PUMP DEVICE AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME

Abstract

A pump including a flexible membrane and a body defining a fluid pump chamber therebetween may be fitted with an overlying, removable, rigid cap to protect inadvertent actuation of the membrane pumping mechanism.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61232085, entitled “PUMP DEVICE AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME,” filed Aug. 7, 2009, and incorporates the same herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention:

Embodiments of the invention relate to fluid pump devices and more particularly to fluid pump devices which may be mounted to containers for pumping fluids from the containers utilizing a deformable membrane.

2. State of the Art:

Pump devices are well known and are used on a variety of products to pump liquids. For example, pump devices are generally attached to liquid containing containers in order to facilitate evacuation of the liquid from the container. Conventional pump systems include piston pump systems and membrane-type pump systems.

Conventional piston pumps are well known and typically include a piston positioned within an accumulator. A valve in the accumulator may prevent or allow liquid from a container to flow into the accumulator depending on the stroke of the piston. A spring typically biases the piston. When the piston is pushed downward into the accumulator, commonly referred to as the downstroke, a fluid flow path around the piston opens and the accumulator valve remains shut such that any fluid accumulated in the accumulator may be forced through the fluid flow path. A spring force acts against the piston. When the piston is released from the downstroke the spring biases the piston back into its starting position; this is also known as the upstroke. During the upstroke, movement of the piston opens the accumulator valve, pulling fluid into the accumulator for delivery during the next downstroke. Operation of conventional piston pumps is well known and may vary from the foregoing.

Membrane-type pump devices typically include a deformable membrane defining a pump chamber. Application of a force to the membrane pushes liquid product out of the pump chamber through a valve or liquid flow path. Release of the force on the membrane allows the membrane to return to its original form. During the return of the membrane to its original form a valve may be opened allowing liquid to flow into the pump chamber from a container or other liquid storage device. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publications 20070181611 and 2007164052 disclose such membrane-type pump devices.

Membrane-type pump devices may be less expensive than conventional piston pumps in some instances because they typically include fewer moving parts and are easier to assemble. However, membrane-type pumps may sacrifice quality and functionality to achieve such lower costs and ease of assembly. Therefore, it is desirable to decrease the cost of membrane-type pumps and/or to improve the functionality of membrane-type pumps.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to certain embodiments of the invention, a pump may include a body, a closure, a membrane and a cap, wherein the body and the closure are fitted together and the membrane is fitted to the body such that a cavity is formed between the membrane and the closure. A cap fitted over the membrane may include a removable cap portion.

According to various embodiments of the invention, a cap may include a cap body and a removable cap portion. In some embodiments, the removable cap portion may be configured to protect the membrane from actuation. In other embodiments, the removable cap portion may be configured to support a top load. In still other embodiments of the invention, the removable cap portion may be configured to evidence tampering with the membrane or the pump.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming particular embodiments of the present invention, various embodiments of the invention can be more readily understood and appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art from the following descriptions of various embodiments of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a pump according to various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a pump according to various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a closure for a pump according to various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a closure according to various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a body and membrane for a pump according to various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a body and membrane for a pump according to various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a cap for a pump according to various embodiments of the invention; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a cap for a pump according to various embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to embodiments of the invention, a pump for dispensing fluid products may include a flexible or elastomeric membrane attached to a body wherein the membrane and the body define a pump chamber. The membrane and the body may be a molded plastic part, a bi-injected plastic part including at least two plastic or moldable materials, or separate molded or formed parts fitted together. A closure device may be attached to, fitted with, integrally formed, or otherwise associated with the body for attaching the pump to a container or fluid source. The membrane may include one or more sealable openings through which a fluid product may be dispensed when a force is applied to the membrane. A cap may be fitted over a portion or all of the membrane and a portion of the cap may be removable such that a portion of the cap prevents activation of the membrane or the application of a force to the membrane until the portion of the cap is removed.

A pump 100 according to various embodiments of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. The pump 100 may include a body 110, a closure mechanism (not shown), a membrane 130, and a cap 140 covering at least a portion of the membrane 130. A dip tube 124 may be attached to the pump 100 and the pump 100 may be attached to a container or other fluid source.

A cross sectional view of a pump 100 according to various embodiments of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 2. As illustrated, a pump 100 may include a body 110, a closure 120, a membrane 130, and a cap 140. The closure 120 and the body 110 may be fitted together such that the closure 120 fits inside the body 110 and is secured or attached thereto. In some embodiments, the closure 120 may be frictionally fit or attached to the body 110. In other embodiments, the closure 120 may be welded, melted, or otherwise attached to or secured to the body 110 as desired. In still other embodiments, the closure 120 and body 110 may be a single component molded or otherwise formed together. The membrane 130 and the body 110 may also be secured or attached together. In some embodiments, the membrane 130 and the body 110 may be formed of two plastic or moldable materials that are bi-injected in a single molded piece. The cap 140 may also be attached or secured to the body 110. The cap 140 may include a removable cap portion protecting at least a part of the membrane 130.

A closure 120 according to various embodiments of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. A closure 120 may include one or more of a ball seat 121, a tube retainer 123, a closure mechanism 126, and a valve post 128.

A ball seat 121 may include any conventional ball seat 121 or mechanism for retaining a ball 122 for a valve. In other embodiments of the invention, a ball seat 121 and ball 122 may be substituted with an alternative valve such as a flap valve or other valve system as conventionally known.

A tube retainer 123 may include any conventional tube retaining mechanism. For example, the tube retainer 123 illustrated in FIG. 4 may include ribs, bumps, or other features to retain a dip tube 124 to the closure 120 as illustrated in FIG. 2. In addition, the tube retainer 123 may include a larger diameter than a dip tube 124 such that a dip tube 124 overlying the tube retainer 123 is frictionally fitted to the tube retainer 123. In other embodiments, a dip tube 124 may be retained on an interior surface of the tube retainer 123 rather than on the exterior surface as illustrated in FIG. 2. Any conventional method or structure for retaining a dip tube 124 to the closure 120 may be used with various embodiments of the invention.

The closure mechanism 126 illustrated in FIG. 4 includes a screw-type closure as conventionally known. Other closure mechanisms 126 may also be used with various embodiments of the invention. For example, the closure mechanism 126 may include a snap-on closure system or a bayonet closure system. The closure mechanism 126 may be used to secure or fit a pump 100 to a bottle or container using conventional methods.

According to various embodiments of the invention, the closure 120 may also include a valve post 128. The valve post 128 may extend from the closure 120 vertically or in another direction such that when the closure 120 is mounted or attached to the body 110, the valve post 128 abuts or otherwise contacts at least a portion of the membrane 130.

A closure 120 may also include a lip 129 or a partial lip 129 circumscribing the closure 120. The lip 129 may be used to retain the closure 120 within a body 110 of a pump 100.

A closure 120 according to various embodiments of the invention may be a single piece. For example, the closure 120 may be a single molded plastic part. In other embodiments, the closure 120 may be made of one or more parts which have been attached together or otherwise joined to form the closure 120.

A body 110 and membrane 130 combination of a pump 100 according to embodiments of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the membrane 130 may appear to rest on the top portion of the body 110. In some embodiments, the membrane 130 and body 110 may include two separate components attached or otherwise joined together. In other embodiments, the body 110 and membrane 130 may include two or more different materials joined together, such as by being bi-injected together.

A body 110 according to embodiments of the invention may be formed of a plastic or other material and in some instances, a moldable material. As illustrated in FIG. 6, a body 110 may include a spout 112 having a passageway 113 from an interior of the body 110 to an exterior of the body 110. A body 110 may also include a main wall 114 and a secondary wall 116 extending outwardly from the main wall 114. The main wall 114 may be attached to, in communication with, or otherwise joined with a membrane 130. One or more projections 115 on an interior surface of the main wall 114 may also be included with the body 110.

A membrane 130 according to embodiments of the invention may include an elastomeric material, flexible material, or material which may be deformed and which will return substantially to its original shape after being deformed. In some embodiments of the invention, the membrane 130 includes an elastomeric material bi-injected with the body 110 such that the membrane 130 and body 110 are a single part. In other embodiments of the invention, a membrane 130 may be attached to, secured to, or otherwise joined with a body 110 to form a body 110 and membrane 130 structure as illustrated in FIG. 5.

According to embodiments of the invention, a membrane 130 may include a valve 132. A valve may include a slot cut in the membrane 130, a flap in the membrane 130, or other structure in the membrane 130 or attached to the membrane 130 to act as a valve between an interior space between the membrane 130 and the closure 120 and the passageway 113 through the body 110. For example, the membrane 130 illustrated in FIG. 2 may include a slot cut in the membrane 130 wherein the slot abuts the valve post 128 of the closure.

A closure 120 may be fitted on an interior of the body 110 as illustrated in FIG. 2. The closure 120 may be snap-fitted, frictionally fit, or otherwise attached to the body 110. In some instances, the lip 129 of a closure 120 may snap past one or more projections 115 of a body 110 to retain the closure 120 within the body 110 or to assemble the closure 120 with the body 110 of a pump 100. When a closure 120 is fitted with the body 110 a valve post 128 of the closure 120, if there is one, may abut against or otherwise touch a portion of the membrane 130. In some embodiments of the invention, a valve post 128 may cover a portion of the membrane 130 having a valve 132 or slit through which a fluid product may pass. Contact between the valve post 128 and the valve 132 of the membrane 130 may improve sealing of the valve 132 or may help prevent air entering the spout 112 from passing through the valve 132 to contact a fluid product in the pump 100.

A cap 140 according to embodiments of the invention may be fitted to the body 110 around or over the membrane 130. A cap 140 may include one or more of a cap body 142, a removable cap portion 144, and a cap opening 146.

For example, a cap 140 according to embodiments of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. The cap 140 illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 includes a cap body 142 which may be attached to the body 110 to help define the shape of the pump 110. The cap 140 also includes a removable cap portion 144 which partially covers the membrane 130 with the cap 140 is attached to the body 110. A cap opening 146 between the cap body 142 and removable cap portion 144 provides a space through which the membrane 130 may be seen or by which leverage may be applied to the removable cap portion 144 to separate the removable cap portion 144 form the cap body 142.

According to some embodiments of the invention, a removable cap portion 144 of a cap 140 may protect the membrane 130 under the removable cap portion 144 from actuation. For example, a cap 140 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 may include a removable cap portion 144 covering most of the membrane 130. A force applied to the removable cap portion 144 may not be transferred to the membrane 130 due to the rigidity of the removable cap portion 144. Thus, the removable cap portion 144 protects the membrane 130 from inadvertent actuation. In addition, the removable cap portion 144 may be strong enough to support additional weight such that pumps 100 may be stacked on top of one another during shipment without the worry that the additional weight caused by the stacking of the pumps 100 will cause actuation of the membrane 130.

Inclusion of a removable cap portion 144 with pumps 100 according to embodiments of the invention also provides notification to a purchaser or user of tampering. For example, if a removable cap portion 144 is intact with the cap body 142 tampering may not have occurred. However, if the removable cap portion 144 is missing or has been partially separated from the cap body 142, evidence of tampering is visually apparent.

A removable cap portion 144 may be formed with the cap during molding or production of the cap. For example, the removable cap portion 144 illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 includes tabs between the cap body 142 and the removable cap portion 144. The tabs may be molded during formation of the cap 140 and may allow the removable cap portion 144 to be removed or separated from the cap body 142. Other devices, structures, or features may also be incorporated with embodiments of the invention to fit the cap body 142 and the removable cap portion 144 together.

In some embodiments of the invention, a vent in the pump 100 allows the interior of a container to which the pump 100 is attached to equilibrate with atmospheric pressure.

According to various embodiments of the invention, a pump 100 may be assembled by providing a closure 120, a body 110, a membrane 130 and a cap 140. A ball 122 may be fitted in a ball seat 121 of the closure 120 and a dip tube 124 may be attached or otherwise joined to a tube retainer 123 portion of the closure 120. The closure 120 may be snap fitted or otherwise joined with the body 110 such that a fluid chamber between a top surface of the closure 120 and an interior surface of a membrane 130 connected to the body 110 is formed. A membrane 130 may be attached to the body 110 or may be integral with the body 110 prior to joining the closure 120 with the body 110. A cap 140 may be positioned over the membrane 130 and body 110 and joined to the body 110 to finalize the pump 100.

According to certain embodiments of the invention, the assembly of the pump 100 may include the cutting of a valve 132 in the membrane 130. In further embodiments, the closure 120 and body 110 may be aligned prior to joining such that a valve post 128 of the closure 120 mates with, abuts, or otherwise contacts a valve 132 in the membrane 130 in the assembled form.

A pump 100 according to embodiments of the invention may be used in any desired manner. According to some embodiments, a pump 100 may include a removable cap portion 144 preventing actuation of the pump 100. Removal of the removable cap portion 144, such as by prying or otherwise pulling the removable cap portion 144 from the cap body 142, may expose the membrane 130 and allow operation of the pump 100. An application of force on the membrane 130 may collapse or deform the membrane 130, forcing a fluid product in the pump chamber between the membrane 130 and the closure 120 out a valve 132 of the membrane 130.

For example, the pump 100 illustrated in FIG. 2 may be attached to a container containing a fluid and used in the following manner. The removable cap portion 144 of the cap 140 may be removed from the pump 100 to expose the membrane 130. The membrane 130 may be actuated by pushing on the membrane 130. Upon actuation, the membrane 130 deforms pushing air or other fluid in the pump chamber out of the valve 132 in the membrane 130. Release of the force on the membrane 130 allows the membrane 130 to return to its original shape, while at the same time forming a vacuum which opens the ball valve, pulling fluid from within the container into the pump chamber. The priming of the pump 100 may continue in this fashion as known until the pump chamber is filled with fluid from the container. Actuation of the membrane 130 then forces fluid stored in the pump chamber out through the valve 132, along passageway 113 and out spout 112, thereby dispensing the fluid product to the user.

Pump devices according to various embodiments of the invention may include membranes 130 made from one or more elastomeric materials. An elastomeric material may include any material capable of being subjected to a resilient deformation sufficient to fulfill the requirements of the one or more embodiments of the invention. Elastomeric materials used with embodiments of the invention may include plastic materials such as for example polypropylene. Other materials may also be used to form the membranes or part of the membranes 130 according to various embodiments of the invention.

According to embodiments of the invention, the various components of a pump 100 may be made in any desired shape or form and are not limited to those illustrated. Further, the components may be made from different materials, different colored materials, or different textured materials to add aesthetic effects to the pumps 100.

While various embodiments of the invention are described with respect to the delivery or pumping of fluid products or liquids, it is understood that such embodiments may also be used to deliver and/or pump products made of a combination of any of liquid, solid, or gas. For example, a fluid product including a liquid having solid particles mixed therein may be pumped or dispensed utilizing various embodiments of the invention.

Having thus described certain particular embodiments of the invention, it is understood that the invention defined by the appended claims is not to be limited by particular details set forth in the above description, as many apparent variations thereof are contemplated. Rather, the invention is limited only be the appended claims, which include within their scope all equivalent devices or methods which operate according to the principles of the invention as described.

Claims

1. A pump, comprising:

a body;

a membrane secured to an open end of the body;

a closure attached to the body;

a fluid chamber defined between the membrane and the closure; and

a passageway in communication with the fluid chamber.

2. The pump of claim 1, wherein the body and the membrane comprise a bi-injected component.

3. The pump of claim 1, wherein the body comprises the passageway.

4. The pump of claim 1, wherein the closure further comprises:

a ball seat;

a tube retainer;

a closure mechanism; and

a valve post.

5. The pump of claim 4, wherein the valve post comprises a valve post extending from the closure and contacting the membrane.

6. A pump, comprising:

a body;

a membrane secured to an open end of the body;

a closure attached to the body;

a fluid chamber defined between the membrane and the closure;

a passageway in communication with the fluid chamber; and

a cap fitted to the body and overlying at least a portion of the membrane.

7. The pump of claim 6, wherein the cap further comprises:

a cap body attached to the body of the pump; and

a removable cap portion partially covering the membrane.

8. The pump of claim 7, further comprising a cap opening between the cap body and the removable cap portion.

9. A pump, comprising:

a body;

a membrane secured to an open end of the body;

a closure, comprising: a ball seat; a tube retainer; a closure mechanism; and a valve post, wherein the closure is attached to the body;

a fluid chamber defined between the membrane and the closure; and

a passageway between the fluid chamber and an exterior of the body.

10. The pump of claim 9, further comprising a lip circumscribing at least a portion of the closure and configured to attach the closure to the body of the pump.

11. The pump of claim 9, further comprising a cap, comprising:

a cap body; and

a removable cap portion at least partially covering the membrane.

12. The pump of claim 11, further comprising a cap opening between the cap body and the removable cap portion.

13. The pump of claim 9, wherein the body further comprises:

a main wall attached to the membrane; and

a secondary wall.

14. The pump of claim 9, wherein the membrane further comprises a valve.

15. The pump of claim 14, wherein the valve post abuts against the valve.

16. The pump of claim 9, wherein the body and the membrane are secured through bi-injection.

17. The pump of claim 9, wherein the membrane comprises a material selected from the group consisting of an elastomeric material, a flexible material, and a deformable material.