Dispensing – Nongravity feed to trap of vacuum – gravity – or manual...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-27
2002-01-01
Kaufman, Joseph A. (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
Nongravity feed to trap of vacuum, gravity, or manual...
C222S207000, C222S438000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06334550
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a dose measuring apparatus for distributing a liquid in predetermined doses, consisting of a beaker-shaped can which serves as reservoir for collecting the amount of liquid to be dosed.
Its most important application is in the accurate dosing of liquid medicines (both for human and veterinary medicine application). It can be extended for dosages of all liquids from whatever field.
2. The Prior Art
Through WO 96/07599 a packaging for liquid detergent is known, which is equipped with an adjustable dose measuring device for liquid. The dose measuring device is built into the packaging and serves as dispenser of an adjustable amount of liquid detergent. The dose measuring device comprises an adjustable upper plate that can be slid along the inside of the recipient in order to alter the height of a partition chamber just prior to use of the recipient, through which the dose of liquid detergent to be distributed is set.
This dose measuring device is satisfactory for detergents but is far from sufficiently accurate and reliable for dosing medicines.
Furthermore the recipient has to be completely turned upside down when pouring the amount of liquid, which is neither practical nor hygienic, because the recipient is heavy and because impurities which can be present on the outside of the packaging, can fall into the poured medicine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention aims at remedying these disadvantages as well as providing an attractive and reliable solution to the problem of hygienic and easy distribution in equal and reproducible doses of liquid medicinal compounds. The task is implemented according to this invention by means of a dose measuring apparatus with a recipient for liquid, in which the volume is accurate, through the removal by suction of the liquid which is situated above a specific level.
The dose measuring apparatus according to the invention, which enables an accurate dosing of a bottled liquid comprises:
a) a means for hermetically mounting the dose measuring apparatus on a bottle;
b) a reservoir with a bottom;
c) a means that forms a channel or tube, whereby this channel or tube extends between a lower opening which is designed to be inserted into the liquid of the bottle and an upper opening which is in the reservoir, at least at a level that is remote from the bottom, and whereby a part of this channel or tube is at a level above the bottom of the reservoir and above the upper opening, whereby through the exertion of a pressure in the bottle or of an underpressure in the reservoir, liquid flows from the bottle through the channel or tube to the reservoir, while as soon as or after this pressure or underpressure is no longer exerted, the liquid, which is in the reservoir above the level of the upper opening of the channel, is removed by suction to the bottle via the channel or tube and via the part thereof that is at a level above the upper opening, through which after that removal by suction, an accurate volume of liquid in the reservoir is determined between the bottom of the reservoir and the level of the upper opening.
For example, a part of the channel or tube is at a level that lies at least 0.1 cm, preferably at least 0.3 cm, above the level of the upper opening. In particular, this part is at a level that lies at lest 0.5 cm above the level of the upper opening.
The suction power for the through flow of the liquid from the reservoir to the bottle, must therefore exceed the gravity of the liquid which lies between the upper opening and the upper part of the channel or tube.
As soon as the level of the liquid in the reservoir nearly corresponds to the level of the upper opening, the liquid is no longer removed by suction from the reservoir via the upper opening of the channel or tube.
If the level of the upper opening of the channel remains constant in relation to the bottom of the reservoir, the dose measuring apparatus according to the invention is designed to dose a specific volume of liquid.
Preferably, the level of the upper opening of the channel or tube can be adapted in relation to the bottom of the reservoir, so that the volume of liquid to be dosed is adjusted in accordance.
The dose measuring apparatus is therefore preferably provided with a means for adjusting the level of the upper opening in relation to the reservoir, whereby in the reservoir, the volume between the bottom and the upper opening of the channel or tube is adjusted.
According to an embodiment the apparatus, according to the invention, is provided with a cutoff means in order to prevent the through flow of liquid from the bottle to the reservoir. This is suitable for pouring liquid out of the reservoir as well as for transporting and/or storing a liquid in a bottle which is provided with an apparatus according to the invention.
According to a detail of an embodiment the channel is provided with a cutoff means in order to prevent the through flow of liquid from the bottle to the reservoir.
According to a specific embodiment the channel consists of at least two parts, whereby the above mentioned parts are movably connected in relation to each other, so that, through the movement of the parts in relation to each other, the level of the upper opening of the channel in the reservoir can be adjusted in relation to the bottom of the reservoir.
According to a possible embodiment the bottom of the reservoir is movably mounted in relation to the means that forms the channel or tube.
According to an advantageous embodiment the reservoir is provided with an inner sleeve whereby that inner sleeve has an upper wall with an opening and a side wall, whereby that side wall forms a wall of the reservoir and extends between the bottom of the reservoir and the upper wall. The channel consists of a first part and a second part, whereby the first part extends between the lower opening of the channel and the opening of the upper wall, while the second part consists of a sleeve which extends between an open extremity and a closed-off extremity, whereby the sleeve of the second part has a wall which is directed towards the side wall of the first sleeve which is at least partially remote from that side wall in order to form a passage between the tenon extremity and the opening of the upper wall.
For example the dose measuring apparatus consists of a cylindrical lower part, a cylindrical upper part and a pipe, whereby the lower part comprises a cylindrical outer sleeve and a bottom in order to form a reservoir of a dosed amount of liquid, as well as an inner sleeve with an upper wall with an opening, on which an extremity of the pipe is mounted in order to form the first part of the channel, while the upper part is rotatably mounted on the lower part and has a surface that is provided with a cylindrical outer sleeve and with a concentric sleeve with an open extremity and a closed extremity, whereby the inner sleeve of the lower part is inserted at least partially into the concentric sleeve and whereby, between the concentric sleeve and the inner sleeve, the second part of the channel is formed, along which liquid in the reservoir is sent via the bottle or liquid from the reservoir is removed by suction to the bottle. The upper part is connected to the lower part by means of a screw mechanism, whereby the outer sleeve of the upper part connects to the outer sleeve of the lower part, so that through the turning of the upper part in relation to the lower part the concentric sleeve is moved upwards or downwards along the inner sleeve in order to move the open extremity of the concentric sleeved and in order to define a specific dose volume of the reservoir under this open extremity of the concentric sleeve.
The rotatable upper part can serve as stopper of the bottle, because it has a conoid on the inside, when it is completely closed tight on the lower part of the doser, which in its turn is screwed down or snapped onto the bottle, can hermetically seal off the only passage of the lower part, so that possible volatile substances
Buechner Patrick
Dykema Gossett PLLC
Kaufman Joseph A.
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