US3198403A

US3198403A - Atomizer pump

Info

Publication number: US3198403A
Application number: US318063A
Authority: US
Inventors: William R O'donnell; Steiman Wolf
Original assignee: Valve Corp of America Inc
Current assignee: Valve Corp of America Inc
Priority date: 1963-05-08
Filing date: 1963-10-22
Publication date: 1965-08-03
Anticipated expiration: 1982-08-03
Also published as: CH455658A; GB1084756A; DE1299530B; GB1051552A; GB1082979A; CH425663A; DE1296003B

Description

Aug. 3, 1965 w. R. O'DONNELL ETAL 3,198,403

ATOMIZER PUMP Filed 001:. 22, 1963 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Wilhelm K ODonne 11 Wolf Steiman g- 1955 w. R. ODONNELL ETAL 3,198,403

ATOMI ZER PUMP Filed Oct. 22, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS William R. ODormef BY WOL'F 5121mm) United States Patent 3,198,4tl3 ATQMIZER EUM? Wiiiiam R. UDonneii, Tiusrnhuii, and Wolf Steiman, Fairfieid, Conn, assignors to Valve Corporation of America, Bridgeport, Conn, a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 22, 1963, Ser. No. 318,063 3 Claims. (Cl. 222-321) This invention relates to pump-type atomizers of the kind mounted in or on containers for the purpose of dispensing the liquid contents thereof in a spray, and more particularly to the pump construction of such devices.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Serial No. 278,962 filed May 8, 1963 and entitled Atomizer Pump. plication a pump plungeror piston element is disclosed and described, comprising essentially two axially-separated annular piston elements. The embodiment of the invention which is new and which is added to the original subject matter by the present application comprises a plunger element having but a single annular piston element of appreciable axial length, as compared to the two axially spaced piston elements of the copending application.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved atomizer pump for use with a closed container such as a bottle, jar or the like, which pump has positive-acting valved venting means to enable replacement air to enter the vessel as the liquid contents become used and depleted, as well as pressure relief.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved vented atomizer pump construction as above set forth, which involves relatively few parts of simple construction, characterized by quick and easy assembly.

I Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved atomizer pump in accordance with the foregoing, which is effective and reliable in its operation, and not likely to jam or otherwise get out of order.

An important feature of the invention resides in the provision of a unique vented atomizer pump of the kind outlined, which is not subject to leakage either during storage or transportation, or during use by the ultimate consumer.

A still further object of the inventioni is to provide an improved atomizer pump structure as characterized above, which is simple to produce, and economical in its construction. i i A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improved pump construction in accordance with the above, wherein a positive slide valve action characterizes the vent means.

An additional feature of the invention resides in the provision of a positive-acting valved venting means in an atomizer pump, wherein but a single annular piston element functions not only as a valve to control venting and ingress of air to the container interior but also as a piston to effect the discharge of the contents of the container.

Still another feature of the invention resides in the provision of an atomizer pump as above set forth, which is easy and simple to operate, requiring but little force on the part of the user.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved vented atomizer pump construction as outlined, wherein an effective spray is produced each time that the pump is operated.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear;

In the drawings accompanying this specification, similar characters of reference are used to designate like components throughout the several views, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational View of the present atomizer In this copending appump construction mounted on a small container of the type intended to be held in the hand.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary axial sectional view showing details of the pump and venting mechanism provided by the invention, the parts being in the normal or inoperative position.

FIG. 3 is an axial. sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2, but showing the parts after actuation of the pump to produce a spray.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an axial sectional View similar to that of PEG. 2, but illustrating anotherembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the actuator button and screw cap assemblage of the atomizer pump of FIGS. 5 and 6.

The atomzier illustrated comprises a small bottle or container 15) of usual construction, made of either glass, plastic or other suitable material. Mounted on the neck of the container 10 is a pump and actuator structure designated generally by thenumeral 12. Such structure in cludes an actuator or depress button 14 having a spray nozzle or orifice 16 in its side Wall, which communicates with an axial bore or recess 18 disposed in a central hub or boss 20.

Frictionally fixedly fitted in the boss 20 is a plunger or piston stem 22, said stem passingthrough a central opening 24 in a metal closure or mounting cup 26.

The depress button 14, as well as the orifice member 16 and the stem 22 may be advantageously fabricated as plastic moldings, of suitable plastic substance such as polyethylene and nylon. Because of its strength, nylon is preferred in fabricating the stem 22.

Securernent of the mounting cup 26 tothe container 10 is effected by crimping or rolling in the lower peripheral edge 28 of the cup at a point below the external shoulder 30 of the lip of the container 10.

The piston stem 22 has an inner portion 32 of enlarged external diameter, such portion being disposed in and being guided by a tubular cylinder member 34 located within the neck portion of the container 10. The cylinder member 34 is also preferably fabricated as a plastic molding, of linear polyethylene or other suitable material. At its uppermost extremity it has an outwardly extending annular mounting fiange 36 which is clamped against a sealing gasket 38 and thus secured to the mouth or" the container 10 by the mounting cup 26.

Preferably, as shown, the cylinder member 34 is coupled with a depending dip or siphon tube 4%, there being a tapering section 42 and acylindrical section 44 between the cylinder proper 34 and the dip tube 40. In the taper-' tion with the piston stem structure-22 and the cylinder structure 34 there is provided a novel piston and venting organization which provides a positive valved-venting action as well an effective piston action, all characterized by relatively few parts of simple structure which may be readily fabricated and assembled, said organization further providing an eifective and reliable, foolproof venting atomizer action while at the same time positively insuring against leaks not only when the device is being stored, shipped or displayed, but also during its period of use by the consumer. The said valved venting and piston construction comprises a resilient double-piston member designated generally by the numeral 54, as well as a side vent hole or opening 56 in a wall of the cylinder member 34.

Cooperating with such structures are somewhat loose, sliding fits between the piston stem 22 on the one hand and the cylinder member 34 and mounting cup 26 on the other hand. The double-piston member 54 may be advantageously fabricated of a resilient and resistant rubber formulation such as neoprene or the like, and comprises an elongate hollow shank portion 58 which is disposed in and fixedly frictionally fitted to an enlarged bore 60 in the piston stem 22. The piston stem also has a small-diameter bore 62 which communicates with the bore 18 of the hollow boss of the depress button.

The piston member 54 further comprises a pair of .axia'lly spaced annular or ring-

like piston elements

64 and 66, such elements being preferably of conical configuration with square-section cylinder-engaging

peripheral portions

68 and 70 respectively. The piston element 64 is connected with the piston element 66 by an intermediate shank portion 72, as shown. Further, the piston member 54 is hollow, that is, it has a through bore 74 in which there is disposed a discharge valve stem 76 carrying a valve enlargement 78 which is cooperable with the upper extremity 80 of the resilient shank 58 of the piston element 54. Clearance exists between the valve stem 76 and the walls of the bore 74 of the piston element, as shown.

The lower end of the valve stem 76 has a D-shaped enlargement 82 which is snugly seated in a shouldered portion 84 of the cylinder structure, being maintained in place by :a helical compression spring 86 which also bears against the shank portion 72 of the piston member 54. The spring 86 not only maintains the valve stem 76 and valve enlargement 78 in a lowermost position at all times in the cylinder 34, as shown, but also continually yieldably urges upward the piston member 54 as well as the piston shank 22 and the depress button 14. The compression spring 86 may be advantageously fabricated of stainless steel or equivalent non-corrosive metal. Because of the D-shape of the enlargement 82, a passage is provided past such enlargement for liquid which is to be discharged from the container 10. Such liquid may be sucked upward through the dip tube 40, displacing in an upward direction the ball check valve 48 and passing into the interior of the cylinder or tank member 34. The suction by which this movement of liquid is accomplished is effected by a return or upward stroke of the piston assemblage and depress button 14.

Considering FIG. 2, when the button 14 is depressed for the purpose of obtaining a spray discharge from the orifice '16, the

piston element

64, 68 will descend in the cylinder 34, effecting a compression of the contents of the lower part of the cylinder. During such depressing movement the ball check valve 48 will be closed, and the discharge control valve 78 will become disengaged from the shank portion 80 of the piston member 54. In consequence, a mixture of air and liquid will be forced from the cylinder 34 upward through the central bore 74 of the piston member 54, and will be discharged from the orifice member 16 in the form of a fine spray.

In accordance with the present invention, during such time that the depressing movement of the piston assemblage occurs, a positive-action valve controlled venting is eifected, by which air is permitted to enter the cont ainer 10 from the exterior of the atomizer in order to replace the liquid which is being discharged. Such venting action involves the vent hole 56 in the side of the cylinder 34, as well as the

second piston element

66, 70.

It willbe observed by inspection of FIG. 3 that the piston element 66, '70 has been shifted downward to a level below the vent hole 56. In consequence, such vent hole will now have communication with the exterior atmosphere, by virtue of the looseness of the fit between the stem portion 32 and interior of the cylinder 34, as well as the looseness of the fit between the stem portion 22 and the central opening 24 of the mounting cup 26. Atmospheric air may enter past such loose fitting parts, into the upper portion of the cylinder 34 and thence outward through the vent hole 56 to the interior of the container 10. It will be observed that the venting is effected by a positive valving action, involving the

piston element

66, 70 and the cooperable port-ions of the cylinder 34, including the vent hole 56 in the wall of the cylinder.

As the valve assemblage is permitted to again shift upward under the action of the compression spring 86 upon removal of the actuating force from the button 14, the piston member 54 will assume the raised position illustrated in FIG. 2. For such position, the

piston element

66, 70 will now be disposed at a level above the vent hole 56, thereby effectively blocking the contents of the container 10 and preventing any liquid from leaking or seeping past the loose-fitting

stem parts

22, 32. For such raised position of the piston assemblage, of course, the discharge control valve 78 will close the upper portion of the bore 74 of the piston member 54, whereby no egress of liquid from the interior of the piston 34 will be possible. In consequence, the container 10 is effectively sealed at all times that the piston assemblage is in the raised position shown in FIG. 2.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. In the main, the operation of this embodiment is similar to that of the previously described embodiment, except that in place of the two

axiallyspaced piston elements

68, 70 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, but a single annular piston element is provided, having an apprec-iable axial length and functioning not only to control the ingress of air to the container but also as the pressureproducing means which eirects the discharge of the container contents when the operating button is depressed. Also, the embodiment of FIGS. 5-7 employs a threaded screw cap, as distinguished from the crimped mounting cup of FIGS. 13.

As seen in FIG. 5, the container 19 has a threaded neck portion 92 to which there is applied an internally threaded cap 94 having a sealing gasket 96. The atomizer pump comprises a cylinder member 98 having at its upper end an outturned flange 100 which is disposed between the gasket 96 and the top wall 102 of the cap 94. In its side wall, the cylinder member 98 has a vent or air-ingress opening 104 which is normally closed by an annular piston element 106 of appreciable axial length. The piston element 106 has a conical or tapered portion 108 joined to a hollow shank portion 110 whichlatter is carried in the lower end 112 of the plunger shank 114. At the upper end of the shank 114 the manually engageable operating button 116 is carried, such button having the usual discharge passage 118 and spray head 120. The passage 118 communicates with the bore 122 .of the shank 114,-and discharge of liquid through the bore 122 is controlled by a valve head or enlargement 124 carried on a central stem 126 whose lower end has a notched flange 128 maintained in engagement with a shoulder 130 of the cylinder memher by a helical compression spring 132.

A ball check valve 134 is carried in a conical seat 136 at the lower portion of the cylinder member 98, and a dip or siphon tube 138 is frictionally fitted in the hollow lower portion of reduced diameter 140 of the cylinder member.

It will be understood that the upper extremity of the shank 110 of the piston element constitutes a valve seat for the valve head or enlargement 124 carried by the central stem 126, and in consequence for the position of the parts shown in FIG. 5 the passage 122 is normally closed. However, when the button 116 is depressed or shifted downward, the seat in the shank 110 will leave the valve enlargement 124, opening the passage 122. At the same time, the action of the piston element 106 in reducing the effective volume in the cylinder 98 will force the liquid contained therein upward through the bore 122 and discharge passage 118, to be sprayed from the orifice member 120.

As the piston element 106 leave sthe side opening 104 in the cylinder 98, air from the exterior may pass through the upper portion of the cylinder, and thence radially outward through the side opening 104 into the space within the neck 92 of the container, and thence into the container proper. The looseness of the plunger shank 114 in the cap 94 and in the cylinder 98 permits such ingress I of air into the upper portion of the cylinder, as will be understood.

The

piston element

106, 108, 110 is made of resilient rubber or rubber-like material, and for the raised position of the plunger assemblage it effectively closes the side opening 104 and prevents leakage of the contents of the container 90. Also, the piston assemblage is extremely effective in its action, tending to expand as the plunger assembly is shifted downward, thereby to etiectively increase the pressure within the lower portion of the cylinder and force the liquid contents thereof upward through the central bore 122 of the plunger shank 114. The appreciable axial length of the portion 106 of the piston element provides for an etfective closing of the side opening 104, as well as preventing leakage of liquid between the piston element and the inner walls of the cylinder when the plunger is shifted downward.

After a short downward travel of the plunger assemblage, the side opening 104 will be uncovered by the piston portion 106, and thereafter an adequate air relief action is had, whereby air will readily enter the container 90 in the required amount.

The fabrication of the

piston member

106, 108, 110 may be easily carried out, in simple mold equipment whereby there is effected an economy in the manufacture of this piece.

It will now be understood from the foregoing that there has been provided by the present invention an improved, positive-acting valved vent organization in an atomizer pump, which is at one and the same time extremely efiective and reliable in its operation as well as providing a leak-proof arrangement. Relatively few parts are involved, such parts being economically fabricated by known molding procedures, and being easily and quickly assembled into the operative structure shown.

The organization provides a positive slide valve action in controlling the vent to the container, is foolproof and reliable at all times, and not subject to jamming or malfunctioning. The pump construction is easy to operate, and provides an eifective spray or atomization of the liquid contents of the container.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims, and portions of the improvement may be used without others.

What is claimed as new is:

1. An atomizer pump construction comprising, in combination:

(a) a pump cylinder adapted to be mounted on a container and having an inlet to enable it to receive liquid from the container,

(b) a piston device reciprocable in the cylinder be tween a first and a second position to eifect a pumping action, said piston device including an actuator stem passing out of the cylinder, and including a single resilient hollow piston element of cylindrical configuration and having an axial length not in excess of its diameter,

(c) positive-acting, venting valve means including said piston element, enabling exterior air to pass through the cylinder for introduction into the container when the piston device is in its second position, saidvalve means being closed to prevent said passage of air when the piston device is in the first position,

(d) means providing a discharge passage from the cylinder,

(e) a valve controlling said discharge passage, said valve closing in response to the piston device moving toward the first position from the second and vice versa,

(f) said venting valve means comprising cooperable portions, of the cylinder wall and piston element,

g) said cylinder having a valve opening in the said cooperable wall portion thereof,

(h) said piston element overlying and closing 01f the valve opening when the piston device is in its first position, and

(i) rigid backing means on the piston device, engaged with peripheral portions of the piston element and engageable with the walls of the cylinder toprevent appreciable tilting of the piston device and deformation and inoperativeness of the latter when the piston device is being moved from the first to the second position to cause said pumping action.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the backing means comprises a conical socket,

(b) said piston element having a conical shoulder engaged with and closely fitting the said conical socket, to reinforce the piston element.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the backing means comprises a tubular bearing stem on the piston device,

(b) said stem being movable within the cylinder and having a loose fit therein resulting in clearance space between the stem and cylinder for the passage of venting air, and

(c) a cap-member for securing the cylinder to the container, said cap member having an opening through which the bearing stem passes and in which it bears, to guide the piston device.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,096,227 10/37 De Weal 222 321 2,128,567 '8/38 Wilson 222-421 2,362,080 11/44 Martin 222-321 EVERETT W. KIRBY, Primary Examiner. HADD S. LANE, Examiner.

Claims

1. AN ATOMIZER PUMP CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: (A) A PUMP CYLINDER ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON A CONTAINER AND HAVING AN INLET TO ENABLE IT TO RECEIVE LIQUID FROM THE CONTAINER, (B) A PISTON DEVICE RECIPROCABLE IN THE CYLINDER BETWEEN A FIRST AND A SECOND POSITION TO EFFECT A PUMPING ACTION, SAID PISTON DEVICE INCLUDING AN ACTUATOR STEM PASSING OUT OF THE CYLINDER, AND INCLUDING A SINGLE RESILIENT HOLLOW PISTON ELEMENT OF CYLINDRICAL CONFIGURATION AND HAVING AN AXIAL LENGTH NOT IN EXCESS OF ITS DIAMETER, (C) POSITIVE-ACTING, VENTING VALVE MEANS INCLUDING SAID PISTON ELEMENT, ENABLING EXTERIOR AIR TO PASS THROUGH THE CYLINDER FOR INTRODUCTION INTO THE CONTAINER WHEN THE PISTON DEVICE IS IN ITS SECOND POSITION, SAID VALVE MEANS BEING CLOSED TO PREVENT SAID PASSAGE OF AIR WHEN THE PISTON DEVICE IS IN THE FIRST POSITION, (D) MEANS PROVIDING A DISCHARGE PASSGE FROM THE CYLINDER, (E) A VALVE CONTROLLING SAID DISCHARGE PASSAGE, SAID VALVE CLOSING IN RESPONSE TO THE PISTON DEVICE MOVING TOWARD THE FIRST POSITION FROM THE SECOND AND VICE VERSA, (F) SAID VENTING VALVE MEANS COMPRISING COOPERABLE PORTIONS, OF THE CYLINDER WALL AND PISTON ELEMENT, (G) SAID CYLINDER HAVING A VALVE OPENING IN THE SAID COOPERABLE WALL PORTION THEREOF, (H) SAID PISTON ELEMENT OVERLYING AND CLOSING OFF THE VALVE OPENING WHEN THE PISTON DEVICE IS IN ITS FIRST POSITION, AND (I) RIGID BACKING MEANS ON THE PISTON DEVICE, ENGAGED WITH PERIPHERAL PORTIONS OF THE PISTON ELEMENT AND ENGAGEABLE WITH THE WALLS OF THE CYLINDER TO PREVENT APPRECIABLE TILTING OF THE PISTON DEVICE AND DEFORMAON AND INOPERATIVENESS OF THE LATTER WHEN THE PISTON DEVICE IS BEING MOVED FROM THE FIRST TO THE SECOND POSITION TO CAUSE SAID PUMPING ACTION.