JPS6227060A - Sprinkling pump conducting locking in lower section - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to dispensing pumps, and more particularly to locking and release of pumps in which the plunger is locked in a fully depressed state for transportation and storage. Regarding improvements.

Prior Art Locking spray pumps themselves are not new. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,369,899 by the same assignee as the present invention.
Please refer to the issue.

Locking devices in which the radial projection or tab of the plunger is restrained below the projection of the pump collar are known to be sufficiently effective; There is nothing to inhibit or limit unlocking of the plunger other than the tensile friction forces inherent in the plunger.

Furthermore, if the pump utilizes a plunger return spring, such devices have nothing to prevent fairly instantaneous plunger extension once the locking projection is released from the underside of the collar projection; Such a momentary stretch has an adverse effect on the pump's ability to inhale sufficiently in preparation for a subsequent depression stroke by the user.

In this regard, if the pump is controlled to extend from its locked state at a relatively low speed, the plunger will be more likely to enter the pump chamber during the starting operation than if it were to be extended suddenly, such as by the force of a relatively strong return spring within the pump body. It is known that the filling of liquids is facilitated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to eliminate accidental plunger rotation by creating an impediment to unlocking rotation that can normally only be overcome by applying a deliberate unlocking rotational force of magnitude. To provide a method to prevent targeted or unacceptable unlocking. At the same time, however, it is important to avoid creating such forces when bringing the plunger into a fully locked position, since doing so would prohibit the plunger from becoming tightly locked. be. Furthermore, it would prevent obtaining the proper leak-tight sealing that occurs on some interengaging parts of the pump when the plunger is fully and properly locked.

The invention then includes a pair of circumferentially spaced shoulders extending radially inwardly from the inner wall of the collar below the locking projection to restrain the projection in a locked condition therebetween. I'm thinking of something that stands out. This protrusion is such that when the plunger is rotated clockwise to the fully locked position, it engages a corresponding beveled surface of one of the locking shoulders. It has a tip that allows such locking rotation to occur with relatively little resistance. However - if the eave tip is rotated beyond the sloping shoulder of the collar, the tip will be placed between the two shoulders with the steep blocking surface directly opposite the equally steep blocking surface of the sloping shoulder. insert. Therefore, the plunger cannot fully rotate from the locked position unless the two blocking surfaces engage each other to resist such unlocking action, and the engaged state of the blocking surfaces cannot be rotated. Complete unlocking rotation cannot occur until a sufficiently high torque is applied to overcome the torque.

Another important object of the invention is that the user's own force on the plunger is effective in delaying the instantaneous extension of the plunger by the spring force into a fully extended position, which would otherwise be undesirable. A method is provided that allows the user to keep his or her hand on the head of the plunger when the locking projection emerges from the underside of the protrusion of the collar and moves into the adjacent inlet notch, as used in It is about giving. In this regard, the present invention provides a protrusion in the immediate vicinity of the inlet notch that prevents access of the locking protrusion to the notch unless the plunger is first depressed sufficiently to allow the protrusion to pass under the blocking joint. We are considering using a protruding joint in the section. The user must apply a manual push-down blade to pass the protrusion under the joint, so that the protrusion aligns with the notch and the plunger is free to extend under the action of the pump's return spring. Sometimes the user's hand is on the head of the plunger to try to retard its extension.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Pump 10 has a tubular body 12 fitted with a dip tube 14 at its lower end adapted to be inserted into a liquid in a concurrently used container (not shown). The upper end of the body 12 is provided with a housing 16 which is threaded onto the neck of the container and thereby attaches the pump 10 thereto.

A plunger, generally indicated at 18, reciprocates within the body 12 through a collar 20 attached to the open top end of the body 12, directing wicked liquid outwardly from the plunger 18 and allowing the user to remove the plunger. A dispensing head 22 is attached to the upper end of plunger 18 to provide a convenient means for applying actuation force to plunger 18.

The body 12 has a small diameter inlet 24 just above the dip tube 14 which is open during the extension stroke of the plunger 18 and open during the depression stroke so that it is ball-shaped. Controlled by stop valve 24.

The protrusion 28 at the lower end of the plunger 18
engages the ball 26 to keep it depressed when it is sufficiently down and locked, and the coil spring 30 engages the lower shelf 32 of the body 12 and the pumping piston of the pusher 18. 34 thereby flexibly biasing plunger 18 to a fully extended position. As will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, depressing the plunger 18 forces the liquid confined between the piston 34 and the closed valve 26 into the interior of the hollow plunger 18 through an orifice (not shown) and then the plunger 18. 18 upwardly and out of the mouth of the actuating head 22. Therefore, the piston 34 moving upward in the upward stroke of the pusher 18 is
4 and the inlet 24 in the region of the body 12, thereby opening the valve 26 and discharging this liquid the next time the plunger 18 is depressed. It is pulled up into the lower part of the body 12 through the dip tube 14.

Plunger 18 and collar 20 are provided with locking means, indicated generally at 36, therebetween capable of selectively retaining plunger 18 in a locked position well below FIG. It acts to give. Broadly speaking, this rotation/removal means 36 consists of a radial projection 38 of plunger 1B that slides downwardly into a notch 40 in upper projection 42 of collar 20. When the plunger 18 is rotated in the appropriate direction, the protrusion 38 slides under the projection C, thereby keeping the plunger 18 in a locked condition.

Second. 4. 6 and 9, the underside of the protrusion 42 is provided with a protruding abutment 44 located clockwise proximate the notch 40 when the collar 20 is viewed from above. ing. Immediately adjacent to the joint 44 is a length of cut 46 on the underside of the projection 8 extending a short distance clockwise from the joint 44 . At the clockwise limit of the concave portion 46, the underside of the projection 42 is provided with a downwardly sloped camming surface 48, which then forms a normally horizontal surface 50 parallel to the upper side of the projection 42. There is. vertically inner concave annular portion 56 of collar 20 downwardly from between the faces at the clockwise extreme point of parallel faces 50;
It is a stop shoulder 52 that extends vertically up to .

The inner wall 20aK of the collar 20 is provided with a second shoulder 58 that is aligned with the clockwise end of the inclined cam surface 48 and is slightly spaced below and below the protrusion C. The shoulder 58 protrudes outwardly from the inner wall 20a by a short distance of approximately 7% or less of the protrusion width of the protrusion 42 measured in the radial direction, and is generally parallel to the shoulder 52 but circumferentially. A generally perpendicular blocking surface 60 is provided spaced apart and opposing this. The shoulder 58 also has a short radially inwardly facing surface 62 and an angled surface 64 extending radially outwardly from one surface 62 toward and intersecting the wall 20a.

On the other hand, the protrusion 38 is provided at its radially outermost end 38a with a tip 66 that projects radially outward. The structure of the tip 66 and its relationship to the elements of the collar 20 with the protrusion 38 is best shown in FIGS. 3.4.11 and 20.

As shown, the tip 66 is disposed approximately centrally over the circumferential width of the protrusion 38 so that when the protrusion 38 is below the protrusion C in the horizontal plane 50 of the protrusion 42, the tip 66
The upper side 68 of the protrusion 38 is in a rotating state.
It is away from the bottom. As shown in FIG. 20, the protrusion 38 is arranged in a radial direction such that its radially outermost end 38a is slightly radially inwardly away from the inner wall 20a of the collar 20 when the protrusion 38 is below the protrusion. The length of the tip 38a of the protrusion and the wall portion 20a is
A space for a notch 66 is provided between the two. Also the second
As shown in FIG.
an inclined surface 7 at its clockwise end conforming to the inclination of
0 and further has a steep blocking surface 72 at the counterclockwise end that conforms in shape to the blocking surface 60 of the shoulder 58 .

1.5.17 and 19 there is shown a seal structure between an annular locking element 74 of a portion of plunger 18 and a protruding edge 76 of collar 20, which seal structure is generally designated 78. It is shown in In the illustrated embodiment, the sealing structure 78 includes a continuous annular tongue 80 at the lower end of the plunger annular portion 74.

A continuous groove 8 in the vicinity of the matching edge 76
It consists of 2. The tongue 80 is pushed into the groove 82 when the plunger 18 is depressed sufficiently, so that the annular portion 74
The interface 84 between the plunger 18 and the collar 20 is sealed at the lower end to prevent liquid from entering the collar 20 from the interior of the plunger 18, thereby rendering the pump 10 leaktight in this area.

The general principles of pumping operation of actuating pump 10 should already be known to those skilled in the art and have been briefly illustrated in the foregoing description. Regarding locking, when the plunger 18 is desired to be locked during initial transportation and storage or when the user locks after use, the plunger 18 is initially
is pressed down sufficiently so that it axially aligns with the notch 40 of the protrusion 42 . The plunger 18 connects the protrusion 38 to the joint 4
4, the plunger 18 slides the projection 38 under the projection 42, thereby locking the plunger 18 against the action of the spring 30. It rotates clockwise so that it stays the same.

If plunger 18 is then rotated a sufficient distance clockwise after projection 38 has been lowered below projection 42;
The upper side 68 of the projection 38 will engage the sloped cam surface 48 on the underside of the projection to transmit force. Thus, as plunger 18 continues to rotate clockwise after such mutual engagement, cam surface 48 progressively presses plunger 18 axially downward as seal tongue 80 is forced progressively more firmly into seal groove 82. will continue to do so.

This action "rigidizes" the seal structure 78 to ensure a fluid-tight seal between the plunger 18 and the collar 20.

These situations are illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 14 to 17, in which clockwise rotation of the projection 38 and therefore the plunger 18 causes the projection 38 to move progressively axially downward within the collar 20. You'll understand. Finally the first
As shown in FIG. 8, the upper side 68 of the protrusion 38
19 between the locking structures 78 is achieved.

While the protrusion 38 is moving under the cam surface 48, the tip 6
6 now makes initial engagement with shoulder 58.

In this regard, sustained clockwise rotation causes ramped surface 70 of tip 66 to engage corresponding ramped surface 64 of shoulder 58;
This will reduce the inhibiting effect on continued clockwise rotation provided by shoulder 58. This displacement engagement between ramps WU 64, 70 acts to move plunger 18 slightly laterally, thereby allowing tip 66 to ride up and over shoulder 58.

Once the tip 66 passes over the shoulder 58, it will effectively "squeeze" into the space between the blocking surface 60 and the shoulder 52. The protrusion 38 thus has its most clockwise edge positioned to abut the shoulder 52 and the blocking surface 72 of the tip 66 abuts and engages the opposing blocking surface 60 of the shoulder 58. It is located in such a position. This constraining relationship, along with the sharp blocking arrangement of the two surfaces 60 and 72, ensures that the plunger 18 is fully locked and the seal structure 78 is fully engaged to prevent leakage on the most clockwise side. This serves to firmly hold the plunger 18 in the position shown in FIG. Thus, despite vibration, rocking, bumping, or other rough handling, plunger 18 will normally remain fully locked with seal structure 78 properly engaged. This means that the container combined with the pump 10 will not tip over during subsequent use, either at the factory or during transportation, provided that other possible leak points associated with the container and pump are properly treated. This is extremely meaningful and important considering that children may be subjected to ``inverted'', ``upside down'', or other forms of rough treatment.

Moreover, this type of locking action in the home position of the plunger 18 tends to be irremovable since unlocking the plunger 18 requires some degree of cooperation on the part of the user. In this regard plunger 1
8, the plunger 18 is moved so that the blocking surface 72 is blocking, although there is no camming action between the steep blocking surface 72 of the tip 66 and the opposing blocking surface 60 of the protrusion 58. It must be rotated counterclockwise with sufficient force to cause it to ride over surface 60. However, once that limitation is overcome, the spring 30 engages and slidingly holds the upper side of the projection 68 against the lower side of the projection 42;
Plunger 18 will remain free to rotate counterclockwise.

Then, when projection 38 reaches a certain length of quadrant 46, spring 30 forces projection 38 upwardly enough such that the counterclockwise leading edge of projection 38 engages and joins junction 44. It is pressed against the protrusion 42, thereby inhibiting further counterclockwise rotation of the plunger 18. However, a certain length of the recess 46 is cut against the lowermost axially lower surface 50 of the projection corresponding to the lowermost axially depressed limit of the plunger 18 so that the projection 38 There is room for the plunger 18 to be pushed down only slightly against the action of the spring 300 when it is in the area of a certain length of cutting 46 . Thus plunger 1
By applying such a downward force to 8 through its head 22, the protrusion 38 is temporarily moved such that the plunger 18 can be rotated further counterclockwise until the protrusion 38 vertically mates with the notch 40. can be on the underside of joint 44 and then plunger 18 will extend.

In this regard, the additional short distance required to pass the protrusion 38 through the joint 44 reduces the plunger 18.
The user's normal tendency when depressing is to use the palm of the hand to apply such depressing force against the head 22 and then to use the palm of the hand against the head as the protrusion 38 is rotated to align with the notch 40. 22. Therefore, in many cases the palm of the user's hand will be placed on the head 22 at the moment the plunger 18 is unlocked from the collar 20, i.e. the projection 38 will again meet the notch 40 and the spring 30 will be able to extend the plunger 18. be. Thus, the extension stroke of plunger 18 tends to be a much more controlled, slow extension stroke than would otherwise be considered, thereby increasing the capacity of the first extension stroke of plunger 18 and increasing the pump's performance. It acts as an effective starting stroke.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a dispensing pump according to an embodiment of the idea of the invention, with the plunger shown in a fully lower and locked position. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the upper and front side of the collar showing the locking means of the plunger. FIG. 3 is a partial, upper, front perspective view of the portion associated with the plunger showing details of the locking projection; FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the parts of FIGS. 2 and 3 when assembled, with the locking projection shown in the collar-receiving notch prior to the locking rotation of the plunger. FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the collar. FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the collar taken generally along the line 6--6 of FIG. 7 is a lateral cross-sectional view of the collar taken generally along the line 7--7 of FIG. 6. FIG. FIG. 8 is a lateral cross-sectional view taken generally along line 8--8 of FIG. FIG. 9 is a partial underside perspective view of the collar in transverse section showing structural details; FIG. 10 is a cross-section of the collar taken along line 10--10 of FIG. FIG. 11 is a slightly enlarged elevational view of the plunger portion of FIG. 3; FIG. 12 is a top plan view of a portion of the plunger. FIG. 13 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a portion of the plunger. FIG. 14 is a partial view of the position of the locking projection shown in phantom lines when the collar shown in FIG. FIG. FIG. 15 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the assembled collar and plunger corresponding to the position of the locking projection in FIG. 14. Figure 16 is a perspective view of the collar and locking protrusion, which is similar to Figure 14, but shows the protrusion moving downward with a cam to lock the cool structure when the protrusion approaches a fully locked state; be. FIG. 17 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a portion of the collar and plunger corresponding to the location of the protrusion in FIG. 16. FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the collar and locking projection similar to FIGS. 14 and 16, but with the projection in the fully locked position. 19 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the portion of the collar and plunger similar to FIGS. 15 and 17, but corresponding to the location of the locking projection of FIG. 18. FIG. FIG. 20 is a portion of the assembled collar and plunger similar to FIG. 4 but showing portions of the collar protrusion broken away to show construction details and the locking lugs in the fully locked position; FIG. 10...Pump 12...Tubular body 18
... Plunger 20 ... Annular collar 30 ...
・Spring 38...Protrusion lIO...Notch 42...Protrusion part 44...Joint part
46...Cutting department (4 people outside)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A tubular body, an annular collar at one end of the body, capable of reciprocating within the body through the collar between an extended position and a depressed position during a pumping stroke. a plunger, the plunger being depressed sufficiently in one direction to first insert the protrusion into a notch in the protrusion of the collar and then slide the protrusion under the protrusion; means for releasably locking the plunger in the depressed position, the plunger including the protrusion proximate an outer end of the plunger retained on the underside of the protrusion after rotation by an amount; , and restraining said protrusion therebetween when said plunger rotates in said certain direction to a stroke limit determined by said protrusion engaging the shoulder furthest circumferentially from said notch. means defining a pair of circumferentially spaced shoulders of said collar on the underside of said projection in a position, said projection passing through said other shoulder in said direction relative to said spaced shoulders; Allows for unimpeded relative movement up to the locking position and requires considerable force to subsequently release the projection from the locking position by riding over the other shoulder upon rotation of the plunger in the opposite direction a downwardly locking dispensing pump 2 characterized in that the projection and the other shoulder have associated mutually engageable means shaped and constructed such that the projection is radially a radially outer end provided with an extending protrusion, the collar having a radially inwardly facing annular wall opposite the outer end of the protrusion and within the path of travel of the protrusion; the other shoulder protruding radially inward, the protrusion and the other shoulder engaging and sliding when the plunger rotates in the certain direction toward the locking position; and an opposing blocking surface arranged to engage and join when the plunger rotates in the opposite direction out of the locking position. A spraying pump that locks downward as described in . 3. The plunger and the collar are provided with sealing structures that are axially engageable with each other to seal the interface between the plunger and the collar when the plunger is sufficiently depressed. , the protrusion has a lower side that is at least partially sloped so as to come into camming engagement with an opposing upper side of the protrusion as the plunger rotates toward the locking position. and thereby effecting a final axial movement of the plunger so as to press against the sealing structure, such that the point of maximum movement of the plunger by the underside of the protrusion is below the shoulder in the locking position. 3. The dispensing pump locking downwardly as claimed in claim 2, which corresponds to the point where the protrusion is restrained. 4. The lower side includes a cutting part of a certain length in the axial direction located between the inclined part and the notch, and the cutting part is provided with a protruding joint part close to the notch at an end thereof. unlocking of said projection so as to prevent unlocking of said projection approaching said notch if the plunger is not first depressed further down enough to allow said projection to pass under the joint; A spraying pump that locks downwardly as claimed in claim 3 and is disposed in a travel path. 5. Claim 4, wherein the plunger is provided with spring means for holding the protrusion flexibly pressed against the underside of the protrusion when the protrusion is under the protrusion. A spraying pump that locks downward as described in . 6. A lower portion provided with a cutting portion having a certain length in the axial direction and being spaced apart from the notch in the circumferential direction and capable of engaging the upper side of the protrusion when the protrusion rotates to perform locking of the plunger. the lower side is further provided with a projecting joint between the cutting portion and the notch, and the lower side is further provided with a projection of sufficient size to allow the plunger to initially pass the protrusion under the joint. The downwardly locking spraying pump according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing pump is disposed in a locking release path of the protrusion so as to prevent the protrusion from approaching the notch from being unlocked when the protrusion is not pressed down. . 7. Claim 6, wherein the plunger is provided with spring means for holding the protrusion flexibly pressed against the underside of the protrusion when the protrusion is under the protrusion. A spraying pump that locks downward as described in . 8. a tubular body, an annular collar at one end of the body, and a plunger reciprocable within the body through the collar between an extended position and a depressed position during a pumping stroke; of the protrusion after the plunger is first depressed sufficiently to insert the protrusion into a notch in the protrusion of the collar and then rotated an amount to slide the protrusion on the underside of the protrusion. means for releasably locking the plunger in the depressed position, the plunger including the protrusion proximate an outer end of the plunger held below, and locking the rotation of the plunger; a cut portion having a certain length in the axial direction on the lower side of the protrusion that engages with and opposes the upper side of the protrusion when the plunger is released; between the cutting portion and the notch, the cutting portion being disposed in the unlocking path of the projection so as to prevent the locking release from approaching the notch if the projection is not further depressed by a sufficient amount; A dispensing pump locking downwardly, characterized in that it has a joint portion protruding below the protruding portion between. 9. Claim 8, wherein the plunger is provided with spring means for holding the protrusion, which is flexibly pressed against the lower side of the protrusion when the protrusion is below the protrusion. A spraying pump that locks downward as described in .