Trigger Sprayer With Child Resistant Indexing Nozzle

Abstract

An indexing nozzle assembly for a trigger sprayer has a manually rotatable cap mounted for rotation on a base of the nozzle assembly. Rotation of the cap relative to the base changes the nozzle assembly between an off condition where the nozzle assembly prevents liquid discharge from the trigger sprayer, and a combination of a spray condition, a stream condition, and/or a foam condition. The indexing nozzle assembly is provided with a child resistant feature in the form of a lock mechanism that prevents rotation of the nozzle cap relative to the nozzle base from the cap off condition position. The lock mechanism can be manually manipulated with one hand to disengage the lock mechanism, thereby permitting rotation of the nozzle cap from its off condition position relative to the base.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 11/369,351, which was filed on Mar. 7, 2006, and is currently pending.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to a hand-held and hand-operated liquid sprayer typically called a trigger sprayer. In particular, the present invention pertains to an indexing nozzle assembly for a trigger sprayer that has a manually rotatable cap mounted for rotation on a base of the nozzle assembly. Rotation of the cap relative to the base changes the nozzle assembly between an off condition where the nozzle assembly prevents liquid discharge from the trigger sprayer, and a combination of a spray condition where the nozzle assembly dispenses liquid in a spray pattern, a stream condition where the nozzle assembly dispenses liquid in a stream pattern, and/or a foam condition where the nozzle assembly dispenses the liquid as a foam. The indexing nozzle assembly is unique in that it is provided with a child resistant feature in the form of a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism prevents rotation of the nozzle cap relative to the nozzle base with the cap in the off condition position relative to the base. The lock mechanism includes a finger pad that is accessible on the trigger sprayer, with the remainder of the lock mechanism being shielded from view. The finger pad is depressed with one hand to disengage the lock mechanism, thereby permitting the rotation of the nozzle cap with the other hand from its off condition position relative to the base.

2. Description of the Related Art

Handheld and hand pumped liquid dispensers commonly known as trigger sprayers are used to dispense many household products and commercial cleaners. Trigger sprayers have been used to dispense household cleaning or cooking liquids and have been designed to selectively dispense the liquids in a spray, stream, or foaming discharge pattern. The trigger sprayer is typically connected to a plastic bottle that contains the liquid dispensed by the sprayer.

A typical trigger sprayer includes a sprayer housing that is connected to the neck of the bottle by either a threaded connection or a bayonet-type connection. The sprayer housing is formed with a pump chamber and a vent chamber, a liquid supply passage that communicates the pump chamber with a liquid inlet opening of the sprayer housing, and a liquid discharge passage that communicates the pump chamber with a liquid outlet opening of the sprayer housing. A dip tube is connected to the sprayer housing liquid inlet opening to communicate the pump chamber with the liquid contents of the bottle connected to the trigger sprayer.

A pump piston is mounted in the sprayer housing pump chamber for reciprocating movement between charge and discharge positions of the piston relative to the pump chamber. When the pump piston is moved to its charge position, the piston is retracted out of the pump chamber. This creates a vacuum in the pump chamber that draws liquid from the bottle, through the dip tube and into the pump chamber. When the pump piston is moved to its discharge position, the piston is moved into the pump chamber. This compresses the fluid in the pump chamber and pumps the fluid from the pump chamber, through the liquid discharge passage of the sprayer housing and out of the trigger sprayer through the nozzle assembly.

A spring is operatively connected between the pump piston and the sprayer housing. The spring biases the pump piston to the discharge position of the piston relative to the sprayer housing.

A vent piston is often provided with the pump piston and is mounted in the vent chamber. The vent piston moves with the pump piston between a vent closed position and a vent opened position in the vent chamber. In the vent opened position, the interior volume of the bottle attached to the trigger sprayer is vented through the vent chamber to the exterior environment of the trigger sprayer. In the vent closed position, the venting path of air through the vent chamber is closed, preventing leakage of liquid in the bottle through the venting flow path should the bottle and trigger sprayer be inverted or positioned on their sides.

A trigger is mounted on the sprayer housing for movement of the trigger relative to the trigger sprayer. The trigger is operatively connected to the pump piston to cause the reciprocating movement of the pump piston in the pump chamber in response to movement of the trigger. A user's hand squeezes the trigger toward the sprayer housing to move the trigger and move the pump piston toward the discharge position of the piston in the pump chamber. The spring between the pump piston and the sprayer housing pushes the piston back to the discharge position of the piston relative to the pump chamber when the user's squeezing force on the trigger is released.

Inlet and outlet check valves are assembled into the respective liquid supply passage and liquid discharge passage of the trigger sprayer. The check valves control the flow of liquid from the bottle interior volume through the liquid supply passage and into the pump chamber, and then from the pump chamber and through the liquid discharge passage to the nozzle assembly of the trigger sprayer.

A nozzle assembly is connected to the sprayer housing at the liquid outlet opening. The nozzle assembly usually includes a base that is assembled to the sprayer housing at the liquid outlet opening, and a cap that is mounted for rotation on the base. The base typically has a liquid swirl chamber and the cap contains the liquid discharge orifice of the nozzle assembly. In trigger sprayers having selectable discharge conditions for the liquid discharged by the trigger sprayer, the cap is rotatable between an off position where the liquid discharge from the trigger sprayer is prevented, and the combination of a spray position where the liquid discharge is in a spray pattern, a stream position where the liquid discharge is in a stream pattern, and/or a foam position where the discharge of liquid is converted to a foam. Depending on the type of trigger sprayer, the nozzle assembly could be movable between any combination of the off, spray, stream, and foam positions. However, most trigger sprayers have a nozzle assembly where the nozzle cap is positioned in an off position to prevent the unintended discharge of liquid from the trigger sprayer.

Manually oscillating the trigger on the trigger sprayer reciprocates the pump piston in the pump chamber which causes liquid to be drawn from the bottle through the dip tube and past the first check valve to the pump chamber. The liquid is then pumped from the pump chamber through the liquid discharge passage and past the second check valve to the liquid spinner and the liquid discharge orifice of the nozzle assembly. By rotating the nozzle assembly cap relative to the nozzle assembly base, the trigger sprayer can be changed between the off condition where liquid discharge is prevented, to a spray condition where the liquid discharge is as a spray, to a stream condition where the liquid discharge is as a stream, and/or to a foam condition where the liquid discharge is as a foam.

In the typical trigger sprayer described above, the nozzle assembly cap can be easily rotated away from its off position relative to the nozzle assembly base. With the nozzle cap moved from the off position, the liquid contents of the bottle attached to the trigger sprayer can be dispensed by manually manipulating the trigger on the sprayer housing. However, movement of the nozzle cap away from the off position also creates a condition where leakage of the liquid from the bottle through the trigger sprayer can occur if the trigger sprayer and bottle are positioned on their sides or inverted. This creates a dangerous situation where a child could get hold of and invert the trigger sprayer and bottle, where the leaked liquid contents of the bottle could be ingested by the child.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The trigger sprayer with the child resistant indexing nozzle assembly of the present invention overcomes disadvantages associated with prior art trigger sprayers by providing a child resistant feature on the nozzle assembly. The child resistant feature prevents the nozzle cap from being rotated relative to the nozzle base away from its closed position without first disengaging the child resistant feature. One hand of the user is needed to disengage the child resistant feature while the other hand of the user rotates the nozzle cap away from its closed position, thus making it difficult for a child to move the nozzle cap from its closed position.

The child resistant indexing nozzle assembly of the invention can be used on a variety of different types of trigger sprayers. As an illustrated example, the indexing nozzle assembly of the invention is described as being employed in a trigger sprayer having a construction that is similar to the constructions of prior art trigger sprayers.

The trigger sprayer of the invention has a sprayer housing construction that includes an integral cap that attaches to the neck of a separate bottle that contains the liquid to be dispensed by the trigger sprayer. A liquid inlet opening is provided on the sprayer housing inside the cap, and a liquid supply passage extends upwardly through the sprayer housing from the liquid inlet opening.

The sprayer housing also includes a pump chamber having a cylindrical pump chamber wall. The pump chamber communicates with the liquid supply passage.

A liquid discharge passage extends through a liquid discharge tube on the sprayer housing. The liquid discharge passage communicates the pump chamber with a liquid outlet opening on the sprayer housing.

A valve assembly is inserted into the liquid supply passage and separates the liquid supply passage from the liquid discharge passage. The valve assembly includes an input valve that controls the flow of liquid from the sprayer housing inlet opening to the pump chamber, and an output valve that controls the flow of liquid from the pump chamber and through the liquid discharge passage to the liquid outlet opening.

A valve plug assembly is assembled into the liquid supply passage of the sprayer housing. The valve plug assembly includes a valve seat that seats against the input valve, and a vent baffle that defines a vent air flow path through the pump chamber to the interior of the bottle attached to the trigger sprayer.

A piston assembly is mounted in the pump chamber for reciprocating movements between charge and discharge positions of the piston assembly relative to the sprayer housing. The piston assembly includes a pump piston and a vent piston, both mounted in the pump chamber. As the pump piston moves to its charge position, the vent piston is moved to a closed position where a venting air flow path through the pump chamber and through the venting air baffle is closed. As the pump piston is moved to its discharge position, the vent piston is moved to an open position in the pump chamber. This opens the venting air flow path through the pump chamber and the venting air baffle to the interior volume of the bottle attached to the trigger sprayer.

A manually operated trigger is mounted on the sprayer housing for pivoting movement. The trigger is engaged by the fingers of a user's hand holding the trigger sprayer. Squeezing the trigger causes the trigger to move toward the pump chamber, and releasing the squeezing force on the trigger allows the trigger to move away from the pump chamber.

A piston rod is operatively connected between the trigger and the pump piston. The piston rod has a length with opposite first and second ends, with the first end engaging with the trigger and the second end being connected to the pump piston.

A pair of springs are formed integrally with the piston rod and a circular collar or ring. The pair of springs each have a length with opposite proximal and distal ends. The length of each spring is bent in an inverted U-shaped configuration. The proximal end of each spring is connected to the piston rod at the piston rod first end. From the proximal ends of the springs, the springs extend away from the piston rod and bend in an inverted U-shaped bend over the exterior of the pump chamber wall. The spring lengths end at distal ends of the springs that are connected integrally with the circular collar or ring. The ring is attached around a forward end of the pump chamber wall outside the pump chamber. The ring thereby connects the spring distal ends to the sprayer housing.

The indexing nozzle assembly of the invention is mounted to the trigger sprayer housing at the outlet opening. The nozzle assembly is basically comprised of a nozzle cap and a nozzle base having a lock mechanism. The nozzle cap is mounted to the nozzle base for rotation of the cap on the base about an axis of rotation. The lock mechanism is movable toward and away from the axis of rotation between a locked position of the mechanism relative to the base and an unlocked position of the mechanism relative to the base.

The nozzle base has a liquid passage or liquid flow path that communicates with the outlet opening and the liquid discharge passage of the sprayer housing. A liquid spinner and swirl chamber are provided on the base in the liquid flow path.

The nozzle cap is mounted to the nozzle base for rotation of the cap about the axis of rotation. The axis of rotation is coaxial with the liquid spinner on the base. A liquid discharge orifice passes through the nozzle cap. The orifice has a center axis that is also coaxial with the axis of rotation. The nozzle cap has a side wall with four sections that surround the liquid discharge orifice. In the preferred embodiment, there is exterior indicia on each section that corresponds to an off position, a spray position, a stream position, and a foam position of the nozzle cap on the base. A notch is provided in an interior surface of the nozzle cap side wall section that is opposite the “off” indicia on the exterior surface of the section. The notch aligns with the lock mechanism on the nozzle base when the nozzle cap is in the off position relative to the base.

The lock mechanism includes a resilient spring that is connected integrally with the nozzle base. The spring extends from the nozzle base toward the nozzle cap. A lock tab is positioned on the distal end of the spring to engage in the nozzle cap notch when the nozzle cap is in the off position relative to the nozzle base. A finger pad projects from the spring between the nozzle base and the nozzle cap. The finger pad is accessible from the exterior of the trigger sprayer. Depressing the finger pad causes the lock tab to move toward the axis of rotation of the nozzle cap and out of the notch in the nozzle cap interior. This allows the nozzle cap to be rotated relative to the nozzle base. With the nozzle cap in the off position relative to the nozzle base, releasing the finger pad allows the resilience of the spring to move the lock tab back into the notch in the nozzle cap interior. The engagement of the lock tab in the nozzle cap lock prevents the nozzle cap from being rotated from the first position.

Thus, the child resistant indexing nozzle assembly of the invention provides a child resistant feature that requires the use of two hands to move the nozzle cap away from the off position of the cap relative to the nozzle base. The finger pad on the lock mechanism must first be depressed by one hand of the user before the nozzle cap can be rotated away from the off position by the other hand of the user. The required two-hand operation of the indexing nozzle assembly is difficult for a child to operate, preventing a child from rotating the nozzle cap away from the off position. Because a majority of the lock mechanism construction is shielded from view by either the nozzle cap or the trigger sprayer shroud, the lock mechanism does not detract from the aesthetic appearance of the trigger sprayer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

Further features of the invention are set forth in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and in the drawing figures wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side sectioned view of the trigger sprayer of the invention with the nozzle cap in the off position relative to the nozzle base and the trigger sprayer housing;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the disassembled component parts of the trigger sprayer;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the child resistant indexing nozzle assembly removed from the trigger sprayer;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but with the nozzle cap disassembled from the nozzle base; and,

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the nozzle cap and nozzle base of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As stated earlier, the trigger sprayer of the present invention is provided with an indexing nozzle assembly having a novel child resistant feature that can be employed on various different types of triggers sprayers and on various different types of indexing nozzle assemblies. The unique features of the indexing nozzle assembly, and in particular the child resistant feature, can be incorporated into a variety of different types of handheld and hand-operated trigger sprayers having a variety of different types of indexing nozzle assemblies. For example, the child resistant feature could be used with an indexing nozzle assembly that is changed between an off condition, a spray condition, a stream condition and a foam condition. Because the operation of the indexing nozzle assembly can provide a variety of different liquid discharge conditions and does not require any particular trigger sprayer construction, the trigger sprayer and the indexing nozzle assembly employing the novel child resistant feature of the invention are described only generally herein. It should be understood that although the component parts of the trigger sprayer are shown in the drawing figures and are described as having a certain construction herein, other equivalent constructions of the component parts are known. These other equivalent constructions of trigger sprayer component parts are equally well suited for use with the novel child resistant feature of the invention to be described.

The trigger sprayer includes a sprayer housing 12 that is formed integrally with a connector cap 14. The connector cap 14 removably attaches the trigger sprayer to the neck of a bottle containing the liquid to be dispensed by the trigger sprayer. The connector cap 14 shown in the drawing figures has a bayonet-type connector on its interior. Other types of equivalent connectors may be employed in attaching the trigger sprayer to a bottle. A liquid inlet opening 16 is provided on the sprayer housing 12 in the interior of the connector cap 14. The inlet opening 16 provides access to a liquid supply passage 18 that extends upwardly through a cylindrical liquid column 22 formed in the sprayer housing 12. The column 22 has a center axis 24 that is also the center axis of the liquid supply passage 18. An air vent opening 26 is also provided on the sprayer housing 12 in the interior of the connector cap 14. A cylindrical sealing rim 28 projects outwardly from the connector cap interior and extends around the liquid inlet opening 16 and the vent opening 26. The rim 28 engages inside the neck of a bottle connected to the trigger sprayer to seal the connection.

The sprayer housing includes a pump chamber 32 contained inside a cylindrical pump chamber wall 34 on the sprayer housing 12. The pump chamber cylindrical wall 34 has a center axis 36 that is perpendicular to the liquid supply passage center axis 24. The interior surface of the pump chamber wall 34 has a smaller interior diameter section adjacent a rear wall 38 of the pump chamber, and a larger interior diameter section adjacent an end opening 42 of the pump chamber. The smaller interior diameter portion of the pump chamber 32 functions as the liquid pump chamber, and the larger interior diameter portion of the pump chamber 32 functions as a portion of a venting air flow path through the sprayer housing 12. The vent opening 26 in the sprayer housing connector cap 14 communicates the interior of the larger interior diameter portion of the pump chamber 32 with a bottle connected to the trigger sprayer. A pair of openings 46, 48 pass through the pump chamber rear wall 38 and communicate the interior of the pump chamber with the liquid supply passage 18. The first of the openings 46 is the liquid input opening to the pump chamber 32, and the second of the openings 48 is the liquid output opening from the pump chamber.

A liquid discharge tube 54 is also formed on the sprayer housing 12. The liquid discharge tube is cylindrical and has a center axis 56 that is parallel with the pump chamber center axis 36. The liquid discharge tube 54 defines the liquid discharge passage 58 of the sprayer housing. One end of the liquid discharge passage 58 communicates with the liquid supply passage 18 in the liquid column 22, and the opposite end of the liquid discharge passage 58 exits the sprayer housing 12 through a liquid outlet opening 62 on the sprayer housing.

The sprayer housing 12 is also formed with a pair of exterior side walls or side panels 64 that extend over opposite sides of the pump chamber wall 34 and over opposite sides of the discharge tube 54. The side walls 64 extend over the pump chamber wall 34 in the area of the pump chamber rear wall 38, but do not extend in the forward direction the full extent of the pump chamber wall 34 to the end opening 42. The side walls 64 are spaced outwardly from the pump chamber wall 34 and the discharge tube 54 forming voids 66 between the side wall 64 and the pump chamber wall 34 and the discharge tube 54. The side walls 64 have lengths on the opposite sides of the liquid discharge tube 54 that extend substantially the entire length of the discharge tube. Rear walls 68 of the sprayer housing 12 extend outwardly from opposite sides of the liquid column 22 and connect to the rearward edges of the side walls 64.

A valve assembly comprising an intermediate plug 72, a resilient sleeve valve 74 and a resilient disk valve 76 is assembled into the liquid supply passage 18. The valve assembly is inserted through the liquid inlet opening 16 and the valve assembly plug 72 seats tightly in the liquid supply passage 18 between the pump chamber input opening 46 and the pump chamber output opening 48. Thus, the plug 72 separates the liquid inlet opening 46 into the pump chamber 32 from the liquid outlet opening 48 from the pump chamber 32. The disk valve 76 is positioned in the liquid supply passage 18 to control the flow of liquid from the liquid inlet opening 16 into the pump chamber 32, and to prevent the reverse flow of liquid. The sleeve valve 74 is positioned to control the flow of liquid from the pump chamber 32 and through the liquid discharge passage 58 and the liquid outlet opening 62, and to prevent the reverse flow of liquid.

A valve plug assembly comprising a valve seat 78, a dip tube connector 82, and an air vent baffle 84 is assembled into the liquid inlet opening 16 inside the connector cap 14. The valve seat 78 is cylindrical and seats against the outer perimeter of the valve assembly disk valve 76. A hollow interior bore of the valve seat 78 allows liquid to flow through the bore and unseat the disk valve 76 from the seat 78 as the liquid flows from the inlet opening 16 to the pump chamber 32. The periphery of the disk valve 76 seats against the valve seat 78 to prevent the reverse flow of liquid. The dip tube connector 82 is a cylindrical connector at the center of the plug assembly that connects to a separate dip tube (not shown). The valve plug assembly positions the dip tube connector 82 so that it is centered in the connector cap 14 of the sprayer housing. The air vent baffle 84 covers over but is spaced from the vent opening 26 in the connector cap 14. The baffle 84 has a baffle opening 86 that is not aligned with the vent opening 26, but communicates with the vent opening through the spacing between the air vent baffle 84 and the interior surface of the connector cap 14. This allows air to pass through the vent opening 26 and through the baffle spacing and the baffle opening 86 to vent the interior of the bottle connected to the trigger sprayer to the exterior environment of the sprayer. Because the vent opening 26 and baffle opening 86 are not directly aligned, the air vent baffle 84 prevents liquid in the bottle from inadvertently passing through the baffle opening 86, the baffle spacing and the vent opening 26 to the exterior of the trigger sprayer should the trigger sprayer and bottle be inverted or positioned on their sides.

A piston assembly comprising a liquid pump piston 102 and a vent piston 104 is mounted in the pump chamber 32 for reciprocating movement along the pump chamber axis 36. The pump piston 102 reciprocates between a charge position and a discharge position in the pump chamber 32. In the charge position, the pump piston 102 moves in a forward direction away from the pump chamber rear wall 38. This expands the interior of the pump chamber creating a vacuum in the chamber that draws liquid into the pump chamber, as is conventional. In the discharge position, the pump piston 102 moves in an opposite rearward direction into the pump chamber toward the pump chamber rear wall 38. This compresses the liquid drawn into the pump chamber 32 and forces the liquid through the output opening 48, past the sleeve valve 74 and through the liquid discharge passage 58 and the liquid outlet opening 62. As the pump piston 102 reciprocates in the pump chamber 32 between the charge and discharge positions, the vent piston 104 reciprocates between a vent closed position where the vent piston 102 engages against the interior surface of the pump chamber wall 34, and a vent open position where the vent piston 104 is spaced inwardly from the interior of the pump chamber wall 34. In the vent open position of the vent piston 104, air from the exterior environment of the sprayer can pass through the pump chamber opening 42, past the vent piston 104 to the vent opening 26, and then through the spacing between the baffle 84 and the connector cap 14, through the vent baffle opening 86 and to the interior of the bottle connected to the trigger sprayer.

A manually operated trigger 112 is mounted on the sprayer housing 12 for movement of the trigger relative to the sprayer housing. The trigger 112 has a pair of pivot posts 114 that project from opposite sides of the trigger and mount the trigger to the sprayer housing 12 for pivoting movement. A pair of abutments 116 project outwardly from the pivot posts 114 and limit the pivoting movement of the trigger 112 toward the sprayer housing 12. The construction of the trigger includes a finger engagement surface that is engaged by the fingers of a user's hand. Squeezing the trigger causes the trigger to pivot rearwardly toward the pump chamber 32, and releasing the squeezing force on the trigger allows the trigger to pivot forwardly away from the pump chamber.

A piston rod 122 that is operatively connected between the trigger 112 and the pump piston 102 and vent piston 104. The piston rod 122 has a length with a annular collar or ring 124 at one end of the rod length. The ring 124 is assembled to the liquid pump piston 102 and the vent pump piton 104 of the piston assembly. The opposite end 126 of the piston rod 122 engages with and is operatively connected to the trigger 112.

A pair of springs 132 are formed integrally with the piston rod 122. The pair of springs 132 each have a narrow, elongate length that extends between opposite proximal 134 and distal 136 ends of the springs. The intermediate portions 138 of the springs between the proximal ends 134 and distal ends 136 have the same bent or inverted U-shaped configurations. The spring proximal ends 134 are connected to the piston rod 122 at the first end or forward end 126 of the piston rod. From the proximal ends 134, the lengths of the springs angle upwardly away from the piston rod 22 and the pump chamber center axis 36 and then extend through the intermediate portions 138 of the springs. As the lengths of the springs extend through their U-shaped intermediate portions 138, the springs extend along opposite sides of the liquid discharge tube 154 and over the pump chamber wall 34. The springs then extend downwardly toward the pump chamber center axis 36 as the springs extend to their distal ends 136. The spring distal ends 136 are connected integrally to a spring ring 140. The ring 140 is attached around the pump chamber 32 at the end opening 42 and thereby connects the spring distal ends 136 to the sprayer housing 12.

The inverted, U-shaped configurations of the springs 132 bias the piston rod 122 and the connected pump piston 102 and vent piston 104 outwardly away from the pump chamber rear wall 38. This biases the pump piston 102 toward its charge position relative to the pump chamber 32 and the sprayer housing 12. By manually squeezing the trigger 112, the spring proximal ends 134 move toward the spring distal ends 136, narrowing the U-shaped bend in the intermediate portions 138 of the springs. When the squeezing force on the trigger 112 is removed, the resiliency of the springs pushes the trigger 112 away from the pump chamber rear wall 38 and moves the pump piston 102 back to its charge position relative to the pump chamber 32.

A shroud 142 is attached over the exterior of the sprayer housing 12. The typical shroud 142 covers over the top, opposite sides and rear of the sprayer housing 12, giving the trigger sprayer an aesthetically pleasing appearance. The front of the shroud 142 is left open where the liquid outlet opening 62 and trigger 112 are accessible. As seen in FIG. 1, a forward edge portion 144 of the shroud is positioned adjacent the liquid outlet opening 62. This forward portion 144 of the shroud extends over the liquid discharge passage 58.

The child resistant indexing nozzle assembly 152 of the present invention is basically comprised of a nozzle base 154 and a nozzle cap 156. Using only these two component parts of the nozzle assembly 152, the assembly not only provides the ability to change the discharge condition of the liquid dispensed from the trigger sprayer, but also provides a child resistant feature to the nozzle assembly. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the nozzle base 154 is shown as a separate component part from the sprayer housing 12. In alternate embodiments of the invention, the nozzle base 154 could be an integral part of the sprayer housing 12, with the nozzle base 154 being integrally connected in communication with the liquid discharge tube 54.

The nozzle base 154 is constructed with a liquid inlet tube 158 at an upstream end of the liquid flow path through the base. The inlet tube 158 is dimensioned so that an interior surface 162 of the tube is received in a tight friction fit over the liquid discharge tube 54 of the sprayer housing, communicating the liquid outlet opening 62 with the flow path through the base 154. The interior surface 162 of the inlet tube 158 defines a portion of the liquid flow path through the nozzle base 154. The opposite downstream end of the inlet tube 158 merges into a center wall 164 of the base. At least one wall opening 166 extends through the center wall and communicates the inlet tube 158 with the remainder of the liquid flow path through the nozzle base 154.

An attachment flange 168 projects outwardly from the nozzle base center wall 164 from the same side of the wall as the inlet tube 158. The attachment flange 168 is spaced radially outwardly from the inlet tube 158 as shown in FIG. 1. A flange opening 172 passes through the attachment flange 168. The flange opening 172 is positioned to receive a projection 174 on the sprayer housing 12 as the nozzle base inlet tube 158 is positioned over the liquid discharge tube 54. The engagement of the projection 174 in the flange opening 172 securely holds the nozzle base 154 on the sprayer housing 12.

A notch 178 is formed into the top of the nozzle base center wall 164 as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2. The notch 178 is centered in the top edge of the center wall 164 relative to the inlet tube 158.

A liquid spinner shaft 182 projects in the downstream direction from the opposite side of the nozzle base center wall 164 from the inlet tube 158. The spinner shaft 182 is constructed in the conventional manner of indexing nozzle assemblies. The spinner shaft 182 is shown in the drawing figures as having a swirl chamber 184 at the distal end of the shaft. It should be understood that the construction of the spinner shaft 182 and the swirl chamber 184 at the shaft distal end will change depending on the desired liquid discharge pattern of the indexing nozzle assembly.

A cylindrical wall 186 projects in the downstream direction from the same side of the nozzle base center wall 164 as the spinner shaft 182. The cylindrical wall 186 completely surrounds the spinner shaft 182 and is spaced radially outwardly from the spinner shaft. The spacing between the spinner shaft 182 and the wall 186 defines a portion of the liquid flow path through the nozzle base 154.

The child resistant feature of the present invention is provided in the form of a lock mechanism that is an integral part of the nozzle base 154. The lock mechanism includes an elongate spring 196 that is an integral extension of the nozzle base attachment flange 168. The length of the spring 196 gives the spring a resilience that enables it to be bent inwardly toward the center axis 56 of the liquid discharge tube 54 by exerting a force on the spring. The resilience of the spring allows the spring to return to its at-rest position relative to the sprayer housing 12 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 when the external force on the spring is removed. The length of the spring 196 extends parallel to the center axis 56 of the liquid discharge passage, through the notch 178 formed in the nozzle base center wall 164 to a lock tab 198 at a distal end of the spring 196. As shown in the drawing figures, the spring 196 and lock tab 198 have a general narrow rectangular configuration that projects or is cantilevered from the nozzle base attachment flange 168. A finger pad 202 projects outwardly from between the spring length 196 and the lock tab 198. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the finger pad 202 projects outwardly from the spring 196 and lock tab 198 to a position where it is accessible from outside the forward edge portion 144 of the shroud 142. Thus, with the forward edge portion 144 of the shroud covering over the spring bar 196, the finger pad 202 is still accessible from the exterior of the trigger sprayer to a user of the trigger sprayer.

The nozzle cap 156 has an exterior configuration with a general cube shape defined by a front end wall 204 and four side walls 206. The four cap side walls 206 have indicia that indicate the different conditions of the nozzle assembly discharge when the cap is rotated to different positions on the nozzle base 154. One of the cap side walls is provided with an “off” indicia. Another of the cap side walls is provided with a “spray” indicia. The indicia are shown in FIG. 2, and are examples of the indicia typically used on nozzle assemblies. The nozzle cap end wall 204 has a cylindrical discharge orifice 208 that passes through the end wall. The orifice 208 has a center axis 212 that defines an axis of rotation of the nozzle cap 156 on the nozzle base 154. As is conventional, the orifice 208 communicates the exterior environment of the trigger sprayer with the swirl chamber 184 in the distal end of the spinner shaft 182.

A coupling cylinder 214 is provided in the interior of the nozzle cap 156. The coupling cylinder 214 engages over the exterior surface of the nozzle base cylindrical wall 186, thereby coupling the nozzle cap 156 for rotation on the nozzle base 154. The nozzle cap 156 also has a sealing cylinder 216 that engages in sliding, sealing contact over the interior surface of the nozzle base cylindrical wall 186.

The nozzle cap 156 has been described only generally above. It should be understood that the nozzle cap 156 is only one example of a cap that may be used with the child resistant feature of the invention. The nozzle cap 156 differs from prior art nozzle caps in that it is provided with the child resistant feature of the invention.

The child resistant feature of the invention includes a notch 222 formed on an interior surface of one of the nozzle cap side walls 206. The notch 222 is formed on the interior surface of the side wall 206 having the “off” indicia. This side wall is positioned at the top of the nozzle cap 156 when the nozzle cap is moved to its off condition position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Referring to FIG. 5, the notch 122 is formed by a pair of opposing lock surfaces 224. The spacing between the lock surfaces 224 that forms the notch 222 is dimensioned to receive the lock tab 198 of the lock mechanism. In the position of the nozzle cap 156 relative to the shroud 142 where the “off” indicia is positioned adjacent the forward edge portion 144 of the shroud, the construction of the nozzle cap 156 prevents the flow of liquid through the nozzle base 154 and thereby prevents liquid discharge from the trigger sprayer. In addition, in this position of the nozzle cap 156 relative to the lock mechanism, the lock tab 198 engages in the notch 222 between the lock surfaces 224, preventing the nozzle cap 156 from being rotated on the nozzle base 154. To discharge liquid from the trigger sprayer, the nozzle cap 156 must be rotated away from the position of the cap shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. This requires disengaging the child resistant feature of the invention.

To disengage the child resistant feature of the indexing nozzle assembly, the user of the trigger sprayer must first engage the finger pad 202 with the finger of one hand and press the finger pad in the direction toward the center axis 56 of the liquid discharge tube 152 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. This causes the lock tab 198 to move out of the notch 222 formed by the opposing lock surfaces 224 of the nozzle cap 156. With the lock tab 198 moved out of the nozzle cap notch 222, the user of the trigger sprayer can now rotate the nozzle cap 156 away from its off condition position to any of the other positions of the nozzle cap relative to the nozzle base 154 where the cap permits the discharge of liquid through the indexing nozzle assembly. When the use of the trigger sprayer is complete, the user then rotates the nozzle cap 156 to the off condition position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. This will cause one of the two cam surfaces 226 adjacent the lock surfaces 224 of the nozzle cap 156 to cam over the lock tab, deflecting the spring 196 toward the liquid discharge tube 54 of the trigger sprayer. This allows the lock tab 198 to move back into the notch 22 formed by the nozzle cap lock surfaces 224. The resilience of the spring 196 moves the lock tab 198 back into the notch 222 when the lock tab is aligned with the notch. This again locks the nozzle cap 156 to the nozzle base 154 preventing rotation of the cap relative to the base, and preventing liquid discharge through the indexing nozzle assembly.

Thus, the indexing nozzle assembly provides a lock mechanism that must be disengaged by using two hands, thereby providing a child resistant feature to the indexing nozzle assembly of the invention.

Although the trigger sprayer of the invention has been described above by reference to a specific embodiment, it should be understood that modifications and variations could be made to the trigger sprayer without departing from the intended scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A manually operated trigger sprayer comprising:

a nozzle base on the trigger sprayer having a liquid flow path through the nozzle base that directs liquid from the trigger sprayer on operation of the trigger sprayer;

a nozzle cap mounted on the nozzle base for rotation of the nozzle cap between a first position and a second position of the nozzle cap relative to the nozzle base, the nozzle cap having an orifice that does not communicate with the nozzle base liquid flow path in the first position of the nozzle cap and does communicate with the nozzle base liquid flow path in the second position of the nozzle cap, the orifice having a center axis that defines mutually perpendicular axial and radial directions relative to the nozzle cap, the nozzle cap having a pair of opposing surfaces defining a notch between the pair of opposing surfaces; and,

a resilient spring having an elongate length extending axially from the nozzle base to a lock tab on a distal end of the spring from the nozzle base, the spring being in an at-rest position when no external force acts on the spring, the lock tab being positioned in the nozzle cap notch preventing rotation of the nozzle cap when the nozzle cap is in the first position and the spring is in the at-rest position, and the spring being bendable toward the orifice center axis in response to a radially directed external force acting on the spring to move the lock tab radially out of the notch and enable rotation of the nozzle cap from the first position to the second position.

2. The trigger sprayer of claim 1, further comprising:

the spring having a resilience that biases the spring to the at-rest position when no external force is acting on the spring.

3. The trigger sprayer of claim 2, further comprising:

a finger pad on the spring projecting radially from between the spring length and the lock tab.

4. The trigger sprayer of claim 2, further comprising:

a finger pad on the spring projecting radially from a side of the spring that is opposite the orifice center axis.

5. The trigger sprayer of claim 2, further comprising:

the spring length being an integral extension from the nozzle base.

6. The trigger sprayer of claim 1, further comprising:

a sprayer housing containing a pump chamber and a liquid discharge tube communicating with the pump chamber; and,

the nozzle base being separate from the sprayer housing, the nozzle base having a liquid inlet tube that is assembled to the liquid discharge tube of the sprayer housing.

7. The trigger sprayer of claim 1, further comprising:

a shroud on the trigger sprayer, the shroud having a forward edge portion that covers over the spring length.

8. The trigger sprayer of claim 7, further comprising:

a finger pad on the spring projecting from the spring between the nozzle cap and the shroud forward edge portion.

9. A manually operated trigger sprayer comprising:

a sprayer housing containing a pump chamber and a liquid discharge passage communicating with the pump chamber, the liquid discharge passage having a center axis that defines mutually perpendicular axial and radial directions relative to the sprayer housing;

a nozzle base on the sprayer housing, the nozzle base having a liquid flow path through the nozzle base that communicates with the liquid discharge passage;

a nozzle cap mounted on the nozzle base for rotation of the nozzle cap between a first position and a second position of the nozzle cap relative to the nozzle base, the nozzle cap having an orifice that does not communicate with the nozzle base liquid flow path in the first position of the nozzle cap and does communicate with the nozzle base liquid flow path in the second position of the nozzle cap, the orifice having a center axis that is parallel with the liquid discharge passage center axis, the nozzle cap having a pair of opposing surfaces that define a notch in the nozzle cap; and,

a resilient spring extending from the nozzle base, the spring having an elongate length that extends along the axial direction of the liquid discharge passage center axis to a lock tab on a distal end of the spring, the spring being in an at-rest position of the spring when no external force acts on the spring and where the lock tab is positioned in the nozzle cap notch with the nozzle cap in the first position where the lock tab prevents the nozzle cap from being moved from the first position, and the spring being movable from the at-rest position by an external force acting of the spring where the lock tab is moved out of the nozzle cap notch enabling the nozzle cap to be moved from the first position to the second position.

10. The trigger sprayer of claim 9, further comprising:

the spring being movable from the at-rest position against a resilient bias of the spring in response to an external force acting on the spring, and the spring resilient bias returning the spring to the at-rest position when no external for is acting on the spring.

11. The trigger sprayer of claim 10, further comprising:

a finger pad projecting from the spring and being positioned on the spring between the lock tab and the nozzle base.

12. The trigger sprayer of claim 9, further comprising:

a shroud mounted on the sprayer housing, the shroud covering over the spring length.

13. The trigger sprayer of claim 12, further comprising:

a finger pad on the spring projecting from the spring between the nozzle cap and the shroud.

14. The trigger sprayer of claim 9, further comprising:

the spring length being integral with and cantilevered from the nozzle base.

15. The trigger sprayer of claim 9, further comprising:

the nozzle base being separate from the sprayer housing and being assembled to the sprayer housing.

16. A manually operated trigger sprayer comprising:

a nozzle base on the trigger sprayer, the nozzle base having a liquid flow path through the nozzle base that directs liquid from the trigger sprayer on operation of the trigger sprayer;

a nozzle cap mounted on the nozzle base for rotation of the nozzle cap between a first position and a second position of the nozzle cap relative to the nozzle base, the nozzle cap having an orifice that does not communicate with the nozzle base liquid flow path in the first position of the nozzle cap and does communicate with the nozzle base liquid flow path in the second position of the nozzle cap, the orifice having a center axis that defines mutually perpendicular axial and radial directions relative to the nozzle cap and the nozzle base, the nozzle cap having a notch in the nozzle cap; and,

a resilient spring on the nozzle base, the spring having an elongate length with opposite proximal and distal ends, the spring length extending axially from the spring proximal end to a finger pad on the spring that projects radially from the spring, and the spring length extending axially from the finger pad to a lock tab on the distal end of the spring, the spring length extending from the nozzle base to the lock tab positioned in the nozzle cap notch when the nozzle cap is in the first position and no external force is acting of the spring, the lock tab positioned in the nozzle cap notch preventing rotation of the nozzle cap from the first position to the second position, and the spring being movable by an external force acting on the finger pad where the lock tab is moved out of the nozzle cap notch enabling the nozzle cap to be moved from the first position to the second position.

17. The trigger sprayer of claim 16, further comprising:

the spring having a resilience that biases the spring into the nozzle cap notch when the nozzle cap is in the first position and no external force is acting on the finger pad.

18. The trigger sprayer of claim 17, further comprising:

the spring being an integral extension of the nozzle base.

19. The trigger sprayer of claim 17, further comprising:

a sprayer housing containing a pump chamber and a liquid discharge tube communicating with the pump chamber; and,

the nozzle base being separate from the sprayer housing, the nozzle base having a liquid inlet tube that is assembled to the liquid discharge tube of the sprayer housing.

20. The trigger sprayer of claim 19, further comprising:

a shroud on the trigger sprayer, the shroud having a forward edge portion that covers over the spring length.

21. The trigger sprayer of claim 20, further comprising:

the finger pad projecting from the spring between the nozzle cap and the shroud forward edge position.

22. A manually operated trigger sprayer comprising:

a sprayer housing containing a pump chamber and a liquid discharge passage communicating with the pump chamber;

a nozzle base on the sprayer housing, the nozzle base having a liquid flow path through the nozzle base that communicates with the liquid discharge passage;

a nozzle cap mounted on the nozzle base for rotation of the nozzle cap between a first position and a second position of the nozzle cap relative to the nozzle base, the nozzle cap having an orifice that does not communicate with the nozzle base liquid flow path in the first position of the nozzle cap and does communicate with the nozzle base liquid flow path in the second position of the nozzle cap, the nozzle cap having a lock surface on the nozzle cap;

a resilient spring on the nozzle base, the spring having an elongate length that extends from the nozzle base to a lock tab on a distal end of the spring, the spring length extending from the nozzle base to the lock tab positioned adjacent the nozzle cap lock surface when the nozzle cap is in the first position and no external force is acting on the spring, the lock tab positioned adjacent the nozzle cap lock surface prevention rotation of the nozzle cap from the first position to the second position, and the spring being movable by an external force acting of the spring where the lock tab is moved away from the nozzle cap lock surface enabling the nozzle cap to be moved from the first position to the second position; and,

a shroud on the sprayer housing, the shroud having a front edge portion extending over the spring length and concealing the spring length from view.

23. The trigger sprayer of claim 22, further comprising:

the nozzle cap extending over the spring lock tab and concealing the lock tab from view.

24. The trigger sprayer of claim 23, further comprising:

a finger pad on the spring projecting outwardly from the spring between the nozzle cap and the shroud forward edge portion.

25. The trigger sprayer of claim 24, further comprising:

the spring length extending from the nozzle base to the finger pad, and from the finger pad to the lock tab projecting from the finger pad.

26. The trigger sprayer of claim 26, further comprising:

the nozzle base being separate from the sprayer housing and being assembled to the sprayer housing.