Abstract: There is disclosed a non-throttling, anti-leak, manually reciprocated, plunger pump for attachment to a consumer-type liquid dispensing container to provide drip-free dispensing of liquid therefrom. The pump has a hollow-stemmed skirted plunger which is reciprocable in a pump chamber to draw liquid through an inlet into the chamber from a container, and to discharge it from the chamber to atmosphere through the hollow stem of the plunger. A check valve is positioned in the chamber inlet to allow liquid to enter but prevent its return flow. A differential force-actuated control element is nested in the plunger, for reciprocation therewith but having capability for axial movement independently thereof. The control element includes valve means for blocking discharge through the plunger stem and the valve is normally biased to blocking position.

Abstract: A disposable squeezable dispenser employing a flexible container filled with a mixture of air and the liquid to be dispensed. The dispenser employes only two main parts (other than the container itself) plus a ball and dip tube. One of the main parts is a hollow pull top which cooperates with the other main part in a sealing operation which prevents leakage when the dispenser is not in use.

Abstract: Each of first and second shallow hollow cylinders has a closed end and an open end, said cylinders being interconnected at their open ends with the first cylinder being disposed concentrically within the second cylinder. Each cylinder is rotatable through a selected arc with respect to the other cylinder between open and closed positions, the cylinders having cooperating structures which define a channel in the outer surface of the first cylinder which forms a circular arc and which lies in a plane perpendicular to the axes of the cylinders. The first cylinder has first and second oppositely disposed openings extending through the cylinder wall and lying in the plane of the channel, the second cylinder having a third opening extending through the cylinder wall which when the cylinders are in the open position is in registration both with the first opening and the channel and when the cylinders are in the closed position is out of registration with the first opening and the channel.

Abstract: A dispensing system is disclosed for use with a liquid dispensing package that includes a container and a system for forcing liquid from the container. The dispensing system directs liquid forced from the container to a defined area such as the eye and comprises a selectively operable nozzle that is mounted with the container to be movable relative thereto between liquid-dispensing and closed positions. The nozzle has an outlet orifice from which liquid is dispensed. An overcap is mounted in fixed relation with the container and defines an opening with which the nozzle orifice is registered when in the liquid-dispensing position. A shield, which directs liquid from the nozzle to the defined area, has an inlet aperture, a coupling arrangement for mounting the shield on the overcap with the inlet aperture registered with the overcap opening, and an outlet aperture remote from the inlet aperture.

Abstract: A tip seal dispenser valve for a pressurized container of a viscous product comprises a valve body, mountable with the container, which includes a hollow valve conduit that defines an outlet orifice and is in fluid communication with the interior of the container. The valve body also includes a hollow actuator channel laterally displaced from the valve conduit. A valve core, formed with a sealing tip, is mounted for axial reciprocal movement in the conduit between a closed position with the tip blocking the outlet orifice and an open position with the tip withdrawn inwardly from the orifice. A fin arrangement guides the core for proper movement in the conduit so that the tip correctly seats in the outlet orifice when closed. The valve core is operated by an actuator button, mounted for axial reciprocal movement in the actuator channel, that is linked to the core so that movement of one causes movement of the other. Further, a seal is associated with the actuator button and channel to prevent leakage thereby.

Abstract: A water-based composition, which includes a water and carrier liquid insoluble powdered solid and is easily dispensed as a spray from a container without clogging the container components, is characterized by having at least 15 and as much as 50 percent powder by weight of the composition. The composition further includes from 20 to 70 percent of water by weight and from 25 to 50 percent of an anhydrous, hydrophobic carrier liquid by weight which may entirely or only in part be an aerosol propellant. An emulsifier is added to create a water-and-carrier liquid emulsion in which the powdered solid is dispersed.

Abstract: A method of making a product, which holds and dispenses a volatile substance, comprises the steps of advancing a backing material, a reservoir material and a third material, that is permeable to the volatile substance, from respective supplies into close proximity to each other with the reservoir material lying between the backing and permeable materials. The volatile substance is then supplied to the reservoir material to be absorbed thereby. The three materials are fused together in a pattern defining a closed loop periphery to seal the reservoir material between the backing and reservoir materials at the periphery and thereby form the product.

Abstract: A snap-lock device, for securing a dispensing mechanism to the mouth of a container which has an annular bead about the mouth periphery, comprises a bead embracing ring having an axially extending annular recess open at one end of its axial extent to receive the bead. An annular rib, formed with the ring adjacent the open margin of the recess, underlies at least a portion of the bead to prevent axial bead-ring disengagement. A retainer element, engageable on the ring when installed on the bead, exerts a radial force against the ring and holds the rib in underlying relation to the bead. The dispensing mechanism is mounted with one of the ring and element. A rabbeted interlocking arrangement between the ring and element prevents their relative disengagement so that the dispensing mechanism cannot be removed from the container. Therefore, the device can be used with pressurized barrier-type and aerosol containers.

Abstract: A device incorporated in an apparatus for automatically and periodically operating an aerosol container indicates when the container has been emptied and then stops operation of the container. The container operating apparatus includes a motor operatively linked to the container and a power supply for powering the motor. The stopping and indicating device comprises a timing circuit that includes a first time measuring network that produces motor actuating output pulses at a first periodic rate, each actuating pulse being of duration sufficient to cause the motor to operate the container. The timing circuit also includes a second time measuring network that produces non-actuating output pulses at a second periodic rate substantially greater than the first rate, each non-actuating pulse being of duration insufficient to cause the motor to operate the container.

Abstract: A finger-operable pump, adapted to be mounted on a hand-held container of liquid consumer product to provide an unpressurized dispenser package, includes a housing, that defines a pumping chamber, and a plunger telescopically received in the chamber for conventional pumping movement. A stem formed with the plunger projects outwardly of the housing. The pump further incorporates an inprovement in the form of an automatically operable seal arrangement for preventing leakage of liquid which comprises a conical valve seat formed about the mouth of a discharge passage through the plunger and stem and a valve element, having dome-shaped and conical portions, located in the pumping chamber to sealingly engage the valve seat. An actuator button is mounted on the outer end of the plunger stem and is linked, through an elongated connecting rod, to the valve element to move it out of engagement with the valve seat and then to reciprocate the plunger into the pumping chamber away from a home position.

Abstract: A cartridge, which forms part of a system for inducing air flow past a product capable of being vaporized, includes a hollow, apertured container and a support of strip material having a convoluted configuration mounted in the container. A quantity of the product is impregnated in the support of strip material. The container also houses a battery which has exposed terminals. The cartridge of the invention is used with an apparatus that has a housing defining a cartridge receiving cavity shaped and dimensioned to receive the cartridge container, a fan mounted in the housing to induce air flow through the cavity, and electrically powered motor for driving the fan and contacts electrically connected to the motor and located to contact the battery terminals when the cartridge is received in the cavity.

Abstract: A safety closure assembly is disclosed comprising an overcap rotatably mounted on and substantially enclosing the valve end of an aerosol container, having a valve actuating tab with a spray orifice through which the container contents are discharged when the tab is depressed. A keying element associated with the tab functions to prevent its depression under certain conditions. A collar member is provided for association with the overcap, the collar member being non-rotatably mountable on the valved end of the container and having a shelf forming a blocking position, a lock-out spring which is resiliently flexible in a direction parallel to the container axis, and an upstanding catch formed on the lock-out spring. The valve actuating tab is normally disabled from operating the valve by interference of its keying element with the free end of a C-shaped ring. The ring is supported by the collar and its free end is normally urged between the keying element and the blocking portion of the collar.

Abstract: A finger operated accumulator release pump, adapted to be mounted on a container to dispense liquid therefrom only after the liquid has been pressurized by a predetermined amount, comprises a housing which defines a pump chamber and an inlet to the pump chamber. A conventional check valve prevents return flow of liquid through this inlet. A plunger is telescopically received for reciprocal pumping action in the pump chamber, makes a sliding piston fit with it, and is provided with an outlet passage and a valve seat at the inlet end of the outlet passage. The pressure accumulating release feature of the pump is provided by cooperation of an outlet passage by-pass arrangement and a pressure actuated accumulator valve. The by-pass arrangement comprises a number of by-pass grooves which are disposed in a generally axial direction on the inner surface of the outlet passage at a location intermediate its ends.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for operating an aerosol container equipped at one end with a dispenser valve having a valve stem urged outwardly to a normally closed position away from a depressed open position. The apparatus, which actuates the dispenser valve, comprises a housing constructed to receive at least the valved end of the container. A lever is pivotably mounted in the housing and is operatively associated with the valve stem when the housing receives the valved end of the container. The lever is pivoted to depress the valve stem and open the dispenser valve by a drive assembly that includes a drive shaft rotatably mounted in the housing, a motor for rotating the drive shaft, and a flexible band having one end attached to the lever and an opposite end attached to the drive shaft to be wound thereon.

Abstract: An easily assembled, low cost, disposable pump is disclosed for use with household liquid product containers. The pump is designed to prevent leakage of the product regardless of container attitude and comprises hollow outer and inner cylinders, each having an end wall, the cylinders being nested in telescoped manner with their end walls in spaced adjacency to form an intake valve chamber and a superimposed product receiving and discharging pump chamber. Liquid inlet duct means is formed in the respective end walls of each cylinder for admission of fluid, and a plunger assembly including a hollow stem and a piston is slidably received in the inner cylinder for reciprocable pumping action therein. The hollow stem provides communication between the pumping face of the piston and atmosphere, via a check valve disposed in the stem. A second check valve is disposed in the valving chamber formed by the telescoped cylinders.