DOSING DISPENSER SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20180178968A1
• Filed: 12/19/2017
• Published: 06/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DoseLogix, LLC (Team Technologies Holding Co.)
• Original Assignee: DoseLogix, LLC (Team Technologies Holding Co.)
• Inventors: Phipps, Timothy Gayle, Naughton, Saundra D., Cochran, Craig Jay, Mockridge, John Britton S., DeYoung, Daniel Lee, Coker, Dale Melton
• Granted Patent: US 10,435,226 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/055 Piston or plunger for supplying the liquid to the applicator
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/00 Casings or accessories specially adapted for storing or handling solid or pasty toiletry or cosmetic substances, e.g. shaving soaps or lipsticks features common to containers for handling powdery or liquid toiletry or cosmetic substances A45D33/00-A45D37/00; cosmetic or like preparations A61K8/00, A61Q; sample tables or the like G09F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0011 moved by a screw-shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0022 moved by a reciprocable plunger

Abstract

A dosing dispenser includes a housing, a traveler, and a plunger. The housing defines a chamber, and the traveler and plunger are each positionable within the chamber. The traveler is independently positionable along an axis relative to the plunger in at least one direction within the chamber. A method of dispensing a flowable composition with a dosing dispenser includes positioning the plunger within the chamber, positioning the traveler within the chamber such that the traveler is spaced apart from the plunger, loading the flowable composition within the chamber, and dispensing the flowable composition.

Claims

1. A dosing dispenser comprising:

a housing defining a chamber;

a traveler within the chamber; and

a plunger within the chamber,

wherein the traveler is movable along an axis between an engaged position and a disengaged position relative to the plunger, and

wherein the traveler is spaced apart from the plunger in the disengaged position.

2. The dosing dispenser of claim 1, wherein the plunger comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the second end of the plunger defines a plunger cavity, and wherein the plunger defines a filling portion of the chamber between the first end of the housing and the first end of the plunger.

3. The dosing dispenser of claim 1, wherein the traveler is configured to abut and selectively position the plunger in the engaged position.

4. The dosing dispenser of claim 3, wherein the traveler comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the first end comprises a plunger driver configured to selectively engage the plunger within a plunger cavity of the plunger and movably position the plunger within the chamber.

5. The dosing dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a base assembly coupled to the housing, the base assembly comprising a base and configured to movably position the traveler within the chamber through rotation of the base.

6. The dosing dispenser of claim 1, wherein in the disengaged position, the traveler is spaced apart from the plunger, and wherein in the engaged position, a plunger driver of the traveler abuts the plunger within a plunger cavity of the plunger.

7. The dosing dispenser of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a dispensing channel, wherein the plunger comprises a crown, wherein the plunger defines a filling portion of the chamber between the dispensing channel and the plunger, and wherein at least a portion of the crown is positionable within the dispensing channel of the housing when a volume of the filling portion of the chamber is at a minimum.

8. The dosing dispenser of claim 7, wherein the housing further comprises an intermediate chamber between the chamber and the dispensing channel, and wherein at least a portion of the crown is positionable within the intermediate chamber when the volume of the filling portion of the chamber is at the minimum.

9. A dosing dispenser comprising:

a housing defining a chamber;

a traveler positionable within the chamber; and

a plunger positionable within the chamber,

wherein the traveler is independently positionable along an axis relative to the plunger in at least one direction within the chamber.

10. The dosing dispenser of claim 9, wherein the chamber comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the housing further comprises a dispensing channel in fluid communication with the chamber at the first end, and wherein the at least one direction is away from the first end.

11. The dosing dispenser of claim 9, wherein the housing further comprises a dispensing channel in fluid communication with the chamber, and wherein the at least one direction is away from the dispensing channel.

12. The dosing dispenser of claim 9, wherein the traveler is configured to abut and selectively position the plunger in the a direction opposite the at least one direction.

13. The dosing dispenser of claim 9, further comprising a base assembly configured to movably position the traveler within the chamber.

14. The dosing dispenser of claim 13, wherein the base assembly comprises:

a base;

a drive screw threadably engaged with the traveler and coupled to the base such that rotation of the base rotates the drive screw and axially moves the traveler within the chamber;

a base support rotatably supporting the drive screw and the base, the base support comprising a mounting portion and a supporting portion, the supporting portion comprising at least one notch; and

a cam mounted on the drive screw and comprising at least one extension configured to engage the at least one notch as the cam is rotated through the drive screw.

15. The dosing dispenser of claim 9, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the plunger is substantially similar to a cross-sectional shape of the chamber such that the plunger forms a fluid tight seal with the housing within the chamber as the plunger is movably positioned within the chamber.

16. A method of dispensing a flowable composition with a dosing dispenser, the method comprising:

positioning a plunger within a chamber defined by a housing of the dosing dispenser;

positioning a traveler within the chamber such that the traveler is spaced apart from the plunger; and

loading the flowable composition within the chamber, wherein loading the flowable composition within the chamber abuts the flowable composition against the plunger and moves the plunger within the chamber independently from the traveler.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the housing comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the first end comprises a dispensing channel in fluid communication with the chamber, wherein positioning the plunger within the chamber comprises abutting the plunger against the first end of the housing within the chamber, and wherein loading the flowable composition comprises loading the flowable composition through the dispensing channel.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein loading the flowable composition within the chamber abuts the flowable composition against the plunger such that no air gaps are formed between the plunger and the flowable composition.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein loading the flowable composition comprises loading a predetermined volume of the flowable composition within the chamber between a dispensing end of the housing and a first end of the plunger facing the dispensing end, and wherein the method further comprises:

advancing the traveler within the chamber such that the traveler abuts a second end of the plunger opposite the first end after the predetermined volume is loaded; and

dispensing the flowable composition from the dispensing end of the housing by advancing the traveler towards the dispensing end.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

positioning the traveler within the chamber such that the traveler abuts the plunger after the flowable composition is loaded; and

advancing the traveler within the chamber such that the traveler movably positions the plunger within the chamber and dispenses the flowable composition from the housing.