Dispenser with one-way valve for storing and dispensing substances

Abstract

A dispenser has a body with a storage chamber for storing product. A one-way valve of the dispenser includes a valve seat and flexible valve cover seated on the valve seat and defining a normally-closed seam therebetween forming a fluid-tight seal between the valve cover and valve seat. The flexible valve cover is movable relative to the valve seat to allow the passage of substance through the seam and out of the dispenser.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A device comprising:
 an integral first piece including a storage chamber adapted for storing a substance therein, an outlet in fluid communication with the storage chamber, and a valve seat;   an integral second piece defining a closure configured to hermetically seal an interior of the storage chamber with the second piece engaged with the first piece, and including a flexible valve member configured to sealingly engage the valve seat with the second piece engaged with the first piece to define a one way valve defining a normally closed valve seam between the valve seat and the valve member, an inlet at one end of the seam, an outlet spaced relative to the inlet at another end of the seam to define an outlet of the device, and a valve opening pressure;   wherein the valve member is moveable in response to substance at the inlet exceeding the valve opening pressure between (i) a first position with the valve member and valve seat forming the normally closed seam and (ii) a second position with at least a portion of the valve member spaced away from the valve seat to allow the substance to pass through the valve seam from the inlet and to dispense the substance through the outlet at the another end of the valve seam and out of the device.   
     
     
         15 . A device as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the outlet of the normally closed valve seam is spaced axially relative to the inlet of the normally closed valve seam. 
     
     
         16 . A device as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the valve seat is elongated and generally annular, the valve member is elongated and generally elongated, and the valve seam is elongated and generally annular. 
     
     
         17 . A device as defined in  claim 14 , further comprising a pump configured to pump substance through the one way valve. 
     
     
         18 . A device as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the pump comprises a compression chamber connectible in fluid communication between the storage chamber and the inlet to the valve seam and at least partially formed by a portion of the first piece and an actuator mounted on the second piece movable between first and second positions for pressurizing substance within the compression chamber above the valve opening pressure and, in turn, dispensing pressurized substance through the one way valve. 
     
     
         19 . A device as defined in  claim 18 , wherein during movement of the actuator in a direction from the second position toward the first position, the storage chamber is in substance communication with the compression chamber for permitting substance to flow from the storage chamber into the compression chamber, and during movement of the actuator in a direction from the first position toward the second position, substance is pressurized above the valve opening pressure and, in turn, dispensed through the one way valve and out of the device. 
     
     
         20 . A device as defined in  claim 19 , further comprising an actuating device for actuating the actuator. 
     
     
         21 . A device as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the actuating device includes a manually engageable surface configured for manual engagement to move the actuator between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         22 . A device as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the actuator comprises a flexible member. 
     
     
         23 . A device as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the actuator is biased in a direction from the second position toward the first position. 
     
     
         24 . A device as defined in  claim 23 , further including a biasing member or spring adapted to bias the actuator. 
     
     
         25 . A device as defined in  claim 24 , wherein the biasing member or spring is one of (i) integral with the actuator and (ii) separate from the actuator. 
     
     
         26 . A device as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the one way valve defines a dispensing axis substantially along which substance is dispensed from the valve, and movement of the actuator between the first and second positions defines a direction that is one or more of (i) substantially perpendicular to or (ii) at an acute angle to the dispensing axis. 
     
     
         27 . A device as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the compression chamber defines a volume approximately equal to a dose of the substance, and moving the actuator from the first position to the second position substantially dispenses a dose of substance though the one-way valve. 
     
     
         28 . A device as defined in  claim 24 , wherein the valve is configured to dispense the dose in the form of a drop. 
     
     
         29 . A device as defined in  claim 24 , wherein the volume of the compression chamber is configured so that the dose is between approximately 15 and approximately 30 micro liters. 
     
     
         30 . A device as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the valve seat includes a tip extending past the valve member configured to substantially prevent residue collection at the outlet of the valve seam. 
     
     
         31 . A device as defined in  claim 14 , wherein device further comprises at least one filling portion connectable in fluid communication with the storage chamber configured to permit filling of the storage chamber with a substance therethrough. 
     
     
         32 . A device as defined in  claim 31 , wherein the filling portion comprises a penetrable and resealable portion. 
     
     
         33 . A device as defined in  claim 32 , wherein the penetrable and resealable portion and is resealable by the application of radiation or energy thereto. 
     
     
         34 . A device as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the storage chamber is a variable-volume storage chamber. 
     
     
         35 . A device as defined in  claim 34 , wherein the variable-volume storage chamber is defined by a flexible bladder. 
     
     
         36 . A device as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the valve member and valve seat define an interference fit therebetween. 
     
     
         37 . A device as defined in  claim 36 , wherein the degree of interference between the valve member and valve seat decreases in a direction from the inlet of the valve seam toward the outlet thereof. 
     
     
         38 . A device as defined in  claim 14 , wherein in the first position the one way valve substantially prevents the ingress of bacteria or germs in the direction from the valve seam outlet toward the inlet. 
     
     
         39 . A device as defined in  claim 14 , wherein one or more of (i) the valve member defines a generally inwardly tapered cross-sectional shape in a direction from the inlet toward the outlet of the valve seam or (ii) the valve seat defines a generally outwardly tapered cross-sectional shape in the direction from the inlet toward the outlet of the valve seam. 
     
     
         40 . A device as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the outlet of the valve seam is located at an exterior of the device. 
     
     
         41 . A device comprising:
 integral first means for including second means for storing a substance therein;   integral third means for hermetically sealing an interior of the second means with the third means engaged with the first means, and for including fourth means for sealingly engaging fifth means of the first means with the third means engaged with the first means to define sixth means having normally closed seventh means;   wherein the fourth means is also for moving in response to substance at an inlet to the seventh means exceeding a valve opening pressure of the sixth means from a first position forming the normally closed seventh means to a second position for allowing substance to pass through the sixth means for dispensing substance through an outlet end of the seventh means and out of the device.   
     
     
         42 . A device as defined in  claim 41 , further comprising eighth means for pumping substance through the sixth means. 
     
     
         43 . A device as in  claim 42 , wherein the first means comprises a first piece, the second means comprises a storage chamber, the third means comprises a second piece, the fourth means comprises a flexible valve member, the fifth means comprises a valve seat, the sixth means comprises a one way valve, the seventh means comprises a normally closed valve seam, and the eighth means comprises a pump. 
     
     
         44 . A method comprising:
 (a) engaging an integral first piece with an integral second piece, wherein   the integral first piece includes a storage chamber adapted for storing a substance therein, an outlet in fluid communication with the storage chamber, and a valve seat; and   the integral second piece defines a closure configured to hermetically seal an interior of the storage chamber with the second piece engaged with the first piece and a flexible valve member configured to sealingly engage the valve seat with the second piece engaged with the first piece to define a one way valve defining a normally closed valve seam between the valve seat and the valve member, an inlet at one end of the seam, an outlet spaced relative to the inlet at another end of the seam to define an outlet of the device, and a valve opening pressure;   (b) hermetically sealing an interior of the storage chamber with the closure;   (c) superimposing the valve member onto the valve seat; and   (d) forming a normally closed valve seam between the valve seat and the valve member, wherein the valve member is moveable in response to substance at the inlet exceeding the valve opening pressure between (i) a first position with the valve member and valve seat forming the normally closed seam and (ii) a second position with at least a portion of the valve member spaced away from the valve seat to allow the substance to pass through the valve seam from the inlet and to dispense the substance through the outlet at the another end of the valve seam and out of the device.   
     
     
         45 . A method as defined in  claim 44 , wherein the valve seat is elongated and generally annular, the valve member is elongated and generally elongated, and the valve seam is elongated and generally annular. 
     
     
         46 . A method as defined in  claim 44 , wherein steps (b) through (d) occur during step (a). 
     
     
         47 . A method as defined in  claim 44 , further comprising sterile or aseptically filling the storage chamber. 
     
     
         48 . A method as defined in  claim 47 , further comprising sterilizing the sealed storage chamber prior to said filling.