# US 8,740,017 B2 · Dispenser for both foam and liquid > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,740,017 B2 - Document ID: US8740017B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/807,826 - Filed: 2011-06-22 - Published: 2013-05-02 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2010-07-01 - Assignees: Menicon Nect Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Miduho Shibata; Tomio Nagao - Inventors: Miduho Shibata; Tomio Nagao - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8740017B2 ## CPC - B65D 47/06: with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages (with slidable spouts B65D47/26) - B05B 7/0037: {including sieves, porous members or the like} - B05B 11/0059: {allowing operation in any orientation, e.g. for discharge in inverted position} - B05B 11/026: {Membranes separating the content remaining in the container from the atmospheric air to compensate underpressure inside the container} - B05B 11/04: Deformable containers producing the flow, e.g. squeeze bottles - B05B 11/047: {characterised by the outlet or venting means (B05B11/041 and B05B11/042 take precedence)} - G02C 13/008: {Devices specially adapted for cleaning contact lenses} - A61L 12/08: using chemical substances - B05B 1/16: having selectively- effective outlets - B05B 7/0018: {with devices for making foam} - B05B 7/0416: {with arrangements for mixing one gas and one liquid} - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - 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) - G02C: SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES (trial frames for testing the eyes A61B3/04; goggles or eyeshields not having the same features as spectacles A61F9/00) - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) ## Abstract A dispenser used when attached to an opening of a squeeze bottle discharge a content liquid when inverted. The dispenser has a first channel to discharge a straight forward-moving liquid and a second channel to discharge a foaming liquid. The first channel has a first through channel connecting a first inlet for the content liquid to a first outlet. The second channel has a conduit that has an opening at an inner bottom of the bottle, extends to a foaming chamber, serves as an air supply channel, and has an inner diameter; the foaming chamber is connected to the conduit and mixes the content liquid with air to foam the content liquid; and a second through channel connecting the foaming chamber to a second outlet. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A dispenser to be attached to an opening of a squeeze bottle, the squeeze bottle being configured to discharge a content liquid when inverted, the dispenser being provided with a first channel configured to discharge a straight forward-moving liquid and a second channel configured to discharge a foaming liquid, wherein the first channel has a first through channel connecting a first inlet for the content liquid to a first outlet, the first channel having no supply channel for air, wherein the second channel has a conduit that has an opening at an inner bottom of the bottle, extends to a foaming chamber, serves as an air supply channel, and has an inner diameter of 0.8 to 4 mm; the foaming chamber connected to the conduit and configured to mix the content liquid with air to foam the content liquid; and a second through channel connecting the foaming chamber to a second outlet, and wherein a second inlet for the content liquid leading to the conduit is formed with an inner diameter size of 0.06 to 2 mm at a portion adjacent to the foaming chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of an inner diameter of the second inlet to an inner diameter of the conduit at a position where the air and the content liquid are merged is 1/50 to 40/50. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the foaming chamber has a hollow tube structure where openings are formed on a side thereof adjacent to an outlet and a side thereof adjacent to an inlet, wherein the openings are covered by screen filters, and wherein a mesh of the filter adjacent to the inlet is set as being coarser than a mesh of the filter adjacent to the outlet. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method for using the dispenser according to claim 1 to clean and store contact lenses, comprising: cleaning contact lenses using a foaming liquid discharged from the dispenser; and pouring a straight forward-moving liquid discharged from the dispenser into a contact lens container to store the contact lenses. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the foaming chamber has a hollow tube structure where openings are formed on a side thereof adjacent to an outlet and a side thereof adjacent to an inlet, wherein the openings are covered by screen filters, and wherein a mesh of the filter adjacent to the inlet is set as being coarser than a mesh of the filter adjacent to the outlet. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) A method for using the dispenser according to claim 2 to clean and store contact lenses, comprising: cleaning contact lenses using a foaming liquid discharged from the dispenser; and pouring a straight forward-moving liquid discharged from the dispenser into a contact lens container to store the contact lenses. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) A method for using the dispenser according to claim 3 to clean and store contact lenses, comprising: cleaning contact lenses using a foaming liquid discharged from the dispenser; and pouring a straight forward-moving liquid discharged from the dispenser into a contact lens container to store the contact lenses.