Abstract:
A dispenser for dispensing metered amounts of powdered material, such as baby formula, from a dispenser unit, or cartridge, that can be quickly and easily interconnected with the dispenser. The dispenser can accommodate formula bottles of various sizes and includes a dispensing plunger that provides an oscillating action to prevent compaction of the formula and functions to ensure even dispensing of the formula into the formula bottle. Uniquely, actuation of the dispensing plunger creates a negative pressure internally of the dispensing chamber of the dispenser so as to assist the uniform withdrawal of formula from the cartridge.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to substance dispensers. More particularly, the invention concerns an apparatus for dispensing metered amounts of powered material, such as infant formula, nutritional supplements and the like. 
     2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
     A wide variety of dispensers for dispensing a number of different kinds of substances have been suggested in the past. More particularly, the prior art substance dispensers include dispensers for dispensing metered amounts of particulate materials, including granular and powdered materials such as condiments, powdered flavor concentrate, chemical reagents and nutritional supplements. 
     By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,396 issued to Russillo, et al., discloses a dispenser apparatus for dispensing various types of condiments including salt, pepper, tea, coffee, spices, garlic and sugar. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,537 issued to Beers, et al., concerns a single dosage substance dispenser for dispensing powdered chemical reagents used in photometric analysis. The Beers, et al., dispenser includes a housing having a chamber formed therein for holding the substance to be dispensed and a discharge port that communicates with the chamber. A plunger is slidably mounted to the housing for extending through the chamber and into the discharge port. A spring is provided for urging the plunger to retract so that the seal portion of the plunger engages the discharge port and a receptacle portion is maintained in the chamber to collect the single dosage therefrom. 
     The patent to Robbins, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,615, concerns a condiment dispenser with variable quality control. The Robbins dispenser has the plunger which is pressed downwardly by the user to dispense condiments such as salt, pepper, sugar, spices, etc. An adjusting device can be set to determine a predetermined amount be dispensed by each stroke of the plunger. 
     As will be discussed more fully in the paragraphs which follow, the dispenser of the present invention, while usable to dispense a wide variety of materials, is especially well suited for dispensing precisely measured amounts of baby formula with each stroke of the plunger of the device. 
     A number of different types of infant formulas are readily commercially available in the United States and throughout the world. Because it is generally less expensive, infant formula in powdered form has become quite popular in recent years. Feeding with infant formula is practiced for a number of reasons, including the inability of the mother to produce sufficient breast milk, situations where the mother is taking medication that may adversely affect the quality of her breast milk and when the mother simply chooses not to breast-feed. 
     Powdered infant formula is generally sold in bulk and when used is typically removed from the bulk container in measured amounts and then mixed with specified amounts of water. The exact proportions specified on the product label must be used. Under-diluted formula can result in problems with the infant&#39;s digestive system and over-diluted formula will not provide adequate nutrition for the infant. It is this problem, among others, that the apparatus of the present invention seeks to overcome by providing an easy-to-use, highly reliable dispensing apparatus that automatically dispenses into the baby bottle precise quantities of infant formula. 
     The unique design of the dispenser of the present invention permits the user to load into the apparatus baby bottles of various sizes and then to accurately dispense formula into the baby bottle without spillage. The plunger of the device, which can be operated with one hand if necessary, has an oscillating action that mitigates against compaction of the formula and prevents uneven dispensing of formula. Further, the plunger action builds negative pressure internally of the dispensing chamber during the down stroke to assist with the evacuation of formula from the dispensing cartridge of the device. As the internal volume in the dispensing chamber increases during the plunger down stroke, the resulting lowered internal pressure helps to uniformly draw formula from the dispensing cartridge. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a dispenser for dispensing metered amounts various types of materials, including baby formula, that is compact, is easy-to-use and is of an attractive design. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of the aforementioned character which can accommodate formula bottles of various sizes and in such a manner as to ensure that the formula bottle is directly integrated with the dispenser outlet so as to avoid spillage. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser as described in the preceding paragraphs that includes a dispensing plunger that can be operated with one hand if necessary and provides an oscillating action to prevent compaction of the formula and to ensure even dispensing of the formula into the formula bottle. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a substance dispenser that dispenses powdered material, such as baby formula, from a pre-filled dispenser unit, or cartridge, that can be quickly and easily interconnected with the dispenser. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a substance dispenser of the character described in the preceding paragraph in which the dispenser unit is sealably interconnected with the dispenser in a manner to effectively preclude contamination of the formula contained within the cartridge. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of the character described in which the action of the dispensing plunger creates a negative pressure internally of the dispensing chamber of the dispenser so as to assist in the uniform withdrawal of formula from the pre-filled cartridge. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser as described in the preceding paragraphs in which a single, measured portion of powdered formula is dispensed each time the dispensing plunger is actuated. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser that dispenses powdered material, such as baby formula, from a dispenser unit or cartridge having an inlet opening that permits formula to be added to the dispenser unit as may be necessary. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of the type described in which the parts can be easily assembled and disassembled for ease of washing. 
     The foregoing and other objects of the invention are realized by the dispenser apparatus of the invention as more fully described in the paragraphs which follow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a generally perspective view of one form of the dispenser apparatus of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a generally perspective, exploded view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a greatly enlarged, foreshortened, cross-sectional view of the dispenser apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a greatly enlarged, generally perspective view of the plunger sub-assembly of the apparatus of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded, generally perspective, diagrammatic view, similar to  FIG. 4 , illustrating the operation of the plunger sub-assembly. 
         FIG. 5A  is an exploded, generally perspective view, similar to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , but showing the plunger sub-assembly in a material dispensing position. 
         FIG. 5B  is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along lines  5 B- 5 B of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 6  is a generally perspective, exploded view of the upper portion of the dispenser apparatus illustrating the method of interconnection of the material containing cartridge with the upper body of the dispenser apparatus. 
         FIG. 7  is a greatly enlarged, cross-sectional view further illustrating the method of interconnection of the material containing cartridge with the upper body of the dispenser apparatus. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view, similar to  FIG. 7 , showing the material containing cartridge in position for interconnection with the upper body of the dispenser apparatus. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view, similar to  FIG. 8 , showing the material containing cartridge interconnected with the upper body of the dispenser apparatus. 
         FIG. 10  is a generally perspective view of an alternate form of material containing cartridge of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings and particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , one form of the dispenser apparatus of the present invention for dispensing powered material into container, such as a formula bottle “B” is there shown and generally designated by the  20 . The dispenser apparatus here comprises a housing  22  having a base portion  22   a  and an upper portion  22   b . Upper portion  22   b  includes a closure wall  24  having a pair of spaced-apart, upwardly extending indexing protuberances  26 , the purpose of which will presently be described (see also  FIG. 6 ). 
     As best seen by referring to  FIG. 3 , a container support base  28  is connected to housing  22  for supporting the container, or formula bottle “B”. The support base is movable through a distance “D” between a first position shown by the dotted lines in  FIG. 3  and a second position shown by the solid lines in  FIG. 3 . Biasing means, shown here as a coil spring  30  that is housed internally of housing  22 , functions to continuously urge the container support base  28  toward the first position shown by the dotted lines in  FIG. 3 . In the present form of the invention, the upper end  30   a  of the spring is interconnected with the upper portion  22   b  of the housing and the lower end  30   b  of the spring is interconnected with the connector portion  28   a  of support base  28 . In operation, the support base moves telescopically along a guide rod  32  that is housed within the housing  22 . With the construction thus described, formula bottles of various sizes can readily be operably interconnected with the dispenser in the manner indicated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3  of the drawings. 
     Removably connected to the upper portion  22   b  of housing  22  in the manner best seen in  FIG. 3  of the drawings is a powdered material containing cartridge  34 . In the preferred form of the invention, cartridge  34  comprises a top wall  34   a , a bottom wall  34   b  and a side wall  34   c  having an outlet  35  ( FIG. 3 ). A sealing tab  38  is slidably connected to side wall  34   c  for movement between a first outlet closure position and the second outlet open position shown in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. 
     As indicated in  FIG. 6 , bottom wall  34   b  is provided with a pair of spaced-apart recesses  39  that are constructed and arranged to receive the previously identified indexing protuberances  26 . The protuberances  26  in cooperation with recesses  39 , function to correctly position the formula cartridges  34  relative to housing  22  so that the outlet  35  of the cartridges is indexedly aligned with the inlet of the novel material dispensing assembly  44  of the invention, the character of which will presently be described. Cartridge  34  is designed for distribution in pre-packaged units, such as “six packs”. In accordance with this concept, the user, rather than scooping formula out of a large container, purchases a pre-packaged number of cartridges that are individually much easier to handle and uniquely avoid spilling of formula when introducing the formula into the formula bottle. In practice, the pre-packaged cartridges can, by appropriate branding techniques, be associated with the specific company that produces the formula. 
     Referring particularly to  FIGS. 3 and 4  through  5 A, the important powdered material dispensing assembly  44  here comprises a dispensing housing  46  having a powdered material chamber  47  having an inlet  47   a  that is in communication with cartridge outlet  35 . 
     As best seen in  FIG. 3 , powdered material chamber has an outlet  47   b  that is in communication with the inlet “O” of the formula bottle “B”. 
     Forming a highly novel feature of the apparatus of the present invention is a material dispensing plunger sub-assembly, which is generally designated in the drawings by the numeral  48 . Plunger sub-assembly  48 , which is interconnected with the dispensing housing  46  in the manner indicated in  FIG. 3  of the drawings, comprises an elongated shaft  50  having an upper portion  50   a  and a lower portion  50   b . By pushing downwardly on the finger engaging head portion  51 , shaft  50  can be moved within the powdered material holding chamber  48  from the first position shown in  FIG. 1  to the second position shown by the solid lines in  FIG. 5A . 
     Affixed proximate the lower portion  50   b  of the shaft  50  is a uniquely configured, powdered material dispensing component  54 . In a manner presently to be described material dispensing component  54  functions to accurately dispense metered amounts of powdered material from powdered material chamber  47  into the formula bottle “B”. 
     Forming another highly novel feature of the present invention is oscillating means for oscillating the powdered material contained within powdered material chamber  47  as the material is dispensed into the formula bottle. This novel oscillating means functions to agitate the powdered material contained within chamber  47  and to release the powdered material from the chamber in an evenly distributed circular pattern into the formula bottle. 
     Referring particularly to  FIGS. 1 ,  4 ,  5  and  5 A, this important oscillating means here comprises, in addition to shaft  50  and material dispensing component  54 , a collar  56  that is affixed to elongated shaft  50  proximate the upper portion  50   a  thereof. As best seen in  FIGS. 5 and 5A , collar  56  is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed guide pins  58  that extend outwardly therefrom. Guide pins  58  are closely received within generally serpentine-shaped guide channels  60   a  formed in a pair of oppositely disposed guide members  60  that are connected to housing  22  proximate the upper portion thereof. For a purpose presently to be described, a coil spring  62  circumscribes the intermediate portion of elongated shaft  50  so that the coil spring is disposed between collar  56  and the powdered material dispensing component  54 . With this construction, as the shaft  50  is pushed downwardly in the direction of the arrow  57  of  FIG. 5  against the urging of the coil spring  62 , the guide pins  56  will travel along the serpentine guide channels  60   a  thereby causing an oscillating, generally circular-shaped motion to be imparted to the powdered material dispensing component  54  as indicated by the arrows  59  and  61  of  FIGS. 5 and 5A . 
     In using the dispenser apparatus, the powdered material containing cartridge  34  is first removed from the “six pack”, or like packaging configuration (not shown), and mated with the housing  22  in the manner illustrated in  FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  9  of the drawings. In this regard, connector means are provided for releasably interconnecting the cartridge  34  with the upper portion  22   a  of the housing  22 . In the present form of the invention this important connector means comprises a locking plate assembly  64  that is interconnected with closure wall  42  of the container (See  FIG. 2 ). As indicated in  FIGS. 6 and 7  of the drawings, locking plate assembly  64 , which is positioned intermediate the pair of indexing protuberances  26 , is provided with an opening  65  for lockably receiving a downwardly extending locking protuberance  66  that is formed on bottom wall  34   b  of the cartridge  34 . More particularly, the locking plate assembly includes a locking slide  64   a  that is interconnected with locking plate  64  for movement between a first protuberance engaging position shown in  FIG. 9  and a second release position. As shown in  FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  9 , the locking plate assembly includes a locking slide biasing means, here provided as a coil spring  70 , for biasing the locking slide towards the first protuberance engaging position. 
     As indicated in  FIG. 7 , locking protuberance  66  is provided with a tapered side wall  66   a  that is adapted to engage a pair of spaced-apart rounded shoulders  65   a  and  65   b  that are provided on locking slide  64   a  and cooperate to define a protuberance receiving opening  65  ( FIG. 7 ). In the manner indicated in  FIG. 8 , as the cartridge  34  is lowered into the position, the locking slide is moved in the direction of the arrows  69  of  FIG. 8  by locking protuberance  66  acting on the locking slide against the urging of a coil spring  70  that is held in position by a spring retainer  72 . A continued downward movement of the cartridge  34  will cause the indexing protuberances  26  to move into the recesses  39  formed in the bottom wall of the cartridge and will cause the locking protuberance  66  to move into the downward position shown in  FIG. 9 . With the locking protuberance in this position, the spring  72  will urge the latching element to move in the direction of the arrows  73  of  FIG. 9  and will cause the latching ear  68   a  of the latching slide to move into locking engagement with a shoulder  66   b  formed on locking protuberance  66 . In this position, the cartridge  64  is locked in sealing engagement with the upper portion of the housing  22  and the material outlet  35  of the cartridge is aligned with inlet  47   a  of the dispensing housing  46 . 
     With the formula bottle “B” in position on the support base  28  in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 3  and with powdered material containing cartridge  34  interconnected with the housing in the manner described in the preceding paragraph, the user can move the sealing tab  38  upwardly by gripping the upper margin  38   a  of the sealing tab (see  FIG. 3 ). To dispense a predetermined amount of formula into the formula bottle, the user need only push downwardly on the palm-engaging head portion  51  of the shaft  50 . This downward movement of the shaft from the position shown by the phantom lines in  FIG. 5A  to the position shown by the solid lines in  FIG. 5A , will result in an oscillating movement of the powdered material dispensing component  54  within the lower portion of chamber  47 , in the manner previously described which will cause the powdered material to flow evenly into the formula bottle. 
     Additionally, as previously mentioned, the downward movement of the dispensing plunger creates a negative pressure internally of the dispensing chamber of the dispenser so as to assist in the uniform withdrawal of formula from the pre-filled cartridge. More particularly, as shown in  FIG. 5B  of the drawings, palm-engaging head  51  includes a passageway  51   a  that communicates with a reduced diameter passageway  50   c  formed in the upper portion of shaft  50 . Passageway  50   c , in turn, communicates with a cross-bore  50   d  formed in the upper portion of the shaft. With this construction, the downward movement of the shaft from the position shown by the phantom lines in  FIG. 5A  to the position shown by the solid lines in  FIG. 5A , will result in a decrease in pressure which assists in drawing the powdered material from the cartridge via outlet  35 . However, when the user removes his or her palm from the palm-engaging head portion, passageway  51   a  will be open to atmosphere permitting pressure equalization to occur via the cross-bore  50   d  and the reduced diameter passageway  50   c.    
     Following the dispensing step, the bottle can be removed from support  28  and the formula appropriately intermixed with water or other liquid. 
     When the cartridge  34  is empty, it can be easily disconnected from housing  22  by pushing inwardly on the release tab  75  of the locking slide  64   a  in a manner to move the latching element into the retracted, or release position against the urging of the spring  70 . 
     Turning next to  FIG. 10  of the drawings, an alternate form of the powdered material containing cartridge is there shown and generally designated by the  77 . This cartridge is similar in most respects in construction and operation to the previously described cartridge  34 . However, in this alternate form of the invention, the top wall  77   a  of the cartridge is provided with an opening  79  which, upon opening of a cover  80 , can be used to refill the cartridge with formula as may be required. 
     Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with the requirements of the patent statues, those skilled in this art will have no difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individual parts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in the following claims: