초록 ▼

An apparatus for storing fluid and dispensing multiple portions of the stored fluid has a container defining a variable-volume storage chamber; a dispensing valve including a valve inlet coupled in fluid communication with the variable-volume storage chamber, and an elastic valve member in fluid com

An apparatus for storing fluid and dispensing multiple portions of the stored fluid has a container defining a variable-volume storage chamber; a dispensing valve including a valve inlet coupled in fluid communication with the variable-volume storage chamber, and an elastic valve member in fluid communication with the valve inlet and defining a normally-closed valve opening; a manually engageable actuator; and a pump including a compressible member defining a compression chamber coupled in fluid communication with the variable-volume storage chamber. Multiple portions of the stored fluid are hermetically sealed in the variable-volume storage chamber. The actuator is manually engageable and movable between (i) a first position wherein the compression chamber defines a first volume, and (ii) a second position wherein the compression chamber defines a second volume less than the first volume. In the second position the fluid in the compression chamber exceeds a valve opening pressure and, in turn, moves the elastic valve member between (i) a normally closed position hermetically sealing the one-way valve and variable-volume storage chamber with respect to ambient atmosphere, and (ii) an open position permitting fluid flow through the valve opening.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for storing fluid and dispensing multiple portions of the stored fluid therefrom, comprising: a container defining a variable-volume storage chamber for hermetically sealing and storing therein multiple portions of the fluid;a housing receiving therein the variable-volume storage cha

1. An apparatus for storing fluid and dispensing multiple portions of the stored fluid therefrom, comprising: a container defining a variable-volume storage chamber for hermetically sealing and storing therein multiple portions of the fluid;a housing receiving therein the variable-volume storage chamber;a one-way dispensing valve, movable relative to the housing between (i) a storage position located at least partially within the housing, and (ii) a dispensing position located at least partially outside of the housing, including a valve body defining a valve seat and at least one flow aperture extending through at least one of the valve body and valve seat, a valve inlet coupled in fluid communication with the variable-volume storage chamber, and an elastic valve member overlying the valve seat in fluid communication with the valve inlet defining a normally-closed valve opening, wherein in the dispensing position the elastic valve member is responsive to fluid at the valve inlet exceeding a valve opening pressure to move between (i) a normally closed position with the elastic valve member engaging the valve seat and hermetically sealing the one-way dispensing valve and variable-volume storage chamber with respect to ambient atmosphere, and (ii) an open position with at least a segment of the elastic valve member spaced away from the valve seat permitting the flow of fluid through the valve opening;a manually engageable actuator; anda pump including a compressible member defining a compression chamber coupled in fluid communication with the variable-volume storage chamber and the one-way dispensing valve and movable in response to movement of the actuator between (i) a first position wherein the compression chamber defines a first volume, and (ii) a second position wherein the compression chamber defines a second volume less than the first volume, wherein movement of the compressible member from the first position to the second position pressurizes fluid in the compression chamber above the valve opening pressure and moves the elastic valve member to the open position to dispense fluid therethrough. 2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a check valve coupled in fluid communication between the compression chamber and the variable-volume storage chamber and allowing the flow of fluid therethrough in the direction from the variable-volume storage chamber into the compression chamber. 3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the compressible member stores sufficient energy when moving from the first position to the second position to drive the compressible member from the second position back to the first position. 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3, further comprising a pump inlet tube coupled in fluid communication between the variable-volume storage chamber and the compression chamber and a pump outlet tube coupled in fluid communication between the compression chamber and the one-way dispensing valve. 5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the compressible member is elastic. 6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the one-way dispensing valve is disposable outside of the housing. 7. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the one-way dispensing valve is pivotally mounted on the housing and movable between the storage and dispensing positions. 8. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the compressible member is mounted within the housing, and the apparatus further comprises a flexible tube coupled in fluid communication between the compressible member and the one-way dispensing valve. 9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the manually engageable actuator is mounted on the housing, drivingly coupled to the compressible member, and movable with the compressible member between the first and second positions. 10. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the manually engageable actuator is pivotally mounted on the housing and movable between the first and second positions. 11. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the housing includes a shroud defining a recess receiving therein the one-way dispensing valve to protect the one-way dispensing valve during at least one of transport and storage. 12. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the container is disposable, and the housing is configured to receive at least one fresh container after disposing of a used container. 13. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the housing includes a base defining a chamber for receiving therein the variable-volume storage chamber, and a cover mounted on the base and movable relative thereto for at least one of installing and removing the variable-volume storage, and wherein the manually engageable actuator is movably mounted on the cover. 14. An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the actuator includes a first lever arm located outside the cover, and at least one second lever arm located inside the cover and drivingly coupled between the first lever arm and the compressible member. 15. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the first and second lever arms are pivotally mounted on the cover. 16. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the valve seat is axially-extending, and the elastic valve member moves radially between the normally closed position and the open position. 17. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a sterile fluid received within the storage chamber, and wherein the variable-volume storage chamber and one-way dispensing valve maintain the fluid within the storage chamber sterile and hermetically sealed with respect to ambient atmosphere throughout storage and dispensing of fluid through the one-way dispensing valve. 18. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the fluid is selected from the group consisting of a milk-containing fluid, soy-containing fluid, non-dairy creamer, baby formula, low-acid fluid, and dairy-based fluid. 19. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the housing is a box and the variable-volume storage chamber is defined by a flexible pouch received within the box. 20. An apparatus for storing fluid and dispensing multiple portions of the stored fluid therefrom, comprising: first means defining a variable-volume storage chamber for hermetically sealing and storing therein multiple portions of the fluid;second means for controlling the flow of fluid dispensed from the first means, wherein the second means includes a valve body defining a valve seat and at least one flow aperture extending through at least one of the valve body and valve seat, and a valve inlet coupled in fluid communication with the variable-volume storage chamber, and third means overlying the valve seat in fluid communication with the inlet, defining a normally-closed opening, and responsive to fluid at the inlet exceeding a threshold pressure, for moving between (i) a normally closed position hermetically sealing the second means and variable-volume storage chamber with respect to ambient atmosphere, and (ii) an open position permitting the fluid flow through the opening;fourth means for forming a compression chamber coupled in fluid communication with the variable-volume storage chamber and the second means for moving between (i) a first position wherein the compression chamber defines a first volume, and (ii) a second position wherein the compression chamber defines a second volume less than the first volume, wherein movement of the fourth means from the first position to the second position pressurizes fluid in the compression chamber above the threshold pressure and moves the third means to the open position to dispense fluid therethroughfifth means for manually moving the fourth means from the first position to the second position; andsixth means for receiving therein the first means therein;wherein the second means is movable relative to the sixth means between (i) a storage position located at least partially within the sixth means, and (ii) a dispensing position located at least partially outside of the sixth means, and the third means is movable between the normally closed position and the open position in the dispensing position. 21. An apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein the first means is a container, the second means is a one-way valve, the third means is an elastic valve member, the fourth means is a pump, the fifth means is a manually engageable actuator; and the sixth means is a housing. 22. An apparatus for storing fluid and dispensing multiple portions of the stored fluid therefrom, comprising: a container defining a variable-volume storage chamber for hermetically sealing and storing therein multiple portions of the fluid;a housing receiving therein the variable-volume storage chamber;a one-way dispensing valve, movable relative to the housing between (i) a storage position located at least partially within the housing, and (ii) a dispensing position located at least partially outside of the housing, including a valve inlet coupled in fluid communication with the variable-volume storage chamber and an elastic valve member in fluid communication with the valve inlet and defining a normally-closed valve opening, wherein in the dispensing position the elastic valve member is responsive to fluid at the valve inlet exceeding a valve opening pressure to move between (i) a normally closed position hermetically sealing the one-way dispensing valve and variable-volume storage chamber with respect to ambient atmosphere, and (ii) an open position permitting fluid flow through the valve opening; anda compressible member defining a palm engaging surface engageable with the palm of a user's hand and a compression chamber coupled in fluid communication with the variable-volume storage chamber and one-way dispensing valve, wherein the palm engaging surface is depressible by the user's palm between (i) a first position wherein the compression chamber defines a first volume, and (ii) a second position wherein the compression chamber defines a second volume less than the first volume, wherein movement of the compressible member from the first position to the second position pressurizes fluid received through the inlet of the one-way dispensing valve above the valve opening pressure and moves the elastic valve member to the open position to dispense fluid therethrough. 23. An apparatus as defined in claim 22, further comprising a frame supporting thereon the compressible member and positioned relative thereto such that the palm engaging surface is engageable with a user's palm, and the frame is engageable with a plurality of fingers of the same hand to allow simultaneous gripping of the frame and depressing of the palm engaging surface between the first and second positions.