# US 2010/0163582 A1 · Fluid dispenser > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0163582 A1 - Document ID: US20100163582A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/601,361 - Filed: 2008-05-30 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2007-05-30 - Assignees: Glaxo Group Limited; MeadWestvaco Calmar, Inc. - Inventors: James Terence Collins - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100163582A1 ## CPC - B05B 11/1004: {comprising a movable cylinder and a stationary piston} - B05B 11/007: {being opened by deformation of a sealing element made of resiliently deformable material, e.g. flaps, skirts, duck-bill valves} - B05B 11/1011: {without substantial movement of the nozzle in the direction of the pressure stroke} - B05B 11/1014: {the pump chamber being arranged substantially coaxially to the container} - B05B 11/1056: {comprising rotatable or articulated levers (B05B11/1053 takes precedence; lever actuated piston pumps B05B11/1009; lever actuated pumps with deformable chamber B05B11/1029)} - B05B 11/107: {Gate valves; Sliding valves} - B05B 1/3436: {the interface being a plane perpendicular to the outlet axis} - B05B 11/1021: {having an outlet valve which is a gate valve (B05B11/1023, B05B11/1038 take precedence)} - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) ## Abstract One aspect of the invention provides a component for a fluid dispenser which defines a dosing chamber for a piston member to stroke in and has an end adapted for engaging a fluid outlet of the fluid dispenser or a seal which overlies the fluid outlet to selectively close and open the fluid outlet or seal. Other aspects are disclosed herein. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fluid dispenser for use with a fluid supply, the dispenser having a dosing chamber, a fluid outlet, and a piston member which is arranged to sealingly stroke in the dosing chamber (i) in a first direction for filling the dosing chamber with fluid from the supply, and (ii) in a second direction to dispense fluid from the dosing chamber towards the fluid outlet, wherein the dosing chamber has first and second sections of different widths, the first section is narrower than the second section and located in the second direction relative to the second section, and the piston member is in constant sealing contact with the second section as it strokes in the first and second directions, but only in sealing contact with the first section in a portion of the strokes in the first and second directions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the piston member has a seal to sealingly contact with the first section, which seal has an outer dimension which is no less than the width of the first section and less than the width of the second section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The dispenser of claim 2, wherein the seal forms a one-way valve to allow fluid flow from the second section to the first section. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The dispenser of claim 2, wherein the seal is a lip-seal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The dispenser of claim 2, wherein the seal is located on an end of the piston member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the piston member has a seal to sealingly contact the second section of the dosing chamber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the piston member has a fluid conduit for communicating with the fluid supply and through which, in use, fluid is conveyed from the fluid supply into the dosing chamber when the piston member strokes in the first direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1 comprising the fluid supply, which fluid supply has an outlet positioned on the piston member to register with the second section of the dosing chamber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1 adapted such that, in use, as the piston member strokes in the second direction fluid in the dosing chamber is bled from the dosing chamber until the piston member sealingly contacts the first section of the dosing chamber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The dispenser of claim 9 adapted such that, in use, the fluid is bled in the first direction around the piston member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1 which comprises a valve between the dosing chamber and the fluid outlet which remains closed as the piston member strokes in the second direction before it comes into sealing contact with the first section. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) The dispenser of claim 3 wherein the one-way valve is adapted to open to enable fluid to pass into the first section of the dosing chamber as the piston member strokes in the first direction with the seal in sealing contact with the first section. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the dosing chamber has a step between the first and second sections. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the dosing chamber is provided with at least one fluid flow channel extending from the first section to the second section. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) The dispenser of claim 2 comprising a component which defines the dosing chamber and has an end adapted for engaging the fluid outlet of the fluid dispenser or a seal which overlies the fluid outlet to selectively close and open the fluid outlet or seal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The dispenser of claim 15, wherein the component is an assembly of parts including a first part which forms the end. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The dispenser of claim 15, wherein the component is provided with a seal on its outer surface for forming a sliding sealing fit in the fluid dispenser, and wherein the seal optionally is presented by the first part. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The dispenser of claim 15, wherein the dosing chamber is a first chamber and the component further defines a second chamber and a fluid pathway between the first and second chambers and wherein the component further has the valve to selectively open and close the fluid pathway. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The dispenser of claim 18, wherein the valve comprises a valve element mounted in the second chamber and biased into sealing engagement with the fluid pathway to seal the first and second chambers from one another. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The dispenser of claim 17, wherein the end is a forward end and the component has at least one forward opening, optionally provided in the first part, in flow communication with the dosing chamber, positioned forwardly of the seal. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The dispenser of claim 20, wherein the forward opening is in flow communication with the dosing chamber through the second chamber and the fluid pathway. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the first and second sections of the dosing chamber are co-axial. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The dispenser of claim 15, wherein the component further has a ledge on its outer surface for supporting a spring. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, comprising a container for the fluid supply, and wherein the piston member is mounted to the container so as to be fixed against relative movement therebetween in the first and second directions. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The dispenser of claim 24, wherein the piston member is comprised in a cap structure mounted on the container. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The dispenser of claim 25, wherein the cap structure is a stopper of the container. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The dispenser of claim 24, wherein the dosing chamber is provided in a nozzle of the fluid dispenser in which the fluid outlet is formed. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The dispenser of claim 27, wherein the nozzle is mounted on the container for relative movement therebetween to cause the piston member to stroke in the dosing chamber. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The dispenser of claim 27, wherein the piston member is comprised in a cap structure mounted on the container having the nozzle mounted on the cap structure. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) The dispenser of any of claim 1 further comprising a sealing arrangement for sealing the fluid outlet, the sealing arrangement comprising a seal member having a first face for sealing the fluid outlet, a second face in which is provided a recess, and a component which is sealingly slidably mountable in the recess for sliding movement relative to the seal member between an inward position and an outward position, wherein in the inward position the component causes the first face to be deflected outwardly and in the outward position the first face is able to return towards its original state. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The dispenser of claim 30, wherein the seal member is made from a resilient material or other type of material which has shape memory. ### Claim 32 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1 further having a sealing member positioned across the fluid outlet and having a forward surface and a rear surface; a pusher for pushing into the rear surface of the sealing member to cause the forward surface of the sealing member to seal against the fluid outlet, the pusher having a head for pushing the rear surface of the sealing member and a shoulder from which the head projects forwardly; and a stop surface for engagement with the shoulder to control how far the pusher head pushes into the rear surface of the sealing member. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The dispenser of claim 32, wherein the stop surface is a rear surface of a wall and the pusher head projects through the wall. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The dispenser of claim 33, wherein the sealing member is mounted on a forward surface of the wall. ### Claim 35 (depends on 2) The dispenser of claim 2, wherein the first and second sections of the dosing chamber are respectively forward and rearward sections, wherein the piston member is mounted to reciprocate forwardly in the second direction and rearwardly in the first direction in the dosing chamber, wherein the piston member seal is to sealingly slide on a wall of the forward section of the dosing chamber, wherein a rearward stroke of the piston member enables the forward section of the dosing chamber to fill with fluid from the fluid supply and a forward stroke of the piston member pumps fluid present in the forward section of the dosing chamber in front of the piston member out of the dosing chamber, and wherein the seal is adapted in use to come out of sealing contact with the wall of the forward section of the dosing chamber during the rearward stroke to enable fluid to flow forwardly past the seal into the forward section of the dosing chamber in front of the piston member. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The dispenser of claim 35, wherein the seal is a lip seal which is adapted to deflect inwardly during the rearward stroke. ### Claim 37 (depends on 11) The dispenser of claim 11, wherein the first and second sections of the dosing chamber are respectively forward and rearward sections, wherein the forward section of the dosing chamber has an outlet which the valve is biased to close, wherein the piston member is mounted to reciprocate forwardly in the second direction and rearwardly in the first direction in the dosing chamber, wherein a rearward stroke of the piston member enables the forward section of the dosing chamber to fill with fluid from the fluid supply and a forward stroke of the piston member pumps fluid present in the forward section of the dosing chamber through the outlet in the dosing chamber, and wherein the dispenser is configured and arranged such that the valve is kept open against the valve bias at the end of the forward stroke of the piston member. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The dispenser of claim 37, wherein the piston member and valve are configured and arranged to cooperate to keep the valve open at the end of the forward stroke. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The dispenser of claim 38, wherein the piston member and valve have cooperating surfaces through which the piston member holds the valve open at the end of the forward stroke. ### Claim 40 (depends on 38) The dispenser of claim 38, wherein at least one of the piston member and the valve has a projection which acts on the other so that the valve is held open at the end of the forward stroke of the piston member. ### Claim 41 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the piston member is arranged to stroke in the first direction to a position at which the piston member is disposed in the second section of the dosing chamber. ### Claim 42 (depends on 30) The dispenser of claim 30, wherein the component and the seal member are the component and the seal, where the component defines the dosing chamber and has an end adapted for engaging the fluid outlet of the fluid dispenser or a seal which overlies the fluid outlet to selectively close and open the fluid outlet or seal. ### Claim 43 (depends on 32) The dispenser of claim 32, wherein the pusher and the sealing member are the component and the seal, where the component defines the dosing chamber and has an end adapted for engaging the fluid outlet of the fluid dispenser or a seal which overlies the fluid outlet to selectively close and open the fluid outlet or seal, with the head corresponding to the end of the component. ### Claim 44 (depends on 42) The dispenser of claim 42, wherein the seal is at a forward end of the piston. ### Claim 45 A fluid dispenser for use with a fluid supply having a dosing chamber, a piston mounted to reciprocate forwardly and rearwardly in the dosing chamber, the piston having a seal to sealingly slide on a wall of the dosing chamber, wherein a rearward stroke of the piston enables the dosing chamber to fill with fluid from the fluid supply and a forward stroke of the piston pumps fluid present in front of the piston out of the dosing chamber, and wherein the seal is adapted in use to come out of sealing contact with the dosing chamber wall during the rearward stroke to enable fluid to flow forwardly past the seal into the dosing chamber in front of the piston. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The dispenser of claim 45, where the seal is a lip seal which is adapted to deflect inwardly during the rearward stroke. ### Claim 47 A fluid dispenser for use with a fluid supply having a dosing chamber having an outlet, a valve biased to close the outlet, a piston mounted to reciprocate forwardly and rearwardly in the dosing chamber, wherein a rearward stroke of the piston enables the dosing chamber to fill with fluid from the fluid supply and a forward stroke of the piston pumps fluid present in the dosing chamber through the outlet in the dosing chamber, wherein the dispenser is configured and arranged such that the valve is kept open against the valve bias at the end of the forward stroke of the piston member. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) The dispenser of claim 47, wherein the piston and valve are configured and arranged to cooperate to keep the valve open at the end of the forward stroke. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) The dispenser of claim 48, wherein the piston and valve have cooperating surfaces through which the piston holds the valve open at the end of the forward stroke. ### Claim 50 (depends on 48) The dispenser of claim 48, wherein at least one of the piston and the valve has a projection which acts on the other so that the valve is held open at the end of the forward stroke of the piston.