Patent Application
20130102997
This invention relates generally to feeders and dispensers, and more particularly, to an improved dispensing apparatus used to deliver medicaments, nutrients, and other substances.
Dispensing devices, particularly those made for infants such as dispensing pacifiers, are made according to various types and often include a porous nipple from where fluid dispenses. Dispensing pacifiers are used to appease crying children and to discourage thumb-sucking and other idiosyncrasies. In many instances, dispensing pacifiers are dipped in honey, syrup, or topical oral medication to serve as a tranquilizing agent for infants. Unfortunately, the effects are short-lived, for the dipped coating is rapidly diluted by saliva requiring the pacifier to be dipped repeatedly.
It is generally difficult to administer medicines or vitamins orally, particularly those which have an unpleasant taste or aroma to infants and children. Various container types, including porous and non-porous pacifiers, have been disclosed in the prior art which provide containment and delivery means for medication or nutritious substances. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,612,165, U.S. Pat. No. 2,824,561, U.S. Pat. No. 2,889,829, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,192,307 disclose pacifiers which feature perforated or micro-porous hollow nipples and containment means for viscous liquid medications or nutrients.
Such pacifiers, although generally adapted for administering medicines in liquid form, do not accurately measure medicine dosages. Furthermore, filling the containment reservoir is often difficult, causing spillage and waste of medicine. In the case of a micro-porous nipple, the sucking action by an infant can collapse the nipple and prevent the infant from ingesting a complete dosage.
Moving forward,
Accordingly, there exists a need for a pacifier which provides an accurate measuring and dispensing mechanism for substances to those whom lack the capacity to administer the substances to themselves.
The present invention discloses a dispensing device. The dispensing device includes a chamber subassembly coupled to a mouth guard subassembly. The mouth guard subassembly includes a mouth guard adjacent to an end of the chamber subassembly, a nipple extending from the mouth guard, and foam disposed within the interior of the nipple.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing:
This invention relates generally to feeders and dispensers, and more particularly, to an improved dispensing apparatus used to deliver medicaments, nutrients, and other substances. The following description is presented to enable one having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the embodiment and is provided in the context of a patent application. The generic principles and features described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the present embodiment is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.
Chamber subassembly 210 is operable to contain a substance within a chamber 208 and deliver the substance to the nipple 203 component of mouth guard subassembly 215. In the embodiment shown, chamber subassembly 210 includes a chamber 208 and a plunger 205. Plunger 205 is operable to extend through a first end of the chamber 208 and is movable along a first axis of the chamber 208, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Chamber subassembly 210 also includes a plurality of measurement tick marks 204 on the surface of chamber 208. In an embodiment, measurement tick marks 204 provide a measuring mechanism to determine how much substance is contained within chamber 208. For example, chamber 208 can contain up to three milliliters of a fluid-based substance which may be indicated by the peak level of a fluid-based substance and the nearest measurement tick mark 204 on the surface of the chamber 208. One having ordinary skill in the art understands how to visually determine the amount of a substance within a container by matching the peak level of the substance with the corresponding measurement tick mark on the surface of a container.
Dispensing device 200 further includes a mouth guard subassembly 215 which includes a mouth guard 202, nipple 203 with foam members 206 therein, and a snap component (not shown). In an embodiment when the device 200 is disassembled, mouth guard subassembly 215 serves as a conventional pacifier. Mouth guard 202 may comprise rubber, silicone, or any other durable and non-toxic material. In addition, mouth guard 202 may comprise aesthetic components or materials such as a glow in the dark material.
The present invention is not limited to one type of mouth guard subassembly. For example, mouth guard subassembly may include a basic or orthodontic configuration. In addition, mouth guard subassembly may be configured as a conventional pacifier and may be used by premature babies, infants, babies from 3-6 months in age, and babies from 6-18 months in age. Mouth guard subassembly may also be characterized as any pacifier selected from the group consisting of soothie pacifiers, freeflow pacifiers, night time pacifiers, translucent pacifiers, and fashion pacifiers. In addition, nipple 203 may include ridges disposed thereon to soothe one's teeth and gums during use.
In an embodiment, the size of the pores 207 in
Foam members 206 may comprise any type of foam and may be any size to substantially absorb substances contained within the device 200 and impede the flow of substances from the device 200 when the dispensing device is not engaged. In an embodiment, foam members 206 comprise of foam made from CleanWIPE® Tip Foam Swab. In the embodiment, the dimensions of each foam member 206 are approximately 34 mm length by 10 mm width by 6 mm height. In yet other embodiments, foam members 206 comprise foam made from 3M Corporation's O-Cel-O sponge.
The present invention, however, is not limited to foam members 206 with the aforementioned dimensions. As such, foam members 206 may have varying shapes and sizes. Moreover, foam members 206 may have varying shapes and sizes, with respect to each other, such that as a group, foam members 206 are non-uniform.
The aforementioned components of dispensing device 200 function in cooperation with each other to enable dispensing device 200 dispense substances, allow the mouth guard subassembly to function as a conventional pacifier device when the chamber subassembly and mouth guard subassembly are disconnected, and provide a soothing mechanism for one's teeth and gums during use.
Moving forward,
It should be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that the present invention is not limited to a nipple with one or more pores. As such, the present invention may include any style of openings in the nipple 203 which allows a substance to be dispensed when a sucking action is applied. For example, a slit or plurality of slits may be disposed on the external surface of the nipple 203 through which a substance flows there through when the dispensing device is engaged.
In an embodiment when nipple 203 has slits, the length of the slits are approximately 10 mm. In the embodiment, the nipple 203 comprises latex which causes the 10 mm slits to close when a sucking action is not applied. As such, when the dispensing device 200 is not in use, the slits appear as 1 mm in length pores and help retain substances within the nipple 203.
Moving through the figures,
In the embodiment shown, dispensing device 300 includes a single foam member 320 disposed between mouth guard 302 and nipple 303. As illustrated, foam member 320 is shaped similarly to nipple 303 which when configured fits within the interior of nipple 303. In addition, the figure shows that foam member 320 is a single body according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In an embodiment, foam member 320 is porous and can absorb substances and release substances when a sucking action is applied to the nipple 303. However, it should be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that the present invention is not limited to a single foam member similarly shaped to a nipple. For example, a plurality of foam members can be disposed within nipple, as illustrated previously in
Moving along through the figures,
In another embodiment, dispensing device 400 is disengaged when plunger 405 extends primarily outside of chamber 408 and lid component 424 contacts the roof of the chamber 408. As such, when dispensing device 400 is disengaged, the distance 436 between the top of plunger 405 and the top portion 441 of chamber 408 is at its maximum. Alternatively, when the device 400 is engaged, the distance 437 between the top portion 441 of chamber 408 and lid component 424 is at its minimum.
In an embodiment when device 400 is disengaged, fluid substance 421 is present primarily in chamber 408. As such, fluid substance 421 does not enter nipple 403 until the device 400 is engaged according to an embodiment of the present invention. However, the present invention is not so limited that a disengaged dispensing device 400 contains all of fluid substance 421 within the chamber 408 component. Therefore, some fluid substance may seep to the nipple 403 when the dispensing device 400 is disengaged and this would be consistent with the present invention.
Alternatively, when dispensing device 400 is engaged, fluid substance 421 is present primarily within the interior of nipple 403. To engage dispensing device 400, an administrator can push plunger 405 towards the bottom of chamber 408 at a steady rate through chamber 408 and cavity 439 to nipple 403. In an embodiment, when dispensing device 400 is engaged, an extension portion 425 of lid component 424 fits securely within a portion 423 of plate 422.
In time, fluid substance 421 is absorbed by foam members 406 and retained until released via a sucking action by a user. Typically, the individual is anyone with impaired or under-developed motor skills such as an infant, toddler, child, senior, or medical patient. In other embodiments, the dispensing device 400 may be used to administer substances to a pet.
For example, once dispensing device 400 is engaged and the fluid substance 421 is delivered to and absorbed by the plurality of foam members 406, the substance 421 can be dispensed from the device 400 upon a sucking action by a user. When the user is an infant, the infant's teeth and gums may be soothed by ridges 409 disposed upon the nipple 403.
Moving forward through the figures,
Mouth guard subassembly 515 includes a cooperating connection component, snap component 526, operable to snap fit connection rod 518 there through when the connection mechanism is engaged. Because the connecting mechanism is not engaged and the dispensing mechanism is not assembled, mouth guard subassembly 515 can serve as a conventional pacifier.
In an embodiment, grooves 527 and ridges 529 compliment each other such that ridges 529 fit within grooves 527 when the locking mechanism is engaged. In the embodiment, when the locking mechanism is engaged, the chamber subassembly 508 is fitted over the concentric raised portion 528 of mouth guard 502. Moreover, when the locking mechanism is engaged, the substance in chamber 508 is impeded from leaking out of dispensing device 500.
In an embodiment, once chamber subassembly 510 is connected to mouth guard assembly 515 via the connecting mechanism, the aforementioned components may also be locked together via the locking mechanism components described. Accordingly, once chamber subassembly 510 is connected to mouth guard 502, the connected assemblies form a dispensing device 500.
Once the substance 621 is poured into chamber 608, an administrator can engage the device 600 to move the contained fluid 621 from the container 608 to the nipple component of the device 600. Accordingly, once engaged, the device 600 can dispense the substance 621 upon a sucking action.
A dispensing mechanism system has been described. It will be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention disclosed. In addition, the examples and embodiments described herein are in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art of the present invention will recognize that other embodiments using the concepts described herein are also possible.
