Abstract: A low cost trigger sprayer has a housing with a first liquid passage containing a spinner assembly. A pump element is positioned generally horizontally such that pulling the trigger contracts or retracts the element and releasing the trigger permits the element to return to an extended position. An elastomeric spring is positioned between the housing and pump element to improve the return characteristics of the pump element. The sprayer includes a low cost spinner assembly and low cost valving to control the flow of liquid within the sprayer. In one aspect of the invention, the housing has front and rear sections with the rear section having a saddle portion and being hinged to the front section for pivotal movement from an open position for molding the housing to a closed position for operating the sprayer.

Abstract: A manually operated reciprocating liquid pump employs both a priming valve and a check valve where the priming valve performs the dual functions of priming the pump and sealing the pump to prevent inadvertent leakage of liquid through the pump when it is not in an upright orientation.

Abstract: A low cost trigger sprayer has a housing with a first liquid passage containing a spinner assembly. An elastomeric pump element is positioned generally horizontally such that pulling the trigger retracts the element and releasing the trigger allows the element to extend. The sprayer includes a low cost spinner assembly and low cost valving to control the flow of liquid within the sprayer. In one aspect of the invention, the housing has front and rear sections with the rear section having a saddle portion and being hinged to the front section for pivotal movement from an open position for molding the housing to a closed position for operating the sprayer. In another aspect of the invention, the container has a rear portion which extends upwardly past the neck and defining a saddle recess, with the housing connected to the neck of the container and positioned forwardly of the upwardly extending container portion.

Abstract: A dispenser assembly for dispensing liquid from a container has a dispenser operable remotely from the container by way of a tube communicating the dispenser and the liquid within the container. The dispenser assembly has a hand-held dispenser and a tube connected to the dispenser for extension into the liquid within the container. The dispenser is operable to dispense liquid from the container by way of the tube. An adaptor is secured to the container with the tube operable for extending from the dispenser, through the adaptor, and into the container. With the dispenser disconnected from the adaptor and with the adaptor secured to the container, the dispenser may be operated remotely from the container to dispense the liquid from the container.

Abstract: The invention is particularly directed to a trigger sprayer having screen support structure for foaming a dispensed liquid where the support structure is comprised of a plurality of annular shoulders of varying diameters adapted to screens of differing diameters such that the distance between the nozzle and screen may be varied and thereby change the foam pattern of the dispensed liquid to obtain an optimum foam pattern for any particular liquid, and to the incorporation of a door connected with the sprayer nozzle housing for sealing the opening of a foam dispensing passage of the foamer trigger sprayer.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly for a trigger sprayer having a cap rotatable relative to a housing to establish the spray character of the fluid discharged and a slot and cam follower connection between the trigger sprayer housing and the cap with the cam shaped to impart an "off" condition, a gradually increasing spray condition, a combination spray and stream condition of gradually reversed relative influence, and a stream only condition. The different flow conditions are established by the interrelationship between a spinner head section and the cap that is rotatable along a path controlled by the cam and cam follower.

Abstract: A housing for use with a fluid dispensing apparatus adapted for attachment to a fluid container using a snap-action coupler. The housing contains a lower portion configured to extend generally downward over the fluid dispensing apparatus and over at least an upper portion of the fluid container when the housing is attached to the fluid dispensing apparatus and the fluid dispensing apparatus is coupled to the fluid container. At least the lower portion of the housing is configured to substantially complement that portion of the fluid container adjacent the lower portion of the housing when the housing is attached to the fluid dispensing apparatus and the fluid dispensing apparatus is coupled to the fluid container. The housing may be attached to the fluid dispensing apparatus, which may in turn be attached to a fluid container.

Abstract: A trigger sprayer apparatus is comprised of a sprayer housing and a vent housing that are formed independently of each other and are then assembled together. By providing a separate sprayer housing and vent housing, the sprayer apparatus may be produced in a manner that significantly reduces the occurrence of deformations or imperfections in the component parts of the apparatus. Molding the sprayer housing and vent housing separately enables the cylindrical interior surface of the pump chamber and the cylindrical interior surface of the vent chamber to be molded more accurately. Because the sprayer and vent housings are molded separately, a lesser amount of material is needed to mold each of these components and therefore shrinkage of the material as the components cool is significantly reduces. This eliminates the occurrence of deformations or sinks in critical areas of these component parts.