Abstract:
A fluid dispersion device including a housing defining a reservoir for storing contents therein, the housing defining a plurality of detents; a cap coaxial with and rotatably coupled to the housing, the cap defining a plurality of tabs releasably engageable with the detents and a pair of depressible locator elements operable to disengage the tabs from the detents; an actuator coaxial with and longitudinally movable with respect to the housing to dispense the contents, the actuator including a nozzle extending outward beyond when the cap is in a first position, and permits movement of the nozzle when the cap is in a second position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/212,890, filed Apr. 17, 2009, entitled CAP-LESS, CHILD-RESISTANT CLOSURE SYSTEM FOR AIRLESS PUMPS, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    n/a 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention relates to a fluid dispersion device that prevents accidental dispersion of fluids. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Child or tamper resistant containers for moisture-sensitive materials are currently available in a variety of different forms and are primarily used to prevent inadvertent access by children to potentially dangerous materials such as medications, chemicals or poisons. Providing child-resistant containers, however, often adds cost, and can result in the containers being difficult for an elderly user to open. For example, many child-resistant containers typically include a rigid cap that can only be rotated and removed when a large compression force is simultaneously applied to the cap with a rotational force, presenting challenges for elderly people with weak muscles and joints. 
         [0005]    Other child-resistant containers include a rigid cap having an arrow that must be aligned with a complementary arrow on the container. Once both arrows are aligned, a large force must be applied to the cap to snap it off the container presenting difficulties to elderly users with limited strength or dexterity. 
         [0006]    This difficulty in opening child-resistant containers is compounded when an elderly user attempting to open the container is debilitated or has reduced manual dexterity in one or more hands as a result of, for example, arthritis. Elderly people further tend to rely on medication more than the average person, and also tend to have impaired manual strength and dexterity because of arthritis or age. Therefore, elderly people can have a more difficult time opening child-resistant containers compared to the average person. Further, many children have the requisite dexterity and strength to remove current child-resistance barriers that often require minimal intelligence to master. 
         [0007]    Given the drawbacks of current child-resistant containers, what is needed is a child-resistant device that can be accessed with minimal force and dexterity, and is sufficiently sophisticated to prevent a child from accessing or otherwise dispensing its contents. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention advantageously provides a fluid dispersion device including a reservoir; a cap rotatable about the reservoir from a first position to a second position; and an actuator coupled to the reservoir to dispense a contents thereof, where the actuator is operable to dispense the contents when the cap is in the first position, and the actuator is not operable to dispense the contents when the cap is in the second position. The cap may include a pair of depressible locator elements, and rotation of the cap about the reservoir may require displacing the depressible locator elements. At least one of the locator elements may have a visual and/or tactile indicia element distinguishable from the cap, and the depressible locator elements may be positioned approximately 180 degrees apart from one another. The actuator may be movable in a longitudinal direction with respect to the reservoir to dispense the contents such that the cap obstructs the longitudinal movement of the actuator when the cap is in the first position. Further, the actuator may define a nozzle in fluid communication with the reservoir, and the cap, the reservoir, and/or the actuator may be coaxial with respect to one another 
         [0009]    A fluid dispersion device is also provided, including a reservoir for storing a fluid; a cap rotatably engaged to the reservoir, the cap including a pair of depressible locator elements such that rotation of the cap about the reservoir requires displacement of the depressible locator elements; and a nozzle in fluid communication with the reservoir, the nozzle extending outward beyond a perimeter of the cap such that the cap obstructs movement of the nozzle when the cap is in a first position, and permits movement of the nozzle when the cap is in a second position. The cap may define a first guard element that abuts the nozzle when the cap is in the first position and the first guard element may be displaced from the nozzle when the cap is in the second position. The cap may define at least one tab releasably engageable with at least one detent defined by the reservoir, and displacement of the depressible locator elements may disengage the tab from the detent. 
         [0010]    A fluid dispersion device is also provided, including a housing defining a reservoir for storing contents therein, the housing defining a plurality of detents; a cap coaxial with and rotatably coupled to the housing, the cap defining a plurality of tabs releasably engageable with the detents and a pair of depressible locator elements operable to disengage the tabs from the detents; and an actuator coaxial with and longitudinally movable with respect to the housing to dispense the contents, the actuator including a nozzle extending outward beyond a perimeter of the cap such that the cap obstructs movement of the nozzle when the cap is in a first position, and permits movement of the nozzle when the cap is in a second position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front cross-sectional view of an assembled embodiment of a fluid dispersion device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of the reservoir shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a another side perspective view of the reservoir shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of the bottom cover shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a top cross-sectional view of the piston shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of the piston shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a bottom perspective view of the piston shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a side cross-sectional view of the housing shown in  FIG. 1   
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a side cross-sectional view of the sub-stem shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a top perspective view of the inner cap shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a top perspective view of the outer cap shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is another top perspective view of the outer cap shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is a side perspective view of the assembled fluid dispersion device shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 14  is side perspective view of another fluid dispersion device of the fluid dispersion in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]    Referring now the figures in which like reference designators refer to like elements, there is shown in  FIG. 1  an exemplary embodiment of a fluid dispersion device in accordance with the principles of the present invention and designated generally as “ 10 .” The device  10  may include a reservoir  12  (shown in more detail in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) which may be composed of substantially rigid materials such as, for example, plastic, and may be used to house fluids, such as gels, liquids, gases, and the like. The reservoir  12  may include a hollow body portion  14  defining proximate and distal ends, and may be substantially cylindrical in shape. Of course, the shape of the illustrated reservoir is merely exemplary, as the geometric shape and dimensions may be modified or selected for use in a particular application or setting. A neck portion  16  extending from the proximate end of body portion  14  is also included, the neck portion  16  defining proximate and distal ends, and may also be substantially cylindrical in shape. For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the diameter of the body portion  14  may be larger than the diameter of the neck portion  16 . In an exemplary embodiment, a medicinal ointment is stored within the reservoir  12  and may further be pressurized through the introduction or inclusion of a pressurization agent or other pressurization mechanisms as known in the art. 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the neck portion  16  may include one or more annular portions  18  circumferentially disposed along its outer surface. For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , two annular portions  18  are vertically spaced along the circumference of the neck portion  16 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the annular portions  18  may further define substantially trapezoidal or rectangular cross-sections, which may operate to facilitate the engagement of the annular portions  18  to other components of the device  10  discussed below. The neck portion  16  may further include one or more protrusions  20  positioned at the juncture between the body portion  14  and the neck portion  16 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the protrusions  20  are positioned on the top surface of the body portion  14  at its proximal end and along the perimeter of the neck portion  16 . The protrusions  20  may be substantially rectangular in shape and may be radially disposed around the neck portion  16 . In an exemplary embodiment, four protrusions  20  are disposed about the neck portion  16 . 
         [0028]    The reservoir  12  may further define a first opening  22  at the proximate end of the neck portion  16 . Surrounding the first opening  22  may be a lip portion  24  disposed on the inner circumference of the neck portion  16 . The lip portion  24  may operate to provide a fluid-tight seal with other components of the invention. Adjacent the lip portion  24  may be one or more indentations  26 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , two indentations are disposed 180 degrees apart along the top surface of the neck portion  16 . The indentations  26  may be engageable with components of the inner cap  74  (see below) to secure the inner cap  74  to the reservoir  12 . 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the reservoir  12  may further define a second opening  28  at the distal end of the body portion  14 . The body portion  14  may further define a recess  30  circumferentially disposed along a portion of the interior surface of the distal end. For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the recess  30  is defined proximate the distal end. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a bottom cover  32  is shown. The bottom cover  32  may be releasably engageable with the recess  30  of body portion  14 . The bottom cover  32  may be substantially circular in shape and may include a flange  34  extending from the surface of the bottom cover  32 . The flange  34  may further include a raised portion  36  radially extending from the flange  34 . The raised portion  36  may engage and lock with the recess  30  such that the bottom cover  32  is mated to the body portion  14 . For example, when applying a force to the bottom cover  32  the raised portion  36  engages and snap-fits with the recess  30 . 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5-7 , a piston  38  is included with the device  10  and is movably positionable about the body portion  14  of reservoir  12  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). The piston  38  may be substantially disc-shaped and may optionally define a concavity  40  along a side portion thereof. This concavity  40  may facilitate the vertical movement of the piston  38  within the reservoir  12  by minimizing contact friction between the piston  38  and the inner surface of the reservoir  12 . The piston  38  may further include a plurality of vanes  42  spanning from the interior surface of the piston  38  to a chasm  44  defined at the center of the piston  38 . The chasm  44  defines a sufficient volume to receive a portion of a housing  46  ( FIG. 8 ) when the contents of the reservoir  12  are fully empty, explained in more detail below. The chasm  44  may further include a tapered portion  48  at its distal end and may optionally include a pinhole  50 , which may alleviate the pressure within the reservoir  12 . Positioned atop the vanes  42 , and surrounding the chasm  44 , is a cover  52 . The cover  52  may be substantially toroidal in shape, or any shape, and may be disposed within the circumference of the piston  38 . 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , the housing  46  may be tubular in shape and include a first portion  54  and a second portion  56  and a rim portion  62 , the rim portion  62  having a larger diameter than the first portion  54 , and the first portion  54  having a larger diameter than the second portion  56 . The housing  46  is disposable within the neck portion  16  of the reservoir  12  and within the piston  38 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the second portion  56  is receivable within the chasm  44  and the first portion  54  is positioned in the reservoir  12  though first opening  22 . The second portion  56  may be tapered and include a ball  58  sized to fit within the second portion  56 . The ball  58 , which is spherical in shape, is longitudinally movable within the second portion  56  in response to changes in pressure facilitated by actuation of device  10 , discussed in more detail below. Also disposed within the second portion  56  is spring element  60  ( FIG. 1 ). The spring element  60  provides resistance to the movement of ball  58  within the second portion  56 . 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIG. 9 , also positionable within the housing  46  is sub-stem  64  (seen disposed within the housing  46  in  FIG. 1 ). The sub-stem  64  evacuates the housing  46  when the device  10  is actuated at which point a new dose is drawn up from the reservoir  12  into the housing  46 . The sub-stem  64  may define a flared end section  66  that is operable to apply a force to the spring element  60  when the device is actuated. The sub-stem  64  may further be disposed within a stem  68  ( FIG. 1 ) that is in fluid communication with the contents of reservoir  12  and with the ambient environment when the device  10  is actuated. The stem  68  is also a tube through which the contents of reservoir  12  flow. Optionally, a small piston  69  may be provided within the housing  46  adjacent the stem  68  to facilitate the movement of the stem  68  and sub-stem  64  within the housing  46 . The movement of the small piston  69  may be restricted by a short spring  70 , which may be buttressed between the rim portion  62  of housing  46  and the small piston  69 . Similar to the operation of spring element  60 , the short spring  70  resists the movement of the small piston  69  within the housing  46 . 
         [0034]    Adjacent to the housing  46  is a chaplet  72  ( FIG. 1 ). The chaplet  70  is operable to bridge the gap between the housing  46 , the reservoir  12 , and an inner cap  74  shown in  FIG. 10 . The chaplet  72  may be substantially L-shaped and may further be molded directly on the housing  46  or the neck portion  16  of the reservoir  12 . In order to provide a fluidly tight seal between the reservoir  12  and the chaplet  72 , one or more gaskets  76 , which may be composed of rubber or similar material, may be sandwiched between the chaplet  72  and the neck portion  16  of the reservoir  12 . The gaskets  76  may be flexible and bend in response to movement of the stem  68  within the housing  46 . For example, the gaskets  76  may be positioned such that the contents of the reservoir  12  may flow through the housing  46  to egress from the device  10 . 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIG. 10 , where the inner cap  74  is shown. The inner cap  74  may be substantially cylindrical in shape and hollow. Disposed within the inner cap  74  are radial extensions  78  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) that engage annular portions  18  on the neck portion  16  of reservoir  12  to secure the inner cap  74  to the reservoir  12 . The inner cap  74  is also engageable with the protrusions  20  on the neck portion of the container  12 . The inner cap  74  also includes spilt curves  80  that surround an actuator support element  82  and defines a channel  83  between them. The actuator support element  82  may define a substantially circular cross-section and may engage with the chaplet  72 . A pair of detents  84  may be included on the surface of the inner cap  74 , the detents  84  being sized to receive and engage tabs  86  ( FIG. 11 ) disposed on the interior portion of an outer cap  88 . 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIGS. 11-12 , where the outer cap  88  is shown. The outer cap  88  may be substantially cylindrical, hollow, and coaxial with the reservoir  12 . The outer cap  88  may include a pair of tabs  86  on its interior surface. The pair of tabs  86  engages the pair of detents  84  on the inner cap  74  to secure the outer cap  88  to the inner cap  74 . Spaced approximately 90 degrees apart from the pair tabs  86  are two locator elements  90  disposed on the exterior surface of the outer cap  88 . In other embodiments, the locator elements  90  may be spaced any distance apart from each other. The locator elements  90  may be any size or shape and further have one or more indicia elements  92  that visually or tactilely distinguish the locator elements  90  from the remainder of the exterior surface of the outer cap  88 . For example, the locator elements  90  may include visual indicia elements  92 , such as the word “SQUEEZE,” or tactile indicia elements  92  such as a raised or striated surface. Further, an application of an internal radial force, for example by pressing, squeezing, or pinching both locator elements  90 , causes an outward flexion of the outer cap  88  at positions approximately 90 degrees away from the locator elements  90 . This outward flexion allows the pair of tabs  86  to disengage from the pair of detents  84 , which allows the outer cap  88  to rotate about the inner cap  74  while both locator elements  90  are pressed. Absent a simultaneous application of an internal force to both locator elements  90 , the outer cap  88  is not rotatable about the inner cap  74  and/or the reservoir  12 , as the tabs  86  remain locked into detents  84 . 
         [0037]    Continuing to refer to  FIGS. 11-12 , the outer cap  88  may define a first guard element  94  and a second guard element  96  along the perimeter of its top surface. The first guard element  94  is operable to prohibit rotational movement of the outer cap  88  about the inner cap  74  and the reservoir  12 . The device  10  further includes a nozzle  98  and an actuator  100  disposable within the outer cap  88  and within the channel  83  defined by the inner cap  74  (as seen in  FIG. 10 ). The actuator  100  may be, for example, a depressable plunger or pump with the nozzle  98  extending outward from the actuator and from the perimeter of the outer cap  88 . The nozzle  98  may be substantially cylindrical in shape and may be in fluid communication with the contents of the reservoir  12 . The nozzle  98  may further define a narrow passageway that is tapered towards its distal end to accelerate the contents of the reservoir  12  as the contents expelled. The diameter of the tapered distal end portion of the nozzle  98  may further be variable depending on the desired spray pattern of the contents. For example, a small diameter may be defined to create a fine mist and larger diameter may be defined to create a stream. 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIG. 13 , in an exemplary embodiment, the nozzle  98  is disposed within the first guard element  94  at a first position, the first guard element  94  being shaped to prevent both clockwise movement of the outer cap  88  about the inner cap  74  and the reservoir  12 , regardless of whether the locater elements  90  are pressed, and to prevent the actuator  100  from being depressed. Upon application of an internal radial force to both locator elements  90 , which releases tabs  86  from detents  84 , the outer cap  88  may be rotated counter-clockwise about the inner cap  74  and the reservoir  12  to a second position, wherein the nozzle  98  is disposed within the second guard element  96 . In the second position, the outer cap  88  is prohibited from rotating counter-clockwise, regardless of whether the locater elements  90  are pressed, but the second guard element  96  is shaped to allow the actuator  100  to be depressed, thereby releasing the contents of the reservoir  12 . The second guard element  96  further restricts the maximum distance the actuator  100  may be depressed, such that each full pump of the actuator  100  releases the same volume of contents from the reservoir  12 . These features may operate to prevent accidental use of the device  10  by children, while also making the device  10  easy to use by elderly people as minimal force and dexterity are required to use the device  10 . 
         [0039]    It is further contemplated that in other embodiments that position of the first and second guard elements  94 ,  96  may be switched such that the outer cap  88  can rotate about the inner cap  74  in the opposite direction. Alternatively, in lieu of applying pressure, i.e squeezing the locator elements  90  to release the tabs  86  from the detents  84 , that the tabs  86  can be released from the detents  84  by an application of a downward force onto both locator elements  90 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 14 , the nozzle  96  may be disposable within the outer cap  88  such that rotation or lowering of the outer cap  88  about the inner cap  74 , by pinching the locator elements  90 , conceals nozzle  96  and prevents the actuator  100  from being depressed. As the outer cap  88  is rotated in the opposite direction, or as the outer cap  88  is raised, the nozzle  96  is exposed, which allows the contents of the reservoir  12  to be expelled. 
         [0040]    Referring back now to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the outer cap  88  may further define a sloped portion  102  that reveals a portion of the actuator  100 . For example, a few millimeters of the actuator  10  may be exposed when viewed through the sloped portion  102 . The sloped portion  102  may facilitate the depression of the actuator  100  by reducing the height of the perimeter of the outer cap  88 , which makes it easier for a user to depress the actuator  102 . The outer cap  88  may further include instructional elements  104 , for example, an “ON⇄OFF” direction text disposed on its surface to indicate the required directions to actuate the device  10  or to lock it in a position where it cannot be actuated. 
         [0041]    In an exemplary method of operation of device  10 , the outer cap  88  is positioned in the first position described above. Because the nozzle  98  extends outward beyond the perimeter of the outer cap  88 , the outer cap  88  is prohibited from rotating, owing to both the tabs  86  being engaged with the detents  84  and to the nozzle  98  blocking the outer cap  88  from rotating. A user then identifies the position of the locator elements  90 , by either feeling them (if for example the ambient lighting is poor) or seeing them, and squeezes both locator elements  90  and rotating the outer cap  88  from the first position to the second position described above. When the outer cap  88  is in the second position, the tabs  86  engage another portion of the detents  84 , which secures the outer cap  88  in the second position. If the user is operating the device  10  for the first time, the user may need to prime the device  10  by depressing on the actuator  100  a few times, for example  10 , to build up sufficient pressure in the device  10  to expel the contents of the reservoir  12 . Alternatively, no priming may be necessary. Once the device  10  is primed, the user depresses the actuator  100  to expel a dose of contents from the reservoir  12 . 
         [0042]    For example, each full pump of the actuator  100  may release approximately a 0.05 ml dose from contents in reservoir  12 . As the actuator  100  plunges into the outer cap  88 , it also forces the stem  68  into the housing  46  and causes a measured or metered portion of the contents of the reservoir  12  to be expelled from the device  10 . The characteristics and/or dimensions of the components of the device  10  may be selected or defined such that a single, full depression of the actuator results in a predetermined amount or volume of medicament or other fluid being dispelled from the reservoir. As the stem  68  is forced into the housing  46 , the spring element  60  provides a counter-force, which slows stem  68 ′s movement into the housing  46 , and then forces the stem  68  out of the housing  46  when the user releases the actuator  100 . As the actuator  100  begins to rise, a dose of contents from the reservoir  12  is drawn into the housing  46  owing the back pressure exerted by the contents, which are placed under pressure prior to using the device  10 . As the contents of the reservoir  12  are directed towards the housing  46 , the ball  58  will rise a short distance against gravity allowing a portion of the contents to enter the housing  46 . After a portion of contents enters the housing  46 , the gravity&#39;s push on the ball  58  will exceed the pressure that forces the contents into the housing  46 , and forces the ball  58  down into a position that prevents further contents from entering the housing  46 . Also, after each pump that releases contents of the reservoir  12  from the device  10 , the piston  38  will rise a distance to reflect the loss in pressure from the reservoir  12 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , after all the contents of the reservoir  12  are released, the piston  38  rises to a position such that the housing  46  is positioned within the chasm  44 , which prevents the actuator element  100  from being pressed. 
         [0043]    It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.