CA1059083A - Fluid dispenser method and apparatus - Google Patents
Fluid dispenser method and apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA1059083A CA1059083A CA287,341A CA287341A CA1059083A CA 1059083 A CA1059083 A CA 1059083A CA 287341 A CA287341 A CA 287341A CA 1059083 A CA1059083 A CA 1059083A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- trigger
- housing
- spiral
- dispenser
- peg
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 106
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 12
- 230000009975 flexible effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 52
- 230000013011 mating Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 12
- 238000013022 venting Methods 0.000 claims description 14
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 12
- 230000006854 communication Effects 0.000 claims description 12
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000007373 indentation Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000002401 inhibitory effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000007480 spreading Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000003892 spreading Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 239000007921 spray Substances 0.000 description 7
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000011343 solid material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 2
- KUVIULQEHSCUHY-XYWKZLDCSA-N Beclometasone Chemical compound C1CC2=CC(=O)C=C[C@]2(C)[C@]2(Cl)[C@@H]1[C@@H]1C[C@H](C)[C@@](C(=O)COC(=O)CC)(OC(=O)CC)[C@@]1(C)C[C@@H]2O KUVIULQEHSCUHY-XYWKZLDCSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004479 aerosol dispenser Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000032683 aging Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005489 elastic deformation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004880 explosion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005304 joining Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000670 limiting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000014759 maintenance of location Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000036961 partial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003380 propellant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000002829 reductive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 101150008563 spir gene Proteins 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B1/00—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means
- B05B1/12—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means capable of producing different kinds of discharge, e.g. either jet or spray
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D29/00—Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor
- B01D29/44—Edge filtering elements, i.e. using contiguous impervious surfaces
- B01D29/46—Edge filtering elements, i.e. using contiguous impervious surfaces of flat, stacked bodies
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D29/00—Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor
- B01D29/88—Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor having feed or discharge devices
- B01D29/92—Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor having feed or discharge devices for discharging filtrate
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D29/00—Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor
- B01D29/96—Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D27/00; Filtering elements therefor in which the filtering elements are moved between filtering operations; Particular measures for removing or replacing the filtering elements; Transport systems for filters
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B1/00—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means
- B05B1/34—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to influence the nature of flow of the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to produce swirl
- B05B1/3405—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to influence the nature of flow of the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to produce swirl to produce swirl
- B05B1/341—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to influence the nature of flow of the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to produce swirl to produce swirl before discharging the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. in a swirl chamber upstream the spray outlet
- B05B1/3421—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to influence the nature of flow of the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to produce swirl to produce swirl before discharging the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. in a swirl chamber upstream the spray outlet with channels emerging substantially tangentially in the swirl chamber
- B05B1/3431—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to influence the nature of flow of the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to produce swirl to produce swirl before discharging the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. in a swirl chamber upstream the spray outlet with channels emerging substantially tangentially in the swirl chamber the channels being formed at the interface of cooperating elements, e.g. by means of grooves
- B05B1/3436—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to influence the nature of flow of the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to produce swirl to produce swirl before discharging the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. in a swirl chamber upstream the spray outlet with channels emerging substantially tangentially in the swirl chamber the channels being formed at the interface of cooperating elements, e.g. by means of grooves the interface being a plane perpendicular to the outlet axis
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B1/00—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means
- B05B1/34—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to influence the nature of flow of the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to produce swirl
- B05B1/3405—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to influence the nature of flow of the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to produce swirl to produce swirl
- B05B1/341—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to influence the nature of flow of the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to produce swirl to produce swirl before discharging the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. in a swirl chamber upstream the spray outlet
- B05B1/3421—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to influence the nature of flow of the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to produce swirl to produce swirl before discharging the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. in a swirl chamber upstream the spray outlet with channels emerging substantially tangentially in the swirl chamber
- B05B1/3431—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to influence the nature of flow of the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to produce swirl to produce swirl before discharging the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. in a swirl chamber upstream the spray outlet with channels emerging substantially tangentially in the swirl chamber the channels being formed at the interface of cooperating elements, e.g. by means of grooves
- B05B1/3452—Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means designed to influence the nature of flow of the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to produce swirl to produce swirl before discharging the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. in a swirl chamber upstream the spray outlet with channels emerging substantially tangentially in the swirl chamber the channels being formed at the interface of cooperating elements, e.g. by means of grooves the cooperating elements being movable, e.g. adjustable relative to one another
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B11/00—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use
- B05B11/0005—Components or details
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B11/00—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use
- B05B11/0005—Components or details
- B05B11/0062—Outlet valves actuated by the pressure of the fluid to be sprayed
- B05B11/0064—Lift valves
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B11/00—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use
- B05B11/01—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use characterised by the means producing the flow
- B05B11/10—Pump arrangements for transferring the contents from the container to a pump chamber by a sucking effect and forcing the contents out through the dispensing nozzle
- B05B11/1001—Piston pumps
- B05B11/1009—Piston pumps actuated by a lever
- B05B11/1011—Piston pumps actuated by a lever without substantial movement of the nozzle in the direction of the pressure stroke
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B11/00—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use
- B05B11/01—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use characterised by the means producing the flow
- B05B11/10—Pump arrangements for transferring the contents from the container to a pump chamber by a sucking effect and forcing the contents out through the dispensing nozzle
- B05B11/1042—Components or details
- B05B11/1066—Pump inlet valves
- B05B11/1067—Pump inlet valves actuated by pressure
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B11/00—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use
- B05B11/01—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use characterised by the means producing the flow
- B05B11/10—Pump arrangements for transferring the contents from the container to a pump chamber by a sucking effect and forcing the contents out through the dispensing nozzle
- B05B11/1042—Components or details
- B05B11/1066—Pump inlet valves
- B05B11/1067—Pump inlet valves actuated by pressure
- B05B11/1069—Pump inlet valves actuated by pressure the valve being made of a resiliently deformable material or being urged in a closed position by a spring
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B11/00—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use
- B05B11/01—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use characterised by the means producing the flow
- B05B11/10—Pump arrangements for transferring the contents from the container to a pump chamber by a sucking effect and forcing the contents out through the dispensing nozzle
- B05B11/1095—Pump arrangements for transferring the contents from the container to a pump chamber by a sucking effect and forcing the contents out through the dispensing nozzle with movable suction side
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B15/00—Details of spraying plant or spraying apparatus not otherwise provided for; Accessories
- B05B15/30—Dip tubes
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B15/00—Details of spraying plant or spraying apparatus not otherwise provided for; Accessories
- B05B15/40—Filters located upstream of the spraying outlets
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
- Reciprocating Pumps (AREA)
- Coating Apparatus (AREA)
- Closures For Containers (AREA)
- Filtration Of Liquid (AREA)
Abstract
Abstract of the Disclosure A fluid pump dispenser includes a dispenser trigger which may be located in pivotable engagement with the dispenser housing and pump piston after shipment. The initial actuation of the trigger moves the pump piston and a container conduit, engaged thereto, to open a container vent shipping seal pro-vided by mating surfaces on the conduit and the container cap.
Fluid carried from the container by the conduit enters the pump chamber through a central orifice in the piston. A
flexible member located on the piston functions as an inlet check valve for the conduit and as a piston ring. The fluid dispenser also includes a nozzle structure having a flexible member which functions as an outlet check valve and O-ring seal, and which pooperates with a threaded nozzle cap to vary the discharge pattern of the dispenser responsive to the twist-ing adjustment of the cap. A one-piece molded fluid filter for the dip tube of the dispenser includes two circular plate portions, at least one having radially extending ribs which define a plurality of fluid passages between the plates.
Fluid carried from the container by the conduit enters the pump chamber through a central orifice in the piston. A
flexible member located on the piston functions as an inlet check valve for the conduit and as a piston ring. The fluid dispenser also includes a nozzle structure having a flexible member which functions as an outlet check valve and O-ring seal, and which pooperates with a threaded nozzle cap to vary the discharge pattern of the dispenser responsive to the twist-ing adjustment of the cap. A one-piece molded fluid filter for the dip tube of the dispenser includes two circular plate portions, at least one having radially extending ribs which define a plurality of fluid passages between the plates.
Description
Background of the Invention Aexosol dispensers widely used in the packaging industry present two major problems: atmospheric pollution from the propellant and disposal of the ca~ister without the risk of explosion and the accompanying hazard to personal safety. The use of hand actuated pump dispensers as a substitute for aerosol dispensers obviates these problems but is not practical in many circumstances because conventional pump dispensers are difficult to ship and expensive to construct. Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel ~luid dispenser which is inexpensively fabricated and easily shipped.
Typically, fluid dispensers are attached to fluid containers prior to shipping. In order for fluid to be with-drawn from the container, a venting passage from the atmosphere to the interior of the container must be pro~ided. However, unless the dispenser or container is provided with means for ~ sealing the venting passage, fluid often leaks from the container during shipping. One known approach to this problem is a vent seal which may be disabled by tightening a cap over the nozzle. By way of example, this approach is illustrated in the Powers U.S. Patent No. 3,780,951,dated December 25, 1973.
Another known approach to the problem is the provision of a releasable locking pin to maintain the piston in a position which blocks the vent. In this approach, the pin must be manually released before the trigger can be operated. This approach is illustrated, e.g., in the Hellenkamp U.S. Patent No. 3,840,157, dated October 8, 1974. These conventional seals and locking structures may be difficult for the consumer to operate, generally requiring the production of explanatory literature, and often entall considerable additional production expense due to the necessity of producing additional parts and of performing additional manufacturing steps in the ~.
ywl/~ 2 -1~59083 fabrication of the structure. It is accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a novel fluid dispenser with an easily and inexpensively fabricated vent shipping seal which does not require explanatory literature and which may be released by actuation of the dispenser trigger.
Because of the expense associated with the assembly, it is desirable that the number of separately molded parts of a fluid dispenser be minimized. It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a novel pump dispenser with an integral container conduit and vent shipping seal, an integral piston and inlet check valve seat, and/or an integral piston seal and inlet check valve member.
The operation of the trigger and its retention in the dispenser housing is often a problem and it is yet another object of the present invention to provide a novel pump dispenser in which the length of the piston stroke is utilized to retain - the trigger operably connected to the housing. In the preferred embodiment, this is accomplished by directly connecti~g the piston with an actuating arm of the dispenser trigger to thereby limit the arc through which the trigger may pivot.
Fluid pump dispen~ers are genexally provided wlth a nozzle structure including a check valve for blocking communication between the pump chamber and a nozzle aperture.
A nozzle structure of this type is illustrated, e.g., in the Vanier U.S. Patent No. 3,685,739, dated August 22, 1972. It is desirable that the nozzle structure be adjustable to provide widely varying discharge patterns and for disabling the outlet check valve. A seal must also be provided to prevent fluid leakage at the sliding interface of the nozzle structure adjustment means. It is, of course, also desirable that the number of separately molded parts of the fluid dispenser be minimized. Accordingly, it is an object of the present ywl/- , - 3 -` `' ~059083 invention to provide a novel fluid dispenser having an adjustable nozzle for varying the discharge pattexn of the dispenser, comprising only two separately molded parts attached to the dispenser housing.
It is desirable that a fluid dispenser have a large, protruding, and easily grasped trigger defining a long lever arm for actuating the dispenser pump. Dispensers have such easily grasped triggers are often difficult to economically and safely package for shipping. It is an object of the pres~nt invention to obviate such shipping problems by providing a novel dispenser having a large, easily operated trigger which may be conveniently and easily attached to the dispenser housing after delivery of the dispenser.
The triggers of many conventional fluid dispensers are attached to the dispenser housing with rivets or pins. This method generally requires the fabricating of additional parts ~ and the performing of additional production steps to insert the pin or rivet. An example of this type of trigger connection is illustrated in the Hellenkamp U.S. Patent No. 3,840,157.
In another known method of assembly, the trigger is attached to the dispenser housing by outwardly ~lexing the lateral walls of the dispenser housing to permit the engagement of mating surfaces on the trigger and housing. This method of assembly has a disadvantage in that flexure may damage the relatively fragile dispenser mechanism or the housing by exceeding the limit of elastic deformation. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to a~oid the expense of rivet attachment and the danger of housing damage by providing a novel, rivetless fluid dispenser trigger which may be pivotably attached in the dispenser housing without lateral flexing of the housing.
Typically, fluid is discharged from a spray dispenser ywl/~r~f~ 4 lOS9083 by reducing the volume of a pump chamber, thereby opening a pressure responsive outlet check valve. In conventional spray dispensers the volume of the pump chamber may be varied by operating a piston, as illustrated in the Hellenkamp U.S. Patent No. 3,840,157, or the volume of the pump chamber may be varied by flexing a wall of a flexible tubular member, having an outlet valve in~egral therewith, as illustrated in the Micallef U.S.
Patent No. 3,749,290. Both dispensers are configured in the approximate chape of a pistol, the nozzle being located at the end of a forwardly protruding portion of the housing and the pump chamber being located within the portion of the housing grasped by the hand While the Micallef dispenser has several inherent advantages, the dispenser has a disadvantage in that the protruding nozzle cap is provided separate and displaced from the outlet valve of the dispenser, which is formed by interengaging surfaces of the flexible tubular member, - thus restricting the accessibility of the outlet valve for adjustment to modify the discharge pattern of the dispenser.
Accordingly, it is a further object of the present invention to provide a spray dispenser having a pump chamber defined by a flexible tubular member, and a nozzle structure displaced from the pump chamber, having an outlet check valve which cooperates wlth an adjustable nozzle cap to vary the discharge pattern of the dispenser.
ywl/~ 7 1059(1183 SUMMARY OF THE_INVENTION
In its broadest form the present invention provides in a fluid dispenser having a housing with lateral walls and a trigger operated piston, the trigger depending from between the lateral walls of the housing, a method for pivotably engaging the trigger to the housing without piercing the lateral walls of the housing or laterally spreading the walls of the housing comprising the steps of providing a spiral-shaped member on one of the trigger and housing; providing a laterally extending peg on the other of the trigger and housing; positioning the peg within the spiral of the spiral-shaped member; and inhibiting rela~ive motion of the peg away from the center of the shortest radius of the spiral-shaped member to thereby prevent the member from disengaging the peg.
The above method results in an apparatus for dispensing fluids, comprising a housing; a trigger; a pump actuated by motion of the tri8ger; and means for pivotably engaging the trigger to the housing, the means comprising a spiral-shaped member on one of the housing and the trigger, and a peg means on ZO the other of the houslng and the trigger for pivotably engaging the spiral-shaped member, whereby the dispenser may be assembled by moving the peg and the spiral-shaped member relative to one another to locate the peg in the interior space of the spiral-shaped member.
The present invention may also be defined as an apparatus for dispensing fluids from a container comprising a housing; a trigger; means for pivotably mounting the trigger to the housing including a member configured in an open spiral on one of the housing and the trigger and a peg on the other one of the housing and the trigger configured for disposition within the interior space defined by the spiral shaped member; a pump chamber having a piston movable through a limited stroke responsive to the trigger for varying the volume of the pump chamber9 whereby the - 5a -dap/~
the limits of the piston stroke limit the pivoting movement of the trigger; an outlet valve having a valve member for blocking communication with the chamber responsive to the pressure in the chamber; a nozzle cap for adjustably contacting the outlet valve member to vary the discharge pattern of the fluid dispensed; inlet conduit means attached to the piston and communicating with the container, providing a venting passage for the container selec-tively blocked by mating surfaces on the conduit means and a container responsive to movement of the piston; a flexible member slidably contacting the wall of the pump chamber for blocking communication between the pump chamber and the inlet conduit means responsive to the pressure in the chamber; and a filter for the inlet conduit, including two plate portions located adjacent one another at least one of which having ribs in a surface thereof which define a plurality of fluid passages between the plates.
dap/~ ~
.. ~,, ~0591D83 THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a pictorial view of a fluid dispenser embodiment of the present inventio~ having a fluid filter, attached to a fluid container~
Figure 2 is a sectional view in elevation taken through the major axis of one embodiment of the dispenser of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a pictorial view of the piston inlet conduit of the embodiment of Figure 1 illustrating the container vent passages;
.flO Figure 4 is a pictorial view in partial section of an embodiment of the present invention illustratins a trigger assembly method;
Figure 5 is a section taken along lines 4-4 of Figure 2;
Figure 6 is a section taken along lines 5-5 of Figure 5;
Figures 7-9 are sections of the nozzle structure of the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figure 2 showiny the adjustment of the structure to vary the nozzle dis-charge pattern;
Figure 10 is a section taken along lines 9-9 of Figure 2;
Figure 11 is a section taken along lines 10-10 of Figure 10;
Figure 12 is a section taken along lines 11-11 of Figure l;
Figure 13 is a sectional view of an elevation of an alternate fluid dispenser embodiment with a flexible pumping chamber;
Figure 14 is a pictorial view o an inlet conduit filter embodiment of the present invention.
Figur~ 15 is a pictorial view showing the filter embodi-ment of Figure 14 attached to an inlet dip tube of a dispenser;
Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view of a one-piece molded member for providing a fluid filter accor~ing to an embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 17 is a plan view of the molded member of Figure 3.
105~33 Detailed Description To facilitate an understanding of the methods and structures of the present invention, reference may be had to the following: ._ TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. Fluid Dispenser Structure - ' B. Method of Assembling and Venting C. Operation of the Fluid Supply and Discharge Assistant D. Operation of the Nozzle Structure E. Nozzle Structure and Flexible Pump . Chamber ` F. One-piece Fluid Filter A. Fluid Dispenser Structure Referring first to Figure 1, a fluid dispenser 10 is shown threadably attached to a fluid container 11. By actuating trigger 12, fluid from the reservoir 13 may be drawn through a one-piece molded filter 14 into the fluid dispenser body 15 via dip tube 16. The fluid may then be ejected through an adjustable nozzle 17. The fluid dispenser body 15 .is described in greater detail in connection with Figure 2.
With reference to Figure 2, a fluid dispenser includes a housing 22 adapted for mounting on the threaded orifice of a fluid container (not shown). A pump chamber 24 is disposed within the housing 22. A fluid supply and discharge assistant 26 includes a piston 27 and a conduit 28 which provides fluid to the pump chamber 24 from the container. The piston conduit 28 may be provided with an inlet conduit 30 adapted to extend into the container to draw fluid into the pump chamber 24 via the piston conduit 28 and an inlet check valve 32. The piston 27 may be actuated against the bias of a coil spring 40 by squeezing trigger 36 thereby reducing the enclosed volume 38 of the pump chamber 24.
A fle~ible mernber 42 in contact with the piston 27 functions as the movable portion of the inlet check valve 32 and as a piston ring. Alternatively, the flexible member may be formed integral with the piston 27. The flexible member 42 may include a central portion 44 adapted to contact a valve seat 46 integral with the piston to block a piston conduit orifice 47 and thereby block communication between the container and the pump chamber in response to the pressure within the pump chamber. The central portion 44 of the flexible mer~er 42 may be frustoconical in shape to facilitate sealing engagement with the valve seat 46. In an alternate ernbodiment, the piston conduit may be blocked in response to pressure within the pump charnber by a ball check valve (not shown).
The flexible member may further comprise an annularportion 48 contacting the piston and the coil spring 40. A plurality o~ radially oriented, arch-shaped bands 50 of a thinner cross section than the central portion may be used to connect the central portion to the annular portion and permit relative movement there between. A radial edge 52 of the flexible member 42 may form a fluid tight seal between the piston 27 and the inner wall of the pump chamber 24.
As shown in the section illustrated in Figure 5, the various portions of the flexible member described above have concentric relationships. The central portion 260 of the flexible member is attached to the piston engaging annular portion 262 of the fle~ible rnernber by a plurality of the arch-shaped bands 264. Apertures 266 in the flexible member ]ie between the bands 264 and a peripheral edge 268 o~ the fle~ible member is adapted to contact the inner wall of the pump chamber.
Reference may also be had to Figure 6, where the feat~res of the-flexible mer~er of Fic3ure 5 are illustrated.
_g_ 1059~83 Referring once more to the dispenser illustrated in Figure 1 and more particularly to the vent shipping seal, the piston conduit 28 may pass through an aperture in the container closure 70. The outer wall 72 of the conduit 28 and the inner wall 74 of the aperture of the container closure may define a container venting passage formed by axial indentations in eitherthe conduit wall 72 or the wall of the closure 74. A
venting passage may also be provided by a loose fit between the piston conduit and the container closure aperture. Mating surface 76 of the piston conduit and mating surfac~e 78 of the container.closure may be provided to block the venting passages when the mating surfaces are engaged.
A preferred embodiment of the vent shipping seal is illustrated with reference to Figure 3. In Figure 3, a piston conduit or inlet conduit of a spray dispenser 80 contains indentations or grooves 82 in the outer wall of.the conduit 80 to define, together with the surface of the inner wall of the container closure, venting passages for the container. A
raised ring 84 axially displaced from the upper ends 86 of the indentations 82 may be operative to block the venting passages when engaged with the surface of a groove in the inner wall of the aperture of the container closure. The mating surface 84 depicted in Figure 3 as a raised ring may alternatively be configured as a groove so long as the desired seal is obtained.
With continued reference to Figure 2, the triqger 36 of the dispenser has a sprial-shaped member 92 which pivots on an inwardly projecting peg 94 on opposite sides of the dispenser housing. It may be noted that single or plural spiral-shaped memb~îs may be fornled in either the housing or the trigger znd 1059C~83 single or plural pegs may be formed in the other of the housing and trigger.
The housing of the dispenser may include a separate housing head portion 96. The housing head portion 96 may be formed with a do~nwardly depending ear 98 for engaging the spiràl-shaped member 92. A curved surface 100 of the ear 98 may s~idably engage a portion 102 of the spiral-shaped member to prevent the spiral-shaped member from disengaging the pegs 94.
An arm 95 of the trigger is adapted to mate with the piston and piston conduit thereby limiting the arc through which the trigger may pivob to the length of the piston stroke.
Fluid in the pump chamber 38 may be discharged from the dis-penser through an outlet conduit 104 and a nozzle structure 106. The nozzle structure 106 may include a valve seat 108 communicating with the outlet conduit 104 and a nozzle cap 110 having an aperture 1002 through which the fluid is discharged.
An outlet check valve 114 includes flexible member 116 and the valve seat 108. A movable central portion 118 of the flexible member 116 may contact that valve seat 108 to block communication between the aperture 112 and the pump chamber 38 responsive to pressure within the pump chamber 38.
The central portion 118 of the flexible member may be frustoconical in shape withthe central portion 118 surrounded by an annular portion 120 having apertures 121 to provide a fluid flow path when the central ~ortion is not seated on the valve seat. An integral ~-ring 122 is provided by the peripheral portion of the flexihle member 114 to form ~ seal between the nozzle cap 110 and the housing 124 surrounding 3~ the outlet conduit.
1059~83 ~he housing 124 and the nozzlc cap llO may be ~rovided With thrcads 126. ~otation of the nozzle cap llO with respect to the housing '24 may be operative to adjust the pressural contact between the inner central surface 128 of the nozzle cap and the ~entral portion cf the flexible membcr 118~ Either the central portion of the flexible member 114 or t~e inner central portio~ of the nozzle c~p 128 may be ~ormed ~7ith bosses 129 for con'acting the othcr of the ~an or fleY~i~le r.r.ember. The bosses mav be ope~a-tiv~ to de~lect the flow of fluid adjacent the bosses. Adjustment of the nozzle cap may vary t~le cor.tact between the central portion o~ the fle~ible member and the bosses when thP outlet check valve is opcn, ther~by varying the discharge pattern Gf the dispenser.
As shown 7 n Figure 10, the flexible mer~er 116 of ~15 Figure 2 has a eentral, f:rustoconical portion 340 surrounded by an apertured annular reyion 342. The apertures 344 provide fluid flow passa~es between the outlet conduit and the ap*rture in the nozzle cap when the check valve is Opeh . The ~-ring portion (not shown) of the fl~xible mer~er is attached to the
Typically, fluid dispensers are attached to fluid containers prior to shipping. In order for fluid to be with-drawn from the container, a venting passage from the atmosphere to the interior of the container must be pro~ided. However, unless the dispenser or container is provided with means for ~ sealing the venting passage, fluid often leaks from the container during shipping. One known approach to this problem is a vent seal which may be disabled by tightening a cap over the nozzle. By way of example, this approach is illustrated in the Powers U.S. Patent No. 3,780,951,dated December 25, 1973.
Another known approach to the problem is the provision of a releasable locking pin to maintain the piston in a position which blocks the vent. In this approach, the pin must be manually released before the trigger can be operated. This approach is illustrated, e.g., in the Hellenkamp U.S. Patent No. 3,840,157, dated October 8, 1974. These conventional seals and locking structures may be difficult for the consumer to operate, generally requiring the production of explanatory literature, and often entall considerable additional production expense due to the necessity of producing additional parts and of performing additional manufacturing steps in the ~.
ywl/~ 2 -1~59083 fabrication of the structure. It is accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a novel fluid dispenser with an easily and inexpensively fabricated vent shipping seal which does not require explanatory literature and which may be released by actuation of the dispenser trigger.
Because of the expense associated with the assembly, it is desirable that the number of separately molded parts of a fluid dispenser be minimized. It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a novel pump dispenser with an integral container conduit and vent shipping seal, an integral piston and inlet check valve seat, and/or an integral piston seal and inlet check valve member.
The operation of the trigger and its retention in the dispenser housing is often a problem and it is yet another object of the present invention to provide a novel pump dispenser in which the length of the piston stroke is utilized to retain - the trigger operably connected to the housing. In the preferred embodiment, this is accomplished by directly connecti~g the piston with an actuating arm of the dispenser trigger to thereby limit the arc through which the trigger may pivot.
Fluid pump dispen~ers are genexally provided wlth a nozzle structure including a check valve for blocking communication between the pump chamber and a nozzle aperture.
A nozzle structure of this type is illustrated, e.g., in the Vanier U.S. Patent No. 3,685,739, dated August 22, 1972. It is desirable that the nozzle structure be adjustable to provide widely varying discharge patterns and for disabling the outlet check valve. A seal must also be provided to prevent fluid leakage at the sliding interface of the nozzle structure adjustment means. It is, of course, also desirable that the number of separately molded parts of the fluid dispenser be minimized. Accordingly, it is an object of the present ywl/- , - 3 -` `' ~059083 invention to provide a novel fluid dispenser having an adjustable nozzle for varying the discharge pattexn of the dispenser, comprising only two separately molded parts attached to the dispenser housing.
It is desirable that a fluid dispenser have a large, protruding, and easily grasped trigger defining a long lever arm for actuating the dispenser pump. Dispensers have such easily grasped triggers are often difficult to economically and safely package for shipping. It is an object of the pres~nt invention to obviate such shipping problems by providing a novel dispenser having a large, easily operated trigger which may be conveniently and easily attached to the dispenser housing after delivery of the dispenser.
The triggers of many conventional fluid dispensers are attached to the dispenser housing with rivets or pins. This method generally requires the fabricating of additional parts ~ and the performing of additional production steps to insert the pin or rivet. An example of this type of trigger connection is illustrated in the Hellenkamp U.S. Patent No. 3,840,157.
In another known method of assembly, the trigger is attached to the dispenser housing by outwardly ~lexing the lateral walls of the dispenser housing to permit the engagement of mating surfaces on the trigger and housing. This method of assembly has a disadvantage in that flexure may damage the relatively fragile dispenser mechanism or the housing by exceeding the limit of elastic deformation. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to a~oid the expense of rivet attachment and the danger of housing damage by providing a novel, rivetless fluid dispenser trigger which may be pivotably attached in the dispenser housing without lateral flexing of the housing.
Typically, fluid is discharged from a spray dispenser ywl/~r~f~ 4 lOS9083 by reducing the volume of a pump chamber, thereby opening a pressure responsive outlet check valve. In conventional spray dispensers the volume of the pump chamber may be varied by operating a piston, as illustrated in the Hellenkamp U.S. Patent No. 3,840,157, or the volume of the pump chamber may be varied by flexing a wall of a flexible tubular member, having an outlet valve in~egral therewith, as illustrated in the Micallef U.S.
Patent No. 3,749,290. Both dispensers are configured in the approximate chape of a pistol, the nozzle being located at the end of a forwardly protruding portion of the housing and the pump chamber being located within the portion of the housing grasped by the hand While the Micallef dispenser has several inherent advantages, the dispenser has a disadvantage in that the protruding nozzle cap is provided separate and displaced from the outlet valve of the dispenser, which is formed by interengaging surfaces of the flexible tubular member, - thus restricting the accessibility of the outlet valve for adjustment to modify the discharge pattern of the dispenser.
Accordingly, it is a further object of the present invention to provide a spray dispenser having a pump chamber defined by a flexible tubular member, and a nozzle structure displaced from the pump chamber, having an outlet check valve which cooperates wlth an adjustable nozzle cap to vary the discharge pattern of the dispenser.
ywl/~ 7 1059(1183 SUMMARY OF THE_INVENTION
In its broadest form the present invention provides in a fluid dispenser having a housing with lateral walls and a trigger operated piston, the trigger depending from between the lateral walls of the housing, a method for pivotably engaging the trigger to the housing without piercing the lateral walls of the housing or laterally spreading the walls of the housing comprising the steps of providing a spiral-shaped member on one of the trigger and housing; providing a laterally extending peg on the other of the trigger and housing; positioning the peg within the spiral of the spiral-shaped member; and inhibiting rela~ive motion of the peg away from the center of the shortest radius of the spiral-shaped member to thereby prevent the member from disengaging the peg.
The above method results in an apparatus for dispensing fluids, comprising a housing; a trigger; a pump actuated by motion of the tri8ger; and means for pivotably engaging the trigger to the housing, the means comprising a spiral-shaped member on one of the housing and the trigger, and a peg means on ZO the other of the houslng and the trigger for pivotably engaging the spiral-shaped member, whereby the dispenser may be assembled by moving the peg and the spiral-shaped member relative to one another to locate the peg in the interior space of the spiral-shaped member.
The present invention may also be defined as an apparatus for dispensing fluids from a container comprising a housing; a trigger; means for pivotably mounting the trigger to the housing including a member configured in an open spiral on one of the housing and the trigger and a peg on the other one of the housing and the trigger configured for disposition within the interior space defined by the spiral shaped member; a pump chamber having a piston movable through a limited stroke responsive to the trigger for varying the volume of the pump chamber9 whereby the - 5a -dap/~
the limits of the piston stroke limit the pivoting movement of the trigger; an outlet valve having a valve member for blocking communication with the chamber responsive to the pressure in the chamber; a nozzle cap for adjustably contacting the outlet valve member to vary the discharge pattern of the fluid dispensed; inlet conduit means attached to the piston and communicating with the container, providing a venting passage for the container selec-tively blocked by mating surfaces on the conduit means and a container responsive to movement of the piston; a flexible member slidably contacting the wall of the pump chamber for blocking communication between the pump chamber and the inlet conduit means responsive to the pressure in the chamber; and a filter for the inlet conduit, including two plate portions located adjacent one another at least one of which having ribs in a surface thereof which define a plurality of fluid passages between the plates.
dap/~ ~
.. ~,, ~0591D83 THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a pictorial view of a fluid dispenser embodiment of the present inventio~ having a fluid filter, attached to a fluid container~
Figure 2 is a sectional view in elevation taken through the major axis of one embodiment of the dispenser of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a pictorial view of the piston inlet conduit of the embodiment of Figure 1 illustrating the container vent passages;
.flO Figure 4 is a pictorial view in partial section of an embodiment of the present invention illustratins a trigger assembly method;
Figure 5 is a section taken along lines 4-4 of Figure 2;
Figure 6 is a section taken along lines 5-5 of Figure 5;
Figures 7-9 are sections of the nozzle structure of the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figure 2 showiny the adjustment of the structure to vary the nozzle dis-charge pattern;
Figure 10 is a section taken along lines 9-9 of Figure 2;
Figure 11 is a section taken along lines 10-10 of Figure 10;
Figure 12 is a section taken along lines 11-11 of Figure l;
Figure 13 is a sectional view of an elevation of an alternate fluid dispenser embodiment with a flexible pumping chamber;
Figure 14 is a pictorial view o an inlet conduit filter embodiment of the present invention.
Figur~ 15 is a pictorial view showing the filter embodi-ment of Figure 14 attached to an inlet dip tube of a dispenser;
Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view of a one-piece molded member for providing a fluid filter accor~ing to an embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 17 is a plan view of the molded member of Figure 3.
105~33 Detailed Description To facilitate an understanding of the methods and structures of the present invention, reference may be had to the following: ._ TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. Fluid Dispenser Structure - ' B. Method of Assembling and Venting C. Operation of the Fluid Supply and Discharge Assistant D. Operation of the Nozzle Structure E. Nozzle Structure and Flexible Pump . Chamber ` F. One-piece Fluid Filter A. Fluid Dispenser Structure Referring first to Figure 1, a fluid dispenser 10 is shown threadably attached to a fluid container 11. By actuating trigger 12, fluid from the reservoir 13 may be drawn through a one-piece molded filter 14 into the fluid dispenser body 15 via dip tube 16. The fluid may then be ejected through an adjustable nozzle 17. The fluid dispenser body 15 .is described in greater detail in connection with Figure 2.
With reference to Figure 2, a fluid dispenser includes a housing 22 adapted for mounting on the threaded orifice of a fluid container (not shown). A pump chamber 24 is disposed within the housing 22. A fluid supply and discharge assistant 26 includes a piston 27 and a conduit 28 which provides fluid to the pump chamber 24 from the container. The piston conduit 28 may be provided with an inlet conduit 30 adapted to extend into the container to draw fluid into the pump chamber 24 via the piston conduit 28 and an inlet check valve 32. The piston 27 may be actuated against the bias of a coil spring 40 by squeezing trigger 36 thereby reducing the enclosed volume 38 of the pump chamber 24.
A fle~ible mernber 42 in contact with the piston 27 functions as the movable portion of the inlet check valve 32 and as a piston ring. Alternatively, the flexible member may be formed integral with the piston 27. The flexible member 42 may include a central portion 44 adapted to contact a valve seat 46 integral with the piston to block a piston conduit orifice 47 and thereby block communication between the container and the pump chamber in response to the pressure within the pump chamber. The central portion 44 of the flexible mer~er 42 may be frustoconical in shape to facilitate sealing engagement with the valve seat 46. In an alternate ernbodiment, the piston conduit may be blocked in response to pressure within the pump charnber by a ball check valve (not shown).
The flexible member may further comprise an annularportion 48 contacting the piston and the coil spring 40. A plurality o~ radially oriented, arch-shaped bands 50 of a thinner cross section than the central portion may be used to connect the central portion to the annular portion and permit relative movement there between. A radial edge 52 of the flexible member 42 may form a fluid tight seal between the piston 27 and the inner wall of the pump chamber 24.
As shown in the section illustrated in Figure 5, the various portions of the flexible member described above have concentric relationships. The central portion 260 of the flexible member is attached to the piston engaging annular portion 262 of the fle~ible rnernber by a plurality of the arch-shaped bands 264. Apertures 266 in the flexible member ]ie between the bands 264 and a peripheral edge 268 o~ the fle~ible member is adapted to contact the inner wall of the pump chamber.
Reference may also be had to Figure 6, where the feat~res of the-flexible mer~er of Fic3ure 5 are illustrated.
_g_ 1059~83 Referring once more to the dispenser illustrated in Figure 1 and more particularly to the vent shipping seal, the piston conduit 28 may pass through an aperture in the container closure 70. The outer wall 72 of the conduit 28 and the inner wall 74 of the aperture of the container closure may define a container venting passage formed by axial indentations in eitherthe conduit wall 72 or the wall of the closure 74. A
venting passage may also be provided by a loose fit between the piston conduit and the container closure aperture. Mating surface 76 of the piston conduit and mating surfac~e 78 of the container.closure may be provided to block the venting passages when the mating surfaces are engaged.
A preferred embodiment of the vent shipping seal is illustrated with reference to Figure 3. In Figure 3, a piston conduit or inlet conduit of a spray dispenser 80 contains indentations or grooves 82 in the outer wall of.the conduit 80 to define, together with the surface of the inner wall of the container closure, venting passages for the container. A
raised ring 84 axially displaced from the upper ends 86 of the indentations 82 may be operative to block the venting passages when engaged with the surface of a groove in the inner wall of the aperture of the container closure. The mating surface 84 depicted in Figure 3 as a raised ring may alternatively be configured as a groove so long as the desired seal is obtained.
With continued reference to Figure 2, the triqger 36 of the dispenser has a sprial-shaped member 92 which pivots on an inwardly projecting peg 94 on opposite sides of the dispenser housing. It may be noted that single or plural spiral-shaped memb~îs may be fornled in either the housing or the trigger znd 1059C~83 single or plural pegs may be formed in the other of the housing and trigger.
The housing of the dispenser may include a separate housing head portion 96. The housing head portion 96 may be formed with a do~nwardly depending ear 98 for engaging the spiràl-shaped member 92. A curved surface 100 of the ear 98 may s~idably engage a portion 102 of the spiral-shaped member to prevent the spiral-shaped member from disengaging the pegs 94.
An arm 95 of the trigger is adapted to mate with the piston and piston conduit thereby limiting the arc through which the trigger may pivob to the length of the piston stroke.
Fluid in the pump chamber 38 may be discharged from the dis-penser through an outlet conduit 104 and a nozzle structure 106. The nozzle structure 106 may include a valve seat 108 communicating with the outlet conduit 104 and a nozzle cap 110 having an aperture 1002 through which the fluid is discharged.
An outlet check valve 114 includes flexible member 116 and the valve seat 108. A movable central portion 118 of the flexible member 116 may contact that valve seat 108 to block communication between the aperture 112 and the pump chamber 38 responsive to pressure within the pump chamber 38.
The central portion 118 of the flexible member may be frustoconical in shape withthe central portion 118 surrounded by an annular portion 120 having apertures 121 to provide a fluid flow path when the central ~ortion is not seated on the valve seat. An integral ~-ring 122 is provided by the peripheral portion of the flexihle member 114 to form ~ seal between the nozzle cap 110 and the housing 124 surrounding 3~ the outlet conduit.
1059~83 ~he housing 124 and the nozzlc cap llO may be ~rovided With thrcads 126. ~otation of the nozzle cap llO with respect to the housing '24 may be operative to adjust the pressural contact between the inner central surface 128 of the nozzle cap and the ~entral portion cf the flexible membcr 118~ Either the central portion of the flexible member 114 or t~e inner central portio~ of the nozzle c~p 128 may be ~ormed ~7ith bosses 129 for con'acting the othcr of the ~an or fleY~i~le r.r.ember. The bosses mav be ope~a-tiv~ to de~lect the flow of fluid adjacent the bosses. Adjustment of the nozzle cap may vary t~le cor.tact between the central portion o~ the fle~ible member and the bosses when thP outlet check valve is opcn, ther~by varying the discharge pattern Gf the dispenser.
As shown 7 n Figure 10, the flexible mer~er 116 of ~15 Figure 2 has a eentral, f:rustoconical portion 340 surrounded by an apertured annular reyion 342. The apertures 344 provide fluid flow passa~es between the outlet conduit and the ap*rture in the nozzle cap when the check valve is Opeh . The ~-ring portion (not shown) of the fl~xible mer~er is attached to the
2~ peripheral edge 346 of the apertured annular portion 342 o~
the flexible memher.
As shown more clearly in Figure ll, the frustoconical portion 350 of the flexible mer~er is connected to the integral O-ring 352 by the apertured annular portion 354. ~he portion 354 may be thinner in cxoss sectivn than the central portion 150 to permit relative movement of the central portion 150 with respect to the ~-ring 152. ~pertures 356 in the annular portion 354 may pxovide fluid flow passages through the rnem~er.
Figure 12 is a cross sectional view taken alon~ lines 11-11 of Figure 2. A~ showr in Figure ~2, the nozzle cap 360 includes an aperture 362 formed in the central circular well 364 of the nozzle cap. Bosses 366 may he formed on the central inner surface of the nozzle cap and, the bosses may be of dif-Eerent heights. In one embodiment oftlle invention, adjacent bosses may be of alternate heights, e.g., boss 380 of Figur~ 12 may be of one height while boss 382 is of ~ diferent height.
B. Dispenser Assembly and Venting The assembl~ and venting of the fluid dispenser of Figure 2 may be understood more readily by reerence to Eigure 4 where a fluid dispensor 200 i~ i~lustrated a3 inclllding a trigger 202 pivotably engaging the hous-ng 204. This engagement may be accomp]ished by interengaging the ~pir21 member 206 on the trigger witn a peg 208 on the housing so that the center of the peg is located in the interior space defined by the spiral betweell line 207 and the tight'y cur~-ed portion of the spiral 20~. Advantageously, the peg may be located at the center 210 of the shortest radius of the spir~l. At the same time an arm 212 of the trigger may be mated with the discharge assistant 214 (shown in phanton). The head portio~ 216 of the housing 204 may then be positioned so th~t the curved surface 21~ o~ the dowr:wardl~ depending ear ~20 of 'he housing head may slidably contact a portion of the spiral-shapedlllem~er206 to p~event the spiral-shaped member from disen~aging the peg 2C8.
Once the trigger 202 is pivotably mounted to the housing, the container (not shown) may be vented by squeezing the trigger toward the central portion of the housing 204 to cause upward motion of the discharge assistant 214. This upward : motion may cause the radially outward flexing of mating surface 222 from the mating surface 224 thereby causing the surfaces to disengage and move axially with respect to one another to open venting passages 226. This permits air to enter the container to displace fluid removed by the pumping action of the dispenser.
C. Fluid Supply and Discharge Assistant Op-eration The Operation of the pumping mechanism of the fluid dispenser may be more easily understood with reference to Figure 2 where it can be seen that the initial squeezing of the trigger 36 toward the central portion of the dispenser operates to disengage the vent seal as described above and to reduce - the enclosed volume of the pump chamber 38 to discharge air via the outlet conduit 104, the valve seat 108, the flexible member apertures 121 and the nozzle cap aperture 112. When the trigger 36 is xeleased, the coil spring 40 urges the piston 34 downwardly to increase the enclosed volume of the pump chamber and thus reduce the pressure therein. This reduction in pres ure in the pump chamber may cause the central portion 118 of the flexible member 116 to seat on the valve seat 108 to close the outlet check valve. This reduction in pressure in the pump chamber may likewise cause the central portion 44 of the flexible member 32 to unseat from valve seat 46 to open the inlet check valve and cause fluid to be drawn from the container into the pump chamber via the inlet conduit 30, the piston inlet conduit 28, the piston conduit orifice 47 and the apertures in the flexible member 32. Air may enter the container alon~ vent passages 72 to compensate pressuraly for the ywl/~ 14 -withdrawal of fluid from the container.
Further squeezing of the trigger 36 may be operative to drive ~he piston upwardly once more to reduce the enclosed volume of the pump chamber 38. This reduction in volume discharges fluid from the pump chamber via the outlet conduit 104, the chec~ valve 114, the apertures 121 and the nozzle cap aperture 112. This increased pressure in the pump chamber is also operative to open the inlet check valve 114 by unseating the central portion 118 of the flexible member 116 from valve seat 108. A series of fluid discharges from the dispenser may be obtained by the alternate squeezing and releasing of the trigger.
D. Nozzle Structure Operation The operation of the spray dispenser nozzle structure may be understood with reference to Figu~es 7 through 9. As shown in Figure 7, fluid may be supplied to the nozzle structure - 300 via a conduit 302. An orifice 304 of the conduit 302 forms a valve seat 303 for an outlet check valve 306, and a frusto-conical shaped central portion 308 of the flexible member 310 may be utilized to block the orifice 304 in response to pressure within the conduit 302. If the pressure in the conduit 302 is le~s than the ambient pressure about the nozzle structure, the central portion 308 of the flexible member may be seated on the valve seat 303 a~ shown in Figure 7. When the pressure in the conduit exceeds the ambient pressure the central portion 308 of the flexlble member may be unseated from the valve seat 303 as shown in Figure 8 and Figure 9 where like features of Figure 7 are identified with like numbers.
With reference to Figures 7, 8 and 9, a nozzle cap 312 may be provided for threaded engagement with the portion 314 of the dispenser defining conduit 302 and may be formed with an aperture 316 through which fluid is discharged from the ywl/~ 15 -~059083 dispenser. The nozzle cap engages an O-ring portion 318 of the flexible member to retain the periphery of the flexible member in a fixed position with respect to the valve seat 303 and to provide a fluid tight seal between the nozzle cap and the conduit defining .
ywl~ 15a -` 1059(1 83 portion 314 of the dispenser. Rotation of the nozzle cap 312 along the path defined by the threads 320 may vary the distance and/or pressural contact between the central portion of the flexi-ble member and the inner central surface 322 of the nozzle cap.
Bosses 324 may be formed in either -the inner central surface 322 of the nozzle cap or the central portion 308 of the flexibl~ mem-ber to deflect fluid flow. Alternatively, fluid directing recesses may be formed in either the inner central surface 322 of the nozzle cap or the central portion 308 of the flexible member to direct fluid flow.
As shown in Figure 8 and Figure 9, fluid pressure in the conduit 302 may unseat the central portion 308 of the flexible member from the valve seat 303 and be discharged from the aperture 316 via the orifice 304 and the apertures 326 in the flexible l15 member. When the cap is positioned with respect to the flexible member as shown in Figure 8, the discharged fluid must pass bet~een bosses 324 before it is discharged through aperture 316, and, there-fore, is s~irled. The resultant discharge pattern may be a spray dispensPd over a relatively wide area. When the nozzle cap is positioned with respect to the flexible member as shown in Figure 9, the fluid may pass from apertures 326 in the flexible member through aperture 316 in the nozzle cap without passing between the b~ses 324, and is not swirled by the bosses. The resultant dis-~harge pattern may, therefore, be in the form of a stream.
Where bosses of varying heights are provided the discharge pattern of the sprayer may be varied by selectively adjusting the nozzle cap to selectively cause contact between the flexible member and some or all of the bosses when the outlet check valve opens.
lQS9083 E. Nozzle Structure and Flexible Pump Chamber .
Alternatively, ~he nozzle structure described in con-nection with Fig~res 7-12 may be employed in a fluid dispenser having a flexible pump chamber, as ~hown in Figure 13.
With reference to Figure 13, a fluid dispenser may include a housing 384 adapted for mounting on the threaded orifice of a fluid container (not shown). A variable volume pump chamber 385 may,be located within the housing 384. The pump chamber may be partially defined by a flexible tubular member 386 having an open ' 10 axial end 387 in communication with nozzle structure 388 of the,type described in connection with Figures 7-12. Fluid may be supplied to the variable volume pump chamber 385 via an inlet conduit 389 and an inlet check val~e 390. The dispenser may be actuated by pivoting a trigger 391 to press an arm 392 of the trigger against a portion of the'wall of the flexible tubular member 386, thereby reducing the enclosed volume of the pump chamber 385.
When the tri~ger is released the elastic bias of the tubular member may tend to return the member 386 to its distended posi-tion ~shown in phantom).
The upper axial end 387 of the flexible tubular member 386 may communicate with the outlet check valve o~ the nozzle structure 388 via outlet conduit 393. A cylindrical chamber 394 in the housing 384 may cooperate with the flexible member to define the pump chamber and conduit fluid discharged from the ' 25 hollow of the flexible tubular member to the outlet conduit 393.
The flexible tubular member may be sealably positioned with re-spect to the cylindrical chamber by means of a flange formed in an upper portion of the wall of the tubular member which engages a corresponding indentation in the housing 384.
, lOSgO83 The trig~er 391 may be mounted to the housing 384 for pivoting about axis perpendicular to the plane of the Figure. The arm 392 of the trigger 391 may be pivotably mounted to the trigger and pass substantially horizontally S through an aperture in the housing. The arm 218 may be molded integrally with the trigger 391 and have a narrowed portion joining the arm thereto, to permit pivoting of the arm with respect to the trigger.
In operation, the spray dispenser of Figure 13 may be disposed on a fluid container and the trigger 391 squeezed and released to prime the dispenser. The release of the trigger permits the flexible tubular member to return to its distended position, thereby reducing the pressure in the p~mp chamber, closing the outlet check valve in the nozzle structure 388 and drawing fluid into the pump chamber 385 via the inlet conduit
the flexible memher.
As shown more clearly in Figure ll, the frustoconical portion 350 of the flexible mer~er is connected to the integral O-ring 352 by the apertured annular portion 354. ~he portion 354 may be thinner in cxoss sectivn than the central portion 150 to permit relative movement of the central portion 150 with respect to the ~-ring 152. ~pertures 356 in the annular portion 354 may pxovide fluid flow passages through the rnem~er.
Figure 12 is a cross sectional view taken alon~ lines 11-11 of Figure 2. A~ showr in Figure ~2, the nozzle cap 360 includes an aperture 362 formed in the central circular well 364 of the nozzle cap. Bosses 366 may he formed on the central inner surface of the nozzle cap and, the bosses may be of dif-Eerent heights. In one embodiment oftlle invention, adjacent bosses may be of alternate heights, e.g., boss 380 of Figur~ 12 may be of one height while boss 382 is of ~ diferent height.
B. Dispenser Assembly and Venting The assembl~ and venting of the fluid dispenser of Figure 2 may be understood more readily by reerence to Eigure 4 where a fluid dispensor 200 i~ i~lustrated a3 inclllding a trigger 202 pivotably engaging the hous-ng 204. This engagement may be accomp]ished by interengaging the ~pir21 member 206 on the trigger witn a peg 208 on the housing so that the center of the peg is located in the interior space defined by the spiral betweell line 207 and the tight'y cur~-ed portion of the spiral 20~. Advantageously, the peg may be located at the center 210 of the shortest radius of the spir~l. At the same time an arm 212 of the trigger may be mated with the discharge assistant 214 (shown in phanton). The head portio~ 216 of the housing 204 may then be positioned so th~t the curved surface 21~ o~ the dowr:wardl~ depending ear ~20 of 'he housing head may slidably contact a portion of the spiral-shapedlllem~er206 to p~event the spiral-shaped member from disen~aging the peg 2C8.
Once the trigger 202 is pivotably mounted to the housing, the container (not shown) may be vented by squeezing the trigger toward the central portion of the housing 204 to cause upward motion of the discharge assistant 214. This upward : motion may cause the radially outward flexing of mating surface 222 from the mating surface 224 thereby causing the surfaces to disengage and move axially with respect to one another to open venting passages 226. This permits air to enter the container to displace fluid removed by the pumping action of the dispenser.
C. Fluid Supply and Discharge Assistant Op-eration The Operation of the pumping mechanism of the fluid dispenser may be more easily understood with reference to Figure 2 where it can be seen that the initial squeezing of the trigger 36 toward the central portion of the dispenser operates to disengage the vent seal as described above and to reduce - the enclosed volume of the pump chamber 38 to discharge air via the outlet conduit 104, the valve seat 108, the flexible member apertures 121 and the nozzle cap aperture 112. When the trigger 36 is xeleased, the coil spring 40 urges the piston 34 downwardly to increase the enclosed volume of the pump chamber and thus reduce the pressure therein. This reduction in pres ure in the pump chamber may cause the central portion 118 of the flexible member 116 to seat on the valve seat 108 to close the outlet check valve. This reduction in pressure in the pump chamber may likewise cause the central portion 44 of the flexible member 32 to unseat from valve seat 46 to open the inlet check valve and cause fluid to be drawn from the container into the pump chamber via the inlet conduit 30, the piston inlet conduit 28, the piston conduit orifice 47 and the apertures in the flexible member 32. Air may enter the container alon~ vent passages 72 to compensate pressuraly for the ywl/~ 14 -withdrawal of fluid from the container.
Further squeezing of the trigger 36 may be operative to drive ~he piston upwardly once more to reduce the enclosed volume of the pump chamber 38. This reduction in volume discharges fluid from the pump chamber via the outlet conduit 104, the chec~ valve 114, the apertures 121 and the nozzle cap aperture 112. This increased pressure in the pump chamber is also operative to open the inlet check valve 114 by unseating the central portion 118 of the flexible member 116 from valve seat 108. A series of fluid discharges from the dispenser may be obtained by the alternate squeezing and releasing of the trigger.
D. Nozzle Structure Operation The operation of the spray dispenser nozzle structure may be understood with reference to Figu~es 7 through 9. As shown in Figure 7, fluid may be supplied to the nozzle structure - 300 via a conduit 302. An orifice 304 of the conduit 302 forms a valve seat 303 for an outlet check valve 306, and a frusto-conical shaped central portion 308 of the flexible member 310 may be utilized to block the orifice 304 in response to pressure within the conduit 302. If the pressure in the conduit 302 is le~s than the ambient pressure about the nozzle structure, the central portion 308 of the flexible member may be seated on the valve seat 303 a~ shown in Figure 7. When the pressure in the conduit exceeds the ambient pressure the central portion 308 of the flexlble member may be unseated from the valve seat 303 as shown in Figure 8 and Figure 9 where like features of Figure 7 are identified with like numbers.
With reference to Figures 7, 8 and 9, a nozzle cap 312 may be provided for threaded engagement with the portion 314 of the dispenser defining conduit 302 and may be formed with an aperture 316 through which fluid is discharged from the ywl/~ 15 -~059083 dispenser. The nozzle cap engages an O-ring portion 318 of the flexible member to retain the periphery of the flexible member in a fixed position with respect to the valve seat 303 and to provide a fluid tight seal between the nozzle cap and the conduit defining .
ywl~ 15a -` 1059(1 83 portion 314 of the dispenser. Rotation of the nozzle cap 312 along the path defined by the threads 320 may vary the distance and/or pressural contact between the central portion of the flexi-ble member and the inner central surface 322 of the nozzle cap.
Bosses 324 may be formed in either -the inner central surface 322 of the nozzle cap or the central portion 308 of the flexibl~ mem-ber to deflect fluid flow. Alternatively, fluid directing recesses may be formed in either the inner central surface 322 of the nozzle cap or the central portion 308 of the flexible member to direct fluid flow.
As shown in Figure 8 and Figure 9, fluid pressure in the conduit 302 may unseat the central portion 308 of the flexible member from the valve seat 303 and be discharged from the aperture 316 via the orifice 304 and the apertures 326 in the flexible l15 member. When the cap is positioned with respect to the flexible member as shown in Figure 8, the discharged fluid must pass bet~een bosses 324 before it is discharged through aperture 316, and, there-fore, is s~irled. The resultant discharge pattern may be a spray dispensPd over a relatively wide area. When the nozzle cap is positioned with respect to the flexible member as shown in Figure 9, the fluid may pass from apertures 326 in the flexible member through aperture 316 in the nozzle cap without passing between the b~ses 324, and is not swirled by the bosses. The resultant dis-~harge pattern may, therefore, be in the form of a stream.
Where bosses of varying heights are provided the discharge pattern of the sprayer may be varied by selectively adjusting the nozzle cap to selectively cause contact between the flexible member and some or all of the bosses when the outlet check valve opens.
lQS9083 E. Nozzle Structure and Flexible Pump Chamber .
Alternatively, ~he nozzle structure described in con-nection with Fig~res 7-12 may be employed in a fluid dispenser having a flexible pump chamber, as ~hown in Figure 13.
With reference to Figure 13, a fluid dispenser may include a housing 384 adapted for mounting on the threaded orifice of a fluid container (not shown). A variable volume pump chamber 385 may,be located within the housing 384. The pump chamber may be partially defined by a flexible tubular member 386 having an open ' 10 axial end 387 in communication with nozzle structure 388 of the,type described in connection with Figures 7-12. Fluid may be supplied to the variable volume pump chamber 385 via an inlet conduit 389 and an inlet check val~e 390. The dispenser may be actuated by pivoting a trigger 391 to press an arm 392 of the trigger against a portion of the'wall of the flexible tubular member 386, thereby reducing the enclosed volume of the pump chamber 385.
When the tri~ger is released the elastic bias of the tubular member may tend to return the member 386 to its distended posi-tion ~shown in phantom).
The upper axial end 387 of the flexible tubular member 386 may communicate with the outlet check valve o~ the nozzle structure 388 via outlet conduit 393. A cylindrical chamber 394 in the housing 384 may cooperate with the flexible member to define the pump chamber and conduit fluid discharged from the ' 25 hollow of the flexible tubular member to the outlet conduit 393.
The flexible tubular member may be sealably positioned with re-spect to the cylindrical chamber by means of a flange formed in an upper portion of the wall of the tubular member which engages a corresponding indentation in the housing 384.
, lOSgO83 The trig~er 391 may be mounted to the housing 384 for pivoting about axis perpendicular to the plane of the Figure. The arm 392 of the trigger 391 may be pivotably mounted to the trigger and pass substantially horizontally S through an aperture in the housing. The arm 218 may be molded integrally with the trigger 391 and have a narrowed portion joining the arm thereto, to permit pivoting of the arm with respect to the trigger.
In operation, the spray dispenser of Figure 13 may be disposed on a fluid container and the trigger 391 squeezed and released to prime the dispenser. The release of the trigger permits the flexible tubular member to return to its distended position, thereby reducing the pressure in the p~mp chamber, closing the outlet check valve in the nozzle structure 388 and drawing fluid into the pump chamber 385 via the inlet conduit
3~9 and the inlet check valve 390. If the trigger is again squeezed, the volume of the pump chamber 395 is reduced, thereby pressuring the pump chamher, closing the inlet check valve 390 and opening the outlet check valve in the nozzle structure 388.
Fluid in the pump chamber may be discharged through the aperture of tha nozzle structure via the chamber 385, outlet conduit 393, and the outlet check valve and apertures of the nozzle structure 3~8.
F. One-Piece Fluid Filter Réferring now to Figure 14, a dip tube filter embodi-ment of the present invention is shown. The filter may include two generally circular plates 412 and 414. The plate 412 may also be annular in shape, and have radially extending ribs 416 formed in a surface thereof. A tuhular hub portion 418 may exten~ coaxially from the annular plate 41~. The hollow of 1059~l~il3 the tubular portion 418 (not shown) may communicate with the central opening (not shown) of the annular plate 412. The plates 412 and 414 may be connected along portions of their circumferences by an integral hinge 420. The plates 412 and 414 may be pivoted with respect to one another about an axis 422, defined by the hinge, to expose the ribs 416 for cleanins.
Figure 15 is a pictorial view of a filtered fluid supply embodiment 430 of the present invention attached to a conventional fluid dispenser 432. The filtered fluid supply apparatus may include a fluid container 434 with a bottom wall 436 and a mouth 438 for threaded attachment to the fluid dispenser 432. An inlet dip tube 440, providing fluid communi-cation between the dispenser 432 and the container 434, may -extend from the mouth 438 of the container toward the bottom wall 436 of the container. A fluid filter 442 may be attached to an end portion of the dip tube 440. The filter 442 may include a collar portion 444 having a tubular portion 446 for engaging the dip tube 440 and a first generally circular plate 4A8. A second generally circular plate, selectively positionable adjacent to the first circular plate may be hingedly connected by means of hinge portion 452 to the first circular plate. At least one of the first and second plates may be formed with radially e~tending ribs 454 for providing a plurality o~ fluid passages between the plates in communication wth said tubular portion 446 and the dip tube 440. The second plate may be located adjacent and parallel to the bottom wall 436 of the fluid container.
In operation, a molded member having the above described portions 446, 448, 450 and 452 is provided. The tubular portion ~46 may be grippingly engaged to the dip tube 440; the --19-- ~ .
J ~59083 inner surface of the tubular portion 446 frictionally contacting the outer wall of the dip tube 440. The second circular plate 450 may be pivoted with respect to the first circular plate 448 about the hinge portion 452 to locate the second circular plate coaxially adjacent to the first circular plate. When so positioned the ribs on the one of the circular plates`cooperate to define fluid passages between the circular plates. The dispenser dip tube and filter may then be thread-ably engaged to the container 430 and the filter emersed in a fluid 456 within the container. The dispenser 432 may be - actuated to draw fluid through the filter and into the dispenser via the tubular portion 446 and the dip tube 440. Fluid drawn into the dip tube 440 must first pass between the ribs 454 of the filter. It will be understood that solid material sus-pended in the fluid 456 will be prevented from entering the dip tube by the ribs 454.
The ribs 454 may extend radially inwardly from the cir-cumference of the circular plates 448 and 450 and, thus the area for filtering may be maximized. The second circular plate 450 may be located adjacent and parallel to the bottom wall 436 of the container 434. In this configuration, virtuallv all of the fluid 456 may be withdrawn from the container 434 through the filter, before the fluid level falls below the level of the passages between the ribs.
Figure 16 is a cross sectional view of a one piece molded member 460 for providing a fluid filter according to an embodiment of the present invention. The member may include an annular plate portion 462 having a central opening 464. A
tubular portion 466 rnay e~tend axially from the annular plate portion, a hollow 468 of the tubular portion communicating with the central opening 464 in the annular plate portion. A
generally circular plate portion 470 may be hingedly connected to the annular plate portion 462 by a hinge portion 472 of S relatively thinner cross section than either of the plate portions. ~embers 474, axially extending from the circular plate portion may be adapted to pressurely engage the tubular portion 466 to maintain surfaces 476 and 478 of the plate portions coaxially adjacent one another. At least one of the surfaces 476 and 478 may be formed with radially extending ribs, such as ribs 480. When the surfaces 476 and 478 are located coaxially adjacent to one another, the ribs provide a plurality of fluid passages between the plates which communi-cate with the hollow 468 of the tubular portion 460.
The tubular portion 466 may be formed with a first hollow portion 482 for receiving the members 474. Radial ends of the members 474 may pressurely engage the inner wall 484 of the tubular member. The tubular portion 466 may be formed with first and second inwardly extending flanges 486 and 488.
When the dip tube is inserted into the hollow 468 of the tubular portion 466, the flange 4~6 limits the extent to which the dip tube mày be inserted. The gripping flange 488 is adapted to frictionally engage the dip tube and inhibit separation of the filter from the dip tube.
Figure 17 is a plan view of the molded member 460 described in connection witll Figure 16, like structures being identified by the same numerals ~mployed in Figure 16. The molded member 460 includes the annular shaped plate 462 con-nected by the hinge portion 472 to the circular plate portion ~70. In the embodiment of Fi~res 15 and 17 the surface 478 -21- ~
of the plate 470 is a relatively smooth and the surface 476 of the plate 462 is formed with the ribs 480. The ribs 480 may extend radially inwardly from a circumference 490 of the surface 476 to a radius 492 intermediate the circumference and the central opening 464 in the annular plate 461. In this way maximum filteringarea is obtained along the circumference 490 or the plates, while restric-tion of fluid flow is minimized.
The members 474 for pressurely engaging the rubular portion may extend radially outwardly as shwon in Figure 17. Radial ends 494 of the members 474 are adapted to engage the inner wall of the tubular portion 466 (shown in Figure 16).
In operation the circular plates may be pivoted with respect to one another to coaxially align the plates and locate the surfaces 476 and 478 adjacent one another~
the members 474 engaging the tubular portion 466 to main-tain the surfaces adjacent one another. Solid material prevented from entering the dip tube by the ribs 480 may accumulate in the vicinity of the ribs. When this occurs the plates may be pivoted with respect to one another about the hinge portion 472 to expose the ribs t~ permi.t the solid material to be cleaned away.
The principals, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. The invention which is intended to be prvtected is not, however, to be construed as limited to the particular forms disclosed, since these are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.
Variations and chan~es may be madP by those skilled in the art ~litho~ departing fronl the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Fluid in the pump chamber may be discharged through the aperture of tha nozzle structure via the chamber 385, outlet conduit 393, and the outlet check valve and apertures of the nozzle structure 3~8.
F. One-Piece Fluid Filter Réferring now to Figure 14, a dip tube filter embodi-ment of the present invention is shown. The filter may include two generally circular plates 412 and 414. The plate 412 may also be annular in shape, and have radially extending ribs 416 formed in a surface thereof. A tuhular hub portion 418 may exten~ coaxially from the annular plate 41~. The hollow of 1059~l~il3 the tubular portion 418 (not shown) may communicate with the central opening (not shown) of the annular plate 412. The plates 412 and 414 may be connected along portions of their circumferences by an integral hinge 420. The plates 412 and 414 may be pivoted with respect to one another about an axis 422, defined by the hinge, to expose the ribs 416 for cleanins.
Figure 15 is a pictorial view of a filtered fluid supply embodiment 430 of the present invention attached to a conventional fluid dispenser 432. The filtered fluid supply apparatus may include a fluid container 434 with a bottom wall 436 and a mouth 438 for threaded attachment to the fluid dispenser 432. An inlet dip tube 440, providing fluid communi-cation between the dispenser 432 and the container 434, may -extend from the mouth 438 of the container toward the bottom wall 436 of the container. A fluid filter 442 may be attached to an end portion of the dip tube 440. The filter 442 may include a collar portion 444 having a tubular portion 446 for engaging the dip tube 440 and a first generally circular plate 4A8. A second generally circular plate, selectively positionable adjacent to the first circular plate may be hingedly connected by means of hinge portion 452 to the first circular plate. At least one of the first and second plates may be formed with radially e~tending ribs 454 for providing a plurality o~ fluid passages between the plates in communication wth said tubular portion 446 and the dip tube 440. The second plate may be located adjacent and parallel to the bottom wall 436 of the fluid container.
In operation, a molded member having the above described portions 446, 448, 450 and 452 is provided. The tubular portion ~46 may be grippingly engaged to the dip tube 440; the --19-- ~ .
J ~59083 inner surface of the tubular portion 446 frictionally contacting the outer wall of the dip tube 440. The second circular plate 450 may be pivoted with respect to the first circular plate 448 about the hinge portion 452 to locate the second circular plate coaxially adjacent to the first circular plate. When so positioned the ribs on the one of the circular plates`cooperate to define fluid passages between the circular plates. The dispenser dip tube and filter may then be thread-ably engaged to the container 430 and the filter emersed in a fluid 456 within the container. The dispenser 432 may be - actuated to draw fluid through the filter and into the dispenser via the tubular portion 446 and the dip tube 440. Fluid drawn into the dip tube 440 must first pass between the ribs 454 of the filter. It will be understood that solid material sus-pended in the fluid 456 will be prevented from entering the dip tube by the ribs 454.
The ribs 454 may extend radially inwardly from the cir-cumference of the circular plates 448 and 450 and, thus the area for filtering may be maximized. The second circular plate 450 may be located adjacent and parallel to the bottom wall 436 of the container 434. In this configuration, virtuallv all of the fluid 456 may be withdrawn from the container 434 through the filter, before the fluid level falls below the level of the passages between the ribs.
Figure 16 is a cross sectional view of a one piece molded member 460 for providing a fluid filter according to an embodiment of the present invention. The member may include an annular plate portion 462 having a central opening 464. A
tubular portion 466 rnay e~tend axially from the annular plate portion, a hollow 468 of the tubular portion communicating with the central opening 464 in the annular plate portion. A
generally circular plate portion 470 may be hingedly connected to the annular plate portion 462 by a hinge portion 472 of S relatively thinner cross section than either of the plate portions. ~embers 474, axially extending from the circular plate portion may be adapted to pressurely engage the tubular portion 466 to maintain surfaces 476 and 478 of the plate portions coaxially adjacent one another. At least one of the surfaces 476 and 478 may be formed with radially extending ribs, such as ribs 480. When the surfaces 476 and 478 are located coaxially adjacent to one another, the ribs provide a plurality of fluid passages between the plates which communi-cate with the hollow 468 of the tubular portion 460.
The tubular portion 466 may be formed with a first hollow portion 482 for receiving the members 474. Radial ends of the members 474 may pressurely engage the inner wall 484 of the tubular member. The tubular portion 466 may be formed with first and second inwardly extending flanges 486 and 488.
When the dip tube is inserted into the hollow 468 of the tubular portion 466, the flange 4~6 limits the extent to which the dip tube mày be inserted. The gripping flange 488 is adapted to frictionally engage the dip tube and inhibit separation of the filter from the dip tube.
Figure 17 is a plan view of the molded member 460 described in connection witll Figure 16, like structures being identified by the same numerals ~mployed in Figure 16. The molded member 460 includes the annular shaped plate 462 con-nected by the hinge portion 472 to the circular plate portion ~70. In the embodiment of Fi~res 15 and 17 the surface 478 -21- ~
of the plate 470 is a relatively smooth and the surface 476 of the plate 462 is formed with the ribs 480. The ribs 480 may extend radially inwardly from a circumference 490 of the surface 476 to a radius 492 intermediate the circumference and the central opening 464 in the annular plate 461. In this way maximum filteringarea is obtained along the circumference 490 or the plates, while restric-tion of fluid flow is minimized.
The members 474 for pressurely engaging the rubular portion may extend radially outwardly as shwon in Figure 17. Radial ends 494 of the members 474 are adapted to engage the inner wall of the tubular portion 466 (shown in Figure 16).
In operation the circular plates may be pivoted with respect to one another to coaxially align the plates and locate the surfaces 476 and 478 adjacent one another~
the members 474 engaging the tubular portion 466 to main-tain the surfaces adjacent one another. Solid material prevented from entering the dip tube by the ribs 480 may accumulate in the vicinity of the ribs. When this occurs the plates may be pivoted with respect to one another about the hinge portion 472 to expose the ribs t~ permi.t the solid material to be cleaned away.
The principals, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. The invention which is intended to be prvtected is not, however, to be construed as limited to the particular forms disclosed, since these are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.
Variations and chan~es may be madP by those skilled in the art ~litho~ departing fronl the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims (15)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. An apparatus for dispensing fluids from a container comprising:
a housing;
a trigger;
means for pivotably mounting said trigger to said housing including a member configured in an open spiral on one of said housing and said trigger and a peg on the other one of said housing and said trigger configured for disposition within the interior space defined by said spiral shaped member;
a pump chamber having a piston movable through a limited stroke responsive to said trigger for varying the volume of said pump chamber, whereby the limits of the piston stroke limit the pivoting movement of said trigger;
an outlet valve having a valve member for blocking communication with said chamber responsive to the pressure in said chamber;
a nozzle cap for adjustably contacting said outlet valve member to vary the discharge pattern of the fluid dispensed;
inlet conduit means attached to said piston and communicating with the container, providing a venting passage for the container selectively blocked by mating surfaces on said conduit means and a container responsive to movement of the piston;
a flexible member slidably contacting the wall of said pump chamber for blocking communication between said pump chamber and said inlet conduit means responsive to the pressure in said chamber; and a filter for said inlet conduit, including two plate portions located adjacent one another at least one of which having ribs in a surface thereof which define a plurality of fluid passages between the plates.
a housing;
a trigger;
means for pivotably mounting said trigger to said housing including a member configured in an open spiral on one of said housing and said trigger and a peg on the other one of said housing and said trigger configured for disposition within the interior space defined by said spiral shaped member;
a pump chamber having a piston movable through a limited stroke responsive to said trigger for varying the volume of said pump chamber, whereby the limits of the piston stroke limit the pivoting movement of said trigger;
an outlet valve having a valve member for blocking communication with said chamber responsive to the pressure in said chamber;
a nozzle cap for adjustably contacting said outlet valve member to vary the discharge pattern of the fluid dispensed;
inlet conduit means attached to said piston and communicating with the container, providing a venting passage for the container selectively blocked by mating surfaces on said conduit means and a container responsive to movement of the piston;
a flexible member slidably contacting the wall of said pump chamber for blocking communication between said pump chamber and said inlet conduit means responsive to the pressure in said chamber; and a filter for said inlet conduit, including two plate portions located adjacent one another at least one of which having ribs in a surface thereof which define a plurality of fluid passages between the plates.
2. The apparatus of Claim 1 further including means for preventing the peg from disengaging the spiral member.
3. The apparatus of Claim 2 wherein said housing comprises a body portion and a head portion, said peg being formed in the body portion of the housing; and wherein said disengagement preventing means com-prises an ear formed in the head portion of said housing, said ear having a curved surface for engaging said spiral-shaped member while permitting relative rotation of said peg and said spiral member.
4. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the valve member of said outlet valve includes an O-ring portion which contacts said nozzle cap and a central portion for blocking communi-cation with said chamber responsive to the pressure in said chamber.
5. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein one of said nozzle cap and said outlet valve member is formed with bosses for imparting a swirl to fluid dispensed from said nozzle.
6. The apparatus of Claim 5 wherein the bosses are of different heights so that adjustment of the clearance between said nozzle cap and outlet valve member may vary the dis-charge pattern of the apparatus.
7. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said inlet conduit means includes an axially elongated indentation in the outer wall of said inlet conduit to provide the venting passage for the container.
8. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said filter com-prises a molded member having:
an annular plate portion;
a tubular portion in communication with a central opening in said annular plate portion, for engaging an end of the inlet conduit;
a generally circular plate portion, at least one of the surfaces of said plate portions having radially extending ribs for providing a plurality of fluid passages between said plates when the surfaces are located adjacent one another;
a flexible hinge portion connecting an area on the circumference of said circular plate portion to an area on the outer circumference of said annular plate portion; and means for maintaining a surface of said circular plate portion adjacent a surface of said annular plate portion, including a male member attached to said generally circular plate portion, comprising a plurality of radially extending, resilient members with channels therebetween, wherein said male member is adapted for insertion into said tubular portion to pressurely engage an inner wall of said tubular portion and wherein the channels in said male member are adapted to communicate between the inlet conduit and the plurality of fluid passages between said plate portions.
an annular plate portion;
a tubular portion in communication with a central opening in said annular plate portion, for engaging an end of the inlet conduit;
a generally circular plate portion, at least one of the surfaces of said plate portions having radially extending ribs for providing a plurality of fluid passages between said plates when the surfaces are located adjacent one another;
a flexible hinge portion connecting an area on the circumference of said circular plate portion to an area on the outer circumference of said annular plate portion; and means for maintaining a surface of said circular plate portion adjacent a surface of said annular plate portion, including a male member attached to said generally circular plate portion, comprising a plurality of radially extending, resilient members with channels therebetween, wherein said male member is adapted for insertion into said tubular portion to pressurely engage an inner wall of said tubular portion and wherein the channels in said male member are adapted to communicate between the inlet conduit and the plurality of fluid passages between said plate portions.
9. An apparatus for dispensing fluids, comprising:
a housing;
a trigger;
a pump actuated by motion of said trigger; and means for pivotably engaging the trigger to the housing, said means comprising:
a spiral-shaped member on one of said housing and said trigger, and a peg means on the other of said housing and said trigger for pivotably engaging said spiral-shaped member, whereby the dispenser may be assembled by moving said peg and said spiral-shaped member relative to one another to locate said peg in the interior space of said spiral-shaped member.
a housing;
a trigger;
a pump actuated by motion of said trigger; and means for pivotably engaging the trigger to the housing, said means comprising:
a spiral-shaped member on one of said housing and said trigger, and a peg means on the other of said housing and said trigger for pivotably engaging said spiral-shaped member, whereby the dispenser may be assembled by moving said peg and said spiral-shaped member relative to one another to locate said peg in the interior space of said spiral-shaped member.
10. The dispenser of claim 9 further comprising means carried by said housing for preventing said spiral-shaped member from disengaging said peg means.
11. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein said spiral-shaped member is carried by said trigger; and wherein said housing includes a first portion for carrying said peg means; and second portion for carrying an ear with a surface curved for slidably contacting a portion of the spiral-shaped member.
12. The dispenser of claim 9 wherein said pump includes a piston and wherein said trigger includes an arm mating at one end with the piston of said pump when said trigger is in an operable position whereby the limits of the piston stroke limit the arc through which the trigger is pivotable to thereby prevent disengagement of said peg means and said spiral-shaped member.
13. In a fluid dispenser having a housing with lateral walls and a trigger operated piston, the trigger depending from between the lateral walls of the housing, a method for pivotably engaging the trigger to the housing without piercing the lateral walls of the housing or laterally spreading the walls of the housing comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a spiral-shaped member on one of the trigger and housing;
(b) providing a laterally extending peg on the other of the trigger and housing;
(c) positioning the peg within the spiral of the spiral-shaped member; and (d) inhibiting relative motion of the peg away from the center of the shortest radius of the spiral-shaped member to thereby prevent the member from disengaging the peg.
(a) providing a spiral-shaped member on one of the trigger and housing;
(b) providing a laterally extending peg on the other of the trigger and housing;
(c) positioning the peg within the spiral of the spiral-shaped member; and (d) inhibiting relative motion of the peg away from the center of the shortest radius of the spiral-shaped member to thereby prevent the member from disengaging the peg.
14. The method of Claim 13 wherein relative motion is inhibited by mating an arm of the trigger with the piston so that the stroke limits of the piston limit the relative rotation between the peg and the spiral-shaped member.
15. The method of Claim 13 wherein relative motion is inhibited by pressural engagement of the spiral-shaped member with a surface on a separate head portion of the housing, curved to permit relative rotation between the peg and the spiral-shaped member about the axis of the peg.
Priority Applications (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA314,329A CA1063984A (en) | 1976-10-05 | 1978-10-26 | Unitary filter for a fluid dispenser |
| CA314,332A CA1082658A (en) | 1976-10-05 | 1978-10-26 | Inlet conduit for fluid dispenser |
| CA314,330A CA1063985A (en) | 1976-10-05 | 1978-10-26 | Outlet check valve for fluid dispenser |
| CA314,331A CA1071160A (en) | 1976-10-05 | 1978-10-26 | Inlet check valve for a fluid dispenser |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US05/729,798 US4161288A (en) | 1976-10-05 | 1976-10-05 | Fluid dispenser method and apparatus |
| US77414677A | 1977-03-03 | 1977-03-03 | |
| US05/774,147 US4107043A (en) | 1977-03-03 | 1977-03-03 | Inlet conduit fluid filter |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1059083A true CA1059083A (en) | 1979-07-24 |
Family
ID=27419137
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA287,341A Expired CA1059083A (en) | 1976-10-05 | 1977-09-23 | Fluid dispenser method and apparatus |
Country Status (10)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS5345712A (en) |
| AR (1) | AR218039A1 (en) |
| BR (1) | BR7706644A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1059083A (en) |
| DE (4) | DE2760352C2 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES462901A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2366878A1 (en) |
| GB (2) | GB1583470A (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1090408B (en) |
| MX (1) | MX146527A (en) |
Families Citing this family (17)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4241853A (en) * | 1978-05-17 | 1980-12-30 | James D. Pauls And J. Claybrook Lewis And Associates, Limited | Dispenser for either continuous or intermittent discharge |
| US4345718A (en) * | 1979-04-23 | 1982-08-24 | William Horvath | Manually actuated trigger sprayer |
| GB2125907A (en) * | 1982-08-21 | 1984-03-14 | Price E J | Fluid pumps |
| FR2558214B1 (en) * | 1984-01-18 | 1988-04-08 | Valois Sa | PREPRESSURE SPRAY PUMPS |
| NL8602639A (en) * | 1986-10-21 | 1988-05-16 | Williams Trading Bv | Apparatus for dispensing finely dispersed liquid substances, including an air freshener for toilets and the like, into a disposable aerosol container from an interchangeable aerosol container in the atmosphere. |
| IL82096A0 (en) * | 1987-04-03 | 1987-10-30 | Greenberg Ilan | Variable-spray shower head |
| CA1325568C (en) * | 1988-06-24 | 1993-12-28 | Pineway (Uk) Ltd. | Eye-bathing devices |
| DE3926461A1 (en) * | 1989-07-15 | 1991-01-24 | Suttner Gmbh & Co Kg | VALVE GUN, ESPECIALLY FOR A HIGH PRESSURE CLEANING DEVICE |
| DE4417488A1 (en) * | 1994-05-19 | 1995-11-23 | Pfeiffer Erich Gmbh & Co Kg | Discharge device for media |
| GB2290731A (en) * | 1994-06-30 | 1996-01-10 | Bespak Plc | Dispensing apparatus |
| JP3042357B2 (en) * | 1995-03-15 | 2000-05-15 | 東洋製罐株式会社 | Trigger type pump dispenser |
| US5704521A (en) * | 1995-06-06 | 1998-01-06 | Calmar Inc. | Trigger actuated sprayer |
| US6123236A (en) * | 1999-04-23 | 2000-09-26 | Owens-Illinois Closure Inc. | Pump dispenser having one-piece spring and gasket |
| JP4763930B2 (en) * | 2001-07-31 | 2011-08-31 | コクヨ株式会社 | Ceiling structure using ceiling plate fixing frame |
| JP6789104B2 (en) * | 2016-12-27 | 2020-11-25 | 花王株式会社 | Pump ejector and liquid ejector |
| CN111558478B (en) * | 2020-04-30 | 2021-09-10 | 余姚市瑞达日用品有限公司 | External spring type spray gun head with double one-way valve structure |
| DE102020007396A1 (en) | 2020-12-04 | 2022-06-09 | Aptar Dortmund Gmbh | dispenser and dispenser |
Family Cites Families (14)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2169779A (en) | 1937-04-08 | 1939-08-15 | Food Dispenser Company | Closure for dispensers |
| GB710583A (en) * | 1952-02-21 | 1954-06-16 | Jules Schneider | Spraying means for liquids |
| DE925216C (en) * | 1952-07-26 | 1955-03-14 | Peter Franken | One-hand atomizer with a piston pump arranged in its fluid chamber |
| GB879335A (en) * | 1958-03-13 | 1961-10-11 | Dowty Mining Equipment Ltd | Improvements in or relating to pumps especially for hydraulic pit props |
| NL273959A (en) * | 1961-01-27 | |||
| US3131646A (en) * | 1962-10-15 | 1964-05-05 | Parco Products Co | Hand pump |
| DE1972000U (en) * | 1963-05-03 | 1967-11-02 | Step Soc Tech Pulverisation | PUMP CHAMBER SPRAYER. |
| US3685739A (en) * | 1970-08-07 | 1972-08-22 | Afa Corp | Liquid dispensing apparatus |
| DE2042690C3 (en) * | 1970-08-28 | 1980-07-10 | Pfeiffer Zerstaeuber-Vertriebsgesellschaft Mbh & Co Kg, 7760 Radolfzell | Spray gun with a cap that can be attached to a vessel |
| US3840157A (en) * | 1972-10-16 | 1974-10-08 | J Hellenkamp | Hand operated sprayer |
| JPS5130613A (en) * | 1974-09-09 | 1976-03-16 | Tetsuya Tada | Funmuki |
| GB1473290A (en) * | 1975-03-28 | 1977-05-11 | Step Soc Tech Pulverisation | Liquid atomisers |
| US4061250A (en) * | 1975-05-31 | 1977-12-06 | Tetsuya Tada | Depress button type sprayer |
| US4082223A (en) * | 1975-12-06 | 1978-04-04 | Yoshino Kogyosho Co., Ltd. | Trigger type spraying device |
-
1977
- 1977-09-23 CA CA287,341A patent/CA1059083A/en not_active Expired
- 1977-09-30 GB GB5467/80A patent/GB1583470A/en not_active Expired
- 1977-09-30 GB GB40812/77A patent/GB1583469A/en not_active Expired
- 1977-10-04 IT IT51263/77A patent/IT1090408B/en active
- 1977-10-04 DE DE2760352A patent/DE2760352C2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1977-10-04 MX MX170792A patent/MX146527A/en unknown
- 1977-10-04 DE DE2744654A patent/DE2744654C2/en not_active Expired
- 1977-10-04 DE DE2760216A patent/DE2760216C2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1977-10-04 ES ES462901A patent/ES462901A1/en not_active Expired
- 1977-10-04 FR FR7729828A patent/FR2366878A1/en active Granted
- 1977-10-04 DE DE2759914A patent/DE2759914C2/en not_active Expired
- 1977-10-05 JP JP11986677A patent/JPS5345712A/en active Granted
- 1977-10-05 BR BR7706644A patent/BR7706644A/en unknown
- 1977-10-05 AR AR269446A patent/AR218039A1/en active
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE2759914C2 (en) | 1984-12-13 |
| DE2744654A1 (en) | 1978-04-06 |
| GB1583470A (en) | 1981-01-28 |
| JPS5441728B2 (en) | 1979-12-10 |
| ES462901A1 (en) | 1978-12-16 |
| MX146527A (en) | 1982-07-07 |
| BR7706644A (en) | 1978-06-27 |
| DE2760352C2 (en) | 1990-01-18 |
| JPS5345712A (en) | 1978-04-24 |
| FR2366878B1 (en) | 1984-08-17 |
| DE2760216C2 (en) | 1990-03-22 |
| GB1583469A (en) | 1981-01-28 |
| FR2366878A1 (en) | 1978-05-05 |
| DE2744654C2 (en) | 1986-02-06 |
| IT1090408B (en) | 1985-06-26 |
| AR218039A1 (en) | 1980-05-15 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |
Effective date: 19960724 |
|
| MKEX | Expiry |
Effective date: 19960724 |