U.S. patent application number 11/675188 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-17 for dispenser regulator.
This patent application is currently assigned to Acrux DDS Pty Ltd. Invention is credited to Magnus Ahlstrom, Mark Simon Bayly, Peter Bayly.
Application Number | 20080169317 11/675188 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39608243 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080169317 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bayly; Peter ; et
al. |
July 17, 2008 |
DISPENSER REGULATOR
Abstract
This invention relates to a regulator 6 for regulating flow of a
liquid from a dispenser 1 that dispenses the liquid from a
container 3 containing the liquid 4. The regulator has an inlet 9
to receive the dispensed liquid and an exit 16 through which the
liquid is delivered to the user. The inlet 9 receives the liquid
receives the liquid at a first speed and delivers it to the user at
a second speed which is substantially less than the first speed.
The invention also encompasses a dispenser for dispensing the
liquid including such a regulator.
Inventors: |
Bayly; Peter; (Victoria,
AU) ; Bayly; Mark Simon; (Victoria, AU) ;
Ahlstrom; Magnus; (Victoria, AU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FOLEY AND LARDNER LLP;SUITE 500
3000 K STREET NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20007
US
|
Assignee: |
Acrux DDS Pty Ltd
|
Family ID: |
39608243 |
Appl. No.: |
11/675188 |
Filed: |
February 15, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60884477 |
Jan 11, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/544 ;
137/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B05B 11/0062 20130101;
Y10T 137/0318 20150401; B05B 1/044 20130101; B05B 11/30
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/544 ;
137/1 |
International
Class: |
B65D 47/00 20060101
B65D047/00 |
Claims
1. A regulator for regulating flow of liquid from a dispenser, the
dispenser having an actuator that is operable to dispense a volume
of liquid from a container through an outlet at a first speed, the
regulator having an inlet to receive the dispensed liquid and an
exit through which the liquid is delivered to the user at a second
speed, a passageway extending between the inlet and the exit at
least a portion of which is flared at least in a horizontal plane
the regulator having at least one obstruction in the passageway to
the flow of liquid, whereby the second speed is substantially less
than the first speed.
2. A regulator according to claim 1 wherein the second speed is
between one half to one quarter of the first speed.
3. A regulator according to claim 1 wherein the at least one
obstruction is positioned in the horizontally flared portion of the
passageway.
4. A regulator according to claim 1 wherein the obstruction extends
substantially over the entire width of the flared portion of the
passageway causing a vertical constriction of the passageway.
5. A regulator according to claim 4 wherein the horizontally flared
portion of the passageway includes a vertically flared portion
downstream from the obstruction.
6. A regulator according to claim 4 wherein a height of the
passageway adjacent the exit is substantially constant.
7. A regulator according to claim 1 wherein the at least one
obstruction extends substantially across the entire height of the
horizontally flared portion causing a horizontal constriction of
the passageway.
8. A regulator according to claim 7 including a plurality of
obstructions each extending substantially across the entire height
of the horizontally flared portion causing the horizontal
constriction of the passageway.
9. A regulator according to claim 1 wherein the passageway includes
a constricted portion between the horizontally flared portion and
the exit, whereby the constricted portion is configured to retain
the liquid within the passageway by surface tension.
10. A regulator according to claim 9 wherein the constricted
portion includes a plurality of capillary apertures.
11. A regulator according to claim 1 wherein the obstruction is
positioned adjacent the exit of the regulator.
12. A regulator according to claim 11 wherein the obstruction is
movable between an active position whereby it blocks the exit and
an inactive position whereby liquid can pass through the exit.
13. A regulator according to claim 12 wherein the obstruction forms
part of a resiliently flexible flap that urges the obstruction to
adopt the active position.
14. A regulator according to claim 11 including further
obstructions positioned in the horizontally flared portion of the
passageway.
15. A dispenser for dispensing a liquid including: a container for
containing a bulk volume of the liquid; an actuator that is
operable to dispense a volume of liquid from the container; and a
regulator as defined in claim 1.
Description
FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to a regulator for regulating flow of
liquid from a hand held dispenser and to a hand held dispenser
including a regulator. The term liquid is used hereinafter in this
specification to be a reference to liquid-like substances such as
fluids, lotions, gels and creams. The regulator has a particular
application for use with a pump type dispenser that is manually
actuated to dispense a volume of liquid. It will be convenient to
hereinafter describe the invention with reference to this
particular application, however it is to be appreciated that the
regulator has other applications with other dispensers such as
squeeze bottles and aerosols.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Hand held pump dispensers that are used to dispense liquids
of a personal nature often include a pump head that is depressed to
dispense the liquid into the palm of the user. The pump will
generally supply a set volume of liquid provided the pump is
primed. If however the pump outlet is exposed to the air the liquid
may evaporate causing loss of prime and consequential reduction in
the volume of liquid dispensed during the following operation.
[0003] It is also desirable for the pump head to be moved
decisively otherwise the pump may fail to produce sufficient
pressure to dispense the set volume. However the pressure produced
by a decisive move of the pump head can cause the liquid to exit
the outlet with excessive speed. This can result in the liquid
bouncing out of the users palm or causing the user to misjudge the
expected trajectory of the liquid.
[0004] It would be desirable to provide a dispenser regulator that
regulates the flow of the liquid from a dispenser and a dispenser
including such a regulator.
[0005] The above discussion of acts, materials, devices, and the
like is included in this specification solely for the purpose of
providing a context for the present invention. It is not suggested
or represented that any of these matters formed part of the prior
art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to
the present invention as it existed in Australia or any other
country before the priority date of this invention.
SUMMARY
[0006] According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a
regulator for regulating flow of liquid from a dispenser, the
dispenser having an actuator that is operable to dispense a volume
of liquid from a container through an outlet at a first speed, the
regulator having an inlet to receive the dispensed liquid and an
exit through which the liquid is delivered to the user at a second
speed, a passageway extending between the inlet and the exit at
least a portion of which is flared at least in a horizontal plane
the regulator having at least one obstruction in the passageway to
the flow of liquid, whereby the second speed is substantially less
than the first speed.
[0007] It is preferred that the second speed is between one half to
one quarter of the first speed. It is further preferred that at
least one obstruction is positioned in the horizontally flared
portion of the passageway.
[0008] It is preferred that the obstruction extends substantially
over the entire width of the flared portion of the passageway
causing a vertical constriction of the passageway. It is also
preferred that the horizontally flared portion of the passageway
includes a vertically flared portion downstream from the
obstruction.
[0009] It is preferred that the at least one obstruction extends
substantially across the entire height of the horizontally flared
portion causing a horizontal constriction of the passageway. It is
further preferred that the passageway includes a plurality of
obstructions each extending substantially across the entire height
of the horizontally flared portion causing a horizontal
constriction of the passageway. It is further preferred that the
passageway includes a constricted portion between the horizontally
flared portion and the exit, whereby the constricted portion is
configured to retain the liquid within the passageway by surface
tension. It is further preferred that the constricted portion
includes a plurality of capillary apertures.
[0010] It is preferred that the obstruction is positioned adjacent
the exit of the regulator. It is further preferred that the
obstruction is movable between an active position whereby it blocks
the exit and an inactive position whereby liquid can pass through
the exit. It is also further preferred that the obstruction forms
part of a resiliently flexible flap that urges the obstruction to
adopt the active position including further obstructions positioned
in the horizontally flared portion of the passageway.
[0011] According to another aspect of this invention there is
provided a dispenser for dispensing a liquid including:
[0012] a container for containing a bulk volume of the liquid;
[0013] an actuator that is operable to dispense a volume of liquid
from the container; and
[0014] a regulator as hereinbefore defined.
[0015] It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention
in greater detail by reference to the accompanying drawings showing
three example embodiments of the invention. The particularity of
the drawings and the related detailed description is not to be
understood as superseding the generality of the preceding broad
description of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates in cross section a first embodiment of
the regulator mounted on an actuator of a dispenser.
[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates the first embodiment of the regulator for
FIG. 1 in plan view with a top removed.
[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates in cross section a second embodiment of
the regulator mounted to the actuator.
[0019] FIG. 4 illustrates the second embodiment of the regulator
from FIG. 3 in plan view with the top removed.
[0020] FIG. 5 illustrates in cross section a third embodiment of
the regulator mounted to the actuator.
[0021] FIG. 6 illustrates the third embodiment of the regulator
from FIG. 5 in plan view with the top removed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] Referring firstly to FIG. 1 which illustrates the dispenser
1 including an actuator 2 for dispensing a metered volume of liquid
from a container 3 containing a bulk volume 4 of the liquid. The
actuator 2 shown is in the form of a pump 2 which is operated by
depressing a head 5 towards the container 3. Hereinafter a
reference to the pump 2 is a reference to the actuator 2. The form
of actuator shown is merely preferred in that the invention may
also apply to other configurations of actuator including but not
limited to an aerosol type actuator.
[0023] Referring still to FIG. 1 which shows a regulator 6 or more
specifically a body 7 of the regulator 6 mounted to the head 5 of
the pump 2 so as to receive the liquid being dispensed through an
outlet 18 of the pump 2. The liquid is received through an inlet 9
to a passageway 10 of the regulator 6 positioned adjacent the
outlet 8 of the pump 2. The passageway 10 extends vertically
towards a top 11 of the regulator 6 and then horizontally towards
an exit 16.
[0024] Referring now to FIG. 2 which illustrates the passageway 10
having a horizontally flared portion 12 within which is positioned
a plurality of obstructions 13. The obstructions 13 shown are
triangular in shape however this shape may vary. Furthermore the
number and position of the obstructions 13 may also vary. The
horizontal flare 12 and obstructions 13 both combine to reduce the
velocity of the liquid dispensed from the pump outlet.
[0025] FIG. 2 also illustrates the regulator 6 including a
plurality of capillary apertures 14 forming part of the passageway
positioned adjacent the exit 16 of the regulator 6. These capillary
apertures 14 rely on surface tension to further control the flow of
liquid from the exit. More specifically the capillary apertures not
only further reduce the velocity of the liquid but also act to
reduce the likelihood of liquid dripping from the regulator 6.
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 3 which shows a second preferred
embodiment of the regulator 6 having an obstruction 13 which
extends across the entire width of the horizontally flared portion
12 of the passageway 10. (see also FIG. 4). The passageway 10 in
this embodiment also includes a vertically flared portion 15
downstream of the obstruction 12 which combines with the
horizontally flared portion 12 and obstruction 13 to reduce the
velocity of the liquid heading towards the exit 16 of the
passageway 10.
[0027] Referring now to FIG. 5 which illustrates a third preferred
embodiment of the regulator 6. In this embodiment part of the top
11 of the regulator 6 includes a movable flap 17 which provides an
obstruction extending across the entire width of the passageway 10
at the exit 16. The movable flap 17 is preferably formed from a
resiliently flexible membrane which is urged to adopt an active
position obstructing the exit 16 to the passageway 10. When the
actuator 2 is operated liquid dispensed into the passageway 10 will
build up behind the obstruction urging the flap to move in the
direction of the arrow A towards an inactive position whereby the
liquid can exit the passageway 10. In this embodiment the regulator
6 may also include obstructions 13 in the horizontally flared
portion 12 which disperse the liquid across the flap 17 as seen in
FIG. 6.
[0028] The flap 17 not only provides an obstruction but also closes
the passageway 10 to air when the dispenser is not in use which
reduces the likelihood of the liquid evaporating from the pump 2.
This can address problems associated with loss of prime.
Furthermore as the flap 17 is urged towards an active position the
regulator 6 is unlikely to drip.
[0029] Finally it is to be understood that various alterations,
modifications and/or additions may be introduced to the parts
previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of
the invention. More specifically the features of any one of the
embodiments may be added to other embodiments resulting in a
regulator that combines features of more than one embodiment.
* * * * *