System and method for dispensing fluid from a container and into a fluid receptacle

Abstract

A system and method for transferring fluid directly from a container sealed with a closure, to a receptacle. The receptacle includes an aperture and an interior floor. The fluid dispenser has two ends—a first end pierces the closure to establish fluid communication between the interior and exterior of the container and the second end engages the aperture in the receptacle. Relative movement of the receptacle and container toward each other dispenses fluid from the container, through the dispenser, and directly into the receptacle. The second end of the dispenser is precluded from contacting the interior floor of the receptacle to avoid unintentional withdrawal of the fluid from the receptacle.

1 . A system for dispensing fluid from a container having an open end closed by a closure, the container including an inner chamber having a volume and including fluid therein, the system comprising:
 a fluid dispenser; and   a receptacle having an aperture and an interior floor;   the fluid dispenser having a base with a first side and a second side, and a protrusion extending from the second side of the base and having an exterior diameter and a tip;   a flow passage extending through the protrusion, and   the protrusion adapted to extend into the fluid receptacle aperture with the tip remain spaced a desired distance from the interior floor of the receptacle.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein means are provided to maintain the tip of the protrusion a desired distance from the interior floor of the receptacle. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the protrusion exterior diameter and the receptacle interior is configured to maintain the tip of the protrusion a desired distance from the interior floor of the receptacle. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the interior wall of the receptacle is tapered to maintain the tip of the protrusion a desired distance from the interior floor of the receptacle. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second side of the fluid dispenser base contacts the receptacle to maintain the tip of the protrusion a desired distance from the interior floor of the receptacle. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion has an associated length L p  and the aperture has an associated length within the receptacle L d , wherein L p  is less than L d  to maintain the tip of the protrusion a desired distance from the interior floor of the receptacle. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle has an interior projection to maintain the tip of the protrusion a desired distance from the interior floor of the receptacle. 
     
     
         8 . A method of transferring fluid from a container directly into a receptacle, the container closed by a closure and having a fluid therein, the receptacle having an aperture and an interior floor, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a fluid dispenser, the fluid dispenser having a base with a first side and a second side, a protrusion extending therefrom, the protrusion having a dispenser tip;   inserting the fluid dispenser through the closure and into the interior of the container;   inserting the fluid dispenser tip into the receptacle aperture, and   moving the receptacle and container relative to each other to flex the closure to dispense fluid directly from the container into the receptacle.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , and further including the step of maintaining the tip of the protrusion a desired distance from the interior floor of the receptacle. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of maintaining the tip of the protrusion a desired distance from the interior floor of the receptacle comprises the step of abutting the second side of the fluid dispenser base with the receptacle.