Measuring device

Claim 1

A measuring device for dispensing liquids, preferably viscous liquids, comprising: a collapsible container made of a generally soft material for the liquid, said container including a main space and a measuring chamber being of smaller volume than and being arranged below said main space, a first passage providing communication between said main space and said measuring chamber, and a second passage extending from said measuring chamber; a resilient movable member having a first position compressing a portion of the container which includes said second passage while keeping the container substantially uninfluenced at a portion which includes said measuring chamber and said first passage, a second position compressing a portion of the container which includes said first passage with continued substantial compression of said second passage while keeping a portion of said container which includes said measuring chamber substantially uninfluenced, and a third position compressing a portion of said container which includes said measuring chamber with continued compression of the portion which includes said first passage while keeping a portion which includes said second passage substantially uninfluenced, so that liquid squirts out through said second passage while at the same time flow of liquid through said first passage back into said main space is prevented; a first part forming a frame for mounting said container, and a second part displaceable towards and away from said first part, said second part forming a hood which substantially encloses said container, said member being arranged between said two parts in such a way that when said second part is in a normal position said member is held in its first position and when said second part is displaced in a direction towards said first part said member will be sequentially moved to its second and third positions, said member consisting of a plate including a first edge section positioned adjacent said first passage and a second edge section positioned adjacent said second passage and a middle portion between said edge portions and positioned adjacent said measuring chamber, said plate being carried by carrying means on one of said parts so as to be pivotable about said middle portion; first, second, and middle support surfaces, respectively, opposite said first edge section, second edge section, and said middle portion of said member, said member being capable of compressing portions of the container against said support surfaces; resting means for said member on the other part, said member being positioned to rest on said resting means between said middle portion and said second edge section; said member being movable to said first position to compress a portion of the container including said second passage against said second support surface, said second position under the influence of a movement of said second part to compress a portion of the container including said first passage against the first support surface, and said third position after a further movement of said second part to rest on said resting means and to be pivoted by pressure on said middle portion of said carrying means resulting in a swing out of said second edge portion from said second support surface thereby opening said second passage and a compression of said measuring chamber by said middle portion of said member against said middle support surface when said plate bends towards said middle support surface under the pressure from said carrying means while resting on its first edge section and on said resting means.