Abstract:
A fluid dispenser is provided that includes a multiple chamber fluid storage region, each having a dispensing pump of its own such that the dispenser can dispense the fluids from within the multiple fluid storage regions. Further, the multiple fluid storage regions may each contain the same or different liquids. The dispensing pumps include a metering housing, which when depressed, generate a one-way flow from the interior fluid storage region of the container that serves to fill the predetermined volume of the chamber within the metering housing. When the metering housing is depressed a second time a substantially equal volume of each of the fluids is dispensed from the container, while upon release, the metering housings are refilled by drawing fluids from their respective fluid storage regions. The fluids are mixed in the exit port as they are dispensed from the metering pumps.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is related to and claims priority from earlier filed U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/894,722 filed Mar. 14, 2007. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to product packages that include integrated dispensing devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to product packages containing fluid media that include metering dispensing devices that can controllably dispense the fluid media from the product package containing the fluid media. 
         [0003]    Various types of fluid material and media are employed for different purposes throughout commerce and industry. For example, there are various products in the areas of personal care, home care, air care, transportation care and food industries that require a fluid material to be dispensed in some manner from a source of such material. Further, when this material is sold in commerce, it must be contained and stored in some type of container while awaiting use. Ultimately, when that product is used, it must be dispensed from its storage container to the desired location for use. 
         [0004]    In the prior art, there are many different types of dispensers that are employed for the delivery of a stored fluid material to their desired location for use. For example, a storage container having a flexible body with a nozzle tip extending therefrom is commonly provided for such a purpose. An example of such use can be seen in the context of a ketchup dispenser, where a user squeezes the container body to urge the fluid material (ketchup) out from container body and through the nozzle tip to accurately deposit the fluid material at the desired location. In such an application, the amount of fluid that is ultimately delivered is determined by the how much the user actually squeezes the container body. While this method has provided marginally acceptable results, this method also typically yields an erratic fluid volume since more or less fluid material may be delivered on each successive squeeze of the container body. Also, the container must be held upright to avoid leakage because no valves are employed in the fluid nozzle tip. 
         [0005]    In another example of a prior art dispensing device, a flexible container is provided that holds a volume of fluid material to be delivered. In an attempt to overcome the leakage issue noted above, a single one-way check valve is provided at the exit port of the flexible container. When the flexible body is squeezed, the material is urged out under pressure through the valve. The difficulty here is that the valve over time becomes partially clogged thereby requiring that the user apply additional pressure to cause the valve to open. As a result, once the valve opens, the additional pressure causes more fluid material to be deposited than the user typically would have desired. 
         [0006]    In addition to the above noted need for simply dispensing a volume of fluid material, there is also a desire for the ability to immediately apply the dispensed fluid material, such as to a surface. In the prior art, the solution was to provide squeezable container bodies that are equipped with some type of applicator head for this purpose. For example, in the personal care industry, body wash devices commonly include some type of squeezable container body and an abrasive applicator material, such as fabric or foam, applied to the output port thereof. Thus, when the fluid material is dispensed to the exterior of the container body, it is dispensed onto the applicator and the applicator assists in spreading the material on the body of the user providing a better and more even distribution thereof. Applicators are particularly useful for even distribution in personal care industry, such as for applying shoe polish, to ensure a quality even and smooth coat. 
         [0007]    In addition to the provision of applicator disposed at the outlet of the container, there have been attempts in the prior art to provide a dispenser that can easily deliver fluid material to an applicator that is positioned about the entire exterior surface of a container body. These prior art devices employ, for example, spring-loaded buttons that open an exit port in the main container body to permit flow of the fluid contained therein to an outer applicator material layer. This is in contrast to requiring the user to squeeze the entire body of the container. However, these devices are incapable of delivering a substantially equal dose of fluid with each dispensing operation because they simply open up the container body and permit the fluid to flow into the surrounding applicator material by gravity. 
         [0008]    There is also a generally a need for a fluid dispensing device that includes the ability to increase the amount of fluid dispensed on each pump, such as doubling the amount of liquid dispensed on each pump. Also in this regard, there is a need to store two or more liquids separately while providing a single dispensing unit that dispenses and mixes them together in a dingle dispensing operation. For example, two different types of hair care liquids can be dispensed at the same time in a metered dose by a single pump. It is also desirable to provide a dispenser that allows a user to select whether a single or double pump is used to dispense the fluid while also controlling the amount of fluid dispensed from each of the fluid sources. 
         [0009]    In view of the foregoing, the fluid dispensing devices of the prior art suffer from various disadvantages that make them difficult and awkward to use. Further, these prior art dispensers often provide a user with unexpected results. Therefore, there is a need for a fluid dispenser that is easy to operate. There is a further need for a fluid dispenser that is capable of delivering a metered dose of fluid with each dispensing operation in order to produce predictable flow and a better application of the fluid material. There is also a need for such a dispenser that can operate independent of gravity. There is an additional need for the fluid to be capable of being delivered in a manner that allows the fluid to exit at any point on the surface of container. There is still a further need for a dispenser to include an applicator that facilitates even distribution and even application of the fluid material, as desired. Many of these needs are met by commonly owned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/074,817, filed on Mar. 8, 2005 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/951,351, filed on Dec. 6, 2007, which are incorporated herein by reference. This application sets forth a device for dispensing liquids in a metered fashion and provides for an exit port that can be located at any position on the fluid container. However there is still a further need for a dispenser that has multiple chambers, each with their own respective valving to independently control the flow and dispensing of fluid therefrom. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    In this regard, the present invention preserves the advantages of prior art dispensing devices. In addition, the present invention provides new advantages not found in currently available devices and overcomes many disadvantages of such currently available devices. The present invention is generally directed to a novel and unique multiple chambered dispenser device for delivering a controlled, metered dose of fluid material from each of the multiple chambers during each dispensing operation. In this regard, the multiple chambers may contain different fluids or may all contain the same fluid thereby allowing a dispensing operation that can be varied in volume, should the fluids be the same, or a mixing operation, should the fluids be different. 
         [0011]    The main flexible pouch and metering mechanism employed within the present invention is substantially similar to that found in the above noted U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 11/074,817 and 11/951,351. The fluid dispensing device includes a container with multiple interior fluid storage regions therein. Each storage region also includes its own metering housing, having a preferably flexible construction that is disposed in fluid communication with the respective fluid storage region. A first one-way valve is disposed between the fluid storage region and the flexible metering housing. When the flexible metering housing is depressed and released a vacuum action generates a one-way flow from the interior fluid storage region of the container that serves to fill the predetermined volume of the chamber within the metering housing. A second valve, in fluid communication with the metering housing output port, permits one-way fluid flow from the metering chamber to the exterior outer region of the container when the metering housing is depressed again. Each time the metering housing is depressed a substantially equal volume of fluid is dispensed from the container, while upon release, the metering housing is refilled by drawing fluid from the fluid storage region. 
         [0012]    As stated above, the present invention further includes a multiple chamber fluid storage region, each having a dispensing pump of its own such that the dispenser can simultaneously dispense the fluid within the multiple fluid storage regions. Further, in such an arrangement, the multiple fluid storage regions may each contain the same or different liquids. Also, the dosing and the volumes of the pumps on each of the respective chambers can be adjusted to the suit the liquid being dispensed and the desired mixing thereof. 
         [0013]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide fluid dispensing device including multiple fluid storage regions therein that can deliver a controlled, metered volume of fluid material with each dispensing operation. It is also an object of the present invention to provide such a fluid dispensing device that is insensitive to gravity. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a multiple chamber, such as a dual chamber, dispenser that has multiple fluid storage regions that contain the same or different fluid for dispensing wherein the dispensing operation can be varied in volume, should the fluids be the same, or provides a mixing operation, should the fluids be different. 
         [0014]    These together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a dual reservoir dispensing device of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a front view thereof; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the dispensing device of the present invention taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the preferred metered dosing pump used in connection with the present invention; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of an alternate embodiment dispensing pump of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    Now referring to the drawings, the dispensing device of the present invention is shown and generally illustrated at  10  in  FIGS. 1-3 . As can be seen, the dispensing device  10  of the present invention includes a first fluid reservoir  21  containing a first fluid  22 , a second fluid reservoir  23  containing a second fluid  24 . A first metered dosing pump  26  is provided in fluid communication with the first fluid reservoir  21  and is operable to transfer a portion of the first fluid  22  from the first fluid reservoir  21  to an output port  14 . A second metered dosing pump  27  is provided in fluid communication with the second fluid reservoir  23  and is also operable to transfer a portion of the second fluid  24  from the second fluid reservoir  23  to the output port  14 . It should be appreciated that generally, while the dispensing device  10  of the present invention is depicted as having a first fluid reservoir  21  and a second fluid reservoir  23 , it is within the scope of the present invention that the device include a plurality of fluid reservoirs as needed by any given application. While for the remainder of the present application, the dispensing device  10  will be discussed in the context of a first fluid reservoir  21  and a second fluid reservoir  23 , it is intended that a plurality of fluid reservoirs is equally disclosed. It is also within the scope of the present invention that, should a plurality of fluid reservoirs be provided, a corresponding plurality of metered dosing pumps will be provided, one in fluid communication with each of the fluid storage reservoirs. 
         [0022]    In the context of the present invention, the fluid dispensing device  10  is suitable for use in connection with any application that requires two or more different fluids be stored separately prior to their use by the consumer, as in the case for example of, two-part epoxy adhesives, hair colorant systems or hair conditioning systems. In such an arrangement, the fluids are mixed together as they pass down the output port  14 . It is also within the scope of the present invention that all of the fluid reservoirs contain the same fluid. In this arrangement, the provision of multiple fluid storage reservoirs and multiple metered pumps provides a user with the ability too control the overall amount of fluid dispensed with each dispensing action. Still further, while multiple fluid storage reservoirs are provided, they may be provided in an integral outer shell wherein the divisions between each of the reservoirs is a frangible seal that the user can optionally rupture to allow the fluids contained within the separated reservoirs to be mixed prior to use. While specific examples have been provided herein, they are meant for illustration and are not intended to be limiting on the scope of the present invention. 
         [0023]    Turning now to  FIGS. 1-3  in detail, the first fluid reservoir  21  can be seen to have an outer wall that cooperates with one side of a central wall  25  to form an interior cavity that serves as the first fluid reservoir  21  and contains a first fluid  22  therein. Similarly, the second fluid reservoir  23  also has an outer wall that cooperates with an opposing side of the central wall  25  to form an interior cavity that serves as the second fluid reservoir  23  and contains a second fluid  24  therein. A first metered dosing pump  26  is positioned in the first fluid reservoir  21  and is in fluid communication with the first fluid  22  contained therein. A second metered dosing pump  27  is positioned in the second fluid reservoir  23  and is in fluid communication with the second fluid  24  contained therein. The respective outputs  28  of the first and second fluid pumps  26 ,  27  in this embodiment are arranged in parallel to simultaneously deposit the first and second fluids  22 ,  24  into the output port  14 . 
         [0024]      FIGS. 3 and 4  in particular depict a cross-sectional view through the first and second metering pumps  26 ,  27  along the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 , where  FIG. 4  is a close in view shown to illustrate the internal construction of the metering pumps  26 ,  27  used in connection with the fluid dispenser  10  of the present invention. While disposed in a back-to-back relation, the first and second metering pumps  26 ,  27  are otherwise constructed identically in terms of structure and therefore the matching features will be called out with matching reference numerals. It should be appreciated however that the first and second metering pumps  26 ,  27  may vary in size, profile, operational pressure, recess, etc. while including the same structural elements. As was stated above, the first and second fluid reservoirs  21 ,  23  are provided to include first and second fluid storage regions that each contains a volume of first and second fluid material  22 ,  24  respectively therein. The outer walls of the first and second fluid reservoirs  21 ,  23  are preferably made of a flexible material, such as plastic or nylon. Thus, as the first and second fluid material  22 ,  24  is evacuated from within the first and second fluid reservoirs  21 ,  23 , they will collapse gradually for a compact structure. 
         [0025]    Metering housings are provided at the first and second metering pumps  26 ,  27 . The metering housings include an intake one-way valve  30 , such as a check valve, to pull fluid  22 ,  24  from the fluid storage regions into a metering chamber  32  of a predetermined size. Any type of valve can be used to suit the given application. The intake valve  30  is positioned in a base plate  34  of the metering housing. Thus, during intentional operation, fluid  22 ,  24  can only flow in one way from the fluid storage regions  21 ,  23  into the metering chamber  32  although it is possible that the valve allow two way travel of fluid for a portion of the stoke to prevent accidental dispense. The metering chamber  32  is defined by a flexible membrane  36  in the form of a button or bulb that is accessible and manipulateable such that the user can depress both flexible membranes  36  simultaneously. The button  36  is preferably clear to provide an indicator to the consumer when the metered dosage of fluid material  22 ,  24  is ready for delivery. Further, it is preferred that the two metering pumps  26 ,  27  are positioned adjacent one another so that the user can press both metering pumps  26 ,  27  simultaneously although any other suitable arrangement would also be within the scope of the invention such as providing a nested set of pumps or a stacked set of pumps. 
         [0026]    An output valve  40  is provided in fluid communication with the metering chamber  32  of the metering housing. Thus, the fluid residing in the metering chamber  32  can only exit through the output valve  40  into the mixing chamber  14  that serves to direct the exit of the fluids  22 ,  24 . In this particular case to the interior of the outlet port  14 . 
         [0027]    In accordance with the present invention, each press of the flexible membrane  36  causes a metered amount of first and second fluid  22 ,  24  to be forced into the mixing chamber  14 . It should be appreciated that the button/membrane  36  can be placed anywhere on the device  10 , as needed. Still referring to  FIG. 3 , the operation of the metered dosing pumps  26 ,  27  are further explained. The button  36  of the metering housing is depressed to initiate a vacuum operation. More specifically, when the button  36  is further released, first and second fluid  22 ,  24  is pulled from the first and second fluid reservoirs  21 ,  23  into the metering chamber  32  which is configured to be of a certain known volume. The act of releasing the button  36  fills the metering chamber  32  to substantial capacity. Thus, a metered amount of fluid material  22 ,  24  is contained within the metering chamber  32  in preparation for delivery. The size of the metering chamber  32  can be selected according to the type of fluid material  22 ,  24  to be dispensed, the application therefor and the desired dosage volume. The volumes may be matched or different as required by the particular application at hand. A further depression of the button  36  urges the measured volume of fluid  22 ,  24  within the metering chamber  32  to exit out through the output port  14  of the metering housing. This known amount of fluid material  22 ,  24  is then routed into the output port  14 . This allows in most cases for the first and second fluids  22 ,  24  to be mixed before dispensing. In the case of a hair colorant system for example, dye and the colorant are deposited directly into the output port  14  and thoroughly mixed before dispensing. Alternately, if the same fluid is provided in the first and second fluid reservoirs  21 ,  23  then the user can selectively press one or both of the buttons  36  to control the amount of fluid dispensed. 
         [0028]    It can also be seen in  FIG. 4  that a number of standoff legs  50  emanate downwardly from the base plate  34  of the metering housing. These legs  50  prevent the base plate  34  from completely bottoming out against the fluid reservoir  21 ,  23  wall thereby blocking flow of fluid material  22 ,  24  into the intake valve  30 . The standoff legs  50  are particularly useful when the volume of fluid material  22 ,  24  left in the fluid reservoir  21 ,  23  is running low and the fluid reservoir  21 ,  23  is becoming relative flat in configuration. In this situation, there is a possibility that the aforesaid bottoming out may occur. However, the use of the standoff legs  50  prevents this from occurring. It should also be appreciated that while standoff legs  50  are shown, other spring biased or spring like structures may be used to accomplish the same function and should be considered interchangeable with the standoff legs  50 . 
         [0029]    Turning now to  FIG. 5 , details are shown of an alternate metering pump  300  that includes the improved valving of the present invention that prevents inadvertent or accidental dispensing of fluid  22 ,  24  even when pressure is placed on the pump  300  or fluid reservoirs  21 ,  23 . In this embodiment of the pump  300  of the present invention, the base plate  410 , through which the flow through aperture  412  passes, is preferably slightly convex, although it may be flat, if desired. Resting above the aperture  412  and within the cavity  405  of the dome is a flapper valve  408  of preferably thin film construction. It is possible that this flapper valve  408  be configured of a normally open condition but also may be configured to lie flat when at rest. As long as the plate  410  with the aperture remains convex, the flapper valve  408  does not seal against the aperture  412  such that any inadvertent contact with the flexible dome pump housing  404  does not result in the dispensing of the product. Instead, since the flapper valve  408  is open, liquid product residing inside the cavity  405  of the flexible pump housing  404  will tend to simply flow back through the inlet aperture  412  to the reservoir within the storage container itself, as indicated by the arrow, rather than flow undesirably out through the exit valve to outside of the pump  300 . In use, if a person has the fluid dispenser in their pocket or purse and pressure is accidentally or unintentionally placed on the flexible housing  404  of the pump  300 , liquid will not flow outside the dispenser thereby preventing a mess from being made due to unintentionally dispensed product. 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  illustrates intentional dispensing of fluid  22 ,  24 . When it is desired to actually dispense the liquid product  22 ,  24 , the user&#39;s thumb  430  can depress the flexible dome  404  and the user&#39;s index finger  432  can invert the base plate  410  from convex to concave, by application of force against the stand-off legs  424 , such that flexible dome  404 , with the assistance of the stand-off legs  422  under the flexible dome, securely seals and provides a positive lock of the flapper valve  408  over and about the aperture  412  thereby closing the liquid flow passage back into the reservoir  434  of the second fluid reservoir  320 . It is also possible that the base plate  410  is concave and then is inverted to a convex configuration. Other fingers of the user may be used to carry out this operation. Thus, the only path for the liquid  302  contained within the cavity  405  of dome  404  is to exit through the one-way outlet valve  436  for intended dispensing of the product, as indicated by the arrows. 
         [0031]    In summary, this invention offers many advantages over the prior art by allowing the user flexibility in maintaining two fluid materials as separate components until just prior to use and application. 
         [0032]    It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such modifications and changes are intended to be covered by the appended claims.