DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
The present invention relates to an integrated liquid dosage dispenser for delivering accurate dose of liquid products and more particularly for delivering accurate dose of oral liquid medicines/ beverages etc.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
It is well known in the art that many pharmaceuticals and drugs are provided in liquid form for ease of oral administration to patients such as infants, elderly patients and those patients who have problems in swallowing solid dosage forms. The most commonly available oral liquids are supplied in container such as a bottle along with a dispensing aid such as measuring cup, spoon, oral syringe, dropper etc. While using these types of bottle and dispensing aids patient face several problems as mentioned below:
• Every time for administering the dose the patient/attendant has to open the container by removing the cap or stopper and dispense the dose from the container into dispensing aid and wash the dispensing aid and return back to the container.
• As majority of the oral liquid medicines are sugar based, the washing of the measuring aid becomes critical, failing to wash may lead to hardening of deposits of the leftovers and contamination.
• In certain dispensing aids such as measuring cup or spoon, the accuracy of dosing is compromised leading to under or over dosing.
• In the cups many times if the solution is viscous then the completeness of dosing may not happen.
• Dispensing aid needs to be maintained till finishing of the liquid medicine from the container and hence it is essential to store it properly which is tedious job.

Thus, there is a need to provide an integrated liquid dosage dispenser for delivering accurate dose of liquid medications.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, the present invention describes an apparatus to enable metered dispensing of a liquid, said apparatus comprises a first chamber defined by a first cylinder and having a first opening; a second chamber defined by a second cylinder and having a second opening, the second cylinder being enclosed within said first cylinder; and a lid member co-operating with the second chamber to define a collection area; wherein in a first state, the first and the second opening coincide with each other to define a path for allowing a metered quantity of the liquid to flow from a liquid source to the second cylinder for collection in said collection area; wherein the second cylinder is movable with respect to the first cylinder or vice-versa to define a second state, wherein in the second state the first and the second opening do not coincide with each other thereby restricting the path; said first cylinder defines a motion limit for said second cylinder.

In another embodiment, the present invention describes a dispenser for metered dispensing of a liquid, said apparatus comprises a liquid container; a first chamber mounted on said liquid container, wherein said first chamber is defined by a first cylinder and having a first opening; a second chamber defined by a second cylinder and having a second opening, the second cylinder being enclosed within said first cylinder; and a lid member co-operating with the second chamber to define a collection area. In a first state, the first and the second opening coincide with each other to define a path for allowing a metered quantity of the liquid to flow from said liquid container to the second cylinder for collection in said collection area, and wherein said first state is also optionally defined by an inverted or obliquely inverted position of said first liquid source, said first chamber and said second chamber to trigger said flow. In a second state, the second cylinder is movable with respect to the first cylinder or vice-versa to define a second state, wherein in the second state the first and the second opening do not coincide with each other thereby restricting the path. The first cylinder defines a motion limit for the second cylinder.

To further clarify advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the forthcoming detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

Figure No. 1 depicts an assembled view and an exploded view of a liquid dispenser, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure No. 2 depicts a sectional view of the liquid dispenser of Fig .1 and cylinders located therein.
Figure No. 3 depicts different isometric views and states of operation of a dispensing apparatus fitted within the dispenser of Fig. 1.
Figure No. 4 depicts a sectional view of the an inner cylinder and a lid mounted over the inner cylinder within the dispenser of Fig .1
Figure no. 5 depicts the different states of operation within the dispenser of Fig. 1.

Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have been necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the flow charts illustrate the method in terms of the most prominent steps involved to help to improve understanding of aspects of the present invention. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory of the invention and are not intended to be restrictive thereof.

Reference throughout this specification to “an aspect”, “another aspect” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrase “in an embodiment”, “in another embodiment” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process or method that comprises a list of steps does not include only those steps but may include other steps not expressly listed or inherent to such process or method. Similarly, one or more devices or sub-systems or elements or structures or components proceeded by "comprises... a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other devices or other sub-systems or other elements or other structures or other components or additional devices or additional sub-systems or additional elements or additional structures or additional components.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure No. 1 depicts an assembled view and an exploded view of a liquid dispenser 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 1a, an assembled view (as shown in Fig. 1) of a dispenser 100 for enabling metered dispensing of liquids has been shown. As shown in the figure, the dispenser 100 comprises a liquid container 102 or a liquid source 102 and a dispensing apparatus 104 mounted at the top of the dispenser 100. The liquid container 102 may be a glass bottle or a plastic bottle or any other known portable liquid container that may be easily lifted by a living being for consuming liquid directly from the bottle.

Fig. 1b depicts an exploded view of the dispenser 100 as well as the dispensing apparatus 104. As shown in the figure, the dispensing apparatus 104 may be an assembly of a first chamber defined by an outer cylinder 106 or a first cylinder 106, a second chamber defined by an inner cylinder 108 or a second cylinder 108, and a top lid member 110, all axially mounted over each other in an increasing order of elevation. As shown in the Figure 1b, the outer cylinder 106 is an integration of dissimilar cylinders, such that a lesser diameter portion 106a is received within the container 102, while the higher diameter 106b portion is wound around the neck of the container 102 through a threading mechanism. For such purpose, while the neck of the container 102 is threaded from outside, the higher diameter portion 106b of the outer cylinder 106 has an internal threading to mate with the threaded neck of the container 102. However, in other example, the higher diameter portion 106b may also be snap-fitted to the neck of the container 102.

Further, the inner cylinder 108 is in turn received within the outer cylinder 106 and also includes portions of dissimilar diameters. A lower diameter portion 108a of the inner cylinder 108 has a centrally located protrusion 112 (i.e. an extending member) at its bottom to snap-fit inside an aperture 114 located at the center of the bottom of the outer cylinder 106. In other words, the protrusion 112 traverses through the aperture 114 to define the snap fit connection. On the other hand, the higher diameter portion 108b or a cylindrical cup 108b of the inner cylinder 108 is contiguous with the higher diametric potion 106b of the outer cylinder 106 and rests thereon. Further, the outer surface of the higher diameter portion 108b of the inner cylinder 108 is corrugated to enable a fine grip over the curved surface of the inner cylinder 108 for manually rotating the entire inner cylinder 108. However, such actuation of the inner cylinder 108 does not cause rotation of the outer cylinder 106 owing to the snap-fit connection.

Further, the lid member 110 is mounted at the top of the inner cylinder 108 through another snap fit connection as shown later in Fig. 2a. The lid member 110 comprises a removable flap that covers an opening provided at the top surface of the lid member 110 and is used to drain out the contents of the inner cylinder 108. Accordingly, the lid member 110 co-operates with the second chamber or the inner cylinder 108 to define a collection area, as the inner cylinder 108 is hollow. More specifically, the collection area is defined by an integration of the hollow cylindrical chamber (i.e. lower diameter portion 108a) with a larger diameter cylindrical cup (i.e. the large diameter portion 108b). Further, for purposes of aforesaid draining, the flap of the lid member 110 is manually removable to cover or uncover the opening within the lid member 110 and generally remains closed as long as it is not desired to dispense any amount of liquid.

Now coming to Fig. 2(a), a sectional-view of the dispenser 100 has been depicted. The sectional view clearly depicts an interconnection between various components, such as the threaded connection between the neck of the container 102 and the outer cylinder 106, and the snap-fit connection between the inner 108 and the outer cylinder 106, and the snap fit connection between the inner cylinder 108 and the lid member 110.

Fig. 2(b) illustrates an exploded view of the assembly of the inner cylinder 108 and the outer cylinder 106. As evident from the figure, the outer cylinder 106 and the inner cylinder 108 have been provided with respective windows or openings 202, 204 that extend from the curved surfaces till the flat bottom surface. Moreover, the openings 202, 204 at both cylinders 106, 108 are in congruence with each other to get effectively coincided with each other, upon offering a specific amount of rotation in a specific direction (say clockwise) to the inner cylinder 108 with respect to the outer cylinder 106. However, in other embodiment, the outer cylinder 106 may also be rotatable with respect to the inner cylinder 108 to achieve the coincidence of openings.

Upon offering rotation in another direction (say anticlockwise) to the inner cylinder 108, the openings become non-coincident with each other, such that the opening at the outer cylinder 106 may be rather blocked by the curved surface of the inner cylinder 108. In order to prevent any accidental scenario of the curved surface of the inner cylinder 108 getting protruded out of the opening of the outer cylinder 106, a rib is provided that is integral to the surface of the outer cylinder 106 and bisects the opening of the outer cylinder 106 opening into two halves. The rib acts as a structural obstruction to keep the inner cylinder 108 firmly confined within the outer cylinder 106, despite the presence of opening at the outer cylinder 106.

Fig. 3 now depicts various operational states of the dispensing apparatus 102 disposed within the dispenser 100 through depicting sectional views of the container 102. Fig 3(a) and Fig 3(c) represent front sectional views of the dispenser 100, while Fig. 3(b) and Fig. 3(d) represent isometric sectional views of the sectioned dispenser 100. The isometric view corresponds to view of the dispenser 100 in an upward titled state.

While Fig. 3(a) and Fig. 3(b) correspond to an first state or an open state, i.e. both openings 202, 204 coinciding with each other, the Fig. 3(c) and Fig. 3(d) correspond to a second state or a close state, i.e. opening 202 of the outer cylinder 106 getting covered by the curved surface of the inner cylinder 108. However, each of said states is attainable only by a relative rotation of either the inner cylinder 108 or the outer cylinder 106 as manually imparted by a user.

Fig. 4 depicts an interconnection between the higher diameter portion 108b of the inner cylinder 108 and the higher diameter portion 106b of the outer cylinder 106, through depicting the sectional view of the inner cylinder 108. In addition, Fig. 4 also depicts a mounting of the lid member 110 over the higher diameter portion 106b of the inner cylinder 106.

More specifically, the Fig, 4(a) depicts presence of stoppers 402 at the annular surface of the outer cylinder 106 i.e. over the circular surface of higher diameter portion 106b of the outer cylinder 106. In addition, the upper diameter portion 108b of the inner cylinder 108 is also provided with stoppers 404 (as evident in the figure) to operatively mate with the stoppers 402 of the outer cylinder 106. Stoppers 402, 404 may be small protrusions arising out of the surfaces of either of the cylinders 104, 106.

Such mating of stoppers 402, 404 between the inner cylinder 108 and the outer cylinder 106 limits a rotation of the inner cylinder 108 with respect to the outer cylinder 106 or vice versa. In other words, the mating of stoppers limits the rotation to about 20o to 30o or at most allows rotation in a quadrant. Further, such limited rotation allows defining of two extreme points of rotation as open and close state, thereby allowing an ease of usage of, for example, the inner cylinder 108 as a rotary knob. While a rotation (say clockwise) towards one extreme point points to an OPEN state, i.e. states described in Fig 3(a) and Fig. 3(b), another rotation (say anti-clockwise) towards other extreme point leads to a CLOSE state, i.e. states described in Fig 3(c) and Fig. 3(d). To facilitate such operation as the rotary knob, the outer curved surface of the inner cylinder 108 is corrugated for an ease of grip. In other example, the outer cylinder 106 may also act as the rotary knob instead of the inner cylinder 108.

Further as shown in Fig. 4(b), the lid member 110 is mounted atop the inner cylinder 108. As the inner cylinder 108 is hollow from inside, the lid member 110 may be snap fitted to the inner cylinder 108 and accordingly acts as a roof for the hollow inner cylinder 108.

Referring now to Fig. 5, operational states of the overall dispenser 100 are shown. In Fig. 5(a), the dispenser 100 is shown in an inverted position and corresponds to an operational state of the dispenser 100. However, the operational state of the dispenser 100 may also be achieved even if the dispenser 100 is not perfectly inverted, but rather obliquely inverted. Within such operative state, the state of the dispensing apparatus 104 may correspond to either the state in Fig. 3(a) or Fig. 3(c).

Considering state of Fig. 3(a) of the dispensing apparatus 104 as default state in the operative state depicted in Fig. 5(a), it may be understood that the openings 204, 202 at the inner 108 and the outer cylinder 106 coincide with each other and accordingly lead to a passage running from the container 102 till the inner cylinder 108. As the container 102 in the present case is inverted, the liquid stored in the container 102 rushes into the inner cylinder 108 via the outer cylinder 106 due to gravity. Accordingly, it may be understood that inner cylinder 108, which is also in the inverted position, gets completely filled with liquid in a fraction of time. Accordingly, at such juncture, the inner cylinder 108 may be rotated as the rotary knob to reach a CLOSE state as depicted in Fig. 3(c). Accordingly, while the collected liquid remains within the inner cylinder 108, the passage between the container 102 and the dispensing apparatus 104 closes owing to such rotation.

Further, it may have been also possible that within Fig 5(a), the state of the dispensing apparatus 104 corresponds to Fig. 3(c) rather than the state depicted in FIG. 3(a). In such a scenario, as there is no downward flow of liquid from the container 102 till the inner cylinder 108 even upon inverting the dispenser 100, the state depicted in Fig 3(a) has to be reached by rotating the inner cylinder 108 in order to create the liquid flow. Accordingly, liquid gets filled in the inner cylinder 108 in a few seconds, say 2-3 seconds or more, depending upon whether the inversion of the dispenser 100 is perfect or oblique. Further, say after elapse of 5-6 seconds when it is highly probable that inner cylinder 108 would have been completely filled, the inner cylinder 108 may be again rotated to reach back the state as depicted in Fig. 3(c).

Thereafter, a flap of the lid member 110 may be opened to extract the amount of liquid collected in the inner cylinder 108. In order to effect dispensing after the opening of the flap, the dispenser 100 may be held in an obliquely inverted position to dispense the liquid at an optimum flow rate. It may be understood that attaining the state as depicted in Fig 3(c) is a pre-requisite for dispensing the liquid out of the inner cylinder 108 and not meeting such requirement will drain not only contents of the inner cylinder 108 but also the contents of the container 102 itself, and the purpose of metered dispensation will be rendered impossible.

As depicted in Fig. 5(b), the dispenser 100 has been restored to a normal upright position. As it may be understood, that such position of the dispenser 100 prevents any flow of liquid from the container 102 till the inner cylinder 108, irrespective of the states depicted in Fig. 3. The present upright position may also be useful in case the pre-filled inner cylinder 108 is required to be emptied by draining the contents of the inner cylinder 108 back into the container 102. Accordingly, for such purposes, the inner cylinder 108 may be rotated to reach the state as depicted as depicted in Fig. 3(a) or Fig. 3(b).

Overall, as a result of the present invention, the dispenser 100 is enabled to dispense a fixed or accurate dose of all types of liquid products, oral liquid medicines and similar liquid consumables. In addition, the dispensing apparatus 104 forming a part of the dispenser 100 acts as a substitute for an existing bottle cap of liquid container (or bottle) and almost every kind of portable liquid container having a neck is capable of getting retrofitted with the dispensing apparatus 104.

At least by virtue of aforesaid embodiments, the present invention achieves the dispensing apparatus 104 as having a substantially lesser number of components when compared with conventional liquid dispensing apparatuses. Moreover, the components within the dispensing apparatus 104 do not require any source of energy (say gas, spring or plunger action) for their functionality and are accordingly not only cheap but also long lasting.

Further, the present invention also obviates the need of an additional utensil for administering a metered dose of a liquid medicine. This is so as the metered amount of liquid dose (as collected in the inner cylinder 108) can be directly consumed by a living being without having to contact liquid with an outside utensil, thereby minimizing the chances of contamination or an exposure of highly sensitive liquids to the outside environment.

While specific language has been used to describe the disclosure, any limitations arising on account of the same are not intended. As would be apparent to a person in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein.

The drawings and the forgoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment. For example, orders of processes described herein may be changed and are not limited to the manner described herein.

The scope of embodiments is by no means limited by these specific examples. Numerous variations, whether explicitly given in the specification or not, such as differences in structure, dimension, and use of material, are possible. The scope of embodiments is at least as broad as given by the following claims.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any component(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or component of any or all the claims.
,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:

1. An apparatus (104) to enable metered dispensing of a liquid, said apparatus (104) comprising:
a first chamber defined by a first cylinder (106) and having a first opening (202);
a second chamber defined by a second cylinder (108) and having a second opening (204), the second cylinder (108) being enclosed within said first cylinder (106); and
a lid member (110) co-operating with the second chamber to define a collection area;
wherein in a first state, the first (202) and the second opening (204) coincide with each other to define a path for allowing a metered quantity of the liquid to flow from a liquid source to the second cylinder (108) for collection in said collection area;
wherein the second cylinder (108) is movable with respect to the first cylinder (106) or vice-versa to define a second state, wherein in the second state the first and the second opening do not coincide with each other thereby restricting the path;
said first cylinder (106) defines a motion limit for said second cylinder.

2. The apparatus (104) as claim in claim 1, wherein said second cylinder (108) is movable with respect to the first cylinder (106) or vice versa so as to bring the device from the second state to the first state.

3. The apparatus (104) as claimed in any of claims 1 or 2, wherein the second cylinder (108) is rotatable with respect to the first cylinder (106) or vice versa.

4. The apparatus (104) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first cylinder (106) is connected to said second cylinder (108) through a snap fit connection.

5. The apparatus (104) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the snap fit connection comprises an aperture (114) provided at a bottom end of the first cylinder (106) and extending member (112) provided at a bottom end of the second cylinder (108), wherein the extending member (112) traverses through the aperture (114) to define the snap fit connection.

6. The apparatus (104) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lid member (110) is further adapted to cooperate with the second chamber (108) to define a path for dispensing of the metered quantity of said liquid.

7. The apparatus (104) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first opening (202) and second opening (204) are provided at the curved surface area of the first cylinder (106) and the second cylinder (108).

8. The apparatus (104) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first cylinder (106) has an integral rib at its outer surface that bisects the first opening (202) and supports the positioning of the second cylinder (108) within the first cylinder (106).

9. The apparatus (104) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said collection area is defined by the second cylinder (108) having an integration of a hollow cylindrical chamber (108a) with a larger diameter cylindrical cup (108b).

10. A dispenser (100) for metered dispensing of a liquid, said dispenser (100) comprising:
a liquid container (102);
a first chamber mounted atop said liquid container (102), wherein said first chamber is defined by a first cylinder (106) and has a first opening (202);
a second chamber defined by a second cylinder (108) and having a second opening (204), the second cylinder (108) being enclosed within said first cylinder (106) and protruding upwards of the first chamber; and
a lid member (110) mounted atop the second chamber and co-operating with the second chamber to define a collection area;
wherein in a first state, the first (202) and the second opening (204) coincide with each other to define a path for allowing a metered quantity of the liquid to flow from said liquid container (102) to the second cylinder (108) for collection in said collection area, wherein said first state is also optionally defined by an inverted or an obliquely inverted position of said liquid container (102), said first chamber and said second chamber to trigger said flow;
wherein the second cylinder (108) is movable with respect to the first cylinder (106) or vice-versa to define a second state, wherein in the second state the first (202) and the second opening (204) do not coincide with each other thereby restricting the path;
said first cylinder (106) defines a motion limit for said second cylinder (108).