Abstract:
A fluid dispenser contains a fluid and selectively delivers the fluid orally to a subject. The fluid dispenser includes a main body defining a vessel that contains the fluid. The fluid dispenser also includes a dispensing portion that extends from the main body. The dispensing portion defines a passage therethrough that is in fluid communication with the vessel. The passage terminates at a dispenser opening through which the fluid exits the passage and flows into the mouth of the subject. Moreover, the fluid dispenser includes a tongue depressor that extends from the dispensing portion. The tongue depressor is operable to depress the tongue of the subject while the fluid is dispensed into the mouth of the subject.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/560,127, filed on Nov. 15, 2011. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This disclosure generally relates to a fluid dispenser and, more particularly, relates to a fluid dispenser with a tongue depressor. 
     BACKGROUND 
     This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. 
     Self-contained fluid dispensers have been proposed that facilitate delivery of a fluid to a subject. For instance, medicine, liquid vitamins, or other fluid can be contained within the dispenser, and the fluid can be delivered from an open end into the mouth of a patient. However, an uncooperative patient (e.g., a small child, a dog or other animal, etc.) can resist delivery of the fluid, for instance, by biting down on the dispenser and pinching off the flow of the fluid. Accordingly, delivery of the fluid can be difficult, especially to uncooperative patients. 
     SUMMARY 
     This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features. 
     A fluid dispenser that contains a fluid and selectively delivers the fluid orally to a subject is disclosed. The fluid dispenser includes a main body defining a vessel that contains the fluid. The fluid dispenser also includes a dispensing portion that extends from the main body. The dispensing portion defines a passage therethrough that is in fluid communication with the vessel. The passage terminates at a dispenser opening through which the fluid exits the passage and flows into the mouth of the subject. Moreover, the fluid dispenser includes a tongue depressor that extends from the dispensing portion. The tongue depressor is operable to depress the tongue of the subject while the fluid is dispensed into the mouth of the subject. A method of manufacturing the fluid dispenser is also disclosed. 
     Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of a fluid dispenser with a tongue depressor according to various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the fluid dispenser of  FIG. 1  shown while delivering fluid to a subject; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of the fluid dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the fluid dispenser of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of fluid dispenser of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the fluid dispenser of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a reverse plan view of the fluid dispenser of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a section view of the fluid dispenser taken along the line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view of the fluid dispenser according to additional embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 10  is a plan view of the fluid dispenser according to additional embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 11  is a plan view of the fluid dispenser according to additional embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of the fluid dispenser of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the fluid dispenser of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a plan view of the fluid dispenser according to additional embodiments; 
         FIG. 15  is a side view of the fluid dispenser of  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the fluid dispenser of  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the fluid dispenser of  FIG. 14 , wherein the dispenser has been heat sealed; 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1-8 , a fluid dispenser  10  is illustrated according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated that the fluid dispenser  10  of the present disclosure can depart from the embodiments illustrated without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     As will be discussed, the dispenser  10  can contain a fluid  12  and selectively deliver the fluid  12  orally to a subject  14  (patient, etc.). The fluid dispenser  10  can generally include a main body  16  defining a vessel  18  that contains the fluid  12 . The fluid dispenser  10  can also generally include a dispensing portion  20  that extends from the main body  16 . The dispensing portion  20  can define a passage  22  extending therethrough. The passage  22  can be in fluid communication with the vessel  18 , and the passage  22  can terminate at a dispenser opening  24  ( FIGS. 1 and 8 ) through which the fluid  12  can exit the passage  22  and flow into a mouth  26  ( FIG. 2 ) of the subject  14 . Additionally, the dispenser  10  can include a tongue depressor  28  that extends from the dispensing portion  20  and that is thin and flat. The tongue depressor  28  can be used to depress the tongue  30  ( FIG. 2 ) of the subject  14  while the fluid  12  is dispensed into the mouth  26  of the subject  14 . Also, the thickness and rigidity of the tongue depressor  28  can inhibit one&#39;s ability to bite down and impede the flow of fluid  12  through the passage  22 . As such, the fluid  12  is very likely to be dispensed as intended to the subject  14 . 
     Although the subject  14  shown in  FIG. 2  is a child, it will be appreciated that the subject  14  could be an infant, a toddler, an older human, a dog, a cat, or any other non-human. Also, the fluid  12  can be of any type, such as a medicinal liquid, liquid vitamins, etc. There can be any suitable amount of the fluid  12  inside the dispenser  10  (e.g., 5 cc, 10 cc, etc.). For instance, the amount can be a single dose of the fluid  12  (e.g., in an amount adapted for delivery to a single subject  14  in a single use). 
     Various features of the dispenser  10  will now be discussed in greater detail. For instance, the main body  16  can include a front wall  32  and a back wall  34  that are spaced apart with the vessel  18  defined therebetween ( FIG. 5 ). The front and back walls  32 ,  34  can be joined at a first edge  36  and a second edge  38 . The edges  36 ,  38  can be curved longitudinally, as shown in  FIG. 3 . Also, in some embodiments, the edges  36 ,  38  can be substantially straight along the longitudinal axis of the dispenser  10 . One or both of the front and back walls  32 ,  34  can be resiliently flexible and compressible toward the other for pushing the fluid  12  out of the vessel  18  as will be discussed. The front and back walls  32 ,  34  can be shaped and joined together such that the main body  16  appears somewhat flattened (oval-shaped) in cross section. This can facilitate holding and squeezing of the main body  16 . Also, the front and back walls  32 ,  34  can have surface roughness or other features that make the main body  16  easier to hold and squeeze. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the main body  16  can also include one or more gradations  40  for measuring an amount of the fluid  12  within the fluid dispenser  10 . In the embodiments illustrated, gradations  40  are included on the front wall  32  of the main body  16 . Also, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the main body  16  can include a panel  42  on the back wall  34 . The panel  42  can be rectangular and can be used for attaching a separate label, for printing a label thereon, etc. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the main body  16  can include information that has been embossed or otherwise applied thereto. The information on the dispenser  10  can include an expiration date of the fluid  12 , a lot code, etc. Furthermore, the information can be included on any suitable area of the dispenser  10 . 
     The main body  16  can further include a main opening  44  ( FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  6 , and  7 ) that provides fluid access into the vessel  18 . For instance, a cylindrical tube  43  can extend longitudinally from the front and rear walls  32 ,  34  of the main body  16 , and the main opening  44  can be defined within the tube  43 . The main opening  44  can be substantially circular in shape. Also, the tube  43  and the main opening  44  can be substantially centered longitudinally on the dispenser  10 . 
     Additionally, the dispenser  10  can include a closure  45  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) that is removably attached to the tube  43 . In some embodiments, the closure  45  can be threadably attached to the tube  43 ; however, the closure  45  could be heat sealed (sonic welded), or secured in another way. Additionally, the main body  16  can be sealed closed instead of including a separate closure  45 . Also, in some embodiments, there is no main opening  44 , and the dispenser opening  24  is the only access into or out of the dispenser  10 . 
     The dispensing portion  20  can be elongate and axially straight. The dispensing portion  20  can extend distally from the main body  16 , on an end opposite that of the tube  43 . The passage  22  be can tapered adjacent the vessel  18 , but the passage  22  can have a substantially constant width along the rest of its length. The passage  22  can have a substantially circular cross section taken through its longitudinal axis. Also, the dispensing portion  20  and the passage  22  can be substantially centered longitudinally on the dispenser  10 . 
     Furthermore, the tongue depressor  28  can include a first portion  46  and a second portion  48  that are symmetrical to each other and that flank the dispensing portion  20 . In some embodiments, the first and second portions  46 ,  48  of the tongue depressor  28  are hollow (see  FIG. 8 ) and are sealed about the respective periphery. Each of the first and second portions  46 ,  48  can include a proximal edge  50  that is attached to the main body  16  and a medial edge  52  that is attached to the dispensing portion  20 . The medial edge  52  can extend along substantially an entire length of the dispensing portion  20 . The first edge  36  and the second edge  38  of the main body  16  can contour outward away from the proximal edge  50  of the tongue depressor  28 . The first and second portions  46 ,  48  can be elongate, relatively thin, and substantially flat. As such, the tongue depressor  28  can extend into the mouth  26  of the subject  14  to depress the tongue  30  such that the subject  14  is unlikely to impede flow of the fluid  12  out of the dispenser  10 . 
     The dispenser  10  can further include a removable closure  54  (e.g., a removable tab) that substantially seals the dispenser opening  24 . The closure  54  can include a central portion  56  and a U-shaped flange  58  that extends about the central portion  56 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the central portion  56  can be cup-shaped and the flange  58  can be substantially flat. In some embodiments, the first and second portions  46 ,  48  of the tongue depressor  28  are hollow, as shown partially in  FIG. 8 . Lateral portions of the flange  58  can be shaped similarly to and substantially aligned with the first and second portions  46 ,  48  of the tongue depressor  28 . Also, one or more slits  62   a ,  62   b  ( FIGS. 1 ,  3 ,  7 , and  8 ) can separate the flange  58  from the first and second portions  46 ,  48  of the tongue depressor  28 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the central portion  56  can be removably attached to the dispensing portion  20 , adjacent the dispenser opening  24 , via a frangible coupling  60  (i.e., tear-away tab, break-away tab, fracturable joint, etc.). The frangible coupling  60  (and/or other features of the dispenser  10 ) can be included according to the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,009, issued to O&#39;Meara on Apr. 27, 1999 and/or U.S. Pat. No. D534,648, issued to Zahn et al. on Jan. 2, 2007, the disclosures of which are included herein by reference in their entirety. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the coupling  60  can be a small ring of relatively thin material that attaches the central portion  56  to the dispensing portion  20 . In additional embodiments, the removable closure  54  can be removably attached to the main body  16  (e.g., by a threaded attachment, etc.). 
     The coupling  60  and the central portion  56  can substantially seal the dispenser opening  24  when attached to the dispensing portion  20 . However, the dispenser opening  24  can be unsealed, for instance, by grasping the flange  58  and twisting or bending the closure  54  relative to the dispensing portion  20 . This motion can fracture the coupling  60  such that the closure  54  can be removed from the dispensing portion  20  to unseal the dispenser opening  24 . 
     It will be appreciated that the closure  45  could be attached in other ways. For instance, the closure  45  can be threadably, adhesively, or otherwise attached to the dispensing portion  20  without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     In some embodiments, a manufacturer, pharmacist, or other upstream user of the dispenser  10  can fill the dispenser  10  by removing the closure  45 , introducing the fluid  12  into the vessel  18  through the main opening  44 , and securing the closure  45  to the main body  16  to substantially seal the fluid  12  therein. Then, the dispenser  10  can be sold or otherwise distributed as a disposable, one-time-use dispenser  10 . Once the closure  54  has been removed, the user can insert and extend the dispensing portion  20  into the mouth  26  of the subject  14  and depress the tongue  30  using the tongue depressor  28  while squeezing the front and back walls  32 ,  34  of the main body  16  toward each other. This allows the fluid  12  to flow from the vessel  18 , through the passage  22 , out of the dispenser opening  24 , and into the mouth  26  to be swallowed by the subject  14 . Because the tongue  30  is depressed during this process, the subject  14  is unlikely to close their mouth  26 , bite down on the dispensing portion  20 , or otherwise impede flow of the fluid  12  into the mouth  26 . 
     Once the fluid  12  has been emptied from the dispenser  10 , the dispenser  10  can be discarded. Thus, the dispenser  10  can be a disposable, single-dose dispenser. As such, the amount of fluid  12  within the dispenser  10  can be controlled by the manufacturer, and overdosing is unlikely. In additional embodiments, after the fluid  12  has been fully emptied from the dispenser  10 , the user can remove the closure  45  to clean and refill fluid  10  in the vessel  18  such that the dispenser  10  can be used again for distributing doses of the fluid  12 . 
     The dispenser  10  can be made from a substantially rigid material, such as rigid plastic. The front and back walls  32 ,  34  can have certain areas that are thinner than others to allow the front and back walls  32 ,  34  to be resiliently compressed. Furthermore, the dispenser  10  can be manufactured via molding processes. In some embodiments, the dispenser  10  can be molded from multiple sheets of material that are joined at the edges  36 ,  38  and at internal welds  64  ( FIG. 8 ) so as to define the vessel  18 , the passage  22 , and the hollow interiors of the first and second portions  46 ,  48  of the tongue depressor  28  and flange  58 . In some embodiments, the main body  16 , the dispensing portion  20 , the tongue depressor  28 , and the closure  54  can be integrally connected so as to be monolithic. Accordingly, the dispenser  10  can be manufactured efficiently, repeatably, and accurately. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , the fluid dispenser  110  is illustrated according to additional exemplary embodiments. Components of the dispenser  110  that correspond to those of the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-8  are indicated with corresponding reference numbers increased by 100. 
     As shown, the fluid dispenser  110  can include a main body  116 , a dispensing portion  120 , a tongue depressor  128 , and a closure  154  that are substantially similar to those of the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-8 . However, these components are shaped and dimensioned slightly differently. For instance, the tongue depressor  128  can be substantially equally as wide as the main body  116 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , the fluid dispenser  210  is illustrated according to additional exemplary embodiments. Components of the dispenser  210  that correspond to those of the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-8  are indicated with corresponding reference numbers increased by 200. 
     As shown, the fluid dispenser  210  can include a main body  216 , a dispensing portion  220 , and a closure  254 . The flange  258  of the closure  254  extends further outward in the radial direction as compared with the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-9 . Also, the dispensing portion  220  is shorter than those of the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-9 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 11-13 , the fluid dispenser  310  is illustrated according to additional exemplary embodiments. Components of the dispenser  310  that correspond to those of the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-8  are indicated with corresponding reference numbers increased by 300. 
     The shape of the fluid dispenser  310  can be substantially similar to one or more of the embodiments discussed above. However, the edges  336 ,  338  can be substantially straight and parallel to the longitudinal axis. Also, the edges  336 ,  338  can smoothly transition into the tongue depressor  328  (i.e., the width of the tongue depressor  328  can be approximately equal to the distance between the edges  336 ,  338 ). 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 14-17 , the fluid dispenser  410  is illustrated according to additional exemplary embodiments. Components of the dispenser  410  that correspond to those of the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-8  are indicated with corresponding reference numbers increased by 400. 
     The fluid dispenser  410  can be substantially similar to the embodiments of  FIGS. 11-13 . However, the main body  416  can terminate at an ovate (oval-shaped) opening  444  (see  FIG. 16 ). As shown in  FIG. 17 , once the fluid  412  is inside the dispenser  410 , the opening  444  can be sealed shut at a heat seal  445 . Stated differently, the front and back walls  432 ,  434  can be sealed together to create the heat seal  445 . Also, as shown in  FIG. 17 , lot code, expiration date, or other information can be included (e.g., embossed) on the heat seal  445 . 
     The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.