GB2284202A

GB2284202A - Spray type valved dispenser cap

Info

Publication number: GB2284202A
Application number: GB9423710A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gene Stull
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-11-29
Filing date: 1994-11-24
Publication date: 1995-05-31
Anticipated expiration: 2014-11-24
Also published as: DE4442382A1; GB2284202B; CA2136060A1; GB9423710D0; FR2713205B1; FR2713205A1

Description

2284202 SPRAY-TYPE DISPENSER CAP CONSTRUCTION This invention relates

generally to closure cap constructions for hand- held dispensers.

U. S. Patent No. 2,998,902 dated September 5, 1961, issued to R. Thomas and entitled CAPTIVE CAP DISPENSING CLOSURE, discloses a dispensing closure incorporating a base cap with an upstanding sealing plug (32) which effects a seal with the walls of an orifice in a pushpull closure member or nozzle.

U. S. Patent No. 3,326,426 dated June 20, 1967, issued to A. Porter and entitled CLOSURE CAP FOR CONTAINERS, relates to a closure construction having an upstanding sealing peg on a base cap, the peg having a channel (20) that, together with the inner wall of the push- pull cap, forms a single dispensing orifice when the push-pull cap is advanced, Fig. 2.

U. S. Patent No. 3,276,640 dated October 4, 1966, issued to M. Kessler, and entitled CLOSABLE POURING SPOUT AND AN AXIALLY SLIDABLE CAP MOVING A PLUG THEREON FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS, also shows a push-pull closure construction for a dispenser. Sealing of the dispenser is accomplished by a sealing peg carried on the push pull cap, and which seals against an internal bead in the discharge opening of the base part. The bore of the push-pull cap is fluted, as shown.

U. S. Patent No. 3,572,559 dated March 30, 1971, issued to M. Stull, and entitled MULTIPOSITION DISPENS ING CAP, illustrates a dispensing cap construction com prising a push-pull cap member (16) having a central orifice, and a base member having an upstanding sealing plug or pin (30). The push-pull cap member is moveable between a factory-seal position, Fig. 1; a consumer-seal position, Fig. 3; and an open, discharging position, 5 Fig. 4.

Other push-pull cap constructions are illustrated in U. S. Patents No. 3, 599,845 dated August 17, 1971, issued to C. Miller and entitled CONTAINER CLOSURE, and U. S. Patent No. 3,216,630 dated November 9, 1965, issued to M. Stull, and entitled CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS.

While the devices set forth in the above identified patents have, in several cases, achieved commercial success, there has been a need for a simple push-pull cap construction which could impart modified or special dis- charge characteristics to the product being dispensed, without resorting to expensive mold configurations, multi-step molding processes, and the like.

The present invention provides a spraying-type dispenser cap for handheld squeeze-bottle dispensers, com- prising in combination a cap body having means for attachment to the neck of a dispensing bottle, said body having a tubular orifice portion through which product is intended to flow from said bottle, a stopper plug having a smooth sealing surface, and means mounting the stopper plug on said orifice portion in the path of flow of said product, a slide valving member slidably mounted on said orifice portion and movable thereon between a sealing position and a discharging position, said valv- ing member having a discharge opening into which the stopper plug extends and closely fits, and a plurality of discharge passages in the surface of the stopper plug, coacting with walls of the discharge opening of the valving member to form small orifices for effecting a multi-stream spray of product when the valving member is in its discharging position.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the spraying-type cap construction of the present disclosure, showing a cap body and a valving member carried thereby, and a stopper plug on the cap body, the plug having multiple axiallyextending circumferentially spaced grooves.

Fig. 2 is a front view, partly in elevation and partly in axial section, of the dispenser cap construc- tion of Fig. 1, with the valving member disposed in a closed, sealing position on the cap body. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the cap body per se of a slightly modified construction, incorporating a different groove configuration on the stopper plug. 25 Fig. 4 is an axial section of the cap construction of Fig. 3, showing the valving member disposed in an extended, product-discharging position, and Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the valving member, showing stiffening ribs on the undersurface thereof.

Referring now to the figures, there is shown a dispenser cap construction for hand-held bottles or contain- ers, the cap construction being generally designated by the numeral 10 and comprising a cap body 12 having an annular side wall 14 and a transverse top wall 16. The side wall 14 is provided with internal threads 18 of usual design, adapted to mate with the corresponding threaded neck portion of the squeeze bottle or container (not shown) with which the cap construction is to be employed.

The cap body 12 has an upstanding generally cylindrical or tubular orifice portion 20 in which there is fixedly carried a stopper plug 22, Fig. 2; or 22a, Fig. 4. The plug 22, Fig. 2, or 22a, Fig. 4, is disposed in the orifice portion 20 and in the path of flow of the product being discharged. It is held in position by a bridge-like formation comprising oppositely disposed integrally formed support legs 24.

In accordance with the present disclosure there is provided a valving member 26 for the cap body 12, which not only controls the opening and closing of the orifice portion 20, but also in the open position, cooperates with the stopper plugs 22 or 22a to impart a spray-like, multi-stream characteristic to the product being dispensed, the latter preferably being in the form of a non-viscous liquid, such as water, solvents, liquid - 5 detergents, and the like. The valving member 26 is in the form of a push-pull closure cap, and has the configuration of an inverted cup. The upper wall 28 of the valving member 26 has a discharge opening 30 which is adapted to be selectively closed off by the stopper plugs 22 or 22a when the valving member 26 is disposed in its closed, sealing position, as illustrated in Fig. 2, for example, wherein the walls of the opening 30 tightly seal against a cylindrical lowermost portion 32 of the stopper plug 22. The portion 32 constitutes a smooth sealing surface.

As shown, the valving member 26 has a conical upper surface 34 and a conical lower surface 36 having pockets 37, Fig. 5, which surfaces meet at a circular line or intersection 38r constituting a finger-engageable lifting edge by which the valving member 26 can be manually shifted between its open and closed positions.

The valving member 26 has a generally cylindrical inner bearing surface 39 and a conical undersurface, the latter in turn being reinforced by multiple radially disposed stiffening ribs 44, Fig. 5. Disposed on the exterior surface of the tubular orifice portion 20 of the cap body 12 is an annular bead 46, which slidably engages the cylindrical inner surface 39 of the valving member 26, and provides a seal therewith during both storage and discharge, to prevent leakage. A secondary bead 48 on the lowermost edge or lip of the valving member 26 similarly provides a sliding seal with the cylin- drical outer surface 41 of the orifice portion 20. The two beads 46, 48 also engage one another in the position of Fig. 4, in the nature of stop shoulders, to thereby retain the valving member 26 against inadvertent separa5 tion from the cap body 12.

The present combination involving the stopper plug 22 or 22a and the discharge opening 30 of the valving member 26, provides the unique spray characteristic to the product being dispensed. In accomplishing the spraytype discharge, the stopper member 22 in Fig. 1 or 22a in Fig. 3 is provided with a plurality of closely spaced external, axially-extending circumferentially spaced grooves 50 or 50a, which, with the cylindrical-walled opening 30 of the valving member 26, in the position of Fig. 4, form multiple individual discharge passages through which the liquid passes, these discharge passages being disposed in a circular pattern in axial alignment with the axis of the stopper plug 22. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the grooves 50a are not so closely spaced, compared to those of Fig. 1. As the liquid exits past the upper end of either stopper plug 22 or 22a, it has the form of a plurality of individual streams or jets which are coextensive with one another, and either parallel, or else somewhat divergent, depending in part upon the precision with which the grooves have been molded. The grooves are preferably uniformly spaced circumferentially, as shown.

As illustrated in Fig. 4. when the valving member is disposed in its discharging position, the stopper plug 22a extends a small, finite distance above the uppermost surface of the valving member 26, adjacent the opening 30. It is considered that this slight extension contributes to the desired spray characteristic, and minimizes the effects of capillarity at the exit points of the individual streams. As presently understood, it is believed that capillary action might give rise to a tendency to form drips, or otherwise cause distortion in the paths of the individual exiting streams. Also, as presently understood, this slight extension forms a multiplicity of external open channels of finite length and which are not confined by the walls of the opening 30. This lack of confinement is believed to give rise to a tendency for the individual streams to diverge away from one another in the form of a conical pattern, at locations removed from the area of the stopper plug.

As an alternative, the grooves 50 or 50a can, if desired, diverge very slightly toward the outer end of the stopper plug, in order to impart a more pronounced divergence to the individual streams. The rate of discharge is controlled by the user, who adjusts the squeeze force applied to the bottle (not shown) in order to at- tain the desired force of the spray, as can be readily understood.

The disclosed construction has the advantage of extreme simplicity, involving basically two molded plas- tic components. The functioning is simple, involving a mere push-pull operation which can be readily accomplished by the user. The spray characteristic, by virtue of the grooves 50 or 50a in the stopper plug 22 or 22a and the cylindrical-walled configuration of the discharge opening in the valving member, is automatically imparted to the liquid being dispensed, without the need for twisting operations, or else precise positioning of the valving member 26 to a predetermined axial position on the cap body 12. Instead, the user merely pulls the valving member 26 outwardly until the beads 46, 48 engage, the beads 46, 48 thus constituting a stop or limit; at such time, the valving member 26 is automatically in position for discharging of the liquid, and such liquid having the desired, predetermined spray characteristic.

The spray characteristic includes multiple individual streams or jets of product, coextensive with one another, and being either generally parallel or else somewhat divergent as they leave the area of the stopper plug.

An especially economical construction is realized, resulting in low manufacturing costs and without sacrifice of ease of use by the consumer. The individual parts can be molded of suitable plastic substance in simple mold cavities, and mass produced relatively inexpensively. Also, the device is especially easy for the consumer to use, as well as being rugged and reliable over extended periods of use.

It has been found to be highly resistant to inadvertent leakage at all times. Also there are largely eliminated potential problems with capillarity, as well as the tendency for the product being dispensed to form undesirable drips or globules, as opposed to a spraytype pattern.

The disclosed construction is thus seen to represent a distinct advance and improvement in the field of dispenser caps.

Variations and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Each and every one of the appended claims defines an aspect of the invention which is separate and distinct from all others, and accordingly it is intended that each claim be treated as such when examined in the light of the prior art devices in any determination of novelty or validity.

Claims

- 10 CLAIMS:

1. A spraying-type dispenser cap for hand-held squeeze-bottle dispensers, comprising in combination a cap body having means for attachment to the neck of a dispensing bottle, said body having a tubular orifice portion through which product is intended to flow from said bottle, a stopper plug having a smooth sealing surface, and means mounting the stopper plug on said orifice portion in the path of flow of said product, a slide valving member slidably mounted on said orifice portion and movable thereon between a sealing position and a discharging position, said valving member having a discharge opening into which the stopper plug extends and closely fits, and a plurality of discharge passages in the surface of the stopper plug, coacting with walls of the discharge opening of the valving member to form small orifices for effecting a multi-stream spray of product when the valving member is in its discharging position.

2. A dispenser cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mounting means for the stopper plug comprises a pair of upstanding angularly-disposed legs extending between the orifice portion of the cap body and the stopper plug.

3. A dispenser cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the smooth sealing surface of the stopper plug is dis- posed at the axially innermost portion of the plug, and - 11 the discharge passages in the surface of the stopper plug are disposed at the axially outermost portion of the plug.

4. A dispenser cap as claimed in claim 1, and further including cooperable retaining beads on the orifice portion of the cap body and on the valving member, retaining the latter against inadvertent removal from the cap body.

5. A dispenser cap as claimed in claim 1, and further including cooperable sealing beads on the orifice portion of the cap body and on the valving member, preventing leakage of product between the orifice portion and valving member.

6. A dispenser cap as claimed in claim 5, wherein one of said sealing beads is disposed on the outer surface of the orifice portion, and the other of said sealing beads is disposed on the inner surface of a wall of the valving member.

7. A dispenser cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein said valving member has an external annular finger-engageable edge which facilitates grasping thereof by the fingers of the user.

8. A dispenser cap as claimed in claim 7, wherein the valving member has a substantially conical exterior upper surface and a substantially conical exterior downwardly-facing surface, said surfaces meeting at said finger-engageable edge.

9. A dispenser cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein said valving member has the configuration of an inverted cup, the inner surface of the side wall of said cup being generally cylindrical, and the inner surface of the top wall of the cup being generally conical and intersecting said cylindrical surface, said discharge opening being disposed at the apex of the conical surface.

10. A dispenser cap as claimed in claim 9, wherein said conical surface has integral radially-extending stiffening ribs, said ribs being completely concealed from view from the outside of the valving member.

11. A dispenser cap as claimed in claim 2, wherein said legs form a bridge extending across the tubular orifice portion of the cap body.

12. A dispenser cap as claimed in claim 1, where- in the upper end of the stopper plug extends a finite distance above the upper surface of the valving member when the latter is disposed in its discharging position.

13. A dispenser cap as claimed in claim 1, where- in the upper end of the stopper plug extends above the upper surface of the valving member when the latter is disposed in its discharging position, forming outwardly open channels that are not confined by walls of the valving member discharge opening, said channels impart- ing a divergent characteristic to liquid passing through said channels.

14. A dispenser cap substantially as hereinbefore described, and with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A dispenser cap substantially as hereinbefore described, and with reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.