# US 2014/0151405 A1 · Reservoir module for pump dispenser

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- Number: US 2014/0151405 A1
- Document ID: US20140151405A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/235,212
- Filed: 2012-07-26
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2011-07-27
- Inventors: Nigel Kelly
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151405A1

## CPC

- A61J 1/1406: {Septums, pierceable membranes}
- B05B 11/0054: {Cartridges, i.e. containers specially designed for easy attachment to or easy removal from the rest of the sprayer (attachment arrangements between pump and container B05B11/1043)}
- A61F 9/0008: {Introducing ophthalmic products into the ocular cavity or retaining products therein (putting in contact lenses A61F9/0061; introducing or retaining media in cavities of the body in general A61M31/00)}
- B05B 11/026: {Membranes separating the content remaining in the container from the atmospheric air to compensate underpressure inside the container}
- A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
- 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)
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)

## Abstract

The current invention discloses a fluid reservoir module for holding a fluid that may be used in a fluid dispenser. The fluid reservoir has a base, a reservoir body enclosing an internal void, and at least one removable tab attached to the reservoir body. The reservoir body is disposed on the base and the removable tab blocks inserting the reservoir body into a dispenser body. By detaching the removable tab(s), the reservoir body may be inserted into the dispenser body. Simultaneously, a fluid transfer structure, preferably a hollow spike, may penetrate a frangible part of the reservoir so that fluid in the reservoir may be extracted. The fluid in the reservoir is preferably pre-loaded. The current invention is particularly useful for dispensing small amounts of fluid, such as eye drops, but it may also be scaled up for larger volumes.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fluid reservoir module for holding a fluid, comprising:
a dispenser body; and
a reservoir body enclosing an internal void, the reservoir body having a top portion incorporating a frangible membrane and a bottom portion,
wherein the reservoir body is capable of being inserted into the dispenser body.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fluid reservoir module of claim 1, further comprising a removable tab attached to the reservoir body, wherein the removable tab blocks inserting the reservoir body into the dispenser body, and removal of the removable tab allows the insertion of the reservoir body into the dispenser body.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The fluid reservoir module of claim 1, further comprising a removable tab attached to the reservoir body, wherein the removable tab blocks inserting the reservoir body into the dispenser body, and removal of the removable tab allows the insertion of the reservoir body into the dispenser body, and further comprising a base, wherein the reservoir body is disposed on the base and the bottom portion is connected to the base.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The fluid reservoir module of claims 1, further comprising ribs attached to the base, wherein the ribs are connected to the bottom portion of the reservoir body.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The fluid reservoir module of claim 1, further comprising ribs attached to the base, wherein the ribs are connected to the bottom portion of the reservoir body, and wherein the ribs have profiled inner forms, the bottom portion of the reservoir body has profiled surfaces, and the profiled inner forms match the profiled surfaces, allowing the reservoir body to fit to the ribs.

### Claim 6

(canceled)

### Claim 7

(canceled)

### Claim 8

(canceled)

### Claim 9

(canceled)

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The fluid reservoir module of claims 1, further comprising a snapping tongue attached to the base.

### Claim 11

(canceled)

### Claim 12

(canceled)

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

A fluid reservoir module of claim 1, wherein
the reservoir body hermetically seals an internal void, the top portion of the reservoir body comprises an upper neck encircling a neck hole, the neck hole being sealed by the frangible membrane, wherein piercing the membrane breaks the hermetic seal of the internal void,
two removable tabs attached to the reservoir body, wherein the removable tabs block inserting the reservoir body into the dispenser body, and removal of the removable tabs allows the insertion of the reservoir body into the dispenser body; and
a snapping tongue attached to the reservoir body, wherein inserting the reservoir body into the dispenser body results in the snapping tongue engaging a snapping tongue receiver, affixing the reservoir body to the dispenser body.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The fluid reservoir module of claim 13, further comprising:
a base,
ribs attached to the base,
wherein the ribs have profiled inner forms, the bottom portion of the reservoir body has profiled surfaces, and the profiled inner forms match the profiled surfaces, allowing the reservoir body to fit to the ribs, the snapping tongue attaches directly to the base, and inserting the reservoir body into the dispenser body results in the snapping tongue engaging a snapping tongue receiver, affixing the reservoir body to the dispenser body.

### Claim 15

(canceled)

### Claim 16

A fluid dispenser, comprising:
a dispenser body enclosing an interior,
a bulkhead disposed in the dispenser body, dividing the interior into an upper chamber and a lower chamber,
a hollow spike attached to the bulkhead, the hollow spike enclosing a through hole,
a fluid reservoir module comprising:
a base,
a reservoir body enclosing an hermetically sealed internal void, the reservoir body having a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the reservoir body is disposed on the base and the bottom portion is connected to the base, and
a removable tab attached to the reservoir body, wherein the removable tab blocks inserting the reservoir body into the lower chamber, and removal of the removable tab allows the insertion of the reservoir body into the lower chamber.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The fluid dispenser of claim 16, wherein the fluid reservoir module further comprises:
ribs attached to the base, the ribs having profiled inner forms,
wherein the bottom portion of the reservoir body has profiled surfaces, the ribs are connected to the bottom portion of the reservoir body, and the profiled inner forms match the profiled surfaces, allowing the reservoir body to fit to the ribs.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The fluid dispenser of claims 16, wherein the dispenser body has a blocking tip, and the blocking tip engages the removable tab, preventing inserting the reservoir body into the lower chamber.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The fluid dispenser of claims 16, wherein the top portion of the reservoir body comprises an upper neck encircling a neck hole, the neck hole being sealed by a frangible membrane, wherein inserting the reservoir body into the lower chamber results in the piercing of the frangible membrane by the hollow spike, allowing the through hole of the hollow spike to be fluidly connected to the internal void.

### Claim 20

(canceled)

### Claim 21 (depends on 16)

The fluid dispenser of claims 16, wherein the fluid reservoir module further comprises:
a snapping tongue attached to the base,
wherein inserting the reservoir body into the lower chamber pushes the snapping tongue to engage a tongue receiver in the dispenser body.

### Claim 22 (depends on 16)

The fluid dispenser of claims 16, wherein the fluid reservoir module further comprises:
a projecting arm attached to the top portion of the reservoir body, the projection arm partially extending into the lower chamber wherein there are retaining beads attached to an interior surface of the dispenser body, and the retaining beads engage the projecting arm and restrict the projecting arm to slide between the retaining beads.

### Claim 23

(canceled)

### Claim 24

(canceled)

### Claim 25 (depends on 16)

The fluid dispenser of claims 16, wherein there is a second hole through the hollow spike on the bulkhead.

### Claim 26 (depends on 16)

The fluid dispenser of claims 16, further comprising a pump mechanism disposed in the upper chamber.

### Claim 27

A fluid dispenser, comprising:
a dispenser body enclosing an interior, the dispenser body having blocking tips, wherein there are retaining beads attached to an interior surface of the dispenser body;
a bulkhead disposed in the dispenser body, dividing the interior into an upper chamber and a lower chamber;
a hollow spike attached to the bulkhead, the hollow spike enclosing a through hole and a second hole; and
a fluid reservoir module comprising:
a base,
ribs attached to the base,
a reservoir body hermetically sealing an internal void, the reservoir body having a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the ribs have profiled inner forms, the bottom portion of the reservoir body has profiled surfaces, and the profiled inner forms match the profiled surfaces, allowing the reservoir body to fit to the ribs, the top portion of the reservoir body comprises an upper neck encircling a neck hole, the neck hole being sealed by a frangible membrane,
two removable tabs attached to the reservoir body, wherein the removable tabs have notches that engage the blocking tips, blocking inserting the reservoir body into the lower chamber, and removal of the removable tabs allows the insertion of the reservoir body into the lower chamber,
a snapping tongue attached to the base, wherein inserting the reservoir body into the lower chamber pushes the snapping tongue to engage a tongue receiver in the dispenser body, and
a projecting arm attached to the top portion of the reservoir body, the projection arm partially extending into the lower chamber,
wherein the retaining beads engage the projecting arm and restrict the projecting arm to slide between the retaining beads.

### Claim 28

(canceled)

### Claim 29

(canceled)

### Claim 30 (depends on 27)

The fluid dispenser of claims 27, further comprising a pump mechanism disposed in the upper chamber.