Housing for receiving flowable substance

Abstract

A hollow elongated housing is configured to receive a flowable substance therein. A plunger assembly is configured to be movable along, at least in part, the hollow elongated housing. This is done in such a way that the plunger assembly, in use, moves, at least in part, the flowable substance along the hollow elongated housing. A plunger-moving assembly is configured to move the plunger assembly; this is done in such a way that the plunger-moving assembly, in use, urges the plunger assembly to move a predetermined amount of the flowable substance along the hollow elongated housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a hollow elongated housing being configured to receive a flowable substance therein; and   a plunger assembly being configured to be movable along, at least in part, the hollow elongated housing in such a way that the plunger assembly, in use, moves, at least in part, the flowable substance along the hollow elongated housing; and   a plunger-moving assembly being configured to move the plunger assembly in such a way that the plunger-moving assembly, in use, urges the plunger assembly to move a predetermined amount of the flowable substance along the hollow elongated housing.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a hollow elongated housing having a first open end section being configured to receive a flowable substance therein; and   a plunger assembly being configured to be movable along a length of the hollow elongated housing in such a way that the plunger assembly, in use, moves, at least in part, the flowable substance from the hollow elongated housing and out from the first open end section; and   a sealing device being positioned between the plunger assembly and the hollow elongated housing in such a way that the sealing device, in use, prevents, at least in part, leakage of the flowable substance between the plunger assembly and the hollow elongated housing; and   a plunger-moving assembly being configured to move the plunger assembly toward the first open end section in such a way that the plunger-moving assembly, in use, urges the plunger assembly to move a predetermined amount of the flowable substance from the hollow elongated housing and out from the first open end section.   
     
     
         3 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a hollow elongated housing defining a cavity; and   the hollow elongated housing having a first open end section and a second open end section, in which the first open end section and the second open end section are spaced apart from each other; and   the cavity extending between, and being in fluid communication with, the first open end section and the second open end section; and   the cavity being configured to receive a flowable substance; and   a dispensing device being configured to be selectively attachable to the first open end section; and   the dispensing device being configured to be, at least in part, in fluid communication with the first open end section and the cavity once the dispensing device is selectively attached to the first open end section; and   a plunger assembly being configured to be received into the cavity via the second open end section; and   the plunger assembly also being configured to be movable along a length of the cavity once the plunger assembly is received into the cavity via the second open end section; and   the plunger assembly also being configured to be movable toward the first open end section in such a way that the plunger assembly, in use, moves, at least in part, the flowable substance, positioned in the cavity, toward, and out from, the first open end section; and   the plunger assembly includes a front section being configured to contact an interior surface of the first open end section to allow departure of the flowable substance from the cavity; and   a sealing device extending from the plunger assembly; and   the sealing device being configured to prevent, at least in part, leakage of the flowable substance positioned on the front section of the plunger assembly toward the second open end section while the plunger assembly, in use, is moved toward the first open end section; and   a plunger-moving assembly being configured to be coupled to the plunger assembly; and   the plunger-moving assembly being configured to move the plunger assembly toward the first open end section in such a way that the plunger-moving assembly, in use, moves the plunger assembly so that a predetermined amount of the flowable substance is moved, in use, from the cavity and out from the first open end section and into the dispensing device, and out from the dispensing device.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the hollow elongated housing is configured to be free standing once the second open end section is positioned on a horizontal working surface in such a way that the hollow elongated housing extends vertically upwardly.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the plunger assembly includes a rear section being configured to fully move into a groove of the plunger-moving assembly.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the plunger-moving assembly includes a screw assembly configured to extend along a longitudinal axis of the hollow elongated housing.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the screw assembly is configured to threadably couple the plunger assembly.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the plunger-moving assembly includes a first device configured to be coupled to the screw assembly; and   the first device is configured to rotate the screw assembly in response to rotation action applied to the first device in such a way that the screw assembly, in use, urges movement of the plunger assembly toward the first open end section.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein:
 a rear plunger extension of the plunger assembly extends one plunger diameter below a plunger portion in order to provide engagement.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the hollow elongated housing includes a neck portion; and   the neck portion extends away from the hollow elongated housing; and   the neck portion defines the first open end section.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the dispensing device is configured to be selectively connected to, and selectively removable from, the neck portion of the hollow elongated housing in such a way that the first open end section is covered by the dispensing device once the dispensing device is selectively connected to the neck portion; and   the dispensing device includes a neck extension configured to be selectively connected to, and selectively disconnectable from, the neck portion.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the hollow elongated housing includes a first edge portion a second edge portion each extending towards a longitudinal axis extending along a central section of the hollow elongated housing; and   the first edge portion and the second edge portion are spaced apart from each other; and   the first edge portion and the second edge portion each extend from peripheral edges of the hollow elongated housing; and   the second open end section is positioned between the first edge portion and the second edge portion.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the hollow elongated housing defines, preferably, a square-shaped cross section.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the plunger-moving assembly includes a screw assembly configured to extend along a longitudinal axis of the hollow elongated housing; and   the plunger assembly is configured to be received via the second open end section of the hollow elongated housing; and   the plunger assembly further includes:
 a rear section spaced apart from the front section; and 
 a front plunger extension; and 
 a rear plunger extension; and 
 the front section and the rear section are spaced apart from each other; and 
 the sealing device is positioned radially along an outer circumference edge of the plunger assembly; and 
 the sealing device also includes an inner sealing device positioned between an outer surface of the screw assembly and an inner surface positioned in a passageway of the plunger assembly, and wherein the inner sealing device is configured to provide seal that mitigates, at least in part, leakage between the outer surface of the screw assembly and the inner surface positioned in the passageway of the plunger assembly; and 
 the front plunger extension extends from the front section; and 
 the rear plunger extension extends from the rear section; and 
 the plunger assembly defines the passageway extending along centrally of the plunger assembly; and 
 the passageway extends through the plunger assembly, the front section, the rear section, the front plunger extension, and the rear plunger extension. 
   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the plunger-moving assembly is configured to be received, at least in part, into the second open end section of the hollow elongated housing; and   the plunger-moving assembly includes:
 a first device; and 
 a second device configured to be positioned between the second open end section and the plunger assembly. 
   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the second device includes:
 a first surface; and 
 a second surface; and 
 a connector; and 
   wherein:
 the second device defines a channel extending between the first surface and the second surface; and 
 the connector extends from the second surface, and once the second device is received in the cavity of the hollow elongated housing, the connector faces the second open end section of the hollow elongated housing. 
   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the plunger-moving assembly includes:
 the screw assembly being configured to be received into the passageway of the plunger assembly; and 
 wherein the inner surface, which faces the passageway of the plunger assembly, defines a compatible mating surface configured to thread engage with the screw assembly. 
   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the plunger-moving assembly includes:
 the screw assembly being configured to be received into the passageway of the plunger assembly; and 
 the screw assembly being configured to threadably couple the plunger assembly; and 
 wherein the first device is configured to be rotated along a rotation movement direction as the screw assembly, extending from the first device, is inserted into and engages the passageway of the plunger assembly, the first device moves along a linear movement direction. 
   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first device provides a connection feature configured to selectively connect with a connector of the second device in such a way that the first device and the second device rotatably engage with each other, and continued rotation of the first device urges linear movement of the plunger assembly toward a first edge portion and a second edge portion of the hollow elongated housing, thereby urging movement of the second device toward the first edge portion and the second edge portion of the hollow elongated housing.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the plunger-moving assembly includes:
 the screw assembly being configured to be received into the passageway of the plunger assembly; and 
   wherein:
 a connection feature and a connector are selectively connected with each other, with the second device being trapped against, and being in a fixed relationship with, a first edge portion and a second edge portion of the hollow elongated housing; and 
 the second device has an outer peripheral profile that matches with an inner cross-sectional profile of the hollow elongated housing in such a way that the second device cannot rotate relative to the cavity of the hollow elongated housing; and 
 the first device is rotatable while the first device remains fixed in position relative to the hollow elongated housing; and 
 the first device is rotatable so that the screw assembly, extending from the first device, in use, urges movement of the plunger assembly along an longitudinal axis extending through the hollow elongated housing.