Patents Assigned to Continental Sprayers International, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6729560
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a trigger sprayer which is connectable to two container volumes containing separate liquids. The sprayer has a trigger that is manipulated to draw the separate liquids into two separate pump chambers and then supply the two separate liquids from the pump chambers to a discharge passage of the sprayer. In the discharge passage the two separate liquids are mixed together prior to their being dispensed from the discharge passage as a spray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Continental Sprayers International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Martin S. Laffey, John A. Zurcher
  • Patent number: 6557783
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly including a nozzle member, a cap member, a spinner and a foam tube. The cap member is rotationally mounted on the nozzle member and may be rotated from an “off-position” to a “foam-position” with continued rotation bringing the cap member to a “spray-position” and then to a second “foam-position” and then to the “off-position.” Rotation of the cap member drives foam tube from a retracted position to an extended position extending forward of the nozzle member when the cap member is in the “foam-position.” The spinner rotates to atomize liquid flowing through the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Continental Sprayers International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philipp Nelson, Jeffrey Stark
  • Patent number: 6550694
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a trigger sprayer which is connectable to two container volumes containing separate liquids. The sprayer has a trigger that is manipulated to draw the separate liquids into two separate pump chambers and then supply the two separate liquids from the pump chambers to a discharge passage of the sprayer. In the discharge passage the two separate liquids are mixed together prior to their being dispensed from the discharge passage as a spray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Continental Sprayers International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Martin S. Laffey, John A. Zurcher
  • Patent number: 6036112
    Abstract: A trigger sprayer is constructed with a removable foamer insert that may be removed to allow the sprayer to dispense liquid only in a spray pattern or may be inserted to allow the sprayer to dispense liquid only in a foaming pattern. In addition, the foamer insert is specifically designed to generate a more even distribution of foam in the foaming pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Continental Sprayers International, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Greggory Hunsicker
  • Patent number: 6032814
    Abstract: A container assembly comprising a container for containing a fluid and a container closure. The container includes a neck having a mouth therein for passage therethrough of liquid in the container. The container closure comprises a closure cap portion adapted for releasable connection to the neck of the container. The closure cap portion comprises a generally annular-shaped skirt and at least three lugs extending generally radially inwardly from an inside surface of the skirt. The container further includes at least three bayonet provisions on an outer surface of the neck for matably receiving the at least three lugs of the closure cap portion, the bayonet provisions and the lugs being shaped and configured to releasably lock the skirt of the closure cap portion to the neck of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Continental Sprayers International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Foster
  • Patent number: 6006949
    Abstract: A manually operated reciprocating liquid pump of the type comprising a plunger that reciprocates vertically in a pump chamber to dispense liquid from a container to which the pump is attached includes a vent opening to vent air to the interior of the container as liquid is drawn from the container by the pump. The pump plunger locks in its vertically downward position in the pump chamber and is provided with a stopper that plugs the vent opening and prevents liquid in the container from passing through the vent opening when the plunger is in its locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Continental Sprayers International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, John Patrick Hinson
  • Patent number: 6003738
    Abstract: A child resistant lock for manually-operated pump dispensers such as trigger sprayers, prevents movement of the trigger and reciprocation of the sprayer pump element when the lock is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Continental Sprayers International,Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5938082
    Abstract: A container assembly comprising a container for containing fluid, and a container closure. The container includes a neck having a mouth therein for passage therethrough of liquid in the container, and a flange circumscribing and extending radially outwardly from the neck of the container. The flange includes a generally downwardly facing surface. The container closure comprises a closure cap portion adapted for releasable connection to the neck of the container. The closure cap portion comprises a generally annular-shaped skirt, and at least three protrusions extending generally radially inwardly from an inside surface of the skirt. The protrusions are circumferentially spaced from each other along the inside surface of the skirt. The protrusions of the closure cap portion and the flange of the container are configured for a resilient snap-fit engagement of the protrusions with the generally downwardly facing surface of the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Continental Sprayers International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Mark Ochs
  • Patent number: 5938081
    Abstract: A closure comprising a cap and container where the cap is integrally formed with a trigger sprayer housing and the cap and container have four thread connectors that attach the cap to the container by a quarter turn of the cap relative to the container, and where the cap also has locking tabs that snap over detents on the container and hold the cap securely to the container preventing unintended separation of the cap from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Continental Sprayers International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5927561
    Abstract: A manually operated pump comprises a pump housing and a plunger. The pump housing has a pump chamber and an intake port. The plunger extends into the pump chamber. A piston is on the plunger and is reciprocally and axially slidable within the pump chamber between a bottom stroke position and a top stroke position. The fluid pump further includes a priming valve, a check valve, a sealing plug, and a plug seat. The priming valve permits fluid to flow upward through the pump chamber when the piston stroke moves the piston downward from the top stroke position toward the bottom stroke position, and prevents fluid from flowing upward through the pump chamber when the piston stroke moves the piston upward from the bottom stroke position toward the top stroke position. The check valve has a valve seat and a moveable valve member moveable between a closed position in which the moveable valve member moveable between seated and unseated positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Continental Sprayers International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5928594
    Abstract: A manually operated reciprocating fluid pump configured to be secured to a container's mouth comprises a dispenser body and a lower member connected to the dispenser body. The dispenser body has a pump mechanism, a discharge port, and a discharge liquid flow path providing fluid communication between the pump mechanism and discharge port. The lower member is of a molded one piece construction and comprises a housing portion and a seal portion. The housing portion has an intake port adapted for fluid communication with liquid contained in the container. The housing portion at least in part defines an intake liquid flow path providing fluid communication between the intake port and the pump mechanism. The seal portion is engageable with the container and is shaped and configured for providing a fluid-tight seal between the lower member and the mouth of the container. The seal portion is of a first material and the housing portion is of a second material different from the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Continental Sprayers International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Foster
  • Patent number: 5906301
    Abstract: A manually operated reciprocating fluid pump for securement to a container's mouth. The fluid pump comprises a disperser body, a closure cap, a seal assembly, and a priming check valve. The dispenser body has a pump mechanism, a discharge port, and a discharge liquid flow path providing fluid communication between the pump mechanism and discharge port. The closure cap is connected to the dispenser body and is configured for closing the mouth of the container. The seal assembly has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is shaped and configured for preventing leakage between the closure cap and the mouth of the container when the closure cap closes the mouth of the container. The second portion has an intake port adapted for fluid communication with liquid contained in the container. The second portion of the seal assembly and the dispenser body define an intake liquid flow path providing fluid communication between the intake port and the pump mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Continental Sprayers International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Foster
  • Patent number: 5887761
    Abstract: A dual fluid dispenser comprising a dispenser body and a nozzle. The dispenser body has first and second pump chambers, a first intake port adapted for fluid communication with a first liquid source, a second intake port adapted for fluid communication with a second with a first liquid source, a second intake port adapted for fluid communication with a second liquid source, first and second intake liquid flow paths for passage of fluid from the intake ports to the pump chambers, and first and second discharge liquid passageways. A third discharge liquid passageway is defined at least in part by the dispenser body. The third discharge liquid passageway includes a mixing chamber and a spinner chamber downstream of the mixing chamber. The first and second discharge liquid passageways are configured for passage of liquid from the first and second pump chambers to the mixing chamber. The nozzle includes a nozzle orifice in fluid communication with the spinner chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Continental Sprayers International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Martin S. Laffey
  • Patent number: 5887763
    Abstract: A manually operated reciprocating fluid pump is configured to be secured to a neck of a bottle. The neck of the bottle comprises a circumferential rim having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface defines a mouth of the bottle. The fluid pump comprises a dispenser body, a closure cap, and a seal assembly. The dispenser body has a pump mechanism, a discharge port, and a discharge liquid flow path providing fluid communication between the pump mechanism and discharge port. The closure cap is connected to the dispenser body and is configured for closing the mouth of the bottle. The closure cap comprises a skirt configured for attachment to the neck of the bottle. The seal assembly comprises a circumferential outer rim seal and a circumferential inner rim seal spaced radially inward of the outer rim seal. The outer rim seal is shaped and sized to engage the outer surface of the rim of the bottle when the skirt is attached to the neck of the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Continental Sprayers International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Foster
  • Patent number: 5884845
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Continental Sprayers International, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5848733
    Abstract: A child-resistant liquid dispenser such as a trigger sprayer. The dispenser comprises a dispenser body, a nozzle, and a locking mechanism. The dispenser body has a nozzle receiving end and a discharge passage configured for discharging liquid through the nozzle receiving end. The-nozzle has a nozzle opening therein and is connected to the nozzle receiving end of the dispenser body. The nozzle is rotatable relative to the dispenser body about a nozzle axis X between open and closed positions. The nozzle and dispenser body are configured such that the nozzle opening is in fluid communication with the discharge passage of the dispenser body when the nozzle is in its open position to permit fluid to flow from the discharge passage and through the nozzle opening. They are further configured such that fluid communication between the nozzle opening and discharge passage is blocked when the nozzle is in its closed position to prevent fluid flow from the discharge passage and through the nozzle opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: Continental Sprayers International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Bert D. Heinzelman, Donald R. Lamond, William Fiebel
  • Patent number: 5845820
    Abstract: In a cap and container closure, the cap is integrally formed with a trigger sprayer housing and the cap and container have a bayonet-type closure that attaches the cap to the container by pressing the cap downwardly on the container without turning, or by no more than a quarter turn of the cap relative to the container, and the cap also has upper and lower lugs that engage against the top and bottom surfaces of ridges on the container neck to hold the cap securely on the container neck and prevent any rocking movement of the cap on the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Continental Sprayers International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Foster
  • Patent number: 5826756
    Abstract: A manually operated liquid dispenser having two telescoping sleeves shielding the dispenser fluid passageways from dilution and/or contamination of the fluid being dispensed by a fluid splashed on the exterior of the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Continental Sprayers International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Foster
  • Patent number: 5823395
    Abstract: A child-resistant liquid dispenser, such as a trigger sprayer, includes a dispenser body, a pump mechanism having a pump piston, and a trigger connected to the pump piston so that movement of the trigger effectuates movement of the pump piston. The pump mechanism is configured to draw liquid into an intake port of the dispenser body and discharge it through a discharge port upon reciprocating movement of the pump piston. The child-resistant liquid dispenser also includes a first locking mechanism which is engageable with the pump piston in a manner to prevent movement of the pump piston when in a locked position. The first locking mechanism is configured to permit normal movement of the pump piston when in an unlocked position. The child-resistant liquid dispenser further includes a second locking mechanism. The second locking mechanism is configured to releasably engage the first locking mechanism in a manner to releasably retain the first locking mechanism in its locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Continental Sprayers International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Bert D. Heinzelman, Donald R. Lamond, William Fiebel
  • Patent number: 5816503
    Abstract: The invention is particularly directed to a trigger sprayer having structure for foaming a dispensed liquid where the structure is adapted for adjustments to vary the foam pattern of the dispensed liquid to obtain an optimum foam pattern for any particular liquid, and to the incorporation of a device integral with the sprayer nozzle housing for sealing the opening of a foam dispensing passage of the foamer trigger sprayer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Continental Sprayers International, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip L. Nelson