Patent ID: 8668400

Claim:
A fluid dispensing system, comprising: a reservoir portion having a cap mounting neck and containing a fluid, the reservoir having a pierceable opening at the distal end of the neck; a cap including a piercing tip and an elongated applicator tube portion having an opening at its distal end, with the lumen of the tube in fluid communication with the piercing tip, mounted on the neck of the reservoir; the cap and neck constructed and arranged to adopt at least one active configuration with the piercing tip extending through the pierceable opening to place the reservoir in fluid communication with the lumen of the applicator tube and at least one inactive configuration with the piercing tip distal to the pierceable opening of the reservoir; the cap including at least two inwardly projecting tabs; the neck of the reservoir portion including at least two outwardly extending horizontal ridges that extend only part of the way around the neck, with at least two ramp portions, extending proximally from the horizontal ridges at an angle to the ridges, and defining a passageway from the distal side of the horizontal ridges to the proximal side of the horizontal ridges, the horizontal ridge and ramp portions configured to interact with the tabs to selectively maintain said piercing tip in a position away from the pierceable opening in the inactive configuration and to advance the piercing tip into the active configuration by the selective application of twisting force to bring the tabs through the passageway and the piercing tip in the proximal direction towards the pierceable opening; and a projecting fin structure at the distal opening of the tube extending proximally along at least a portion of the length of the outside surface of the elongated tube, the fin structure configured and positioned to help part an animal's fur and direct fluid from the tube, past an animal's fur, onto the skin of an animal.