Dispenser with twist lock fitting

Abstract

A dispenser for dispensing a unit measure of a product includes a twist-locking mechanism. The twist-locking mechanism included on the dispenser engages a twist-locking mechanism on a dispensing accessory device, locking the accessory device to the dispenser. The disposable dispenser may include a cap frangibly coupled to the housing of the dispenser, the cap to be removed when dispensing the product. The disposable dispenser may be formed of a single material that is suitable for a blow-fill-seal process.

1 . A dispenser comprising:
 a housing including:
 a reservoir for containing a unit-measure of a product to be dispensed; 
 an outlet disposed on the reservoir for dispensing the product from the reservoir; and 
   a twist-locking mechanism disposed on the housing, the twist-locking mechanism configured to engage an accessory device and to mate the accessory device to the outlet of the reservoir while locking the accessory device to the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the twist-locking mechanism is configured to lock the accessory device to the housing by a relative rotation of the accessory device and the housing of less than 360 degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the twist-locking mechanism comprises a luer fitting. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the twist-locking mechanism is configured to engage an opposite gender twist-locking mechanism disposed on the accessory device. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser of  claim 4 , wherein the twist-locking mechanism is a male gender twist-locking mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 4 , wherein the twist-locking mechanism is a female gender twist-locking mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory device comprises at least one of: a needle, a spoon, a static mixer, a barb, a tube, a dropper, or an applicator. 
     
     
         8 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser is injection molded, blow molded, injection blow molded, or formed by a blow-fill-seal process. 
     
     
         9 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap frangibly coupled to the housing and sealing the outlet of the reservoir to prevent the product from escaping the reservoir prior to use. 
     
     
         10 . The dispenser of  claim 9 , wherein the cap is disposed on the outlet of the reservoir and the outlet of the reservoir is disposed on the twist-locking mechanism. 
     
     
         11 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet comprises mating surfaces configured to mate with accessory device mating surfaces, the mating surfaces including a cylindrical peripheral surface and an abutting axial end surface. 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a single unit measure of product contained in the reservoir of the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising another reservoir for containing a unit measure of another product to be dispensed,
 wherein the outlet is further disposed on the other reservoir such that the product and the other product can be dispensed concurrently through the outlet.   
     
     
         14 . A unit-measure dispenser comprising:
 a plastic housing including:
 a reservoir containing a unit-measure of a product to be dispensed; 
 an outlet disposed on the reservoir for dispensing the product from the reservoir; and 
 a cap frangibly coupled to the housing and sealing the outlet of the reservoir to prevent the product from escaping the reservoir prior to use; 
   a dispensing accessory device for dispensing of the product from the outlet after removal of the cap from the housing; and   a twist-locking mechanism disposed on the housing, the twist-locking mechanism configured to engage an opposite gender twist-locking mechanism disposed on the dispensing accessory device and to mate the dispensing accessory device to the outlet of the reservoir while locking the accessory device to the housing.   
     
     
         15 . The unit-measure dispenser of  claim 14 , wherein the twist-locking mechanism is configured to lock the accessory device to the housing by a relative rotation of the accessory device and the housing of less than 360 degrees. 
     
     
         16 . The unit-measure dispenser of  claim 14 , wherein the twist-locking mechanism comprises a luer fitting. 
     
     
         17 . The dispenser of  claim 14 , wherein the cap is molded as part of the housing. 
     
     
         18 . The dispenser of  claim 14 , wherein the outlet comprises mating surfaces configured to mate with accessory device mating surfaces, the mating surfaces including a cylindrical peripheral surface and an abutting axial end surface. 
     
     
         19 . The unit-measure dispenser of  claim 14 , wherein the accessory device comprises at least one of: a needle, a spoon, a static mixer, a barb, a tube, a dropper, or an applicator. 
     
     
         20 . The unit-measure dispenser of  claim 14 , further comprising another reservoir for containing a unit measure of another product to be dispensed, wherein the outlet is further disposed on the other reservoir such that the product and the other product can be dispensed concurrently through the outlet. 
     
     
         21 . A method of manufacturing a unit-measure dispenser, the method comprising:
 heating a first material to a first temperature;   enclosing the first material in a mold, the mold comprising a shape to form a first body, including a reservoir for containing a unit-measure of a product to be dispensed, an outlet disposed on the reservoir for dispensing the product from the reservoir, and a twist-locking mechanism disposed on the housing, the twist-locking mechanism configured to engage an opposite gender twist-locking mechanism disposed on an accessory device and to mate the accessory device to the outlet of the reservoir while locking the accessory device to the housing;   inflating the first material in the mold to form the first body;   cooling the first body formed of the first material;   filling the reservoir of the first body with a unit-measure of the product to be dispensed; and   sealing the first body to prevent the second material from escaping the first body prior to use.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the twist-locking mechanism and the opposite gender twist-locking mechanism comprise one each of male and female luer fittings. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the accessory device comprises at least one of: a needle, a spoon, a static mixer, a barb, a tube, a dropper, or an applicator. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , the mold further including a shape to form a cap frangibly coupled to the first body and sealing the outlet to prevent the product from escaping the reservoir through the outlet prior to use. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , the mold further including a shape to form another reservoir for containing a unit-measure of another product to be dispensed, and an outlet on the other reservoir such that the product and the other product can be dispensed concurrently through the outlet;
 the method further comprising filling the other reservoir of the first body with a unit-measure of a third material comprising the other product to be dispensed; and   sealing the first body to prevent the third material from escaping the first body prior to use.