Squeeze dispenser for powder

Abstract

A powder dispenser includes a resilient container for storing a powder and a volume of air therein. The powder has properties which enable a portion of the volume of air to fluidize a portion of the powder when the resilient container is sufficiently deformed. The dispenser has a substantially rigid conduit connected to its discharge end. The conduit provides the only fluid communication between the inside of the container and an ambient outside environment. The dispenser also has a resilient flat member connected to the outer end of the conduit. The flat member has a slit that is normally closed such that the container is substantially sealed in a fluid-tight manner until the container is sufficiently deformed to generate a pressure in the volume of air. When a pressure differential exists that is greater than a threshold value, the pressure differential causes the slit to open to discharge a portion of the powder mixed with a portion of the volume of air. The dispenser may also have an apertured member in the conduit that has at least one aperture therethrough having a total cross-sectional area smaller than a cross-sectional area of the conduit. The at least one aperture provides increased air velocity and turbulence to improve mixing of powder and air.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.