Curable material dispensing system and methods of operating and packaging the same

A system for dispensing curable material, the system comprising:

• a housing;
• a chamber coupled to the housing and defining a dispensing volume;
• a first control surface coupled to the housing;
• a lead screw rotatably fixed relative to the first control surface and adapted to compress the curable material within the dispensing volume based on distal advancement of the lead screw with rotation of the first control surface in a first direction;
• and
• a defeatable unidirectional mechanism operably coupling the first control surface and arranged in a frictional relationship with the housing, wherein the defeatable unidirectional mechanism is configured to prevent rotation of the first control surface in a second direction opposite the first direction from a first torque input that is below a torque threshold to overcome the frictional relationship, and permit for proximal movement of the lead screw with rotation of the first control surface in the second direction from a second torque input that is at least equal to the torque threshold to overcome the frictional relationship,
• wherein the defeatable unidirectional mechanism further comprises a ring, and a frictional element engaging each of an outer surface of the ring and an inner surface of the housing.

A method for operating a curable material dispensing system including a housing, a chamber coupled to the housing and defining a dispensing volume, a first control surface, a lead screw rotatably fixed to the first control surface, a second control surface, a biasing member engaging the second control surface, and a defeatable unidirectional mechanism including a ring positioned in a frictional relationship with an inner surface of the housing, the method comprising the steps of:

• maintaining the second control surface in an engaged position against a force provided by the biasing member;
• applying a first torque input to the first control surface in a first direction to cause distal movement of the lead screw to compress the curable material within the dispensing volume;
• removing the first torque input, wherein a second torque on the first control surface in a second direction opposite the first direction is below a torque threshold, and wherein rotation of the first control surface in the second direction is prevented by the defeatable unidirectional mechanism;
• and
• applying a third torque input to the first control surface in the second direction and above the torque threshold in which a magnitude of the third input torque overcomes the frictional relationship, wherein rotation of the first control surface in the second direction is permitted by the defeatable unidirectional mechanism and causing proximal movement of the lead screw to decompress the curable material within the dispensing volume.