Liquid dispenser for dispensing a predefined amount of liquid

Abstract

A liquid dispenser comprises a container for supporting liquid, and has a dispensing end with an opening. A reservoir is located in the container and is connected to the opening, and means are provided for channeling liquid into the reservoir. Liquid is propelled from the dispenser by squeezing resiliently depressable portions of the dispenser. The reservoir may take the form of a bowl-like structure or may retain liquid by cohesive and adhesive forces. The dispenser may also include a nozzle and a rest for resting the dispenser against a suitable surface when squeezing the dispenser.

What I claim is:  
     
         1 . A dispenser comprising, 
 a container defining a liquid supporting chamber, and having a dispensing end defining a dispensing opening,    a liquid retainer located in the container,    means for increasing the internal pressure of the container, wherein the liquid retainer has a liquid receiving opening located above the highest level of the liquid in the container when the dispenser is in its operative orientation, and    a channel extending from the liquid retainer to the dispensing opening for channeling a predefined amount of the liquid to the dispensing opening when the internal pressure of the container is increased.    
     
     
         2 . A dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid retainer supports a predefined amount of the liquid.  
     
     
         3 . A dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein the predefined amount of liquid is supported against the force of gravity purely by adhesive and cohesive forces.  
     
     
         4 . A dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a resiliently flexible protrusion for increasing the internal pressure by a predefined amount to channel a predefined amount of liquid to the dispensing opening.  
     
     
         5 . A dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a liquid capturing means for channeling liquid to the liquid retainer.  
     
     
         6 . A dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a positioning member for resting the dispenser against a surface.  
     
     
         7 . A dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein the dispenser is an eye solution dispenser, and the positioning member extends from the container and is shaped to rest against a user's cheekbone.  
     
     
         8 . A dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing end comprises a nozzle extending from the longitudinal axis of the dispenser, at an angle.  
     
     
         9 . A dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the container is resiliently compressible.  
     
     
         10 . A dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser includes at least one resiliently depressable protrusion extending from the container.  
     
     
         11 . A dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein the liquid retainer comprises an attachment that defines the channel and includes a liquid retaining cavity in flow communication with the channel.  
     
     
         12 . A dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the container, and a mouth section of the dispenser, define a liquid capturing means for channeling liquid to the liquid retainer.  
     
     
         13 . A method of administering an eye drop to an eye, comprising 
 picking up an eye drop dispenser wherein the dispenser includes 
 a container defining a liquid supporting chamber, and having a dispensing end defining a dispensing opening,  
 a liquid retainer located in the container,  
 a resiliently flexible wall to the container or at least one resiliently flexible protrusion for increasing the internal pressure of the container by squeezing the wall or protrusion,  
 wherein the liquid retainer has a liquid receiving opening located above the highest level of the liquid in the container when the dispenser is in its operative orientation, and wherein the liquid retainer supports a predefined amount of the liquid when the dispenser is in its operative orientation,  
 a channel extending from the liquid retainer to the dispensing opening for channeling the predefined amount of the liquid to the dispensing opening when the internal pressure of the container is increased, and  
 a positioning member for resting the dispenser against a surface,  
   resting the positioning member beneath the eye,    drawing the lower eyelid of the eye downward with the positioning member by pulling downward on the skin on which the positioning member is resting, and    squeezing the resiliently flexible wall or protrusion to propel the predefined amount of liquid into the eye.    
     
     
         14 . A liquid dispensing attachment for a liquid containing bottle, comprising 
 a liquid retainer, wherein the liquid retainer has a liquid receiving opening in flow communication with liquid in the bottle when the attachment is attached to the bottle, and wherein the liquid receiving opening is located above the highest level of the liquid in the bottle when the attachment is attached to the bottle and the bottle is in its operative orientation, and wherein the liquid retainer supports a predefined amount of the liquid when the bottle is in its operative orientation, and    a channel extending from the liquid retainer to an external dispensing opening for channeling the predefined amount of the liquid to the dispensing opening when the internal pressure of the container is increased.