CA2223107A1 - Trigger sprayer air vent sleeve with integral check valve - Google Patents
Trigger sprayer air vent sleeve with integral check valve Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2223107A1 CA2223107A1 CA002223107A CA2223107A CA2223107A1 CA 2223107 A1 CA2223107 A1 CA 2223107A1 CA 002223107 A CA002223107 A CA 002223107A CA 2223107 A CA2223107 A CA 2223107A CA 2223107 A1 CA2223107 A1 CA 2223107A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- liquid
- pump
- sprayer
- exit port
- pump chamber
- 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.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- 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
- B05B11/0005—Components or details
- B05B11/0037—Containers
- B05B11/0039—Containers associated with means for compensating the pressure difference between the ambient pressure and the pressure inside the container, e.g. pressure relief means
- B05B11/0044—Containers associated with means for compensating the pressure difference between the ambient pressure and the pressure inside the container, e.g. pressure relief means compensating underpressure by ingress of atmospheric air into the container, i.e. with venting means
-
- 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
- B05B11/1038—Pressure accumulation pumps, i.e. pumps comprising a pressure accumulation chamber
- B05B11/104—Pressure accumulation pumps, i.e. pumps comprising a pressure accumulation chamber the outlet valve being opened by pressure after a defined accumulation 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
- B05B11/1061—Pump priming means
- B05B11/1063—Air exhausted from the pump chamber being discharged into the container during priming
-
- 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
Landscapes
- Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
- Closures For Containers (AREA)
Abstract
A trigger sprayer (10) contains a valve element (130) that vents air from a pump chamber (12) of the sprayer, while priming the pump, to the interior of a liquid container to which the sprayer is attached. In an alternate embodiment, the valve element (130) includes an integral check valve (132).
Description
W 096/38373 PCTrUS96106414 TRlGGER SPRAYER AlR VENT SLEEVE WITH INTE~RAL CHECK VALVE
This application is a continuation-in-part of Application Serial No. 08/363,512, filed De~~ he~ 12, 1994, and currently r~n~l~n~, Background Of The Invention (1) Field Of The Invention The present invention pertains to a trigger x~ ye cont~ n~ng a valve element that, while the pump i8 being primed, vents air from a pump chr ~ ~ of the 5 ~l&y~l to the interior of a liquid cont~ n~ to which the ~ ayer is attA~h~.
This application is a continuation-in-part of Application Serial No. 08/363,512, filed De~~ he~ 12, 1994, and currently r~n~l~n~, Background Of The Invention (1) Field Of The Invention The present invention pertains to a trigger x~ ye cont~ n~ng a valve element that, while the pump i8 being primed, vents air from a pump chr ~ ~ of the 5 ~l&y~l to the interior of a liquid cont~ n~ to which the ~ ayer is attA~h~.
(2) Description Of The Related Art A pressure buildup X~Ldyer is a general category Of X~dye in which liquid disr~nR~ from the X~layer is first raised to a certain pressure level before it is 5 dispenee~ from the ~laye~. Typ~ ly, x~ dyers of this type contain a ~ ly operable pump that draws liquid from a cont~n~ to which the ~layer is att~-he~, and ~p~ns~-e the liquid from a nozzle orifice of the X~layel. Positioned within the X~layer between the pump 10 and the nozzle orifice is a pressure regulator or pressure bll ~ r valve that regulates the pressure of the liquid ~cr~ne~ from the nozzle orifice. In operation, as liquid is drawn from the cont~ne~ to the pump and is then made to flow from the pump toward the nozzle orifice 15 in response to actuation of the pump, a pressure regulator posit~one~ in the liquid flow path between the pump and nozzle orifice ~l~V_lltS the flow of liquid to the orifice until the liquid is raised to a certain pressure level at which the regulator opens ._ ln~cation 20 to the nozzle orifice and the liquid is dispensed from the X~ldyer~
In prior art pressure buildup sprayers, difficulties are frequently encountered in first priming the pump of the s;~dyer with liquid from the cont~ nc~ to 25 which it is att~ch~. In priming the sprayer pump, air in the pump ch~ h~ must be displaced as liquid from the cont~ine~ is drawn into the pump l h~ he~. However, due -to the ~_ _ essibility of the air in the pump chamber, it is often difficult to raise the pressure of the air by actuation of the ~yer pump to the level required to open the pressure regulator and permit the air to be 5 displaced from the pump chr h~~ and through the pressure regulator and the nozzle orifice. Frequently, the biasing force of the pressure regulator valve in prior art pressure b~ r ~ ayers is too large to be overcome by the increased pressure of the air in the pump r~hr h.
10 when priming the pump due to the ~o~ essibility of the air.
Summary Of The Invention It is an object of the invention to provide a pressure buildup ~layer in which the air contA; ne~l in the pump ~.hr her iS vented to the interior of a liguid cont~ine~ to which the X~ay~r is att~h~ when priming 5 the pump, while ~ ni ~; 7i n~ the nl h~ of ,_ _- ç?nt parts of the Y~ ~yer.
The pressure buildup ~ ayer of the present invent$on $s a trigger ~ ~yer; however, the novel features of the ~yer may be employed in other types of 10 pressure buildup ~layers in Ov~l.- ing the problem of venting a$r from the sprayers' pump ~h? h~s when priming the pump ~hr h~s. The trigger sprayer of the invention is generally comprised of a ~la-yer housing contA~ ning a liquid ~ hA~ge pA~:A~e, a pump QhA h~, a vent l h. he~, 15 and a liquid pACCA~e ~ ni cating the discharge passage, pump t'h: h~ and vent chamber w$th each other and with the $nter$or of a l$quid contAi ne~~ to which the S~l~yer housing $s attAche~. A pump piston is mounted in the pump t'h; he~ and is operatively t--onn~cted to a trigger on 20 the sprayer housing for reciprocating ,,,~v~ -nt of the pump piston in the pump ch~A~h~ in response to pivoting mo~. - t of the trigger on the ~ayer housing.
Positioned in the liquid passage between the pump chamber and the liquid contA~ne~ is a check valve. A pressure W 096/38373 PCTÇUS96/06414 regulator valve or pressure buildup valve is also positioned in the liqu$d passage between the pump ~.hr h~
and the fl~-h~ge pAs~Age. The pressure buildup valve is spring b~ased to a closed position blocking ~ n1cation 5 of liquid from the pump nhr h~r to the discharge passage.
The pressure buildup valve is forced from its closed position to an open position . ln~cating the pump ~h. ~ with the liquid ~c~h~ge passage when the pump is actuated, causing liquid in the pump chamber to build 10 up to a pressure level that forces the pressure buildup valve to move to its opened position.
A valve element in the form of a resilient, tubular sleeve is posit~ on~ in the liquid passage ad~acent the vent chr h~ . An exit port extends through 15 the ~layer housing between the vent ~hA h~ and the liquid p~ Age. The valve element in its at rest position ~loc~c over the exit port. The tubular configuration of the valve element permits fluid ~ nlcAtion between the interior of the liquid 20 contA ~ n~ and the pump ~h~ h~ through the valve element interior.
A vent piston is mounted in the vent ch~ h~ and is r-onn~-ted to the pump piston of the trigger ~l~yer.
The vent piston has a pro;ecting rod cn~n~cted thereto.
25 On reciprocation of the vent piston in the vent ~.hr h~
in response to ~nllAl pivoting of the trigger, the vent piston rod is ext~n~ through the exit port and engages against a side of the valve element, displacing the valve element from lts closed position over the exit port. The 30 displ~f - t of the valve element . ln~cates the interior of the pump ~hr ~ with the interior of the vent chr h~ through a section of the liquid p~ ge and the exit port. The vent chr h~ in turn .- lnicates with the interior of the liquid cont~ n~ through a slot 35 op~n~ ng in the vent chr h~ . When priming the pump of the trigger ~layer~ the air in the pump chA h~ iS
W 096138373 PCTrUS96106414 forced through a section of the liquid passage bypassing the valve element, through the exit port, the vent chr her, and the slot op~n~ ng in the vent ~-hA~h~r into the interior of the liquid cont~ner. In this -nner, 5 the air in the pump r.hr h~r of the trigger sprayer is vented from the pump ~.hr h~r without the ne~ ~sity of the _ , essed air unseating the pressure buildup valve and without liquid of the ContA~ n~r l~Ak~ng from the trigger ~., aye~
In an alternate ~ ho~ ~ L of the present invention, the above described check valve in the liquid pA~sAge and the valve element are replaced by a valve element having an integral check valve, thereby reducing the nl h~r of ~ ent parts of the x~ ayer and 15 simplifying its A~ hly, Brief DescriPtion of the Drawinqs Further ob~ects and features of the present invention are revealed in the following detailed description of the preferred ~ ho~i -nt of the invention and in the drawing figures wherein:
Figure 1 is a side elevation view, in section, of the pressure buildup trigger X~layer of the invention;
Figure 2 is a partial elevation view of the trigger x~ ayer, in section, showing relative positions of the ~_ _ ent parts of the trigger ~l~yer prior to 10 actuation of the pump in priming the pump;
Figure 3 is a s; ~1;3r view to Figure 2 showing the relative positions of the ~ e~t parts of the trigger X~la-yer in venting air from the pump chamber to the liquid contA ln~r to which the ~la-yer housing is 15 attA~.h~;
Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 2 showing the relative positions of the ~_ pon~nt parts of the trigger ~l~yer in pumping liquid from the pump chamber, past the pressure buildup valve to the ~iC~hArge passage of the 20 -L~ ~Y- ;
~ CA 02223107 1997-12-02 PC~ 96/06414 IPEA~US 23 ~EC ~9~6 Figure 5 is a side elevation view, in section, of a second embodiment of the pressure buildup trigger sprayer of the invention having a modified pressure buildup valve assembly and an air vent sleeve with an 5 integral check valve;
Figure 6 is a partial elevation view, in section, of the encircled portion of the trigger sprayer of Figure 5 illustrating the check valve in a closed position; and Figure 7 is a partial elevation view, in section, 10 of the encircled portion of the trigger sprayer of Figure 5 illustrating the check valve in an open position.
Description Of The Preferred Embodiments Figure 1 shows the pressure buildup trigger ~la~er 10 of the present invention. The trigger sprayer 15 is basically comprised of a sprayer housing pump chamber section 12, a nozzle head 14, a trigger 16, and a piston 5 ass~bly- 18. In th~ p~efe~ed e~bc~iment, eaGh Qf these nent parts is constructed of plastic material;
however, other types of materials may be employed in their construction without departing from the intended scope of the invention. The sprayer housing also 10 ~_ ~ ises a vent chamber section. A cap 20 connects the vent chamber section of the housing to a liquid cont~;n~
22. In variant embodiments of the trigger sprayer, the cap may be mounted to the sprayer housing for relative rotation thereto as is shown, or it may be integrally 15 formed with the sprayer housing and connect to the cont~n~r by a bayonet type co~n~-tor. Furthermore, although the novel construction of the pressure buildup ~ ayer is shown and described with reference to a trigger sprayer, it should be understood that the 20 construction of the sprayer may be employed in other types of ~ay~rs, for example pump sprayers, without departing from the intended scope of the invention.
The trigger sprayer housing contains a liquid discharge passage 26 having a center axis and a nozzle AMENDED S~tE~
W 096/38373 PCT~US96/06414 head or~n~ng 28 at the left hand end and an inlet oren~ng 30 at the axially opposite right hand end of the liquid discharge passage as seen in Figure 1.
Directly below the liquid discharge r~ ge 26 in 5 the ~l~yer ho~s~ng 12 is a pump chamber 34. The interior of the pump ~-h~ he-~ 34 is surrounded by a cylindrical side wall 36 and a circular back wall 38. An inlet port orDn~g 40 and an outlet port open~ng 42 pass through the back wall 38 of the pump ch? b~. Positioned 10 on the back wall between the inlet and outlet port op~ngs is a cylindrical spring retainer 44.
An upper portion of a liquid passage 48 extends through the ~l~yer housing 12 ~_ ~nicating the ~ h~ge p~ ge inlet op~ning 30 with the outlet port 15 42 of the pump chr h~, The interior surface of the liquid p~s~Age 48 is cylindrical. A valve stem 50 pro~ects downwardly from the ~a~r housing 12 through the interior of the liquid passage 48. The valve stem 50 extends beyond the liquid discharge passage inlet or~n~g 20 30 to a distal end of the stem positioned ad~acent the outlet port or~n1ng 42 of the pump ~h~ he~ . The valve stem has at least one ylOOv~, but is shown with a pair of ylOGveS 52 formed in the exterior surface of the valve stem 50. The grooves 52 begin at an intermediate portion 25 of the valve stem opposite the liquid ~-h~ge rA~ge inlet oren~n~ 30 and extend to the distal end of the valve stem opposite the pump ch; h~ outlet port op~
42.
A pressure regulator or pressure buildup valve 54 30 is mounted on the valve stem 50 for reciprocating ~ ~t of the valve over the exterior surface of the stem. The pressure buildup valve 54 has a cylindrical interior surface that slides over the exterior surface of the valve stem 50 but does not block the pair of grooves 35 52 formed in the valve stem exterior surface. An exterior surface of the pressure buildup valve 54 mates ; CA 02223107 1997-12-02 W 096/38373 PCTrUS96/06414 in sliding engagement with the cylindrical interior surface of the liquid pAc~Age 48. The sliding engagement between the exterior surface of the pressure buildup valve 54 and the interior surface of the liquid passage 5 48 prevents a flow of liquid between these two engaging surfaces. The pressure buildup valve 54 also comprises a downwardly pro~ecting, generally, ~.on~ ÇA1 1y ~hAr~
~ ng surface 56. A coil spring 58 is mounted over the valve stem 50 and engages between the ~ldy--r housing 12 10 and the top of the pressure buildup valve 54. The coil spring 58 biases the pressure buildup valve downwardly.
A separate vent ch, he.~ housing section 60 is assembled to the sprayer housing pump ~.hr b~ section 12.
The vent chr h~ housing section 60 comprises a 15 cylindrical column 62 that extends upwardly into the pump ~hr h~ housing section 12 and forms a lower portion of the liquid rA~sAge 64. An inlet port op~ning 66 of the column is positlon~ ad~acent the inlet port oren~ng 40 of the pump chr h~, A lower end of the column has a 20 valve seat 68 formed therein and a ball check valve 70 is contA 1 ne~ in the column on the valve seat. A dip tube 72 is conne~-ted to the bottom of the column and ~_ lnicates with the liquid in the liquid contAine~ 22 to which the trigger -~yer 10 is attAch~.
A vent ~hr he~ 74 is also formed in the vent chr '-~ housing section 60. The vent chamber 74 has a cylindrical side wall 76. An A~-C~ or~n~ ng 78 is provided at the front or left hand end of the vent ch- '~~ 74 as viewed in Figure 1, and an exit port 30 or~ni ng 80 is provided at the rear or right hand end of the vent chr ~ . As seen in the drawing figures, the exit port or~ni ng 80 extends through the vent ~.h~ h~
housing section 60 ~ n; cating the lower portion of the liquid pAccAge 64 with the vent rh~A h~ 74 through the 35 exit port or~ning 80. A slot op~ning 82 is provided through the vent chamber side wall 76 _ lnicating the W O 96/38373 PCTrUS96106414 vent ~-.hF h~T 74 with the interior of the liquid cont~i n~
22 to which the trigger ~l~yer is attrche~. As ~Ypl A~ l earlier, the bol,~- of the vent ~hA~h~ housing section 62 has the cap 20 mounted thereon.
A valve element formed as a tubular, resilient sleeve 86 is press fit into the lower portion of the liquid passage 64 contA1ne~l in the vent t~hr h.~ housing section 60. A lower section 88 of the valve element 86 is press fit into the lower portion of the liquid rA~c~ge 10 64. This lower section 88 has a cylindrical, tubular configuration and the exterior surface of the section closes over the exit port 80 at the rearward end of the vent chr he~ 74 in the at rest configuration of the valve element shown in Figure 1. In the at rest configuration 15 of the valve element lower section 88, it closes ,_ ln~~Ation between the pump chr h.~ 34 and the liquid contrine~ 22 through the exit port op~ni ng 80. A series of op~n~ngs 90 are provided through the cylindrical wall of the valve element 86 intermediate the element lower 20 section 88 and an upper section 92 of the element. The hollow interior 94 of the valve element permits a flow of liquid from the liquid contr~ n~, through the dip tube 72 bypAcc~ng the ball check valve 70, through the lower section 88 of the valve element and the series of _ 25 or~n1ngs 90 and through the two inlet port openings 66, 40 into the pump ~ hr h~ 34. A pair of criss-crossing arms 96 at the bGI_ t of the valve element lower section 88 ~levellt the ball check valve 70 from seating in the interior of the valve element lower section and constrain 30 the ball check valve to vf -nt within the lower portion of the liquid passage 64 between the valve seat 68 and the pair of arms 96.
The valve element upper section 92 is also press fit into the column 62 of the vent chamber housing 35 section as seen in the drawing figures. The interior bore 94 of the valve element does not extend entirely W 096/38373 PCTrUS96106414 through the element upper section 92 and is blocked by a top wall 98. An opposite side of the top wall 98 from the interior bore 94 engages against the distal end of the valve stem 50. Pro~ecting upwardly from the valve 5 ~1~ - t top wall 98 and spaced radially from the exterior surface of the valve stem 50 is a cylindrical valve seat 100. The valve seat 100 is configured to receive the ~.~n~Al c~Al1~g surface 56 of the pressure regulator or pressure b~ r valve 54 as shown in Figure 1. The 10 engay~- -nt of the C~Al ing surface 56 of the pressure buildup valve 54 with the cylindrical valve seat 100 seals closed fluid l_ lnication from the pump rhA~h~ 34 through the outlet port 42 to the pair of grooves 52 formed in the valve stem 50 and the upper portion of the 15 liquid pAccA~e 48.
The nozzle head 14 has a construction that is S~ i1 A~ to that employed in trigger sprayers of the prior art. The nozzle head includes a tubular pro;ection 104 that is inserted into the liquid ~ic~hA~ge pAc~Age 26 20 through the nozzle head opening 28 of the rACcAge. The hollow interior of the tubular projection 104 forms a part of the liquid ~cchA~ge pA~CAge 26 ext~n~i~g to an end wall 106 of the nozzle head. A nozzle orifice 108 extends through the end wall 106. A fluid spinner 25 ACS~ hly 110 iS contAi ne~ in the interior of the tubular projection 104 ad~acent the nozzle orifice 108. The fluid sri nn~ ~co- hl y 110 imparts a swirl to liquid flowing through the ~ic~hA~ge passage 26 toward the nozzle orifice 108 to dispense the liquid from the 30 orifice in a spray pattern. Alternatively, other known constructions of nozzle heads may be employed with the trigger ~ldy~l 10 of the invention to dispense liquid from the ~ ayer as a spray, stream and/or foam.
The trigger 16 is mounted to the trigger sprayer 35 10 in a conventional ?nne~ to permit pivoting I ,v~~ - t of the trigger 16 relative to the sprayer housing 12.
CA 02223l07 l997-l2-02 W 096/38373 PCT~US96/06414 The trigger 16 is operatively ~-onne~-ted to the piston ~cc hl y 18 in any ~..v~..tional matter.
The piston ~o~ hl y 18 includes a pump piston 118 and a vent piston 120 that are integrally ~-onn~-ted to 5 each other. The pump piston 118 is mounted in the pump chr h~ 34 for sliding reciprocating ,v~ - t within the cylindrical side wall 36 of the pump nhr ' e~. The vent piston 120 is mounted in the vent chr h~ 74 for sl lfling reciprocating ~ - t within the cylindrical side wall 10 76 of the vent chr h.~.-. A coil spring 122 is mounted between the spring retA ~ n~ 44 in the pump chamber and the pump piston 118. The coil spring 122 biases the pump piston 118 to the charge position of the pump piston relative to the pump rhr h~ shown in Figure 1. What is 15 meant by the charge position is that position of the pump piston 118 relative to the pump ~hr h~ 34 that the piston moves to in the pump ~hr h~ to increase the interior volume of the pump chr h~ in creating a vacuum in the pump rhr h~- 34 to draw liquid from the liquid 20 cont~ n~ 22 up through the dip tube 72 and the lower portion of the liquid passage 64 into the pump ch~h~.
From the charge position of the pump piston 118 shown in Figure 1, ~nllAl pivoting of the trigger 16 toward the ~la~er housing 12 causes the pump piston 118 to move to 25 the right as shown in Figure 1 from its charge position to a ~chA~ge position of the pump piston 118 relative to the pump rhr h~ 34 shown in Figures 3 and 4. What is meant by the ~cchA~ge position of the pump piston relative to the pump ~hr h~ iS that position that the 30 pump piston 118 is moved to ln the pump chamber 34 to decrease the interior volume of the pump c-hAmh~ and increase the pressure of the fluid ContA ~ ne~ in the pump .hr hoT~, The vent piston 120, being integrally r,o~nected to 35 the pump piston 118 by the piston A~Q' hly 18, moves simultaneously with the pump piston from a closed W 096/38373 PCTrUS96/06414 position of the vent piston 120 relative to the vent chamber 74 shown in Figure 1 where the vent piston blocks ~__ ln~cation of the liquid cont~ne~ interior with the exterior envil~ t of the trigger ~layer through the 5 vent nh~ ~ 74 and the vent chr '-~ slot or~n~ng 82, and a vent position of the vent piston 120 in the vent hr he-~ 74 shown in Figures 3 and 4 where the position of the vent piston permits r- ln~ Ation between the exterior envi c t of the trigger s~ld-yel and the 10 interior of the liquid contA~ner through the vent chamber 74 and the vent chamber slot op~n;~g 82.
Pro~ecting from the vent piston 120 is a rod 124 having a length ~ n~ioned to extend through the exit port op~n~ ng 80 at the rearward end of the vent ~,hr h.~.-15 74 and engage against the exterior of the valve element lower section 88 in response to the pump piston 118 being moved to the ~sch~ge p~siti~n in ~he pump chamber 34 and the vent piston 120 being simultaneously moved to the vent position in the vent nhr ~ ~~ 74, In operation of the trigger ~ldy~-, the trigger is pivoted causing the pump piston to move to the ~h~ge position to force the air from the pump n-h~ b~
prior to priming the pump. As the pump piston 118 is moved to the ~c~-h~ge position and the vent piston 120 _ 25 is moved to the vent position, the vent piston rod 124 extends through the exit port op~n~ ng 80 and . esses the resilient lower section of the valve element 88, separating this section from closing over the exit port op~n~ ng 80. As seen in Figures 3 and 4, with the vent 30 piston rod 124 ~ essing the lower section of the valve element 88 away from the exit port opening 80, communication is established between the pump rhr b~ 34 and the interior of the liquid contA~ne~ 22 attAnhe~ to the trigger ~dyer through the inlet port opening 40 in 35 the back wall of the pump chamber, the inlet port op~ni ng 66 in the column 62 of the vent chamber housing section, W 096138373 PCTrUS96/06414 the lower portion of the liquid r~Age 64 byp~ ng the lower section 88 of the valve element, the exit port or~n~ng 80, the vent ~hr h~ 74 and the vent ~hA~he~ slot op~n~ng 82. This path of l_- ln~cation between the pump 5 ~hr '~ 34 and the interior of the liquid cont~ n~ 22 permits air to be forced from the pump chr h~ and into the liquid cont~ne~ along this ~ n~c~tion path when priming the pump.
As the pump piston 118 is subsequently moved by 10 the coil spring toward the charge position of the pump piston in the pump ch~ h~, the vent piston moves from the vent position of the piston in the vent chr h~.~ 74 toward the closed position of the vent piston. As the vent piston moves, the vent rod 124 is withdrawn through 15 the exit port opening 80 and disengages from the resilient lower section 88 of the valve element, permitting the lower section to return to its at rest position shown in Figure 1 closing over the exit port or~n~ng 80. This position of the valve ~1- -nt lower 20 section 88 blocks the fluid ~_- ln;cation between the pump ~hz h~ 34 and the interior of the liquid contA i n~
22. As the pump piston 118 moves toward the charge position in the pump ~.h: h~ 34, a vacuum is created in the pump ~hr h~ that draws liquid from the liquid 25 ContA ~ ne~ through the dip tube 72, past the ball check valve 70, through the interior 94 and the series of or~n~ngs 90 of the valve element and through the two inlet oren~ngs 66, 40 into the pump ~hr h~ 34 thereby charging the pump ~hr h~ with the liquid. On the next 30 s~ceeA~ ng reciprocation of the pump piston 118 toward the ~1~h~ge position in the pump chamber 34, the decrease in the interior volume of the pump ~.hz h~
~ll~C the liquid cont~ne~ therein to increase in pressure. Because the liquid is ins _ essible, it 35 i ~'~tely exerts a force on the pressure buildup valve 54. When the force of liquid pressure on the valve W O 96/38373 PCTrUS96/06414 increases to the level that it eXcD~A-~ the force of the coil spring 58, the liquid pressure force causes the valve to move upwardly over the valve stem 50 against the bias of the coil spring 58. As the pressure buildup 5 valve 54 moves upwardly over the valve stem 50, the ~nl ç~ 1 l n~ surface 56 of the valve unseats from the cylindrical valve seat 100, thereby enabling the liquid cont~neA in the pump t'.h. h~ 34 to flow through the outlet port ort~ni ng 42 bypAcsi ng the pressure buildup 10 valve 54 and the cylindrical valve seat 100, through the pair of y~ OGveS 52 on the valve stem 50 and through the upper portion of the liquid passage 48, through the inlet oren~ ng 30 of the liquid discharge passage 26 and through the liquid Ai~ch~ge passage 26 to the nozzle orifice 108 15 in the nozzle head 14 from which the liquid is disp~A
from the trigger ~la~
An aIternate ~ ~o~i - ~ of ~he sprayer shown in Figure 5 employs a modified pressure buildup valve assembly and a valve element 130 having a check valve 132 20 c~nn~-ted thereto. The l~ -i nA~ of the ~ ent parts of the ~a~er are si ~l~ to the parts previously described and are therefore identified by like reference numerals.
The modified valve ~c~ hly includes a pressure 25 buildup valve 134 mounted on a valve stem 142 for reciprocating I ~ -nt of the valve over the exterior surface of the stem. The stem 142 i8 formed with a plurality of y oov~s 143 along its length. The pressure buildup valve 134 has a downwardly pro~ecting, generally 30 conically shaped exterior s~-~l ing surface 136 that is ~h~p~A to be received in and seat in sealing engagement with a cylindrical interior surface of a valve seat 138.
The valve seat 138 has a cylindrical center post 140 that pro~ects upwardly at the center of the cylindrical 35 interior surface of the valve seat 138. The top of the center post 140 engages with the bottom of the valve stem CA 02223l07 l997-l2-02 W 096/38373 PCTrUS96106414 142. The pressure buildup valve 134 has a cylindrical interior bore that slides over the cylindrical exterior surface of the valve seat post 140 to ~lev~lt a flow of liquid between these engaging surfaces. The exterior surface of the pressure b~ ~llr valve 134 mates in sliding engagement with the cylindrical interior surface of the liquid rA~Age 48, also to ~leve-lt a flow of liquid between these engaging surfaces. The coil spring 58 h~ A~ e the pressure buildup valve downwardly, while a~0 valve stop 144 formed on the valve stem 142 limits t of the valve in the upward direction.
While the pressure buildup valve is in its downwardly biased position shown in Figure 5, the valve ~ ~vellts a flow of fluid from the pump chamber 34 through the liguid rAC~Age 48 to the discharge passage 26. The bi ACi ng force of the spring 58 ~ ev~--ts the valve 134 from unseating from the center post until the pump chamber 34 is primed with liquid. After the pump t-h. h~r has been primed, and the pump piston is moved towards the r ~ hArge position, the pressure of the liquid cont~i ne~
within the pump r~.hr h~r increases until the force of liquid pressure exerted on the valve ~Yc~c the force of the spring biasing the valve to its closed position.
Once this level of pressure is r~A~he~, the buildup valve begins to move upwardly along the valve seat post 140 and valve stem 142 against the force of the spring 58.
Hc~evel, not until the liquid pressure is sufficient to lift the pressure buildup valve 134 above the center post 140 can liquid from the pump ~.h. h~ flow through the 30 liquid pACCAge 48 along the valve stem y~ocv,2s 143 bypassing the pressure buildup valve 134 and into the liquid ~chA~ge pA~CAge~ Thus, while the pressure buildup valve of the previously described embo~1 - t permitted a flow of liquid through the pair of ylooves 52 formed in the valve stem 50 as soon as the valve 54 was displaced from the valve seat 100, the valve assembly - - -~ CA 02223107 1997-12-02 ~PEA~JS 2 3 DEC 1996 shown in Figure 5 requires greater displacement of the valve 134 before a flow of liquid is permitted.
Moreover, while the desired minimum pressure required to unseat the pressure buildup valve in either embodiment 5 can be ad;usted by changing the bias of the coil spring 58, for the embodiment shown in Figure 5 the desired mi n1ml pressure required to permit a flow of liquid can also be ad;usted by changing the height of the valve seat post 140. By extending the length of the post 140 from 10 that shown in Figure 5, a greater liquid pressure in the pump chamber 34 is needed to unseat the valve 134 from the seat 138 and expose the stem grooves 143. By lessening the length of the post 140, a lesser liquid pressure is required.
Also shown in Figure 5 is valve element 130 with the check valve 132 ~o~n~cted thereto. The check valve 132 of this alternate embodiment is a flapper valve, and is integrally formed with the valve element 130. What is meant by a flapper valve is a valve 132 having a hinge 20 133 ~.onn~.tion to the sprayer housing that permits the valve to pivot relative to the sprayer housing about the hinge ~o~nection between open and closed positions of the valve relative to the sprayer housing. The check valve 132 formed integrally with the sleeve 130 eliminates the 25 need for the-ball valve 70 of the previously described embodiment. The valve element is a resilient sleeve similar to that of the previously described embodiment and functions in a similar ~n~, The sleeve 130 is press fit into the lower portion of the liquid passage 64 30 and forms a portion of the liquid passage which closes over the exit port opening 80.
When the pump piston 118 is moved to the discharge position, the vent rod 124 extends through the exit port opening 80 and displaces the resilient sleeve 130 from 35 the exit port opening, thereby allowing air in the pump chamber 34 to bypass the resilient sleeve and vent A~EJ~)~o W 096/38373 PCTrUS96/06414 through the exit port opening 80, the vent ~hA~he~ 74, and the vent ~-h? h~ slot op~n~ ng 82 and pass into the liquid cont~ n~ 22. At this time, the check valve 132 is in the cloc~ position illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 5 and ~ t:-V~lltS fluid from the pump rh~ h.~.- from passing through the resilient sleeve 130 and into the liquid cont~ne~ through the dip tube 72. As the pump piston is subsequently moved from the ~l-C~h~ge position toward the charge position, the vent rod 124 ~cengages from the 10 resilient sleeve 130 and the sleeve closes the exit port or~n~ ng 80. The cont~ n~ vc -nt of the piston 118 toward the charge position creates a vacuum in the pump ~.hr h~ 34. The vacuum causes the check valve 132 to open as illustrated in Figure 7, and draws liquid from 15 the liquid cont~ne~ through the resilient sleeve and into the pump chr h~, By i~-Leylally forming the check valve 132 with the valve element 130, the number of l_ ,_ ?nt parts of the x~ ayer is r~l~c~ and the assembly of the x~ a~er is 20 simplified. Alternatively, the check valve 132 could be integrally formed with the lower portion of the liquid pA~ge 64, and a similar flapper valve could be integrally formed with the liquid pACc~ge and posit~on~
to close over the exit port op~n1 ng 80, thereby 25 ~1~ ~n~ting the valve element 130.
In both embo~ - ts of the x~ ayer~ because the liguid cont~e~ in the pump chamber is ; ns "lessible and quickly rises to the pressure level necessary to open the pressure buildup valve 54, once the pump ~.h. h~ 34 30 has been primed with the liquid, it is not n~ceC-c~y to move the pump piston 118 completely to its discharge position shown in drawing Figure 4 to discharge the liquid from the trigger x~ ayer. It should be appreciated that by the time the pump piston r~che~ the 35 ~c~h~ge position shown in Figure 4 substantially all of the liquid that had been drawn into the pump chamber has W 096/38373 PCTrUS96/06414 been dispensed from the trigger sprayer. Therefore, it is not n~c~ecA~y to move the piston completely to the ~echA~ge position once the pump rh~ her has been primed with liquid in order to dispense the liquid from the 5 trigger ~lay~ With shorter ~ech~ge strokes of the pump piston in the pump ~h; h~ once the pump ~hr he~ has been primed, the vent piston rod 124 will not extend through the exit port oren~ ng 80 and engage the valve element. The shorter pump piston ~1e~hA~ge strokes would 10 ~lev~--t any discharge of liquid in the pump chamber through the aligned inlet port or~nings 40, 66, byrAee~ng the valve element, and into the liquid cont~iner through the vent chr h~ 74 and the vent chamber slot op~n~ ng 82.
Operating the trigger X~ayer in this -nne~ will cause 15 all of the liquid drawn into the pump ~hr~h~ to be disr~c~ from the trigger ~dyer through the nozzle oririce 1~8 whi~e avoiding n~rhA~ging any of the liquid from the pump ~-hr h~ back into the liquid cont~n~.
Each trigger splayer of the invention described 20 above provides a pressure b~ r trigger X~dyer that disr~ne~c liquid from the ~dyer only when the -nllAl actuation of the pump piston has caused the liquid to increase in pressure to a level of pressure sufficient to unseat the pressure buildup valve from its valve seat.
25 When the liquid is caused to reach this pressure level, it is then dis~nc~ from the trigger s~ld-yer. In addition, when priming the pump, the pressure buildup trigger ~ldyer of the invention permits the venting of air ContA~ n~ in the pump r,hr h~ 34 through the ~layer 30 housing 12 to the interior of a liquid contA~n~ 22 to which the X~ldyer is attA~he~. The construction of the pressure buildup trigger ~dyer enables venting of the air from the pump chr he~ without creating any open~ngs in the sprayer housing through which the liquid could 35 leak from the housing.
W 096/38373 PCTrUS96/06414 While the present invention has been described by reference to specific ~ hoAi -nts, it should be undel~od that modifications and variations of the invention may be constructed without departing from the 5 scope of the invention defined in the following claims.
. .
In prior art pressure buildup sprayers, difficulties are frequently encountered in first priming the pump of the s;~dyer with liquid from the cont~ nc~ to 25 which it is att~ch~. In priming the sprayer pump, air in the pump ch~ h~ must be displaced as liquid from the cont~ine~ is drawn into the pump l h~ he~. However, due -to the ~_ _ essibility of the air in the pump chamber, it is often difficult to raise the pressure of the air by actuation of the ~yer pump to the level required to open the pressure regulator and permit the air to be 5 displaced from the pump chr h~~ and through the pressure regulator and the nozzle orifice. Frequently, the biasing force of the pressure regulator valve in prior art pressure b~ r ~ ayers is too large to be overcome by the increased pressure of the air in the pump r~hr h.
10 when priming the pump due to the ~o~ essibility of the air.
Summary Of The Invention It is an object of the invention to provide a pressure buildup ~layer in which the air contA; ne~l in the pump ~.hr her iS vented to the interior of a liguid cont~ine~ to which the X~ay~r is att~h~ when priming 5 the pump, while ~ ni ~; 7i n~ the nl h~ of ,_ _- ç?nt parts of the Y~ ~yer.
The pressure buildup ~ ayer of the present invent$on $s a trigger ~ ~yer; however, the novel features of the ~yer may be employed in other types of 10 pressure buildup ~layers in Ov~l.- ing the problem of venting a$r from the sprayers' pump ~h? h~s when priming the pump ~hr h~s. The trigger sprayer of the invention is generally comprised of a ~la-yer housing contA~ ning a liquid ~ hA~ge pA~:A~e, a pump QhA h~, a vent l h. he~, 15 and a liquid pACCA~e ~ ni cating the discharge passage, pump t'h: h~ and vent chamber w$th each other and with the $nter$or of a l$quid contAi ne~~ to which the S~l~yer housing $s attAche~. A pump piston is mounted in the pump t'h; he~ and is operatively t--onn~cted to a trigger on 20 the sprayer housing for reciprocating ,,,~v~ -nt of the pump piston in the pump ch~A~h~ in response to pivoting mo~. - t of the trigger on the ~ayer housing.
Positioned in the liquid passage between the pump chamber and the liquid contA~ne~ is a check valve. A pressure W 096/38373 PCTÇUS96/06414 regulator valve or pressure buildup valve is also positioned in the liqu$d passage between the pump ~.hr h~
and the fl~-h~ge pAs~Age. The pressure buildup valve is spring b~ased to a closed position blocking ~ n1cation 5 of liquid from the pump nhr h~r to the discharge passage.
The pressure buildup valve is forced from its closed position to an open position . ln~cating the pump ~h. ~ with the liquid ~c~h~ge passage when the pump is actuated, causing liquid in the pump chamber to build 10 up to a pressure level that forces the pressure buildup valve to move to its opened position.
A valve element in the form of a resilient, tubular sleeve is posit~ on~ in the liquid passage ad~acent the vent chr h~ . An exit port extends through 15 the ~layer housing between the vent ~hA h~ and the liquid p~ Age. The valve element in its at rest position ~loc~c over the exit port. The tubular configuration of the valve element permits fluid ~ nlcAtion between the interior of the liquid 20 contA ~ n~ and the pump ~h~ h~ through the valve element interior.
A vent piston is mounted in the vent ch~ h~ and is r-onn~-ted to the pump piston of the trigger ~l~yer.
The vent piston has a pro;ecting rod cn~n~cted thereto.
25 On reciprocation of the vent piston in the vent ~.hr h~
in response to ~nllAl pivoting of the trigger, the vent piston rod is ext~n~ through the exit port and engages against a side of the valve element, displacing the valve element from lts closed position over the exit port. The 30 displ~f - t of the valve element . ln~cates the interior of the pump ~hr ~ with the interior of the vent chr h~ through a section of the liquid p~ ge and the exit port. The vent chr h~ in turn .- lnicates with the interior of the liquid cont~ n~ through a slot 35 op~n~ ng in the vent chr h~ . When priming the pump of the trigger ~layer~ the air in the pump chA h~ iS
W 096138373 PCTrUS96106414 forced through a section of the liquid passage bypassing the valve element, through the exit port, the vent chr her, and the slot op~n~ ng in the vent ~-hA~h~r into the interior of the liquid cont~ner. In this -nner, 5 the air in the pump r.hr h~r of the trigger sprayer is vented from the pump ~.hr h~r without the ne~ ~sity of the _ , essed air unseating the pressure buildup valve and without liquid of the ContA~ n~r l~Ak~ng from the trigger ~., aye~
In an alternate ~ ho~ ~ L of the present invention, the above described check valve in the liquid pA~sAge and the valve element are replaced by a valve element having an integral check valve, thereby reducing the nl h~r of ~ ent parts of the x~ ayer and 15 simplifying its A~ hly, Brief DescriPtion of the Drawinqs Further ob~ects and features of the present invention are revealed in the following detailed description of the preferred ~ ho~i -nt of the invention and in the drawing figures wherein:
Figure 1 is a side elevation view, in section, of the pressure buildup trigger X~layer of the invention;
Figure 2 is a partial elevation view of the trigger x~ ayer, in section, showing relative positions of the ~_ _ ent parts of the trigger ~l~yer prior to 10 actuation of the pump in priming the pump;
Figure 3 is a s; ~1;3r view to Figure 2 showing the relative positions of the ~ e~t parts of the trigger X~la-yer in venting air from the pump chamber to the liquid contA ln~r to which the ~la-yer housing is 15 attA~.h~;
Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 2 showing the relative positions of the ~_ pon~nt parts of the trigger ~l~yer in pumping liquid from the pump chamber, past the pressure buildup valve to the ~iC~hArge passage of the 20 -L~ ~Y- ;
~ CA 02223107 1997-12-02 PC~ 96/06414 IPEA~US 23 ~EC ~9~6 Figure 5 is a side elevation view, in section, of a second embodiment of the pressure buildup trigger sprayer of the invention having a modified pressure buildup valve assembly and an air vent sleeve with an 5 integral check valve;
Figure 6 is a partial elevation view, in section, of the encircled portion of the trigger sprayer of Figure 5 illustrating the check valve in a closed position; and Figure 7 is a partial elevation view, in section, 10 of the encircled portion of the trigger sprayer of Figure 5 illustrating the check valve in an open position.
Description Of The Preferred Embodiments Figure 1 shows the pressure buildup trigger ~la~er 10 of the present invention. The trigger sprayer 15 is basically comprised of a sprayer housing pump chamber section 12, a nozzle head 14, a trigger 16, and a piston 5 ass~bly- 18. In th~ p~efe~ed e~bc~iment, eaGh Qf these nent parts is constructed of plastic material;
however, other types of materials may be employed in their construction without departing from the intended scope of the invention. The sprayer housing also 10 ~_ ~ ises a vent chamber section. A cap 20 connects the vent chamber section of the housing to a liquid cont~;n~
22. In variant embodiments of the trigger sprayer, the cap may be mounted to the sprayer housing for relative rotation thereto as is shown, or it may be integrally 15 formed with the sprayer housing and connect to the cont~n~r by a bayonet type co~n~-tor. Furthermore, although the novel construction of the pressure buildup ~ ayer is shown and described with reference to a trigger sprayer, it should be understood that the 20 construction of the sprayer may be employed in other types of ~ay~rs, for example pump sprayers, without departing from the intended scope of the invention.
The trigger sprayer housing contains a liquid discharge passage 26 having a center axis and a nozzle AMENDED S~tE~
W 096/38373 PCT~US96/06414 head or~n~ng 28 at the left hand end and an inlet oren~ng 30 at the axially opposite right hand end of the liquid discharge passage as seen in Figure 1.
Directly below the liquid discharge r~ ge 26 in 5 the ~l~yer ho~s~ng 12 is a pump chamber 34. The interior of the pump ~-h~ he-~ 34 is surrounded by a cylindrical side wall 36 and a circular back wall 38. An inlet port orDn~g 40 and an outlet port open~ng 42 pass through the back wall 38 of the pump ch? b~. Positioned 10 on the back wall between the inlet and outlet port op~ngs is a cylindrical spring retainer 44.
An upper portion of a liquid passage 48 extends through the ~l~yer housing 12 ~_ ~nicating the ~ h~ge p~ ge inlet op~ning 30 with the outlet port 15 42 of the pump chr h~, The interior surface of the liquid p~s~Age 48 is cylindrical. A valve stem 50 pro~ects downwardly from the ~a~r housing 12 through the interior of the liquid passage 48. The valve stem 50 extends beyond the liquid discharge passage inlet or~n~g 20 30 to a distal end of the stem positioned ad~acent the outlet port or~n1ng 42 of the pump ~h~ he~ . The valve stem has at least one ylOOv~, but is shown with a pair of ylOGveS 52 formed in the exterior surface of the valve stem 50. The grooves 52 begin at an intermediate portion 25 of the valve stem opposite the liquid ~-h~ge rA~ge inlet oren~n~ 30 and extend to the distal end of the valve stem opposite the pump ch; h~ outlet port op~
42.
A pressure regulator or pressure buildup valve 54 30 is mounted on the valve stem 50 for reciprocating ~ ~t of the valve over the exterior surface of the stem. The pressure buildup valve 54 has a cylindrical interior surface that slides over the exterior surface of the valve stem 50 but does not block the pair of grooves 35 52 formed in the valve stem exterior surface. An exterior surface of the pressure buildup valve 54 mates ; CA 02223107 1997-12-02 W 096/38373 PCTrUS96/06414 in sliding engagement with the cylindrical interior surface of the liquid pAc~Age 48. The sliding engagement between the exterior surface of the pressure buildup valve 54 and the interior surface of the liquid passage 5 48 prevents a flow of liquid between these two engaging surfaces. The pressure buildup valve 54 also comprises a downwardly pro~ecting, generally, ~.on~ ÇA1 1y ~hAr~
~ ng surface 56. A coil spring 58 is mounted over the valve stem 50 and engages between the ~ldy--r housing 12 10 and the top of the pressure buildup valve 54. The coil spring 58 biases the pressure buildup valve downwardly.
A separate vent ch, he.~ housing section 60 is assembled to the sprayer housing pump ~.hr b~ section 12.
The vent chr h~ housing section 60 comprises a 15 cylindrical column 62 that extends upwardly into the pump ~hr h~ housing section 12 and forms a lower portion of the liquid rA~sAge 64. An inlet port op~ning 66 of the column is positlon~ ad~acent the inlet port oren~ng 40 of the pump chr h~, A lower end of the column has a 20 valve seat 68 formed therein and a ball check valve 70 is contA 1 ne~ in the column on the valve seat. A dip tube 72 is conne~-ted to the bottom of the column and ~_ lnicates with the liquid in the liquid contAine~ 22 to which the trigger -~yer 10 is attAch~.
A vent ~hr he~ 74 is also formed in the vent chr '-~ housing section 60. The vent chamber 74 has a cylindrical side wall 76. An A~-C~ or~n~ ng 78 is provided at the front or left hand end of the vent ch- '~~ 74 as viewed in Figure 1, and an exit port 30 or~ni ng 80 is provided at the rear or right hand end of the vent chr ~ . As seen in the drawing figures, the exit port or~ni ng 80 extends through the vent ~.h~ h~
housing section 60 ~ n; cating the lower portion of the liquid pAccAge 64 with the vent rh~A h~ 74 through the 35 exit port or~ning 80. A slot op~ning 82 is provided through the vent chamber side wall 76 _ lnicating the W O 96/38373 PCTrUS96106414 vent ~-.hF h~T 74 with the interior of the liquid cont~i n~
22 to which the trigger ~l~yer is attrche~. As ~Ypl A~ l earlier, the bol,~- of the vent ~hA~h~ housing section 62 has the cap 20 mounted thereon.
A valve element formed as a tubular, resilient sleeve 86 is press fit into the lower portion of the liquid passage 64 contA1ne~l in the vent t~hr h.~ housing section 60. A lower section 88 of the valve element 86 is press fit into the lower portion of the liquid rA~c~ge 10 64. This lower section 88 has a cylindrical, tubular configuration and the exterior surface of the section closes over the exit port 80 at the rearward end of the vent chr he~ 74 in the at rest configuration of the valve element shown in Figure 1. In the at rest configuration 15 of the valve element lower section 88, it closes ,_ ln~~Ation between the pump chr h.~ 34 and the liquid contrine~ 22 through the exit port op~ni ng 80. A series of op~n~ngs 90 are provided through the cylindrical wall of the valve element 86 intermediate the element lower 20 section 88 and an upper section 92 of the element. The hollow interior 94 of the valve element permits a flow of liquid from the liquid contr~ n~, through the dip tube 72 bypAcc~ng the ball check valve 70, through the lower section 88 of the valve element and the series of _ 25 or~n1ngs 90 and through the two inlet port openings 66, 40 into the pump ~ hr h~ 34. A pair of criss-crossing arms 96 at the bGI_ t of the valve element lower section 88 ~levellt the ball check valve 70 from seating in the interior of the valve element lower section and constrain 30 the ball check valve to vf -nt within the lower portion of the liquid passage 64 between the valve seat 68 and the pair of arms 96.
The valve element upper section 92 is also press fit into the column 62 of the vent chamber housing 35 section as seen in the drawing figures. The interior bore 94 of the valve element does not extend entirely W 096/38373 PCTrUS96106414 through the element upper section 92 and is blocked by a top wall 98. An opposite side of the top wall 98 from the interior bore 94 engages against the distal end of the valve stem 50. Pro~ecting upwardly from the valve 5 ~1~ - t top wall 98 and spaced radially from the exterior surface of the valve stem 50 is a cylindrical valve seat 100. The valve seat 100 is configured to receive the ~.~n~Al c~Al1~g surface 56 of the pressure regulator or pressure b~ r valve 54 as shown in Figure 1. The 10 engay~- -nt of the C~Al ing surface 56 of the pressure buildup valve 54 with the cylindrical valve seat 100 seals closed fluid l_ lnication from the pump rhA~h~ 34 through the outlet port 42 to the pair of grooves 52 formed in the valve stem 50 and the upper portion of the 15 liquid pAccA~e 48.
The nozzle head 14 has a construction that is S~ i1 A~ to that employed in trigger sprayers of the prior art. The nozzle head includes a tubular pro;ection 104 that is inserted into the liquid ~ic~hA~ge pAc~Age 26 20 through the nozzle head opening 28 of the rACcAge. The hollow interior of the tubular projection 104 forms a part of the liquid ~cchA~ge pA~CAge 26 ext~n~i~g to an end wall 106 of the nozzle head. A nozzle orifice 108 extends through the end wall 106. A fluid spinner 25 ACS~ hly 110 iS contAi ne~ in the interior of the tubular projection 104 ad~acent the nozzle orifice 108. The fluid sri nn~ ~co- hl y 110 imparts a swirl to liquid flowing through the ~ic~hA~ge passage 26 toward the nozzle orifice 108 to dispense the liquid from the 30 orifice in a spray pattern. Alternatively, other known constructions of nozzle heads may be employed with the trigger ~ldy~l 10 of the invention to dispense liquid from the ~ ayer as a spray, stream and/or foam.
The trigger 16 is mounted to the trigger sprayer 35 10 in a conventional ?nne~ to permit pivoting I ,v~~ - t of the trigger 16 relative to the sprayer housing 12.
CA 02223l07 l997-l2-02 W 096/38373 PCT~US96/06414 The trigger 16 is operatively ~-onne~-ted to the piston ~cc hl y 18 in any ~..v~..tional matter.
The piston ~o~ hl y 18 includes a pump piston 118 and a vent piston 120 that are integrally ~-onn~-ted to 5 each other. The pump piston 118 is mounted in the pump chr h~ 34 for sliding reciprocating ,v~ - t within the cylindrical side wall 36 of the pump nhr ' e~. The vent piston 120 is mounted in the vent chr h~ 74 for sl lfling reciprocating ~ - t within the cylindrical side wall 10 76 of the vent chr h.~.-. A coil spring 122 is mounted between the spring retA ~ n~ 44 in the pump chamber and the pump piston 118. The coil spring 122 biases the pump piston 118 to the charge position of the pump piston relative to the pump rhr h~ shown in Figure 1. What is 15 meant by the charge position is that position of the pump piston 118 relative to the pump ~hr h~ 34 that the piston moves to in the pump ~hr h~ to increase the interior volume of the pump chr h~ in creating a vacuum in the pump rhr h~- 34 to draw liquid from the liquid 20 cont~ n~ 22 up through the dip tube 72 and the lower portion of the liquid passage 64 into the pump ch~h~.
From the charge position of the pump piston 118 shown in Figure 1, ~nllAl pivoting of the trigger 16 toward the ~la~er housing 12 causes the pump piston 118 to move to 25 the right as shown in Figure 1 from its charge position to a ~chA~ge position of the pump piston 118 relative to the pump rhr h~ 34 shown in Figures 3 and 4. What is meant by the ~cchA~ge position of the pump piston relative to the pump ~hr h~ iS that position that the 30 pump piston 118 is moved to ln the pump chamber 34 to decrease the interior volume of the pump c-hAmh~ and increase the pressure of the fluid ContA ~ ne~ in the pump .hr hoT~, The vent piston 120, being integrally r,o~nected to 35 the pump piston 118 by the piston A~Q' hly 18, moves simultaneously with the pump piston from a closed W 096/38373 PCTrUS96/06414 position of the vent piston 120 relative to the vent chamber 74 shown in Figure 1 where the vent piston blocks ~__ ln~cation of the liquid cont~ne~ interior with the exterior envil~ t of the trigger ~layer through the 5 vent nh~ ~ 74 and the vent chr '-~ slot or~n~ng 82, and a vent position of the vent piston 120 in the vent hr he-~ 74 shown in Figures 3 and 4 where the position of the vent piston permits r- ln~ Ation between the exterior envi c t of the trigger s~ld-yel and the 10 interior of the liquid contA~ner through the vent chamber 74 and the vent chamber slot op~n;~g 82.
Pro~ecting from the vent piston 120 is a rod 124 having a length ~ n~ioned to extend through the exit port op~n~ ng 80 at the rearward end of the vent ~,hr h.~.-15 74 and engage against the exterior of the valve element lower section 88 in response to the pump piston 118 being moved to the ~sch~ge p~siti~n in ~he pump chamber 34 and the vent piston 120 being simultaneously moved to the vent position in the vent nhr ~ ~~ 74, In operation of the trigger ~ldy~-, the trigger is pivoted causing the pump piston to move to the ~h~ge position to force the air from the pump n-h~ b~
prior to priming the pump. As the pump piston 118 is moved to the ~c~-h~ge position and the vent piston 120 _ 25 is moved to the vent position, the vent piston rod 124 extends through the exit port op~n~ ng 80 and . esses the resilient lower section of the valve element 88, separating this section from closing over the exit port op~n~ ng 80. As seen in Figures 3 and 4, with the vent 30 piston rod 124 ~ essing the lower section of the valve element 88 away from the exit port opening 80, communication is established between the pump rhr b~ 34 and the interior of the liquid contA~ne~ 22 attAnhe~ to the trigger ~dyer through the inlet port opening 40 in 35 the back wall of the pump chamber, the inlet port op~ni ng 66 in the column 62 of the vent chamber housing section, W 096138373 PCTrUS96/06414 the lower portion of the liquid r~Age 64 byp~ ng the lower section 88 of the valve element, the exit port or~n~ng 80, the vent ~hr h~ 74 and the vent ~hA~he~ slot op~n~ng 82. This path of l_- ln~cation between the pump 5 ~hr '~ 34 and the interior of the liquid cont~ n~ 22 permits air to be forced from the pump chr h~ and into the liquid cont~ne~ along this ~ n~c~tion path when priming the pump.
As the pump piston 118 is subsequently moved by 10 the coil spring toward the charge position of the pump piston in the pump ch~ h~, the vent piston moves from the vent position of the piston in the vent chr h~.~ 74 toward the closed position of the vent piston. As the vent piston moves, the vent rod 124 is withdrawn through 15 the exit port opening 80 and disengages from the resilient lower section 88 of the valve element, permitting the lower section to return to its at rest position shown in Figure 1 closing over the exit port or~n~ng 80. This position of the valve ~1- -nt lower 20 section 88 blocks the fluid ~_- ln;cation between the pump ~hz h~ 34 and the interior of the liquid contA i n~
22. As the pump piston 118 moves toward the charge position in the pump ~.h: h~ 34, a vacuum is created in the pump ~hr h~ that draws liquid from the liquid 25 ContA ~ ne~ through the dip tube 72, past the ball check valve 70, through the interior 94 and the series of or~n~ngs 90 of the valve element and through the two inlet oren~ngs 66, 40 into the pump ~hr h~ 34 thereby charging the pump ~hr h~ with the liquid. On the next 30 s~ceeA~ ng reciprocation of the pump piston 118 toward the ~1~h~ge position in the pump chamber 34, the decrease in the interior volume of the pump ~.hz h~
~ll~C the liquid cont~ne~ therein to increase in pressure. Because the liquid is ins _ essible, it 35 i ~'~tely exerts a force on the pressure buildup valve 54. When the force of liquid pressure on the valve W O 96/38373 PCTrUS96/06414 increases to the level that it eXcD~A-~ the force of the coil spring 58, the liquid pressure force causes the valve to move upwardly over the valve stem 50 against the bias of the coil spring 58. As the pressure buildup 5 valve 54 moves upwardly over the valve stem 50, the ~nl ç~ 1 l n~ surface 56 of the valve unseats from the cylindrical valve seat 100, thereby enabling the liquid cont~neA in the pump t'.h. h~ 34 to flow through the outlet port ort~ni ng 42 bypAcsi ng the pressure buildup 10 valve 54 and the cylindrical valve seat 100, through the pair of y~ OGveS 52 on the valve stem 50 and through the upper portion of the liquid passage 48, through the inlet oren~ ng 30 of the liquid discharge passage 26 and through the liquid Ai~ch~ge passage 26 to the nozzle orifice 108 15 in the nozzle head 14 from which the liquid is disp~A
from the trigger ~la~
An aIternate ~ ~o~i - ~ of ~he sprayer shown in Figure 5 employs a modified pressure buildup valve assembly and a valve element 130 having a check valve 132 20 c~nn~-ted thereto. The l~ -i nA~ of the ~ ent parts of the ~a~er are si ~l~ to the parts previously described and are therefore identified by like reference numerals.
The modified valve ~c~ hly includes a pressure 25 buildup valve 134 mounted on a valve stem 142 for reciprocating I ~ -nt of the valve over the exterior surface of the stem. The stem 142 i8 formed with a plurality of y oov~s 143 along its length. The pressure buildup valve 134 has a downwardly pro~ecting, generally 30 conically shaped exterior s~-~l ing surface 136 that is ~h~p~A to be received in and seat in sealing engagement with a cylindrical interior surface of a valve seat 138.
The valve seat 138 has a cylindrical center post 140 that pro~ects upwardly at the center of the cylindrical 35 interior surface of the valve seat 138. The top of the center post 140 engages with the bottom of the valve stem CA 02223l07 l997-l2-02 W 096/38373 PCTrUS96106414 142. The pressure buildup valve 134 has a cylindrical interior bore that slides over the cylindrical exterior surface of the valve seat post 140 to ~lev~lt a flow of liquid between these engaging surfaces. The exterior surface of the pressure b~ ~llr valve 134 mates in sliding engagement with the cylindrical interior surface of the liquid rA~Age 48, also to ~leve-lt a flow of liquid between these engaging surfaces. The coil spring 58 h~ A~ e the pressure buildup valve downwardly, while a~0 valve stop 144 formed on the valve stem 142 limits t of the valve in the upward direction.
While the pressure buildup valve is in its downwardly biased position shown in Figure 5, the valve ~ ~vellts a flow of fluid from the pump chamber 34 through the liguid rAC~Age 48 to the discharge passage 26. The bi ACi ng force of the spring 58 ~ ev~--ts the valve 134 from unseating from the center post until the pump chamber 34 is primed with liquid. After the pump t-h. h~r has been primed, and the pump piston is moved towards the r ~ hArge position, the pressure of the liquid cont~i ne~
within the pump r~.hr h~r increases until the force of liquid pressure exerted on the valve ~Yc~c the force of the spring biasing the valve to its closed position.
Once this level of pressure is r~A~he~, the buildup valve begins to move upwardly along the valve seat post 140 and valve stem 142 against the force of the spring 58.
Hc~evel, not until the liquid pressure is sufficient to lift the pressure buildup valve 134 above the center post 140 can liquid from the pump ~.h. h~ flow through the 30 liquid pACCAge 48 along the valve stem y~ocv,2s 143 bypassing the pressure buildup valve 134 and into the liquid ~chA~ge pA~CAge~ Thus, while the pressure buildup valve of the previously described embo~1 - t permitted a flow of liquid through the pair of ylooves 52 formed in the valve stem 50 as soon as the valve 54 was displaced from the valve seat 100, the valve assembly - - -~ CA 02223107 1997-12-02 ~PEA~JS 2 3 DEC 1996 shown in Figure 5 requires greater displacement of the valve 134 before a flow of liquid is permitted.
Moreover, while the desired minimum pressure required to unseat the pressure buildup valve in either embodiment 5 can be ad;usted by changing the bias of the coil spring 58, for the embodiment shown in Figure 5 the desired mi n1ml pressure required to permit a flow of liquid can also be ad;usted by changing the height of the valve seat post 140. By extending the length of the post 140 from 10 that shown in Figure 5, a greater liquid pressure in the pump chamber 34 is needed to unseat the valve 134 from the seat 138 and expose the stem grooves 143. By lessening the length of the post 140, a lesser liquid pressure is required.
Also shown in Figure 5 is valve element 130 with the check valve 132 ~o~n~cted thereto. The check valve 132 of this alternate embodiment is a flapper valve, and is integrally formed with the valve element 130. What is meant by a flapper valve is a valve 132 having a hinge 20 133 ~.onn~.tion to the sprayer housing that permits the valve to pivot relative to the sprayer housing about the hinge ~o~nection between open and closed positions of the valve relative to the sprayer housing. The check valve 132 formed integrally with the sleeve 130 eliminates the 25 need for the-ball valve 70 of the previously described embodiment. The valve element is a resilient sleeve similar to that of the previously described embodiment and functions in a similar ~n~, The sleeve 130 is press fit into the lower portion of the liquid passage 64 30 and forms a portion of the liquid passage which closes over the exit port opening 80.
When the pump piston 118 is moved to the discharge position, the vent rod 124 extends through the exit port opening 80 and displaces the resilient sleeve 130 from 35 the exit port opening, thereby allowing air in the pump chamber 34 to bypass the resilient sleeve and vent A~EJ~)~o W 096/38373 PCTrUS96/06414 through the exit port opening 80, the vent ~hA~he~ 74, and the vent ~-h? h~ slot op~n~ ng 82 and pass into the liquid cont~ n~ 22. At this time, the check valve 132 is in the cloc~ position illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 5 and ~ t:-V~lltS fluid from the pump rh~ h.~.- from passing through the resilient sleeve 130 and into the liquid cont~ne~ through the dip tube 72. As the pump piston is subsequently moved from the ~l-C~h~ge position toward the charge position, the vent rod 124 ~cengages from the 10 resilient sleeve 130 and the sleeve closes the exit port or~n~ ng 80. The cont~ n~ vc -nt of the piston 118 toward the charge position creates a vacuum in the pump ~.hr h~ 34. The vacuum causes the check valve 132 to open as illustrated in Figure 7, and draws liquid from 15 the liquid cont~ne~ through the resilient sleeve and into the pump chr h~, By i~-Leylally forming the check valve 132 with the valve element 130, the number of l_ ,_ ?nt parts of the x~ ayer is r~l~c~ and the assembly of the x~ a~er is 20 simplified. Alternatively, the check valve 132 could be integrally formed with the lower portion of the liquid pA~ge 64, and a similar flapper valve could be integrally formed with the liquid pACc~ge and posit~on~
to close over the exit port op~n1 ng 80, thereby 25 ~1~ ~n~ting the valve element 130.
In both embo~ - ts of the x~ ayer~ because the liguid cont~e~ in the pump chamber is ; ns "lessible and quickly rises to the pressure level necessary to open the pressure buildup valve 54, once the pump ~.h. h~ 34 30 has been primed with the liquid, it is not n~ceC-c~y to move the pump piston 118 completely to its discharge position shown in drawing Figure 4 to discharge the liquid from the trigger x~ ayer. It should be appreciated that by the time the pump piston r~che~ the 35 ~c~h~ge position shown in Figure 4 substantially all of the liquid that had been drawn into the pump chamber has W 096/38373 PCTrUS96/06414 been dispensed from the trigger sprayer. Therefore, it is not n~c~ecA~y to move the piston completely to the ~echA~ge position once the pump rh~ her has been primed with liquid in order to dispense the liquid from the 5 trigger ~lay~ With shorter ~ech~ge strokes of the pump piston in the pump ~h; h~ once the pump ~hr he~ has been primed, the vent piston rod 124 will not extend through the exit port oren~ ng 80 and engage the valve element. The shorter pump piston ~1e~hA~ge strokes would 10 ~lev~--t any discharge of liquid in the pump chamber through the aligned inlet port or~nings 40, 66, byrAee~ng the valve element, and into the liquid cont~iner through the vent chr h~ 74 and the vent chamber slot op~n~ ng 82.
Operating the trigger X~ayer in this -nne~ will cause 15 all of the liquid drawn into the pump ~hr~h~ to be disr~c~ from the trigger ~dyer through the nozzle oririce 1~8 whi~e avoiding n~rhA~ging any of the liquid from the pump ~-hr h~ back into the liquid cont~n~.
Each trigger splayer of the invention described 20 above provides a pressure b~ r trigger X~dyer that disr~ne~c liquid from the ~dyer only when the -nllAl actuation of the pump piston has caused the liquid to increase in pressure to a level of pressure sufficient to unseat the pressure buildup valve from its valve seat.
25 When the liquid is caused to reach this pressure level, it is then dis~nc~ from the trigger s~ld-yer. In addition, when priming the pump, the pressure buildup trigger ~ldyer of the invention permits the venting of air ContA~ n~ in the pump r,hr h~ 34 through the ~layer 30 housing 12 to the interior of a liquid contA~n~ 22 to which the X~ldyer is attA~he~. The construction of the pressure buildup trigger ~dyer enables venting of the air from the pump chr he~ without creating any open~ngs in the sprayer housing through which the liquid could 35 leak from the housing.
W 096/38373 PCTrUS96/06414 While the present invention has been described by reference to specific ~ hoAi -nts, it should be undel~od that modifications and variations of the invention may be constructed without departing from the 5 scope of the invention defined in the following claims.
. .
Claims
What is Claimed is:
1. A sprayer for attachment to a liquid container, the sprayer comprising:
a sprayer housing;
a connector for attaching the sprayer housing to a liquid container;
a pump chamber in the sprayer housing;
a manually operated pump mechanism mounted to the pump chamber for reciprocating movement of the pump mechanism between a charge position and a discharge position relative to the sprayer housing;
a liquid passage for conveying liquid from the liquid container to the pump chamber, the liquid passage having a check valve therein for permitting a draw of liquid from the liquid container through the liquid passage and the check valve and into the pump chamber, and for preventing a flow of fluid from the pump chamber through the liquid passage and the check valve and into the liquid container;
the sprayer housing includes an exit port closed over by a portion of the liquid passage, the portion of the liquid passage that closes over the exit port includes a resilient sleeve positioned in the liquid passage, and the check valve is integrally formed as one piece with the sleeve.
2. The sprayer of Claim 1, wherein:
the sprayer further comprising a rod manually reciprocated in response to reciprocation of the pump mechanism, the rod extending through the exit port and displacing the sleeve from the exit port in response to the pump mechanism being moved to the discharge position, thereby allowing air to vent from the pump chamber through the exit port.
3. The sprayer of Claim 2, wherein:
the exit port communicates with the liquid container, thereby allowing air to vent from the pump chamber through the exit port and into the liquid container when the pump mechanism is moved to the discharge position.
6. The sprayer of Claim 1, wherein:
the rod extends through the exit port and displaces a portion of the sleeve from the exit port in response to the pump mechanism being moved to the discharge position, thereby allowing air in the pump chamber to vent from the pump chamber through the exit port, and the rod withdraws from the exit port and permits the portion of the sleeve to close over the exit port in response to the pump mechanism being moved from the discharge position.
7. The sprayer of Claim 6, wherein:
the exit port communicates with the liquid container, thereby allowing air in the pump chamber to vent through the exit port and into the liquid container in response to the pump mechanism being moved to the discharge position.
8. The sprayer of Claim 6, wherein:
the check valve opens permitting a draw of liquid from the liquid container through the sleeve and check valve and into the pump chamber when the pump mechanism is moved toward the charge position, and the check valve closes preventing a flow of liquid from the pump chamber through the sleeve and check valve and into the liquid container when the pump mechanism is moved toward the discharge position.
10. A sprayer for attachment to a liquid container, comprising:
a sprayer housing;
a connector for attaching the sprayer housing to a liquid container;
a pump chamber in the sprayer housing;
a pump mechanism mounted to the pump chamber for reciprocating movement of the pump mechanism between a charge position and a discharge position;
a trigger on the sprayer housing for manually reciprocating the pump mechanism between the charge and discharge positions;
a vent valve positioned in the sprayer housing for venting air from the pump chamber in response to the pump mechanism being moved to the discharge position when priming the pump chamber, the vent valve includes a resilient sleeve; and a check valve in contact with the vent valve and positioned in the sprayer housing for preventing liquid in the pump chamber from entering the liquid container when the pump mechanism is moved towards the discharge position after the pump chamber has been primed.
11. The sprayer of Claim 10, wherein:
the check valve is connected to the resilient sleeve.
12. The sprayer of Claim 11, wherein:
the check valve permits a draw of liquid from the liquid container through the resilient sleeve and into the pump chamber when the pump mechanism is moved toward the charge position, and the check valve prevents a flow of liquid from the pump chamber through the resilient sleeve and into the liquid container when the pump mechanism is moved toward the discharge position.
13. The sprayer of Claim 12, wherein:
the check valve is a flapper valve integrally connected to the resilient sleeve by a hinge.
14. The sprayer of Claim 10, further comprising:
a liquid passage extending through the sprayer housing for conveying liquid from the liquid container to the pump chamber, the liquid passage including an exit port, the resilient sleeve being positioned within the liquid passage and closing over the exit port.
15. The sprayer of Claim 14, wherein:
a rod is operatively connected to the trigger to displaces the resilient sleeve from the exit port when the pump mechanism is moved to the discharge position, thereby opening the exit port, and to return the resilient sleeve to a position over the exit port when the pump mechanism is moved from the discharge position, thereby closing the exit port.
16. The sprayer of Claim 15, wherein:
the exit port communicates with the liquid container, thereby allowing air to vent from the pump chamber through the exit port and into the liquid container when the pump mechanism is moved to the discharge position.
1. A sprayer for attachment to a liquid container, the sprayer comprising:
a sprayer housing;
a connector for attaching the sprayer housing to a liquid container;
a pump chamber in the sprayer housing;
a manually operated pump mechanism mounted to the pump chamber for reciprocating movement of the pump mechanism between a charge position and a discharge position relative to the sprayer housing;
a liquid passage for conveying liquid from the liquid container to the pump chamber, the liquid passage having a check valve therein for permitting a draw of liquid from the liquid container through the liquid passage and the check valve and into the pump chamber, and for preventing a flow of fluid from the pump chamber through the liquid passage and the check valve and into the liquid container;
the sprayer housing includes an exit port closed over by a portion of the liquid passage, the portion of the liquid passage that closes over the exit port includes a resilient sleeve positioned in the liquid passage, and the check valve is integrally formed as one piece with the sleeve.
2. The sprayer of Claim 1, wherein:
the sprayer further comprising a rod manually reciprocated in response to reciprocation of the pump mechanism, the rod extending through the exit port and displacing the sleeve from the exit port in response to the pump mechanism being moved to the discharge position, thereby allowing air to vent from the pump chamber through the exit port.
3. The sprayer of Claim 2, wherein:
the exit port communicates with the liquid container, thereby allowing air to vent from the pump chamber through the exit port and into the liquid container when the pump mechanism is moved to the discharge position.
6. The sprayer of Claim 1, wherein:
the rod extends through the exit port and displaces a portion of the sleeve from the exit port in response to the pump mechanism being moved to the discharge position, thereby allowing air in the pump chamber to vent from the pump chamber through the exit port, and the rod withdraws from the exit port and permits the portion of the sleeve to close over the exit port in response to the pump mechanism being moved from the discharge position.
7. The sprayer of Claim 6, wherein:
the exit port communicates with the liquid container, thereby allowing air in the pump chamber to vent through the exit port and into the liquid container in response to the pump mechanism being moved to the discharge position.
8. The sprayer of Claim 6, wherein:
the check valve opens permitting a draw of liquid from the liquid container through the sleeve and check valve and into the pump chamber when the pump mechanism is moved toward the charge position, and the check valve closes preventing a flow of liquid from the pump chamber through the sleeve and check valve and into the liquid container when the pump mechanism is moved toward the discharge position.
10. A sprayer for attachment to a liquid container, comprising:
a sprayer housing;
a connector for attaching the sprayer housing to a liquid container;
a pump chamber in the sprayer housing;
a pump mechanism mounted to the pump chamber for reciprocating movement of the pump mechanism between a charge position and a discharge position;
a trigger on the sprayer housing for manually reciprocating the pump mechanism between the charge and discharge positions;
a vent valve positioned in the sprayer housing for venting air from the pump chamber in response to the pump mechanism being moved to the discharge position when priming the pump chamber, the vent valve includes a resilient sleeve; and a check valve in contact with the vent valve and positioned in the sprayer housing for preventing liquid in the pump chamber from entering the liquid container when the pump mechanism is moved towards the discharge position after the pump chamber has been primed.
11. The sprayer of Claim 10, wherein:
the check valve is connected to the resilient sleeve.
12. The sprayer of Claim 11, wherein:
the check valve permits a draw of liquid from the liquid container through the resilient sleeve and into the pump chamber when the pump mechanism is moved toward the charge position, and the check valve prevents a flow of liquid from the pump chamber through the resilient sleeve and into the liquid container when the pump mechanism is moved toward the discharge position.
13. The sprayer of Claim 12, wherein:
the check valve is a flapper valve integrally connected to the resilient sleeve by a hinge.
14. The sprayer of Claim 10, further comprising:
a liquid passage extending through the sprayer housing for conveying liquid from the liquid container to the pump chamber, the liquid passage including an exit port, the resilient sleeve being positioned within the liquid passage and closing over the exit port.
15. The sprayer of Claim 14, wherein:
a rod is operatively connected to the trigger to displaces the resilient sleeve from the exit port when the pump mechanism is moved to the discharge position, thereby opening the exit port, and to return the resilient sleeve to a position over the exit port when the pump mechanism is moved from the discharge position, thereby closing the exit port.
16. The sprayer of Claim 15, wherein:
the exit port communicates with the liquid container, thereby allowing air to vent from the pump chamber through the exit port and into the liquid container when the pump mechanism is moved to the discharge position.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US08/459,308 US5628434A (en) | 1994-12-12 | 1995-06-02 | Trigger sprayer having a pressure buildup valve |
| US08/459,725 US5645221A (en) | 1994-12-12 | 1995-06-02 | Trigger sprayer having air vent sleeve with integral check valve |
| US08/459,725 | 1995-06-02 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2223107A1 true CA2223107A1 (en) | 1996-12-05 |
Family
ID=43971278
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002223107A Abandoned CA2223107A1 (en) | 1995-06-02 | 1996-05-07 | Trigger sprayer air vent sleeve with integral check valve |
| CA002223083A Abandoned CA2223083A1 (en) | 1995-06-02 | 1996-05-09 | Trigger sprayer with pressure buildup valve |
Family Applications After (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002223083A Abandoned CA2223083A1 (en) | 1995-06-02 | 1996-05-09 | Trigger sprayer with pressure buildup valve |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (2) | EP0828683A4 (en) |
| AU (2) | AU5730096A (en) |
| CA (2) | CA2223107A1 (en) |
| WO (2) | WO1996038373A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB201110250D0 (en) | 2011-06-16 | 2011-08-03 | Obrist Closures Switzerland | A trigger pump dispenser |
| JP6583715B2 (en) * | 2015-07-01 | 2019-10-02 | キャニヨン株式会社 | Trigger sprayer |
| USD878206S1 (en) | 2017-07-24 | 2020-03-17 | Obrist Closures Switzerland Gmbh | Spraying device for bottles |
Family Cites Families (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4199083A (en) * | 1976-12-02 | 1980-04-22 | Ethyl Corporation | Trigger actuated pump |
| US4153203A (en) * | 1977-03-02 | 1979-05-08 | Tetsuya Tada | Trigger type sprayer |
| US4174056A (en) * | 1977-05-10 | 1979-11-13 | Ciba-Geigy Corporation | Pump type dispenser with continuous flow feature |
| FR2396595A1 (en) * | 1977-07-08 | 1979-02-02 | Ramis Michel | Plunger type spray device - has spring loaded pumping block inside piston with spray head mounted on top |
| IT1092596B (en) * | 1978-02-09 | 1985-07-12 | Ruscitti Tommaso | HAND PUMP TO DISPENSE MICRONIZED LIQUIDS AT PRESTABLE PRESSURE |
| US4747523A (en) * | 1987-06-19 | 1988-05-31 | Calmar, Inc. | Manually actuated dispensing pump |
| US5425482A (en) * | 1990-10-25 | 1995-06-20 | Contico International, Inc. | Trigger sprayer |
| IT1251195B (en) * | 1991-08-30 | 1995-05-04 | Coster Tecnologie Speciali Spa | MANUAL SPRAYER DEVICE WITH COMPENSATION VALVE COMMANDED BY THE PISTON. |
| US5622317A (en) | 1994-12-12 | 1997-04-22 | Contico International, Inc. | Pressure buildup trigger sprayer |
-
1996
- 1996-05-07 AU AU57300/96A patent/AU5730096A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1996-05-07 EP EP96915550A patent/EP0828683A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1996-05-07 CA CA002223107A patent/CA2223107A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1996-05-07 WO PCT/US1996/006414 patent/WO1996038373A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1996-05-09 AU AU57363/96A patent/AU5736396A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1996-05-09 CA CA002223083A patent/CA2223083A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1996-05-09 WO PCT/US1996/006558 patent/WO1996038374A1/en active Search and Examination
- 1996-05-09 EP EP96915631A patent/EP0828684A4/en not_active Withdrawn
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU5730096A (en) | 1996-12-18 |
| EP0828684A1 (en) | 1998-03-18 |
| EP0828683A4 (en) | 1999-04-07 |
| AU5736396A (en) | 1996-12-18 |
| WO1996038373A1 (en) | 1996-12-05 |
| EP0828684A4 (en) | 1999-04-07 |
| EP0828683A1 (en) | 1998-03-18 |
| CA2223083A1 (en) | 1996-12-05 |
| WO1996038374A1 (en) | 1996-12-05 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |
Effective date: 20010507 |