Device and related method

Abstract

A dispenser has a body with a variable-volume storage chamber for storing substance, and a dispensing portion defining a dosage chamber in fluid communication with the storage chamber. A first valve includes a valve seat and a flexible valve cover seated thereon defining a normally-closed fluid-tight seam therebetween. The valve cover relative to moves from the valve seat to allow substance through the seam and out of the dispenser. A second valve allows substance from the storage chamber into the dosage chamber and substantially prevents flow from the dosage chamber into the storage chamber. An actuator is manually movable between (i) a first non-actuated position, and (ii) a second actuated position extending into the dosage chamber for compressing a dose of substance therein, dispensing substance through the first valve. The elasticity of the actuator causes it to return to the first non-actuated position upon manually releasing the actuator.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A dispenser for dispensing a substance, comprising:
 a body including a variable-volume storage chamber for storing the substance;   a dispensing portion connected with the body and defining a dosage chamber coupled in fluid communication with the storage chamber for receiving substance therefrom, and an outlet aperture coupled in fluid communication with the dosage chamber;   a first valve forming an external portion of the dispenser and including a valve seat and a flexible valve cover seated on the valve seat defining an interference fit therewith and defining a normally-closed seam therebetween forming a fluid-tight seal between the valve cover and valve seat, wherein the flexible valve cover is movable relative to the valve seat and the seam is connectable in fluid communication with the outlet aperture to allow the passage of substance through the seam and out of the dispenser;   a second valve coupled in fluid communication between the dosage chamber and the storage chamber that allows the flow of substance from the storage chamber into the dosage chamber and substantially prevents the flow of substance from the dosage chamber into the storage chamber; and   an elastic actuator mounted on the dispensing portion and movable between (i) a first non-actuated position, and (ii) a second actuated position for compressing a dose of substance within the dosage chamber and, in turn, dispensing the substance through the first valve, wherein the actuator is configured to be actuated in a direction between the first non-actuated position and the second actuated position that is transverse to an axis of the first valve, and wherein the elasticity of the actuator causes the actuator to return from the second actuated position to the first non-actuated position upon releasing the actuator.   
     
     
         9 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the dispensing portion includes a dispensing body defining the dosage chamber, outlet aperture and valve seat, and the elastic actuator is co-molded to the dispensing body. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the elastic actuator defines a manually-engageable surface located a substantially uniform distance from an axis of symmetry in the non-actuated position. 
     
     
         12 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the body forms the storage chamber and includes a flexible tube. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 8 , further comprising a penetrable and resealable portion that is penetrable by a filling member to fill the variable-volume storage chamber and is resealable to reseal an aperture therein. 
     
     
         15 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the storage chamber is defined by one of a flexible tube and a flexible bladder. 
     
     
         16 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the body is relatively rigid and the storage chamber is mounted within the body. 
     
     
         17 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 8 , wherein during dispensing of the substance through the first valve, respective segments of the valve cover at least one of (i) substantially sequentially move relative to the valve seat to allow the passage of substance through the seam and out of the dispenser; and (ii) substantially progressively open and then close after passage of substance therethrough when moving toward an exterior of the first valve. 
     
     
         18 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 8 , wherein at substantially any time during dispensing of the substance through the first valve, at least one segment of the valve cover substantially engages the valve seat. 
     
     
         19 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the valve cover includes a first portion defining a first degree of interference with the valve seat in the normally closed position, and a second portion defining a second degree of interference with the valve seat in the normally closed position. 
     
     
         20 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 8 , wherein at least one of (i) the valve cover defines a generally tapered cross-sectional shape in a direction from an interior toward an exterior of the first valve; (ii) segments of the valve cover require progressively less energy to open in a direction from an interior toward an exterior of the first valve; and (iii) the valve seat defines an increasing outer diameter in a direction from an interior toward an exterior of the first valve. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 8 , further comprising a stopper slidably received within the body and forming a substantially fluid-tight seal therebetween, wherein the variable-volume storage chamber is formed between the stopper and the dosage chamber, and the stopper is movable toward the dosage chamber upon dispensing a dosage from the storage chamber to reduce the volume of the storage chamber in an amount approximately equal to the volume of the dose dispensed. 
     
     
         23 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 22 , further comprising a flexible membrane coupled between the stopper and an end portion of the body opposite the dispensing portion, and forming a substantially fluid-tight seal between the stopper and respective end portion of the body. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 23 , wherein the flexible membrane extends annularly about the stopper and about the respective end portion of the body. 
     
     
         26 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 23 , wherein the stopper includes at least one relatively rigid annular sealing portion forming an interference fit with the body, and at least one relatively flexible annular sealing portion forming an interference fit with the body and a fluid-tight seal therebetween. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 26 , wherein the relatively flexible portion further defines a penetrable and resealable portion that is penetrable by a filling member to fill the variable-volume storage chamber and is resealable to reseal an aperture therein. 
     
     
         29 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 28 , wherein the flexible sealing portion is substantially concentric with the penetrable portion, and a gap is formed therebetween. 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A dispenser for dispensing a substance, comprising:
 first means for forming a variable-volume storage chamber for storing the substance;   second means for forming a dosage chamber coupled in fluid communication with the storage chamber for receiving substance therefrom, and an outlet aperture coupled in fluid communication with the dosage chamber;   third means for forming an external portion of the dispenser and for forming a normally-closed, seam defining an interference fit and coupled in fluid communication with the second means and movable in response to the flow of pressurized substance from the second means into the seam to allow the passage of substance through the seam and out of the dispenser;   fourth means coupled in fluid communication between the dosage chamber and the storage chamber for allowing the flow of substance from the storage chamber into the dosage chamber and substantially preventing the flow of substance from the dosage chamber into the storage chamber; and   fifth means for engaging and elastically moving between (i) a first non-actuated position, and (ii) a second actuated position for compressing a dose of substance within the dosage chamber and, in turn, dispensing the substance through the third means, for being actuated in a direction between the first non-actuated position and the second actuated position that is transverse to an axis of the third means and for elastically returning from the second actuated position to the first non-actuated position upon releasing the fifth means.   
     
     
         32 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 31 , wherein the first means is a body portion of the dispenser; the second means is a dispensing portion connected with the body and defining a dosage chamber coupled in fluid communication with the storage chamber for receiving substance therefrom, and an outlet aperture coupled in fluid communication with the dosage chamber; the third means is a first valve including a valve seat and an a 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, wherein the flexible valve cover is movable relative to the valve seat and the seam is connectable in fluid communication with the outlet aperture to allow the passage of substance through the seam and out of the dispenser; the fourth means is a second valve coupled in fluid communication between the dosage chamber and the storage chamber that allows the flow of substance from the storage chamber into the dosage chamber and substantially prevents the flow of substance from the dosage chamber into the storage chamber; and the fifth means is an elastic actuator mounted on the dispensing portion in fluid communication with the dosage chamber and movable between (i) a first non-actuated position, and (ii) a second actuated position for compressing a dose of substance within the dosage chamber and, in turn, dispensing the substance through the first valve. 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 31 , further comprising a sliding stopper received within the first means and forming the variable-volume storage chamber therein, wherein the sliding stopper includes relatively rigid means for slidably contacting the first means and forming a seal therebetween, and relatively flexible means for slidably contacting the first means and forming a seal therebetween. 
     
     
         35 . A dispenser as defined in  claim 34 , wherein the relatively flexible means also is penetrable and resealable for filling the variable-volume storage chamber therethrough and sealing an aperture in the relatively flexible means. 
     
     
         36 . (canceled)