FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates generally to an actuator assembly for a dispenser and more particularly, to an dispenser actuator assembly having a base configured to mount on a crushable glass ampoule assembly wherein an actuator arm is operably connected to the base and dimensioned to crush the glass ampoule assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dispensers such as glass ampoule assemblies are well known in the art and are often designed to be single-use disposable dispensers. A glass ampoule assembly typically includes a rupturable container such as a glass ampoule that contains a flowable material to be dispensed. The glass ampoule is contained in an outer container that may be made from a plastic material and having a closed end and an open end. The glass ampoule assembly may further include an applicator such as a swab that fits in the open end of the outer container. The applicator assists in dispensing the flowable material after the glass ampoule is crushed. The glass ampoule assembly may also include a cover member such as a cardboard sleeve that is used when initially storing and transporting the glass ampoule assembly wherein the applicator end of the glass ampoule assembly is inserted into the cardboard sleeve. An opposite end of the glass ampoule assembly may be inserted into the cardboard sleeve wherein the applicator extends out of the sleeve. A user may squeeze the cardboard sleeve via finger pressure to deflect the plastic outer container and crush the glass ampoule wherein the flowable material is dispensed from the applicator.

Attempts have been made to design ampoule holders that assist in rupturing the ampoule. These designs, however, have been high in cost and cumbersome in design and operation. Furthermore, the glass ampoule is not crushed in an optimum location wherein dispensing of the flowable material becomes problematic because of obstruction from fractured pieces of the glass ampoule.

Additional problems have also been experienced with the glass ampoule assemblies. In some instances, users do not have sufficient finger strength to crush the glass ampoule. For example, users of advanced age oftentimes have arthritis and cannot crush the glass ampoule. In other instances, upon rupturing the glass ampoule, glass shards puncture through the outer container and injure the user. In still other instances, the glass ampoule is typically crushed at a central location of the glass ampoule. Rupturing the ampoule at the central location leaves a dome-shaped end portion of the glass ampoule intact. The dome-shaped end portion may end up positioned at the applicator wherein the flow of the flowable material is restricted from the dispenser.

While glass ampoule assemblies and associated ampoule holders/actuators according to the prior art provide a number of advantageous features, they nevertheless have certain limitations. The present invention seeks to overcome certain of these limitations and other drawbacks of the prior art, and to provide new features and new uses not heretofore available. A full discussion of the features and advantages of the present invention is deferred to the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a dispenser actuator assembly designed to actuate a dispenser to dispense a flowable material from the dispenser.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a dispenser actuator assembly is provided for actuating a dispenser such as a glass ampoule assembly. The glass ampoule assembly has a rupturable glass ampoule containing a flowable material. The glass ampoule is contained within an outer container. The outer container has a first open end and a second closed end. The glass ampoule assembly has an applicator positioned in the first open end. The dispenser actuator assembly has a base member configured to mount on the outer container. An actuator arm is pivotally connected to the base member. The actuator arm is pivotable from a first position to a second position that is configured to engage the outer container to crush the glass ampoule wherein the flowable material is dispensed from the glass ampoule assembly

According to another aspect of the invention, a dispenser actuator assembly for actuating a dispenser is provided, The dispenser may be in the form of a glass ampoule assembly having a rupturable glass ampoule containing a flowable material. The glass ampoule has an interface area defined generally between a dome-shaped closed end and a generally cylindrical central portion. The glass ampoule is contained within an outer container, the outer container having a first open end and a second closed end. The glass ampoule assembly has an applicator positioned in the first open end. The dispenser actuator assembly has a base member configured to receive the outer container and mount on the outer container. An actuator arm has a first arm implement and a central hub, the central hub connected to the base member. The first arm implement has a first intermediate segment having a curvilinear configuration extending away from the base member. The first arm implement has a first depending protrusion at a first distal end, the first depending protrusion configured to be positioned proximate the interface area of the glass ampoule. The first arm implement is pivotable with respect to the base member from a first neutral position to a first actuating position that is configured to engage and deflect the outer container inwardly to crush the glass ampoule at the interface area wherein the flowable material is released from the glass ampoule.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the base member is dimensioned to fit circumjacently around the glass ampoule assembly in an interference fit. The base member may be an annular ring. The base member defines a platform segment dimensioned for a user's finger to engage against the platform segment when the user crushes the glass ampoule. The base member has a first flared wall portion and a second flared wall portion positioned in opposed relation and connected to the platform segment.

According another aspect of the invention, the base member has a locating structure that is configured to cooperate with the glass ampoule assembly when the actuator assembly is mounted on the glass ampoule assembly.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the base member defines an opening therethrough.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the first depending protrusion of the first arm implement is configured to be spaced from the outer container when the base member is connected to the glass ampoule assembly.

According to another aspect of the invention, a proximal end of the first arm implement is connected to the central hub, wherein a first hinge is defined proximate the proximal end of the first arm implement and the central hub, the first hinge defining a cut-out portion that extends into the first arm implement.

According to another aspect of the invention, the actuator arm has a second arm implement. The central hub is positioned between the first arm implement and the second arm implement. The second arm implement has a second intermediate segment having a curvilinear configuration extending away from the base member generally opposite the first arm implement, the second arm implement having a second depending protrusion at a second distal end.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the second depending protrusion of the second arm implement is configured to be spaced from the outer container when the base member is connected to the glass ampoule assembly.

According to another aspect of the invention, a proximal end of the second arm implement is connected to the central hub, wherein a second hinge is defined proximate the proximal end of the second arm implement and the central hub, the second hinge defining a cut-out portion that extends into the second arm implement.

According to another aspect of the invention, the second arm implement is pivotable with respect to the base member from a second neutral position to a second actuating position that is configured to engage and deflect the outer container inwardly to assist in manipulating the flowable material into the applicator to be dispensed from the glass ampoule assembly.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the first arm implement is pivotable independently of the second arm implement.

According to another aspect of the invention, the actuator assembly has a second actuator arm having a first arm implement and a second central hub. The second central hub is connected to the base member generally opposite to the central hub. The first arm implement of the second actuator arm has a first intermediate segment having a curvilinear configuration extending away from the base member, the first arm implement of the second actuator arm having a first depending protrusion at a first distal end, the first depending protrusion configured to be positioned proximate the interface area of the glass ampoule. The first arm implement of the second actuator arm is pivotable with respect to the base member from a first neutral position to a first actuating position that is configured to engage and deflect the outer container inwardly to crush the glass ampoule at the interface area wherein the flowable material is released from the glass ampoule.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the second actuator arm has a second arm implement. The second central hub is positioned between the first arm implement and the second arm implement of the second actuator arm. The second arm implement of the second actuator arm has a second intermediate segment having a curvilinear configuration extending away from the base member generally opposite the first arm implement. The second arm implement of the second actuator arm has a second depending protrusion at a second distal end. The second arm implement of the second actuator arm is pivotable with respect to the base member from a second neutral position to a second actuating position that is configured to engage and deflect the outer container inwardly to assist in manipulating the flowable material into the applicator to be dispensed from the glass ampoule assembly.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the first arm implement of the first actuator arm is positioned generally opposite to the first arm implement of the second actuator arm. The second arm implement of the first actuator arm is positioned generally opposite to the second arm implement of the second actuator arm. The first depending protrusion of the first arm implement of the first actuator arm and the first depending protrusion of the first arm implement of the second actuator arm are configured to engage and deflect the outer container inwardly to crush the glass ampoule at the interface area. The second depending protrusion of the second arm implement of the first actuator arm and the second depending protrusion of the second arm implement of the second actuator arm are configured to engage and deflect the outer container inwardly to assist in manipulating the flowable material into the applicator to be dispensed from the glass ampoule assembly.

According to another aspect of the invention, a dispenser and actuator assembly is provided. The dispenser is in the form of a plastic ampoule assembly. The plastic ampoule assembly has a container having a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber containing a flowable material, the second chamber defining an open end. A membrane is disposed within the container separating the first chamber and the second chamber, the membrane having a thickness and a weld seam, the weld seam having a thickness less than the thickness of the membrane. An applicator is positioned in the open end. The actuator assembly has a base member having an annular ring, the annular ring mounted on the container. An actuator arm has a first arm implement and a central hub, the central hub connected to the base member. The first arm implement has a first intermediate segment having a curvilinear configuration extending away from the base member. The first arm implement has a first depending protrusion at a first distal end, the first depending protrusion configured to be positioned proximate the membrane of the plastic ampoule assembly. The first arm implement is pivotable with respect to the base member from a first neutral position to a first actuating position that is configured to engage and deflect the container inwardly to fracture the weld seam of the membrane wherein the flowable material is released from the plastic ampoule assembly.

According to another aspect of the invention, a dispenser is provided in the form of a first plastic ampoule assembly and a second plastic ampoule assembly. The first plastic ampoule assembly has a container having a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber containing a first flowable material. The first chamber has a closed end, and the second chamber defines an open end. A membrane is disposed within the container separating the first chamber and the second chamber. The membrane has a thickness and a weld seam, the weld seam having a thickness less than the thickness of the membrane. An applicator is positioned in the open end. The second plastic ampoule assembly has a container having a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber containing a second flowable material. The first chamber has a closed end, and the second chamber defines an open end. A membrane is disposed within the container separating the first chamber and the second chamber, the membrane having a thickness and a weld seam, the weld seam having a thickness less than the thickness of the membrane. An applicator is positioned in the open end. The closed end of the first chamber of the first plastic ampoule is connected to the closed end of the first chamber of the second plastic ampoule and defining a connection area.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the first plastic ampoule and the second plastic ampoule extend away from each other linearly along a longitudinal axis.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the closed end of the first chamber of the first plastic ampoule has a generally first circular configuration and the closed end of the first chamber of the second plastic ampoule has a generally second circular configuration, wherein the first circular configuration is dimensioned to coincide with a dimension of the second circular configuration.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the connection between the first plastic ampoule and the second plastic ampoule is an adhesive connection. Alternatively, the connection between the first plastic ampoule and the second plastic ampoule is a spin-welded connection.

According to another aspect of the invention, a dispenser and actuator assembly are provided. The dispenser is in the form of a glass ampoule assembly. The glass ampoule assembly has a first crushable glass ampoule containing a first flowable material and a second crushable glass ampoule containing a second flowable material. A resilient plastic outer container has a first open end and a second open end, and the outer container receives the first glass ampoule and the second glass ampoule. A first applicator is positioned in the first open end, and a second applicator is positioned in the second open end. An actuator assembly has a base member having an annular ring, the annular ring receiving the outer container and mounted on the outer container. An actuator arm has a first arm implement and a central hub, the central hub connected to the base member. The first arm implement has a first intermediate segment having a curvilinear configuration extending away from the base member, the first arm implement having a first depending protrusion at a first distal end. The first depending protrusion is positioned proximate the first glass ampoule. The actuator arm has a second arm implement, the central hub positioned between the first arm implement and the second arm implement. The second arm implement has a second intermediate segment having a curvilinear configuration extending away from the base member generally opposite the first arm implement. The second arm implement has a second depending protrusion at a second distal end, the second depending protrusion positioned proximate the second glass ampoule. The first arm implement is pivotable with respect to the base member from a first neutral position to a first actuating position to engage and deflect the outer container inwardly to crush the first glass ampoule wherein the first flowable material is released from the first glass ampoule and into the first applicator to be dispensed. The second arm implement is pivotable with respect to the base member from a second neutral position to a second actuating position to engage and deflect the outer container inwardly to crush the second glass ampoule wherein the second flowable material is released from the second glass ampoule and into the second applicator to be dispensed.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the outer container has a dividing wall defining a first chamber having the first open end and defining a second chamber having the second open end, the first glass ampoule positioned in the first chamber and the second glass ampoule positioned in the second chamber.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the actuator assembly is slidably moveable along the outer container.

According to another aspect of the invention, a glass ampoule assembly is provided. The glass ampoule assembly has a crushable glass ampoule containing a flowable material. A resilient plastic outer container has a first open end and a second open end. The outer container receives the glass ampoule through one of the first open end and the second open end. A first applicator is positioned in the first open end, the first applicator having a first applicator structure. A second applicator is positioned in the second open end, the second applicator having a second applicator structure. The second applicator structure is different from the first applicator structure. The first applicator is a first swab assembly having a generally constant diameter along a length of the first swab assembly. The second applicator is a second swab assembly that is tapered along a length of the second swab assembly. The second swab assembly has an apex at a distal end. In another embodiment, the first applicator is a swab assembly and the second applicator is a dropper assembly.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the following drawings.

