NZ251121A

NZ251121A - Trigger sprayer:nozzle cap rotates with sidewall squeezing

Info

Publication number: NZ251121A
Application number: NZ251121A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Wilhelmus J J Maas; Petrus L W Hurkmans
Original assignee: Afa Products Inc
Priority date: 1992-02-24
Filing date: 1993-02-23
Publication date: 1996-05-28
Also published as: WO1993016953A1; GB2278556B; GB9416753D0; JPH07504122A; CA2130580A1; AU3795593A; DE4390810T1; AU674309B2; GB2278556A; LU88525A1; IL104783A0; MX9301008A; NL9320026A

Description

New Zealand No. International No. 251 1 2 1 251121 TO BE ENTERED AFTER ACCEPTANCE AND PUBLICATION Priority dates: aul&No.

International fifing date: Classification: iPcfc". 6o5Bi/oo; BfcS'DSo/ofr Publication date: 2 8 MAY 1996 Journal No.: NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Title of invention: Child resistant nozzle for trigger sprayer Name, address and nationality of applicant(s) as in international application form: AFA PRODUCTS, INC, a corporation organised under the laws of the State of North Carolina, of 1 Pine Street, Forest City, North Carolina 28043, USA 25112 1 Child resistant sprayer nozzle assembly background of the invention 1. Field of the Invention.

The present invention relates to a trigger operated 5 dispensing device for mounting to the top neck of a storage container. Although such devices, known as trigger sprayers, can be reused, often times they are disposed of.

A nozzle assembly is attached to the discharge end of the trigger sprayer and includes a rotatable nozzle cap rotatable 10 to three different discharge positions. A STOP position closes the discharge end, a streak position provides a focused stream of fluid, and a spray position provides a spray or fog-like charge of the fluid. ^ To avoid access to the contents of the bottle to children 15 through the trigger sprayer, the rotatable nozzle cap remains in the stop position and cannot be moved easily by children unless the trigger sprayer is manipulated in a special manner.

For this purpose, the nozzle cap has at least one internal lug or catch adapted to engage at least one prong or leg 20 extending from the body of the sprayer unless the body is squeezed to deflect the prong or prongs inwardly so the lug inside the cap can be rotated past the prong as the cap is rotated. The lug cannot be disengaged from the prong easily, thereby providing a child resistant trigger sprayer nozzle 2 5 assembly. 2. Description of The Prior Art.

Examples of previously proposed trigger operated sprayers are disclosed in the following patents: U.S. Patent No. Patentee V r.Y.

*\V \ 4,516,695 Garneau ' . c Wesner et al. " 14 MAR 1996 ' 4,204,821 Reeve * SUMMARY Or THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided.vs<aw^v trigger operated fluid dispensing device for mounting to a container. The dispensing device comprises: a body haying a front end including opposed side walls at the front end, a nose bushing extending from the front end between the side walls and 40 at least one, elongate, nozzle cap blocking; member which 251121 2 extends from the body front end and which is adapted to engage and prevent rotation of a nozzle cap upon rotation of the cap without manipulation of the body side walls; a nozzle assembly at the front end of the body including the nose bushing, a 5 nozzle cap received on the nose bushing and cooperating structure on or in the nozzle cap and on or in the nose bushing for selectively establishing an off position of the nozzle cap, a spray position of the nozzle cap or a stream position of the nozzle cap upon rotation of the nozzle cap; the nozzle cap 10 being mounted for rotation on the nose bushing between the three positions and the nozzle cap having engaging structure therein positioned adjacent the blocking member for engaging the blocking member when someone attempts to rotate the nozzle cap without manipulating the body side walls; and, the side 15 walls of the body being deflectable inwardly of the body so that when the side walls are squeezed inwardly, they engage and move inwardly the blocking member to permit the engaging structure in the nozsle cap to move past the blocking member when the nozzle cap is rotated at the same time the body side 20, walls are squeezed. brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a trigger sprayer constructed according to the teachings of the present 25 invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the trigger sprayer shown in FIG. 1 and shows a locking ring prior to its detachment from a cylindrical base of the sprayer body.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the trigger sprayer 30 in its at rest position where a spring between a trigger and the sprayer body biases the trigger and a piston rod coupled thereto to the most outward position.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the front end of the sprayer body and a nose bushing that extends from the front end 35 of the body of the trigger sprayer shown in FIG. 2, but without a pull-away piece mounted at the end of the body.

FIG. 5 is a back elevational view of the nozzle:, cap? of^a*' nozzle assembly shown in FIG. 2. 1 .... _j_ " UfiAR1996 *$ ■ +*/ 251121 3 FIG. 6" is an exploded view in longitudinal vertical section of the nozzle cap and nose bushing shown of the nozzle assembly shown in FIG. 2 with portions broken away.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal, generally vertically sectional 5 view of the nozzle cap and nose bushing coupled together as shown in FIG. 1, with portions broken away.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view through the nozzle assembly shown in FIG. 1 after a pull-away piece is removed and is taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view through the nozzle assembly, similar to the view shown in FIG. 8, but showing the side walls of the sprayer body squeezed in to move two legs or prongs extending from the body out of blocking position relative to two lugs on the inner wall of the nozzle cap. 15 FIG. 10 is a front end elevational view of the sprayer body and the nose bushing that extends from the front end of the body of the trigger sprayer shown in FIG. 2, similar to FIG. 4, but with a pull-away piece mounted at the front end of the body.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the pull-away piece mounted at the front end of the body and constructed according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the pull-away piece shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional back view of the pull-away piece and is taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 12. description of the preferred embodiment(s) Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a perspective view of an all 30 synthetic/plastic trigger sprayer 10 coupled to a bottle 12.

An exploded perspective view of the parts of the trigger sprayer 10 is shown in more detail in FIG. 2.

The trigger sprayer 10 includes a body 14, a nose bushing 16 at a discharge end 18 of the body 14, a nozzle tamper proof 35 pull away piece 20, a top portion 22 and a hand gripping formation 24 extending rearwardly from the top portion 22 of the body 14 and then downwardly to a cylindrical base 26 of the body 14. The base 26 is held by a locking ring 28 to a^nj2?jfc':3.Q /<* % ...... $ 14 MAR 1996 ' V . < * » 251121 4 of the bottle 12.

A trigger 32 having a front side 31 is pivotally mounted to the body 14 by having two cylindrical pins 34, molded on the top end of two opposed side walls 36 of the trigger 32, * inserted into two corresponding holes 3 8 in the body 14 of the trigger sprayer 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, a plastic spring assembly 40 is placed between the body 14 and the trigger 32 to urge the trigger 32 always back into its home position. Coupled to the trigger 32 10 is a piston 42 having an outer piston rod 44 which connects with the trigger 32 and an inner cylindrical end 4 6 which is received in a cylindrical opening 4 8 in the body 14 for the purpose of varying the volume in a pumping chamber defined in the opening 48.

The trigger 32, the spring assembly 40, the piston 42 and the cylindrical opening 48 form and define primary components of a pumping mechanism 49.

A valve intake stem 50 is received into the bottom of the cylindrical base 26 and has a dip tube 52 releasably fixed 20 thereto and depending therefrom for insertion into the bottle 12.

A safe and child resistant sprayer/bottle connection is provided and includes locking tabs 53 with lug receiving openings 54 formed in the cylindrical side wall of the 25 cylindrical base 26 and locking lugs on the bottle neck 30 and locked in place by the locking ring 28.

When the molded sprayer body is removed from a mold, the locking ring 28, connected to the cylindrical base 26 of the body 14 by six links, points, fillets or webs 57 which are 30 necessary for molding the locking ring 28 together with the body 14, is broken away from the cylindrical base 26 by breaking the fillets 57 and moved upwardly on the base 26. During assembly of the parts of the trigger sprayer 10, the locking ring 28 is moved downwardly over the cylindrical base 35 26.

A nozzle assembly 58 is provided and includes a rotatable nozzle cap 60 having a forwardly extending cylindrical^ extension 62. The nozzle cap 60 is mounted on the oV. 251121 16 extending from a cylindrical portion 64 of the body 14 and includes an annular band 66 for holding the nozzle cap 60.

Three different positions of the nozzle cap 60, a STOP position, a SPRAY position, and a STREAM position are provided.

When the nozzle assembly 58 is mounted to the body 14, a mounting block 67 of the piece 2 0 is snap fittingly received through an opening 68 in the top portion 22. At the same time, fork arms 69 of the piece 20 extend through notches 70 in the top portion 22 and/or notches 71 in the top wall of the cap 60 10 between one of two flexible locking legs or prongs 7 2 and the cylindrical portion 64 for securing the nozzle cap 60 in its STOP position, thereby ensuring a tamper proof and child resistant locking of the trigger sprayer nozzle assembly 58 to the body 14.

The nozzle assembly 58 is mounted on the discharge end 18 of trigger sprayer 10, as described above. The top portion 22 of the body 14 extends rearwardly to a rear end 73 of the hand gripping formation 24 and then slants forwardly and downwardly from the rear end 73 to the cylindrical base 26. 20 The six contact fillets or webs 57 are uniformly distributed around the lower end of the cylindrical base 2 6 and are initially integral with the locking ring 28. During the molding process, the contact fillets or webs 57 are broken and the locking ring 28 is moved upwardly relative to the 25 cylindrical base 26. Later, when the locking ring 28 is moved downwardly on the base 26, an annular groove 74 within the locking ring 28 snap-fittingly mates with an annular rib 75 on the base 26. The upper position of the locking ring 2 8 is the pre-application-to-a-bottle position and the locking ring 28 is 30 held in this position by frictional engagement of the inner wall of the locking ring 28 with the rib segments 76 provided on the outer cylindrical wall of the cylindrical base 26. The upper, partially annular rib segments 76 on the outer cylindrical wall of the cylindrical base 26 locate and to some 35 extent limit upward movement of the locking ring 28.

As shown in FICS. 3, molded within the cylindrical base 26 251121 '• 6 against the- inner diameter of the bottle neck 30. The seal ring 316 has a bevelled end 318 at its lower side to facilitate insertion of the bottle neck 30 into the base 26 and around the seal ring 316.

Within tKe inner area of seal ring 316 is an opening 320, having a shape according to the shape of the intake stem 50 which is generally oval in cross-section. The intake stem 50 is press-fitted into the opening 320 until ridges 322 on the intake stem 50 snap into mating mounting grooves on the inner 10 surface of the wall of the opening 320. In this way, an air tight seal is provided. The diptube 52 is releasably fixed in the center of the intake stem 50. The length of the diptube 52 depends on the size of the bottle 12. However, it is recommended that the diptube 52 should extend to the bottom of 15 the bottle 12 but shouldn't touch it.

The cylindrical opening 48 is located inside the body 14 of the trigger sprayer 10. The piston cylindrical end 46 fits tightly into the cylindrical opening 48 to create a pumping chamber 324 having a variable volume between a fixed back wall 20 326 of the cylindrical opening 48 and a rearwardly facing wall 328 of the piston cylindrical end 46. The fixed wall 326 of the pumping chamber 324 has an inlet flap valve 330 situated in the lower part thereof and an opening 332 in the upper part thereof. An orifice 334 through a wall of the intake stem 50 25 is located to mate or register with the inlet flap valve 330 and to establish an inlet passageway. The inlet passageway is provided by the hollow diptube 52, the intake stem 50 and the orifice 334.

The opening 332 is located to mate or register with an 30 outlet flap valve 336 on the top side of intake stem 50. Inlet flap valve 330 and outlet flap valve 336 control the fluid flow into and out of pumping chamber 324.

The trigger 32 is 'pivot-ally mounted on the body 14 of the trigger sprayer 10 by inserting the two laterally extending 35 pins 34 on the upper part of the trigger 32 into the two corresponding holes 38 in the body 14.

Referring now to FIG. 4, which is a front elevational view of the nose bushing 16, it will be apparent th^r5tJhiis'".npse V e\ / *\v ,w |(, —~ C,A \\ 14 MAR 1996 \| £ t 251121 7 bushing 16 includes a cylindrical extension 702 having an inner cylindrical cavity 704. The cylindrical extension has a first slot 706 through the cylindrical wall thereof which is a so-called tangential slot for directing liquid tangentially into 5 the cylindrical cavity 704 and has a second, so-called radial, slot 708 for directing liquid radially into the cylindrical cavity 704.

The cylindrical extension 702 is small-in-diameter and is located coaxially with an outer cylinder 710 having a larger 10 diameter. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the smaller cylindrical extension 702 extends outwardly from a web 712 of material which fixes the cylindrical extension 702 in the position shown and defines between, an inner wall 714 of the outer cylinder 710, two waterways 720 and 722 which communicate 15 liquid to be sprayed in a SPRAY or STREAM to the tangential slot 706 or to the radial slot 708.

Also, it will be apparent from FIG. 4 that the top of the body 14 between the slots 70 has a tab extension 726 which extends partially into a locating slot 728 in the back. 20 underside of a top side wall 730 of the nozzle cap 60 as shown in FIG. 5.

With reference to FIG. 5, it will be seen that the nozzle cap 60 has a generally square configuration with the top side wall 730 having STOP indicating indicia. A left side wall 734 25 has SPRAY indicating indicia thereon and a right side wall 738 which has STREAM indicating indicia.

Also, the nozzle cap 60 has a bottom wall 74 2, as shown in 'FIG. 5..

Within the envelope of the forward portions of the walls 30 730, 734, 738 and 742 and extending rearwardly from a front wall 744 of the npzzle cap 60 is a first outer cylinder 746 which is adapted to receive therein the outer cylinder 710 of the nose bushing 16. Then, also extending rearwardly from the front wall 744 within the outer cylinder 746 is a smaller-in-35 diameter cylinder 748 having a slot 750 extending radially therethrough which is adapted, upon selective rotation of the nozzle cap 60, to mate with either the tangential slot the radial slot 708 in the cylindrical extension*"702. ■ A. s? 251121 8 smaller-in-diameter cylinder 748 is adapted to be received over In a manner which is conventional in the art, when the nozzle cap 60^ is rotated counterclockwise 90° from the STOP 5 position to the SPRAY position, liquid in the waterway 72 0 will pass through the slot 750 and through the mating slot 706 into -the cylindrical cavity 704 and in a swirl forwardly to an outlet orifice 752 in the front wall 744 of the nozzle cap 60. clockwise 90° from the STOP position to the STREAM position, the slot 750 in the wall of the cylinder 748 will mate or register with the radial slot 708 whereby liquid can flow from the waterway 722 through the slot 7 50 and through the slot 708 radially into the cylindrical cavity 704 and then axially 15 forwardly and out of the orifice 75 2.

In this way, in a manner similar to previously proposed nozzle assemblies, liquid can be directed through the waterways 720 and 722 to selectively aligned, axially extending or radially extending, slots for communicating liquid in a swirl 20 or in an axial path to the orifice 752 for effecting a desired discharge of liquid in either & conical spray or mist-like discharge or in a substantially axial STREAM type discharge.

Also, it will be understood that different formations can be utilized for effecting the mating of one or more tangential 25 slots through a radial slot to a waterway or one or more radial slots to a radial or longitudinal slot and thence to a waterway, as disclosed in the Quinn et al U.S. Patent No. 4,234,128 or the Dobbs et al U.S. Patent No. 4,706,888, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 30 Also in FIG. 5, there is illustrated a first formation 754 in the# lower area on the inside of the side wall 734. This formation 754 defines a lug, boss or detent 754 that extends angularly upwardly and inwardly from the wall 734 inside the nozzle cap 60 to an edge or catch 755. In like manner, a lug, 35 boss or detent 756 in the lower area of the wall 738 extends inwardly from the wall 738 inside the nozzle cap 60 to an edge or catch 757. the cylindrical extension 702.

In a similar manner, when the nozzle cap 60 is rotated As will be described in greater detail UN»1S35 ' / v- " O • <• y 251 f 2 j lugs 754 and 756 normally are positioned in the nozzle assembly 58 beneath the legs or prongs 72.

The blocking engagement of the legs or prongs 72 relative to the lugs or projections 754 and 756 normally prevents 5 rotation of tlfe nozzle cap 60 of the nozzle assembly 58 until the pull-away piece 20 is pulled away to remove the fork arms 69 from the locking position of each fork arm 69 between the cylindrical portion 64 and a leg or prong 72, and unless and until a user squeezes the side walls of the body 14 in the side 10 wall areas 780 and 782 at the same time the user rotates the nozzle cap 60.

The blocking position of the prongs 72 is shown in FIG. 8. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, when the wall areas 7 80 and 782 of the body 14 are squeezed or pushed inwardly to move the legs or 15 prongs 72 toward the cylindrical portion 64 and out of blocking, or catching engagement with the lugs 754 and 756, the nozzle cap 60 can be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise, as shown in phantom in FIG. 9.

As shown in FIG. 9, after the wall areas 780 and 782 are 20 squeezed to move the legs 72 out of blocking engagement with respect to the lugs 754 and 756, particularly the lug 754, the nozzle cap 60 can be rotated counterclockwise 90° to the SPRAY position.

In this position, the waterways 720 and 722 communicate 25 through the slot 750 and the slot 706 to the cylindrical cavity 704 for effecting a swirl of liquid to the outlet orifice 752 in the front wall 744 of the nozzle cap 60 thereby to effect the SPRAY, mist or fog-like discharge of liquid from the nozzle cap 60.

When the nozzle cap 60 is rotated clockwise 90° after the prongs or legs 72 have been squeezed inwardly, the lug or projection 756 then can move past the leg 72.

Each lug 754, 756 has an upper surface 760 extending to a surface 762 that is close to parallel to the plane of the side 35 wall 734 or 738, the intersection of these surfaces 760, 762 being the edge or catch 755 or 757.

It will be noted that the extension tab 726-^-having inclined side edges 784 and 786 is adapted to encja^e on y *cs\ 1? 14 WAR 1895 . \ A <-k ■'/ 251121 side or the other the lug 754 or the lug 756 to prevent further rotation of the nozzle cap 60, counterclockwise or clockwise thereby to ensure that the nozzle cap 60 can only be moved from the .SroP position to the SPRAY position or from the STOP 5 position to the STREAM position.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 10, it will be understood that the mounting block 67 of the pull-away piece 20 has a generally rectangular planar body 801 and is pressed downwardly after placement over the top portion 22 to snap-fittingly lock 10 the mounting block 67 in the opening 68 in the top portion 22 of the body 14. At the same time, the fork arms 69, each having a curved inner surface 802, are received through the spaced apart slots or notches 70 in the top portion 22 at the front end thereof and through the slots or notches 71 in the 15 rear edge of the top wall 730 of the nozzle cap 60, with the curved surfaces 802 being received around the cylindrical portion 64 of the body 14 and having lower ends 804 received between the cylindrical portion 64 and the spaced apart legs or prongs 72.

With the lower ends 804 of the fork arms 69 positioned in this manner, inward movement of the legs or prongs 72 when the wall areas 780 and 782 of the body 14 are squeezed is prevented.

As a result, if one tried to rotate the nozzle cap 60, 25 such rotation is prevented, on the one hand by the fork arms 69 extending through the mating slots or notches 70 and 71 in the top wall portion 22 of the body 14 and the top wall 730 of the nozzle cap 60 and, on the other hand, by the blocking position of the fork arms 69 which prevent inward movement of the prongs 30 72 to enable the lugs 754 and 756 to be moved past the prongs 72 upon either clockwise or counterclockwise attempted rotation of the nozzle cap 60.

As best shown in FIG. 11, the pull-away piece 20 has at the front end thereof a rectangular recess 806 which is adapted 35 to be received over the extension tab 726. The curved surfaces 802 extend downwardly and laterally on the inneir side of the fork arms 69 from the edges of the rectangular recess 806.

A top rear portion or pull tab 808 of the pull-away piece p. i*. . ,230 jj 11 251121 has PULL indicia 810 thereon.

Further, to facilitate pulling of the pull-away piece 20, the rear underside of the ptill tab 808 is beveled upwardly at 812 as shown in FIG. 12.

The mounting block 67 is positioned below the planar body 801 of the pull-away piece 20 beneath a recess 815 in the planar body 801 and is connected to front and back edges 816, 817 of this recess 815 by three webs or fillets 818, as best shown in FIG. 13.

The mounting block 67 has a curved lower surface 820 with a central longitudinally extending slot 822 separating the mounting block 67 into left and right prong portions 824 and 826. Each prong portion 824 and 826 has an inclined surface 828, 830 which inclines upwardly and laterally outwardly from 15 the curved surface 820 to a shoulder 832, 834, as best shown in FIG. 13.

It will be understood that when the mounting block 67 is pushed downwardly through the opening 68, the inclined surfaces 828 and 830 engage the sides of the opening 68 and the slot 822 20 allows the prong portions 824 and 826 to be deflected inwardly until the shoulders 832 and 834 are moved past lower side edges 835 and 836 of the opening 68 and snap into a locking position beneath the top wall portion 22 of the body 14 adjacent the side edges 835, 836 of the opening 68. The curved surface 820 25 will then rest upon the upper surface of the cylindrical portion 64 perhaps with a slight interference fit between the cylindrical portion 64 and the underside of the top wall surface 22.

As shown in FIG. 12, the planar body 801 has a transverse 30 groove 840 in a lower surface 842 thereof to facilitate bending of the pull tab 808.

The pull-away piece 20 provides tamper evident structure for the nozzle assembly 58. In this respect, if the pull-away piece 20 is broken or missing, that is evidence that the nozzle 35 assembly of the trigger sprayer has been tampered with.

In use, a user will grip the pull tab 808 at the rear end of the break away piece 20 and pull upwardly, with th^Jfcajjelr-, 812 facilitating gripping of the pull tab 808;^i?n%f"'tjje y * ^ / V ^ 14MAR1S96 251121 12 transverse groove 840 facilitating bending of the pull tab 808 upwardly. As the pull tab 808 is pulled upwardly, first the webs or fillets 818 at the back edge 817 of the recess 815 are broken followed by breaking of the webs or fillets 818 at the 5 front edge 816 of the recess 815. After the webs or fillets 818 are broken, the pull-away piece 20 can be easily removed from the sprayer body to remove the fork arms 69 from the mating slots or notches 70 and 71 and to remove the lower ends 804 of the fork arms 69 from a blocking position between the 10 cylindrical portion 64 and the legs or prongs 72 to enable a user to use the trigger sprayer 10. 112 1

Claims

13 claims WE CLAIM:

1. A trigger operated fluid dispensing device for mounting to a container, said dispensing device comprising: 5 a body having a front" end including opposed side walls at the front end, a nose bushing extending from said front end between said side walls and at least one, elongate, nozzle cap blocking member which extends from said body front end and which is adapted to engage and prevent rotation of a nozzle cap 10 upon rotation of the cap without manipulation of said body side walls; a nozzle assembly at the front end of said body including said nose bushing, a nozzle cap received on said nose bushing and cooperating means on or in said nozzle cap and on or in 15 said nose bushing for selectively establishing an off position of said nozzle cap, a spray position of said nozzle cap or a stream position of said nozzle cap upon rotation of said nozzle cap; said nozzle cap being mounted for rotation on said nose 20 bushing between said three positions and said nozzle cap having engaging means therein positioned adjacent said blocking member for engaging said blocking member when someone attempts to rotate said nozzle cap without manipulating said body side walls; and, 25 said side walls of said body being deflectable inwardly of said body so that when said side walls are squeezed inwardly, they engage and move inwardly said blocking member to permit said engaging means in said nozzle cap to move past said blocking member when said nozzle cap is rotated at the same 30 time said body side walls are squeezed.

2. The dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said at least one, elongate, blocking member includes at least one leg or prong extending outwardly from said front end of said body adjacent one of said side walls. 35

3. The dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said nozzle cap is generally cup-shaped including at least three cap side walls and a front wall, said front wall having an jQji^.lset'■ orifice therein and at least one of said cap side walls having^;. cv\ \v 14 MAR 1996 1 \\ ^ " r> 25 112 1 on an inner surface thereof a lug which is positioned to engage said blocking member and which defines said engaging means.

4. The dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said . * body has a top side wall and a tab extending from said top wall 5 at the front end of said body and adapted to be received in said nozzle cap beneath the top wall thereof and having side edges at least one of which is adapted to engage said engaging means inside said nozzle cap to limit rotation of said nozzle cap, with such engagement defining an operating position of 10 said noz7.1 e assembly.

5. The dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said at least one, elongate, blocking member includes first and second prongs diametrically disposed on opposite sides of said nose bushing and extending outwardly from said front end of said 15 body with each prong being disposed adjacent one of said side walls.

6. The dispensing device of claim 5 wherein each of said prongs is a generally flat flexible planar elongate leg which extends in a plane generally parallel to the plane of an 20 adjacent side wall of said body and being deflectable inwardly toward said nose bushing when said body side walls are squeezed thereby to move said prongs out of a blocking position with respect to said engaging means in said cap.

7. The dispensing device of claim 5 wherein said 25 nozzle cap is generally cup-shaped including at least: three cap side walls and a front vail, said front wall having ail outlet orifice therein, said cap side walls comprising a cap top side wall having STOP indicia thereon on the outer surface thereof, a cap left side wall having SPRAY indicating indicia thereon 30 and a cap right side wall having STREAM indicating indicia thereon, and said cap left and right side walls each having on an inner surface thereof a lug positioned to engage the side of one of said prongs, said lugs defining said engaging means.

8. The dispensing device of claim 7 wherein each of 35 said lugs is defined by a projection which extends from-the inner surface of one of said nozzle cap side walls and has a sharp edge or catch edge defined between a first, surface. -extending inwardly of said cap from said inner surface'of saiq«*--:, oj ' Uf'iAS i396 n 251121 15 nozzle cap side wall and another surface generally parallel to said nozzle cap side wall.

9. The dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said body has a top wall and said device includes tamper evident means releasably fixed to said top wall and including means for engaging said nozzle cap and grippable means for enabling one to grip said tamper evident means and pull same away from said top wall. < -V * 14 MAR 1938 henr* ■ 25112 16 ABSTRACT The trigger operated fluid dispensing device (10) for mounting to a container (12) comprises a body (14) having a front end (18) including opposed side walls (780 and 782) at 5 the front end (18), a nose bushing (16) extending from the front end (18) between the side walls (780 and 782) and at least one, elongate, nozzle cap blocking member (72) which extends from the body front end (18) and which is adapted to engage and prevent rotation of a nozzle cap (60) upon rotation 10 of the cap (60) without manipulation of the body side walls (780 and 782) and a nozzle assembly (58) at the front', end (18) of the body (14) including the nose bushing (16), a nozzle cap (60) received on the nose bushing (16) and cooperating structure on or in the nozzle cap and on or in the none bushing 15 for selectively establishing an off position of the nozzle cap, a spray position of the nozzle cap or a stream position of the nozzle cap upon rotation of the nozzle cap (60). The nozzle cap (60) is mounted for rotation on the nose bushing (16) between the three positions and the nozzle cap (16) has 20 engaging structure (754, 756 and 760) therein positioned adjacent the blocking member (72) for engaging the blocking member (72) when someone attempts to rotate the nozzle cap (60) without manipulating the body side walls (780 and 782). The side walls (780 and 782) of the body (14) are deflectable 25 inwardly of the body (14) so that when the side walls are squeezed inwardly, they engage and move inwardly the blocking member (72) to permit the engaging structure (754, 756 and 760) in the nozzle cap (60) to move past the blocking member (72) when the nozzle cap (60) is rotated at the same time the body 30 side walls (780 and 782) are squeezed.