EP2033595A2

EP2033595A2 - Liquid dispensing apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP2033595A2
Application number: EP08162725A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Adriano Barbieri
Original assignee: Interdamo Socrl
Current assignee: Interdamo Socrl
Priority date: 2007-09-10
Filing date: 2008-08-21
Publication date: 2009-03-11
Also published as: EP2033595A3; ITMO20070278A1

Abstract

An apparatus (1), arranged for dispensing a volume of a fluid product, comprises a body (3) that is connectable to containing means (C) of said fluid product, chamber means (17, 18) comprised in said body (3) and arranged for receiving said volume of said fluid product, movable dispensing member means (47), arranged for expelling said volume of said fluid product outside said apparatus (1), dose-varying means (2), arranged for varying said volume of said fluid product.

Description

The invention relates to a dispensing apparatus for dispensing liquid products, in particular a portable dispensing apparatus for dispensing variable doses of liquid compositions for veterinary and/or zoological use.
Portable dispensing devices are known, by means of which it is possible to administer liquid compositions to small pet animals, such as cats and dogs and to medium-sized animals of animal husbandry interest such as pigs, horses and young cattle. Known devices comprise a stiff body that is graspable and on which a bottle is insertible that contains the liquid composition to be administered. The stiff body is provided with a suction pipe, owing to which the composition can be transferred from the bottle to a chamber obtained inside the stiff body. The device is further provided with a pumping piston that is internally hollow and is manually operatable, by means of which it is possible to suck a preset volume of liquid composition from the bottle to the chamber and then spray the aforesaid volume outside the device, through an end opening of the pumping piston. In this manner, it is possible to administer a dosed quantity of a liquid veterinary drug orally to an animal for internal use or to spray a liquid veterinary drug for topical (external) use onto the external body surface of the animal.
A drawback of the dispensing devices disclosed above consists of the fact that the latter can dispense only preset volumes of liquid composition. This means that if it is necessary to vary, i.e. increase and/or decrease the volume of composition to be administered to an animal on the basis of the weight and/or the dimensions of the latter, it is necessary to use a plurality of dispensing devices, each of which has to be made and calibrated so as to dispense a preset volume of liquid.
As a result, a breeder, or a veterinary surgeon, or simply an owner of a pet animal has to acquire a series of dispensing devices, each of which is usable for dispensing a preset volume of liquid composition.
Thus every time that the same liquid composition has to be administered to animals of a different size the bottle containing the liquid composition has to be removed from the dispensing device, with which the bottle is associated and which is calibrated to dispense a certain volume of liquid. The bottle is then mounted on a further dispensing device that is able to dispense a different, greater, or lesser, volume of liquid.
For the users of the known dispensing devices, all this entails an undesired expenditure of time and money as it is necessary to buy multiple devices and waste time that is necessary for transferring the bottles from one device to another.
Another drawback of known dispensing devices consists of the fact that the latter are not provided with effective means for preventing the liquid composition being dispensed accidentally. This may occur if the dispensing device, associated with the corresponding bottle, is left unattended and is used in an improper manner, for example by an inadequately supervised child. The child may in fact accidentally spray the composition into eyes and/or mouth and thus come into contact and/or swallow potentially harmful substances.
An object of the invention is to improve known dispensing devices used for dispensing dosed quantities of liquid compositions for animal-husbandry and/or veterinary use.
Another object is to provide a dispensing device, for dispensing liquid compositions for animal-husbandry and/or veterinary use, that enables variable volumes of liquid composition to be dispensed, so as to avoid the waste of time and money associated with the use of known dispensing devices.
A further object is to provide a dispensing device for dispensing liquid compositions for animal-husbandry and/or veterinary use that enables accidental dispensing to be prevented, which is, for example, due to improper use of the dispensing device.
According to the invention, there is provided an apparatus arranged for dispensing a volume of a fluid product, comprising a body that is connectable to containing means of said fluid product, chamber means comprised in said body and arranged for receiving said volume of said fluid product, movable dispensing member means, arranged for expelling said volume of said fluid product outside said apparatus, dose-varying means, arranged for varying said volume of said fluid product.
Owing to the invention, a dispensing apparatus is made available that can be used in the animal-husbandry and/or veterinary field to dispense variable volumes of a liquid composition and which enables the expenditure of time and money caused by known dispensing devices to be avoided.
In fact, the dose-varying means acts by varying the volume of liquid composition that is receivable inside the chamber means and is consequently dispensable by the movable dispensing member. This enables different doses of the same liquid composition to be administered to animals of different size using the same dispensing apparatus.
In this way, the expense is avoided that is necessary for acquiring multiple dispensing devices that are calibrated for dispensing preset and differing volumes of liquid substances and the time is saved that is required to transfer the bottles containing the liquid compositions from one dispensing device to the other.
Further, by acting suitably on the dose-varying means it is also possible to prevent the dispensing apparatus from dispensing the liquid composition. This enables accidental dispensing to be avoided if the dispensing apparatus is used improperly, for example by children.
The invention will be better comprised and implemented with reference to the attached drawings, which show an embodiment thereof by way of non-limiting example, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective, fragmentary and incomplete view showing a dispensing apparatus provided with dose-varying means and connected to a bottle;
Figure 2 is a schematic longitudinal section of the apparatus in Figure 1, conducted according to the plane II-II;
Figure 3 is a section like the one in Figure 2, showing a component of the movable dispensing member means of the apparatus in Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a frontal schematic view showing a component of the dose-varying means;
Figure 5 is a section like the one in Figure 2, showing the chamber means comprised in the apparatus in Figure 1;
Figure 6 is a section like the one in Figure 2, showing a component of connecting means comprised in the dispensing apparatus in Figure 1;
Figure 7 is a section like the one in Figure 2, showing another component of the connecting means;
Figure 8 is a section like the one in Figure 2, showing another component of the movable dispensing member means;
Figure 9 is a section like the one in Figure 2, showing an embodiment of the other component of the movable dispensing member means;
Figure 10 is a section like the one in Figure 2, showing an element that is applicable to the movable dispensing member means;
Figure 11 is a section like the one in Figure 2, showing the body of the apparatus in Figure 1.

Figures 1 and 2 show a portable dispensing apparatus 1 provided with a dosing device 2.
The apparatus 1 comprises a body 3 made of a suitable stiff material (for example of plastics) that is grippable by a user and is connectable by a connecting portion 6 to a container, for example a bottle C of known type (shown in Figure 1 by a dotted line) containing a liquid composition for animal-husbandry and/or veterinary use. The apparatus 1 comprises a proximal end 22, corresponding to the portion of the body 3 that is gripped in use, and a distal end 23, opposite the proximal end 22 and corresponding to the portion of the apparatus 1 from which the liquid composition is dispensed. Into the body 3 there is inserted a movable dispensing member 47, comprising a piston element 9 and a dispensing portion 7. In use, the movable dispensing member 47 can move according to two parallel and opposite directions, indicated by the arrows F1 and F2, so as to suck (by the piston element 9) a preset volume of liquid composition from the bottle C inside a pumping chamber 18, comprised in the body 3, and expelling (through the dispensing portion 7) the aforesaid volume outside the apparatus 1. The volume of liquid composition that is suckable and dispensable by the apparatus 1 can be varied by the dosing device 2, comprising a thread 10, made on the piston element 9, and a ring nut element 11, inserted outside the piston element 9 and movable along the latter according to the two opposite directions F1 and F2. As will be disclosed with greater detail below, by varying the position of the ring nut element 11 with respect to the thread 10, and thus with respect to the piston element 9, it is possible to adjust a stroke that is performable by the piston element 9 inside the pumping chamber 18, and thus vary the volume of liquid composition that is suckable and dispensable by the apparatus 1.
The body 3, shown in detail in Figure 11, made of plastics, for example high-density polyethylene (HDPE), or of another suitable material, comprises, in addition to the aforesaid connecting portion 6, a main portion 4 and an end appendage 5.
In the main portion 4, which is substantially cylindrically shaped, two intercommunicating cavities are obtained, namely an inlet chamber 17 and an operating chamber 19. The approximately cylindrical inlet chamber 17, is defined by an internal wall 26 and has a longitudinal axis (not shown) arranged transversely to a longitudinal axis X of the body 3.
The inlet chamber 17 is interposed between the end appendage 5 and the operating chamber 19, and divides the latter with a dividing wall 21. In an approximately central portion of the dividing wall 21 a communicating hole 20 is obtained, by means of which the inlet chamber 17 communicates with the operating chamber 19. A circular seat 20a, adjacent to the communicating hole 20, protrudes from the dividing wall 21 in the direction of the distal end 23 of the apparatus 1. The circular seat 20a is intended for receiving, when the apparatus 1 is assembled, a corresponding end of another coil spring M2 (Figure 2). The inlet chamber 17 further communicates with the adjacent connecting portion 6 via an inlet hole 24. Near the latter, the inlet chamber 17 has a cross diameter that has a greater transverse diameter than the remaining portion of the inlet chamber 17, inasmuch as the inlet hole 24 is intended for receiving a conduit portion 40 of a connecting element 38 (shown in Figure 6).
When the apparatus 1 is assembled, in the inlet chamber 17 a sphere S1 is housed (Figure 2), made of steel or other material that is suitable and having a diameter equal to 4.75 millimetres. The ball S1 can alternatively close and/or open the aforesaid conduit portion 40, that thus acts as an inlet valve. In an embodiment that is not shown, the ball S1 is made so as to have a diameter that is greater or less than 4.75 millimetres, according to the dimensions of the inlet hole 24 and of the inlet chamber 17. The ball S1 is maintained in a closed position by a coil spring M1 (Figure 2), that is interposed between the ball S1 and an abutting portion 26a obtained in the internal wall 26.
The cylindrical operating chamber 19 is defined by a side wall 19a that is interposed between an open end 25 and the dividing wall 21. During mounting of the apparatus 1, by means of the open end 25 it is possible to snap into the operating chamber 19 a pumping chamber 18 (shown in detail in Figure 5). In the side wall 19a, near the open end 25, there is obtained a pair of annular notches 27.
The end appendage 5 has an approximately rectangular plan shape and is arranged obliquely in relation to the longitudinal axis X of the body 3, at the proximal end 22 of the apparatus 1. When the apparatus 1 is grasped on the end appendage 5 it is possible to rest the thumb of a hand so as to make the grip more secure.
The connecting portion 6 is situated near the proximal end 22 of the apparatus 1 and is adjacent to the inlet chamber 17, which communicates with the connecting portion 6 by the inlet hole 24. The cylinder-shaped connecting portion 6 is aligned on the longitudinal axis of the inlet chamber 18 and is provided with a plurality of projecting elements 6a.
Figure 6 shows in detail the connecting element 38, comprising a threaded portion 39 and a conduit portion 40, which are mutually connected. The threaded portion 39 has a hollow cylinder shape, comprising a mounting end 39a and a supply end 39b, that are mutually opposite. The supply end 39b is open and enables, in use, the neck of the bottle C to be screwed onto the connecting element 38 by internal thread 42 obtained in the threaded portion 39. The mounting end 39a is closed, except near a central zone, in which the mounting end 39a receives the cylinder-shaped conduit portion 40. In an external surface of the threaded portion 39 a further plurality of projecting elements 42a is obtained. The projecting elements 42a are made in a shapingly coupled manner with the projecting elements 6a of the connecting portion 6 of the body 3. This enables the connecting element 38 to be snapped into the connecting portion 6 during assembly of the apparatus 1.
In an embodiment that is not shown, the plurality of projecting elements 6a and the further plurality of projecting elements 42a are replaced respectively by a nut, obtained in the connecting portion 6, and by a thread, obtained in the connecting element 38.
In an end of the conduit portion 40 that, when the apparatus 1 is assembled, crosses the inlet hole 24 of the inlet chamber 17, a seat 41 is obtained that is suitable for receiving the ball S1. The ball S1, when it is locked to the seat 41 through the effect of the coil spring M1, closes a through hole 41a obtained in the seat 41.
Figure 7 shows a further connecting element 43, comprising a further conduit portion 46, a sealing plate 44 and a vent portion 45. The sealing plate 44, in use, is applied to the mounting end 39a of the connecting element 38. The further conduit portion 46 has a conical-cylindrical shape, and comprises an insertible end 46a and a connecting end 46b, that are mutually opposite. The insertible end 46a is arranged for being inserted into the conduit portion 40 of the connecting element 38, in a position opposite the seat 41, whilst into the connecting end 46b a flexible pipe is inserted (which is not shown), by which the liquid composition contained in the bottle C can be sucked.
The vent portion 45, having an approximately conical shape, is traversed in an approximately central position by the insertible portion 46 and is provided, in a position that is peripheral to the insertible portion 46, with a vent conduit 45a in the free end of which there is obtained a vent hole 48. The vent conduit 45a and the vent hole 48 come into function when the dispensing apparatus 1 is used in an upturned position, as will be disclosed in greater detail below.
Figure 5 shows the pumping chamber 18, which is shapingly coupled with the operating chamber 19 and is snappable into the latter. The pumping chamber 18 comprises a side wall 18a, that is interposed between an open end 28 and a protruding end 29. On an external face of the side wall 18a, near the protruding end 29, there is comprised a pair of annular protrusions 31, shapingly coupled with the pair of annular notches 27 obtained in the side wall 19a of the operating chamber 19.
The open end 28 rests on the dividing wall 21 when the pumping chamber 18 is inserted into the operating chamber 19.
The protruding end 29 is provided with a protruding edge 29a that comes to abut against a corresponding edge of the open end 25 of the operating chamber 19. In the protruding end 29 there is further obtained a through hole 30 through which the piston element 9 can flow that is comprised in the movable dispensing member 47.
The pumping chamber 18 shown in Figures 2 and 5 has a maximum capacity of approximately 3 ml. In embodiments that are not shown the apparatus 1 is provided with a pumping chamber having a capacity that is greater or less than 3 ml.
Figure 3 shows in detail the piston element 9, which has a hollow cylinder shape and a diameter that is such as to be able to slide (sealed) through the through hole 30 of the pumping chamber 18. The piston element 9 comprises a side wall 37, a supply end 9a and a dispensing end 9b. The supply end 9a and the dispensing end 9b are open and are mutually opposite. The supply end 9a comprises a sliding portion 34, slidingly coupled with the pumping chamber 18. In an approximately median portion of the sliding portion 34 a jaw 35 is received, in which with the apparatus 1 assembled, a sealing element of known type is received, for example an elastomeric washer of the "O-ring" type (Figure 2).
A valve element 32, having a hollow cylinder shape, is fixed to the inside of the piston element 9 in an approximately median portion of the side wall 37. The valve element 32 in turn comprises a drilled end 32b and an anchoring end 32a. The drilled end 32b faces the dispensing end 9b, whilst the anchoring end 32a faces the supply end 9a and is fixed peripherally to the internal wall 37. When the apparatus 1 is assembled, the drilled end 32b of the valve element 32 can be alternatively closed and/or opened by a ball S2 (Figure 2), made in a similar manner to the ball S1, whilst against the anchoring end 32b there rests a corresponding end of the coil spring M2. The latter is thus housed in part inside the piston element 9, and in part directly inside the pumping chamber 18. The spring M2 maintains the piston element 9 (and thus the movable dispensing member 47) in an extended position A (Figures 1 and 2), in which the sliding portion 34 is positioned at the protruding end 29 of the pumping chamber 18. A further coil spring M3 (Figure 2), positioned in the piston element 9 between the ball S2 and the dispensing end 9b, maintains the ball S2 in a closed position.
On the external surface of the piston element 9 the thread 10 is obtained that extends between the sliding portion 34 and the dispensing end 9b, being interrupted near the latter. On the external surface of the piston element 9 a series of notches 10a (Figure 1) is further notched, each of which is accompanied by a corresponding (notched) number comprised between 0 and 3.
In an embodiment that is not shown, the notches and/or the numbers are made in relief.
The notches 10a and the corresponding numbers indicate the volumes of liquid composition that are dispensable from the apparatus 1. The notches 10a are distributed along the piston element 9 so as to correlate with each dispensable volume a corresponding length (in millimetres) of the stroke that the piston element 9 may perform in the pumping chamber 18. In fact, as the volume of liquid composition that the movable dispensing member 47 can suck inside the pumping chamber 18 depends on the length of the stroke that is performable by the piston element 9, by varying the aforesaid length it is possible to vary the volume of suckable (and dispensable) liquid composition. The following Table 1 shows the correlation between some of the volumes that are dispensable from the apparatus 1 and the corresponding lengths of the stroke of the piston element 9: Table 1

Stroke length (mm) Dispensed volume (ml)

2.8 0.5

5.3 1

16.0 3
In an embodiment that is not shown, an apparatus 1 is provided that is able to dispense a volume of liquid composition that is greater than 3 ml, for example equal to 5 ml. This can be obtained, for example, by making a piston element 9 that is able to run a stroke that is longer than 16 millimetres and/or by making a pumping chamber 18 having a capacity that is greater than 3 ml.
Figure 4 shows in detail the ring nut element 11, owing to which the aforesaid stroke is adjusted that is achievable by the piston element 9 and which, together with the thread 10 of the latter, forms the dispensing device 2.
The ring nut element 11 is ring-shaped and is provided with a plurality of radial appendages 12, each of which protrudes radially from the ring nut element 11 and has a rounded free end 12a. The ring nut element 11 comprises two portions 11a, 11b, each of which has a half-ring shape and is provided with a nut (that is not shown), which is made in a position opposite the radial appendages 12. The two portions 11a, 11b are connected together by a bridge element 11c, that is thin and is made of the same plastics (for example HDPE) in which the portions 11a, 11b are made. The ring nut element 11 is assembled by rotating (owing to the bridge element 11c) the two portions 11a, 11b towards one another, so as to insert a rung 12c, made in a radial appendage 12 of the portion 11a, in a corresponding through hole 12d obtained in a radial appendage 12 of the portion 11b.
In the assembled apparatus 1 (Figures 1 and 2), the ring nut element 11 is inserted onto the piston element 9. Owing to the nut with which the ring nut element 11 is provided and which is able to engage the thread 10 of the piston element 9, the ring nut element 11 can rotate around a longitudinal axis (which is not shown) of the piston element 9, so as to move along the piston element 9 according to the direction F1 or according to the direction F2 (according to the rotation direction). Rotation of the ring nut element 11 is obtained easily owing to the radial appendages 12, on which the finger of a user of the apparatus 1 can act.
In this manner, the ring nut element 11 can be positioned at one of the notches 10a of the piston element 9 and act as an arresting element for the piston element 9, so as to determine the maximum stroke element achievable by the latter in the pumping chamber 18. For example, in the ring nut element 11 position shown in Figures 1 and 2, the ring nut element 11 is at the notch 10a indicating a dispensable volume equal to 0 ml. In this position, in which the ring nut element 11 is locked against the protruding end 29 of the pumping chamber 18 (and therefore against the body 3 of the apparatus 1), the piston element 9 cannot move and the apparatus 1 cannot dispense the liquid composition contained in the bottle C. By moving the ring nut element 11 in the direction, for example, of the notch 10a corresponding to a dispensable volume equal to 1 ml, the piston element 9 is free to perform a stroke inside the pumping chamber 18 of a length such as to enable a volume of liquid composition equal to 1 ml to be sucked from the bottle.
In an embodiment that is not shown, the piston element 9 is devoid of the thread 10, and the ring nut element 11 is locked at the desired notch 10a by acting on locking means made in the ring nut element 11 and/or in the piston element 9.
Figure 8 shows in detail the dispensing portion 7 that, together with the piston element 9, forms the movable dispensing member 47 of the apparatus 1. The dispensing portion 7 comprises a substantially conical base portion 8, in which a dispensing chamber 50 is obtained. The dispensing chamber 50 is shapingly coupled with the dispensing end 9b of the piston element 9, inasmuch as the dispensing portion 7 is snapped into the dispensing end 9b during assembly of the apparatus 1. To the base portion 8 are connected a dispensing conduit portion 14 and a pair of side appendages 13a, 13b. Each side appendage 13a, 13b has a substantially rectangular plan shape and protrudes obliquely from a corresponding side of the base portion 8, so that (in the assembled apparatus 1) the free end of each side appendage 13a, 13b faces the distal end 23 of the apparatus 1. The dispensing conduit portion 14 has a shape that is approximately cylindrical-conical and is provided with a dispensing conduit 14a, arranged along a longitudinal axis (not shown) of the dispensing conduit portion 14. The dispensing conduit 14a leads away from the adjacent dispensing chamber 50 of the base portion 8 and opens to the outside with a dispensing hole 15 obtained near a free end of the dispensing conduit portion 14.
Figure 9 shows an embodiment of the dispensing portion 7 provided with a dispensing conduit portion 14 having a shorter length than the dispensing conduit portion 14 shown in Figure 8. In this manner, depending on the type and/or on the size of animal to be treated (and therefore according to the shape and/or size of the nose of the animal), it is possible to use a dispensing portion 7 having a dispensing conduit portion 14 of suitable length.
Figure 10 shows a safety cap 51, that is applicable to the dispensing portion 7 when the apparatus 1 is not in use. The cap 51 is provided inside with a closing portion 52, owing to which the cap 51 can engage and close the dispensing hole 15 of the dispensing portion 7.
It should nevertheless be noted that owing to the presence of the dosing device 2, the use of the cap 51 is not indispensable, as by suitably adjusting the dosing device 2 it is possible to block dispensing by the apparatus 1. This is obtainable by positioning the ring nut element 11 at the level of the notch 10a corresponding to a dispensable volume equal to 0 ml. In this manner, even if the apparatus 1 associated with the respective bottle C is left unattended and is used incorrectly, for example by a child, the apparatus 1 cannot accidentally dispense the liquid composition contained in the bottle C.
In use, the apparatus 1 is connected to the bottle C containing the liquid composition that it is desired to administer to an animal, tightening the neck of the bottle C to the connecting element 38 comprised in the connecting portion 6. The dosing device 2 is then adjusted in the manner disclosed previously, i.e. by rotating the ring nut element 11 to vary the position thereof on the piston element 9, so as to adjust the maximum stroke that is performable by the piston element 9 in the pumping chamber 18. The apparatus 1 is then grasped with one hand, positioning the thumb on the end appendage 5 and another two fingers of the same hand (preferably index and middle finger) on the side appendages 13a, 13b of the dispensing portion 7, and positioned so that the bottle C is arranged below with respect to the apparatus 1. Subsequently, the apparatus 1 is brought to the animal to be treated and is positioned so that the dispensing portion 7 of the dispensing member 47 is received in the oral cavity of the animal, for example in a sublingual position.
Inside the apparatus 1 the balls S1 and S2 are maintained in position respectively by the coil springs M1 and M3, so that the ball S1 closes the through hole 41a of the conduit portion 40 of the connecting element 38 and the ball S2 in turn closes the drilled end 32b of the valve element 32. In this configuration, the inlet chamber 17 and the bottle C are not mutually communicating just as the pumping chamber 18 and the dispensing conduit 14a of the dispensing portion 7 are not mutually communicating.
By compressing the side appendages 13a, 13b with the index and the middle finger, the dispensing portion 7 is moved in the direction F2, i.e. it is taken to the proximal end 22 of the apparatus 1. Consequently, also the piston element 9 is moved in the same direction F2, so as to penetrate the pumping chamber 18 and compress the coil spring M2. The maximum stroke element achievable by the piston element 9 in the direction F2 is defined by the dosing device 2, i.e. by the position of the ring nut element 11 with respect to the thread 10 (position that is preset by the user of the apparatus 1). When the ring nut element 11 reaches the protruding end 29 of the pumping chamber 18 and stops against the latter, also the piston element 9 stops.
At this point, in order to suck inside the pumping chamber 18 a preset volume of the liquid composition contained in the bottle C, it is sufficient to release the side appendages 13a, 13b. In this manner, the previously compressed spring M2 is unloaded and moves the piston element 9 rapidly in the direction F1, i.e. towards the distal end 23 of the apparatus 1. Inside the apparatus 1 a vacuum is constantly created, through the effect of which the ball S1 is moved away from the respective seat 41, so as to open the through hole 41a, and compresses the coil spring M1. Still through the effect of the aforesaid vacuum, the liquid composition is aspirated from the bottle C along the suction pipe and the further conduit portion 46 and, owing to the opening of the through hole 41a, enters the inlet chamber 17. From the latter, by the communicating hole 20, the liquid composition is sucked into the pumping chamber 18.
Whilst the piston element 9 slides in the direction F1, the through hole 41a remains open and the ball S2 closes the drilled end 32b of the valve element 32. When the coil spring M2 has been completely discharged, thus returning the movable dispensing member 47 to the extended configuration A, the vacuum inside the apparatus 1 ceases. The coil spring M1 discharges and returns the ball S1 to the seat 41, thus closing the through hole 41a. In this manner, as both the through hole 41a and the drilled end 32b are closed, the volume of liquid composition that was sucked by the bottle C to the pumping chamber 18 remains confined therein.
In order to dispense the volume of liquid composition contained in the pumping chamber 18, it is necessary to compress again the side appendages 13a, 13b with the index and the middle finger so as to move again the dispensing portion 7 in the direction F2. Consequently, also the piston element 9 is again moved in the direction F2 and penetrates the pumping chamber 18, compressing the liquid contained therein (as well as the coil spring M2). The liquid is pushed against the ball S2, which is in turn moved away (according to the direction F1) from the drilled end 32b of the valve element 32 and compresses the coil spring M3. Owing to the opening of the drilled end 32b, the liquid is pushed through the latter, enters the dispensing chamber 50 and then the dispensing conduit 14a of the dispensing portion 7, leaving the apparatus 1 at the dispensing hole 15. In this manner, the preset volume of liquid composition is dispensed by the apparatus 1 and administered to the animal to be treated. When the ring nut element 11 has reached the protruding end 29 of the pumping chamber 18, thus locking the piston element 9, all the volume of liquid composition contained in the pumping chamber 18 has been dispensed. Once dispensing has been completed, it is sufficient to release the side appendages 13a, 13b again to suck inside the pumping chamber 18 a further volume of liquid composition, in the manner disclosed above.
If it is wished to administer the same liquid composition contained in the bottle C to a further animal, for example of a smaller size than the animal that has just been treated, it is not necessary to remove the bottle C and connect the latter to a further dispensing apparatus. It is sufficient to act on the dosing device 2 in a similar manner to the manner disclosed above so as to modify, i.e. reduce in a desired manner the volume of dispensable liquid composition.
It is possible to use the apparatus 1 also by maintaining the latter overturned. In this case it is not necessary to use the suction pipe, inasmuch as the liquid composition enters the inside of the further conduit portion 46 and reaches the through hole 41a through simple gravity. This manner of use is made possible by the presence, in the further conduit portion 46, of the sealing plate 44 and of the vent portion 45. In particular, the vent hole 45a enables air to escape from the apparatus 1 and consequently enables the liquid composition to enter when the through hole 41a is opened.
The apparatus 1 disclosed above can be used both to administer liquid compositions for internal use, for example veterinary products or animal-husbandry supplements, and to administer compositions for topical use, for example soothing compositions.
It should also be noted that the apparatus 1 can be used to administer both diluted liquid compositions and thus solutions that are not very viscous, and liquid and/or concentrated suspensions that are more viscous.

Claims

Apparatus (1) arranged for dispensing a volume of a fluid product, comprising a body (3) that is connectable to containing means (C) of said fluid product, chamber means (17, 18) comprised in said body (3) and arranged for receiving said volume of said fluid product, movable dispensing member means (47), arranged for expelling said volume of said fluid product outside said apparatus (1), dose-varying means (2) arranged for varying said volume of said fluid product.
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said dose-varying means (2) acts on said movable dispensing member means (47).
Apparatus according to claim 1, or 2, wherein said dose-varying means (2) acts by varying a length of stroke that is achievable by said movable dispensing member means (47).
Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said dose-varying means (2) comprises a dosing device (2).
Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said dosing device (2) comprises ring nut means (11) arranged for interacting with said movable dispensing member means (47).
Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said ring nut means (11) is movable along a longitudinal axis of said movable dispensing member means (47).
Apparatus according to claim 5, or 6, wherein said ring nut means (11) is positionable near preset zones (10a) of said movable dispensing member means (47), said zones (10a) being provided with indicating means (10a) indicating volumes of said fluid product that are dispensable from said apparatus.
Apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7, as appended to claim 3 or to claim 4 as appended to claim 3, wherein said ring nut means (11) acts as an arresting element for said movable dispensing member means (47), so as to define said length of said stroke.
Apparatus according to claim 7, or according to claim 8 as appended to claim 7, wherein said indicating means (10a) is made as a piston element (9), said piston element (9) being comprised in said movable dispensing member means (47).
Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said piston element (9) is partially contained inside a pumping chamber (18) comprised in said chamber means (17, 18) and is slidable inside said pumping chamber (18) according to a first direction (F1) and a second direction (F2), said first direction (F1) and said second direction (F2) being mutually parallel and opposite.
Apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 10, as appended to claim 5 or to any one of claims 6 to 8 as appended to claim 5, wherein said ring nut means (11) is mounted on said piston element (9) and is movable alternatively according to said first direction (F1) and/or said second direction (F2) along a longitudinal axis of said piston element (9).
Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said ring nut means (11) is positionable near an end portion (29) of said body (3) so as to lock said piston element (9), said end portion (29) comprising an edge portion (29a) of said pumping chamber (18).
Apparatus according to claim 9, or according to any one of claims 10 to 15 as appended to claim 9, wherein said piston element (9) is provided with thread means (10).
Apparatus according to claim 11, or according to claim 12 or 13 as appended to claim 11, wherein said ring nut means (11) is alternatively tightenable and/or loosenable on said piston element (9) so as to be movable alternatively according to said first direction (F1) and/or said second direction (F2).
Apparatus according to claim 7, or according to any one of claims 8 to 14 as appended to claim 7, wherein said indicating means (10a) comprises notches (10a).