Liquid dosing devices

A dosing device for dispensing metered doses of liquid from a container, the dosing device comprising:

• a component having an outlet tube which defines a discharge opening, a control chamber. and an obturator movable in the control chamber;
• the dosing device defining an outlet passage for liquid from the container leading past or around the control chamber to the discharge opening;
• the control chamber being defined by a component having one or more control openings to admit a restricted flow of liquid from the container interior into the control chamber;
• the obturator being movable in the control chamber and adapted to advance during dispensing, under the influence of liquid flowing into the control chamber through the one or more control openings, to a blocking position where it blocks the outlet passage to terminate a dose;
• and
• wherein the dosing device comprises an elastomeric valve in the outlet passage adjacent a periphery of the control chamber, said valve comprising a flap which is biased against a surface of said control chamber, said elastomeric valve including a front base web which is fitted around said outlet tube.

A dosing device for dispensing metered doses of liquid from a container, the dosing device comprising:

• a component having an outlet tube which defines a discharge opening, a control chamber positioned upstream of the discharge opening, and an obturator movable in the control chamber;
• the dosing device defining an outlet passage for liquid from the container leading past or around the control chamber to the discharge opening;
• the control chamber having one or more control openings to admit a restricted flow of liquid from the container interior into the control chamber;
• the obturator being movable in the control chamber and adapted to advance during dispensing, under the influence of liquid flowing into the control chamber through the one or more control openings, to a blocking position where it blocks the outlet passage to terminate a dose;
• and
• wherein the dosing device comprises an elastomeric valve for preventing the reverse flow through the outlet passage adjacent a periphery of the control chamber, the valve comprising a sealing element for resiliently urging the valve to a closed position against a corresponding opposed sealing region of said control chamber, said elastomeric valve including a front base web which is fitted around said outlet tube.

A method of dispensing metered doses of liquid from a dosage device and container combination wherein said container is resiliently squeezable and the dosing device including a component having an outlet tube which defines a discharge opening, a control chamber, an obturator movable in the control chamber, the dosing device defining an outlet passage for liquid from the container leading past or around the control chamber to the discharge opening, the control chamber having one or more control openings to admit a restricted flow of liquid from the container interior into the control chamber, the obturator being movable in the control chamber and adapted to advance during dispensing, under the influence of liquid flowing into the control chamber through the one or more control openings, to a blocking position where it blocks the outlet passage to terminate a dose, and wherein the dosing device comprises an elastomeric valve to prevent reverse flow in the outlet passage, the valve being adjacent a periphery of the control chamber and comprising a sealing lip resiliently biased towards a closed position against a corresponding opposed sealing region of said control chamber, said elastomeric valve including a front base web which is fitted around said outlet tube, the method comprising the following steps:

• inverting the container to cause the flow of liquid through the outlet passage, with a restricted flow of liquid from the container into the control chamber through said one or more control openings;
• and
• advancing the obturator to said blocking position.