Abstract:
A dispensing device is disclosed which provides for dispensing multiple doses from a cylindrical volume. An actuator button moves a tooth to engage a series of links which move a stopper to dispense the doses.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present application is directed to a device for dispensing multiple, sequential amounts of liquids or fluids including semi-solid fluids, such as medication doses, precise aliquots of adhesives, or other useful fluids where a consistent and repeatable dispensing amount is desired. 
         [0002]    Products such as fluid medicines, for example cough syrups and the like, may be packaged in containers holding multiple doses that are to be dispensed by pouring the medicine into a spoon or into a small cup. Such methods are prone to spilling and subject to inexact amounts. A more repeatable, neater dispensing method is desired. 
         [0003]    It is known to have dispensing devices capable of delivering several measured doses. For example, United States Patent Application Publication 20130289493 to Baney et al discloses a “Dose dividing delivery device,” but the device is complex. It would be advantageous to have a delivery device that is simple to manufacture and use. 
         [0004]    The dispensing device disclosed here has a simple construction that facilitates its use as a disposable, pre-filled dispensing device. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In one aspect, a fluid dispensing device is disclosed that include a cylinder, a stopper axially movable through the cylinder, a pusher plate in contact with an outward face of the stopper, a plurality of links connected together in series, with a terminal one of the links connected to the pusher plate, and an actuator tooth movable axially inwardly and outwardly with respect to the cylinder, the actuator tooth on an inward stroke engaging at least one of the plurality of links and causing the stopper to move inwardly through the cylinder, the actuator tooth on an outward stroke disengaging from the plurality of links. 
         [0006]    In certain embodiments, each of the plurality of links are of equal length. 
         [0007]    In certain embodiments, the length of each link corresponds to a fluid dosage to be delivered by the dispensing device. 
         [0008]    In certain embodiments, the links are connected together by living hinges. 
         [0009]    In certain embodiments, the fluid dispensing device includes a spring to bias the actuator tooth outwardly with respect to the cylinder. 
         [0010]    In certain embodiments, the fluid dispensing device includes an actuator button connected to the actuator tooth. 
         [0011]    In certain embodiments, the links are substantially flat. 
         [0012]    In certain embodiments, the links are slightly curved in cross section. 
         [0013]    In certain embodiments, the fluid dispensing device includes a track housing to contain at least some of the links. 
         [0014]    Other aspects of the disclosed fluid dispensing device will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of a fluid dispensing device; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2A  shows a side view of the parts of the fluid dispensing device; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 2B and 2C  show detail views of certain parts of the dispensing device; and 
           [0018]      FIGS. 3A-3C  show several views of the fluid dispensing device in use. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    As various embodiments of the fluid dispensing device are described, reference will be made to  FIGS. 1-3 . Certain parts of the dispensing device are denoted by reference numerals. Where there is more than one of the same feature, generally only one will be denoted by a reference numeral. Where assembly steps are described, these steps are exemplary and are not to be limiting as to the sequence of operations used to arrive at the final package. Also, directions such as up, down, top, bottom, front, back, etc. are used for convenience in describing the device and are not meant to be limiting. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of a dispensing device  200 , in an assembled state. The parts include cylinder  210 , actuator button  220 , stopper  230  (hidden within the cylinder), collar  240 , outlet valve  250 , cap  260 , and actuator track  270  (hidden within track housing  276  in  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0021]    Cylinder  210  may by a generally right circular shape, such as a round tube. The cylinder may be made of a material such as a plastic and may be formed by injection molding. The cylinder may have an open end (toward the left in  FIG. 1 ) and distal end (toward the right in  FIG. 1 ). Along at least part of the length of cylinder  210  may be provided gradations  214  such as printed indicia, molded indicia, or transparent, translucent, or opaque areas. 
         [0022]    Cylinder  210  may be transparent, translucent, or opaque. If the cylinder is not transparent, at least a portion  216  may be provided which is transparent or translucent in order for a user to see the contents of the cylinder. At the distal end of the cylinder there may be provided an outlet such as nozzle  218 . A one way valve or drip-prevention feature such as a slit valve or duckbill valve  250 , or split or rolling septum, may be provided within or on the outlet nozzle  218  to seal the product in the cylinder when the delivery device is at rest. Alternately, a spring-loaded valve may be used. An outlet valve, for example a spring-loaded valve, may prevent a child from sucking the contents from the cylinder, and may provide an additional microbial barrier for the contents. A removable cap  260  may be provided to attach onto or fit over the distal end of cylinder  210  and/or nozzle  218 . Cap  260  may be used as an auxiliary dispensing device, for example with the dose dispensed into the cap so that it may be poured from the cap into a patient&#39;s mouth. The cap may have graduations provided thereon, for example by molding or printing. The cap may be attached to cylinder  210  or nozzle  218  by a child-resistant feature, for example using any of the known child-resistant attachments by which a cap may be attached to a medicine bottle. 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 2A , stopper  230  may be sized to fit in cylinder  210 . Stopper  230  may be made from rubber, plastic, or elastomeric material and may be sized and shaped to provide a close, fluid-tight fit against the inside of cylinder  210 . Stopper  230  and/or pusher plate  274  may be long enough to move smoothly through cylinder  210  without tending to turn out of axial alignment with the cylinder. 
         [0024]    An actuator track  270  may be provided to push the stopper  230  forward in the cylinder  210 . The actuator track  270  may include a series of links  272  connected together with a forward end of the series of links connected to a pusher plate  274  immediately behind stopper  230  (e.g. toward the open or left end of cylinder  210 ). The length of the series of links may be approximately equal to the useful length of the cylinder  210  through which stopper  230  will move. 
         [0025]    The links  272  may be formed of a plastic or polymer material or other somewhat flexible material and may be connected one to another through living hinges, that is, thinned portions capable of flexing. The links  272  may be housed in a track housing  276  which may be provided on the outside of cylinder  210 . As shown in  FIG. 2B , the links may have a generally flat aspect as with links  272 B. As shown in  FIG. 2C , the links may have a somewhat curved aspect as with links  272 C, in which case actuator track  270  may form a shallow trough-shaped structure which may more readily transfer a pushing force from tooth  224  to pusher plate  274 . Some or all of links  272  may have an opening, depression, or protrusion to receive tooth  224  (described below), or the tooth may engage a gap between links such as a gap at a living hinge between links. The living hinges between the  272  links allows actuator track  270  to bend over 180 degrees on itself when pulled around the junction where track housing  276  joins cylinder  210 , which allows for a compact construction. However, the living hinges still help provide a relatively rigid actuator track  270  when the links  272  are being pushed between tooth  224  and drive plate  274 . 
         [0026]    At the open end of the cylinder  210  may be provided an actuator button  220  that may be received in a collar  240 . On the inside of collar  240  may be a bore  242  through which actuator button  220  may pass. A spring  244  may be provided to bias the actuator button outward from the collar. A tooth  224  may be provided on a portion of the actuator button extending into the cylinder  210 . The tooth  224  may be biased radially outward by a flexing arm  222 . 
         [0027]    Collar  240  and/or actuator button  220  may be provided with indicia such as symbols or words to indicate how to align the actuator button  220  with collar  240  in order to bring driving tooth  224  into alignment with links  272  so that the dispensing device may be utilized. Thus, a rotary motion of the actuator button  220  may bring the tooth  224  into or out of alignment with links  272 . To help rotate button  220 , it may be provided with knurling or other texture or raised or depressed areas for better gripping of the button by the user. This ability of the actuator button  220  to be rotated to engage or disengage the driving tooth  224  may be utilized as a child resistant or travel lock option. An audible or tactile indication may be produced when the actuator button has been turned so that the driving tooth  224  is aligned into its engaged position.  FIGS. 3A-3C  illustrate use of the dispensing device. As shown in  FIG. 3A , initially the plunger actuator button may protrude outward (to the left in  FIG. 3A ) under the force of spring  244 . The tooth  224  may engage between two links  272  of the actuator track  270 . 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 3B , inward pressure P 1  on actuator button  220  will cause the button to move inward against the force of spring  244 , so that tooth  224  forces one of the links  272  further inward into cylinder  210 . This in turn forces pusher plate  274  inward, and stopper  230  as well, causing a dose of the fluid contents to be expelled from the nozzle  218 . Tooth  224  may engage an opening or a protrusion in a link  272 , or may engage a gap between links such as a gap at a living hinge between links. Actuator button  220  may be constructed to provide an audible or tactile indication when the button is depressed to its full stroke. In one manner of operation, the user may push on the actuator button with his thumb while one or more fingers support or grip the collar or the cylinder. 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 3C , actuator button  220  upon being released will be forced back outward by spring  244 . Tooth  224  will disengage from the links of the actuator track, and move back outward until it engages with the next link  272 . The dispensing device is then ready for another cycle. 
         [0030]    The steps shown in  FIGS. 3A-3C  may be repeated to eventually deliver several doses, for example, about ten doses for the dispensing device shown in  FIGS. 3A-3C . 
         [0031]    The dispensing device prevents a user from dispensing more than one dose in one actuation of the button, which may help prevent an overdose of medication. The actuator button stroke length and the pitch of the holes the track links may be designed to give the precise dose, and no more, with each actuation of the device. 
         [0032]    Although various aspects of the disclosed dispensing device have been shown and described, modifications may occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification.