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
  • B05B11/0027—Means for neutralising the actuation of the sprayer ; Means for preventing access to the sprayer actuation 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
  • B05B11/0005—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
  • B05B11/00442—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 the means being actuated by the difference between the atmospheric pressure and the pressure inside the container
• • 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
  • B05B11/1028—Pumps having a pumping chamber with a deformable wall
  • B05B11/1032—Pumps having a pumping chamber with a deformable wall actuated 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
  • B05B11/1028—Pumps having a pumping chamber with a deformable wall
  • B05B11/1033—Pumps having a pumping chamber with a deformable wall the deformable wall, the inlet and outlet valve elements being integrally formed, e.g. moulded
• • 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
  • B05B11/1052—Actuation 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
  • B05B11/0005—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

Definitions

• Elastomeric dispensing pump that can be made with as few as two components
• the present invention relates generally to the field of fluid dispensing pumps and more particularly to an elastomeric dispensing pump with optional self-closing, positive shut-off and valved venting passage mechanisms and that can be made with as few as two easily assembled components.
• Dispensing pumps are well known in the art and are commonly used for dispensing liquids having widely varying flow characteristics and viscosities. The form of discharge from these pumps varies from a fine spray to a slow moving flow.
• Common examples are numerous dispensers found on the market such as container-mounted, finger-operated dispensing pumps for such products as hand creams, lotions, shampoos, liquid soap or window cleaner as well as wall-mounted dispensers such as soap dispensers found in public bathrooms.
• Reciprocating piston pumps are the most widely used type of dispensing pumps. Such pumps are rather complex, having nine parts or more and involve the use of one-way ball valves, various springs, sliding pistons, sealing elements and related engineering elements that require complex tooling and assembly. They also have a size limitation as it becomes difficult to maintain proper dimensional tolerance when size increases; likewise, miniaturization is limited due to the large number of components. They also have design restrictions that limit their esthetics and reduce design creativity by being limited to cylindrical shapes for their main body and being rather bulky.
• the present invention concerns pumps with deformable walls, and more precisely, pumps with elastomeric walls, addressing the challenges particular to such pumps.
• dispensing pumps that can be made with as few as two components: a rigid pump base and an elastomeric component forming a pump body, and most have spontaneous dispensing issues and present mass-production challenges as the requirement for tight fitting and rather complex geometry of a flexible part and a rigid part greatly complicates automated assembly. It would be advantageous to resolve this issue by using a rigid core joined to the flexible part allowing easy and reliable fitting to a rigid pump base.
• U.S. Patent number 3,486,663 discloses an elastomeric pump consisting of an elastomeric member having a recessed portion adapted for sealing engagement with a supporting surface of a base member through which two ports open to define a closed chamber.
• the dispensing pump embodiment taught here has a partition in the recessed portion having an hedge resting resiliently across and against the surface of the base member. Such setting requires a dual compartment and raises reliability and assembly issues.
• U.S. Patent number 3,752,366 discloses a two-piece suction pump with a deformable member, having an annular groove and an annular ring in sealing engagement to a cap member.
• U.S. Patent number 3,820,689 discloses an elastomehc pump with a rigid base member and an elastomeric upper member having a dome- shaped part and an extending elongated lip or flat member.
• U.S. Patent number 6,755,327 teaches a complex pump using a sliding seal. This can be problematic. Also, a "stationary end sealed to the pump base about the inlet passageway" may raise leakage issues.
• the rigid core gives strength and structure to the integral pump top, and assembly of the integral pump top and the pump base can be as easy as a simple and secure snap-in or pressed-on assembly that doesn't require sophisticated tooling.
• assembly is even easier as the parts are pre-registered, and assembly may be done on the mold itself upon demolding, eliminating one assembly step.
• Tooling can be very simple for simple shapes, while the pump design permits great flexibility of shapes.
• the present invention overcomes the above-mentioned and/or other problems, and relates to a fluid dispensing pump that can be manufactured from as few as two easily assembled parts that is reliable and user-friendly, and among various advantages, offers improved ergonomics and greater flexibility of design and esthetics than existing art.
• the preferred embodiment of the pump has a stationary pump base (200) and an integral pump top (300) with a fluid-tight attachment to the pump base.
• the stationary pump base (200) has an inlet passageway (201), an upper surface (202), an upper inlet orifice (201a) and a top attachment portion (211).
• the pump top includes a generally rigid core (310) and a self-restoring elastomeric layer (320).
• the generally rigid core (310) has a base attachment portion (311) circumferentially corresponding to the top attachment portion (211) of the stationary pump base (200), either alone, or in conjunction with the elastomeric layer (320), for fluid-tight attachment to the pump base (200), and a dispensing valve core (315) optionally extending outwardly from the base attachment portion (311).
• the elastomeric layer (320) is joined to the generally rigid core (310) to form a continuous closed surface, thereby forming a pump chamber (103), the upper surface (202) of the pump base (200) being the base of the pump chamber (103), and the rigid core (310) giving strength and structure to the pump chamber (103).
• the elastomeric layer (320) includes a resilient self- restoring pump wall (323) defining a top portion of the pump chamber (103).
• the elastomeric layer (320) further includes a dispensing valve membrane (325) cooperating with the dispensing valve core (315) to form a one-way dispensing valve (105) and a dispensing slit or orifice (326).
• the dispensing valve core (315) may be solid; in an alternate embodiment, it may be hollow and include a core outlet passageway (106), the dispensing valve membrane including an elastically deformable portion that forms a one-way outlet valve (107).
• the elastomeric layer (320) may further include a lower elastomeric membrane (322) having a chamber inlet aperture (322a) and an inlet membrane valve portion (322b).
• the membrane valve portion (322b) cooperates with the upper inlet orifice (201a) of the stationary pump base (200) to form a one-way inlet valve (102).
• the elastomeric layer (320) is joined to the entire periphery - preferably the inner periphery - of the base attachment portion (311) of the generally rigid core (310),
• the elastomeric layer (320) comprises a plurality of discrete portions, each attached at their edge or at their periphery to corresponding edges or peripheries of the rigid core (310) , preferably through interface solidification of melted portions of the rigid material of the generally rigid core (310) and the elastomeric material of the elastomeric layer (320) in such a manner that a continuous inner surface is formed by the rigid core and the elastomeric membrane.
• the lower edge of the elastomeric layer (320) is joined to the upper edge of the generally rigid core (310).
• the dispensing valve membrane (325) may be fitted over or within the dispensing valve core (315) continuously with the remaining portion of the elastomeric layer (320), or it may be attached to the outer edge of the dispensing valve core (315) and other corresponding edges of the rigid core (310).
• the lower elastomeric membrane (322) may be a continuous portion of the elastomeric layer (320), or it may be attached to the edge of the base attachment portion (311).
• a fully functional dispensing pump (100) is created with an inlet passageway (101), a one-way inlet valve (102), a self-restoring resilient pump cavity of variable volume (103) and a one-way dispensing valve (105) which is self-closing in most embodiments of the present invention.
• the one-way inlet valve may be shut-off when the dispensing pump is in its quiet position.
• An air-vent may be added to the dispensing pump if necessary.
• the integral pump top (300) has a rigid or semi-rigid actuator portion (314) bound to, or imbedded into, the resilient self- restoring pump wall (323), and preferably connected to the base attachment portion of the rigid core (311).
• the actuator portion (314) may also be connected to the base attachment portion of the rigid core (311) in a springlike manner for increased pump efficiency.
• the integral pump top (300) is optionally movable relative to the pump base or rotatable around a central axis between an open position and a closed position so that in an open position the pump operates to dispense fluid, and in a closed position the pump is shut-off and inoperable.
• An object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing pump which employs as few as just two easily assembled parts, which operates reliably, which is inexpensive to manufacture, which requires lower tooling cost and equipment cost and offers increased ergonomics and flexibility of design compared to dispensing pumps currently on the market.
• a further object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing pump employing an optional self-closing and positive shut-off mechanism which is inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, which is user-friendly, and which provides increased leak-proofing without spillage in closed position.
• Self-closing is desirable to avoid deterioration of the substance remaining in the dispensing passageway and to ensure that the dispensing slit or orifice remains clean. Also fluid leakage is always a concern throughout the life of the pump. When shipping the pump, internal container pressure may fluctuate as a result of temperature changes and/or handling shocks and may create leakage, even when the pump is not actuated; therefore, an efficient positive shut-off mechanism is a highly desirable feature.
• Fig. 1 A shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with a means for attachment to a container provided within the pump base.
• Fig. 1B shows a frontal view of the embodiment of Fig. 1A.
• Fig. 2A shows a front view of the rigid core pump top part of Fig.1A with a dispensing valve core and a rigid core valve aperture.
• Fig. 2B shows a front view of the rigid core pump top part of Fig. 1 A with an elastomeric layer molded over it.
• Fig. 2C shows a bottom view of the rigid core pump top of Fig. 2A.
• Fig. 3 shows the stationary pump base of Fig 1A-1 B with a base valve recess.
• Fig. 4 shows a side sectional view of an alternate embodiment with a concave base upper surface.
• Fig. 5A shows a side sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 A in a relaxed or quiet state ready to pump.
• Fig. 5B shows the embodiment of Fig. 5A while the elastomeric pump layer is being depressed and fluid is being dispensed.
• Fig. 5C shows the embodiment of Figs. 5A-5B after the elastomeric pump layer is released and the inlet valve opens.
• Fig. 6 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of the invention with the pump top rotated to a secure shipping position wherein the pump is disabled.
• Fig. 7A shows a sectional view of an embodiment of the invention with a rigid actuator portion embedded in the elastomeric layer; the elastomeric layers consists of three separate portions attached to corresponding edges of the rigid core.
• Fig. 7B shows a perspective view of the rigid core of the embodiment of Fig. 7A with the attached actuator portion before over-molding of the elastomeric layer.
• Fig. 7C shows a sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 7A showing both the rigid actuator and the elastomeric layer.
• Fig. 8 shows a cross-section of another embodiment with a conventional duck bill dispensing valve.
• Fig. 9A shows a cross-section of an alternate embodiment with a vertical duck-bill dispensing valve and a lock-in insert.
• Fig. 9B shows a cross-section of the embodiment of Fig 9A with the lock-in insert in secure locked position.
• Fig. 10 shows an alternate embodiment with the pump base and pump top attached by a dual attachment that also serves as temper-proof.
• Fig. 11A shows an air inlet in the closed position.
• Fig. 11B shows the air inlet of Fig. 11A in the open position.
• Fig. 12A shows a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention in a secured locked-in position.
• Fig. 12B shows a perspective view of the embodiment of fig. 12A in dispensing position.
• Fig. 12C shows a sectional view of Fig. 12A.
• Fig. 12D shows a sectional view of Fig. 12B.
• Fig. 13A Shows a variant of the embodiment of Fig. 12A.
• Fig. 13B shows a side sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 13C.
• Fig. 14A shows a sectional view of an alternate embodiment of Fig. 7A with the pump assembled and an inlet passageway plug attached to the actuator portion.
• Fig. 14B shows another sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 14A.
• Fig. 15 shows a sectional view of an alternate embodiment with the pump base having a duckbill valve inserted inside the inlet passageway.
• the present invention relates to a fluid dispensing pump that can be fabricated with as little as two easily assembled separate parts: a pump base part and an integral pump top part that is securely attached to the pump base in a fluid-tight manner, the pump top part having a rigid core and a self- restoring resilient layer.
• the two parts of the pump top can be made by multi- material molding in the same mold or over-molding whereas the core is made first and then placed in a mold again to over-mold the elastomeric layer.
• the rigid core and the elastomeric layer may be joined through: 1) a mechanical binding such as groves, asperities, holes or other surface means 2) a chemical bind such as interface solidification of melted portions of the two materials. 3) or they may just overlay in a weak binding.
• Some embodiments of the present invention do not require a particularly strong binding because the elastomeric layer is self-sealing; however, embodiments that have rotating components require stronger binding so that the elastomeric layer rotates properly with the rigid core.
• the elastomeric layer extends continuously to form a lower elastomeric membrane in sealing contact with the upper surface of the pump's bottom part, with a portion of the lower elastomeric membrane covering entirely the inlet passageway to form a one-way inlet valve.
• An air-vent may be added for those applications that require it.
• An optional shut-off mechanism may be employed which secures and shuts-off the dispensing valve for shipping and storage.
• the dispensing pump under the present invention may be used as a dispensing closure when it is attached to a squeezable container.
• the pump's inlet valve can be shut-off when the pump is in its quiet position to prevent spontaneous dispensing due to pressure increase within an attached container.
• FIGs. 1A-1 B a perspective view and a frontal view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is seen.
• a stationary pump base (200) provided with means for attachment to a container (not shown) has an integral pump top (300) mounted on it.
• a one-way self-closing dispensing valve (105) protrudes and provides an exit for the fluid material in the container.
• the one-way self-closing dispensing valve (105) with the dispensing slit (326) is for ease of operation by a user, although it is not necessary that it be as long as shown, or that it protrude at all.
• the pump in Figs. 1A-1 B is shown in the operating mode with the dispensing valve (105) aligned with the base valve recess (215).
• the frontal view Fig 1 B shows the rigid core valve aperture (315a) located underneath the dispensing valve (105) aligned with the base valve recess (215).
• An elastomeric layer (320) fits over, and is sealed to the rigid core (310) of the integral pump top (300). When depressed, this elastomeric layer (320) causes fluid to exit the pump chamber formed under it, and when it is released, it draws fluid from the container into that pump chamber.
• the rigid portions of the embodiment of Figs. 1A-1 B may be made from any adequate thermoplastic material such as polypropylene.
• the self-restoring resilient elastomeric layer (320) can be any flexible material layer and may be a thermoplastic elastomer, or in some embodiments simply be a much thinner layer of the same material as the rigid portion of the pump top.
• Fig. 2A shows the rigid core (310) with the base attachment portion (311), the dispensing valve core (315) and the rigid core valve aperture (315a) of the pump of Figs. 1A-1 B.
• Fig 2B shows the integral pump top (300) fully fabricated with the elastomeric layer (320) having a deformable part forming a resilient self-restoring pump wall (323) molded over the rigid core (310) and the dispensing valve membrane (325) and further having a dispensing slit (326).
• Fig 2C is a bottom view of the same integral pump top as shown in Fig. 2B and shows the lower elastomeric membrane (322) with the chamber inlet aperture (322a) and the inlet membrane valve portion (322-b) as well as the liftable portion (325a) of the dispensing valve membrane (325).
• Fig. 3 shows the stationary pump base (200) of Fig. 1A-1 B with the upper inlet orifice (201a), the upper surface (202), the top attachment portion (211) and the base valve recess (215).
• the integral pump top (300) (shown in Figs. 2B) is attached to the top and inside the pump base (200).
• the pump base (200) may be attached to a container.
• Fig. 4 shows a cross-section of the internal structure of an alternate embodiment of the pump of the present invention with a concave base upper surface (202) so that upon assembly of the integral pump top (300) and the stationary pump base (200), the inlet membrane valve portion (322b) fits positively over the upper inlet orifice (201a) when the dispensing pump is positioned in operating position, and positive pressure is required to open the one-way inlet valve (102). This prevents spontaneous fluid dispensing caused by an air pressure increase within the container to which the dispensing pump may be attached.
• the amount of positive pressure necessary to open the one-way inlet valve (102) depends on the curvature of the upper surface (202) and the resiliency of the inlet membrane valve portion (322b).
• Fig. 5A shows a cross-section of the internal structure of the pump of Figs. 1 A-1 B.
• Figs. 5B and 5C show the operation and internal structure of the embodiment of Fig. 5A in sectional form.
• the stationary pump base (200) has an inlet passageway (201), an upper inlet orifice (201a), an upper surface (202), a top attachment portion (211) and a base valve recess (215).
• the integral pump top has a generally rigid core (310) including a base attachment portion (311), a dispensing valve core (315) and a rigid core valve aperture (315a).
• An elastomeric layer (320) is molded over the inner periphery of the base attachment portion (311) and over the dispensing valve core (315) to form a continuous surface that forms a self-restoring, resilient pump chamber (103).
• the elastomeric layer (320) extends into a lower elastomeric membrane (322) with a chamber inlet aperture (322a) and an inlet membrane valve portion (322b) that covers the upper inlet aperture (201a), forming an one-way inlet valve (102).
• the elastomeric layer (320) has a self-restoring pump wall portion (323) and a dispensing valve membrane (325) fitted over the dispensing valve core (315) and a dispensing slit (326) located at its distal end.
• the dispensing valve membrane (325) has a bound portion (325b) and liftable portion (325a) forming, together with the dispensing valve core (315), a one-way dispensing valve (105).
• the pump chamber (103) After the pump has operated once, the pump chamber (103) will be filled with the flowable substance to be pumped and will be in the ready or quiet state. Pressure applied to the resilient self-restoring pump wall (323) by such means as finger pressure creates a positive pressure in the pump chamber (103) and closes the one-way inlet valve (102).
• Fig. 5B shows the resilient elastomeric self-restoring pump wall (323) being depressed.
• a negative pressure is developed in the pump chamber (103) which pulls the liftable portion (325a) of the dispensing valve membrane (325) against the dispensing valve core (315) closing the one-way dispensing valve (105), and causes the inlet membrane valve portion (322b) to lift up from the upper surface (202) freeing the upper inlet orifice (201a) and opening the one-way inlet valve (102).
• the negative pressure draws fluid into the pump chamber (103) from the container through the inlet passageway (201) again filling the pump chamber (103) with fluid.
• a valved venting passage is normally required to replenish the air into the container. Such and air inlet will be described subsequently.
• Fig. 6 shows an embodiment of the pump of Figs. 5A-5C with the pump top rotated into a safe shipping position.
• the inlet membrane valve portion (322b) does not cover the upper inlet aperture (201a), and the one-way inlet valve (102) is disabled.
• the rigid core valve aperture (315a) is not aligned with the base valve recess (215), and the liftable portion (325a) of the dispensing valve membrane (325) is prevented from moving away from the dispensing valve core (315). This shuts off the one-way dispensing valve (105).
• Fig. 7A-7C show an alternate embodiment of the present invention with a rigid or semi-rigid actuator portion (314) attached to the rigid core (310) and embedded within the resilient self-restoring pump wall (323).
• the attachment between the actuator portion and the rigid core may optionally act as a spring to improve the pump performance.
• This actuator portion (314) improves the pump's ergonomics and performance.
• Fig. 7B shows the rigid or semi-rigid actuator portion (314) attached to the rigid core (310) before overmolding of the elastomeric layer (320).
• Fig. 7C shows a sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 7A showing the rigid actuator (314) embedded in the elastomeric layer (320) and also the lower edge (320a) of the resilient self-restoring pump wall (323) portion of the elastomeric layer (320) being joined through interface solidification to the upper edge (310a) of the rigid core (310).
• the dispensing valve membrane (325) is joined at the edge of the dispensing valve core (315) and at the edge of the rigid core valve aperture (315a).
• the lower elastomeric membrane (322) is joined at its periphery to the lower edge of the base attachment portion (311).
• Figs. 8, 9A and 9B show alternative embodiments of the present invention wherein the integral pump top (300) is the means for attachment to a container, and the pump base (200) is inserted inside the container attachment portion of the pump top, and where the dispensing valve core is hollow and forms an outlet passageway (106).
• the dispensing valve membrane has a one-way outlet valve portion (107) forming a duckbill valve inside the outlet passageway (106).
• the one-way outlet valve portion (107) is a vertical duckbill valve
• an optional lock-in insert (338) is located at the distal protruding end of the outlet passageway (106) of the dispensing valve core (315), and is rotatable from an open position to a secure locked position where the lock-in insert shuts off the dispensing valve as shown in Fig. 9B
• Fig. 10 shows an embodiment with the pump base (200) and pump top (300) attached by a dual attachment (109) that serves as a tamper-proof device.
• the inlet membrane valve portion (322-b) of the lower elastomeric membrane (322) does not cover the inlet passageway (201a), and the liftable portion (325a) of the dispensing valve membrane is prevented from moving away from the dispensing valve core.
• the one-way inlet valve is disabled and the one-way dispensing valve is shut-off, placing the pump in a safe, secure and sealed state for shipping and storage. Any positive pressure in the pump chamber acts to press the fluid downward in the inlet passageway. The pump cannot operate because fluid cannot exit the pump chamber.
• the pump top In order for the pump to operate, the pump top must be rotated approximatelyl 80 degrees around a central axis, breaking the attachments (109). In this new position, the inlet membrane valve portion (322b) of the lower elastomeric membrane (322) covers the upper inlet aperture (201a) and the base valve recess (215) is aligned with the rigid core valve aperture (315a) so that the one-way inlet valve and the one-way dispensing valve are both operational . This provides a tamper-proof feature.
• Figs. 11 A-11 B show one of the many ways a valved venting passage can be realized.
• the pump base (200) has a radial passageway
• the base attachment portion (311) of the rigid pump top core (310) has a corresponding groove making an air inlet (401).
• the lower elastomeric membrane (322) has a vertical passageway that is offset from the rigid core groove.
• the pump base forms a vertical passageway into the container.
• the lower elastomeric membrane (322) is pulled downward allowing air to enter the container as shown in Fig. 11 B.
• Figs. 12A-12D and 13A-13B show alternate embodiments of the present invention with an actuator portion (314) embedded in the elastomeric layer (320) wherein the pump top (300) is movable slidingly relative to the pump base (200) from a secured locked-in position to an operating position.
• Figs.12A and 12C show respectively a perspective view and a sectional view of the pump in a secured locked-in position with the rigid core (310) retracted in the pump base (200) so that the distal end of the dispensing valve core (315) is confined within the pump base (200), and the liftable portion (325a) of the dispensing valve membrane is prevented from moving away from the dispensing valve core (315), therefore shutting off the dispensing valve (105).
• Figs. 12B and 12D show respectively a perspective view and a sectional view of the pump in an operable position with downward pressure applied to the actuator portion (314).
• the liftable portion (325a) of the dispensing valve membrane (325) is extended away from the dispensing valve core (315) opening up an outlet passageway (106).
• the pump of this embodiment can be very small and may be used as a dispensing pump for samplers, amenities or magazine inserts and may be glued to a container, or even be an integral part of a container.
• Figs. 13A and 13B show a variant of the present embodiment with a means for attachment to a bottle and may be designed for large volume dispensing.
• Fig. 14 A shows a sectional view and a detail of an alternate embodiment of the present invention with an inlet valve insert (312) attached to the rigid or semi-rigid actuator portion (314) and fitted inside the inlet passageway (101).
• the inlet passageway has an upper portion forming an inlet valve rest (202b) having a base valve opening (202c).
• the inlet valve insert (312) has a cut-off making a core inlet valve aperture (312a).
• An inlet valve membrane (322c) is fitted over the inlet valve insert (312) and has an inlet valve membrane aperture (322d) forming a one-way inlet valve (102). When the dispensing pump is in its quiet position, the inlet valve membrane aperture is sealed by the inlet valve rest (202b), and the one-way inlet valve
• Fig 14B shows another sectional view indicating the position of the base valve opening (202b) and the core inlet valve aperture (312a).
• Fig. 15 shows a sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention with the stationary pump base (200) having a duckbill inlet valve (102) inserted inside the inlet passageway (101).
• the duckbill inlet valve (101) may be made of an elastomeric material and molded within the inlet passageway (101) in a multi-shot molding process or it may be inserted inside the inlet passageway (101) on assembly.

Landscapes

• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)
• Reciprocating Pumps (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=41399365

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (23)

Family Cites Families (24)

• 2008
  • 2008-06-10 US US12/157,417 patent/US20090302064A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2009
  • 2009-02-17 EP EP09762783A patent/EP2352600A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2009-02-17 MX MX2010013532A patent/MX2010013532A/es unknown
  • 2009-02-17 WO PCT/US2009/000973 patent/WO2009151486A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2009-02-17 CN CN2009801225599A patent/CN102066006A/zh active Pending

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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