WO1995023577A1

WO1995023577A1 - Liquid dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO1995023577A1
Application number: PCT/GB1995/000445
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mark Anthony Whittle; Simon Duncan Emmett
Original assignee: Mark Anthony Whittle; Simon Duncan Emmett
Priority date: 1994-03-04
Filing date: 1995-03-02
Publication date: 1995-09-08
Also published as: GB9504194D0; GB2287172A; GB9404172D0; AU1819495A

Abstract

The medicine dispenser (2) includes a spherical receptacle (14) for liquid. The receptacle includes openings (30) for the passage of liquid into and out thereof. The openings are arranged to be closed by a hemispherical member (10) which is operatively connected to an end controller (39) which is arranged to pivot the closure member between a position wherein the openings (30) are 'open' and a position wherein the member (10) functions to close the openings. A collecting device (40) for use with the dispenser is also described, the device having a container portion arranged to be filled with medicine from a bottle and in which the dispenser (2) can be positioned for filling the dispenser. The dispenser is suitably used for dispensing medicine to infants.

Description

LIQUID DISPENSER

This invention relates to a liquid dispenser and particularly, although not exclusively, relates to a dispenser for dispensing a liquid medicine.

One of the most widely used methods of orally delivering a liquid medicine to an adult utilises a spoon having a pre-determined (usually 5ml) volume. In use, the liquid medicine is poured from a bottle onto the spoon and the spoon is then positioned in the adult's mouth and the medicine dispensed from the spoon. Although this method is satisfactory for orally delivering liquid medicine to an adult the method is often not satisfactory for delivering a liquid medicine to an infant that is uncooperative. Such an infant may push the spoon away or move its head when the spoon is being moved towards it and consequently medicine may be spilt.

A number of solutions to the above-described problem has been proposed. For example, one known liquid dispenser for delivery of liquid medicine to an infant comprises an elongate receptacle of substantially oval cross-section. The receptacle is graduated for measuring the volume of liquid to be delivered to the infant and is shaped at its open end to fit relatively comfortably in an infant's mouth. In use, the dispenser is filled with the desired amount of liquid medicine and then the open end of the dispenser is pushed into the infant's mouth and tilted so that medicine falls from the dispenser under gravity into the mouth. One problem associated with this dispenser is that it is relatively easy for the contents of the receptacle to be spilt by an uncooperative infant. Another known method of delivering liquid medicine to an infant uses a graduated syringe. In the method, the syringe is filled, from a medicine bottle, with the desired amount of medicine. The syringe is then pushed into the infant's mouth and emptied thereinto. One problem with this method is that, if the contents of the syringe are jetted into the infant's mouth too forcefully, there is a risk that the infant may choke.

It is an object of the present invention to alleviate the problems associated with prior art liquid dispensers.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a liquid dispenser comprising a receptacle for liquid, the receptacle having an opening for the passage of liquid from within the receptacle to the outside, and a closure means arranged to close the opening, operation means being provided for moving the closure means between a first position in which liquid may flow from within the receptacle to the outside via the opening and a second position in which the closure means restricts the passage of liquid from within the receptacle to the outside.

In the context of this specification, the term "liquid" includes any flowable material, but excluding a gas.

The liquid dispenser is preferably for dispensing a liquid, preferably a medicine, to an infant. A part of the dispenser is preferably arranged to be received within the mouth of an infant.

The receptacle preferably includes a circumferential wall arranged so that the receptacle may be received within the mouth of an infant. The receptacle preferably has no sharp or angular edges. The receptacle preferably has a curved cross-section, at least in part. Said curved cross-section is preferably an arc of a circle.

The receptacle may have a circular, oval or elliptical cross-section, at least in part.

Preferably, the receptacle is spherical in shape.

Said receptacle preferably includes a plurality of said openings which extend through an outer wall of the receptacle. Said plurality of openings are preferably grouped together in a first area of the outer wall.

Preferably, a second area of the outer wall does not include any of said openings. Said first area and/or said second area may independently represent about half of the area of the outer wall. Where the receptacle is spherical in shape^', a first substantially hemispherical part of the wall may include said openings, and a second substantially hemispherical part preferably does not include any of said openings.

The dispenser is preferably arranged to be filled with liquid and emptied via the or each opening.

Said closure means is preferably arranged to close the or each opening in said receptacle. Said closure means is preferably arranged within the receptacle. Said closure means is preferably wholly enclosed by said receptacle, when in said first or second position. Said closure means is preferably arranged to lie adjacent to a part of the wall of the receptacle when in said first or second position. Preferably, the shape of said closure means corresponds at least in part to the shape of the receptacle.

Preferably, juxtaposable parts of the receptacle wall and the closure means, are of substantially corresponding shapes. For example, when the receptacle is spherical, said juxtaposable parts may be partially spherical, for example hemispherical.

Said closure means is preferably arranged to be pivoted between its first and second positions.

Said operation means is preferably operatively connected to the closure means. Said operation means is preferably arranged to be moved between first and second predetermined positions in order to move said closure means between its first and second positions. Said operation means is preferably arranged to be rotated, suitably about an axis which is coincident with an axis of symmetry of said receptacle. Where the closure means is arranged to be pivoted between the first and second positions, a pivot axis of said closure means is coincident with the rotational axis of said operation means.

Said dispenser preferably includes handle means, which is preferably elongate and preferably has an axis of elongation which is coincident with the axis of the rotation of said operation means and/or an axis of symmetry of said receptacle.

A collection device is preferably provided for cooperation with the liquid dispenser and the invention extends to a liquid dispenser as described, in combination with the collection device.

The collection device preferably is arranged to cooperate with a medicine container for the transfer of liquid therebetween. Valve means, suitably a one-way valve means, is preferably provided adjacent one end of the collecting device. A closure means is preferably provided adjacent a second end of the collecting device. The collecting device preferably defines a liquid retaining region in which the liquid dispenser may be positioned in order to fill it.

The invention extends to a method of dispensing a liquid to a person, the method comprising using a liquid dispenser having a receptacle for liquid which includes an opening for the passage of liquid from within the receptacle to the outside and a movable closure means for closing the opening, the method comprising positioning the receptacle of the liquid dispenser in the mouth of the person with the closure means arranged in a position to close the opening and causing said closure means to move to a position in which liquid may flow from the receptacle into the person's mouth via said opening.

The liquid dispenser used in the method may be as described in any statement herein.

The invention further extends to the use of a liquid dispenser according to said first aspect for dispensing a liquid to a person.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of a- liquid dispenser for dispensing a liquid medicine to an infant;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the dispenser when in a closed (non-dispensing) condition;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the dispenser when in an open (dispensing) condition;

Figure 4 is an exploded view of a collecting device for use with the dispenser;

Figure 5 is a side elevation, partly in cross- section, of the collecting device;

Figure 6 is a side elevation, partly in cross- section, of the collecting device in combination with the dispenser; and

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a modified liquid dispenser including a mouth guard.

The liquid dispenser 2 comprises a cylindrical handle 4 having an axial bore 6 defined therein. The bore 6 is arranged to slidably receive an elongate circular cross- section shaft 8 which extends diametrically across an open end 9 of a hemispherical closure member 10. An O-ring seal 12 extends about the periphery of the open end 9.

The closure member 10 is arranged to fit within a spherical receptacle 14 defined by cooperating first and second hemispherical receptacle parts 16, 18 respectively.

The first hemispherical receptacle part 16 includes diametrically opposed semi-circular slots 20, 22. The second hemispherical receptacle part 18 includes a semi-circular slot 24 and, diametrically opposite, a semi-circular projection 26. A short circular cross- section bore 28 is defined in the projection 26.

A plurality of circular cross-section openings 30 are provided through the second hemispherical receptacle part 18.

The dispenser 2 is assembled by positioning part 32 of shaft 8 in bore 28 defined in the semi-circular projection 26 of the second hemispherical receptacle part 18. When so disposed, part 34 of the shaft 8 is seated within semi-circular slot 24. Then, the first hemispherical receptacle part 16 is engaged with the assembly so that slot 22 engages the semi-circular projection 26 of the receptacle part 18 and part 34 of the shaft 8 is seated within semi-circular slot 20. Next, shaft 8- is inserted in the bore 6 of the handle 4. When so disposed, part 36 of the shaft 8 extends beyond end 38 of the handle 4. An end controller 39 is then secured to the shaft 8.

The end controller 39 is arranged to be rotated about the elongate axis of the handle 4 in order to cause the hemispherical closure member 10 to move between a fully closed (non-dispensing) position, as shown in Figure 2, wherein the closure member 10 is positioned wholly within the second hemispherical receptacle part 18, and a fully open (dispensing) position, as shown in Figure 3, wherein the closure member 10 is positioned wholly within the first hemispherical receptacle part 16.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, the collecting device 40 includes a cylindrical sleeve 42. A frusto- conical bung 44 is secured to a lower end of the cylindrical sleeve. An axially extending bore 46 extends through the bung 44 and is arranged to cooperate with a valve member 48 defined by a plug 50 and a plug holder 52. The bung 44 defines a valve seat 51 in which the plug 50 is arranged to be seated.

A lid 54 is pivotally mounted on an upper end of the cylindrical sleeve 42 and is arranged to sealingly engage the wall 42 when in a closed position.

The dispenser 2 and collecting device 40 may be used as follows to dispense liquid medicine to an infant or for example, an elderly or disabled person.

The collecting device 40 is fitted, via the rubber bung 44, into the neck of a medicine bottle (not shown), with lid 54 of device 40 in a closed position. The bottle (and, therefore the collecting device 40) is inverted, which causes plug 50 of valve member 48 to move away from valve seat 51 so that liquid may flow from the bottle, via bore 46, into the device 40. The bottle may then be re- inverted and arranged in its original position, in which case plug 50 of valve member 48 is re-seated on seat 51 and, therefore, liquid is retained in the device.

Next, lid 54 of the device is opened and dispenser 2 is positioned in the device, as shown in Figure 6. The dispenser 2 is arranged with the closure member 10 in the fully-open (dispensing) position, as shown in Figure 3. Thus, liquid may flow from device 40 into the dispenser 2 via openings 30 therein. When the dispenser 2 is full, the end controller 39 of dispenser 2 may be used to cause closure member 10 to move to the fully closed (non- dispensing) position, as shown in Figure 2. The provision of O-ring seal 12 substantially prevents any leakage of liquid. The dispenser 2 is then removed from collecting device 40 and inserted in an infant's mouth. Once safely within the infant's mouth, the end controller 39 may be used to cause closure member 10 to move to the fully open (dispensing) position, in which case liquid flows out of the dispenser via openings 30 into the infant's mouth.

One advantage of using the dispenser 2 may be the ease with which an infant will take the spherical part of the dispenser 2 into its mouth.

The dispenser is preferably made substantially of a plastics material which is preferably attractively coloured in order further to increase the likelihood of the infant being willing to take the device into its mouth.

In- an alternative embodiment shown in Figure 7, the dispenser 2 includes a guard 60 fixed to handle 4 and arranged to restrict the extent to which the infant may take the dispenser into its mouth.

The dispenser 2 is suitably arranged to contain exactly 5ml of liquid. In alternative embodiments however, the dispenser may be arranged to contain larger or smaller volumes, as may be required.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) , and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) , may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s) . The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclos-ed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) , or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A liquid dispenser comprising a receptacle for liquid, the receptacle having an opening for the passage of liquid from within the receptacle to the outside, and a closure means arranged to close the opening, operation means being provided for moving the closure means between a first position in which liquid may flow from within the receptacle to the outside via the opening and a second position in which the closure means restricts the passage of liquid from within the receptacle to the outside.

2. A dispenser according to Claim 1, wherein a part thereof is arranged to be received within the mouth of an infant.

3. A dispenser according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the receptacle thereof has a curved cross-section, at least in. part.

4. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the receptacle is spherical in shape.

5. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein said receptacle includes a plurality of said openings which extend through an outer wall thereof.

6. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, arranged to be filled with liquid and emptied via the or each opening.

7. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein said closure means is arranged to close the or each opening in said receptacle.

8. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the shape of said closure means corresponds at least in part to the shape of the receptacle.

5 9. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein said closure means is arranged to be pivoted between its first and second positions.

10. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein 10 said operation means is arranged to be moved between first and second predetermined positions in order to move said closure means between its first and second positions.

11. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, 15 including elongate handle means.

12. Apparatus for delivering a liquid to an infant, the apparatus comprising a liquid dispenser according to any of Claims 1 to 11 in combination with a collection device

^•20 for liquid, the device being co-operable with the liquid dispenser for filling the liquid dispenser.

13. Apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein said collection device is arranged to co-operate with a

25 medicine container for the transfer of liquid therebetween.

14. Apparatus according to Claim 12 or Claim 13, wherein a valve means is provided adjacent one end of the

30 collecting device.

15. Apparatus according to Claim 14, wherein a closure means is provided adjacent a second end of the collecting device.

35

16. Apparatus according to any of Claims 12 to 15, wherein the collecting device defines a liquid retaining region in which the liquid dispenser may be positioned in order to fill it.

17. A collection device as described in any of Claims 12 to 16 per se.

18. A method of dispensing a liquid to a person, the method using a liquid dispenser having a receptacle for liquid which includes an opening for the passage of liquid from within the receptacle to the outside and a movable closure means for closing the opening, the method comprising positioning the receptacle of the liquid dispenser in the mouth of the person with the closure means arranged in a position to close the opening and causing said closure means to move to a position in which liquid may flow from the receptacle into the person's mouth via said opening.

19. A method according to Claim 18 using a liquid dispenser according to any of Claims 1 to 11.

20. Use of a liquid dispenser according to any of Claims 1 to 11 for dispensing a liquid to a person.