Variable dosage dropper system
AssigneeWheaton Industries
InventorMark L. Foyil
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A variable dosage dropper system improves upon the conventional dropper assembly (container, cap, pipette, bulb) by providing an annular overcap housing which completely encloses the cap and bulb to provide tamper resistant protection and has a locking collar at its lower end to secure the cap within the housing. A plunger slidably, rotatably, and sealingly mates with the housing. The plunger contacts and compresses the bulb when pushed downward toward the housing a predetermined distance corresponding to various dosages and allows the bulb to return to its decompressed position when released. The system is also adapted to resist undesired opening of the container by children.
Claims35
A variable dosage dropper system for providing a liquid dosage which comprises:
- a container for holding the liquid;
- a vertically disposed pipette open at both ends for drawing the liquid from the container and dispensing the liquid;
- a striated cap affixed to and circumferentially enclosing a portion of the pipette the fitting over the container to seal the container and retain the liquid inside the container;
- a bulb hermetically affixed to the upper end of the pipette for drawing liquid into the pipette upon decompression following compression and releasing the liquid upon return to the compressed position;
- an annular overcap housing surrounding the cap and bulb to provide tamper resistant protection and having a locking collar at its lower end for securing the cap within the housing;
- a plunger slidably, rotatably, and sealingly mating with the housing which contacts and compresses the bulb when pushed downward toward the housing a predetermined distance and which allows the bulb to return to its decompressed position when pushed upward away from the housing;
- and
- means for centering the plunger on the bulb, said centering means comprising alignment splines positioned circumferentially around the inside wall of the housing for mating with the plunger and restricting horizontal movement of the plunger.
In a variable dosage dropper system for providing a liquid dosage comprising a container for holding the liquid;
- a vertically disposed pipette open at both ends for drawing the liquid from the container and dispensing the liquid;
- a striated cap affixed to and circumferentially enclosing a portion of the pipette and fitting over the container to seal the container and retain the liquid inside the container;
- and a bulb hermetically affixed to the upper end of the pipette for drawing liquid into the pipette upon decompression following compression and releasing the liquid upon return to the compressed position, the combination with the container, pipette, cap, and bulb of;
- (a) an annular overcap housing surrounding the cap and bulb to provide tamper resistant protection and having a locking collar at its lower end for securing the cap within the housing;
- (b) a plunger slidably, rotatably, and sealingly mating with the housing which contacts and compresses the bulb when pushed downward toward the housing a predetermined distance and which allows the bulb to return to its decompressed position when pushed upward away from the housing, whereby a variable and consistent liquid dosage is dispensed;
- and
- (c) means for centering the plunger on the bulb, said centering means comprising alignment splines positioned circumferentially around the inside wall of the housing for mating with the plunger and restricting horizontal movement of the plunger.
A variable dosage dropper system as claimed in claim 32 further comprising means for preventing inadvertent rotation of the plunger thereby fixing the desired dosage in place once the dosage is selected.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.