MXPA98007981A - Pump spit that has a go valve - Google Patents

Abstract

A spout with a mechanical pump spout has an inlet end, an outlet end and a fluid-containing portion therebetween, the fluid-containing portion being tilted up from the inlet end to the outlet end; a first one-way discharge valve located at the inlet end of the spout, the first one-way discharge valve is adapted to minimize air entering the pump from the spout, a second discharge valve is located in the outlet end of the spout to minimize dripping fluid from the fluid-containing portion of the spout, the second one-way valve faces down, the first and second one-way discharge valves open when the pump is activated and closed when the pump drive is completed

Description

SPY PE PPn? < WE lg E VA, vyt, A PE gQTEQ C? PP PE UA INYENCIQN The present invention relates to pump spigots and very particularly to pump spindles used with pumps for low viscosity fluids or fluids with surfactants where dripping of the spigot is a problem. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to pump spouts in which there is an inlet valve towards the spout designed to prevent ambient air from entering the pump.

ANTECEDENTS OF THE IMVEMCION Mechanical pump gaskets are common in the assortment technique. The pumps are mainly used with high viscosity fluids that do not drain easily from their containers. The pump provides help to the user to supply the fluid. Said pump packings are typically bottles designed to rest on the bottom thereof while a user presses down a pump spigot to drive the pump so that it takes fluid from the spout. The tap has a portion against which it is easy to press! with your fingers or the palm of your hand. The spout typically has a radially extending portion which hangs from the bottle. Within the radially extending portion there is a tubular passage. At the outer end of the tubular passage there is a hole »typically facing outwards or downwards» so that the fluid dispensed by pressing with one hand can be received in the palm of the other hand of the user. Many pump packages have a one-step valve associated with the discharge end of the pump or the inlet of the spigot. This valve acts to prevent air from entering the pump or from the container. The air can oxidize or otherwise contaminate the fluid in the pump or container. The air inlet may also require the pump to be primed again. When one-way valves prevent air from entering the pump or container, they also prevent residual fluid in the spout from re-entering the pump or container. In this way »the fluid remains in the portion of the spout that extends radially. The fluid that remains in the spout tends to dry. The tubular passage can then be covered. Some spouts are designed to have a minimum volume in the tubular passage to minimize the amount of fluid subject to drying. This can actually increase the tamponade. When such spout pump packages are used with fluids having low viscosities or surfactants, it has been found that the fluids wet the surfaces of the spout and easily drip from the spout after the trickle drive has been completed. The dripping of the spout after pumping is undesirable because the drops will wet the surroundings of the base of the container or fluid that runs along the sides of the container. Some pump packages are designed to be held by hand and handled so that a spigot is not necessary. In some of these packages »the pump discharge valve is located at the discharge point that is most out. However, dripping is usually not a problem since there is no reason for these discharge valves to be directed down when they are not being used. The package tilts down when the user supplies fluid, but otherwise is vertical when not in use.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a spout for a mechanical pump packing having a second one-way valve at the end that is further out looking down the spout to minimize spillage of fluid from the spigot. . Another object of the present invention is to provide a second one-way valve at the end that is furthest away from the spout to minimize the drying of fluid remaining in the spout when the primary discharge pump discharge valve is closed. .

Other object more of the present invention is to provide a second one-way valve at the end that is further out of the spout to allow for enlargement of the cross-section of the spigot-containing portion of the spout so that dripping by pressure of the spout is reduced. assortment »without fear of drying excess fluid. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a portion containing fluid that has most of its length directed upwardly and only a very short length that faces downwards "so that any fluid in the tubular portion of the spout will tend to Drain to the pump and away from the end of the tap that is most out.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In one aspect of the present invention, a spout with a pump spout comprises means for connecting the spout to a pump. The spout has an inlet end »an outlet end and a portion containing fluid therebetween. The spout also has a one-way discharge valve located at the inlet end of the spout. The first one-way discharge valve is adapted to minimize the entry of air to the pump from the spout. A second one-way discharge valve is located at the exit end of the spout to minimize the dripping of fluid from the portion of the spout containing fluid. The first and second one-way discharge valves open when the pump is actuated and close when the pump drive is completed. The second one-way discharge valve is preferably opened under a threshold pressure of approximately 72 mm Hg, and is preferably a four-globule valve made of silicone rubber. In another aspect of the present invention, a pump jet spout comprises means for connecting the spout to a pump. The spout has an inlet end »an outlet end and a portion thereof that contains fluid. The fluid-containing portion is inclined upwardly from the inlet end to the outlet end. The spout also has a first one-way discharge valve located at the inlet end of the spout. The first one-way discharge valve is adapted to minimize the entry of air to the pump from the spout. A second one-way discharge valve is located at the exit end of the spout to minimize dripping of fluid from the portion of the spout containing fluid. The second valve of a. Step look down. The first and second one-way discharge valves open when the pump is actuated and close when the pump drive is completed.

BREVE DES RI IÓ PE UQS PIBTIJQS Although the specification relates to the claims that particularly indicate and distinctly claim the present invention, it is believed that the present invention will be better understood from the following description of the preferred embodiments taken along with the accompanying drawings in which Equal reference numbers identify identical elements and in which: Figure 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the pump spout having a drip valve of the present invention which describes a prependable portion and a portion that contains fluid. Figure 2 is a sectional side elevational view thereof taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing a one-way ball valve at the inlet end of the spout and a four-lobe, one-way valve at the outlet end of the spout; and Figure 3 is a plan view thereof, which describes another view of the four-lobe valve and other characteristics of the spout.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, and very particularly to FIGS. 1 and 3, a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown: a pump spout having a drip valve, which is generally indicated with the number 10. pump spout 10 has a manually operable portion 12 »a fluid containing portion 14 and an inlet end 16» and an outlet end 18. At the inlet end 16 is located a one-way discharge valve 20 »shown as a ball check valve. Butterfly valves and other one-way valves can also be used at the spigot inlet end to prevent air from entering the pump or fluid back to the pump. The valve 20 may also be connected to the discharge end of the pump instead of the end of entrance of the spigot. The mechanical pump to which the pump spigot 10 is typically fixed is not shown as is common in the art. Additional details concerning said pump can be found in a co-pending application No. 08/441 »173» entitled "Collapsible Pump Chamber Having Supply Container Venting System and Integral Shipping Seal", filed on May 15, 1995, and assigned to the assignee of the present application. The inlet end 16 can be heat sealed »clamped or otherwise fixed in an air-tight manner to the discharge end of a mechanical pump» thereby establishing fluid communication between the spout 10 and the fluid discharge end of the bomb. The fluid from the pump flows past the valve 20 into a tubular passage 22 of the spout 10 when the portion 12 of the spout 10 is manually depressed downwardly. The pressure developed in the pump opens the valve 20 »for example» by lifting the ball from its seat. Once the pump pressure is dissipated, the ball returns to its seat under the influence of gravity and / or vacuum of the pump chamber to close the valve 20. Any fluid in the tubular passage 22 remains there after if the valve 20 has been closed, a one-way discharge valve 24 shown as a four-lobe valve is located at an outlet end 18. Other one-way valves may also be employed at the outlet of the spout instead of a four-lobe valve to prevent the fluid remaining in passage 22 from dripping from spigot 10 at the final end 18. A four-lobe valve is essentially a "duckbill" valve commonly known in the art. However, a duckbill valve has only one linear groove that opens radially when pressure develops behind the groove. A four-lobed valve has a double cross-shaped groove. The four-lobe valve opens radially in two directions perpendicular to the grooves when pressure develops behind the grooves. The double-slot arrangement allows the four-lobed valve to open wider and under a lower threshold pressure than a typical duckbill valve. However »both valves are made of elastic material, as rubber, so when they close their elasticity keeps them closed. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the discharge valve 24 is a four-lobed valve designed as part number P-47S3-4, made by West Company of Lionville, PA. The construction of the four-lobe valve 24 is generally in accordance with the teachings of the U.S. patent. No. 4,533,069"commonly assigned" issued to Drobish on August 6, 1985, which is incorporated herein by reference. The passage 22 is preferably inclined upwardly from the inlet end 16 to near the outlet end 18. This reduces the pressure of the fluid head on the valve 20 to keep it closed and maintains an "air lock" to the fluid around the valve. the valve 20 to prevent ambient air from entering the pump. The inclined passage also tends to drain the fluid away from the valve 24 to minimize the available fluid that could drip therefrom. A preferred angle is from about 3o to about 6o as measured from the horizontal. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the spout 10 is made of polyurethane. The passage 22 is preferably about 100 mm in length and has a relatively constant cross-sectional area of 11.5 nm *. The drip valve 24 is preferably a 4-lobe valve made of silicone rubber and has a flange which holds it in position within the outlet end 18. The outside diameter of the valve 24 is approximately 9 mm and the length of the valve is 24 mm. The slot is approximately 7 mm. The fluid dispensed in the preferred embodiment is Era ™ »a liquid detergent made by The Procter &; Gamble Company of Cincinnati OH. The fluid has a viscosity of about 300 cps, however, the valve 24 effectively prevents dripping of the outlet end 18 of the spout. A minimum threshold pressure of 72 mm Hg is developed in passage 22 to open valve 24 and thereby supply liquid detergent therefrom. Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been polished and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended to cover all such modifications in the appended claims. which are within the scope of the invention.

Claims (5)

NQYEPAP PE LA? NVENGIQN CLAIMS

1. - A spigot with a pump spout characterized in that it has: a) means for connecting the spout to a pump »said spout having an inlet end» an outlet end and a portion containing fluid therebetween »b) a first valve discharge of a passage located at the inlet end of the spout, said first one-way discharge valve being adapted to minimize the entry of air to the pump from the stem »and c) a second one-way discharge valve located at the outlet end of the spout to minimize the dripping of fluid from the fluid containing portion of the spout "the first and second one-way discharge valves opening when the pump is actuated and closing when said actuation is completed of the bomb.

2. A spigot with pump spout characterized in that it has: a) means for connecting the spout to a pump »said spout having an inlet end» an outlet end and a portion containing fluid therebetween; b) a first one-way discharge valve located at the inlet end of the spout; the first one-way discharge valve being adapted to minimize the entry of air to the pump from the spout; and c) a second one-way discharge valve located at the outlet end of the spout to minimize the dripping of fluid from the fluid-containing portion of said spout, said second valve one-way down, the first and second one-way discharge valves opening when the pump is actuated and closing when the pump is completed.

3. A spigot with a pump spout characterized in that it has: a) means for connecting the spout to a pump »said spout having an inlet end» an outlet end and a portion containing fluid therebetween »said portion containing fluid tilted up from the inlet end to the outlet end »b) a first one-way dump valve located at the inlet end of the spout» the first one-way dump valve being adapted to minimize the flow air inlet to the pump from the spout »and c) a second one-way discharge valve located at the outlet end of the spout to minimize the dripping of fluid from the fluid containing portion of said spout» said second valve one step downward »the first and second one-way discharge valves opening when the pump is actuated and closing when the pump is completed.

4. The spout with pump jet according to any of claims 1, 2 or 3 »further characterized in that the second one-way discharge valve opens under a threshold pressure of about 72 mm Hg.

5. The spout with pump spout according to any of the claims 1 »2» 3 or 4 »further characterized in that the second relief valve is a four-lobe valve made of silicone rubber.