WO2011077112A1

WO2011077112A1 - Hand held trigger sprayer

Info

Publication number: WO2011077112A1
Application number: PCT/GB2010/052080
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chris Witty
Original assignee: Reckitt & Colman (Overseas) Limited
Priority date: 2009-12-24
Filing date: 2010-12-14
Publication date: 2011-06-30
Also published as: GB0922534D0

Abstract

A removable locking tab for engagement with a substantially cylindrical liquid conduit of a manually operated hand-held trigger sprayer comprising: a frame of resiliently rigid material having a head section and a legs section; wherein the legs section comprises at least two legs configured into a substantially U-shaped clip for gripping, in use, the liquid conduit, the U-shaped clip having an inner and outer surface, and being connected from said outer surface to the head section wherein the head section comprises a grip portion configured to permit, in use, a user to grip the locking tab to remove the tab from the trigger sprayer, and at least one stop member that extends substantially perpendicular to the at least two legs such that, in use the stop member engages a part of a moveabte trigger of the trigger sprayer.

Description

Hand Held Trigger Sprayer

Field of the Inventon

The present invention is related to (he field of manually operated hand-held trigger sprayers suitable for large scale distribution and particularly, out not exclusively, such trigger sprayers in combination with bottles of liquid of containing household products such as liquid or gel cleaning compositions or air freshening/fragrancing compositions or the like.

Background

Trigger sprayers and trigger spraying devices comprising trigger sprayers are commonplace and used for a variety of household tasks for the spraying of liquid. However, a problem faced with these sprayers and devices is how to best make them suitable for large scale distribution such that they do not accidentally trigger, if connected to a container of liquid; In other words, how to lock the trigger sprayer in a set position untfl use thereof is required. The need to lock the trigger sprayer needs to balanced against the other considerations such as rendering them suitable for on a shelf stacking, ease of communication to fie consumer of tie presence of a lock being present ease of communication to the consumer of how to remove said lock, the expense of a item which may be a throwaway in the eyes of some consumers but needs to be reusable in the eases of other consumers. The present invention addresses the above problems as well as other problems not specified but apparent to those in the field.

Summary of Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided therefore a removable locking tab for engagement with a substantially cylindrical liquid conduit of a manually operated hand-held trigger sprayer comprising:

a frame of resiliency rigid material having a head section and a legs section;

wherein the legs section comprises at least two legs configured into a substantially U-shaped clip for gripping, in use, the liquid condui the U-shaped clip having an inner and outer surface, and being connected from said outer surface to the head section;

wherein the head section comprises a grip portion configured to permit in use, a user to grip the locking tab to remove the tab from the trigger sprayer, and at least one stop member fiat extends substantially perpendicular to the at least two legs such that, in use, the stop member engages a part of a moveable trigger of the trigger sprayer. Advantageously the tab according to the present invention is capable of resisting movement of a movable part of the trigger sprayer to prevent erroneous actuation of the trigger. A further advantage of the tab according to the present invention is the capacity of the at least one stop member to substantially prevent the rotation of the tab such that it is always in a substantially constant location which may ensure that the grip portion is physically available for inspection and/or removal by a user and does not become needlessly entangled or in conflict with other parts of the trigger mechanism which may prevent the trigger sprayer from operating or operating optimally when use thereof is desired by a user. Furthermore, said at least one stop member further advantageously assists in the assembly of trigger sprayers since the stop member may be arranged to engage the movable and /or non-movable part of the trigger which prevents damage being inflicted to the cylindrical liquid conduit when the tab is engaged therewith.

Preferably the inner surface of at least one of the at least two legs comprises at least one abutment means to improve the abBity of the clip to engage the liquid conduit More preferably however, the inner surface of each leg comprises an abutment means, preferably facing the abutment means on the Inner surface of the opposing leg.

The tegs section preferably comprises two legs to form the U-shaped dip. The legs preferably ere steed to possess a depti that almost completely corresponds to the maximum available height of tfie substantially cylindrical liquid conduit such that in use of the tab with a trigger sprayer, the tab almost substantially corresponds to the distance of the liquid conduit defined between movable parts and a non-movable part of the trigger adjacent the conduit. In other words, the tab is preferably sized to HI the gap between the movable and non-movable parts of the trigger around the Hquid conduit such that actuation of the trigger when the tab is engaged with the liquid conduit is resisted by fte moveable part of the trigger bearing against an upper part of the tab whilst the lower part of the tab bears against the non -moveable part Of tie trigger to resist said movement actuating the trigger sprayer.

Preferably the legs section of the frame connects to the at least one stop member which is connected to the grip portion.

The tab may be provided with at least two stop members extending substantially perpendicular to the at least two legs. The at least two stop members may extend substantially equally to permit, in use, the tab to be fixed to the liquid conduit without a directional orientation of said stop members being required for ease of assembly. Alternatively the at least two stop members may extend such Stat one of said members can, in use. engage a part of a moveable trigger of the trigger sprayer and the other of said members can, in use, engage a non-movable part of the trigger mechanism thus imparting a single directional orientation requirement on the tab but improving the ability of the tab to resist movement of the movable part of the rigger. As a further alternative or additional arrangement the tab may be provided with one or more etop members that extend non-perpendicular to the at least two legs to, in use, engage a non-movable part of the trigger mechanism thus imparting a single directional orientation requirement on the tab but improving the ability of the tab to resist movement of the movable part of the trigger.

The grip portion is preferably configured to extend radially to provide a convenient shape to allow a user to remove, in use, the tab from the liquid conduit. Additionally the grip portion may be configured to extend sufficiently radially to permit user instructions to be present on the side of the portion facing a user and remote from the stop member and legs section. The Instructions could be words or pictures printed oh or moulded into said side. Additionally or alternatively the grip portion may be configured to extend into any shape which is convenient for a user to obtain sufficient purchase between the user's thumb and finger to permit the removal, in use, of the tab from the liquid conduit

Preferably the locking tab is sized such that both the legs at one end of the tab and the grip portion at the other end of the tab are in-board of the width of a trigger sprayer and/or the width of a liquid container to be connected to said trigger sprayer such that in use, the locking tab does not affect the distribution or stacking of a trigger sprayer when connected to a container of liquid. This in-board arrangement may also improve the handling of the tab and trigger sprayer on a production line since the tab will not be snagged by off-line obstructions as it passes down tie production line. ideally the locking tab is integrally moulded to form a single piece component in order to improve its structural rigidity.

Preferably the locking tab is sufficiently robust to permit, in use, a user to remove the tab from the trigger sprayer to use the sprayer and reconnect the tab thereafter to again resist the movement of the moveable part of the trigger for improved safety of storage; this is considered to be particularly useful to improve the safety of trigger sprayers where children may be able to obtain access (hereto.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided therefore

a manually operated hand-held trigger sprayer with a removable locking tab, wherein the trigger sprayer comprises:

a housing having body configured to be connectabte to a liquid container and provided with a non -movable body part witii a pivoting connection to a moveable trigger part, the housing being further provided with a substantially centrally located liquid conduit which is connected to a liquid outlet at one end thereof, said liquid conduit being substantially cylindrical; and

wherein the locking tab has a frame of resiientiy rigid material having a head section and a legs section wherein the tegs section comprises at least two legs configured into a substantially U- shaped clip for releaseably gripping tie liquid conduit, the U-shaped clip having an inner and outer surface, and being connected from said outer surface to the head section, and wherein the head section comprises a grip portion configured to permit, in use, a user to grip the locking fab to remove the tab from the liquid conduit, and at least one stop member that extends substantialy perpendicular to the at least two legs to releasabiy engage the moveable trigger part

According to a third aspect of lie present invention there is provided therefore

a manually operated hand-held liquid trigger spraying device with a removable locking tab comprising a container of liquid connected to a trigger sprayer which comprises:

a housing having body connected at one end to the liquid container and provided at its other end with a non-movable body part with a pivoting connection to a moveable trigger part, the housing being further provided with a substantially centrally located liquid conduit which is connected to a liquid outlet at one end thereof, said liquid conduit baing substantially cylindrical; and wherein the locking tab has a frame of resiientiy rigid materia} having a head section and a legs section wherein the legs section comprises at least two legs configured into a substantially U- shaped clip for releaseably gripping the liquid conduit, the U-shaped dip having an inner and outer surface, and being connected from said outer surface to the head section, and wherein the head section comprises a grip portion configured to permit, in use, a user to grip the locking tab to remove the tab from the liquid conduit, and at least one stop member that extends substantially perpendicular to the at least two legs to releasabiy engage the moveable trigger part

Any of the features described herein may be combined with any of the above aspects In any combination.

Description of an Embodiment

Embodiments of the invention wilI now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the fofiowing drawings in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a locking tab according to the present invention;

Fig.2 illustrates a plan view of a locking tab according to the present invention;

Fig.3 illustrates a side view of a locking tab according to the present invention; arid

Fig.4 illustrates a side view of a locking tab according to the present invention connected to a trigger sprayer. Generally referring to Figs.1 -3 a locking lab 1 according the present invention is illustrated, the tab 1 consists of a frame of having a head secion 2 and a legs section 3. The tab 1 is made of a resilienHy rigid material such as a plastics material, although it could be made out of metal or a combination thereof, however, for cost purposes It is preferably made out of a plastics material.

The legs section 3 comprises at least two legs 4, 4' configured into a substantially U-shaped dip. On ihe inner surface of the legs 4, 4' are abutment means 5, 5' in the form of protruding barbs which are intended to promote the ability of the clip to reieasabty engage a liquid conduit of a trigger sprayer, Ms will be discussed further below.

The tab 1 extends from substantia By the mid-point of the outer surface of the U-shaped clip to form the head section 2. The head section 2 is made up of a grip portion 6 and stop members 7, The stop members 7 both extend substantially perpendicular to the legs 4, 4' to extend above and below the depth of the legs 4, 4'. The opera ton of the stop members 7 will be discussed below.

The grip portion 8 extends radially from the stop members 7 to permit, in use, a user to grip the locking tab 1 to remove the teb from a trigger sprayer. As can be seen on F¾.1, the grip portion 6 extends sufficiently radially to permit user instructions to be present oh tie side 8 of the grip portion 6 feeing a user. The instructions of "PULL* are formed as part of the moulding of the tab 1 , however, the side 8 could be printed on or have a sticker applied thereto.

Although not Kustrated the grip portion 6 could be configured to extend into any shape which is convenient for a user to obtain sufficient purchase between the user's thumb and finger to permit the removal, in use. of the tab from the liquid conduit, although with some shapes It may not be possible to present user instructions thereon and in that arrangement the shape would need to be such that it would be intuitive for ihe user to understand its purpose and associated mode of operation.

Turning to Fig.4 a manually operated hand-held trigger sprayer 9 is show with a tab 1 engaged therewith. The sprayer 9 has a housing 10 which comprises a body 11 configured to be connec table to a liquid container (not shown); The body 11 may be correctable via a standard screw thread therein which is reteasably engageabte with a corresponding thread on a container of liquid to be sprayed. The housing 10 is further provided with a central cylinder 12 which surrounds a liquid conduit and a non-movable body part 3 which extends upwardly and toward a rear side of the trigger sprayer 9. The front sid of the trigger sprayer is characterised by the presence of the trigger 14 and a nozzle 1 S which is the outlet for the sprayed liquid when in use. The trigger 14 is a movable part and is connected to the non-movable body part 13 via a pivoting connection 16. The trigger 14 is able, under pressure being applied by a user, to move about the connection 16 toward the body 11 and, when pressure is released, biasing means (not shown) return the trigger 14 back to its initial position away from the body 11. Although obscured by the tab 1 , central cylinder ends to expose a liquid conduit that has is at least partially flexible to assist in the efficient pumping and spraying of the liquid in use of tie sprayer 9. The tab 1 is connected to the liquid conduit by the legs 4, 4' straddling the conduit until the abutment means 5, 5' reach a side of the conduit remote from the side of the conduit nearest to the head section 2 of the tab 1. Substantially simultaneously therewith, the stop member 7 engages a side waM of the trigger 14; this is advantageous as without the stop member 7 there would be a danger that the tab 1 could be connected either during manufacture and/or during reattachment by a user to the liquid conduit with too much force and potentially damage the conduit The engagement of one of the stop members 7 against the sidewafl of the trigger 14 prevents the tab 1 from rotating about the liquid conduit and this ensures that the tab 1 remains in a substantially constant location relative the to trigger sprayer 10 which makes the grto portion 8 always available for inspection and/or removal by a user. Furthermore the absence of the stop members 7 to prevent rotation could result in the tab 1 becoming entangled or in conflict with other parts of the trigger mechanism which may prevent the trigger sprayer from operating or operating optimally when use thereof is desired by a user.

The legs 4, 4' are sized to fill the gap between the movable trigger 14 and non-movable central cylinder 12 such that actuation of 1he trigger when tie tab is engaged with t e liquid conduit is resisted by the trigger 14 bearing against an upper part of tie tab 1 whis tie tower part of the tab 1 bears against tie central cylinder 12 to resist said movement actuating the trigger sprayer.

Although not necessarily obviously apparent fromFig. 4, the locking tab 1 is sized such that both the legs 4, 4' on one side of the sprayer 9 and the grip portion 6 on the other side of the sprayer are to-board of the width of tie body 11 such that tie locking tab does not affect tie distribution or stacking of a trigger sprayer 9 when connected to a container of liquid. Furthermore this inboard arrangement also improves the handling of the tab 1 and trigger sprayer 10 on a production line since the tab 1 will not be snagged by off-line obstructions as it passes down tie production line.

The tab 1 is moulded to form a single piece component to order to improve its structural rigidity, however, the tab 1 could be moulded or formed as a mult-component piece for subsequent assembly. Regardless of the single or multi-piece construction, the tab 1 should preferably be sufficiently robust to permit a user to remove the tab from the trigger sprayer to use the sprayer and reconnect the tab thereafter and repeat throughout at least the lifetime of the liquid container present with the trigger sprayer in order to improve the safety associated with storage thereof. This improved safety is considered to be particularly useful to improve the safety of trigger sprayers where children may be able to obtain access thereto.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Bach feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or simitar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly slated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiments). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specificason (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A removable locking tab for engagement with a substantially cylindrical liquid conduit of a manually operated hand-held trigger sprayer comprising:

a frame of resilienfly rigid material having a head section and a lege section;

wherein the legs section comprises at least two legs configured into a substantially U-shaped dip for gripping, in use, the liquid conduit, the U-shaped dip having an inner and outer surface, and being connected from said outer surface to the head section;

wherein the head section comprises a grip portion configured to permit in use, a user to grip Vie locking tab to remove the tab from the trigger sprayer, and at least one stop member that extends substantially perpendicular to tie at least two legs such that in use, the stop member engages a part of a moveable trigger of the trigger sprayer.

2. A locking tab according to claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of at least one of the at least two legs comprises at least one abutment means, and preferably the inner surface of each leg comprises an abulment means.

3. A locking tab according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the legs section comprises two legs to form the U-shaped cli .

4. A locking tab according to any preceding claim, wherein tie legs section of the frame connects to the at least one stop member which is connected to the grip portion.

6. A locking tab according to any preceding claim , the tab is provided with at least two stop members extending substantially perpendicular to the at least two legs.

6. A locking tab according to claim 5, wherein the at least two stop members extend substantially equally.

7. A locking tab according to any preceding claim , wherein the grip portion is configured to extend radially.

8. A locking tab according to claim 7, wherein the grip portion is configured to extend sufficiently radiafly to permit user instructions to be present on the side of the portion facing a user and remote from the stop member and legs section.

9. A locking tab according to any preceding claim, wherein the locking tab is sized such that both the legs at one end of the tab and the grip portion at the otfier end of the tab are fen-board of the width of a trigger sprayer and/or the width of a liquid container to be connected to said trigger sprayer..

10. A locking tab according to any preceding claim , wherein said fab is integrally moulded to form a single piece component in order to improve its structural rigidity.

11. A manually operated hand-held trigger sprayer with a removable locking tab. wherein the trigger sprayer comprises:

a housing having body configured to be connectabie to a liquid container and provided with a non-movable body part with a pivoting connection to a moveable trigger part, the housing being further provided wit a substantially centrally located liquid conduit which is connected to a liquid outlet at one end thereof, said liquid conduit being substantially cylindrical; and

wherein the locking tab has a frame of resliently rigid material having a head section and a tegs section wherein the legs section comprises at least two legs configured into a substantially U- shaped clip for releasee ply gripping the liquid conduit, the U-shaped clip having an inner and outer surface, and being connected from said outer surface to the head section, and wherein (he head section comprises a grip portion configured to permit, in use, a User to grip the locking tab to remove the tab from the liquid conduit, and at least one stop member that extends substantiafly perpendicular to the at least two legs to releasably engage tire moveable trigger part

12. A manually operated hand-held liquid trigger spraying device with a removable locking tab comprising a container of liquid connected to a trigger sprayer which comprises:

a housing having body connected at one and to the liquid container and provided at its other end with a non-movable body part with a pivoting connection to a moveable trigger part, the housing being further provided with a substantially centraly located liquid conduit which is conn acted to a liquid outlet at one end thereof, said liquid conduit being substantially cylindrical; and wherein the locking tab has a frame of reslienfly rigid material having a head section and a legs section wherein the tegs section comprises at least two legs configured into a substantially U- shaped clip for releaseably gripping the liquid conduit, the U-shaped clip having an inner and outer surface, and being connected from said outer surface to the head section, and wherein the head section comprises a grip portion configured to permit, in use, a user to grip the locking tab to remove the tab from the liquid conduit, and at least one sto member that extends substantiaBy perpendicular to the at least two legs to reteaeabiy engage the moveable trigger part A removable locking tab substantially as described herein and with reference to the drawings.