US 11,745,176 B2
Leak resistant droppers
Benjamin Alan Ganter, Plano, TX (US)
Assigned to Bottle Barons, Plano, TX (US)
Filed by Bottle Barons, LLC, Plano, TX (US)
Filed on Jun. 21, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/352,848.
Application 17/352,848 is a continuation of application No. 16/581,722, filed on Sep. 24, 2019, granted, now 11,040,342.
Application 16/581,722 is a continuation of application No. 29/664,291, filed on Sep. 24, 2018, granted, now D905850, issued on Dec. 22, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/735,500, filed on Sep. 24, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0379577 A1, Dec. 9, 2021
Int. Cl. B01L 3/02 (2006.01); B65D 47/18 (2006.01)
CPC B01L 3/0282 (2013.01) [B01L 3/021 (2013.01); B01L 3/0241 (2013.01); B01L 3/0272 (2013.01); B65D 47/18 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0615 (2013.01); B01L 2200/087 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0406 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A dropper system comprising:
a bulb, wherein the bulb comprises:
a closed end;
an open end opposing the closed end; and
a cavity extending between the closed end and the open end of the bulb, and wherein a pipette coupling member retains at least a portion of a pipette in the cavity of the bulb, and wherein the cavity comprises a narrow portion proximate a top portion of the pipette, and wherein the narrow portion of the cavity approximately aligns with a lumen of the pipette such that fluid in the bulb of the dropper system is transmitted to the lumen of the pipette when the bulb is depressed;
a flange extending from an outer surface of a body of the bulb between the open end and the closed end of the bulb, wherein the flange comprises a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface, and wherein the flange has a diameter greater than an opening of a bottle in which a dropper is positionable;
a collar disposed proximate the open end of the bulb, wherein the collar comprises an inner surface proximate the cavity of the bulb and an outer surface, and wherein the collar comprises an opening that provides access to the cavity of the bulb, wherein the opening has a diameter greater than a diameter of the pipette to be received in the cavity, wherein the inner surface of the collar is tapered between the opening and the flange such that a frustoconical annular gap is created between an outer wall of the pipette and an inner wall of the collar, wherein the gap decreases when the dropper is inserted into the bottle.