Patents Assigned to AFA Products, Inc.
  • Patent number: 5862950
    Abstract: The trigger sprayer comprises a trigger sprayer body having a cylinder therein, a trigger movably mounted to the trigger sprayer body, and the improvement of a piston assembly including a piston body having an unobstructed annular space for receiving an O-ring and an O-ring mounted in the unobstructed annular space for sealing between the piston body and an inner wall in the cylinder in the trigger sprayer body.Preferably, the piston body is formed from two parts which are pressed together to form the unobstructed annular space between the parts for receiving the O-ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: AFA Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Dan E. Holman
  • Patent number: 5749501
    Abstract: The shroud and skeletal body assembly for a trigger sprayer comprises: a skeletal body including a lower portion, an upright body portion extending upwardly from the lower portion and having a forwardly extending piston receiving portion, a waterway defining portion above the piston receiving portion and extending forwardly of the upright body portion, and hook structure extending rearwardly from the upright body portion; and a shroud having a top wall, spaced apart side walls, a back wall, and a short rear bottom wall extending forwardly from the back wall, and latch structure extending between the side walls at a position to be engaged by the hook structure when the shroud is brought into engagement with the skeletal body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: AFA Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilhelmus J. J. Maas, Petrus L. W. Hurkmans
  • Patent number: 5730335
    Abstract: The trigger sprayer comprises: a body having a cylinder therein; a liquid inlet to the cylinder; an outlet waterway in communication with the cylinder; a piston having an inner end and an outer end received in the cylinder; a fluid path including at least a part of the cylinder and the waterway and extending between the piston and an outlet orifice; a trigger coupled to the body and acting on the outer end of the piston; a precompression valve assembly in the fluid path between the piston and the outlet orifice which is operable to allow liquid in a first part of the fluid path to reach the outlet orifice only after a predetermined pressure is established in the cylinder and to stop liquid from reaching the outlet orifice when the pressure in the cylinder falls below the predetermined pressure and which includes a valve seat in the fluid path, a spring valve element and retaining structure for retaining the spring valve element against the valve seat; biasing structure for biasing the piston away from the pre
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: AFA Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilhelmus Johannes Joseph Maas, Petrus Wilhelmus Lambertus Hurkmans
  • Patent number: 5687880
    Abstract: The child lock nozzle cap assembly is mounted at the forward end of a body of a trigger sprayer and includes: a nozzle cap; first locking structure associated with the nozzle cap; and, second locking structure associated with a trigger of the trigger sprayer and cooperating with the first locking structure to lock the nozzle cap against rotation until and unless either the first locking structure is moved out of engagement with the second locking structure or the trigger is moved to move the second locking structure out of engagement with the first locking structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: AFA Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilhelmus Johannes Joseph Maas, Emile Bernard Steijns
  • Patent number: 5641125
    Abstract: The nozzle assembly comprises two pieces, they being: a nozzle cap; and, an integral nose bushing on which the nozzle cap is threadedly received. The integral nose bushing includes a body portion received and mounted in a body of a trigger sprayer and a bushing portion integral with the bushing portion. The bushing portion includes a generally cylindrical portion having a distal end and a proximal end with the proximal end having threads thereon and the distal end having a smooth outer cylindrical surface. The cylindrical portion has an annular slot therein defining an outer cylindrical flange and a central cylindrical portion. The central cylindrical portion has an outer end which extends outwardly of the outer cylindrical flange and which has an outer end having an annular wall defining therein a swirl cavity. The nose bushing has a passage therein communicating a waterway in the bushing portion with the annular slot in the cylindrical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: AFA Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas S. Martin, Wilhelmus J. J. Maas, Petrus L. W. Hurkmans
  • Patent number: 5626259
    Abstract: An apparatus for the simultaneous dispensing of two liquids from two separate liquid reservoirs at least two actuations are necessary in order for the venting of the interior and relieving of the back pressure in the liquid reservoirs. The first actuation is accomplished by rotating a valve having two mating valve members for opening and closing two sets of vertically extending passageways. The first set of passageways allows liquid to flow from the two liquid reservoirs to the intake stem of the spray pump dispenser. The second set of passageways connects both liquid reservoirs to a venting passageway. The second actuation is accomplished by pulling the trigger on the spray pump dispenser so the venting passageway is exposed to the ambient atmosphere. The venting passage reseals when the trigger returns to its rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: AFA Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilhelmus J. J. Maas, Petrus W. L. Hurkmans
  • Patent number: 5526985
    Abstract: The 90.degree. rotation nozzle assembly for a trigger sprayer comprises a nose bushing and a nozzle cap rotatably mounted on the nose bushing. The nose bushing has a front core with a front face and a generally cylindrical periphery. The generally cylindrical periphery has first, second and third, angularly spaced apart, longitudinally extending channels therein which open onto the front face of the core and extend rearwardly therefrom. The nozzle cap includes a front wall having a back side and a cylinder having an inner cylindrical wall surface and extending rearwardly from the back side of the front wall to a rear end of the cylinder. The front wall has a discharge orifice therethrough and the back side of the front wall has a swirl chamber formed therein in the area of and communicating with the discharge orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: AFA Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas S. Martin
  • Patent number: 5477989
    Abstract: The child-resistant nozzle cover is used to cover a nozzle cap of a nozzle assembly for a trigger sprayer having a body, the nozzle assembly including a nose bushing at a front end of the body, the nozzle cap being rotatably mounted on the nose bushing of the sprayer, and the nozzle cap having a proximal end, a distal end including a generally annular rear edge, and an outer surface. The cover comprises a generally annular hood substantially covering the outer surface of the nozzle cap, being rotatable about the nozzle cap and nose bushing and having a proximal end, a distal end, an outer peripheral surface and an inner generally annular surface. Retaining structure is provided at the proximal end of the hood for retaining the hood on the nozzle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: AFA Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilhelmus J. J. Maas, Petrus L. W. Hurkmans
  • Patent number: 5467900
    Abstract: The trigger sprayer comprises: a body having a cylinder therein; a liquid inlet in communication with the cylinder; an outlet waterway in communication with the cylinder; an outlet nozzle which has an outlet orifice and which is movable to and from a position in communication with the waterway; a piston having an inner and an outer end and being received in said cylinder and being movable between an outer at rest position and an inner pumping stroke position during the pumping strokes of the piston in the cylinder; a trigger operatively coupled to the body and acting on the outer end of the piston; a precompression valve in the cylinder, the valve being operable to allow liquid in the cylinder to enter the waterway only after a predetermined pressure is established in the cylinder and to stop liquid from entering the waterway when the pressure in the cylinder falls below the predetermined pressure; and, biasing structure for biasing the piston away from the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: AFA Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilhelmus J. J. Maas, Petrus L. W. Hurkmans
  • Patent number: 5397060
    Abstract: The nozzle assembly for a foam-spray-off trigger sprayer comprises a barrel with perforated end wall member and a nozzle member which has an elongate central axis and which is constructed to be mounted on the outer end of a nose bushing having liquid direction structure for directing liquid into a swirl. The nozzle member has a rear barrel portion and a front barrel portion with an internal wall therebetween. The internal wall has an orifice located on the central axis and is positioned to receive swirling liquid from the nose bushing for injection into the front barrel portion. The barrel with perforated end wall member includes an outer hollow cylindrical body and a transversely extending perforated wall mounted in the cylindrical body and structure for mounting the barrel with perforated end wall member for axial movement on and relative to the front barrel portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: AFA Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilhelmus J. J. Maas, Petrus L. W. Hurkmans
  • Patent number: 5332128
    Abstract: The pumping mechanism is used in a trigger operated fluid dispensing device, e.g. a trigger sprayer, for pumping fluid from a storage container into a discharge end of a body of the dispensing device. The pumping mechanism includes a chamber within the body of the trigger sprayer, a piston received in the cylinder, two flap valves associated with an internal back wall of the chamber, and a manually operated trigger movably connected to the body of the dispensing device and coupled to an outer end of the piston. The flap valves are normally closed and pressure controlled to ensure a quick filling and emptying of the collection chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: AFA Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilhelmus J. J. Mass, Petrus L. W. Hurkmans
  • Patent number: 5318206
    Abstract: The trigger operated pumping mechanism for a fluid dispensing device comprises a body and the pumping mechanism comprises a cylinder in the body of the dispensing device, a piston received in the cylinder and having a piston rod extending outwardly therefrom to an outer end and a trigger movably mounted to the body and having a front side and a back side. A first coupling structure is provided on the outer end of the piston rod for coupling to the trigger. A second coupling structure is provided on the back side of the trigger for releasably coupling to the first coupling structure on the piston rod in a snap-fitting manner and a spring is provided outside of the cylinder for biasing the trigger away from the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: AFA Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilhelmus J. J. Maas, Petrus L. S. Hurkmans
  • Patent number: 5297701
    Abstract: The trigger operated dispensing device for mounting to a container comprises: a body made of plastic material and having a pumping chamber therein. The pumping chamber has an open outer end and an inner back wall, a pumping mechanism associated with the body and includes a plastic piston situated in the pumping chamber and a plastic trigger coupled to the body. Non-metal biasing structure is situated between the trigger and the body for biasing the piston out of the pumping chamber. Non-metal fluid inlet structure and non-metal fluid outlet structure are associated with the pumping chamber and comprise first and second plastic flap valves in or adjacent the back wall. Also provided is non-metal structure for coupling the body to the container. The trigger operated dispensing device has only parts made of non-metal or synthetic material therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: AFA Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Emile B. Steijns, Wilhelmus J. J. Maas, Petrus L. W. Hurkmans
  • Patent number: 5267692
    Abstract: The adjustable nozzle assembly for a trigger sprayer comprises a nose bushing and an integral nozzle cap capable of being screwed upon the bushing. The nozzle cap has a discharge orifice located in its front face and a flange skirt extending from a front wall thereof. A nozzle cap flange skirt is threaded inside the rear portion thereof and an internally contoured or stepped surface is located forwardly of the threads to provide reduced diameter annular surfaces at two locations rearward of an inner wall surface of the cap and forward of the internal threads inside the nozzle cap flange skirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Assignee: AFA Products Inc.
    Inventors: Wilhelmus J. J. Maas, Petrus L. W. Hurkmans
  • Patent number: 5257724
    Abstract: The tamper evident trigger sprayer bottle cap/bottle neck assembly comprises: a trigger sprayer including a body and a fluid intake portion, the fluid intake portion having retaining structure protruding laterally outwardly therefrom for retaining an open top bottle cap thereon; a bottle cap comprising a top portion, a cylindrical wall depending from the top portion, and a tamper evident ring depending from the cylindrical wall, the top portion having a central opening therein, the fluid intake portion extending upwardly through the central opening and the cap being supported on the retaining structure; sealing structure associated with the retaining structure and the bottle cap for effecting a seal between them when the bottle cap is mounted on a bottle neck to a fully connected position, the tamper evident ring being frangibly connected to the cylindrical wall by a plurality of spaced apart easily breakable webs or filets molded to and extending between the tamper evident ring and the cylindrical wall of th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Assignee: AFA Products Inc.
    Inventor: Emile B. Steijns
  • Patent number: 5238152
    Abstract: The child resistant trigger sprayer bottle cap/bottle neck assembly comprises a trigger sprayer having a body including a cylindrical base. First coupling structure in the form of at least one deflectable tab with an opening therein is incorporated into the cylindrical base for coupling to a bottle neck. Second coupling structure in the form of a locking lug is provided on a bottle neck and is adapted to engage and couple with the first coupling structure by reason of the lug being received in the opening in the tab. There is also provided a locking ring which is received over the cylindrical base mounted on the neck for maintaining the first and second coupling structures in a coupled locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: AFA Products Inc.
    Inventors: Wilhelmus J. J. Maas, Petrus L. W. Hurkmans
  • Patent number: D346547
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: AFA Products Inc.
    Inventors: Emile B. Steijns, Wilhelmus J. J. Maas
  • Patent number: D347788
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: AFA Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Emile B. Steijns, Wilhelmus J. J. Maas
  • Patent number: D353321
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: AFA Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Emile B. Steijns, Wilhelmus J. J. Maas
  • Patent number: D355361
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: AFA Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Emile B. Steijns, Wilhelmus J. J. Maas