Patent Abstract:
A dispenser for dispensing a liquid is disclosed. The dispenser comprises an outlet for dispensing a liquid, a reservoir for liquid, and a closure configured to engage with the dispenser and movable between a closed position in which the outlet is enclosed and an open position in which the outlet is not enclosed. The dispenser further comprises an arrangement for controlling liquid communication between the reservoir and the outlet, the arrangement and reservoir movable with respect to each other between a first configuration in which the reservoir is not in liquid communication with the outlet and a second configuration in which the reservoir is in liquid communication with the outlet. By requiring a second movement after removal of the closure accidental access or dispensing of the contents may be avoided or reduced.

Full Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a dispenser for dispensing a liquid. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a dispenser for dispensing a dangerous liquid such as a poisonous or toxic liquid. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Dispensers for dangerous liquids generally include a safety feature associated with the lid or cap of the dispenser which inhibits removal of the lid or cap by requiring a sequence of movements or simultaneous movements to be performed on the lid or cap in order to remove it. Typically the movements are difficult to perform, for example because two movements in transverse or naturally opposing or counterintuitive directions are required simultaneously. Such safety features are generally referred to as “childproof” or “child resistant” since they were developed in order to inhibit a child&#39;s access to dangerous contents within a bottle such as medicines whether in solid or liquid form. However, children may learn to remove such “child resistant” lids or caps and users having weak hand strength such as the aged or infirm may be unable to remove “child resistant” lids or caps. Perversely, this leads to some users leaving the lids or caps off the bottles or at least in an intermediate configuration which is not childproof and easy to remove thereby making the content accessible to children or other persons who may be not aware of the dangerous nature of the contents of the bottle. 
         [0003]    A study from the US Centre For Disease Control and Prevention dated 3 Apr. 2014 reported that more than half (51.1%) of calls to poison centres due to E-cigarettes involved young children under the age of 5, and about 42% of the poison calls involved people aged 20 and older. 
         [0004]    Aspects and embodiments in accordance with the present invention were devised with the foregoing in mind. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Viewed from a first aspect there is provided a dispenser for dispensing a liquid, comprising:
       an outlet for dispensing a liquid;   a reservoir for liquid; and   a closure configured to engage with the dispenser and movable between a closed position in which the outlet is enclosed and an open position in which the outlet is not enclosed;   the dispenser further comprising an arrangement for controlling liquid communication between the reservoir and the outlet, the arrangement and reservoir movable with respect to each other between a first configuration in which the reservoir is not in liquid communication with the outlet and a second configuration in which the reservoir is in liquid communication with the outlet; and   a housing for the reservoir, the reservoir translatable with respect to the housing to bring the reservoir into liquid communication with the outlet, wherein the housing is configured to permit the closure, while the closure is in the open outlet position, to engage with the reservoir for urging the arrangement from the first configuration to the second configuration for bringing the reservoir into liquid communication with the outlet.       
 
         [0011]    In such an embodiment, the closure is configured to engage with the housing for removably retaining the closure in a closed outlet position. Suitably, the closure and the housing comprise mutually cooperative engagement formations configured for removably retaining the closure in a closed outlet position. 
         [0012]    Such a dispenser requires at least two separate activities in order to gain access to the contents of the dispenser. Furthermore, once the first activity, i.e. removal of the closure has been completed, access to the contents of the dispenser is still inhibited. Dispensing the contents requires a specific action deliberately to dispense the contents. Thus, inadvertent dispensing of contents may be reduced or avoided. 
         [0013]    Suitably, the housing comprises an aperture configured to permit the closure to engage with the reservoir. In a particular arrangement, the closure comprises an engagement member configured to engage with the reservoir for urging the arrangement into the second configuration. Typically, the engagement member is disposed in the interior of the closure. 
         [0014]    In at least one embodiment the arrangement forms a valve assembly for controlling liquid communication between the reservoir and the outlet and operative to permit liquid communication between the reservoir and the outlet responsive to relative movement of the outlet with respect to the reservoir. A valve is a suitable arrangement for controlling the flow of a liquid. 
         [0015]    The arrangement may comprise a conduit including a first aperture in a wall of the conduit, the reservoir including a second aperture complementary to the first aperture, and wherein in the first configuration the conduit is disposed such that the wall occludes the second aperture and in the second configuration the first aperture opposes the second aperture to permit liquid communication therebetween. Suitably the reservoir and conduit are slideably movable with respect to each other between the first and second configuration. 
         [0016]    Synergistically, the reservoir includes a guide for guiding movement of the conduit between the first and second configuration and the guide may provide the wall in which the second aperture is provided. 
         [0017]    Typically, the guide is tubular and may extend into the reservoir. Suitably, the guide extends along a side of the reservoir. 
         [0018]    In at least one embodiment an end of the conduit comprises the outlet. 
         [0019]    The arrangement may be constrained to be movable between the first and second configuration only while the closure is in the open position which reduces the likelihood of accidental dispensing or spillage of contents. Such accidents may be further reduced by the closure being configured to engage with the reservoir for removably retaining the closure in a closed outlet position. 
         [0020]    In at least one embodiment, the outlet is mounted on a plug member insertable to an open end of the reservoir, the plug member comprising the arrangement and movable with respect to the reservoir from the first configuration to the second configuration. 
         [0021]    Suitably, the closure and the reservoir comprise mutually cooperative engagement formations configured for removably retaining the closure in a closed outlet position. 
         [0022]    The closure may further comprises an occlusion member in its interior configured to occlude the outlet while the closure is in the closed position. In this way, further accidental spillage leakage of the content of the dispenser may be avoided or the likelihood reduced. 
         [0023]    Synergistically, the engagement member is configured to occlude the outlet when the closure is in the closed position. 
         [0024]    In one or more embodiments the reservoir is configured to permit pressure to be exerted on a liquid in the reservoir to dispense liquid from the outlet. In certain embodiments the housing is deformable to permit pressure to be exerted on a liquid in the reservoir. 
         [0025]    One or more embodiments may comprise a bias mechanism configured to bias the reservoir away from the second configuration. Such an arrangement maintains the reservoir out of liquid communication with the outlet unless a positive pressure is applied to bring them into liquid communication thereby reducing the likelihood of leakage and accidental dispensing of contents. Suitably, the bias mechanism is fixed at one end to the closure. 
         [0026]    In one or more embodiments the housing comprises an end cap supporting the outlet and the arrangement. Typically, the end cap is removably attached to the housing. 
         [0027]    In one or more embodiments, the mutually cooperative engagement formations comprise a détente arrangement movable between an engaged and disengaged position, wherein in the engaged position the closure is retained in the closed outlet position and in the disengaged position the closure is movable to the open outlet position. Suitably, the mutually cooperative engagement formations are arranged to provide a “child resistant” release mechanism. For example, the mutually cooperative engagement formations are arranged to provide a squeeze and pull release mechanism. 
     
    
     
       LIST OF FIGURES 
         [0028]    One or more embodiments in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0029]      FIG. 1  illustrates three views of a dispenser, in which the first view (a) shows a dispenser with the lid attached in a closed position; the second view (b) shows the dispenser with the lid removed (open position) and a movable valve in an open position; and a third view (c) showing the movable valve in the closed position; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective “exploded” view of the dispenser illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  illustrates “wire frame” views in which view (a) shows the dispenser with the lid on the reservoir, view (b) shows the lid removed and view (b) shows the lid removed and the valve pulled to its open position; 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  schematically illustrates crossectional views of (a) the valve in its closed configuration and (b) the valve in its open configuration, and (c) a perspective view showing the valve partway between its open and closed configurations; 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  shows various schematic illustrations of different shaped dispensers in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  shows yet further various schematic illustrations of different shaped dispensers; 
           [0035]      FIG. 7  schematically illustrates two views of an embodiment of a dispenser in accordance with the present invention in which view (a) shows the dispenser with a lid on and view (b) shows the dispenser with the lid pulled off; 
           [0036]      FIG. 8  shows an exploded view of the embodiment of the dispenser in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 9  shows a schematic representation of the lid of a dispenser being placed at its base in operation of the embodiment of the dispenser in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0038]      FIG. 10  shows a first view (a) of a cross-section through an aperture in the conduit of a valve member of the embodiment of the dispenser in accordance with the present invention and the second view (b) of a cross-section through the centre of the embodiment of the dispenser in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 11  is a schematic illustration of a stopper arrangement suitable for a dispenser as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 6 ; and 
           [0040]      FIG. 12  is a schematic illustration of a further stopper arrangement suitable for a dispenser as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 6 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0041]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a dispenser  1  comprises a reservoir  2  and a cap or lid  3 , hereinafter a lid. The dispenser  1  also includes a valve member  4  movable to bring the reservoir into fluid communication with an outlet  5 . Valve member  4  comprises a lip  8  which provides a stop to inhibit the valve  4  being pushed too far into reservoir  2 . Additionally, it may also be used to provide a convenient feature which may be gripped between the user&#39;s fingers when pulling the valve  4  open. 
         [0042]    As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , view (b) and view (c) the valve member  4  supports an outlet  5  which in the described embodiment forms a tapered spout for controlled delivery of a liquid. Also illustrated in  FIG. 1 , view (b) and view (c) is a transparent viewing window  6  through which the level of the contents in reservoir  2  may be viewed. A conduit member  7  of valve  4  is shown in  FIG. 1 , view (b) and can be seen to extend from the valve member  4  into the interior of reservoir  2 . The conduit member  7  is in liquid communication with outlet  5  and since both the outlet  5  and conduit member  7  are mounted on a valve member  4  they move together such that any liquid entering into conduit member  7  may flow to outlet  5 . In the described embodiment the lower part of valve member  4  is made of a transparent material, e.g. a transparent plastics material and conduit member  7  is made from an opaque material e.g. an opaque plastics material hence its visibility in  FIG. 1 . Naturally, such a configuration is convenient for illustrative purposes but the person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the function of the device is not dependent upon whether or not one or more parts are transparent or opaque and all parts may be opaque or indeed transparent or any combination thereof. 
         [0043]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the valve member  4  may be seen completely removed from reservoir  2 , the lid  3  also being separated from the valve member  4 . Conduit member  7  includes an aperture  10  towards the end of the conduit member  7  which is inserted into reservoir  2 . Conduit member  7  is also closed at the end inserted into reservoir  2 . Valve member  4  also includes an interior lip member  15  which may be engaged with a corresponding stop member  16  located around the upper periphery of reservoir  2  to inhibit valve member  4  from being drawn out of the reservoir  2  completely. 
         [0044]    Valve member  4  is slidable between its open and closed configurations in close cooperation with the interior sides  14  of reservoir  2  that extend beyond the storage cavity of reservoir  2 . In the described embodiment slidable close cooperation is achieved by protruding tongue members  9  disposed at the sides of valve member  4  which slide within cooperatively disposed grooves  11  located on the interior sides  14  of reservoir  2  extending beyond the storage cavity  12 . Optionally, the tongue members  9  do not run in corresponding grooves but engage with the interior sides  14  of the protruding part of the reservoir sidewalls. For example, the tongue members  9  may be inclined so as to form a wedge thereby firmly engaging the valve member  4  with the reservoir  2  but allowing the valve member  4  to be drawn away from the reservoir  2  cavity into the valve member  4  open configuration. 
         [0045]    Lid  3  is made of a deformable material such as a medium density plastics material such as polypropylene and the like, and also includes a cavity  17  which is shaped to accommodate protrusion  18 . When the lid  3  is pushed onto valve member  4  the wall of the lid encountering protrusion  18  deforms sufficiently for the lid to pass over protrusion  18  until protrusion  18  engages with cavity  17  to releasably couple the lead to the valve member  4 . The lid may be removed by simply squeezing the side walls  20  thereby causing the sidewalls  21  in the vicinity of cavity  17  to move outwards away from valve member  4 . Movement of sidewalls  21  away from valve member  4  release protrusion  18  from cavity  17  thereby permitting lid  3  to be removed. 
         [0046]    Turning now to  FIG. 4  a cross-section of dispenser  1  with valve member  4  in the closed position is illustrated in  FIG. 4 , view (a). The storage cavity  12  of reservoir  2  is formed of the sidewalls of the reservoir and a top wall  22 . Extending through top wall  22  is a tubular guide  24  in which conduit member  7  slides. Tubular guide  24  is closed at one end  26  and also includes a guide wall aperture  28  exposed to the interior of storage cavity  12 . As schematically illustrated in  FIG. 4 , view (c), valve member  4  may be pulled to open the valve into the valve member open position illustrated in cross-section in  FIG. 4 , view (b). 
         [0047]    In the valve member  4  open position aperture  10  in conduit member  7  is positioned opposite guide wall aperture  28  to provide a liquid communication path between the storage cavity  12  of reservoir  2  and the interior of conduit member  7 . Thus, liquid stored in reservoir  2  may flow through apertures  28  and  10  into the interior of conduit member  7  and subsequently to outlet  5 . In the described embodiment the walls of reservoir  2  are made of a deformable material such as a deformable plastics material and therefore may be squeezed to apply pressure to liquid stored in cavity  12  thereby forcing the liquid through apertures  28  and  10  onward through the interior of conduit member  7  to outlet  5  for dispensing of the liquid. 
         [0048]    Such an arrangement comprises two safety features. The second safety feature is only accessible once the first or primary safety feature has been removed. A simple single direction operation, i.e. pulling the valve member  4  away from the reservoir into the open position creates a liquid path between the reservoir cavity  12  and the outlet  5  so that liquid stored in the reservoir cavity  12  may be dispensed. 
         [0049]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , view (a) an embodiment in accordance with the present invention is schematically illustrated in which a dispenser  50  comprises a housing  52  and a lid  54  attached to the housing  52 . The second embodiment incorporates a primary child resistance feature which requires squeezing of the sides  56  of lid  54  to release lid  54  from the housing  52 . 
         [0050]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , view (b) the valve member  58  is disposed at one end of housing  52  and includes an outlet  60 . The valve member  58  also includes an engagement member  62  which cooperates with complementary engagement member  64  located on the interior of lid  54  to releasably lid  54  to the valve member  58  and thus housing  52 . Releasing lid  54  allows the lid to be pulled away from the housing  52 . The engagement members  62  and  64  may be a cavity and protrusion respectively or a protrusion and cavity respectively or indeed a combination of both. 
         [0051]    An exploded view of the dispenser in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention is schematically illustrated in  FIG. 8 . Housing  52  may be considered to be a “bottle body” and is open at one end to receive reservoir  68  which may be considered to be a “bottle insert”. Reservoir  68  is formed of a deformable material such as a plastics, for example polypropylene, so that one or more sides of the reservoir  68  may be squeezed together to expel liquid in the reservoir cavity out of the cavity. Likewise, housing  52  is also made of a deformable material such as polypropylene so that it may be deformed, for example by pressing a region of the housing, button  66 , which is likely to produce the greatest squeezing effect on reservoir  68  when inserted in the housing  52 . 
         [0052]    In the described embodiment, housing  52  and reservoir  68  have transparent sections  67  and  69  respectively in order for a user to see the amount of liquid in the reservoir  68 . Additionally, reservoir  68  includes a moulded spring  70  which in the described embodiment is attached to a neck  71  of reservoir  68 . Valve member  58 , sometimes referred to as a “bottle nib” includes an engagement member  62 . Valve member  58  also includes a conduit member  74  which includes an aperture  76 . Moulded spring  70  is configured such that conduit  74  may be inserted through the helix forming the spring  70  so that the spring  70  may abut the top of the interior of valve  58  or some other feature against which the moulded spring  70  may abut. As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , lid  54  includes engagement member  64  which is complementary to engagement member  62  for into engaging therewith. 
         [0053]      FIG. 9  of the accompanying drawings schematically illustrates the sequence for using a dispenser in accordance with the embodiment of the invention. Lid  54  is released from housing  52  and valve member  58  to expose outlet  60 . Lid  54  is placed over the opposite end of housing  52  to valve member  58 . The end of housing  52  is shaped to accommodate the interior of lid  54 . 
         [0054]    The cross-section of dispenser  50  with lid  54  removed is illustrated in  FIG. 10 , view (a) the cross-section being taken through a section of the dispenser exposing an aperture  76  formed in conduit  74 . As can be seen from  FIG. 10 , view (a) reservoir  68  is enclosed in housing  52 . Housing  52  has an aperture  53  at an end opposite the valve member  58 . Valve member  58  is “press fitted” to housing  52  comprises clips  59  to act as stops against the side walls of housing  52 . Housing  52  may also be slightly tapered so the insertion of the valve member  58  move the sides of the housing  52  apart against the bias of the deformable material in order to engage a push fit. Optionally, the push fit may comprise a snap fit arrangement with mutually complementary inter-engagement members for attaching valve  58  firmly to housing  52 . 
         [0055]    The interior cavity  71  of reservoir  68  is where liquid is stored. Valve member  58  includes a conduit  74  which is in liquid communication with outlet  60 . Conduit  74  extends through moulded spring  70 , which is mounted to the edge of neck  72  and continues through neck  72  of reservoir  68  into the storage cavity  71 . The end of conduit  74  extending into the storage cavity  71  is closed at an end wall and includes an aperture,  76 , in a side wall towards the closed end. In the valve closed configuration as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , view (a) helical spring  70  biases reservoir  68  towards the far end of the cavity  52  which acts as a stop member for the reservoir  68 . 
         [0056]    Just below neck  72  of reservoir  68  is disposed a seal arrangement  78 ,  80  and  81 . The seal arrangement is such that in the valve closed position liquid communication between the storage cavity  71  and aperture  76  is inhibited. As can be seen from reference  80  of the seal arrangement a small section,  81 , protrudes under the closed end of conduit  74 . Seal arrangement  78 ,  80  and  81  forms a concentric ring comprised of region  81  protruding under the closed end of conduit  74  when the valve is closed and widening out in a circular cone-like configuration towards the interior of storage cavity  71 . The seal arrangement, at least in region  81 , comprises a resiliently deformable material such as rubber or silicone. The resiliently deformable region  81  is configured so that it is biased towards the closed end of conduit  74  but may be urged back towards the cavity when conduit  74  is inserted into the cavity such as when the valve is opened. 
         [0057]    Referring now to  FIG. 10 , view (b) conduit  74  has been urged into cavity  71  and region  81  can be seen to have been deformed by the movement of conduit  74 , from its closed to open position. Moving conduit  74  to the open position brings aperture  76  into liquid communication with storage cavity  71  thereby providing a liquid communication path from storage cavity  71  through the tubular interior of conduit  74  to outlet  60 . 
         [0058]    Conduit  74  is urged into storage cavity  71  by movement of reservoir  68  towards valve member  58  against the bias of moulded spring  70 . Movement of reservoir  68  from the valve closed position to the valve open position is achieved by the action of abutment member  82 . Abutment member  82  extends from the interior top of lid  54  into the interior cavity of lid  54 . When lid  54  is placed over the non-outlet end of housing  52  abutment member  82  passes through aperture  53  in the end of housing  52  to abut an exterior end wall of reservoir  68 . As lid  54  is urged over the end of housing  52  reservoir  68  is moved against the bias of helical spring  70  such that conduit  74  deforms the seal arrangement in region  81  and enters storage cavity  70 . Removal of lid  54  from the end of housing  52  results in reservoir  68  being urged back and away from valve member  58  and with the bias of moulded spring  70  such that conduit  74  moves out of the storage cavity  71 . The deformable region  81  of the seal arrangement relaxes back to protrude under the closed end of conduit  74  thereby inhibiting liquid communication between storage cavity  71  and aperture  76  to close the valve member  58 . 
         [0059]    In a particular embodiment abutment member  82  may be cylindrical and configured to accommodate outlet  60  in its interior thereby to provide further protection against contents of the dispenser. 
         [0060]      FIG. 11  illustrates a seal arrangement suitable for outlet  5  of the dispenser illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 6 .  FIG. 11 , view (a) shows the arrangement  100  in a closed configuration in which stopper  102  is engaged with the interior hollow tube of conduit  104  to inhibit liquid communication into conduit. Movement of the conduit  104  away from the stopper opens the outlet  100  as illustrated in  FIG. 11 , view (b) and permits liquid,  106 , to flow around the stopper and into the hollow tube conduit  104  comments out of the outlet. Another example of a seal arrangement suitable for the dispenser illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 6  is illustrated in  FIG. 12 . The arrangement,  110 , comprises a conduit  114  having a hollow section engaging with the stopper  112  when shut. To open the outlet the conduit  114  is moved away such that liquid  106  the flow around stopper  112  and out of the outlet. 
         [0061]    As used herein any reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or the phrase “in an embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. 
         [0062]    As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present). 
         [0063]    In addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components of the invention. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the invention. This description should be read to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise. 
         [0064]    In view of the foregoing description it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. For example, the embodiment of a dispenser in accordance with the present invention has been described with reference to a moulded helical spring. However, the spring need not be moulded but may be a conventional helical spring made of wire. Optionally, or additionally, the spring may be a leaf spring or some other resilient member configured to bias the reservoir  68  away from valve member  58 . Although polypropylene has been provided as an example of material for which the dispenser may be made, other plastics materials or other suitable material such as a resin may also be utilised. 
         [0065]    The scope of the present disclosure includes any novel feature or combination of features disclosed therein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalisation thereof irrespective of whether or not it relates to the claimed invention or mitigate against any or all of the problems addressed by the present invention. The applicant hereby gives notice that new claims may be formulated to such features during prosecution of this application or of any such further application derived therefrom. In particular, with reference to the appended claims, features from dependent claims may be combined with those of the independent claims and features from respective independent claims may be combined in any appropriate manner and not merely in specific combinations enumerated in the claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1