U.S. patent number 3,749,290 [Application Number 05/150,417] was granted by the patent office on 1973-07-31 for trigger actuated pump.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Leeds and Micallef. Invention is credited to Lewis A. Micallef.
United States Patent |
3,749,290 |
Micallef |
July 31, 1973 |
TRIGGER ACTUATED PUMP
Abstract
A manually actuated trigger pump is adapted to be fitted on the
neck of a container for dispensing a liquid therefrom. The pump
includes an outer tubular shell having lower internal threads for
fittedly engaging the outer threads on the neck of the container. A
laterally extending nozzle projects from the shell either as an
integral part thereof or as a separate component having means for
securely fastening the nozzle to the shell. A bulbous tubular
member defining a pump chamber is disposed interiorly of the shell.
The upper part of the tubular member is adapted to be secured to
the outer shell and also includes a concentric rim engageable with
surfaces of the shell in defining an upper outlet valve. The lower
end of the flexible tubular member is of lesser diameter and
provides an inlet valve seat for receiving a ball check valve. A
dip tube is adapted to extend downwardly from the lower end of the
tubular member for providing a passage therethrough into the pump
chamber of the liquid contents of the container. A trigger
mechanism adapted to be finger actuated extends through the shell
and is adapted to engage the tubular member and collapse it for
expelling the contents of the pump chamber. In this connection, the
lower check valve will close the lower end of the pump chamber and
the collapsing of the tubular bulb will cause its liquid contents
to be expelled out through the upper valve and out of the outlet
opening into the nozzle into the selected discharge spray pattern.
Upon release of the trigger, the tubular bulb will return to its
original fully distended position. During this transition the upper
outlet valve will reseal and the lower ball check valve will be
unseated to permit liquid from the interior of the container to be
pulled upwardly through the dip tube into the pump chamber. This
amount of liquid will be replaced by a corresponding amount of air
which will be permitted egress into the container interior through
the opening of an air inlet valve defined by the outer surfaces of
the bulb and radially inwardly extending surfaces of the outer
shell. When the bulb is fully distended, this air check valve will
be closed and the lower check valve at the base of the tubular
member will be reseated to close the valve chamber until the next
pumping cycle.
Inventors: |
Micallef; Lewis A. (New York,
NY) |
Assignee: |
Leeds and Micallef (New York,
NY)
|
Family
ID: |
22534427 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/150,417 |
Filed: |
June 7, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/207;
222/383.3; 222/214; 222/209 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01F
11/08 (20130101); F04B 43/0018 (20130101); B05B
11/303 (20130101); F04B 43/08 (20130101); B05B
11/0044 (20180801) |
Current International
Class: |
B05B
11/00 (20060101); G01F 11/08 (20060101); G01F
11/02 (20060101); F04B 43/08 (20060101); F04B
43/00 (20060101); B67d 005/42 () |
Field of
Search: |
;222/213,383,385,484,528,529,450,540 ;417/479 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Coleman; Samuel F.
Assistant Examiner: Stack, Jr.; Norman L.
Claims
I claim:
1. A manually operable liquid dispensing pump for use and
incorporation on a container for liquid to be dispensed comprising
in combination:
a component retaining body;
a tubular member carried by said body having a top and a bottom and
having a flexible wall defining a variable volume pump chamber
adapted to assume a fully distended position of maximum volume and
a collapsed position of lesser volume;
an operating means carried by said body and adapted to be manually
moved from a starting position and forced into engagement with the
flexible wall of the tubular member to flex the flexible wall from
its distended position to its collapsed position and permit the
return of the wall to its distended position, whereupon the
operating means resumes its starting position, liquid inlet port at
said bottom and outlet port at said top, both ports being in
communication with the pump chamber and having, respectively, an
inlet valve and an outlet valve associated therewith, said inlet
valve adapted to be closed when liquid to be dispensed is in the
pump chamber and when it is dispensed therefrom as the pump chamber
decreases in volume and adapted to be opened when the liquid to be
dispensed is drawn into the pump chamber from the inlet port as the
pump chamber volume increases and said outlet valve adapted to open
when the pump chamber decreases in volume as the liquid therein is
dispensed out the outlet port and adapted to close when the pump
chamber increases in volume;
means being provided by cooperating surfaces of the tubular member
and component retaining body for cooperating in directing the
liquid to be dispensed out of the outlet port and eventually into
the selected dispensing pattern and isolate this liquid away from
the pump chamber and tubular member;
the operating means when forced into engagement with the flexible
wall of the tubular member to reduce the volume of the pump chamber
thereby pressurizing liquid to be dispensed in the pump chamber
and, at the same time, with the inlet valve closed, causing the
outlet valve to open whereupon the liquid in the pump chamber is
adapted to flow into the outlet port and be dispensed therefrom;
and
the operating means when permitted to return to and resume its
starting position permits the volume of the pump chamber to
increase thereby lowering the pressure in the pump chamber and, at
the same time, with the outlet valve closed, causing the inlet
valve to open whereupon the liquid to be dispensed is drawn through
the inlet port into the pump chamber until the flexible wall of the
tubular member reaches its distended position whereupon the inlet
valve closes to trap the liquid to be dispensed in the pump
chamber.
2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein air network
means are provided for permitting the passage of air from the
ambient into the container to replenish the volume of the liquid to
be dispensed which is drawn from the container interior into the
pump chamber through the inlet port.
3. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the container
comprises a neck defining an opening and said pump extending across
the opening defined by the neck, the component retaining body being
in the form of a cap connected with the container neck.
4. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means
cooperating in directing the liquid being dispensed includes a
radially extending flange at the top of the tubular member which
cooperates with the component retaining body in providing a seal
which isolates the pump chamber from the outlet port and the path
of travel of the liquid dispensed out of the outlet port.
5. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the component
retaining body includes means for connecting the pump across the
opening of a container and a discharge nozzle extending in a
lateral direction, the discharge nozzle defining said outlet
port.
6. The invention in accordance with claim 5 wherein the operating
means comprises a trigger and means hingedly connecting the trigger
to the nozzle.
7. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the component
retaining body is comprised of an inner and outer shell connected
with one another and threaded means on one of said shells for
threadedly coupling the pump to the threaded neck of a
container.
8. The invention in accordance with claim 7 wherein one of the
shells includes sealing means for sealing the pump across the neck
of the container.
9. A manually operable liquid dispensing pump for use and
incorporation on a container for liquid to be dispensed comprising
in combination:
a component retaining body;
a tubular member carried by said body having a flexible wall
defining a variable volume pump chamber adapted to assume a fully
distended position of maximum volume and a collapsed position of
lesser volume;
an operating means carried by said body and adapted to be manually
moved from a starting position and forced into engagement with the
flexible wall of the tubular member to flex the flexible wall from
its distended position to its collapsed position and permit the
return of the wall to its distended position whereupon the
operating means resumes its starting position, liquid inlet port
and outlet port both being in communication with the pump chamber
and having, respectively, an inlet valve and an outlet valve
associated therewith, said inlet valve adapted to be closed when
liquid to be dispensed is in the pump chamber and when it is
dispensed therefrom as the pump chamber decreases in volume and
adapted to be opened when the liquid to be dispensed is drawn into
the pump chamber from the inlet port as the pump chamber volume
increases and said outlet valve adapted to open when the pump
chamber decreases in volume as the liquid therein is dispensed out
the outlet port and adapted to close when the pump chamber
increases in volume;
the operating means when forced into engagement with the flexible
wall of the tubular member to reduce the volume of the pump chamber
thereby pressurizing liquid to be dispensed in the pump chamber
and, at the same time, with the inlet valve closed, causing the
outlet valve to open whereupon the liquid in the pump chamber is
adapted to flow into the outlet port and be dispensed
therefrom;
the operating means when permitted to return to and resume its
starting position permits the volume of the pump chamber to
increase thereby lowering the pressure in the pump chamber and, at
the same time, with the outlet valve closed, causing the inlet
valve to open whereupon the liquid to be dispensed is drawn through
the inlet port into the pump chamber until the flexible wall of the
tubular member reaches its distended position whereupon the inlet
valve closes to trap the liquid to be dispensed in the pump
chamber; and
the operating means being in the form of a trigger and an operating
arm hingedly connected to and extending laterally from the trigger
in the direction of the tubular member and essentially normal to
the longitudinal axis thereof, and the component retaining body
having an opening through which the operating arm extends to permit
engagement of the operating arm with the tubular member upon
actuation of the trigger.
10. The invention in accordance with claim 9 wherein the component
retaining body includes a laterally projecting discharge nozzle
having incorporated therein the outlet port and the trigger being
hingedly coupled with the discharge nozzle.
11. The invention in accordance with claim 9 wherein the component
retaining body comprises a discharge nozzle having incorporated
therein said outlet port and the trigger being hingedly connected
with surfaces of the component retaining body distal the discharge
nozzle whereby the trigger is adapted to be actuated manually by
the movement of the thumb of the operator of the pump.
12. A manually operable liquid dispensing pump for use and
incorporation on a container for liquid to be dispensed comprising
in combination:
a component retaining body;
a tubular member carried by said body having a flexible wall
defining a variable volume pump chamber adapted to assume a fully
distended position of maximum volume and a collapsed position of
lesser volume;
an operating means carried by said body and adapted to be manually
moved from a starting position and forced into engagement with the
flexible wall of the tubular member to flex the flexible wall from
its distended position to its collapsed position and permit the
return of the wall to its distended position whereupon the
operating means resumes its starting position, liquid inlet port
and outlet port both being in communication with the pump chamber
and having, respectively, an inlet valve and an outlet valve
associated therewith, said inlet valve adapted to be closed when
liquid to be dispensed is in the pump chamber and when it is
dispensed therefrom as the pump chamber decreases in volume and
adapted to be opened when the liquid to be dispensed is drawn into
the pump chamber from the inlet port as the pump chamber volume
increases and said outlet valve adapted to open when the pump
chamber decreases in volume as the liquid therein is dispensed out
of the outlet port and adapted to close when the pump chamber
increases in volume;
the operating means when forced into engagement with the flexible
wall of the tubular member to reduce the volume of the pump chamber
thereby pressurizing liquid to be dispensed in the pump chamber
and, at the same time, with the inlet valve closed, causing the
outlet valve to open whereupon the liquid in the pump chamber is
adapted to flow into the outlet port and be dispensed
therefrom;
the operating means when permitted to return to and resume its
starting position permits the volume of the pump chamber to
increase thereby lowering the pressure in the pump chamber and, at
the same time, with the outlet valve closed, causing the inlet
valve to open whereupon the liquid to be dispensed is drawn through
the inlet port into the pump chamber until the flexible wall of the
tubular member reaches its distended position whereupon the inlet
valve closes to trap the liquid to be dispensed in the pump
chamber; and
the tubular member including an upper end and a lower end with both
ends being opened and the upper end being of larger dimension than
the lower end, the lower end containing the inlet valve and the
upper end cooperating with surfaces of the component retaining body
for defining said outlet valve.
13. The invention in accordance with claim 12 wherein the lower end
of the tubular member defines a valve seat for the inlet valve, the
inlet valve including a ball adapted to rest on the valve seat,
means for preventing the ball from being forced out of the tubular
member into the container, and means for limiting the movement of
the ball away from the valve seat when the inlet port is
opened.
14. The invention in accordance with claim 13 wherein the lower end
of the tubular member includes means for coupling with a dip
tube.
15. A manually operable liquid dispensing pump for use and
incorporation on a container for liquid to be dispensed comprising
in combination:
a component retaining body;
a tubular member carried by said body having a flexible wall
defining a variable volume pump chamber adapted to assume a fully
distended position of maximum volume and a collapsed position of
lesser volume;
an operating means carried by said body and adapted to be manually
moved from a starting position and forced into engagement with the
flexible wall of the tubular member to flex the flexible wall from
its distended position to its collapsed position and permit the
return of the wall to its distended position whereupon the
operating means resumes its starting position, liquid inlet port
and outlet port both being in communication with the pump chamber
and having, respectively, an inlet valve and an oulet valve
associated therewith, said inlet valve adapted to be closed when
liquid to be dispensed is in the pump chamber and when it is
dispensed therefrom as the pump chamber decreases in volume and
adapted to be opened when the liquid to be dispensed is drawn into
the pump chamber from the inlet port as the pump chamber volume
increases and said outlet valve adapted to open when the pump
chamber decreases in volume as the liquid therein is dispensed out
the outlet port and adapted to close when the pump chamber
increases in volume;
the operating means when forced into engagement with the flexible
wall of the tubular member to reduce the volume of the pump chamber
thereby pressurizing liquid to be dispensed in the pump chamber
and, at the same time, with the inlet valve closed, causing the
outlet valve to open whereupon the liquid in the pump chamber is
adapted to flow into the outlet port and be dispensed
therefrom;
the operating means when permitted to return to and resume its
starting position permits the volume of the pump chamber to
increase, thereby lowering the pressure in the pump chamber and, at
the same time, with the outlet valve closed, causing the inlet
valve to open whereupon the liquid to be dispensed is drawn through
the inlet port into the pump chamber until the flexible wall of the
tubular member reaches its distended position whereupon the inlet
valve closes to trap the liquid to be dispensed in the pump
chamber; and
the tubular member and the component retaining body providing
interengaging surfaces defining a normally closed air check valve
for preventing air from passing therethrough into the container,
and the air check valve adapted to be opened to permit replenishing
of air in the container as a corresponding amount of liquid is
drawn therefrom upon flexing of the flexible wall of the tubular
member from its distended position to its collapsed position.
16. The invention in accordance with claim 15 wherein the inlet
valve is disposed below the air check valve such that distortion of
the tubular member flexible wall upon collapsing of the wall by the
operating means does not affect the closure afforded by the inlet
valve.
17. The invention in accordance with claim 15 wherein the
interengaging surfaces defining the normally closed air check valve
include:
a radially inwardly extending flange engaging the outer face of the
tubular body between the inlet port and the outlet port when the
tubular member is in its distended position; and
when the tubular member is in its collapsed position the outer face
is flexed away from the flange by the operating means.
18. A manually operable liquid dispensing pump for use and
incorporation on a container for liquid to be dispensed comprising
in combination:
a component retaining body;
a tubular member carried by said body having a flexible wall
defining a variable volume pump chamber adapted to assume a fully
distended position of maximum volume and a collapsed position of
lesser volume;
an operating means carried by said body and adapted to be manually
moved from a starting position and forced into engagement with the
flexible wall of the tubular member to flex the flexible wall from
its distended position to its collapsed position and permit the
return of the wall to its distended position whereupon the
operating means resumes its starting position, liquid inlet port
and outlet port both being in communication with the pump chamber
and having, respectively, an inlet valve and an outlet valve
associated therewith, said inlet valve adapted to be closed when
liquid to be dispensed is in the pump chamber and when it is
dispensed therefrom as the pump chamber decreases in volume and
adapted to be opened when the liquid to be dispensed is drawn into
the pump chamber from the inlet port as the pump chamber volume
increases and said outlet valve adapted to open when the pump
chamber decreases in volume as the liquid therein is dispensed out
the outlet port and adapted to close when the pump chamber
increases in volume;
the operating means when forced into engagement with the flexible
wall of the tubular member to reduce the volume of the pump chamber
thereby pressurizing liquid to be dispensed in the pump chamber
and, at the same time, with the inlet valve closed, causing the
outlet valve to open whereupon the liquid in the pump chamber is
adapted to flow into the outlet port and be dispensed
therefrom;
the operating means when permitted to return to and resume its
starting position permits the volume of the pump chamber to
increase thereby lowering the pressure in the pump chamber and, at
the same time, with the outlet valve closed, causing the inlet
valve to open whereupon the liquid to be dispensed is drawn through
the inlet port into the pump chamber until the flexible wall of the
tubular member reaches its distended position whereupon the inlet
valve closes to trap the liquid to be dispensed in the pump
chamber; and
the outlet valve being defined by concentric interengaging surfaces
of the upper part of the tubular member and the component retaining
body, said interengaging surfaces defining a seal when the outlet
valve is closed to retain the liquid contents of the chamber when
the flexible wall is fully extended, and the seal is adapted to be
broken and the outlet port opened upon flexing of the flexible wall
from its distended position to its collapsed position.
19. The invention in accordance with claim 18 wherein the
concentric interengaging surfaces include:
an annular downwardly depending lip on the interior of the
component retaining body; and
an upwardly extending annular sealing lip at the top of the tubular
member engaging with radially outer surfaces of the lip of the
component retaining body.
20. A dispensing pump for a substance to be dispensed comprising in
combination:
a component retaining body;
a tubular member within said body having a top and bottom and
having a distortable wall defining a variable volume pump chamber
adapted to assume a fully distended position of maximum volume and
a collapsed position of lesser volume;
an operating means to distort the wall from its distended position
to its collapsed position and the operating means being adapted to
resume its starting position, inlet port at said bottom and outlet
port at said top both ports being in communication with the pump
chamber and having, respectively, an inlet valve and an outlet
valve associated therewith, said inlet valve adapted to be closed
when the substance to be dispensed is in the pump chamber and when
it is dispensed therefrom as the pump chamber decreases in volume
and adapted to be opened when the substance to be dispensed is
drawn into the pump chamber from the inlet port as the pump chamber
volume increases and said outlet valve adapted to open when the
pump chamber decreases in volume as the substance therein is
dispensed out the outlet port and adapted to close when the pump
chamber increases in volume;
means being provided by cooperating surfaces of the tubular member
and component retaining body for cooperating in directing the
substance to be dispensed out of the outlet port and eventually
into the selected dispensing pattern and isolate this substance
away from the pump chamber and the tubular member;
the operating means being adapted to permit the reduction of the
volume of the pump chamber thereby pressurizing the substance to be
dispensed in the pump chamber and, at the same time, with the inlet
valve closed, causing the outlet valve to open whereupon the
substance in the pump chamber is adapted to flow into the outlet
port and be dispensed therefrom; and
the operating means being adapted to permit the volume of the
chamber to increase thereby lowering the pressure in the pump
chamber and, at the same time, with the outlet valve closed,
causing the inlet valve to open whereupon the substance to be
dispensed is drawn through the inlet port into the pump chamber
until the wall of the tubular member reaches its distended position
whereupon the inlet valve closes to trap the substance to be
dispensed in the pump chamber.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Manually operated trigger actuated dispensing pumps for liquid
containers have been proposed in the past and one having wide
commercial application is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,061,202
granted Oct. 30, 1962. However, pumps of this type have proven to
be costly requiring a large number of parts, each individually
complex and relatively costly to manufacture and assemble.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention has as a principal object the construction and
assembly of an extremely inexpensive manually operated trigger
actuated pump constructed of a minimum number of parts, each
individually simple and inexpensive to manufacture and
assemble.
Another object is to provide a pump of the foregoing type which may
be actuated by the forefinger of the hand holding the container and
in accordance with a related embodiment the thumb of this hand.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the manually operated trigger
actuated pump fitted on the neck of a container for liquid to be
dispensed;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the component parts of
the pump drawn to an enlarged scale;
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the pump shown
associated with the neck of the container with the bulbous tubular
member defining the pump chamber shown in a fully distended
position;
FIG. 4 is a similar view with the trigger actuated to collapse the
bulbous tubular member to thereby expel the liquid contents of the
pump chamber out through the dispensing nozzle;
FIG. 5 is a similar view showing the trigger retreating to its
initial position to cause the bulbous tubular member to expand
towards its fully distended position thereby causing liquid to flow
into the pump chamber and air to enter the neck of the container to
replace the liquid pulled into the pump chamber;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6--6 of FIG.
3;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7--7 of FIG.
4;
FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view;
FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing a different
construction of outer shell;
FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a somewhat preferred
embodiment of pump; and
FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment of a
pump incorporating the teachings of this invention which is thumb
actuated.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS
In the drawings the manually operated finger actuated pump 10 is
shown on the neck 12 of a container 14 having the selected liquid
to be dispensed. In the embodiment of the pump shown in FIGS. 1 to
8, the pump includes an outer shell 16 and associated shell 18 both
of which define a component retaining body, an interior flexible
tubular member 20 defining pump chamber 22, a dispensing nozzle 24
which may form an integral part of the outer shell 16 and a trigger
assembly 26 for actuating the walls of the tubular member 20 and,
consequently, the pump chamber 22.
The outer shell 16 serves to couple the pump to the neck 12 of the
container and, consequently, is formed with internal threads 28
which mate with the external threads 30 on the neck 12 of the
container 14. The internal cylindrical wall 32 of shell 16 is
furnished with a rather close fit with the outer wall of shell 18
for securely fastening therebetween the upper end of the tubular
member 20. In this connection, the annular shoulder 34 of the outer
shell engages with the associated upper surfaces of the tubular
member 20. In addition, a top 36 of the outer shell is provided
with an annular downwardly depending lip 38 which cooperates with
associated surfaces on the upper end of the tubular member 20 in
defining the upper outlet valve 40. The top 36 of the outer shell
16 extends into the integral outwardly depending nozzle 24 and is
furnished with a passageway 44 which communicates with the
discharge orifice 46 of the nozzle 24. It should be understood that
nozzle 24 may be furnished with any one of a series of known
dispensing nozzle configurations for purposes of providing the
desired discharge pattern of the contained liquid to be
dispensed.
The inner shell 18 is tubular in configuration and cooperates with
the outer shell 16 in securing the upper end of the inner tubular
member 20 and at the same time is provided with a radially inwardly
extending flange 48 which cooperates with associated surfaces of
the tubular member 20 in defining the air inlet valve 50 which
permits air to be introduced into the interior or headspace of the
container 14 to replenish liquid drawn into the pump chamber 22.
The upper end 52 of the inner shell 18 includes an outer annular
and beveled face 54 which receives a correspondingly shaped surface
of the upper end of the tubular member 20 to facilitate anchoring
the tubular member 20 between the outer shell 16 and inner shell
18. The base of the inner shell 18 is provided with an annular
sealing lip 56 which engages with the upper lip 58 of the neck 12
of the container 14. As will be appreciated this seal is
effectuated upon screwing the outer shell 16 completely upon the
neck 12. The inner shell 18 together with the outer shell 16 define
an opening 60 through which the operating means of trigger 26 is
adapted to travel in changing the volume of the pump chamber 22
during the pumping cycle.
The tubular member 20 is constructed of any one of many available
moldable flexible materials of either synthetic or natural resin or
plastic and is essentially elastomeric in nature. The upper end 62
of the tubular member 20 is larger in diameter than the lower end
64 and is provided with an outwardly extending radial flange 65
which terminates in a downwardly depending annular apron 66 having
an inner beveled face 68 which meets with the beveled face 54 at
the upper end of the inner shell 18. It will be noted in FIG. 3
that the periphery of the flange 65 and the apron 66 are disposed
between the adjacent surfaces of the inner shell 18 and outer shell
16 to lock the tubular member 20 in place. The upper end 62 of the
tubular member 20 is also provided with an upwardly extending
annular sealing lip 70 which cooperates with the lip 38 at the
upper end 36 of the outer shell 16 in defining the outlet valve 40,
the opening and closing of which will be described in detail
shortly. The intermediate part of the tubular member 20 is defined
by a tubular bulbous side wall 72 which defines the pump chamber
22. The lower end 64 of the tubular member 20 defines an annular
valve seat 74 which cooperates with ball 76 in defining an inlet
check valve 78 for sealing liquid in the pump chamber 22 and at the
same time permits passage therethrough of liquid from the container
interior into the pump chamber 22. Any one of a number of
projections 80 may be adapted below the valve seat 74 to assure
against the ball 76 being forced or driven down into the lower end
64 of the tubular member 20 or perhaps into the dip tube 82. The
dip tube 82 is suitably connected to the bottom end 64 of tubular
member 20 and serves to direct the liquid from the interior of the
container 14 into the pump chamber 22. Projections 84 may also be
provided on the interior of the tubular member 20 above the ball 76
to limit the extent of upward travel of the ball when unseated. The
exterior surface of the bulbous side wall 72 cooperates with
adjacent surfaces of the radial flange 48 in defining the air inlet
valve 50 as explained above.
In the embodiment of pump 10 under consideration, the trigger
assembly 26 is coupled with the nozzle 24 by means of a hinged
connection which may include recesses 86 in the exterior sides of
the nozzle which conveniently receive the pins 88 which extend
inwardly from the pair of spaced arms 90 at the upper end of the
finger engaging trigger 92. An operating arm 94 is hingedly coupled
with the trigger 92 and extends laterally therefrom. The hinge
connection may be provided by means of the reduced thickness 96 at
the juncture between the operating arm 94 and trigger 92. The other
end of the arm 94 is provided with a depending flange 97 which
extends through the opening 60 into engagement with the exterior of
the bulbous side walls 72 of the tubular member 20.
Assuming the disposition of parts shown in FIG. 3 and the pump
chamber 22 filled with liquid to be dispensed, the valves 40, 78
and 50 will be closed. When it is desired to dispense the liquid
contents of the pump chamber 22, the trigger assembly 26 is
actuated by applying finger pressure to the trigger 22 to move the
operating arm 94 inwardly to cause the flange 97 to depress or
collapse the bulbous side wall 72 to the position shown in FIG. 4.
At the outset and during this movement, the ball 76 will be forced
into tighter engagement with its seat 74 and the pressure of the
contained liquid in chamber 22 will force the lip 70 at the upper
end of the tubular member 20 away from its associated lip 38 out of
the outer shell 16 to open the valve 40. The pressurized liquid in
pump chamber 22 will be forced out through the outlet opening thus
provided by the open valve 40 into the opening 44 and out through
the discharge orifice 46 of the nozzle 24. Upon release of the
trigger 26, the elastic properties of the bulbous side walls 72
will urge tubular member 20 and particularly its side walls to
return to its initial and normal molded condition. At the
initiation of this return movement and throughout this return
movement, the valve 40 will close automatically and the negative
pressure within the pump chamber 22 will cause the ball 76 to
unseat from its accommodating seat 74. This negative pressure will
draw liquid from the interior of the container 14 up through the
dip tube 82 into the pump chamber 22 until the bulbous side wall 72
assumes its fully distended position as shown in FIG. 3. Throughout
this excursion, the liquid that is drawn up into the pump chamber
22 is replaced by air which is permitted to enter the container
interior or head-space through the opened valve 50. When the pump
chamber 22 is filled, the valve 78 will close as well as the air
inlet valve 50. The disposition of parts during the excursion from
the collapsed position to the fully distended position of the
tubular member 20 is shown in FIG. 5. When it is desired to
dispense more of the liquid contents, the trigger assembly is
actuated as often as desired and the pumping cycle will be
repeated.
Reference is now made to FIG. 9 wherein another embodiment of pump
10a is disclosed. Corresponding parts will be similarly numbered
with an accompanying subscript a. The essential difference between
the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 and that shown in the preceding
figures is the formation of the nozzle 24a and outer shell member
16a as separate parts while at the same time integrally forming the
outer shell 16a and the inner shell 18a. Under these circumstances
the tubular downwardly depending apron 100 of the nozzle 24a will
be suitably secured by either heat or adhesive to the adjacent
surfaces of the shells 16a and 18a. In all other respects, the
construction and operation of the pump 10a is identical to that of
the previously described pump 10 of the preceding figures.
A somewhat preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
FIG. 10 where parts corresponding to the other embodiments herein
will be similarly numbered. Thus the pump 10b is of such a nature
that the parts may be constructed at a relatively low cost and at
the same time assembled at a lower cost. It will be noted that the
grid 80 has been eliminated which may prove to be desirable in the
event flashing may occur at this juncture incident to the molding
of the tubular member 20 from certain moldable elastomeric
materials. The ribs or lands 80b in the discussed embodiment serve
the purpose of preventing the ball 76b from chattering and also
prevent the ball from rolling out of position and thus possibly
cause inadvertent unseating thereof from its valve seat when the
pump 10b is tilted. Obviously the number and height of the lands
80b permit flow of product past the ball into the pump chamber when
the ball 76 is unseated when it is desired to withdraw the product
from the container into the pump chamber.
Referring now to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 11,
it should be understood that the pump 10c is again essentially the
same as the pump 10 of FIGS. 1 to 8 but in the present instance the
pump is actuated by means of thumb pressure rather than the
pressure of the operator's forefinger and perhaps middle finger. As
will be noted, the essential difference in these pumps is in the
location of the trigger assembly 26b. In the embodiment of FIG. 11
the trigger assembly 26b is hingedly connected to the top 36c of
the outer shell 16c at a position distal that of the dispensing
nozzle 24c which is shown as a lotion type nozzle but others can be
used as well. Except for the finger of the operator that is used to
actuate the pump and the relocation of the accommodating opening
60c in the shells 16c and 18c, the construction and operation of
the pump of FIG. 11 is essentially the same as that of the
preceding pumps 10, 10a, and 10b.
Thus, the several aforenoted objects and advantages are most
effectively attained. Although several preferred embodiments of the
invention have been disclosed and described in detail herein, it
should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited
thereby and its scope is to be determined by that of the appended
claims.
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