Laterally-actuated dispenser with one-way valve for storing and dispensing metered amounts of substances

A dispenser for dispensing a substance, comprising:

• a body defining a variable-volume storage chamber for storing the substance;
• a dispensing portion connected with the body and defining a compression chamber coupled in fluid communication with the storage chamber for receiving substance therefrom, and an outlet aperture coupled in fluid communication with the compression chamber;
• a one-way valve including an axially-extending valve seat and an axially-extending flexible valve cover seated on the valve seat and defining a normally-closed, axially-extending seam therebetween forming a fluid-tight seal between the valve cover and valve seat, wherein the flexible valve cover is movable relative to the valve seat and the seam is connectable in fluid communication with the outlet aperture to allow the passage of substance through the seam and out of the dispenser;
• and
• an actuator and piston assembly including a piston receivable within the compression chamber, a manually-engageable actuator connected to the piston for moving the piston between first and second positions relative to the compression chamber to dispense substance within the compression chamber through the outlet aperture, and a spring for biasing the piston in a direction from one of the first and second positions toward the other, wherein the spring, piston and valve cover are formed integral with each other.

A dispenser for dispensing a substance, comprising:

• a body defining a variable-volume storage chamber for storing the substance;
• a dispensing portion connected with the body and defining a compression chamber coupled in fluid communication with the storage chamber for receiving substance therefrom, and an outlet aperture coupled in fluid communication with the compression chamber;
• a one-way valve including an axially-extending valve seat and an axially-extending flexible valve cover seated on the valve seat and defining a normally-closed, axially-extending seam therebetween forming a fluid-tight seal between the valve cover and valve seat, wherein the flexible valve cover is movable relative to the valve seat and the seam is connectable in fluid communication with the outlet aperture to allow the passage of substance through the seam and out of the dispenser;
• an actuator and piston assembly including a piston receivable within the compression chamber, a manually-engageable actuator connected to the piston for moving the piston between first and second positions relative to the compression chamber to dispense substance within the compression chamber through the outlet aperture, and a spring coupled to at least one of the piston and the actuator for biasing the piston in a direction from one of the first and second positions toward the other;
• and
• an approximately annular securing member coupled to the body and fixedly securing the valve cover thereto, wherein the securing member defines a first aperture on one end thereof, and a second aperture located laterally respect to the first aperture and extending through a side wall thereof, and the valve cover extends through the first aperture, and the manually-engageable portion of the actuator extends laterally through the second aperture.

A dispenser for dispensing a substance, comprising:

• a body defining a variable-volume storage chamber for storing the substance;
• a dispensing portion connected with the body and defining a compression chamber coupled in fluid communication with the storage chamber for receiving substance therefrom, and an outlet aperture coupled in fluid communication with the compression chamber;
• a one-way valve including an axially-extending valve seat and an axially-extending flexible valve cover seated on the valve seat and defining a normally-closed, axially-extending seam therebetween forming a fluid-tight seal between the valve cover and valve seat, wherein the flexible valve cover is movable relative to the valve seat and the seam is connectable in fluid communication with the outlet aperture to allow the passage of substance through the seam and out of the dispenser;
• and
• an actuator and piston assembly defining a needle penetrable and resealable portion, and including a piston receivable within the compression chamber, a manually-engageable actuator connected to the piston for moving the piston between first and second positions relative to the compression chamber to dispense substance within the compression chamber through the outlet aperture, and a spring coupled to at least one of the piston and the actuator for biasing the piston in a direction from one of the first and second positions toward the other.

A dispenser for dispensing a substance, comprising:

• a body defining a variable-volume storage chamber for storing the substance;
• a dispensing portion connected with the body and defining a compression chamber coupled in fluid communication with the storage chamber for receiving substance therefrom, and an outlet aperture coupled in fluid communication with the compression chamber;
• a one-way valve including an axially-extending valve seat and an axially-extending flexible valve cover seated on the valve seat and defining a normally-closed, axially-extending seam therebetween forming a fluid-tight seal between the valve cover and valve seat, wherein the flexible valve cover is movable relative to the valve seat and the seam is connectable in fluid communication with the outlet aperture to allow the passage of substance through the seam and out of the dispenser;
• an actuator and piston assembly including a piston receivable within the compression chamber, a manually-engageable actuator connected to the piston for moving the piston between first and second positions relative to the compression chamber to dispense substance within the compression chamber through the outlet aperture, and a spring coupled to at least one of the piston and the actuator for biasing the piston in a direction from one of the first and second positions toward the other;
• and
• a substantially annular second piston including a needle penetrable and resealable portion slidably received within the body and forming a substantially fluid-tight seal therebetween, wherein the variable-volume storage chamber is formed between the substantially annular second piston and the other piston, and the substantially annular second piston is movable toward the other piston upon dispensing a dosage from the storage chamber to reduce the volume of the storage chamber in an amount approximately equal to the volume of the dose dispensed.

A dispenser for dispensing a substance, comprising:

• a body defining a variable-volume storage chamber for storing the substance;
• a dispensing portion connected with the body and defining a compression chamber coupled in fluid communication with the storage chamber for receiving substance therefrom, and an outlet aperture coupled in fluid communication with the compression chamber;
• a one-way valve including an axially-extending valve seat and an axially-extending flexible valve cover seated on the valve seat and defining a normally-closed, axially-extending seam therebetween forming a fluid-tight seal between the valve cover and valve seat, wherein the flexible valve cover is movable relative to the valve seat and the seam is connectable in fluid communication with the outlet aperture to allow the passage of substance through the seam and out of the dispenser;
• an approximately annular securing member coupled to the body and fixedly securing the valve cover thereto, wherein the securing member defines an axial extension located adjacent to a first axial end portion of the valve cover and in contact therewith, and wherein a second axial end portion of the valve cover located diametrically opposite the first axial end portion is not in contact with the securing member or axial extension thereof;
• an actuator and piston assembly including a piston receivable within the compression chamber, a manually-engageable actuator connected to the piston for moving the piston between first and second positions relative to the compression chamber to dispense substance within the compression chamber through the outlet aperture, and a spring coupled to at least one of the piston and the actuator for biasing the piston in a direction from one of the first and second positions toward the other.

A dispenser for dispensing a substance, comprising:

• first means for forming a variable-volume chamber for storing the substance;
• second means coupled in fluid communication with the first means for dispensing metered dosages of substance, and including third means for receiving a portion of the substance stored in the first means;
• fourth means coupled in fluid communication with the second means (i) for normally sealing the second means along an annular, axially-extending seam and preventing the dispensing of substance below a threshold pressure through the second means, and (ii) for substantially sequentially opening the seam in an axial direction thereof to allow the passage of substance at a pressure greater than the threshold pressure through the second means and out of the dispenser;
• fifth means that is manually engageable and laterally depressible between first and second positions relative to an elongated axis of the dispenser for pressurizing the substance in the third means, wherein the third means is connectable in fluid communication between the first means and the fourth means, and the fifth means is manually depressible between (i) a first position in which the first means is in fluid communication with the third means for permitting substance to flow from the first means into the third means, and (ii) a second position in which the third means is not in fluid communication with the first means and a portion of the fifth means extends into the third means for pressurizing substance within the third means above an opening pressure of the fourth means and, in turn, dispensing the substance through the fourth means and out of the dispenser;
• and
• a substantially annular piston slidably received within the first means and forming a substantially fluid-tight seal therebetween, wherein the variable-volume storage chamber is formed between the substantially annular piston and the fourth means, and the substantially annular piston is movable toward the fourth means upon dispensing a dosage from the storage chamber to reduce the volume of the storage chamber in an amount approximately equal to the volume of the dose dispensed.