Abstract:
Exemplary metered dose dispensers are disclosed herein. One exemplary embodiment includes a container and a one-dose dispenser secured to the container. The one-dose dispenser includes a dosing chamber; a shuttle member movable within the dosing chamber; an outlet valve located at an end of the dosing chamber and an outlet located downstream of the outlet valve. A liquid inlet is also included for allowing liquid to flow into the dosing chamber to an area between the shuttle member and the outlet valve. Pressurizing liquid in the container moves the shuttle member from a first position to a second position and dispenses the liquid in the dosing chamber; and when the shuttle member is in the second position, the shuttle member seals off the outlet valve.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to squeeze dispensers and more particularly to squeezable containers that output a metered dose of fluid or liquid. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    It is sometimes desirable to obtain a metered dose of liquid from a container of liquid. To obtain a metered dose of liquid from prior art containers, the prior art containers require a liquid pump to be secured to the containers. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Exemplary metered dose dispensers are disclosed herein. One exemplary embodiment includes a container and a one-dose dispenser secured to the container. The one-dose dispenser includes a dosing chamber; a shuttle member movable within the dosing chamber; an outlet valve located at an end of the dosing chamber and an outlet located downstream of the outlet valve. A liquid inlet is also included for allowing liquid to flow into the dosing chamber to an area between the shuttle member and the outlet valve. Pressurizing liquid in the container moves the shuttle member from a first position to a second position and dispenses the liquid in the dosing chamber. When the shuttle member is in the second position, the shuttle member seals off the outlet valve preventing additional liquid from flowing out of the container. 
         [0004]    Another exemplary metered dose dispenser includes a compressible container and a dosing chamber in liquid communication with the compressible container. The dosing chamber is formed at least in part by a shuttle member and an outlet valve located proximate an outlet. The shuttle member is movable between a first position proximate the compressible container and a second position proximate the outlet valve. A liquid passageway from the compressible container to the dosing chamber is also provided. The liquid passageway allows liquid to enter an area of the dosing chamber between the shuttle member and the outlet. Compressing the compressible container causes the shuttle member to move towards the outlet valve and dispenses liquid from the dosing chamber while the shuttle member is moving towards the outlet valve. Liquid stops flowing out of the dosing chamber when the shuttle member reaches its end of travel in the direction of the outlet valve. 
         [0005]    Another embodiment of a metered dose dispenser includes a compressible container and a dosing chamber in liquid communication with the compressible container. The dosing chamber is formed at least in part by a shuttle member and an outlet valve. An outlet is located downstream of the outlet valve. The shuttle member is movable between a first position proximate the compressible container to a second position proximate the outlet valve. A liquid passageway is provided from the compressible container to the dosing chamber. The liquid passageway from the compressible container has a smaller cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of an outlet path to the outlet. The liquid passageway allows liquid to enter an area of the dosing chamber between the shuttle member and the outlet valve when the shuttle member is located away from the second position. Compressing the compressible container causes the shuttle member to move toward the second position and dispense liquid from the dosing chamber. The liquid stops flowing out of the container when the shuttle member reaches the second position. 
         [0006]    Another exemplary metered dose dispenser includes a squeezable container and a one-shot dose dispenser secured to the squeezable container. The one-shot dose dispenser has a dosing chamber and a shuttle member movable within the dosing chamber. In addition, an outlet valve is located proximate an end of the dosing chamber. A liquid inlet for allowing liquid to flow into the dosing chamber to an area between the shuttle member and the outlet valve is also provided. Squeezing the squeezable container pressurizes liquid in the squeezable container and the pressurized liquid moves the shuttle member from a first position to a second position and dispenses the liquid in the dosing chamber. When the shuttle member is in the second position the shuttle member seals off the outlet valve. 
         [0007]    An exemplary dispensing device is disclosed herein. The exemplary dispensing device includes a squeezable container and a cap secured to the squeezable container. The squeezable container has at least two side walls that move toward each other to dispense a dose of fluid. A travel limiting device for limiting the movement of the at least two side walls to a set distance is also provided. The limited travel of the side walls provides a metered output. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description and accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a cross-section of an exemplary liquid dispenser having a squeezable container and a dosing assembly for outputting a metered dose of a product; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional view of an exemplary shuttle and valve seat of the liquid dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates the exemplary liquid dispenser having a squeezable container and a dosing assembly in a charged position; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates the exemplary liquid dispenser having a squeezable container and a dosing assembly in a discharged position cutting off the fluid flow out of the container; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates another exemplary liquid dispenser having a squeezable container and a dosing assembly; and 
           [0014]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate a squeezable container having a body configured to output a metered dose. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates a cross-section of an exemplary embodiment of a dispenser  100  having a metered dose output. The exemplary dispenser  100  has a squeezable container  110  and a metered dosing assembly  102  secured thereto. The squeezable container may be any type of container that may be squeezed to exert pressure on the inside of the container  110 . Squeezable container  110  may be a bottle, a bag, a pouch, a tube or the like. Exemplary materials for the squeezable container may include, but are not limited to, thin-walled plastic, polymers, PET, HDPE or other suitable plastic, foil or the like. 
         [0016]    Metered dosing assembly  102  includes a closure  120 . Closure  120  may be secured to a neck  115  of container  110  by, for example, a snap-fit connection, a friction-fit connection, a welded connection, an adhesive connection, a threaded connection or the like. 
         [0017]    The base  122  of closure  120  includes an aperture  129  located therein and an annular support portion  131  around the aperture  129 . An annular sealing portion  123  projects upward from the base  122  of closure  120  and seals against the interior of neck  115  of container  110  to aid in sealing the closure  120  to the container  110 . Extending upward from the sealing portion  123  is an additional annular projection  124 , which forms a portion of dosing chamber  130  located therein. Annular projection  124  includes an opening  127  at the top and inwardly projecting tabs  126  that extend into the opening  127 . Inwardly projecting tabs  126  may be one or more tabs, or may be a continuous projection. In some embodiments, the opening  127  and tabs  126  are sized to allow the internal components of the dosing assembly  102  to be inserted through the opening  127 . Tabs  126  deflect outward to allow the internal components to be inserted into the dosing chamber  130  and return to their un-deflected position to retain the internal components between tabs  126  and a support  131  around aperture  129  in base  122 . 
         [0018]    In some embodiments, the internal components of the dosing assembly  102  include a shuttle member  134 , a biasing member  136 , such as for example, a spring, a valve seat  138  and a valve  140 . Valve seat  138  includes an aperture  139  in the center to allow fluid to reach valve  140 . Valve  140  is a slit valve and valve seat  138  provides a backing that prevents valve  140  from opening to allow air to flow into dosing chamber  130  from outside of dispensing device  102  when a vacuum pressure is present in the dosing chamber  130 . In some embodiments, valve  140  and valve seat  138  may be replaced by a different type of valve, such as, for example, a ball valve and seat, a mushroom valve, or the like. When using other types of outlet valves, modifications may be necessary to ensure shuttle member  134  seals off the valve when it reaches its end of stroke position. 
         [0019]    As best seen in  FIG. 2 , shuttle member  134  includes a body  201  that contains one or more apertures  202 . In some embodiments, shuttle member  134  fits loosely in dosing chamber  130  and passage  220  exists around shuttle body  201  so that a small amount of fluid may flow through apertures  202  and around shuttle body  201 . In some embodiments, shuttle member  134  has small channels in the body  201  for fluid to more easily flow through. The fluid inlet passage  220  has a smaller cross-sectional area than the outlet  160  (when opened) so it is easier for the shuttle  134  to move downward than it is for the fluid to pass through passage  220 . In some embodiments, the channels in shuttle member  134  channel liquid flowing into dosing chamber  130  so that the liquid from the container  110  must flow (for at least a portion of the time) in a direction that is not the same direction as the shuttle travels. Thus, pressure exerted on the container  110  forces the pressurized liquid to strike the shuttle member  134  and the shuttle member  134  deflects the liquid outward causing movement of the shuttle member  134 . 
         [0020]    Shuttle body  201  includes sealing portion  204 . Valve seat  138  includes angled seat  240 . When valve seat  138  is in contact with sealing portion  204 , liquid is prevented from flowing out of the dispenser  100 . In addition, valve seat  138  provides a baking for valve  140  that prevents valve  140  from opening and allowing air to flow into dosing chamber  130  when container  110  is under vacuum pressure. 
         [0021]    The biasing member  136  has been left out of  FIGS. 2-4  for purposes of clarity; however, it is included in these exemplary embodiments to cause the shuttle member  134  to move away from the outlet  160 . 
         [0022]      FIGS. 2-4  illustrate the operation of the metered squeeze dispenser  100 .  FIG. 3  illustrates the dosing chamber  130  charged with a full dose of liquid. The liquid may be, for example, a soap, a sanitizer, a lotion or the like. When the container  110  of metered squeeze dispenser  100  is squeezed, the pressure pushes shuttle member  134  downward forcing the liquid that is between shuttle member  134  and valve  140  out of the dosing chamber  130  through outlet  160 . In some embodiments, the shuttle moves because it has a large surface area with respect to the area of the liquid passage  220  between container  110  and dosing chamber  130 . In some embodiments, the size of the passage  220  is narrow enough that only a minimal amount of liquid flows through passage  220  when container  110  is squeezed. In some embodiments, the apertures  202  are small enough, and/or require the liquid to flow at an angle substantially perpendicular to the inlet of apertures  202 , to increase pressure on the shuttle member  134  and to limit liquid flowing through passage  220 . In any event, the pressure exerted by the liquid forces the shuttle  134  downward until seal member  204  contacts angled seat  240  to seal off outlet valve  140  and prevent additional fluid from flowing out of dispenser  100 . Thus, the dispenser  100  outputs a metered dose of liquid. 
         [0023]    In some embodiments a cap (not shown) is provided that fits over, or is attached to, closure  120  to seal dispenser  100  when not in use to prevent accidental dispensing. A user removes the cap prior to dispensing the liquid. 
         [0024]    When pressure is removed from container  100 , biasing member  136  urges shuttle member  134  upward, thereby expanding the volume of dosing chamber  130 . Valve  140  seals off the liquid outlet  160  and prevents air from flowing into dosing chamber  130 . The vacuum pressure created in dosing chamber  130  by the movement of shuttle member  134  upward draws liquid through apertures  202  and through passage  220  to fill dosing chamber  130 . Once dosing chamber  130  is refilled, the metered squeeze dispenser  100  is primed and ready to dispense another metered dose of liquid. 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a metered dosing dispenser  500 . Metered dosing dispenser  500  includes a housing  502 , a cap  504 , an outlet nozzle  506 , a flip lid  508 , and a dosing device  510 . Dosing device  510  is formed by an elongated tube  511  that has one or more apertures  512  leading to a center of the elongated tube  511 . The top portion of the elongated tube is open and in fluid communication with the outlet nozzle  506 . A plate  520  or plug may be provided in elongated tube  511  to prevent fluid from filling elongated tube  511 . During operation, when a user desires a metered dose of fluid, the user opens the flip lid  508 , inverts the container  502  and squeezes sides  503  of the container. The movement of sides  503  is limited by the diameter of tube  511 . Accordingly, tube  511  limits the displacement of the volume inside container  502  and provides a metered dose output. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate a metered dosing dispenser  600 . Metered dosing dispenser  600  includes a housing  602 . Housing  602  includes one or more indented sides  604 . Indented sides  604  may be smoothly contoured as shown, or may have one or more smaller indentations. As illustrated in  FIG. 6B , indented sides  604  have a small area  606  between the indentations. Thus, indented sides  604  have a limited travel when squeezed together and therefore output a metered dose of fluid when the container (and cap assembly not shown) is inverted and the indented sides are squeezed together. In some embodiments, the container  602  has raised portions on the interior of the bottle that may not be visible from the outside of the bottle, but contact one another, and/or the opposite wall to limit the travel of the side walls and provide a metered output. 
         [0027]    While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of embodiments thereof and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Moreover, elements described with one embodiment may be readily adapted for use with other embodiments. Therefore, the invention, in its broader aspects, is not limited to the specific details, the representative apparatus and/or illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicants&#39; general inventive concept.