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A disposable pump for a liquid dispensing system includes a compressible container and a housing forming a chamber and a dispensing opening wherein the pressure in the chamber may be varied for pumping liquid from the container to the chamber, and from the chamber to the dispensing opening. A regula

A disposable pump for a liquid dispensing system includes a compressible container and a housing forming a chamber and a dispensing opening wherein the pressure in the chamber may be varied for pumping liquid from the container to the chamber, and from the chamber to the dispensing opening. A regulator is fixedly arranged in the chamber for regulating a flow of liquid between the container and the chamber and between the chamber and the dispensing opening. The regulator includes an outer valve for regulating the flow between the chamber and the dispensing opening. The outer valve is displaceable between a symmetrical position corresponding to a closed position, where the outer valve is in sealing contact with the housing, and a tilted position corresponding to a dispensing position.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A disposable pump for a liquid dispensing system which comprises a compressible container, comprising: a housing forming a chamber and a dispensing opening, wherein the pressure in the chamber is varied for pumping liquid from the container to the chamber, and further from the chamber to the disp

1. A disposable pump for a liquid dispensing system which comprises a compressible container, comprising: a housing forming a chamber and a dispensing opening, wherein the pressure in the chamber is varied for pumping liquid from the container to the chamber, and further from the chamber to the dispensing opening; anda regulator fixedly arranged in the chamber for regulating a flow of liquid between the container and the chamber, and between the chamber and the dispensing opening, the regulator comprising an outer valve for regulating the flow between the chamber and the dispensing opening,an inner valve for regulating the flow between the chamber and the container, anda stem extending in a straight, single longitudinal extension between the inner valve and the outer valve, wherein the inner valve and the outer valve are arranged on the stem and the inner valve extends circumferentially from the stem,wherein the pump assumes a closed position, in which a volume of liquid is drawn from the container to the chamber by a negative pressure created in the chamber, and a dispensing position, in which a volume of liquid is drawn from the chamber to the dispensing opening,wherein the outer valve is displaceable betweena symmetrical position which corresponds to said closed position of the pump, where the outer valve is in sealing contact with the housing, anda tilted position which corresponds to said dispensing position of the pump, where the outer valve is movable to and from sealing contact with the housing dependent on the pressure in the chamber, andthe displacement of said outer valve from said symmetrical position to said tilted position requires an external force applied to the pump and transferred to said regulator. 2. The pump according to claim 1, wherein the outer valve has a symmetrical position opening pressure in the chamber when in the symmetrical position, and a tilted position opening pressure in the chamber when in the tilted position, the tilted position opening pressure in the chamber being less than the symmetrical position opening pressure in the chamber. 3. The pump according to claim 1, wherein the stem is resilient so as to automatically return to an original shape from a distorted shape as the external force is removed, resulting in the valve automatically returning from the tilted position to the symmetrical position. 4. The pump according to claim 1, wherein the chamber has a resilient wall so as to be compressible around the regulator, so that the external force compressing the chamber is transferred to the regulator to displace the outer valve from the symmetrical to the tilted position. 5. The pump according to claim 1, wherein the outer valve is resilient and has a first flexibility across a first cross-section, in which the first cross-section is in contact with the housing when the outer valve is in the symmetrical position, and a second flexibility across a second cross-section, in which the second cross-section is in contact with the housing when the outer valve is in the tilted position, the second flexibility being greater than the first flexibility resulting in said tilted position opening pressure in the chamber being less than said symmetrical position opening pressure in the chamber. 6. The pump according to claim 5, wherein peripheries of the first and the second cross-section have a same size and shape. 7. The pump according claim 1, wherein the outer valve has an outer shape at least partly following the contour of a sphere, such that a first and a second circular cross section having the same radius is defined, corresponding to said symmetrical and tilted positions, respectively. 8. The pump according to claim 1, wherein the inner valve forms a one-way valve in the housing. 9. The pump according to claim 1, wherein a maximum tilted position is about 10-45° from the symmetrical position. 10. The pump according to claim 1, wherein said pump consists of said housing and said regulator. 11. A dispensing system comprising a pump according to claim 1, said pump being in liquid-tight connection with a collapsible container for containing liquid to be dispensed via the pump. 12. A method for dispensing liquid using a pump according to claim 1, which is connected to a container containing said liquid, comprising the steps of applying an external force to the pump for dispensing liquid therefrom; andreleasing said external force whereby the pump returns to a closed position. 13. The pump according to claim 1, wherein the stem is resilient along its length so as to bend, from an original shape, where the outer valve assumes the symmetrical position, to a distorted shape, where the outer valve assumes the tilted position, said bending requiring external force being applied to the pump and transferred to said regulator. 14. The pump according to claim 13, wherein a spacer is provided on the stem for restricting the bending movement of the stem. 15. The pump according to claim 13, further comprising a guide member on an outer side of the inner valve, the guide member extended transversely so as to restrict bending movement of the stem. 16. The pump according to claim 15, wherein the guide member extends along a circumference of the stem so as to symmetrically restrict movement of the stem. 17. The pump according to claim 15, wherein the guide member is formed by four guide bars arranged to form a cross with the stem at a center of the cross. 18. A disposable pump for a liquid dispensing system which comprises a compressible container, comprising: a housing forming a chamber and a dispensing opening, wherein the pressure in the chamber is varied for pumping liquid from the container to the chamber, and further from the chamber to the dispensing opening; anda regulator fixedly arranged in the chamber for regulating a flow of liquid between the container and the chamber, and between the chamber and the dispensing opening, the regulator comprising an outer valve for regulating the flow between the chamber and the dispensing opening, and a resilient stem extending in a straight, single longitudinal extension from the outer valve to an inner valve, the stem being bendable and capable of resuming an original shape after bending, the regulator including a guide member on an outer side of the inner valve, the guide member extended transversely so as to restrict bending movement of the stem,wherein the pump assumes a closed position, in which a volume of liquid is drawn from the container to the chamber by a negative pressure created in the chamber, and a dispensing position, in which a volume of liquid is drawn from the chamber to the dispensing opening,wherein the outer valve is displaceable between a symmetrical position which corresponds to said closed position of the pump, where the outer valve is in sealing contact with the housing, and a tilted position which corresponds to said dispensing position of the pump, where the outer valve is movable to and from sealing contact with the housing dependent on the pressure in the chamber, andthe displacement of said outer valve from said symmetrical position to said tilted position requiring external force being applied to the pump and transferred to the stem so that the stem deforms sideways. 19. The pump according to claim 18, wherein the guide member extends along a circumference of the stem so as to symmetrically restrict movement of the stem. 20. A disposable pump for a liquid dispensing system which comprises a compressible container, comprising: a housing forming a chamber and a dispensing opening, wherein the pressure in the chamber is varied for pumping liquid from the container to the chamber, and further from the chamber to the dispensing opening; anda regulator fixedly arranged in the chamber for regulating a flow of liquid between the container and the chamber, and between the chamber and the dispensing opening, the regulator comprising an outer valve for regulating the flow between the chamber and the dispensing opening, and a resilient stem extending in a straight, single longitudinal extension from the outer valve, the stem being bendable and capable of resuming an original shape after bending,wherein the pump assumes a closed position, in which a volume of liquid is drawn from the container to the chamber by a negative pressure created in the chamber, and a dispensing position, in which a volume of liquid is drawn from the chamber to the dispensing opening,wherein the outer valve is displaceable between a symmetrical position which corresponds to said closed position of the pump, where the outer valve is in sealing contact with the housing, and a tilted position which corresponds to said dispensing position of the pump, where the outer valve is movable to and from sealing contact with the housing dependent on the pressure in the chamber, andthe displacement of said outer valve from said symmetrical position to said tilted position requiring external force being applied to the pump and transferred to the stem so that the stem deforms sideways.