EP1311454A1

EP1311454A1 - Fast fit bottle mount

Info

Publication number: EP1311454A1
Application number: EP01963620A
Authority: EP
Inventors: John Robert Main; Peter James Murphy
Original assignee: Prima Technologies Ltd
Current assignee: Prima Technologies Ltd
Priority date: 2000-08-11
Filing date: 2001-07-26
Publication date: 2003-05-21
Also published as: WO2002014208A1; AU2001284552A1

Abstract

A fast fit docking arrangement (7) for dispensing apparatus (1), for example,injection guns. The docking (7) has at least one retention member (22) capable of being moved aside by an appropriate container (9) with the effect that its resilience gives rise to a clip fit docking of such an appropriate container with an intake needle (8) of the dispensing apparatus lodged into the container.

Description

FAST FIT BOTTLE MOUNT

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to dispensing apparatus of a ldnd capable of dispensing liquid to be drawn from a replaceable container.

In for example, New Zealand patent specification 173753 of MacGrath there is disclosed a dispensing apparatus capable of dispensing liquid drawn into a variable volume chamber from a replaceable container. It is to be noted that in NZ 173753 a bottle is placed in the docking and a collar is rotated to urge inwardly cam followers or plungers to engage the under face of the neck flange of the bottle. Such retention can be reversed by appropriate rotation of the collar reliant on springs to urge outwardly the cam followers. The full content of NZ173753 is here included by way of reference. BACKGROUND ART

The present invention is directed to a different form of quick fit engagement of a bottle or other replaceable container of the liquid to be expressed from the apparatus. This recognises an advantage in a quick push on fit without further fuss to achieve the appropriate location of the replacement container in a docking as well as the penetration of its penetrable end by an intake needle. A simple operator activated release mechanism is the basis for removal of the emptied container from the docking. Preferably this in the preferred form simply comprises a movement of a couple of actuating wings which removes retention shoulders from the under face of the neck flange i.e. it is to these types of quick fit arrangements that the present invention is directed. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the invention consists in a dispensing apparatus to dispense a liquid to be drawn from a replaceable container, said apparatus having a docking into which a suitable said container can be engaged and can be retained in a clip fit manner by at least one retention member and from which such a suitable container can be disengaged (e.g. preferably by human intervention) by movement of said at least one retention member, an intake needle or other conduit adapted to penetrate into a suitable said container as it is being and/or when docked by said docking, and a chamber of variable volume capable of being varied as to volume by an operator of the apparatus

(i) to draw liquid via said intake needle or other conduit into said chamber as it is enlarged from a said docked container into which said needle or other conduit penetrates in use and

(ii) to express previously drawn in liquid from said chamber via an outlet from said chamber as the chamber is reduced in volume. A suitable container preferably has a body, neck and head (or rib). Preferably said human intervention is a simple movement of levers or the like (e.g. an integral wing extension of each retention member) to resiliently deform the docking retention member(s) at least in part to provide a return bias to a container retaining condition, the movement at least in part being similar to that during clip fit docking of a container into said docking.

Preferably said variable geometry chamber takes the form of a barrel or cylinder, the volume of which is variable under the action of a piston.

Preferably said piston is directly operable using a hand operated means of actuation e.g. a trigger, squeezable handle or the like with a bias return.

Preferably said outlet from said variable geometry chamber is or is in communication with an outlet nozzle, catheter, skin penetrating needle, skin scratch needle or other like device.

Preferably said docking is a moulding screw, screw engaged with means defining in part said chamber.

Preferably said dispensing apparatus is of a kind substantially as hereinafter described with or without reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings. In a further aspect the present invention consists in, in combination, dispensing apparatus as previously defined and a replaceable said suitable container.

Preferably said combination is assembled with said intake needle or other conduit penetrating a needle penetrable seal of said replaceable container.

Preferably said replaceable container is in the form of a bottle (glass or plastic) having a neck leading to a retention head or rib about the mouth thereof. Preferably the docking means is such as to provide for a clip fit engagement of retention members behind said head or rib on opposite sides of the container to hold the same docked in use.

Preferably the arrangement is releasable by means which spreads the retention members of the dispensing apparatus.

Preferably the apparatus is such that at least part of said docking is associable by an engagement with and thus is dissociable from the remainder of said dispensing apparatus, e.g. by a screw thread engagement.

In still a further aspect the present invention consists of apparatus suitable for retro fitting or association with a dispensing apparatus to provide the docking means of apparatus as previously defined.

In another aspect the invention is a moulding having some or all of the features of retention/release/association importance shown in Figures 3 to 7B hereof.

In still a further aspect the present invention consists in a docking substantially as hereinafter described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

In still a further aspect the present invention consists in a method of dispensing a liquid which comprises engaging a source of said liquid in a replaceable container with dispensing apparatus in a clip fit manner with a draw off needle or other conduit penetrating the container, dispensing liquid drawn from said replaceable container via said needle or other conduit from the apparatus, and thereafter removing the container with a reduced or depleted liquid content from the apparatus (preferably by spreading directly or indirectly the clip fit providing retention members thereof). To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting. The invention consists in the foregoing and also envisages constructions of which the following gives examples. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION One preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which;

Figure 1 is a side view showing a preferred form of the present invention, the dispensing apparatus comprising a squeeze handle to actuate a piston, there also being a screw engageable docking shown to the top of the apparatus, the docking itself providing means for engaging a suitable container, such a container being retained by a clip fit feature,

Figure 2 shows a front elevation view of the dispensing apparatus of Figure 1,

Figure 3 shows the most preferred form of the docking member, the member comprising a screw thread or similar for engagement with the dispensing apparatus shown in Figure 1 , and two actuating wings to be urged downward so as to disengage a container from its clip fit engagement with the docking, a side portion removed from the wall either side to act as a window for aiming bottle to the spike,

Figure 4 is a variant of the docking shown in Figure 3 where the outstands are absent from the docking, and where a greater amount of material has been used to form the body of the docking,

Figure 5 shows in perspective a similar docking to that of Figure 4, in this case the actuating wings being present as in the arrangement of Figure 3, and

Figure 6 shows the docking member of Figure 5 in association with one of many possible containers suitable for use in such a docking, the association being that of a clip fit variety as further illustrated in Figures 7A and 7B,

Figure 7A shows a partial view of a container suitable for use with a docking which accords with the present invention, the container being engaged with the docking (shown in section) in a clip fit arrangement, such an arrangement providing adequate retention and stability of the container, Figure 7B is a similar view to that of Figure 7 A but one where the actuating wing has been urged downward by a force denoted by F, resulting in the prying apart of the docking such that the container might be subsequently removed from the docking,

Figure 8 is a side elevation view of a preferred moulding in a plastics material of a docking member having a pair of retention members and an internal screw thread which allows it to be associated with a male thread outstanding laterally of the barrel of the dispenser,

Figure 9 is a view from above of the docking of Figure 8, Figure 10 is a cross section of the docking of Figure 8 at A- A, showing in its clip fit and retained condition a container with a body, neck and head, part of the head or at least a rib set down therefrom being retained by the two integral moulded retention members, and

Figure 11 is a similar view to that of Figure 10 showing how it is the container can be uplifted out of the docking upon sideways pressure being applied in the arrowed direction by an operator thereby to allow the uplifting of the container from within the docking.

As used herein "clip fit" includes an arrangement by which two or more members may be urged together with a simple action to provide some degree of retention, preferably reliant on some use of resilience. By way of example see Figures 7 A and 7B and Figures 10 and 11 where an outstanding annular rib is used to provide such retention of a container.

As used herein "liquid" includes any liquid medium whether a pure liquid or mixtures of liquids, suspensions, emulsions, suspoemulsions, etc.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the dispensing apparatus 1 comprises a squeeze handle 2 pivoted about an axis 3. The pivoted arm 5 is biassed outwardly by a spring (not shown) embedded within the arms 4 and 5 of the squeeze handle 2. The rear arm 5 of the handle is connected to a piston 5 which is actuated by the squeezing or urging together of arms

4 and 5 of the handle 2. In the preferred form of the present invention the biassing of the handle is achieved via atorsional spring positioned so that the axis of the spring coincides with the pivot axis 3. Alternatively the biassing may be achieved via a standard type spring positioned over the piston member . The docking itself is shaped so as to receive the container of liquid and when the container is pierced by the tube the fluid from the container is communicated down through and into the dispensing apparatus as characterised in that a biassing spoon (not shown) of a rotational variety is embedded within the arms 3 and 4 of the squeeze handle. While not shown the present invention also envisages other constructions whereby the biassing means might include a linear spring positioned at the upper portion of the handle. The handle is biassed outwardly away from the body of the dispensing apparatus and upon squeezing together of the arms 4 and 5 by a compression liquid is discharged from the body through a valve and subsequently through the outlet 11 of the dispensing apparatus.

The dispensing apparatus is also characterised in that a docking member 7 is screw threadedly attached to the body of the dispensing apparatus. In the preferred form of the present invention the docking takes a form substantially as shown in Figure 1, 2 and 3 where the container piercing tube or needle 8 is aimed and forced into the bottle via the docking member 7. Figure 3 (not showing the bottle) shows a cutaway at 15 to allow aiming of the bottle onto the needle, etc.

The method of operation of the dispensing apparatus involves manually engaging a suitable liquid container 9, of the type depicted in Figure 6, with the docking. This operation is preferably undertaken when the docking is screw threadedly engaged with the body of the dispensing apparatus as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Alternatively the engagement of the liquid container with the docking may be undertaken prior to the engagement of the docking with the dispensing apparatus. Once the liquid container 9 is engaged with the docking the liquid may travel through the conduit 10 of the container piercing tube and into the variable geometry chamber within the body of the dispensing apparatus. The subsequent squeezing of the handle results in the liquid being expressed from the chamber and through the outlet 11 of the chamber. After the dispensing stroke has been completed the biassing spring of the handle retracts the piston 6 allowing the chamber of variable geometry to once again fill with the liquid. The container may be removed from the docking by urging integral (eg; polycarbonate) the wings 12 of the docking in a downward direction as shown in Figure 7b. In the preferred form of the present invention this urging might be undertaken with one of the operators hands while the other extracts the bottle from the docking. As shown in Figure 7b by applying a force "F" to the wings 12 the retention shoulders 13 are removed from behind and outstanding annular rib 14 of the container 9.

A preferred form of docking member is that shown as an integral moulding in Figures 8 and 9. Here the docking 15 with its lower end region 16 with its internal threading 17 is adapted to engage with the dispenser assembly such that a needle assembly upstands into the lower regions of the member 8 so as to penetrate a bottle or other container when it is being docked.

Figure 10 shows a fully docked container 18 having a body 19, a neck 20 and a rib or head 21 which is retained by two retention members 22 reliant upon a projection 23 in each case being received over an abutment shoulder of the rib or head 21.

As can be seen these members 22 are such that a bottle can simply be shunted home into its condition as shown in Figure 10 with the members preferably splaying outwardly in the outwardly arrowed direction shown in Figure 11 as a result of engagement with the bottle although, if desired, some inward pressure in the arrowed direction of Figure 11 can be provided to assist. Thereafter however the resilience of the material (preferably an easily moulded and durable plastics material such as polycarbonate, acetal or polysulphone) ensures a return under the natural bias of the material to the retention condition as shown in Figure 10 from whence the container can be withdrawn by human intervention, ie; the application of finger pressure on each of the regions 24 of each wing 22.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate how an assembly as depicted using one or other of the dockings and a preferred needle assembly in conjunction with the dispensing assembly provides for the fast fit and interchange wanted. Persons will also appreciate that the needle attachment to the assembly can be of any suitable kind including that as disclosed in New Zealand Patent Specification No. 260359 of Simcro Tech Limited.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A dispensing apparatus to dispense a liquid to be drawn from a replaceable container, said apparatus having a docking having at least one retention member and into which docking a suitable said container can be clip fit engaged by resiliently moving the retention member(s) to create a return bias for the or each retention member thereby to retain a suitable said container by said at least one retention member and from which docking such a suitable container can be disengaged subsequent to movement of said at least one retention member from its retention condition(s), an intake needle or other conduit adapted to penetrate into a suitable said container as it is being and/or when docked by said docking, and a chamber of variable volume capable of being varied as to volume by an operator of the apparatus

(i) to draw liquid via said intake needle or other conduit into said chamber as it is enlarged from a said docked container into which said intake needle or other conduit penetrates in use and (ii) to express previously drawn in liquid from said chamber via an outlet from said chamber as the chamber is reduced in volume.

2. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said suitable container has a body, neck and head and it is the head that is retained by an intrusion or intrusions of the retention member(s) in towards the neck.

3. Apparatus of claim 2 wherein said docking requires human intervention to enable container disengagement therefrom.

4. Apparatus of claim 3 wherein said human intervention is a simple movement of at least an integral part of the or each retention member to resiliently deform the docking retention member(s) at least in part thereby to provide a return bias to a container retaining condition, the movement at least in part being similar to that during clip fit docking of a container into said docking.

5. Apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said variable geometry chamber takes the form of a barrel or cylinder, the volume of which is variable under the action of a piston.

6. Apparatus of claim 5 wherein said piston is directly operable using a hand operated means of actuation with a bias return.

7. Apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein said outlet from said variable geometry chamber is an outlet nozzle, catheter, skin penetrating needle, skin scratch needle or other like device.

8. Apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein said docking with its at least one retention member is a moulding screw engaged with means defining in part said chamber.

9. Dispensing apparatus to dispense a liquid to be drawn from a replaceable container, said apparatus comprising or including in combination or assembly a dispensing assembly having a dispensing chamber of variable geometry defined at least in part by a barrel having a discharge outlet and co-operating with a moveable piston capable of varying the volume of the chamber, said barrel having an intake port, a one way valve for said intake port, an intake needle adapted to receive a liquid and to transfer such liquid via said one way valve and said intake port into said chamber, and a docking for a container to be penetrated by said intake needle, said docking having at least one at least in part resilient retention member whereby a suitable container having a body, a neck and a head (or some equivalent rib) can be pushed into the docking on to said intake needle, the or each at least in part resilient retention member moving aside or being movable aside and then back under its or their resilience to achieve a retention of the container by its head or rib with said intake needle operatively at least in part within the container in which condition, in use, i) piston movement away from the outlet will have the effect of drawing liquid from said docked container through said intake needle and the one way valve into said barrel and ii) piston movement towards said outlet will ensure the expression from said outlet of at least some of the liquid drawn into said barrel, said one way valve preventing liquid to any substantial degree from being expressed back into said container via said intake needle.

10. Dispensing apparatus wherein the suitable container clip fits into said docking.

11. In combination, dispensing apparatus as defined in any one of the preceding claims and a replaceable said suitable container.

12. A combination of claim 11 assembled with said intake needle or other conduit penetrating a needle penetrable seal of said replaceable container.

13. A combination of claim 11 or 12 wherein said replaceable container is in the form of a bottle (glass or plastic) having a body, a neck and a retention head or rib.

14. A combination of claim 13 wherein the docking is such as to provide for a clip fit engagement of its retention members behind said head or rib on opposite sides of the container to hold the same docked in use.

15. A combination of claim 14 wherein the retention members can be spread by the squeezing together of an integral extension of each.

16. A combination of claim 14 wherein said docking is associated by a screw thread engagement with means defining said variable volume chamber.

17. Apparatus suitable for retro fitting or association with a dispensing apparatus to provide the docking means of apparatus as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10.

18. A moulding having some or all of the docking and retention features shown in Figures 3 to 7B hereof or Figures 8 to 11 hereof.

19. A docking substantially as hereinafter described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

20. Dispensing apparatus of a kind substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

21. A method of dispensing a liquid which comprises engaging a source of said liquid in a replaceable container with dispensing apparatus in a clip fit manner with a draw off needle or other conduit penetrating the container, dispensing liquid drawn from said replaceable container via said needle or other conduit from the dispensing apparatus, and thereafter removing the container with a reduced or depleted liquid content from the dispensing apparatus.

22. A method of claim 21 wherein the removing involves spreading directly or indirectly clip fit providing resilient retention members thereof which when not spread will inter-engage the container sufficiently to retain it in its docked condition.

23. A method of claim 21 or 22 performed using apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 20.