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US 9,849,248 B2Granted
Dispenser assembly for liquids comprising flexible barrel and rigid plunger
AssigneeTessy Plastics Corporation
InventorDavid Young
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dispenser assembly is provided that has a rigid plunger with a ring-shaped protrusion. The protrusion contacts the inner wall of a flexible barrel to form a liquid-tight seal. Advantageously, the dispenser assembly does not require additional components, such as o-rings, and can be fabricated by injection molding techniques.
Claims20
A dispenser assembly comprising:
- a plunger with a first diameter, the plunger formed from a first polymeric material and comprising a rigid ring-shaped protrusion that extends in a radial direction from an outer surface of the plunger to define a second diameter, the rigid ring-shaped protrusion being disposed proximate a distal end of the plunger, wherein the plunger has a first flexibility;
- and
- a barrel formed from a second polymeric material that is different than the first polymeric material, the barrel being configured to flex outward in response to a radial force applied by the rigid ring-shaped protrusion, and wherein a portion of the barrel is compressed onto the rigid ring-shaped protrusion to provide a liquid-tight seal between the plunger and the barrel.
A dispenser assembly consisting of:
- a plunger with a first diameter, the plunger formed from a first polymeric material and comprising a rigid protrusion that extends in a radial direction from an outer surface of the plunger to define a second diameter, the rigid protrusion being disposed proximate a bottom end of the plunger, wherein the plunger has a first flexibility;
- and
- a barrel formed from a second polymeric material defining a third diameter that is greater than the first diameter, wherein the barrel has a second flexibility that is more flexible than the first flexibility and is configured to flex outward when the rigid protrusion tensions the barrel in the radial direction to define a diameter that is larger than the third diameter, and provide a liquid-tight seal between the plunger and the barrel.
A method of forming a seal between a plunger having a rigid annular protrusion and a flexible hollow barrel having an inner wall, the method comprising:
- inserting the plunger into the flexible hollow barrel;
- and
- contacting the inner wall of the flexible hollow barrel with the rigid annular protrusion;
- wherein a portion of the flexible hollow barrel is pulled onto the rigid annular protrusion when a vacuum is applied due to actuation of the plunger, the vacuum assisting in compressing the portion of the flexible hollow barrel onto the rigid annular protrusion.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.