Rieke Corporation

Astrazeneca Ab

Rieke Packaging Systems Limited

The English Glass Company Limited

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Regent Medical Limited

Imperial Chemical Industries Limited

Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.

Chesebrough-Pond's USA Co., Division of Conopco, Inc.

Chesebrough-Pond's USA Co.

The Colman Group, Inc.

Ingersoll-Rand Architectural Hardware Group Ltd.

Regent Medical Center

Burgess Power Tools Limited

Brian Robert Law

David John Pritchett

Jeffrey William Spencer

Thomas P Kasting

Robert Dale Rohr

Derek J Shaw

Richard A Laveault

Anthony Wass

Stephen E Stalions

David Pritchett

Simon Christopher Knight

Anthony C Wass

Christopher Harris

David J Pritchett

Simon Ingram

Paul A Glover

Roy Cox

Paul A Omdoll

Peter D Hodson

Mark Lester Brenneman

Eric A Baum

Mike Phillips

Tim Strandell

Christopher M Turner

John E A Shaw

Jeffrey W Spencer

Tomi Hynninen

Jeff Spencer

Paul A Harley

David Prichett

Bryan J A Miller

Richard Smith

Anthony Charles Lammond Wass

Juha Koivistoinen

Albert J Smith

Peter J Craddock

Wayne L Schmidt

A pump dispenser has a pump body and a reciprocable plunger with a lock-down mechanism, including internal or external lock formations of the plunger and body, such as thread formations, by which the plunger can be locked down for shipping and released subsequently by a rotational release movement. To supplement security for demanding shipping conditions the dispenser also has a supplementary catch mechanism in which respective catch formations of the plunger and body engage selectively in the locked-down position to inhibit the rotational release movement. The catch formations may have circumferentially-directed surfaces which engage between the underside of a plunger head having a shroud and a nozzle and the top of the body beneath the plunger head. They can be released by resilient deformation of one or more of the catch formations.

Pump dispensers

A pump dispenser has a pump body and a reciprocable plunger with a lock-down mechanism, comprising internal or external lock formations of the plunger and body, such as thread formations, by which the plunger can be locked down for shipping and released subsequently by a rotational release movement. To supplement security for demanding shipping conditions the dispenser also has a supplementary catch mechanism in which respective catch formations of the plunger and body engage selectively in the locked-down position to inhibit the rotational release movement. The catch formations may have circumferentially-directed surfaces which engage between the underside of a plunger head having a shroud and a nozzle and the top of the body beneath the plunger head. They can be released by resilient deformation of one or more of the catch formations.

A surgical preparation applicator device has a pre-loaded container of surgical preparation liquid, the container having a front closure at its front end. The container is received in an applicator body which includes a tubular receiving structure, movable from an initial position to an open position whereby a cutter of the applicator body opens the front closure to allow liquid to flow forwardly to an applicator pad. The applicator body defines a flow path between the container and the applicator pad. The container has separate chambers containing different component liquids of the surgical preparation liquid. The chambers are separated by an internal wall and being side-by-side, each having a front opening at the front end of the container with the front closure closing off both front openings.

Applicators

A dosing device for dispensing liquid from a container () in which flow through flow openings () to an outlet tube () is blocked after controlled delay by an obturator () moveable within a control chamber () mounted in a container neck () behind the outlet tube (). Movement of the obturator () is governed by restricted flow through control openings () at the rear of the control chamber. Restoration of the obturator to the back of the control chamber facilitates repeated dosing. An elastomeric element () of resiliently deformable material promotes a seal to achieve a cleanly defined dose. In one proposal the elastomeric element coats the surface of the obturator and/or the outlet tube () to cut off the flow. Another proposal provides a one-way elastomeric valve element () for blocking the flow openings to enable rapid recovery after a dosing operation.

Liquid dosing devices

Pump dispenser, particularly a movable-nozzle pump dispenser, is intended especially for use in dispensing oral medicines e.g. to children. One feature disclosed is a tooth or ratchet structure engageable between the plunger head and the pump cylinder body. This enables optional holding of the plunger at an intermediate position during a dispensing stroke, so that a dose can be given bit by bit. Other proposals are formations around the top of the cylinder body which interact with the inside of the plunger to control or limit movement of the plunger according to their relative rotational orientation. For example the plunger may be locked up unless turned forcibly past a rotational stop. A related feature is a spring lock tab preventing rotation of the plunger unless the tab is pressed to release it. The product container may contain balls to cause agitation.

Dispensers

Applicators are described suitable for the application of liquid to patient's skin. An applicator pad () is supported on a support flange () of an applicator housing (), which receives a liquid cartridge (). To moderate the rush of liquid on to the back of the applicator pad a flow distributor plate () is positioned on the rear position of the pad (), restricting flow onto the pad to an annular slit opening around the plate (). The front surface of the plate (), opposing the pad (), may have one or more grooves so that liquid can flow from the edge towards the center. Also disclosed, as an alternative, is the use of a projecting cantilevered tongue structure to distribute liquid across the rear surface of the sponge pad. The pad may have a hooked lobe shape for a front end of the applicator pad.

A pump dispenser is intended for oral administration of medicines. A pump receives fluid product through a valved inlet from a container, preferably of the airless type with a follower piston. The dispenser may be a movable-nozzle or fixed-nozzle dispenser. The discharge outlet of the dispenser has a stub nozzle incorporating a closure valve. A spring urges the closure valve forward to close a discharge opening of the stub nozzle. The nozzle attachment is shaped for oral dosing and has an internal rearwardly-projecting actuating structure which, when the nozzle attachment is coupled onto the stub nozzle, pushes the closure valve open. When the nozzle attachment is removed the spring closes the outlet again. Child-resistant features are described for fitting the nozzle attachment to the stub nozzle.

A dispenser pump is disclosed of the moveable-nozzle type, arranged for sealing a vent path in the extended position of the pump plunger. A pump body includes an internal collar formed at the lower end of a tubular insert, through which the vent path passes. This collar has a seal portion. The plunger has a complementary seal portion which makes a guided and fitting engagement with the collar seal portion. One or both of the plunger seal portion and the collar seal portion is formed as an annular taper, so that the seal portions are guided into close engagement with one another. Plunger lock-down formations are constructed to engage at the bottom of the body insert and remain below the top opening of the body.

Dispenser pumps

An applicator includes an applicator body, an applicator pad attached at a front part of the applicator body, and a pre-loaded container of liquid received in \ the applicator body. The applicator body defines a flow path from the container to the applicator pad. The container includes a front closure portion which is openable to allow liquid to flow from the container into the flow path. The applicator body has a structure which interacts with the front of the container when the container is moved to an opening position relative to the applicator body to open the openable front closure portion. Wherein the container defines a front chamber and a rear chamber with a liquid-impermeable intermediate barrier therebetween. Wherein the container includes a longitudinal pusher element extending relatively movably between the ends of the front chamber.

A pump dispenser in which the associated container interior reduces its volume progressively as product is dispensed to avoid air contact with the product. An air trap member having a downwardly-convex dish form is provided below a floor of the associated dispenser module around an inlet to guide any such air away from the inlet. A peripheral portion forms a retaining lip for flexible wiping contact with the container wall interior, allowing air passage on assembly of the dispenser. A central tubular formation of the trap member separates the trapped air from the inlet and can be used to plug the trap member into the inlet.

An inverted dispenser pump is used to dispense foam. The dispenser pump includes an air cylinder with an air piston to pump air to form the foam along with a liquid cylinder that has a liquid cylinder piston to pump liquid to form the foam. A conduit shell is received over the liquid cylinder in order to draw fluid when in an inverted state. An intake valve member is received around the opening of the conduit shell. The intake valve member has a seal flap configured to seal against the conduit shell opening in order to reduce flow restrictions of liquid drawn into the liquid cylinder.

Inverted dispenser pump with liquid inlet cup valve

Embodiments of the present invention provide dispensers, and particularly automatic dispensers, and even more particularly, automatic soap dispensers for dispensing a foamed soap or another cleaning or antibacterial substance to a user's hands. The dispensers provide an internal working system that allows soap or foam to be dispensed from an inverted bottle via movement of an actuator.

Automatic soap dispenser with top-side motor and methods

The application describes small hand-held dispensers suitable for use with creamy flowable products such as cosmetics. The dispensers are of a kind having a top plate () with a dished pick-up surface (), and a product discharge opening () opening into the pick-up area (). Specific proposals include positioning the pick-up surface () and an actuator () side-by-side on the top plate. The actuator () operates a pump (), desirably positioned beneath the actuator and offset from the pick-up surface (). A corresponding transverse outlet conduit () may be provided. The container () may be plastics or a metal container. Embodiments using plastic pump springs and resiliently deformable pump chamber walls are also described. Also, embodiments in which actuation is by tilting of the top plate in its entirety, the pick-up area then optionally being central.

Dispensers e.g. for cosmetics

Growing community of inventors

Leicester, United Kingdom

Brian Robert Law