US2311496A - Atomizer - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 16, 1943. D. I... SPENDER ATOMIZER Filed March 20, 1941 Fig.2.

INVENTOR.

DONALD L. SPENDER.

M P' f- ATTORNEX Patented Feb. 16, 1943 ATOMIZER Donald L. Spender, Waterbury, Conn., assignor to Scovill Manufacturing Company, Waterbury, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application March 20, 1941, Serial No. 384,311

9 Claims.

This invention relates to atomizers and particularly to atomizer heads adapted to be ap plied to containers to discharge the contents thereof in a diflused or atomized form.

Although atomizers embodying the present invention may take various forms and may be constructed with difierent arrangements of parts the preferred embodiment thereof includes a bulb and a retaining member for securing the bulb and remaining elements to a container. The retaining member is provided with a wall portion having a discharge aperture therein and extends about members which have spaced portions defining a liquid receiving chamber with sensitive means therein to control the flow of liquid from the container to the discharge aperture. These members are also formed to define liquid and air channels which insure proper distribution and mixing of the air and liquid for immediate and effective atomizing of the liquid when the bulb is depressed.

The principal object of the invention is to pro- Vide an improved and simplified construction for atomizer heads that can be operated with one hand, and one which is formed of a limited number of elements that may be produced economically and assembled easily.

Another object of the invention is to provide an atomizer with a compressible device and atomizing elements which are sensitive to the action of 4 the compressible device so that the liquid will be readily discharged without depressing the device completely or several times to produce the desired atomizing efi'ect.

These and other objects and features of the invention will appear from the following description thereof in which reference is made to the figures of the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the construction illustrated in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the construction illustrated in Fig. 1 showing the various elements of the combination in position for assembly.

In the form of the invention chosen as illustrative of the invention and shown in the figures of the drawing the atomizer head is applied to a container 2 such as a bottle. The head is held in place by a retaining member 4 comprising a shell formed with a portion 5 of suitable diameter for engaging the neck of the bottle or other container and an atomizing portion 6, which is preferably larger in diameter than the portion 5 and formed with a discharge aperture 8 adapted to be sealed by a member I!) of suitable design such as that illustrated and described in the copending application of Le Roy P. Root Serial No. 360,789 filed October 11, 1940.

The atomizing portion 6 of the retaining member 4 extends about a washer l2 which bears against the upper surface of the neck of the container and seals the space between the container and retaining member and forms an annular seat for a valve holding cup I 4. The cup I 4 has a central recessed portion l6 which cooperates with an upper bulb supporting disc l8 to substantially close the recess and thereby form a liquid receiving chamber 20. The center of the recessed portion l6 of the cup 14 is formed with an opening 22 the inner edge of which is turned downward to form a neck 24 about which a rubber connector 26 fits for receiving and securing a glass tube 28 to the cup. The central opening 22 in the cup I4 thus cooperates With the glass tube 28 to provide a conduit for the passage of liquid from the container to the liquid receiving chamber 20 in the recessed portion of the cup.

Within the chamber 20 is located valve means,

shown as a small freely movable valve' member 30 of such thickness as to provide for a restricted movement between the upper surface of the valve 30 and the lower surface of the bulb supporting disc [8. The disc I8 is preferably flat and formed with an opening 32 therethrough above and ad jacent the valve member 30 so that the flow of air through the opening 32 will serve to raise or lower the valve and thereby control the passage of liquid into and out of the liquid receiving chamber 20.

Above the disc I8 is a compressible device, of any suitable type for forcing air through the opening 32 and for atomizing liquid discharged from the liquid receiving chamber 20. The compressible device shown is in the form of a hollow hemispherical bulb 34 formed of rubber or other compressible material and provided with an annular bead 36 which bears against the upper surface of the disc I8. The air space within the bulb 34 communicates with the valve chamber 29 through the opening 32 in the disc, and the relative positions of the valve member and opening are such that even a slight expansion of the bulb will cause the valve to be raised to close the opening 32, whereas the valve member is forced downward into position to close the central opening 22 in the cup l4 when the bulb 34 is compressed. In this way air flowing through opening 32 into and out of the bulb 34 is used to actuate the valve member in both directions and since the valve member is of a free floating type it is very sensitive in action and readily responsive to the movement of the bulb.

The valve supporting cup I4 is provided at its edge with an upwardly extending annular flange 38 having an atomizing aperture 40 which is in alignment with the discharge aperture 8 in the wall of atomizing portion 6 of the retaining member 4. The disc l8 and bead 35 on the bulb 34 fit closely within the flange 38 on the cup, but this disc is preferable flattened or cut away at 42 near the aperture 48 to provide a small mixing chamber 43 to which the liquid and air are supplied. The disc, cup, and the bead 36 on the bulb cooperate to form liquid and air channels, and for this purpose the opposite faces of the disc l8 may be formed with grooves 44 and 46. The lower groove 44 provides a liquid channel and extends from the flattened section 42 of the disc to the central opening l8 thereof and serves to connect the liquid chamber 20 to the mixin chamber 43, whereas the upper groove 46 serves as an air channel and extends from the interior of the bulb 34 to a point in the mixing chamber 43 adjacent the end of the liquid channel 44. Air and liquid are thus supplied to adjacent points in the mixing chamber 4.3 and close to the atomizing aperture 40 in the flange 38. of the cup so as to be mixed and discharged from the atomizing head in a, fine difiused form or mist.

In order to vent the container or bottle 2 and prevent the formation of a vacuum therein when liquid is withdrawn from the container, the lower surface of the cup I4 is formed with a groove 48 which extends from the interior of the container to the edge of thecup 14. at a point adjacent the discharge aperture 8 in. the retaining member 4. Air can then pass from the discharge. aperture 8 in the retaining member to, the groove 48 and thence to the interior of the container to admit air thereto. and prevent the creation of avacuum.

In order that theparts described may be easily and quickly assembled and accurately positioned with respect to each other the retaining member 4 is formed with an inwardly extending projection 50 and the cup 14 is formed with a complementary indentation 52. The disc [8 in turn is formed with arecess 53 which cooperates With the inwardly extending portionv of the indentation 52 on the inner surface of the cup 14. It is therefore very easy to assemble the elements by first positioning the washer l2 upon the shoulder 1' between the portions and 6 of the retaining member 4 and then dropping the cup l4 upon the washer l2, inserting the valve member 30 and dropping in the upper bulb-supporting disc with all of the parts properly oriented. Thereafter the bulb is placed on the disc andthe upper portion of the retaining member is turned inward.

over the bead 36 on the bulb to clampthe parts together. Similarly, in applying the assembled head to a container, the rubber connector 26 is slipped over the neck 24 about the central opening on the cup I 4 and the glass tube28 is inserted intov the connector. The glass tube carried by the assembled head. is then inserted into the bottle 2 and thelower portion 5 of the retaining member 4 is affixed to the bottle. If threadedtheretaining. member is. simply. screwed, onto the neck of the bottle but it may be secured in place in any suitable way, as'by turning the lower extremity 54 inward about the collar on the neck of the bottle so, that the head is held firmly in, {place thereon. The sealing member It is then applied to the head to seal the aperture 8 in the retaining member and prevent leakage or evaporation of liquid during shipment or storage of the container. While the head is here shown as being permanently secured to the bottle neck 2, it is also within the purview of this invention to have the head threadedly or otherwise detachably secured to the container.

In operation the bulb 34 is depressed forcing air out through the upper groove 45 and also through the opening 32 in disc 18 and through the liquid chamber 20 and groove 44 to the apertures 4i] and 8 in the cup and retaining member respectively. Thereafter on expansion of the bulb 34 the air entering the bulb and flowing upward through the opening 32 in the disc raises the valve 38 to close opening 32 and allow liquid to be drawn through the glass tube 28 into the liquid receiving chamber. A certain amount of liquid may also be drawn through the liquid channel. 44 toward the mixing chamber 43 and air channe1 45 as thebulb 34 continues to expand since the channels 44- and 46 form in efiect a continuous channel extending from the bulb to the liquid chamber through the mixing chamber.

With the liquid chamber charged. with liquid initial depression of the bulb 34 first forces air through the disc opening causing the valve member 30 to .be forced downward. by air from the bulb. closing the opening 22 in the cup, so that liquid cannot return to the container, and uncovering the opening 32. Continued depression of the bulb 3.4 creates a pressure that forces both air and liquid from the chamber 20: out through the liquid channel 44. Additional air forced Out through air channel 48, meets themixed air and liquid coming from the groove 44 in the mixing chamber 43 and co-mingles therewith, after which the mixture is ejected from the aperture 49 and discharged through the aperture 8 in the form of a fine mist.

The operation of the device is therefore very simple and effective and the movements of the valve member 34 are controlled so as to insure quick sensitive operation thereof upon even a slight movement of the bulb and without repeateddepressions thereof after the liquid has once been drawn into the liquid receiving chamber.

The whole assembly of elements described is sistent in operation and yet sensitive to even slight movements of the bulb.

While the construction illustrated and described is preferred it will be apparent that the various elements of the combination are each capable of changes in form and construction and the arrangement and manner of operation of the parts may be varied considerably without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It shouldtherefore be understood that the present invention contemplates such changes and is not limited to the particular embodiment thereof illustrated in the drawing and'described above;

I claim:

l. An atomizer adapted to be applied to a contamer comprising a hemispherical compressible bulb, a disc closing the open side of. said bulb and provided with an opening therethrough, a member having an opening therethrough for communication with the interior of the con- Moreover each of the parts is tainer to which the head is applied and formed with a recess surrounding said opening and cooperating with said disc to form a liquid receiving chamber, a valve member housed within said recess between the openings in said disc and member and movable to alternative positions to close the openings in said disc and member, means forming a liquid channel communicating with said recess and extending to the edge of said disc, means forming an air channel extending from the interior of said bulb to a point at the edge of said disc adjacent the end of said liquid channel, and means extending about said disc and member formed with an opening therein adjacent the ends of said channels for the discharge of air and liquid from the atomizer 2. In an atomizer head adapted to be applied to a container, a compressible device having an air space therein; means within said head defining a liquid receiving chamber and provided with an opening through which liquid may flow to said chamber from the container to which the head is applied, and also provided with an opening communicating with said air space, a valve member located in said chamber and between said openings and bodily movable into position to close either of said openings in response to the passage of air through the opening communicating with said air space, and means having an atomizing aperture therein communicating with said chamber and air space for the discharge of air and liquid from said head.

3. An atomizer head adapted to be applied to a container comprising a compressible bulb, two members having portions thereof which are substantially parallel and spaced apart to provide a fiat, generally circular liquid receiving chamber therebetween, one of said members having an opening therein communicating with said bulb and the other having an opening therein communicating with the container, means having an atomizing aperture therein, means defining passages leading from said bulb and chamber to said atomizing aperture, and a valve of less diameter than said chamber and located in said chamber between said openings and said valve member being bodily movable within said chamber and in response to the pressure of air in said bulb to control the flow of liquid to said chamber through the opening communicating with said container.

4. An atomizing head comprising a retaining member engageable with a container and formed with a discharge opening therein, a cup member within the retaining member having an opening therein communicating with the container and formed with a depression about the opening, said cup member also being formed with an atomizing aperture located adjacent the discharge opening in the retaining member, a disc located in said cup member and substantially closing said depression and cooperating with the cup member to form a liquid receiving chamber, said disc having a groove in the lower surface thereof extending from the liquid receiving chamber to a point adjacent the aperture in the cup member, a valve member located in said chamber and bodily movable to close said opening in said cup member, and a compressible bulb communicating with the groove in said disc at a point near the aperture in the cup member to supply air for atomizing said liquid when the bulb is compressed and to draw liquid into said recess when the bulb is expanded.

5. In an atomizing head adapted to be applied to a container and having a retaining member with a discharge port therein, a cup shaped member encircled by the retaining member and formed with an aperture in the side wall thereof registering with said discharge port, said cup shaped member having a centrally located opening communicating with the container to which the head is applied and provided with a recess surrounding said opening, a disc located Within the cup shaped member and substantially closing said recess to form a liquid receiving chamber, a compressible bulb extending over the disc and having an air space therein, said disc having a passage therethrough. extending from said air space to said chamber, a valve member located within said chamber and bodily movable in response to change in air pressure in said air space to close either the opening in said cup shaped member or the passage leading from the air space to said chamber and means forming channels extending from said air space and from the liquid receiving chamber to the aperture in the wall portion of the cup shaped member.

6. In an atomizing head adapted to be applied to a container, a retaining member having a discharge port therein, a cup shaped member encircled by the retaining member and having an aperture in the wall portion thereof registering with the discharge port in the retaining member, a disc located within the cup shaped member and having the lower surface thereof cooperating with the cup shaped member to form a liquid receiving chamber, said disc having a passage therethrough communicating with said chamber and having that portion of the edge thereof which is adjacent said aperture spaced from the inner surface of the wall portion of the cup shaped member to form a mixing chamber, and a compressible bulb having an air space therein extending over the upper face of said disc, said disc having channels formed in the upper and lower surfaces thereof extending from the air space in said bulb and from the liquid receiving chamber to said mixing chamber.

7. In an atomizing head adapted to be applied to a container and having a retaining member with a discharge port therein, a cup shaped member encircled by the retaining member and formed with an aperture in the side wall thereof registering with said discharge port, said cup shaped member having a centrally located opening communicating with the container to which the head is applied and provided with a recess surrounding said opening, a disc located within the cup shaped member and substantially closing said recess to form a liquid receiving chamber, a compressible bulb extending over the disc and having an air space therein, said disc having a passage therethrough extending from said air space to said chamber, a valve member located within said chamber and bodily movable in response to change in air pressure in said air space to close either the opening in said cup shaped member or the passage leading from the air space to said chamber, said disc having radially extending grooves formed in the upper and lower surfaces thereof and leading from said air space and from said liquid receiving chamber to said aperture.

8. In an atomizing head adapted to be applied to a container and having a retaining member with a discharge port therein, a cup shaped member encircled by the retaining member and formed with an aperture in the side wall thereof registering with said discharge port, saidi cup shaped member having a centrally located opening communicating with the container to which the head is applied and provided with a recess surrounding said opening, a disc located Within the cup shaped member and substantially closing said recess to form a liquid receiving chamher, a compressible bulb extending over the disc and having an airspace therein, said disc having a passage therethrougn extending from said air space to said chamber, a valve member located within said chamber and bodily movable in response to change in air pressure in said air space to close either the opening in said cup shaped member or the passage leading from the air space to said chamber, said disc having the portion of its edge adjacent said aperture spaced from the wall of'the cup shaped member to form a mixing chamber, and having radially extending grooves formed in the upper and lower surfaces thereof and leading from said air space and from said liquid receiving chamber to said mixing chamber.

9. In an atomizing head adapted to be applied to a container and having a retaining member with a discharge port therein, a cup shaped member encircled by the retaining member and formed with an aperture in the side Wall thereof registering with said discharge port, said cup shaped member having a centrally located opening communicating with the container to which the head is applied and provided with a recess surrounding said opening, a disc located within the cup shaped member and substantially closing said recess to form a liquid receiving chamber, a compressible bulb extending over the disc and having an air space therein, said disc having a passage therethrough extending from said air space to said chamber, a valve member located within said chamber and bodily movable in response to change in air pressure in said air space to close either the opening in said cup shaped member or the passage leading from the air space to said chamber, said disc having the 7 portion of its edge adjacent said aperture spaced from the Wall of the cup shaped member to form a mixing chamber, and having radially extending grooves formed in the upper and lower surfaces thereof and leading from said air space and from said liquid receiving chamber to said mixing chamber.

DONALD L. SPENDER.

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