# US 7,743,948 B2 · Dispensing device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,743,948 B2 - Document ID: US7743948B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/582,753 - Filed: 2004-12-20 - Published: 2007-07-12 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2003-12-22 - Inventors: Sten Drennow - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7743948B2 ## CPC - A47G 19/183: {by applying external pressure, i.e. by pumping or squeezing} - B67D 7/0205: {by manually operable pumping apparatus (hand-held apparatus with pumps for dispensing or spraying liquids or fluent materials B05B11/00)} - B67D 1/0082: {entirely mechanical} - B67D 1/0084: {Hand-held gun type valves} - A47G: HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT (book-ends A47B5/00; knives B26B) - B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F) ## Abstract The present invention relates to a dispensing device for dispensing a liquid or viscous substance, preferably foodstuff. At least one pump means (4) is provided to perform pump motions for sucking said substance (2) into the dispensing device (1) and dispense or discharge it therefrom. The pump means (4) is provided to divide inner parts of the dispensing device (1) into at least one suction chamber (30) and at least one dispensing or discharge chamber (31) which are interconnected through at least one transfer chamber (32). The pump means (4) is during a first pump motion in one direction (A) provided to suck substance (2) into the suction chamber (30) and simultaneously dispense or discharge substance (2) from the discharge chamber (31). The pump means (4) is during a second pump motion in the opposite direction (D) relative to the first pump motion provided to feed substance (2) from the suction chamber (30) and through the transfer chamber (32) into the discharge chamber (31). ## Claims ### Claim 1 Dispensing device for dispensing or discharging a liquid or viscous substance (2) wherein: at least one pump means (4) is provided to perform pump motions for sucking said substance (2) into the dispensing device (1) and dispense or discharge it therefrom, the pump means (4) comprises an elastic dome shaped member (16) which is provided to divide inner parts of the dispensing device (1) into at least one suction chamber (30) and at least one dispensing or discharge chamber (31) which are interconnected through at least one transfer chamber (32), the dome shaped member (16) is provided to be brought to perform a first pump motion in one direction (A) by being pressed or pushed inwards to suck substance (2) into the suction chamber (30) and simultaneously dispense or discharge substance (2) from the discharge chamber (31), and the dome shaped member (16), when pressure ceases, performs a second pump motion in the opposite direction (D) relative to the first pump motion while said dome shaped member (16) automatically returns to its original dome shape, thereby feeding substance (2) from the suction chamber (30) and through the transfer chamber (32) into the discharge chamber (31). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein: at least one first non-return valve (20) is provided to open a substance inlet opening (23) through which substance (2) can be sucked into the suction chamber (30), but close said inlet opening (23) when substance (2) pass through the transfer chamber (32) into the discharge chamber (31), and at least one second non-return valve (24) is provided to open at least one substance transfer opening (11) through which substance (2) can be sucked into the discharge chamber (31), but close said transfer opening (11) when substance (2) is discharged from the discharge chamber (31). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the dome shaped member (16) has an elastic tongue which defines a valve body (21) for the first non-return valve (20) and at least one other elastic tongue which defines a valve body (25) for the second non-return valve (24). ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) Dispensing device according to claim 3, wherein the dome shaped member (16) and the valve bodies (21, 25) of the first and second non-return valves (20, 24) are made in one piece of elastic material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) Dispensing device according to claim 3, wherein: the dome shaped member (16) is, at peripheral parts thereof, provided with a flange (17) which is radially directed relative to said dome shaped member, the valve body (21) of the first non-return valve (20) is located at peripheral parts of said flange (17) and is directed axially therefrom relative to the dome shaped member (16) such that said valve body (21) can cooperate with a valve seat (22) at a substance inlet opening (23) for letting substance (2) into the suction chamber (30), the valve body (25) of the second non-return valve (24) is located at the same peripheral parts of the dome shaped member (16) as the flange (17), and the valve body (25) of the second non-return valve (24) is axially directed relative to the dome shaped member (16) such that it will be situated within and can cooperate with at least one valve seat (26) at least one substance transfer opening (11) and defined by an upwardly directed wall (10) of the dispensing device (1). ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) Dispensing device according to claim 5, wherein: the flange (17) of the dome shaped member (16) extends in between a lower and an upper member (7, 8) of the discharge housing (3), parts of the flange (17) situated in the transfer chamber (32) has at least one hole (17a) permitting substance (2) to flow through said transfer chamber (32) from the suction chamber (30) into the discharge chamber (31), and the dome shaped member (16) can be pressed downwards from an upper position in an upper member (8) of the dispensing device (1) to a lower position in a lower member (7) of said dispensing device (1) for sucking substance (2) into the suction chamber (30) and discharge or outfeed of substance (2) from the discharge chamber (31). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) Dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing device (1) is designed as a hand pump which can be held in one hand and operated therewith or with two hands for discharge or feedout of substance (2). ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) Dispensing device according to claim 7, wherein the dispensing device (1) comprises a handle (34) with a first and a second handle member (35, 36) such that said device (1) can be held in one hand and the pump means (4) operated by effecting the second handle member (36) with one or both hands for dispensing or discharging substance (2) from the dispensing device (1). ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) Dispensing device according to claim 8, wherein: the second handle member (36) is pivotally mounted and designed as a lever with a first and a second shank (39, 40), and the first shank (39) can be brought to perform pump motions with the hand, said pump motions being transferred to the pump means (4) through the second shank (40). ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) Dispensing device according to claim 9, wherein the second shank (40) is designed such that it can be operated with the other hand for supporting the pump motions being brought to the first shank (39) by one hand. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) Dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing device (1) comprises a piston means (13) which is provided to bring the pump means (4) to perform pump motions, said piston means (13) being displaceabley mounted in a sleeve (12) which is located on a dispensing or discharge housing (3) forming part of the dispensing device (1) and through which the piston means (13) extends into said housing (3). ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) Dispensing device according to claim 11, wherein at least one sealing means (45) is provided to bring about a sealing between the piston means (13) and the sleeve (12). ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) Dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein: at least one dispensing or discharge pipe (9) is provided for dispensing or discharging substance (2), a third non-return valve (27) is located on the discharge pipe (9), the third non-return valve (27) is a hose member (28) which is threaded into or onto said discharge pipe (9) and which has a closed outer end (29), the outer end (29) of the hose member (28) can be opened when substance (2) is pressing against said outer end, and the outer end (29) of the hose member (28) automatically returns to closed shape when the pressure of substance (2) against it ceases. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) Dispensing device according to any claim 1, wherein the amount of substance (2) which is dispensed or discharged by means of the pump means (4) can be altered by replacing a piston means (13) which is provided to effect the pump means (4) for discharge of the substance (2), with another piston means (13) having another length and/or diameter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) Dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing device (1) comprises or consists of the following four members which for separate cleaning are disconnectable from each other and then reconnectable, namely: a lower and an upper member (7, 8), forming part of a dispensing or discharge housing (3) and disconnectable from each other, a pump means (4) with valve bodies (21, 25) for first and second non-return valves (20, 24), said pump means (4) being located between said lower and upper members (7, 8) and disconnectable therefrom, and a piston means (13) for effecting the pump means (4), said piston means (13) being releasable mounted on said upper member (8). ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) Dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing device (1) is connected to a container (5) with substance (2) through a hose (6) and that the pump means (4) is provided to suck substance (2) from the container (5) through the hose (6) into the suction chamber (30). ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) Dispensing device according to claim 16, wherein the container (5) is a flexible container which is designed to collapse when substance (2) is sucked out of said container (5). ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) Dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein said substance (2) is mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, dressing or cooking oil which shall be dispensed or discharged onto one or more locations. ### Claim 19 Dispensing device for dispensing or discharging a liquid or viscous substance (2), wherein: at least one pump means (4) is provided to perform pump motions for sucking said substance (2) into the dispensing device (1) and dispense or discharge it therefrom, the pump means (4) is provided to divide inner parts of the dispensing device (1) into at least one suction chamber (30) and at least one dispensing or discharge chamber (31) which are interconnected through at least one transfer chamber (32), the pump means (4) is provided in a dispensing or discharge housing (3) which defines the suction chamber (30), the transfer chamber (32) and the discharge chamber (31) and which comprises a lower and an upper member (7, 8), the lower and upper members (7, 8) can be interconnected and disconnected, parts of a flange (17) of the pump means (4) are situated between the lower and upper members (7, 8) when these members are interconnected, such that said parts of the flange (17) define sealing means between the lower and upper members (7, 8) when said members are interconnected, the pump means (4) can be released from the discharge housing (3) by disconnection of the lower and upper members (7, 8), the pump means (4), during a first pump motion in one direction (A), is provided to suck substance (2) into the suction chamber (30) and simultaneously dispense or discharge substance (2) from the discharge chamber (31), and the pump means (4), during a second pump motion in the opposite direction (D) relative to the first pump motion, is provided to feed substance (2) from the suction chamber (30) and through the transfer chamber (32) into the discharge chamber (31). ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) Dispensing device according to claim 19, wherein the lower and upper members (7, 8) include portions which define a bayonet mount or coupling (44) permitting interconnection and disconnection of said portions, preferably by rotating one of said members (7, 8) relative to the other member (7, 8). ### Claim 21 Dispensing device for dispensing or discharging a liquid or viscous substance (2), wherein: it comprises a dispensing or discharge housing (3) having a lower and an upper member (7, 8) which are interconnectable, the lower member (7) is rotatable relative to the upper member (8) about an imaginary geometric centre line (CL), the lower member (7) has a dispensing or discharge pipe (9) through which substance (2) can be dispensed or discharged from the discharge housing (3), the discharge pipe (9) is eccentrically located relative to the centre line (CL), the discharge pipe (9) can be set in different rotary positions relative to the centre line (CL) by rotating the lower member (7) relative to the upper member (8), at least one pump means (4) is provided to perform pump motions for sucking said substance (2) into the dispensing device (1) and dispense or discharge it therefrom, the pump means (4) is provided to divide inner parts of the dispensing device (1) into at least one suction chamber (30) and at least one dispensing or discharge chamber (31) which are interconnected through at least one transfer chamber (32), the pump means (4), during a first pump motion in one direction (A), is provided to suck substance (2) into the suction chamber (30) and simultaneously dispense or discharge substance (2) from the discharge chamber (31), and the pump means (4), during a second pump motion in the opposite direction (D) relative to the first pump motion, is provided to feed substance (2) from the suction chamber (30) and through the transfer chamber (32) into the discharge chamber (31).