Fixed volume fluid dispenser

Abstract

A fixed volume fluid dispenser useful for dispensing material from a container such as salad dressing from a bottle. The dispenser may be formed as part of the container, or a separate device useable in conjunction with the container. The disclosed dispenser may be attachable to the container in place of a standard bottle cover and cap sold with the bottle. A valve and actuator may be included to allow the user to selectively fill the dispenser from the container, and a cap may be present to allow the contents of the dispenser emptied from the dispenser. The dispenser may be rigid, or semi rigid, thus allowing only a fixed volume of material to be dispensed at a time.

1 . A container comprising:
 a storage chamber defined by a storage chamber wall, the storage chamber having an open end and a closed end;   a measuring chamber defined by a measuring chamber wall;   a cap that is selectively closeable and is positioned at an end of the measuring chamber; and   a valve positioned between the storage and measuring chambers, the valve including:
 a sealing member rotatable around an axis of rotation that extends across the measuring chamber; and 
 an actuator coupled to the sealing member, the actuator configured to actuate the sealing member to selectively seal the measuring chamber; 
   wherein the storage chamber is defined by the storage chamber wall and the sealing member of the valve; and   wherein the measuring chamber is defined by the cap, the measuring chamber wall, and the sealing member of the valve.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the measuring chamber includes:
 a coupler positioned between the storage chamber and the measuring chamber, the coupler having at least one engagement member arranged and configured to engage corresponding retention elements of the storage chamber to retain the measuring chamber adjacent to the storage chamber.   
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the measuring chamber wall is substantially rigid and defines a measuring chamber with a fixed volume. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the storage chamber and the measuring chamber are cylindrical and aligned along a common axis. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is configured to seal the storage chamber at the open end of the storage chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to rotate the sealing member between a closed position and an open position such that in the closed position, the measuring chamber is sealed from the storage chamber, and such that in the open position, the storage chamber and the measuring chamber are in fluid communication with one another. 
     
     
         7 . A measuring device for a container, comprising:
 a cap at a first end of the container, wherein the cap is selectively closeable;   a valve having:
 a sealing member rotatable around an axis of rotation; and 
 an actuator coupled to the sealing member; 
   a measuring chamber defined by a wall of the measuring device, the cap, and the sealing member; and   a coupler configured to couple the measuring device to the container;   wherein the cap is configured to selectively seal a first end of the measuring chamber;   wherein the actuator is configured to actuate the sealing member to selectively seal a second end of the measuring chamber; and   wherein the axis of rotation is transverse to the measuring chamber.   
     
     
         8 . The measuring device of  claim 7 , wherein the storage chamber defines a fixed volume that is substantially larger than a volume of the measuring container. 
     
     
         9 . The measuring device of  claim 7 , wherein the coupler has at least one engagement member arranged and configured to engage corresponding retention elements of the container to retain the measuring device adjacent the container. 
     
     
         10 . The measuring device of  claim 7 , wherein at least one engagement member includes threads extending into the coupler, and wherein the retention elements on the container include corresponding threads extending outwardly from the container. 
     
     
         11 . The measuring device of  claim 7 , wherein the measuring chamber wall and the container are a single unitary structure. 
     
     
         12 . The measuring device of  claim 7 , wherein the measuring chamber and the container are cylindrical and aligned along a common axis. 
     
     
         13 . The measuring device of  claim 7 , wherein the actuator is configured to rotate the sealing member between a closed position and an open position such that in the closed position, the measuring chamber is sealed from an interior of the container, and such that in the open position, the measuring chamber and the interior of the container are in fluid communication with one another. 
     
     
         14 . The measuring device of  claim 13 , wherein the sealing member is substantially planar, the sealing member being substantially perpendicular to the long axis of the container when in the closed position. 
     
     
         15 . The measuring device of  claim 13 , wherein the sealing member is substantially planar, the sealing member being substantially parallel to the long axis of the container when in the open position. 
     
     
         16 . A container comprising:
 a storage chamber and a measuring chamber defined by a container wall;   a cap that is selectively closeable and is positioned at an end of the container; and   a valve positioned between the storage and measuring chambers, the valve including:
 a sealing member rotatable around an axis of rotation that is transverse to a long axis of the container, the sealing member configured to hermetically seal the measuring chamber from the storage chamber; and 
 an actuator coupled to the sealing member, the actuator configured to actuate the sealing member to selectively seal the measuring chamber from the storage chamber; 
   wherein the storage chamber is defined by the container wall and the sealing member of the valve; and   wherein the measuring chamber is defined by the cap, the container wall, and the sealing member of the valve.   
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the container wall is a single unitary structure defining the measuring and storage chambers, the container wall configured to engage the cap. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the container wall is substantially rigid, the storage chamber and the measuring chamber defining a fixed storage volume and a fixed measuring volume respectively. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the storage chamber is at least twice the size of the measuring chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the storage chamber and the measuring chamber are cylindrical and aligned along the long axis of the container. 
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the actuator is configured to rotate the sealing member between a closed position and an open position such that in the closed position, the measuring chamber is sealed from the storage chamber, and such that in the open position, the storage chamber and the measuring chamber are in fluid communication with one another. 
     
     
         22 . The measuring device of  claim 21 , wherein the sealing member is substantially planar, the sealing member being substantially perpendicular to the long axis of the container when in the closed position. 
     
     
         23 . The measuring device of  claim 22 , wherein the sealing member is substantially planar, the sealing member being substantially parallel to the long axis of the container when in the open position.