EP1815913A1 - Pump pushbutton - Google Patents

Pump pushbutton Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1815913A1
EP1815913A1 EP06110711A EP06110711A EP1815913A1 EP 1815913 A1 EP1815913 A1 EP 1815913A1 EP 06110711 A EP06110711 A EP 06110711A EP 06110711 A EP06110711 A EP 06110711A EP 1815913 A1 EP1815913 A1 EP 1815913A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pushbutton
pump
stem
tubular
appendices
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP06110711A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1815913B1 (en
Inventor
Andrea Marelli
Victor Ribera Turro'
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Silgan Dispensing Systems Milano SRL
Original Assignee
MeadWestvaco Calmar SRL
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by MeadWestvaco Calmar SRL filed Critical MeadWestvaco Calmar SRL
Publication of EP1815913A1 publication Critical patent/EP1815913A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1815913B1 publication Critical patent/EP1815913B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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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
    • B05B11/01—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
    • B05B11/1015—Piston pumps actuated without substantial movement of the nozzle in the direction of the pressure stroke

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a pushbutton for operating a pump or valve for dispensing a fluid substance contained in a container.
  • valves or pumps mounted on the mouth of such containers have an outwardly projecting hollow stem, on the free end of which there is mounted an operating pushbutton with a nozzle, insert or hole through which the fluid substance originating from the pump can be dispensed through said nozzle following axial translation of the pushbutton, when the pushbutton is pressed with a finger of one hand.
  • the dispensing nozzle moves together with the pushbutton, to undergo a longitudinal translation in one direction or the other when the pushbutton is pressed or released: as a result, the fluid substance dispensed through the nozzle does not occupy a fixed position relative to the pump, but moves within space following the movement of the pushbutton: in many cases this represents a drawback, for example when the fluid substance is to be dispensed onto a well defined fixed point (which can be important if the substance is coloured or oily, or consist of a pharmaceutical substance which has to be applied to a well defined limited point).
  • the main object of the present invention is therefore to provide a pushbutton mountable on the movable stem of a pump or the like and having a dispensing nozzle which maintains its position at rest fixed relative to the pump, whatever the position assumed by the stem of the pump during its rest or operation.
  • Another object is to provide a pushbutton of the aforestated type which is of economical production and reliable operation.
  • said retention elements consist of a plurality of appendices or a continuous tubular wall projecting from said pushbutton main portion on the opposite side to that from which the tubular appendix forming part of the pushbutton main portion projects, said appendices or tubular wall having dimensions such as to fit over the ring cap by which the pump is fixed on to the mouth of a container, and being provided with inwardly projecting teeth or ribs to secure the pushbutton to the ring cap.
  • a pump 2 is fixed by means of a ring cap 3 onto the mouth of a container 1 (containing a fluid substance, not shown, to be dispensed): both the pump and the ring cap are of any known type.
  • the pushbutton of the present invention is shown in schematised section in Figure 1 (pump at rest) and in Figure 2 (pump operated to dispense fluid substance represented as a dashed-line cone on the right of Figure 2).
  • the pushbutton comprises two separate pushbutton portions, namely a main portion indicated by 5 and a movable free end portion indicated by 6.
  • the pushbutton main portion 5 presents a central aperture (not shown in the drawing) through which both the stem 4 and the top of the pump 2 extend, the pump being securely fixed sealedly on the mouth of the container 1 by the ring cap 3. From the bottom (with respect to the drawing) of the pushbutton portion 5 there downwardly extends a continuous tubular wall 7 (which can also consist of a plurality of flexible appendices) bounding a space into which the ring cap 3 is inserted and securely retained therein by a rib 8 or a plurality of teeth having the same purpose and snap-engaging below the lower edge of the ring cap, to hence lock the pushbutton main portion 5 in a fixed position.
  • a continuous tubular wall 7 which can also consist of a plurality of flexible appendices bounding a space into which the ring cap 3 is inserted and securely retained therein by a rib 8 or a plurality of teeth having the same purpose and snap-engaging below the lower edge of the ring cap, to hence lock the pushbutton main portion 5
  • a seat into which the free end of the stem 4 can be sealedly inserted by pressing; the cavities of the tubular appendices 12 and 13 are connected together via conduits 15 which are closed at one end by a seal plug 16.
  • the cavity of the appendix 13 has, at least in proximity to its free end, a diameter such as to enable at least an end portion of the appendix 9 to penetrate into and sealedly slide axially within it, as will be clear on comparing Figure 1 with Figure 2.
  • a very important characteristic of the described pushbutton is that the nozzle 11 remains at rest on the container, i.e. it maintains a constant stable position on the pushbutton main portion, whether the pump is in its rest or operating condition.

Landscapes

  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
  • Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
  • Reciprocating Pumps (AREA)
  • Medicines Containing Material From Animals Or Micro-Organisms (AREA)

Abstract

A pushbutton for a pump or valve for dispensing fluid substances contained in a container on which the pump is mounted. The main portion of the pushbutton has a substance dispensing nozzle (11) and elements (7,8) for securely retaining said main portion (5) on the pump (2) or on a body rigid therewith. The pushbutton also has an upper or movable portion (6) with a seat for sealedly housing the free end of the pump stem (4). The two pushbutton portions can translate one relative to the other and are connected together by tubular appendices (13,9) which are inserted into and sealedly translatable one within the cavity of the other and are connected to said stem seat and to said nozzle (11) respectively.

Description

  • The present invention relates to a pushbutton for operating a pump or valve for dispensing a fluid substance contained in a container.
  • To controlledly dispense fluid substances (in particular liquid or creamy substances contained in a container under or not under pressure), it is known to use valves or pumps mounted on the mouth of such containers: these pumps have an outwardly projecting hollow stem, on the free end of which there is mounted an operating pushbutton with a nozzle, insert or hole through which the fluid substance originating from the pump can be dispensed through said nozzle following axial translation of the pushbutton, when the pushbutton is pressed with a finger of one hand.
  • In pushbuttons of known type the dispensing nozzle moves together with the pushbutton, to undergo a longitudinal translation in one direction or the other when the pushbutton is pressed or released: as a result, the fluid substance dispensed through the nozzle does not occupy a fixed position relative to the pump, but moves within space following the movement of the pushbutton: in many cases this represents a drawback, for example when the fluid substance is to be dispensed onto a well defined fixed point (which can be important if the substance is coloured or oily, or consist of a pharmaceutical substance which has to be applied to a well defined limited point).
  • The main object of the present invention is therefore to provide a pushbutton mountable on the movable stem of a pump or the like and having a dispensing nozzle which maintains its position at rest fixed relative to the pump, whatever the position assumed by the stem of the pump during its rest or operation.
  • Another object is to provide a pushbutton of the aforestated type which is of economical production and reliable operation.
  • These and other objects are attained by a pushbutton characterised by comprising:
    • two separate pushbutton portions connected together and translatable axially one relative to the other, namely a movable free end portion operable by a finger of one hand and, respectively, a main pushbutton portion provided with elements for its retention on the pump or on a rigid body fixed to the pump;
    • a seat provided in said pushbutton end portion, to sealedly house the free end of the stem of said pump;
    • a nozzle for discharging the fluid substance to the outside of the pushbutton, said nozzle being provided within the pushbutton main portion in which there is also provided an aperture into which at least the pump stem can extend;
    • two tubular appendices projecting one towards the other, one from said end portion and the other from said main portion of the pushbutton, the axes of said appendices being parallel to the axis of said seat for the stem end;
    • conduits provided in the two pushbutton portions, to connect said seat for the stem to the cavity of that tubular appendix projecting from the pushbutton end portion and, respectively, to connect said nozzle to the cavity of that tubular appendix of the pushbutton main portion;
    • one of said two tubular appendices being inserted into and sealedly translatable within the cavity of the other tubular appendix to hence directly connect said nozzle to said seat for the pump stem.
  • Preferably, said retention elements consist of a plurality of appendices or a continuous tubular wall projecting from said pushbutton main portion on the opposite side to that from which the tubular appendix forming part of the pushbutton main portion projects, said appendices or tubular wall having dimensions such as to fit over the ring cap by which the pump is fixed on to the mouth of a container, and being provided with inwardly projecting teeth or ribs to secure the pushbutton to the ring cap.
  • The structure and operation of the pump will be more apparent from the ensuing description of one embodiment thereof given by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figures 1 and 2 are sectional views of the pump in its rest position and, respectively, in its operating position for dispensing fluid substance.
  • From the drawing it can be seen that a pump 2 is fixed by means of a ring cap 3 onto the mouth of a container 1 (containing a fluid substance, not shown, to be dispensed): both the pump and the ring cap are of any known type. A hollow stem 4, also of known type for operating the pump, projects from the pump upper end (with respect to the drawing).
  • The pushbutton of the present invention is shown in schematised section in Figure 1 (pump at rest) and in Figure 2 (pump operated to dispense fluid substance represented as a dashed-line cone on the right of Figure 2).
  • The pushbutton comprises two separate pushbutton portions, namely a main portion indicated by 5 and a movable free end portion indicated by 6.
  • The pushbutton main portion 5 presents a central aperture (not shown in the drawing) through which both the stem 4 and the top of the pump 2 extend, the pump being securely fixed sealedly on the mouth of the container 1 by the ring cap 3. From the bottom (with respect to the drawing) of the pushbutton portion 5 there downwardly extends a continuous tubular wall 7 (which can also consist of a plurality of flexible appendices) bounding a space into which the ring cap 3 is inserted and securely retained therein by a rib 8 or a plurality of teeth having the same purpose and snap-engaging below the lower edge of the ring cap, to hence lock the pushbutton main portion 5 in a fixed position.
  • From the top of the pushbutton main portion 5 there upwardly projects a cylindrical tubular appendix 9, the cavity 10 of which extends as far as a nozzle 11 provided on one side of the portion 5; as can be seen from the drawing, the axis of the appendix 9 is parallel to the axis of the stem 4. From the lower end of the pushbutton end portion 6, two hollow tubular appendices 12 and 13 extend downwards (i.e. towards the end portion 5) with their axes parallel to each other and to the axis of the stem 4 and of the appendix 9.
  • At the free end of the cavity of the appendix 12 there is provided a seat into which the free end of the stem 4 can be sealedly inserted by pressing; the cavities of the tubular appendices 12 and 13 are connected together via conduits 15 which are closed at one end by a seal plug 16.
  • The cavity of the appendix 13 has, at least in proximity to its free end, a diameter such as to enable at least an end portion of the appendix 9 to penetrate into and sealedly slide axially within it, as will be clear on comparing Figure 1 with Figure 2.
  • It will now be assumed that the pushbutton and pump are in the rest condition shown in Figure 1, in which fluid substance cannot flow from the container to the outside. On pressing the free upper end of the pushbutton portion 6 with a finger of one hand, the stem 4 translates axially downwards (to hence operate the pump) and the upper end of the tubular appendix 9 penetrates into the widened portion of the cavity of the appendix 13. In this manner, as is easily apparent, the pressurized fluid substance emerging from the stem 4 passes through the conduits 15 and the cavities 14 and 10 of the tubular appendices 13 and 9, and leaves via the nozzle 11.
  • A very important characteristic of the described pushbutton is that the nozzle 11 remains at rest on the container, i.e. it maintains a constant stable position on the pushbutton main portion, whether the pump is in its rest or operating condition.

Claims (2)

  1. An operating pushbutton for a pump or valve for dispensing fluid substances contained in containers, characterised by comprising:
    - two separate pushbutton portions (5, 6) connected together and translatable axially one relative to the other, namely a movable free end portion (6) operable by a finger of one hand and, respectively, a main pushbutton portion (5) provided with elements (7, 8) for its retention on the pump (2) or on a rigid body (3) fixed to the pump (2);
    - a seat provided in said pushbutton end portion (12) to sealedly house the free end of the stem (4) of said pump;
    - a nozzle (11) for discharging the fluid substance to the outside of the pushbutton (5, 6), said nozzle (11) being provided within the pushbutton main portion (5), in which there is also provided an aperture into which at least the pump stem (4) can extend;
    - two tubular appendices (13, 9) projecting one towards the other, one from said end portion (6) and the other from said main portion (5) of the pushbutton, the axes of said appendices being parallel to the axis of said seat for the stem end;
    - conduits (10, 15) provided in the two pushbutton portions (5, 6), to connect said seat (12) for the stem (4) to the cavity of that tubular appendix (13) projecting from the pushbutton end portion (6) and, respectively, to connect said nozzle (11) to the cavity (10) of that tubular appendix (9) of the pushbutton main portion (5);
    - one of said two tubular appendices (9, 13) being inserted into and sealedly translatable within the cavity of the other tubular appendix to hence directly connect said nozzle (11) to said seat (12) for the pump stem (14).
  2. A pushbutton as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said retention elements consist of a plurality of appendices or a continuous tubular wall (7) projecting from said pushbutton main portion (5) on the opposite side to that from which the tubular appendix (9) forming part of the pushbutton main portion (5) projects, said appendices or tubular wall (7) having dimensions such as to fit over the ring cap (3) by which the pump (2) is fixed on to the mouth of a container (1), and being provided with inwardly projecting teeth or ribs (8) to secure the pushbutton to the ring cap (3).
EP06110711A 2006-01-30 2006-03-06 Pump pushbutton Active EP1815913B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT000151A ITMI20060151A1 (en) 2006-01-30 2006-01-30 PUMP PUSH BUTTON WITH ITS MOBILE DRIVE OF A PORTION COMPARED TO A PORTION WITH A NOZZLE OR DELIVERY TABLET AND ELEMENTS FOR ITS RETURN PUMP

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1815913A1 true EP1815913A1 (en) 2007-08-08
EP1815913B1 EP1815913B1 (en) 2008-08-13

Family

ID=37533482

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP06110711A Active EP1815913B1 (en) 2006-01-30 2006-03-06 Pump pushbutton

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US20070175926A1 (en)
EP (1) EP1815913B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE404295T1 (en)
DE (1) DE602006002240D1 (en)
ES (1) ES2312084T3 (en)
IT (1) ITMI20060151A1 (en)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2768409A1 (en) * 1997-09-17 1999-03-19 Oreal PACKAGING AND DISPENSING ASSEMBLY OF A LIQUID OR SEMI-LIQUID PRODUCT
WO2003041870A1 (en) * 2001-11-13 2003-05-22 Unilever Plc Dose dispensing pump for dispensing two or more materials
FR2846639A1 (en) * 2002-11-06 2004-05-07 Innovation Packaging Device for packaging and delivering liquid or semi-liquid products, such as cosmetics or pharmaceuticals, e.g. perfume, includes shaped passage connecting actuating and output elements
FR2870216A1 (en) * 2004-05-14 2005-11-18 Valois Sas HEAD OF DISTRIBUTION OF FLUID PRODUCT

Family Cites Families (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3474939A (en) * 1967-03-15 1969-10-28 Valve Corp Of America Rotate-to-lock actuator cap for dispensers
FR2598392B1 (en) * 1986-05-09 1988-08-26 Oreal PACKAGING FOR TWO PRESSURIZED CONTAINERS
US5503306A (en) * 1994-10-19 1996-04-02 Aptar Group, Inc. Manually actuated pump
US6382463B2 (en) * 1995-04-10 2002-05-07 Dispensing Patents International Llc Spray dispensing device with nozzle closure
US5954889A (en) * 1998-05-21 1999-09-21 Wertheimer; Steven Method for cleaning jewelry by dispensing a foamy substance onto the jewelry from an aerosol dispenser
FR2779129B1 (en) * 1998-05-26 2000-08-18 Sofab DIFFUSER OF LIQUID PRODUCTS IN AEROSOL FORM
GB2368285B (en) * 2000-10-26 2002-09-25 Abdul Ebrahim Patel Liquid soap dispenser and air freshener
DE10231751B4 (en) * 2002-07-13 2004-07-29 Aero Pump GmbH, Zerstäuberpumpen Suction-pressure pump for ejecting a product from a container
US7906473B2 (en) * 2002-09-13 2011-03-15 Bissell Homecare, Inc. Manual spray cleaner
US7143959B2 (en) * 2002-12-06 2006-12-05 Summit Packaging Systems, Inc. Actuator with stabilizing ribs and improved fan spray insert
FR2854821B1 (en) * 2003-05-16 2006-12-08 Oreal ASSEMBLY FOR PACKAGING AND DISPENSING A PRODUCT, IN PARTICULAR IN THE FORM OF A SAMPLE
ITMI20032083A1 (en) * 2003-10-24 2005-04-25 Microspray Delta Spa SIMPLE INVERTIBLE PUMP FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF ATOMIZED LIQUIDS
ITMI20032162A1 (en) * 2003-11-10 2005-05-11 Microspray Delta Spa INVERTIBLE PUMP FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF ATOMIZED LIQUIDS,

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2768409A1 (en) * 1997-09-17 1999-03-19 Oreal PACKAGING AND DISPENSING ASSEMBLY OF A LIQUID OR SEMI-LIQUID PRODUCT
WO2003041870A1 (en) * 2001-11-13 2003-05-22 Unilever Plc Dose dispensing pump for dispensing two or more materials
FR2846639A1 (en) * 2002-11-06 2004-05-07 Innovation Packaging Device for packaging and delivering liquid or semi-liquid products, such as cosmetics or pharmaceuticals, e.g. perfume, includes shaped passage connecting actuating and output elements
FR2870216A1 (en) * 2004-05-14 2005-11-18 Valois Sas HEAD OF DISTRIBUTION OF FLUID PRODUCT

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20070175926A1 (en) 2007-08-02
EP1815913B1 (en) 2008-08-13
ITMI20060151A1 (en) 2007-07-31
ES2312084T3 (en) 2009-02-16
ATE404295T1 (en) 2008-08-15
DE602006002240D1 (en) 2008-09-25

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