Abstract: A powder dispenser includes a resilient container for storing a powder and a volume of air therein. The powder has properties which enable a portion of the volume of air to fluidize a portion of the powder when the resilient container is sufficiently deformed. The dispenser has a substantially rigid conduit connected to its discharge end. The conduit provides the only fluid communication between the inside of the container and an ambient outside environment. The dispenser also has a resilient flat member connected to the outer end of the conduit. The flat member has a slit that is normally closed such that the container is substantially sealed in a fluid-tight manner until the container is sufficiently deformed to generate a pressure in the volume of air. When a pressure differential exists that is greater than a threshold value, the pressure differential causes the slit to open to discharge a portion of the powder mixed with a portion of the volume of air.

Abstract: A nozzle for dispensing fluids with suspended solid particulates without experiencing permanent partial or total clogging is provided. The nozzle is made from a elastomeric material and has a dome-shaped tip. The dome-shaped tip has a slit that provides an elongated orifice which generates a fan-type spray pattern while allowing solid particulates to pass through the nozzle without permanent clogging. The slit is normally maintained closed at rest and provides precompression and shut-off functions. Several versions of the nozzle are described, such as a one-piece nozzle and a nozzle insert. Additionally, the nozzle can be attached to a manually actuated pump device and be used as a spray delivery system.

Abstract: A dispenser comprises an upper portion having an annular member depending therefrom and a bottom portion having a base and an upright post connected to the base. It also includes a flexible bag capable of containing fluid suspended from the upper portion and located inside the annular member. The flexible bag has a nozzle connected to it such that the flexible bag is closed except at the nozzle. The nozzle has a discharge orifice in fluid communication with the flexible bag. The upper portion telescopingly engages the bottom portion such that the upright post is located substantially aligned with the flexible bag. The upright post is sized to cause the flexible bag to invert when the upper portion and the bottom portion are pressed together. An openable closure closes the discharge orifice so that a fluid-containing flexible bag may be easily handled for replacement of the emptied flexible bag in the dispenser.

Abstract: A dispenser comprises an upper portion having an annular member depending therefrom and a bottom portion having a base and an upright post connected to the base. It also includes a flexible bag capable of containing fluid suspended from the upper portion and located inside the annular member. The flexible bag has a nozzle connected to it such that the flexible bag is closed except at the nozzle. The nozzle has a discharge orifice in fluid communication with the flexible bag. The upper portion telescopingly engages the bottom portion such that the upright post is located substantially aligned with the flexible bag. The upright post is sized to cause the flexible bag to invert when the upper portion and the bottom portion are pressed together. An openable closure closes the discharge orifice so that a fluid-containing flexible bag may be easily handled for replacement of the emptied flexible bag in the dispenser.

Abstract: An inverting bag co-dispenser for dispensing a plurality of fluids simultaneously but separately through, a spout and, with a predetermined discharge volume ratio for each fluid. An upper portion defining a housing has a spout connected thereto. The housing has an outer wall and a plurality of side-by-side annular members supported internally to the outer wall. A plurality of fluid containing flexible bags are connected to and supported in the upper portion, one each of the bags being located inside one each of the side-by-side annular members and in fluid communication with the spout. The bags have closed bottoms, perimeters slidably fitting inside the annular members, and a bag wall thickness. A bottom portion has a base and an outer wall extending upwardly therefrom. The bottom portion also has a plurality of upright posts connected to the base and located inside the outer wall.

Abstract: A liquid dispensing pump is provided with a supply container venting system and a shipping seal. The pump device includes an upper and lower housing which are axially movable relative to each other between open and closed shipping seal positions. The dispensing pump includes a collapsible pump chamber with at least one shipping seal functional element integral with the chamber. The pump includes actuation elements which cooperate to prevent pump actuation when the shipping seal is closed. The pump may also include a tamper evident device to prevent pump actuation prior to tamper evident tab removal. The chamber may also include an integral valve which has the valve member biased against the valve seat. A supply container venting system for the pump comprises a resilient annular flange angled downward from the bellows at the liquid entry end. The annular flange presses against an interior surface of the lower housing to seal a supply container vent opening against communication with ambient air and moisture.

Abstract: A collapsible pump chamber includes several functional elements of a pump device. For example, the collapsible pump chamber may be a bellows which includes a functional element of an outlet valve, a functional element of a biasing feature, and a functional element of a spin chamber. Consequently, a functional element of all of the downstream functions are incorporated into the bellows. This can significantly reduce costs; due to reduced tooling, and assembly, for example. Since it can be desirable to separate these functions (e.g., to achieve more consistent spray quality), a process is described for severing functions from the multiple function collapsible pump chamber during the assembly of the pump device.

Abstract: A collapsible pump chamber, e.g., a bellows, for use with a liquid dispensing pump device is provided. The collapsible pump chamber includes a collapsing side wall which defines an internal volumetric portion of the pump chamber. The collapsing side wall has a structure which collapses in a predetermined pattern as the pump device is actuated. For example, the predetermined pattern of collapse could result in an initially relatively small volumetric change in internal volume per given stroke length followed by an increased volumetric change in internal volume per given stroke length. Thus, the pump device would initially provide very good control over the amount of product is dispensed; giving precise control during a partial actuation. However, the same pump device would also be capable of delivering a large volume of product during a complete actuation.

Abstract: A collapsible pump chamber is provided which includes several functional elements of a pump device. For example, the collapsible pump chamber may be a bellows which includes a functional element of an outlet vane, a functional element of a biasing feature, and a functional element of a spin chamber. Consequently, a functional element of all of the downstream functions are incorporated into the bellows. This can significantly reduce costs; due to reduced tooling, and assembly, for example. Dunnage means is provided for occupying volume within the collapsible pump chamber to improve pump priming. The dunnage means may be free floating or associated with the inlet valve. A process for severing the functional element of the outlet valve, the functional element of the biasing feature, and the functional element of a spin chamber from the collapsible pump chamber during assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a manually operated dispensing system for dispensing a liquid product in atomized or foam form. More particularly, the present invention provides an improved manually operated pump to for use in such dispensing systems which incorporates at least one collapsible bellows as a pump chamber. The use of a bellows as the air chamber in an air/liquid pump mechanism allows the pressure/volume profile of the air supply to be tailored to supply the desired air/liquid ratio throughout the travel of the pump mechanism. The shape of the air bellows is preferably selected to provide an is initially large volume reduction in the air chamber as the bellows collapses to provide a rapid rise in air pressure available for dispensing. In a preferred embodiment, dual bellows are utilized (one for liquid, one for air) in a concentric arrangement to allow the pressure/volume profile for each to be tailored to achieve the desired spray or foam characteristics.