Claims for Patent: 6,978,945

Summary for Patent: 6,978,945

Title:	Dispensing device
Abstract:	Hand-held dispensing devices for dispensing and applying a substance to the skin of a host are described. The devices include a hollow body, a capsule mounted within the hollow body for containing the substance, a nozzle mounted within the hollow body communicating with the substance in the capsule, an actuator to cause metered quantities of the substance to be dispensed from the capsule through the nozzle, a shroud defining an exit space for receiving the substance emerging from the nozzle, and a cap detachably mounted on the shroud to selectively open and close the nozzle and thereby control escape of the substance from the capsule.
Inventor(s):	Wong; Kon Euan (Glen Waverly, AU), Bayly; Mark Simon (Eltham North, AU)
Assignee:	Acrux DDS Pty Ltd (AU)
Application Number:	10/442,323
Patent Claims:	1. A hand-held dispensing device for dispensing and applying a substance to the skin of a host, said device including a hollow body, a capsule mounted within said hollow body and including said substance therein, a nozzle having an outlet passage mounted within said hollow body in communication with said capsule, actuator means operable to cause a metered quantity of said substance to be dispensed from said capsule through said outlet passage of said nozzle, a shroud defining an exit space from said hollow body for receiving said substance emerging from said outlet passage, and closure means including a cap detachably mountable on said shroud to thereby selectively open or close said nozzle and thereby control escape of said substance from said capsule, said outlet passage including an exit end, and said closure means including a closure member that is operative to close said outlet passage by engaging against the surface surrounding said exit end of said outlet passage. 2. A dispensing device according to claim 1 including force inducing means operative to apply a closing force to said closure member when said closure member is engaged with said surface surrounding said exit end of said outlet passage. 3. A dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein said shroud includes a first end proximate to said nozzle and a second end distal from said nozzle, said second end including an open mouth, whereby said shroud confines the lateral spread of said substance during its passage from said nozzle to said open mouth. 4. A dispensing device according to claim 3, wherein said shroud is substantially conical and includes a progressively increasing size from said first end to said second end. 5. A dispensing device according to claim 3, wherein said cap is detachably mountable to said second end of said shroud and extends across and closes said open mouth when said closure means is operated to close said nozzle and does not extend across said open mouth when said closure means is operated to open said nozzle. 6. A dispensing device according to claim 5, wherein said outlet passage includes an exit end, and said closure means includes an elongated closure member having a first end connected to said cap and a second end which is engageable with a surface associated with said exit end of said outlet passage to thereby close said nozzle. 7. A dispensing device according to claim 6, including force inducing means operative to apply a closing force to said elongated closure member when said elongated closure member is engaged with said surface associated with said exit end of said outlet passage. 8. A dispensing device according to claim 7, wherein said cap includes a flexible end wall and said force inducing means includes said flexible end wall of said cap, said first end of said elongated closure member is connected to a mid region of said flexible end wall, and said flexible end wall is resiliently distorted so as to place said elongated closure member under compression when said cap is attached to said outer end of said shroud and said elongated closure member engages with said surface associated with said exit end of said outlet passage. 9. A dispensing device according to claim 8, wherein said cap is releasably snap engageable with said second end of said shroud. 10. A dispensing device according to claim 5, wherein the distance between said nozzle and said second end of said shroud is predetermined, whereby said shroud may be used to regulate the distance between said nozzle and a target area onto which said substance is to be deposited. 11. A dispensing device according to claim 10, wherein the size of said open mouth is substantially equal to the size of said target area. 12. A dispensing device according to claim 1, including guide means disposed adjacent said nozzle to receive at least part of said closure member and guide said closure member into correct engagement with said surface surrounding said exit end of said outlet passage when said closure means is mounted on said shroud to close said nozzle. 13. A dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein said closure member includes flexible sealing means for engaging against said surface surrounding said exit end of said outlet passage. 14. A dispensing device according to claim 13, wherein said flexible sealing means includes a flexible circular sealing lip that surrounds said exit end of said outlet passage when engaged with said surface surrounding said exit end of said outlet passage. 15. A dispensing device according to claim 14, wherein said closure member defines a cavity communicating with said exit end of said outlet passage when said flexible sealing means and said surface surrounding said exit end of said outlet passage are in engagement. 16. A dispensing device according to claim 1, including absorption means locatable at a first location in alignment with said nozzle and a second location out of alignment with said nozzle, whereby when said absorption means is in said first location it can absorb a pre-use quantity of said substance dispensed through said nozzle during at least the first of a series of operations of said actuator means, and when said absorption means is at said second location it can enable a full charge of said substance to be dispensed through said nozzle during a subsequent one of said series of operations of said actuator means. 17. A dispensing device according to claim 16, wherein said absorption means includes an absorbent pad attached to said cap, whereby said absorbent pad is positioned in the path of said substance being dispensed through said nozzle when said cap is mounted on said shroud. 18. A dispensing device according to claim 17, wherein said absorbent pad is releasably attached to said cap. 19. A dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein said shroud provides a non-vented wall around said exit space. 20. A dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein said capsule is removably mounted within said hollow body. 21. A dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein said hollow body comprises a first part and a second part, each of said first and second parts defining a respective portion of a chamber within which said capsule is mounted. 22. A dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein said actuator means includes a pump connected to said nozzle so as to be operable to withdraw said substance from said capsule and expel said withdrawn substance through said nozzle. 23. A dispensing device according to claim 22, wherein said actuator means includes a button movably mounted on said hollow body and operable to cause operation of said pump. 24. A dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein said actuator means includes a valve, said substance is pressurized, and said valve is selectively operable to permit dispersion of said substance in aerosol form from said nozzle. 25. A dispensing device according to claim 24, wherein said actuator means includes a button movably mounted on said hollow body and operable on a selective basis to open said valve. 26. A dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein said substance includes a physiologically active agent in liquid solution, and a carrier selected to promote absorption of said active agent through the skin of a host. 27. A dispensing device according to claim 26, wherein said solution includes a volatile solvent. 28. A dispensing device according to claim 26, wherein said carrier is non-volatile. 29. A dispensing device according to claim 28, wherein said carrier is octyl salicylate. 30. A dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein said surface surrounding said exit end of said outlet passage is a frusto-conical surface, and said closure member includes a substantially complementary surface engageable with said frusto-conical surface. 31. A dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein said hollow body is adapted to be grasped by the hand of a user and includes a major axis that extends transverse to the fingers of said user where grasped, and said nozzle is disposed to dispense said substance in a lateral direction relative to said major axis. 32. A hand-held dispensing device for dispensing and applying a substance to the skin of a host, said device including a hollow body, a capsule mounted with said hollow body, a container for said substance forming part of said capsule and including said substance therein, a nozzle mounted within said hollow body, a pump operable to cause a metered quantity of said substance to be dispensed from said capsule through said nozzle in the form of a spray, an actuator mounted on said hollow body and being operable to cause operating of said pump, and absorption means locatable at a first location in alignment with said nozzle and at a second location out of alignment with said nozzle, whereby when said absorption means is at said first location it can absorb a pre-use quantity of said substance dispensed through said nozzle during at least a first of a series of operations of said actuator means, and when said absorption means is at said second location it can enable a full charge of said substance to be dispensed through said nozzle during a subsequent one of said series of operations of said actuator means. 33. A dispensing device according to claim 32, including a cap member removably connectable to said dispensing device, said absorption means including an absorbent pad attached to said cap member, whereby when said cap member is connected to said dispensing device said absorbent pad is positioned in the path of said substance being dispensed through said nozzle. 34. A dispensing device according to claim 33, including a shroud defining an exit space for receiving said substance emerging from said nozzle, said shroud including a first end proximate to said nozzle and a second end distal from said nozzle, said second end including an open mouth, and said cap being removably connectable to said second end of said shroud. 35. A dispensing device according to claim 34, wherein said shroud provides a non-vented wall around said exit space. 36. A dispensing device according to claim 32, wherein said pump is connected to said nozzle, whereby said pump is operable to withdraw said substance from said container and expel said withdrawn substance through said nozzle. 37. A dispensing device according to claim 32, wherein said substance includes a physiologically active agent in liquid solution, and a carrier selected to promote absorption of said active agent through the skin of a host. 38. A dispensing device according to claim 32, wherein said surface surrounding said exit end of said outlet passage is a frusto-conical surface and said closure member includes a substantially complementary surface engageable with said frusto-conical surface. 39. A dispensing device according to claim 32, wherein said hollow body is adapted to be grasped by the hand of a user and includes a major axis that extends transverse to the fingers of said user where grasped, and said nozzle is disposed to dispense said substance in a lateral direction relative to said major axis.