Patents Assigned to The AFA Corporation
  • Patent number: 4527594
    Abstract: The check valve is used to control the flow of fluid through a cylindrical passageway having a cylindrical wall surface and comprises an elongate umbrella valve member having a frusto-conical shaped skirt extending radially outwardly and axially of the valve member. The skirt is positioned to extend in the downstream direction of the flow of fluid through the passageway and in frictional, sealing engagement with the cylindrical wall surface of the passageway but yet being flexible enough to deflect inwardly under fluid pressure to allow fluid to flow downstream past the skirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1985
    Assignee: The AFA Corporation
    Inventor: Richard P. Garneau
  • Patent number: 4527741
    Abstract: The trigger sprayer comprises a body having an upper horizontally extending portion and a lower generally vertically extending portion. The body has a passageway therein extending from one end of the upper portion to the bottom of the lower portion. A cylindrical hollow and a cylindrical cavity extend into the lower body portion from the bottom thereof. An insert member is adapted to be received in the hollow and cavity, and has a passageway therethrough communicating with the body passageway, a cap coupled to the lower end of the insert member to a container of fluid. A check valve assembly is associated with the insert member to a container of fluid. A check valve assembly is associated with the insert member passageway and includes a lower check valve. At least one of the valves including an elongate valve member and a frusto-conical shaped skirt extending forwardly from the valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1985
    Assignee: The AFA Corporation
    Inventor: Richard P. Garneau
  • Patent number: 4516695
    Abstract: A child-resistant nozzle in combination with a hand operated sprayer is disclosed. The nozzle and the discharge end of the sprayer are movable into positions of relative adjustment including a liquid flow OFF position and one or more liquid flowing positions and have cooperating surfaces in which passages are formed, which passages when brought into register by relative adjustment of the nozzle and discharge end determine the mode of liquid discharge, i.e., SPRAY or STREAM. Locking members are also provided on the nozzle or discharge end which cooperate when engaged by other parts of the device to prevent sprayer operation by preventing relative adjustment of the nozzle and discharge end from said liquid flow OFF position without the application, simultaneously, of discrete, predetermined actions of the members and parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1985
    Assignee: The AFA Corporation
    Inventor: Richard P. Garneau
  • Patent number: 4310107
    Abstract: A manually operated dispensing device for a container holding a quantity of liquid is disclosed. The device has an internal chamber and a flexible, elastomeric diaphragm-like cover on at least one side of the chamber in a component retaining body. Associated inlet and outlet valves, which valves may be discrete or integral with the diaphragm and body, and conduits are included whereby liquid from a supply thereof in the container is drawn up into the chamber when the diaphragm is flexed under stress. The diaphragm is operatively associated with a trigger device, the actuation of which flexes and stresses the diaphragm in a direction to decrease the chamber volume. Liquid which is present in the chamber is displaced and pressurized in a pumping action, forcing the outlet or discharge valve to open and the inlet valve to close allowing the liquid to flow into the outlet or discharge conduit and be dispensed from the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1982
    Assignee: The AFA Corporation
    Inventor: Walter H. Wesner
  • Patent number: 4273290
    Abstract: A spring-loaded double-ended check valve assembly is provided for use in the outlet chamber of a dispenser for spraying liquids. The entire assembly, including both ends and the spring, is made in one-piece and is easily moldable from plastic material thus effecting ease of manufacture and assembly into the sprayer, reduced labor and material costs and affording the reliability of a unitary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1981
    Assignee: The AFA Corporation
    Inventor: David R. Quinn
  • Patent number: 4260082
    Abstract: A manually operated, hand-held rechargeable liquid dispensing container device having a non-pressurized, either refillable or non-refillable receptacle or reservoir, is disclosed. The device comprises a relatively reciprocating piston and cylinder defining a pressurizable chamber therebetween which can be charged with liquid from the receptacle or reservoir in the container. The piston or cylinder is reciprocated relative to the other by a charging system connected to either one which compresses a resilient means such as a spring while simultaneously drawing liquid into the chamber through a check valve at the entrance of the liquid chamber. When the chamber is charged with liquid, hydraulic pressure is exerted upon the liquid by the now compressed spring. An improved charging system permits the hydraulic pressure application to be delayed until the check valve closes, insuring a full charge in the pressurizing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1981
    Assignee: The AFA Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald A. Rooney, Richard E. Kresge, Jerry H. Miller
  • Patent number: 4260079
    Abstract: A manually operated dispensing device for a container holding a quantity of liquid is disclosed. The device has a variable volume pump chamber within a component retaining body. The chamber is defined by a bellows having a closed end or bottom, an open end or top, and corrugated sidewalls characterized by their resilience or elastic memory, and fabricated of any of the various thermoplastics. The bellows is associated with a movable member in the form of a trigger which when actuated compressively stresses the bellows in a direction significantly to reduce its length and the volume of the chamber therewithin. When the compression stress applied by the actuating member or trigger is relieved or removed, the bellows regains its original size and shape and returns the actuating member to its initial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1981
    Assignee: The AFA Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Cary, Walter H. Wesner
  • Patent number: 4234128
    Abstract: An adjustable nozzle assembly for a hand operated compression sprayer is disclosed. The nozzle is attached to the discharge end of the sprayer and is adjustable from an off position to two discharge positions, such as a spray position and a stream position. The nozzle and sprayer body have cooperating passages which, when brought into register by adjustment of the nozzle, determine the discharge mode (i.e., whether off, spray or stream).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1980
    Assignee: The AFA Corporation
    Inventors: David R. Quinn, Walter H. Wesner
  • Patent number: 4225061
    Abstract: A manually operated fluid dispensing device includes a first body component formed with a pump chamber and an upwardly opening cavity providing a valve housing that is closed by a second mating body component or cover having a projection that extends into the valve housing. A flat pliable valve element is clamped between said body components, said element being imperforate except for an opening through which said projection extends. A compressible bellows is associated with the pump chamber to form a variable volume pump chamber. The parts are all fabricated of thermoplastic materials and molding resins, the mating body components each being molded as a simple member of rigid plastic and including all passageways, grooves and ring seals required in the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1980
    Assignee: The AFA Corporation
    Inventors: William S. Blake, Walter H. Wesner
  • Patent number: 4219159
    Abstract: A very compact foam-generating element for use in conjunction with a trigger-actuated dispenser is characterized by its insensitivity to its manner of attachment to and adjustment on the dispenser and features a combination of foam forming means located upstream of an expansion chamber having a nozzle at its inlet and terminated downstream by screening means, the screening means, expansion chamber and nozzle cooperating to produce a tightly packed, fine textured foam of even consistency by extending the time of treatment of the semi prepared foam received from the foam forming means, the screening means meanwhile adding air and further breaking up the liquid. The foam forming means provides non-contact jetting of the liquid through an aspirating chamber into a foam forming chamber having a diameter or cross section that is substantially the same as that of the aspirating chamber. The diameter or cross section of the expansion chamber preferably is substantially larger than that of the foam forming chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1980
    Assignee: The AFA Corporation
    Inventor: Walter H. Wesner
  • Patent number: 4193509
    Abstract: A threaded closure for a standard threaded container is provided wherein the closure's removal torque retention qualities are improved by the provision of a portion or portions of its thread which have an increased thread depth and which bear upon the neck of the container and thus provide extra friction to retain the closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1980
    Assignee: The AFA Corporation
    Inventors: C. E. Lee Dunn, Jr., Carl A. Miller
  • Patent number: 4183449
    Abstract: A spray dispenser is presented which atomizes cosmetics, perfumes, and similar products to a state of fine spray throughout its entire spraying period. The pressure of the fluid product being sprayed is maintained by a spring loaded piston and a related valve which opens a passage to the spray outlet only after a predetermined spray pressure is reached and closes it when the pressure approaches a pressure insufficient to produce the fine spray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1980
    Assignee: The AFA Corporation
    Inventor: William S. Blake
  • Patent number: 4180174
    Abstract: A child-resistant threaded closure for containers is presented which includes a lower ring-like portion attached to the closure by retractable and extendible legs and having a matching thread. With the closure screwed in place on a container, the ring is pushed down by means of tabs to a position below the last thread on the container with the legs extended whereupon, when an attempt is made to unscrew the closure, the thread segment of the ring interferes with the last thread of the container and prevents its removal. For the closure to be removed, the ring is lifted up by finger pressure applied to the tabs until the legs are fully retracted and the threads match up with the others after which action the closure can be unscrewed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1979
    Assignee: The AFA Corporation
    Inventor: David R. Quinn
  • Patent number: 4168788
    Abstract: A dispenser body and a closure cap assembly for a container is presented which provides not only a closure for the container, except for communication with the dispenser, but also provides an air inlet operable upon the withdrawal or expulsion of the contents of the container so that air will be replenished therein to restore normal air pressure. The air inlet closes automatically when this has been accomplished to prevent leakage of the contents of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1979
    Assignee: The AFA Corporation
    Inventor: David R. Quinn
  • Patent number: 4072252
    Abstract: The problem of venting the interior of a liquid container utilizing an attached hand-operated, trigger sprayer of the piston or plunger pump type is solved by the provision of a vent passage in the housing of the pump which communicates with the container interior. The piston which is reciprocated in a bore or chamber in the housing has a seal means associated therewith and with the vent passage so that in operation in spraying the container is vented and vacuum development in the container is avoided. In a preferred embodiment said seal means is associated with an entrance or opening to the vent passage so as to provide a seal against liquid leakage from the container when the piston of the pump is in an at rest, non-pumping position and yet permits venting of the container when the piston is in a pumping position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1978
    Assignee: The AFA Corporation
    Inventors: Emile B. Steyns, Jerry H. Miller
  • Patent number: D243180
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1977
    Assignee: The AFA Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Benedict Federico, Walter Herbert Wesner, John Richard Cary
  • Patent number: D247302
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1978
    Assignee: The AFA Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Benedict Federico, Walter Herbert Wesner, John Richard Cary
  • Patent number: D257740
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1980
    Assignee: The AFA Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore J. Humphrey, II, Walter H. Wesner
  • Patent number: D285713
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1986
    Assignee: The AFA Corporation
    Inventor: Richard P. Garneau
  • Patent number: D346962
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: AFA Corporation
    Inventors: Emile B. Steijns, Wilhelmus J. J. Maas