Single use enhancement for dispenser assembly

Abstract

A locking device structured to maintain an activating plunger of a dispenser assembly in an inoperative position, subsequent to dispensing, so as to facilitate a single-use operation thereof and thereby preclude the potential confusion between a used and an unused single-use dispensing device. The locking device includes a body disposed in receiving relation to the plunger as it moves from an operative position to an inoperative position. A locking structure connected to the body is disposed to frictionally engage the plunger in movement restricting relation during its passage from the operative position to the inoperative position. Such frictional engagement is sufficient to restrict movement of the plunger back into the operative position once the material has been dispensed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dispenser assembly structured for a single-use application, said dispenser assembly comprising:
 a housing including a dispensing portion disposed and structured to deliver material from said housing,   a plunger movably connected to said housing and disposable thereon between an operative position and inoperative position,   a locking device disposed within said housing and structured to facilitate passage of said plunger from said operative position into said inoperative position, and   said locking device including a locking structure disposed and configured for movement restricting engagement with said plunger when said plunger is in said inoperative position.   
     
     
         2 . A dispenser assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein said movement restricting engagement comprises a frictional engagement of said locking structure with said plunger. 
     
     
         3 . A dispenser assembly as recited in  claim 2  wherein said movement restricting engagement further comprises a movable sliding engagement between said locking structure and said plunger. 
     
     
         4 . A dispenser assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein said locking device is connected within said housing and includes an open interior, said open interior disposed in receiving relation to said plunger when in said inoperative position. 
     
     
         5 . A dispenser assembly as recited in  claim 4  wherein said locking structure is disposed exteriorly of said open interior in sliding, frictional engagement with said plunger. 
     
     
         6 . A dispenser assembly as recited in  claim 4  wherein said locking structure comprises a flange connected to an exterior of said locking device and extending outwardly therefrom, said flange at least partially formed of a flexible material, said movement restricting engagement comprises said flange disposed in biased engagement with said plunger. 
     
     
         7 . A dispenser assembly as recited in  claim 4  wherein said open interior is disposed in at least partially surrounding relation to said dispensing portion and said plunger when said plunger is in said inoperative position. 
     
     
         8 . A dispenser assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein said locking device comprises a body including an open at least partially hollow interior disposed in receiving relation to said plunger when in said inoperative position. 
     
     
         9 . A dispenser assembly as recited in  claim 8  wherein said locking structure is connected to an exterior of said body and extends outwardly therefrom into said movement restricting engagement with said plunger when in said inoperative position. 
     
     
         10 . A dispenser assembly as recited in  claim 9  wherein said body comprises a substantially cylindrical outer wall configuration; said locking structure comprising a flange connected to an exterior of said outer wall and extending outwardly therefrom. 
     
     
         11 . A dispenser assembly as recited in  claim 10  wherein said flange is at least partially formed from a flexible material and comprises an at least partially annular configuration connected to and extending outwardly from an exterior of said outer wall and in at least partially surrounding relation thereto. 
     
     
         12 . A dispenser assembly as recited in  claim 8  further comprising a connector disposed in interconnecting relation between said body and interior of said housing. 
     
     
         13 . A dispenser assembly as recited in  claim 12  wherein said body comprises a head portion; said connector disposed in interconnecting relation between said head portion and an interior portion of said housing. 
     
     
         14 . A dispenser assembly as recited in  claim 13  wherein said connector is at least partially formed of an adhesive material disposed to adhesively secure said body to said housing. 
     
     
         15 . A dispenser assembly as recited in  claim 13  wherein said head portion is disposed transversely outward in at least partially surrounding relation to an open end of said body, said head portion including an outer exposed surface, said connector mounted on said exposed surface in attached engagement with an interior of said housing. 
     
     
         16 . A locking device structured to maintain an activating plunger of a dispenser assembly in an inoperative position, said locking device comprising:
 a body dimensioned and configured to be disposed with an interior of a housing of a dispenser assembly and in accessible relation to the plunger,   said body including a locking structure disposed thereon in movement restricting engagement with the plunger when the plunger is in an operative position,   said body comprising an open interior disposed in receiving relation to the plunger when disposed from an operative position to an inoperative position, and   said locking structure disposed on an exterior of said body in sliding, frictional engagement with the plunger when in the inoperative position.   
     
     
         17 . A locking device as recited in  claim 16  wherein said body comprises a substantially cylindrical outer wall configuration; said locking structure comprising a flange connected to an exterior of said outer wall and extending outwardly therefrom. 
     
     
         18 . A locking device as recited in  claim 17  wherein said flange is at least partially formed of a flexible material and comprises an at least partially annular configuration connected to and extending outwardly from an exterior of said outer wall and in at least partially surrounding relation thereto. 
     
     
         19 . A locking device as recited in  claim 18  wherein said flange is flexibly connected to said outer wall, said movement restricting engagement comprising said flange biased into said frictional, movement restricting engagement with the plunger. 
     
     
         20 . A locking device as recited in  claim 16  further comprising a connector disposed in interconnecting relation between said body and an interior of the dispenser assembly. 
     
     
         21 . A locking device as recited in  claim 20  wherein said body comprises a head portion; said connector disposed in interconnecting relation between said head portion and interior of said dispenser assembly. 
     
     
         22 . A locking device as recited in  claim 21  wherein said connector is at least partially formed of an adhesive material disposed to adhesively secure said body to the interior of the dispenser assembly. 
     
     
         23 . A locking device as recited in  claim 21  wherein said head portion is disposed in at least partially surrounding relation to said body and includes an outer exposed surface, said connector mounted on said exposed surface in attached engagement with an interior of said housing.