U.S. patent number 3,738,538 [Application Number 05/114,485] was granted by the patent office on 1973-06-12 for dispenser for flowable substances.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Plant Industries, Inc.. Invention is credited to William H. Roper, Robert N. Ross.
United States Patent |
3,738,538 |
Roper , et al. |
June 12, 1973 |
DISPENSER FOR FLOWABLE SUBSTANCES
Abstract
A viscous fluid dispenser using an expansible member or bladder
wherein longitudinal and radial stress is imparted to the material
making up the expansible member, and wherein the expansible member
is extendible substantially the entire length of the interior
cavity of the container whereby substantially complete dispensing
of the fluid retained within the expansible member is obtained. A
unique assemblage of valve components of low cost and relatively
easy fabrication permits assembly of containers of the expansible
bladder type in an efficacious manner thereby providing low cost
containers.
Inventors: |
Roper; William H. (Los Angeles,
CA), Ross; Robert N. (Fountain Valley, CA) |
Assignee: |
Plant Industries, Inc.
(Anaheim, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
22355517 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/114,485 |
Filed: |
February 11, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/183; 222/212;
222/386.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
83/62 (20130101); B65D 83/0055 (20130101); B65D
2231/004 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
83/00 (20060101); B65D 83/14 (20060101); B67d
005/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;222/92,95,105,107,183,211,212,386.5 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Coleman; Samuel F.
Assistant Examiner: Martin; Larry
Claims
We claim:
1. A fluid dispenser comprising the combination of: a container
body and cover therefor including a fluid passageway communicating
the exterior thereof to a valve member supported within said
container body; an expansible member having an open end and a
closed end, the diameter proximate said open end being larger than
the diameter of said closed end, said expansible member being
adapted to be retained within said container body and store fluid
therein; a valve seating member disposed in axially shiftable
relationship within said valve member and adapted to open and close
the communication between said fluid passageway and the interior of
said expansible member; and means to impart longitudinal and radial
stress to the walls of said expansible member prior to storing
fluid therein, said expansible member being longitudinally
elongated at least 100 percent over its normal length.
2. The dispenser in accordance with claim 1 wherein said expansible
member is adaptable to have an elongate portion extend
substantially the entire interior length of said container body and
said means to impart longitudinal and radial stress retains said
expansible member in the extended position.
3. The dispenser in accordance with claim 2 wherein said valve
member includes a valve body member having a valve seat and said
valve seating member acts thereagainst to close said communication
between said fluid passageway and the interior of said expansible
member and said elongate portion thereof is of larger diameter than
said means to impart longitudinal and radial stress.
4. The dispenser in accordance with claim 3 wherein said valve
seating member is normally spring biased into the closed
position.
5. The dispenser in accordance with claim 4 wherein said means to
impart longitudinal and radial stress comprises an elongate
mandrel.
6. The dispenser in accordance with claim 5 wherein said mandrel
has a plurality of spaced grooves extending substantially the
length thereof and the upper portion is adapted to form fluid paths
for the fluid stored in said expansible member to said fluid
passageway.
7. The dispenser in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means to
impart longitudinal and radial stress comprises an elongate mandrel
having an upper end adapted to form fluid paths thereabout, for the
stored fluid, to said fluid passageway.
8. The dispenser in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means to
impart longitudinal and radial stress comprises a retaining member
within said expansible member and retained at the interior, bottom
wall of said container body.
9. A fluid dispenser comprising the combination of: a container
body and cover therefor including a fluid passageway communicating
the exterior thereof to a valve member supported within said
container body, said valve member comprising a valve body member
having a valve seat and a valve seating member disposed in axially
shiftable relationship within said valve member and which is
normally spring biased into the closed position against said valve
seat to close the communication between said fluid passageway and
the interior of an expansible member hereinafter defined; an
expansible member having an open end and a closed end, the diameter
proximate said open end being larger than the diameter of said
closed end and having an elongate portion adapted to extend
substantially the entire interior length of said container body and
being larger in diameter than means hereinafter defined to impart
longitudinal and radial stress to the walls of said expansible
member, said expansible member being adapted to be retained within
said container body and store fluid therein, said means to impart
longitudinal and radial stress comprising an elongate mandrel
retaining said expansible member in the extended position and
having a plurality of spaced grooves extending substantially the
length thereof and the upper portion thereof being adapted to form
fluid paths for the fluid stored in said expansible member, to said
fluid passageway.
10. The dispenser in accordance with claim 9 wherein said valve
seating member comprises an annular head with spaced peripheral
protuberances thereabout, and a depending spring centering portion
which limits the downward movement thereof by abutting an upper
surface of said mandrel.
11. the dispenser in accordance with claim 10 wherein said spring
is coil-shaped and is positioned to react against the under surface
of said annular head and the upper surface of said mandrel.
12. The dispenser in accordance with claim 11 wherein the upper
surface of said head forms a sealing lip to engage the undersurface
of said valve seat in fluid-tight relationship.
13. The dispenser in accordance with claim 12 wherein said valve
seat and valve body member are received in nestled relationship by
a ferrule member of deformable character and said valve seat is a
disc of conformable material having an annular passageway of the
same size as said fluid passageway and communicating thereto.
14. The dispenser in accordance with claim 13 wherein said disc is
retained in position with said valve body member by said overlying
ferrule member and said ferrule member has an aligned aperture
accommodating said fluid passageway and said annular
passageway.
15. The dispenser in accordance with claim 14 wherein the open end
of said expansible member is retained in fluid-tight relationship
in the assembly and a snap-ring member adapted to engage the
interior wall of said container body positions the assembly within
the neck of said container body and the length of said elongate
portion is about one-half to one-third the length of said mandrel,
and additionally includes a fluid impermeable barrier.
16. A fluid dispenser comprising the combination of: a container
body and cover therefor including a fluid passageway communicating
the exterior thereof to a valve member supported within said
container body; an expansible member having an open end and a
closed end, the diameter proximate said open end being larger than
the diameter of said closed end, said expansible member being
adapted to be retained within said container body and store fluid
therein; a valve seating member disposed in axially shiftable
relationship within said valve member and adapted to open and close
the communication between said fluid passageway and the interior of
said expansible member and means to impart longitudinal and radial
stress to the walls of said expansible member prior to storing
fluid therein, said expansible member being adaptable to have an
elongate portion extend substantially the entire interior length of
said container body and said means to impart longitudinal and
radial stress retains said expansible member in the extended
position, said valve member including a valve body member having a
valve seat and said valve seating member acts thereagainst to close
said communication between said fluid passageway and the interior
of said expansible member and said elongate portion thereof is of
larger diameter than said means to impart longitudinal and radial
stress, and said last named means comprises an elongate mandrel
having an upper end adapted to form fluid paths thereabout, for the
stored fluid, to start fluid passageway.
17. The dispenser in accordance with claim 16 wherein the interior,
bottom wall of said container body is adapted to receive the
terminus of said mandrel opposite said upper end in friction fit
engagement.
18. The dispenser in accordance with claim 17 wherein a collet
configuration is provided on the interior and bottom of said
container body and said terminus of said mandrel is bulbous shaped
to be received by said collet in snap-fitting engagement.
19. The dispenser in accordance with claim 18 wherein the open end
of said expansible member is received by the lower portion of said
valve body member and said valve seat and valve body member are
received in nestled relationship by a ferrule member of deformable
character to form an assembly and said valve seat is a disc of
conformable material having an annular passageway of the same size
as said fluid passageway and communicating thereto and the neck of
said container body is adapted to support said assembly and
expansible member in retained, fluid-tight relationship.
20. A fluid dispenser comprising the combination of: a container
body and cover therefor including a fluid passageway communicating
the exterior thereof to a valve member supported within said
container body; an expansible member having an open end and a
closed end, the diameter proximate said open end being larger than
the diameter of said closed end, said expansible member being
adapted to be retained within said container body and store fluid
therein; a valve seating member disposed in axially shiftable
relationship within said valve member and adapted to open and close
the communication between said fluid passageway and the interior of
said expansible member and means to impart longitudinal and radial
stress to the walls of said expansible member prior to storing
fluid therein, said expansible member being adaptable to have an
elongate portion extend substantially the entire interior length of
said container body and said means to impart longitudinal and
radial stress retains said expansible member in the extended
position, said valve member including a valve body member having a
valve seat and said valve seating member acts thereagainst to close
said communication between said fluid passageway and the interior
of said expansible member and said elongate portion thereof is of
larger diameter than said means to impart longitudinal and radial
stress, and said last named means comprises a retaining member
within said expansible member and retained at the interior, bottom
wall of said container body.
21. The dispenser in accordance with claim 20 wherein said
interior, bottom wall of said container body is adapted to receive
said retaining member in friction-fit engagement.
22. The dispenser in accordance with claim 21 wherein said
retaining member is spherical and the wall of said expansible
member above said retaining member is twisted off to thereby form
an upper fluid storage cavity and a lower retaining member
cavity.
23. The dispenser in accordance with claim 22 wherein a collet
configuration is provided on the interior and bottom of said
container body, and said spherical retaining member and the wall of
said expansible member forming said lower retaining member cavity
are received by said collet in snap-fitting, frictional
engagement.
24. A fluid dispenser comprising the combination of: a container
body and cover therefor including a fluid passageway communicating
the exterior thereof to a valve member supported within said
container body; an expansible member having an open end and a
closed end, the diameter proximate said open end being larger than
the diameter of said closed end, said expansible member being
adapted to be retained within said container body and store fluid
therein; a valve seating member disposed in axially shiftable
relationship within said valve member and adapted to open and close
the communication between said fluid passageway and the interior of
said expansible member; and means to impart longitudinal and radial
stress to the walls of said expansible member prior to storing
fluid therein, said expansible member being longitudinally
elongated over its normal length by an amount in excess of the
amount of permanent set of said expansible member to exert an
expelling force on residual fluid contained within said expansible
member.
25. A fluid dispenser in accordance with claim 24 wherein said
expansible member is longitudinally elongated about 50-250 percent
over its normal length.
26. A fluid dispenser in accordance with claim 25 wherein said
expansible member is longitudinally elongated about 80 percent over
its normal length.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Recently there have been medical findings that tend to indicate
that materials which are dispensed with gases or fluids of the
aerosol type may be detrimental from a health standpoint.
Additionally, the uses of aerosols as propellants for dispensing
flowable substances as for example viscous fluids as lotions, hand
creams and the like introduce unique and highly technical filling
operations and special container fabrication because of the usually
high pressures involved.
The answers to some of the shortcomings of the aerosol containers
have been to use expansible members of elastic materials wherein
the flowable substances to be contained would be introduced into
the expansible member and thereafter dispensed by the forces
induced by the material making up the expansible member returning
to its original physical state. Dispensers of this general type are
generally disclosed in U.S. patents to Lari 2,816,690, Geisler
2,966,282, and Jacuzzi 3,361,303. However, these prior art
dispensers have suffered from certain shortcomings and particularly
with respect to the pretensioning of the expansible members and the
manner of retaining the expansible members within the assemblage.
The need for low cost containers which may be easily fabricated,
has not been fulfilled by containers of the prior art type for one
reason or another.
With the hereindisclosed invention, a dispenser of the expansible
member type, wherein the fluid to be stored is easily introduced
into the storage member without attendant blocking or disposition
of the expansible member, which would make additional filling
difficult if not impossible, is provided. Additionally, a container
which is easily assembled and is competitive from an economic
standpoint is provided, which has the ability to dispense
substantially all of the flowable fluid contained within the
expansible member because of the longitudinal and radial
prestressing which is imparted to the expansible member prior to
its being filled with the flowable substance. One means of
obtaining this effect is by having the inside diameter of the
expansible member larger than the mandrel's or equivalent members
diameter used in the assemblage.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a fluid dispenser of
the expansible member type.
It is another object of this invention to provide a fluid dispenser
of the expansible member type wherein radial and longitudinal
prestress is imparted to the expansible member in a particular
manner.
It is still another object of the invention to provide a fluid
dispenser of the expansible member type utilizing a unique
assemblage of valve components.
It is still a further, more specific object of the invention to
provide a fluid dispenser of the expansible member type wherein the
expansible member is retained in extended relationship within the
interior of the dispenser.
It is still another and further specific object of the invention to
provide a fluid dispenser of the expansible member type wherein a
specifically configured retaining means is utilized to maintain the
expansible member in the extended position within the interior of
the container.
It is still another another and further more specific object of the
invention to provide a fluid dispenser of the expansible member
type wherein the expansible member is prestressed in a longitudinal
and radial manner utilizing a valve closure structure of unique
design configuration.
It is an even more and further specific object of the invention to
provide a dispenser of the expansible member type wherein the
expansible member is of a certain configuration and is held in the
assembled form within a valve component which is easily fabricated
and essentially trouble-free in operation.
These and further objects of the invention will become apparent
from the disclosure and the drawings contained herein.
Generally, in an exemplary embodiment, the invention pertains to a
fluid dispenser comprising the combination of a container body and
cover therefor, including a fluid passageway communicating the
exterior thereof to a valve member supported within said container
body. A valve member and an expansible member are provided wherein
the expansible member has an open end and a closed end, the
diameter proximate the open end is larger than the diameter of the
closed end, and the expansible member is adapted to be retained
within the container body and store fluid therein. A valve seating
member is disposed in axially shiftable relationship within the
valve member and is adapted to open and close the communication
between the fluid passageway and the interior of the expansible
member. Means to impart radial and longitudinal stress to the walls
of the expansible member prior to storing fluid therein completes
the essential components of the fluid dispenser.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of the fluid dispensers of
this invention, partially in cross section;
FIG. 1A is a fragmentary view taken along the line 1A--1A of FIG.
1;
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the essential components of the fluid
dispenser shown in FIG. 1 illustrating their order of assembly;
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view partially in cross section of
another embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the essential components of the
dispenser illustrated in FIG. 3 shown in their order of
assembly;
FIG. 5 is a side elevational view partially in cross section of
still another embodiment of the fluid dispensers of this invention
with the cover being shown in the exploded position for purposes of
clarity;
FIG. 5A is a fragmentary view taken along the line 5A--5A of FIG.
5; and
FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the essential components of the
dispenser illustrated in FIG. 5 shown in their order of
assembly.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST EMBODIMENTS CONTEMPLATED
Referring to the figures of drawing wherein like numerals of
reference designate like elements throughout, and referring
specifically to FIGS. 1, 1A and 2, a dispenser 2, one of the
several embodiments of the invention, is shown as comprising
container body 4 in the preferred form of moldable plastic, wherein
the walls thereof form a neck portion 6 and an interior cavity or
chamber 8 with the bottom interior wall being configured to form a
collet 10 of slotted and deformable character thereby forming
receptacle 12 for purposes which will become apparent as the
description proceeds herein.
Supported on neck 6 is collar member 14 being engaged in friction
fit manner by the cooperation of bevelled wall 16 of neck 6 and the
depending engaging wall portion 18 of collar 14. Thus, in the
preferred form, the collar 14 is also made of molded plastic and is
of a configuration and of functional character as is commonly found
in the container art.
The collar 14 is provided with a configuration to thereby form two
step surfaces 20 and 22 in one side wall thereof, as shown in FIG.
1A for reasons which will now be described. The collar 14 is
provided with an annular opening 24 to receive a cover member 26 of
the usual type having a fluid passageway 28 formed by the walls 30
thereof communicating the exterior 32 to the inlet 34 which is in
communication with a valve member component generally designated
36. The cover 26, also preferably of molded plastic, is depressible
in the conventional manner to the extent of the radial movement
permitted by interior shoulder 38 of collar 14 in the nondispensing
position, and is depressible in the opposite direction into the
dispensing position to put the fluid passageway 28 into fluid
dispensing communication with valve member 36. However, before
cover 26 may be depressed into the dispensing position, the
dispensing nozzle 40 thereof must be aligned within the step 20 of
collar 14. To prevent discharge or dispensing of the flowable
material, the cover 26 is merely rotated so that the undersurface
of nozzle 40 will rest on the surface or step 22 of collar 14
thereby effectively preventing cover 26 from being depressed into
the fluid flow position.
Valve member component 36 comprises (in the order of assembly shown
in FIG. 2) ferrule member 42 of thin wall deformable aluminum, for
example, of generally cylindrical design having an orifice portion
44 communicating to the inlet 34 of passageway 28 of cover member
26. Ferrule 42 may be within the thickness of about 0.020 of an
inch so that the lower portion may be crimped or bent as shown at
46 of FIG. 1. A larger cylindrical portion 48 provides an interior
recess to receive the valve seat 50 in this instance an annular
disc of conformable rubber having a central aperture 52 to
accommodate the inlet 34 of passageway 28. Ferrule 42 has depending
exterior wall 53 which, as indicated earlier, becomes crimped in
later assembly as will become apparent. The interior configuration
of ferrule 42 is adapted to receive in nestled, substantially tight
relationship, the remaining members of the assemblage as can be
seen in FIG. 1, and as will be described.
A valve seating member 54 having an annular portion 56 with spaced
protuberances 58 and depending portion 60 provides the
manipulatable component of the assemblage to allow dispensing of
the fluid contained within the expansible member. The upper surface
62 of member 54 which is axially shiftable, as will become
apparent, into and out of fluid-tight relationship with the under
surface 64 of valve seat 50 permits fluid to flow between the
spaced projections or protuberances 58 peripherally spaced on the
side surface of annular portion 56. The under surface of annular
portion 56 and depending portion 60 are adapted to receive the coil
spring 66, which coil spring acting against reaction member 68,
normally positions and biases seating member 54 into the seated or
closed position thereby effectively blocking fluid flow to
passageway 28.
A reaction member 68, disc-like in shape, having a short, centering
button, such as 70, is provided for coil spring 66, and has a
plurality of spaced apertures 72 to allow fluid to flow
therethrough from the confines of the expansible member, as will
become apparent. The manner in which member 68 is supported within
the valve component 36 will be described hereinafter.
A stress inducing member 76 in this instance spherically shaped, is
adapted to be received in snap fitting, frictional engagement with
retaining receptacle 12 of collet 10 as will be described.
The next component, valve body member 78 is of general cylindrical
configuration having a first annular portion 80 of a size and shape
to be accommodated within the interior of ferrule member 42, such
that the valve seat 50 is securely positioned therebetween. A
depending collar-like portion 82 is of appropriate size and
configuration to be received within cylindrical portion 53 of
ferrule member 42, and is provided with an interior shape
substantially as seen in FIG. 1 to perform a gripping or holding
function for the expansible member as will be described. A lower,
depending portion 84 of tapered design, such as at 86, is provided
with an interior shoulder 88 sufficient in size to support reaction
member 68 in retained relationship, as seen in FIG. 1, so that
axially movable seating member 54 is retained within the assemblage
and biased into the closed position in conjunction with seat 50 by
means of coil spring 66. Thus, the interior of valve body 78 is
appropriately fashioned and of a size sufficient to accommodate
these components.
The final member in the assemblage is expansible member 90, shown
in phantom line prior to its proper positioning within the
container chamber 8, provided with an upper flanged portion 92 to
receive the tapered end 86 of valve body member 78. This also
provides a means whereby the expansible member 90 is contained
within the assemblage. The flange portion 92 forms a mouth 94
opening into the interior of expansible member 90, which in the
unassembled and unstressed condition may be approximately from
about one-third to one-half the length of the interior cavity 8 and
is provided with an upper enlarged portion 96 and a lower elongate,
closed portion 98 to provide a fluid storage chamber within the
interior thereof.
Expansible member 90 is preferably made of an elastomeric material
such as, for example, a natural latex or silicone rubber of
suitable thickness, and which has exceeding high memory or
resilience capabilities to permit the membrane or bladder from
which it is made, after distortion as by means of fluid
introduction, to exert substantially high forces upon the fluid
contained therein to expel same therefrom. The interior diameter of
extended portion 98 is slightly smaller than the upper portion 96,
but is slightly larger than the diameter of the spherical member
76.
The manner of assembling of the dispenser 2 and the filling thereof
with a flowable fluid or substance, will now be discussed. The
expansible member 90 is fitted over the depending end portion 84 of
valve body member 78, and the ball 76 dropped into the interior of
expansible member 90. The valve body member 78 with the loosely
retained expansible member 90 is then positioned within the neck 6
of container 4 with the elongate portion 98 extending into the
chamber 8 as shown in phantom line of FIG. 1. A stick or rod, not
shown, is then used to push the ball 76 with the bottom wall of
elongate portion 98 into the receiving receptacle 12 of collar
10.
Because of the snap-fit frictional engagement, the ball and wall of
elongate portion 98 is securely retained thereby imparting radial
and longitudinal stress to the expansible member and a partial or
full twist is given the valve body member 78 to thereby form a
lower, retaining member cavity 100, and an upper fluid storage
cavity 102. Thereafter, the other elements of the assemblage, as
depicted in FIG. 2, are assembled in the manner shown and
described, and the ferrule member 42 crimped or clamped into
position to thereby perform rigid fluid-tight securement of the
assemblage within the neck 6 of container 4.
Prior to the positioning of collar 14 and cover 26, a filling tool,
not shown, is inserted into the valve member 36 to thereby axially
move valve seating member 54 out of engagement with the lower
surface 64 of valve seat 50 to put the interior cavity 102 of
flexible member 90 into communication with a flowable fluid or
substance supply. The flowable substance usually a viscous one,
such as hand cream, lotion and the like, is introduced in metered
amount into the cavity 102 and because of the enlarged portion 96,
the walls of flexible member 90 begin to billow out and expand and
eventually the interior chamber 8 is completely filled with the
material to be stored. Obviously, air escape ports may be provided
where necessary in a manner well-known in the art, and which are
not shown herein.
After the metered amount of flowable substance has been introduced
into the flexible member 90, the removal of the filling tool
permits the seating member 54 to be spring biased into the closed
and seated position, thereby preventing the flowable substance from
flowing out of the interior of flexible member 90. Thereafter, the
collar 14 and cover 26 may be positioned on the neck of the
container 6 to thereby form a flowable fluid dispenser 2 of unique
design.
To obtain dispensing of the fluid contained within the expansible
member, one merely positions the nozzle 40 within the cut-out slot
formed by step 20 of collar 14 and presses downwardly to axially
shift seating member 54 into the unblocked position, thereby
allowing substance contained within flexible member 90 to flow
through apertures 72 of member 68 around the coil spring 66, and
through the pathways formed between the projections 58 on seating
member 54 and then through the central aperture 52 of seat 50, and
finally through the orifice 44 of ferrule member 42 and to the
inlet 34 of passage 28 and thence to the exterior of outlet 32
formed by nozzle 40.
It will be noted that the extent of axial movement of valve seating
member 54 is determined by under surface 64 of seat 50 and the
upper surface of button 70 of reaction member 68. Thus, the upper
extreme is the full closed position and the lower extreme is the
full open position.
Because of the manner of imparting both longitudinal and radial
stress to flexible membrane 90, and the general configuration of
same, difficulties in filling the fluid dispenser are relatively
absent and substantially all of the flowable substance contained
within the dispenser 2 may be dispensed.
Referring now to the remaining embodiments of the invention, the
basic difference between these and that heretofore described is
basically in the means of imparting longitudinal and radial stress
to the flexible membrane 90. In the description of the remaining
embodiments, the like elements used therein will bear the same
numerals as earlier given the same elements and variations in the
overall dispenser will be pointed out, but it should be remembered
that basically the operation and end result are essentially the
same as heretofore described.
Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, a dispenser 104 is shown and all of
the exterior components thereof, as well as most of the interior
components, are the same except as will be noted. In this
particular instance instead of having a retaining member or
spherical ball such as 76 to impart the longitudinal and radial
prestressing to the flexible member 90, a mandrel or stem 106 is
used in the assemblage. Herein, the mandrel member 106 has an upper
portion 107 having pared or flattened surfaces 108 to form in
conjunction with the interior of valve body 78, fluid passageways
for passage of the stored flowable substance from the confines of
expansible member 90.
The upper surface 110 is provided with a spring centering button
112 to properly position the spring 66 and to retain it within the
assemblage. The button 112 provides an abutment thereby limiting
the axial movement of valve seat member 54 with regard to its
extreme open position as earlier noted. The mandrel 106 has an
elongage portion 114 which is preferably about two to three times
the normal unextended length of the expansible member 90 before its
assemblage into the dispenser 104. The outside diameter of the
elongate portion 114 is less than the inside diameter of flexible
member 90 especially the elongate portion 98 thereof.
The terminus 116 of mandrel 106 is somewhat bulbous in
configuration and is adapted to be received within the receptacle
12 of collet 10 formed on the interior bottom wall of dispenser 104
which is essentially the same as that heretofore described for
dispenser 2. It will be noted in this case that no twist has been
imparted to the lower end of flexible and expansible member 90,
although if desired, before the valve component assemblage is made
permanent, the assemblage may be rotated to obtain a similar twist
in the membrane to obtain slightly more dispensing capability than
if the flexible member were not so twisted.
The mandrel 106 is preferably of molded plastic material and
simplifies assembly of dispenser 104 in the sense that all of the
components shown in FIG. 4 may be pre-assembled as a unit, with the
exception of ferrule member 42, inserted in place and thereafter
the ferrule 42 crimped into position to thereby securely retain the
valve component and flexible membrane within the interior of
dispenser 104. The filling and dispensing operation are essentially
the same as heretofore described for the earlier embodiment with
the exception of differences noted above. While flat or pared
surfaces 108 have been illustrated for the upper portion 107 of
mandrel 106, it would be, of course, possible and in some instances
desirable, to use other means of providing flow paths as for
instance, by the use of grooves, other cut-outs and the like. These
as well as other variations and modifications will make themselves
readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.
Referring now to FIGS. 5-6, a slightly different manifestation of
the invention is shown. Herein, dispenser 118 is shown as having an
upper container body 120 with bottom portion 122 being formed to
provide a single concave configuration as shown. Bottom portion 122
is provided with air vents such as 124 which are commonplace in
this art to allow for air escape during filling operations.
Because some of the flowable substances may tend to migrate or
permeate through the elastomeric material, an inner liner 125, of
polypropylene, for example, may be provided. Liner 125 may be
self-supporting as shown or may be secured within the assemblage
and be comformable as those in the art will recognize. Liner 125
may be inserted into the body 120 before bottom portion 122 is
secured into place.
The upper portion 126 of body 120 has inset collar portion 128
provided with the interior configuration shown, spaced from the
remainder of the container and having integral connecting webs 130
to thereby form discontinuous slots 132 to receive cover member 134
in close fit arrangement.
Cover member 134 in this instance differs from that earlier
described in the respect that it is formed with inset rim 136
having three equally spaced depending legs 138 (only two being
shown) of incline plane and notch configuration as shown. The
outside wall of cover 134 and exterior wall of rim 126 form
circumferential groove 140 therebetween. The cover 134 is
preferably of molded plastic and is depressible in conventional
manner to the extent of axial movement permitted by the shoulder
142 of container body 120. The legs 138 and the specific
configuration thereof coact with the webs 130 so that upon rotation
of cover 134, it is positioned so that it may not be depressed and
thus is in the locked, nondispensing position. Rotation out of this
position permits depression of cover 134 and obviously dispensing
of the flowable substance contained within flexible member 90 as
previously described.
The FIG. 5 embodiment differs from the FIG. 3 embodiment, not only
with respect to the container and the cover 134, but also in the
means of imparting pretensioning to the expansible member 90 and
the means of securing the assemblage within the cavity defined by
the body 120 of dispenser 118.
Herein, a mandrel 144 having a plurality of spaced slots 146 which
provide the flow paths for the material contained within the
expansible member 90, has an upper end 148 with two upright spring
retaining posts 150 forming therebetween an area to receive coil
spring 66, the spring being centered by means of button 152. The
terminus 154 in this instance, is of rounded configuration and
merely extends to the bottom, interior wall of bottom portion 122
and is not frictionally retained therein as in the earlier
described embodiment. Again, the length of mandrel 144 and its
outside diameter fulfills and meets the same criteria as set forth
for the mandrel 106 of the FIG. 3 embodiment. Herein, flexible
member 90 is shown about one-third the length of mandrel 144 and
the elongate portion thereof is larger in diameter than the
diameter of mandrel 144. Shorter bladder lengths may be useful.
Another difference from the FIG. 3 embodiment is the manner and
mode of retaining the assemblage of valve components and flexible
and expansible member 90 within the container. In this instance,
the neck 156 of container body 120 is interiorly configured to
receive in friction fit engagement, a snap ring member 158
generally of ring or collar-like configuration and having collar
portion 160 and depending locking legs 162 provided with locking
lip surfaces 164 for engagement with the interior shoulder of neck
156 as at 166 as illustrated. It should be noted that snap ring 158
is provided with a locking groove 168 and its general exterior
configuration is adapted to be received within the interior of
valve body portion 82 with the flanged portion 92 of expansible
member 90 held rigidly and securely therebetween. The lower
depending wall 53 of ferrule 42 may be crimped at spaced points or
about the entire lower periphery to insure fluid-tight, rigid
securement. When locked in the position shown, the flanged portion
92 of expansible member 90 is securely retained in substantially
fluid-tight relationship within the assemblage.
As in the embodiments before, the filling and dispensing operations
are essentially the same. That is before the cover 134 is placed in
position, a filling tool is inserted into the orifice of ferrule 42
to displace the valve seating member 54 from sealing engagement
with valve seat 50 to thereby allow the flowable substance to be
introduced through the fluid pathways formed by the spaced
projections 58, through and around the coil spring 66 and by means
of the grooves 154 in mandrel 144 into the interior of expansible
member 90. Withdrawal of the filling tool automatically closes off
the fluid passageway. The dispensing operation is the same as
earlier explained with minor differences that are obvious.
Thus, there has been disclosed a dispenser for storing and
dispensing flowable substances especially those of high viscosity
in the area of about 1,000 - 200,000 centipoises, wherein the
expansible member is of a particular and specific relationship with
respect to the other components of the assembly so that it is
pretensioned, both longitudinally and radially prior to filing with
the flowable substance. The particular configuration of the
expansible member allows for ease of filling with the material to
be stored in a controlled manner. Likewise, the various components
making up the valve structure assembly are easily fashioned and
assembled to provide dispensers which meet a variety of needs and
which are essentially trouble-free in use.
There are many variations and modifications that will make
themselves apparent to those of ordinary skill in the container
art. For example, in some instances, it may be found desirable to
make the valve assembly component of the dispenser rotatable with
respect to the bottom thereof especially in those instances where
the membrane or expansible member is rigidly secured to the
interior bottom of the dispenser. This allows for substantially
full expulsion of even the minutest amount of flowable substance
remaining within the expansible member simply by rotating the top
or bottom with respect to the opposite end. Likewise, the specific
shape and configuration of the components making up the dispensers
disclosed herein are not particularly important except as
previously noted. Thus, a myriad of alternatives will be suggested,
all of which are intended to be covered by the claims appended
hereto.
Because all embodiments of the invention do not use mandrels, and
because in some instances the specific configurations of the
mandrel may vary, it is desirable to set forth the parameters of
the prestressing of the expansible member or bladder in other
terms. Thus, a longitudinal factor (from the unassembled state to
the assembled state) for the membrane will be about 100 to 250
percent. However, in the preferred form, as for example similar to
that shown in FIG. 5, a mandrel length of about three and
three-fourths inch and a bladder length (measured from below the
upper flange thereof) of about two inches will produce effective
results.
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