. A method of dispensing a liquid onto an animal, comprising;

(a) establishing a target amount of liquid to be transferred daily to the animal;

(b) providing a porous material reservoir and holding a supply of the liquid therein by capillary attraction;

(c) placing a wick in fluid communication with the reservoir; and

(d) contacting the wick with the animal over a period of at least 120 days, wherein the wick gradually draws the liquid from the reservoir and deposits it on the animal, wherein the average daily amount of liquid dispensed does not substantially differ from the target amount over the entire period.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein step (c) comprises providing the wick with a greater capillary attraction than the reservoir.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein step (b) comprises holding a supply of substantially nonvolatile liquid.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing a shell to house the reservoir and attaching the shell to the animal.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein step (d) comprises allowing the animal to move about naturally, wherein an exposed portion of the wick intermittently contacts the animal as it moves.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein step (d) comprises intermittent contact.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the liquid has a viscosity from about 2 cps to about 100 cps.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the liquid has a viscosity from about 40 cps to about 80 cps.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the liquid is a substantially nonvolatile pesticide.

27. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing a shell that contains the reservoir and part of the wick and attaching the shell to the animal, wherein an exposed portion of the wick contacts the animal.

28. The method of claim 18, wherein the animal is a cow.

29. The method of claim 18, wherein the wick substantially maintains its shape over the entire period.

30. The method of claim 18, wherein the period in step (d) comprises at least 150 days.

31. The method of claim 18, wherein the period in step (d) comprises at least 180 days.

32. The method of claim 18, wherein the target amount comprises at least about 50 mg per day.

33. The method of claim 18, wherein the target amount comprises at least about 75 mg per day.

34. The method of claim 18, wherein the liquid comprises a pesticide selected from the group consisting of spinosad, lambdacyhalothrin, gamma-cyhalothrin, diazinon, coumaphos, cyfluthrin, endosulfan, metaflumazone and combinations thereof.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the liquid has a viscosity of from about 40 cps to about 80 cps.

36. The method of claim 18, wherein the average daily amount of liquid transferred to the animal over the last 14 days of the period differs by no more than about 20% from the target amount.

37. The method of claim 18, wherein the average daily amount of liquid transferred to the animal over the last 14 days of the period differs by no more than about 15% from the target amount.

38. A method of dispensing a liquid onto an animal, comprising;

(a) providing a shell having an opening;

(b) providing a porous material reservoir disposed in the shell and holding a supply of liquid therein by capillary attraction;

(c) placing a wick in fluid communication with the reservoir and allowing a portion of the wick to be exposed from the opening; and

(d) intermittently contacting the exposed portion of the wick with the animal over a period of at least 120 days, which thereby gradually draws the liquid from the reservoir into the wick and deposits it from the wick onto the animal, wherein the average amount of liquid dispensed per day does not substantially decrease over the entire period.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein step (c) comprises providing the wick with a greater capillary attraction than the reservoir.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein step (b) comprises holding a supply of substantially nonvolatile liquid.

41. The method of claim 38, further comprising attaching the shell to the animal.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein step (d) comprises allowing the animal to move about naturally, wherein the exposed portion of the wick intermittently contacts the animal as it moves.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein the liquid has a viscosity from about 40 cps to about 80 cps.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the liquid is a substantially nonvolatile pesticide.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the animal is a cow.

46. The method of claim 38, wherein the wick substantially maintains its shape over the entire period.

47. The method of claim 38, wherein the period in step (d) comprises at least 150 days.

48. The method of claim 38, wherein the average amount of liquid dispensed comprises at least about 50 mg per day.

49. The method of claim 38, wherein the average amount of liquid dispensed comprises at least about 75 mg per day.

50. The method of claim 38, wherein the liquid comprises a pesticide selected from the group consisting of spinosad, lambdacyhalothrin, gamma-cyhalothrin, diazinon, coumaphos, cyfluthrin, endosulfan, metaflumazone and combinations thereof.

51. The method of claim 38, wherein step (c) comprises positioning the wick such that it is substantially flush with or recessed from the opening.