Separable Pump With Holder Mount Or Securing Means Patents (Class 239/333)
  • Patent number: 5738282
    Abstract: A manually actuated pump sprayer of the type having a discharge nozzle cap in engagement with a probe, spin mechanics formed between the cap and the probe. A generally cylindrical fluid flow dampening chamber, formed at the end of the probe in communication with the spin chamber or being integrated with the spin chamber, has a non-smooth sidewall defined by at least one projection extending toward the axis of the probe for reducing spin energy of the fluid spinning in the dampening chamber and/or in the spin chamber about the axis to effect a solid spray cone of fluid exiting the orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Calmar Inc.
    Inventor: R. Pat Grogan
  • Patent number: 5730335
    Abstract: The trigger sprayer comprises: a body having a cylinder therein; a liquid inlet to the cylinder; an outlet waterway in communication with the cylinder; a piston having an inner end and an outer end received in the cylinder; a fluid path including at least a part of the cylinder and the waterway and extending between the piston and an outlet orifice; a trigger coupled to the body and acting on the outer end of the piston; a precompression valve assembly in the fluid path between the piston and the outlet orifice which is operable to allow liquid in a first part of the fluid path to reach the outlet orifice only after a predetermined pressure is established in the cylinder and to stop liquid from reaching the outlet orifice when the pressure in the cylinder falls below the predetermined pressure and which includes a valve seat in the fluid path, a spring valve element and retaining structure for retaining the spring valve element against the valve seat; biasing structure for biasing the piston away from the pre
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: AFA Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilhelmus Johannes Joseph Maas, Petrus Wilhelmus Lambertus Hurkmans
  • Patent number: 5722569
    Abstract: A trigger sprayer comprises a dispenser body, a pump mechanism adjacent the dispenser body, a trigger adjacent the pump mechanism, and a plug. The dispenser body has an intake port adapted for fluid communication with a source of liquid, an intake liquid flow path providing fluid communication between the intake port and the pump mechanism, a discharge port, and a discharge liquid flow path providing fluid communication between the pump mechanism and discharge port. The pump mechanism includes a pump element reciprocally moveable relative to the dispenser body to draw fluid in through the intake port and force it out through the discharge port. The trigger is moveable relative to the dispenser body between forward and rearward positions and is located and configured to cause the pump element to move from its first position to its second position when the trigger is moved from its forward position to its rearward position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Foster
  • Patent number: 5718383
    Abstract: A system of dispensing viscous liquid, such as vegetable oil containing products is provided which includes a sealed flexible barrier pack filled with viscous liquid, preferably filled with a viscous liquid oil having a viscosity of about 60 cps or greater. The flexible barrier pack includes a sealed fluid outlet located in the sealed flexible barrier pack. A manual pump sprayer preferably a hand pump sprayer of the trigger type is provided for delivering vegetable oil from the flexible barrier pack to a pre-selected surface such as a griddle in a fast food restaurant. Desirably, the hand pump sprayer includes a first and second discharge outlet to discharge pressurized liquid to the atmosphere along intersecting discharge axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Par Way Group
    Inventors: Robert Smith, John Shively
  • Patent number: 5715999
    Abstract: An atomizer comprises an atomizing head having a spray nozzle, an assembly part mounted over the atomizing head, a fan mounted in front of the assembly part and driven by a motor inside the assembly part. The fan has a jet head, the jet head being provided at a center of the front of the fan. A delivery tube is connected between the jet head and the spray nozzle, the delivery tube is located by a cramp disposed on the frame of the fan. The fan comprises a frame disposed therearound, by which the delivery tube is guided and further comprises a hole defined beneath the frame, a first conduit and a second conduit. The first conduit is connected between the spray nozzle of the atomizing head and the hole and the second conduit is connected between the hole and the jet head of the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Inventor: Chin-tien Hsu
  • Patent number: 5716008
    Abstract: A manually operable sprayer mountable on a supply container comprises a pump cylinder supporting a cylindrical, rollable pump diaphragm having a closed end coaxial with the cylinder and linearly axially displaceable toward and away from the cylinder by a trigger and pump actuator assembly including a pivotal trigger interconnected with a pump actuator for pivotal displacement of the trigger to be translated into linear axial displacement of the actuator which is connected to the end wall of the pump diaphragm. The component parts are enclosed in a housing defined by a pair of hingedly connected housing members, and a retainer member by which the sprayer is mountable on a supply container by a threaded cap either supports the component parts as a unitary assembly or interengages with the housing to cooperatively support the component parts therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Nottingham-Spirk Design Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Nottingham, Richard O. McCarthy, Nick E. Stanca, Dale A. Panasewicz
  • Patent number: 5711459
    Abstract: The present invention is a continuous action trigger sprayer for spraying liquid material. It includes a main housing having connectors to a container and having an operation cylinder and a liquid chamber. It also includes a pumping element which is within the operation cylinder and has a valve seat, a one-way valve and a pumping rod, which permits liquid material to pass therethrough in a relative direction toward a spray nozzle, but not toward the liquid chamber. There is a relief valve having a seat with an opening therethrough and a relief passage to bleed liquid back to the container and which cooperates with the pumping element. There is also a trigger which moves the pumping element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Ideal Ideas, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth P. Glynn
  • Patent number: 5711488
    Abstract: An atomizing nozzle having a plurality of vanes, a swift chamber, and a discharge orifice is provided for dispensing a liquid spray. The plurality of vanes extend outwardly from the swirl chamber and are in fluid communication therewith. The discharge orifice is generally concentric and in fluid communication with the swift chamber. The atomizing nozzle provides a fine atomized spray when used in manually-actuated pump type dispensers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Mark T. Lund
  • Patent number: 5704550
    Abstract: A liquid dispenser comprises a dispenser body and a flow restrictor. The dispenser body has a pump mechanism, an intake port adapted for fluid communication with a source of liquid, an intake liquid flow path providing fluid communication between the intake port and the pump mechanism, a discharge port, and a discharge liquid flow path providing fluid communication between the pump mechanism and discharge port. The flow restrictor is in the discharge liquid flow path and is moveable between first and second positions. The flow restrictor is configured for permitting fluid flow from the pump mechanism to the discharge port when the flow restrictor is in its first position, and is configured for at least partially impeding fluid flow from the pump mechanism to the discharge port when the flow restrictor is in its second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson, Martin S. Laffey
  • Patent number: 5702031
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a precompression pump with a feature to evacuate air trapped in the pump chamber to thereby assist in priming the pump. In particular, the present invention relates to a precompression pump which uses mechanisms to create gaps of very small size to bridge two seals on a pump piston, in a way that the small size of the gaps allows the passage of trapped air, but because of the viscosity of any liquid in the pump chamber does not allow the passage of liquid past the seals on the pump piston. Flats which define a chord of the inner circumference of the cylinder wall can be used to create the appropriate gaps. In addition, the core creating the inner circumference can be photochemically etched to provide a roughened surface with asperities which create the appropriate gaps. The priming mechanisms preferably create air gaps around both seals of the pump piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Emson, Inc.
    Inventors: Emil Meshberg, Philip Miller, Robert Schultz
  • Patent number: 5702058
    Abstract: A foamer nozzle assembly has a foaming barrel defining a turbulence chamber for creating foam upon actuation of the trigger of a trigger sprayer as the conical spray impacts against the smooth inner surface of the barrel as so to emerge as loosely compacted, large foam bubbles having a relatively wide foam spread. A foaming grid in the form of an offset rectangular mesh screen is mounted on a hinged panel for movement between operative and inoperative positions. In the former the grid lies coaxial with the discharge orifice and provides a supplemental foam generator for breaking up the foam bubbles into finer and more concentrated foam having a relatively smaller foam spread. The grid comprises first and second sets of ribs lying in first and second parallel planes, the ribs of the first set being contiguous to the ribs of the second set, and the ribs being mutually spaced apart to define uniformly sized openings therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Calmar Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas B. Dobbs, Linn Wanbaugh
  • Patent number: 5697556
    Abstract: A liquid dispenser comprising a dispenser body and a valve housing. The dispenser body has a pump mechanism, an intake port adapted for fluid communication with a source of liquid, and an intake liquid flow path providing fluid communication between the intake port and the pump mechanism. The dispenser body further comprises a discharge conduit and a discharge liquid flow path providing fluid communication between the pump mechanism and discharge conduit. The discharge conduit has a downstream end through which dispensed liquid exits the discharge conduit. The valve housing has first and second portions, a fluid passageway within the first and second portions, and a discharge port in the second portion and in fluid communication with the fluid passageway. The first portion of the valve housing is attached to the dispenser body adjacent the downstream end of the discharge conduit so that the passageway of the valve housing is in fluid communication with the discharge conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Foster
  • Patent number: 5695095
    Abstract: A trigger sprayer apparatus comprises a trigger for manipulation by a user of the apparatus to dispense a spray, stream or foam of a liquid from the apparatus, the trigger having finger engagement areas across the front surface of the trigger that increase in size as the trigger extends from its attachment to the trigger sprayer to a distal end of the trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventor: George Hildebrand
  • Patent number: 5687877
    Abstract: A tulip-type check valve is housed in a cylindrical chamber, the length of which is greater than the check valve itself so that during the pressure stroke of the pump, the valve moves forward in its chamber and flexes to permit flow about its periphery. During the suction stroke, the valve closes and is drawn backward upstream in its chamber and there is a sucking back of liquid between the check valve and the orifice to obviate nozzle the drip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Smolen, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5683014
    Abstract: The assembly comprises a pair of substantially identical unitary plastic molded units, each unit having a tubular stem formed with a piston at one end and a nozzle head at the other. Each unit has a female snap-type connector facing to one side and spaced therefrom a male snap-type connector facing to the same side, the molded units being disposed side-by-side with the male snap-type connectors snappingly received into the female snap-type connectors of the respective stems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Smolen, Jr., George M. Bachand
  • Patent number: 5678765
    Abstract: A manually actuated liquid sprayer has a ported element selectively movable between a retracted position and an extended position at which the element lies in the path of the spray plume for mitigating the spray. The element has a cylinder with a smooth inner wall defining a turbulence chamber coaxial with the discharge orifice of the nozzle cap to which the element is mounted. A transversely extending perforate wall is located in the cylinder, and has an open port of a size greater than that of the discharge orifice and being coaxial therewith. The element is movable relative to the nozzle cap between the retracted position at which the liquid spray passes through the open port without influence from any portion thereof, and the extended position at which the liquid spray impacts against the smooth inner wall to mix with air in the chamber and passes through the perforate wall to create foam ejected from the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Calmar Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas B. Dobbs, Adonis Spathias
  • Patent number: 5667138
    Abstract: According to the invention, a hand held sprayer is provided. Fluid flows from a reservoir to a delivery passageway upon pulling or pressing an actuator such as an aerosol actuator or button, a trigger or finger pump button. A nozzle having an inlet and an outlet is rotatably mounted to the outlet of the delivery passageway. The nozzle rotates about a rotation axis through the center of the discharge end of the nozzle. The actuator of the hand held sprayer is interconnected to the rotatably mounted nozzle to provide rotation of the nozzle simultaneously with the dispensing of the liquid from the reservoir to the atmosphere. The nozzle rotates from about 90.degree. to 360.degree. about the axis of rotation. The resulting hand held sprayer is capable of dispensing viscous liquids having a viscosity of over 60 cps and delivering a desirable round spray pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Par-Way Group
    Inventor: David C. Crampton
  • Patent number: 5664732
    Abstract: A pump dispenser has a nozzle body on which is rotatably disposed a nozzle cap having two orifices which selectively align with a swirl chamber formed in the front end of the body. One orifice is formed with a surrounding cup-like structure to retain the last drop of liquid after discharge. The other is formed with a pair of diagonal parallel ribs on opposite sides of the orifice to effect an elongated narrow landing pattern for the spray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Smolen, Jr., William Contaxis, III
  • Patent number: 5664706
    Abstract: An atomizing pump (FIG. 1) has a piston (3) slidable in a cylinder (5) to expel liquid from a pump chamber (4). A valve member (8) is slidable in a stem (6) of the piston defining a liquid delivery duct (7). A separately formed cylindrical extension (11) of the valve member is movable in and out of sealing contact with the valve member to open and close a liquid inlet port (105) to the chamber (4). The valve member has a core (102) projecting within the cylindrical extension and having a projecting stop formation (103) which co-operates with a stop formation (104) on the cylindrical extension to limit lost motion between the valve member and cylindrical extension. The valve member is biased into an extended position by a spring acting on the stop member projecting from the core so that the spring extends between the core and the cylindrical extension. This arrangement helps maintain alignment between the pump components and resists buckling of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Bespak Plc
    Inventor: Miro Stan Cater
  • Patent number: 5657930
    Abstract: An atomizer device for liquids pressurized by a manually operated pump, without pressurizers, comprises a nozzle with an obturator to which a plunger member is connected, The liquid pressurized by the pump acts on this plunger and moves the obturator against a spring, opening the nozzle. Interceptors, which allow the liquid to pass and consequently to be sprayed outwards only when the obturator has moved by a given amount, moving away from the nozzle and forming a predetermined chamber about the nozzle, are provided in the passage for the liquid to the nozzle. The uniformity of the fan of the jet of liquid within the course of each operating cycle of the pump and its constancy in the different cycles is thus ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Inventor: Piero Battegazzore
  • Patent number: 5656227
    Abstract: A method of molding a trigger sprayer one-piece housing includes molding the housing with a shroud having sides which extend rearward to an integral ergonomic saddle with a surface configured to rest upon the user's hand during trigger sprayer actuation. The one-piece housing is molded integrally with an outlet barrel, a pump cylinder, a vent passage cylinder, and a vertical inlet passage receptacle using the same three-piece mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Foster
  • Patent number: 5645221
    Abstract: A trigger sprayer contains a valve element that vents air from a pump chamber of the sprayer, while priming the pump, to the interior of a liquid container to which the sprayer is attached. In an alternate embodiment, the valve element includes an integral check valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Foster
  • Patent number: 5642860
    Abstract: A hand holdable spray delivery system for dispensing a relatively viscous and/or solids laden liquid is provided. This spray delivery system includes a container adapted to house the liquid. A manually actuated pump device is mounted on the container. The pump device including an inlet passage, a pump chamber, and a discharge passage having a distal end connected in liquid communication so that the liquid is pumped from within the container, through the inlet passage, into the pump chamber and through the discharge passage upon manual actuation of the pump device. A slotted spray nozzle including a housing having an inlet side and an exit side is also included. The housing having an internal recess through the inlet side that terminates in an elongated orifice at the exit side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Stephan G. Bush, Dimitris I. Collias, Stephen F. Evans
  • Patent number: 5641125
    Abstract: The nozzle assembly comprises two pieces, they being: a nozzle cap; and, an integral nose bushing on which the nozzle cap is threadedly received. The integral nose bushing includes a body portion received and mounted in a body of a trigger sprayer and a bushing portion integral with the bushing portion. The bushing portion includes a generally cylindrical portion having a distal end and a proximal end with the proximal end having threads thereon and the distal end having a smooth outer cylindrical surface. The cylindrical portion has an annular slot therein defining an outer cylindrical flange and a central cylindrical portion. The central cylindrical portion has an outer end which extends outwardly of the outer cylindrical flange and which has an outer end having an annular wall defining therein a swirl cavity. The nose bushing has a passage therein communicating a waterway in the bushing portion with the annular slot in the cylindrical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: AFA Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas S. Martin, Wilhelmus J. J. Maas, Petrus L. W. Hurkmans
  • Patent number: 5641097
    Abstract: A precompression pump for the spraying of a liquid includes a pumping chamber (2) containing a first piston (7) associated with a manipulating element (6), this piston bearing against a first spring (9). A precompression chamber (5) is provided with a second piston (10) bearing against a second spring (11), the precompression chamber communicating with the pumping chamber, their axes of symmetry being offset. A feeder duct (4) is provided with a valve (4a, 15) leading into the pumping chamber. A dispensing element (17) is provided with a nozzle (20) and with a dispensing duct (18) connecting the nozzle and the precompression chamber. The connection between the nozzle and the precompression chamber is interrupted in the rest position of the pump and is established under the action of the manipulating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventors: Philippe Renault, Adalberto Geier, Guiseppe Dalsant
  • Patent number: 5639025
    Abstract: A hand holdable spray delivery system for dispensing a fluid is provided. This spray delivery system includes a container adapted to house the fluid. The fluid being relatively viscous and preferably also being solids laden. A manually actuated pump device is mounted on the container. The pump device including an inlet passage, a pump chamber, and a discharge passage having a distal end connected in fluid communication so that the fluid is pumped from within the container, through the inlet passage, into the pump chamber and through the discharge passage upon manual actuation of the pump device. A spray nozzle including a housing having an inlet side and an exit side is also included. The housing having an internal recess through the inlet side that terminates in an elongated orifice at the exit side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Stephan G. Bush
  • Patent number: 5628461
    Abstract: A trigger sprayer apparatus is provided with a separate fluid spinner and fluid flow control valve in a fluid channel of the sprayer housing. The control valve controls the flow of liquid through the fluid channel and the fluid spinner imparts a spin to the flow of liquid prior to its discharge from the fluid channel to create a spray pattern in the liquid. The control valve and fluid spinner are formed as separate component parts of the trigger sprayer to facilitate the assembly of the control valve and spinner into the fluid channel of the sprayer housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5628434
    Abstract: A trigger sprayer contains a pressure buildup valve that prevents liquid from being dispensed from the sprayer until the pressure of the liquid pumped from the sprayer pump exceeds a predetermined minimum pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5622318
    Abstract: A spray device for mounting on a fluid dispenser connected to a tank; the device being of the type comprising a head provided with an expansion chamber into which the outlet orifice of said dispenser opens out; the expansion chamber communicating with a nozzle via at least one outlet duct. The nozzle is constituted by a hinged inner element which is at least partially received in the outlet duct, and by an outer element fixed to bear in sealed manner against the inner element so as to define between their respective contacting surfaces a network of swirl-inducing channels communicating with the outlet duct and opening to the outside via a spray orifice formed through the outer element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Sofab
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Bougamont, Pierre DuMont, Herve Lompech
  • Patent number: 5622317
    Abstract: A pressure buildup trigger sprayer contains a valve element that vents air from a pump chamber of the sprayer to the interior of a liquid container to which the sprayer is attached while priming the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5615835
    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: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5611490
    Abstract: A foamer nozzle assembly has dual screens of intersecting strands in spaced sets of strands, the strands of one set being offset relative to the strands of the other set for establishing two turbulence zones as the flow direction of spray particles is deflected when passing through the first screen and as the flow direction of the spray particles is further deflected when passing through the second screen. The screens are located in a cylinder of the assembly which may or may not define a turbulence cylinder depending on the spacing of the screens from the discharge orifice. The screens may be spaced apart a given distance to establish a turbulence zone therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Calmar Inc.
    Inventors: Jacques J. Barriac, Adonis Spathias
  • Patent number: 5609299
    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: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Martin S. Laffey, John A. Zurcher
  • Patent number: 5593093
    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: January 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5590835
    Abstract: The invention relates to an atomization attachment (10) for a liquid container (11), which is designed in an essentially cylindrical manner at least in an opening region (28), having an outer part (12) which is designed in the form of a cap, the head wall (26) of which is provided on the inside with a protrusion (25) and which can be pushed, by means of its opposite end provided with a container-receiving opening (27), over the opening region (28) of the liquid container (11) and can be displaced with respect to the same. An inner part (13) exhibits a riser tube (14) which is designed as a piston rod and is provided, at its end which can be inserted into the liquid container (11), with a piston (15) and, in its head plate (17) which can be connected to the outer part (12), with a super-atmospheric-pressure valve (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: AptarGroup S.A.
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Rosenthal, Tom Kitzing
  • Patent number: 5590834
    Abstract: A trigger sprayer has a one-piece housing with a shroud having sides which extend rearward to an integral ergonomic saddle the sides connected by ribs and a surface configured to rest upon the user's hand during trigger sprayer actuation. The housing also incorporates an integral barrel, pump cylinder and vent passage cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Foster
  • Patent number: 5575407
    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 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5570840
    Abstract: Improved hand-held, hand-powered spraying devices are provided herein. The improvement provides the ability to spray viscous fluids in an even consistent spray without the use of propellants or outside compressed air or power sources. The spraying apparatus are constructed to provide air delivery to a nozzle assembly, followed by combined air and liquid delivery, followed by air delivery after cessation of liquid delivery, all with a single stroke of a single trigger. One particular apparatus provided is a trigger sprayer which utilizes the compression of dual chambers with a single trigger stroke, and another apparatus is a compression sprayer which utilizes a hand pump and a single container for holding air and liquid. Additionally, a combination pour spout trigger sprayer device is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Fourth and Long, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Gettinger, Joel Hetrick
  • Patent number: 5566885
    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: January 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5562250
    Abstract: A trigger sprayer apparatus for use with a container having multiple compartments, the apparatus having a pump for drawing liquid from the container compartments to the pump, wherein check valves prevent liquid from backflowing from the pump to the compartments and the pump has control valves for selecting the mixture ratio of the liquids entering the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard K. O'Neill
  • Patent number: 5561901
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Stahley, Robert J. Peterson
  • Patent number: 5560545
    Abstract: A fluid dispenser for simultaneously dispensing disparate fluids separately stored in separate fluid compartments of a container includes a single pump cylinder defining together with a dual seal piston a pair of in-line pump chambers for separately and simultaneously pumping the disparate fluids along separate discharge paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Calmar Inc.
    Inventors: R. Pat Grogan, James R. Gillingham, Tanny Li
  • Patent number: 5551636
    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: January 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Contico Internatioal, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5547132
    Abstract: A sprayer has a spray pattern which can be varied by the provision of a second fluid flow path which partially negates the spin velocity to produce a spray having a narrow spray cone producing spray. An opening in the spinner probe establishes the second fluid flow path from the discharge passage, and can be selectively opened and closed upon plunger rotation relative to a hollow piston stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Calmar Inc.
    Inventor: R. Pat Grogan
  • Patent number: 5542581
    Abstract: Trigger actuated pump sprayers for application of a great variety of household and industrial liquids are improved for dual service use by inclusion of a spout, which can be operated in a closed mode or an opened mode, mounted to the pump housing and a tubular conduit extending internally of the housing and the cap from the spout to at least the cap for flow of liquid directly from the container on which the sprayer is mounted to the spout whereby liquid may be dispensed from the container through the spout when the user of the sprayer needs larger quantities of the liquid than can conveniently be obtained via the spray pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Inventors: Barbara M. Habora, Rebecca V. Hall
  • Patent number: 5535952
    Abstract: A safety mechanism for a trigger activated dispenser which dispenses a pressurized fluid includes an engaging piece connected to an upper surface of a dispenser body by a hinge. The engaging piece, the dispenser body and the hinge are molded integrally from a plastic material and an engaging groove is formed on an upper surface of a nozzle cap to receive the engaging piece when the nozzle cap is rotated to an "Off" position. When the engaging piece is received in the engaging groove in the nozzle cap, the nozzle cap is locked in the "Off" state and the nozzle cap is prevented from being rotated to any position at which liquid can flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Inventor: Tetsuya Tada
  • Patent number: 5535950
    Abstract: A trigger actuated fluid dispenser for simultaneously dispensing disparate fluids separately stored in separate fluid compartments of a container includes side-by-side pump cylinders receiving side-by-side pump pistons reciprocable simultaneously during each pressure stroke applied by a single trigger lever for separately and simultaneously pumping the disparate fluids along separate discharge paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Calmar Inc.
    Inventors: Jacques J. Barriac, Douglas B. Dobbs, James R. Gillingham, Adonis Spathias
  • Patent number: 5522547
    Abstract: A two stage pressure build-up discharge valve assembly is mounted within the end of the discharge nozzle surrounded by a nozzle cap of a trigger actuated pump sprayer, and includes a spring biased discharge valve element having a high pressure throttle valve fixed to a second stage low pressure valve piston to provide a predetermined pressure threshold which when exceeded by fluid pressure generated by the pumping force applied during trigger actuation unseats immediately permitting the fluid pressure to act upon the low pressure secondary valve piston rapidly snapping the valve element to a full open flow position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Calmar Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas B. Dobbs, James R. Gillingham, Adonis K. Spathias
  • Patent number: 5513800
    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: January 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson
  • Patent number: RE35744
    Abstract: A cap, spinner, and discharge nozzle assembly for use with a liquid dispensing apparatus such as a trigger sprayer. The spinner assembly can be externally fitted to the discharge nozzle, and includes an annular chamber surrounding a central post having a swirl chamber in its top. The central post includes longitudinal grooves, communicating with tangential grooves in an annular wall defining the swirl chamber. Apertures are provided in the base of the annular chamber such that pressurized liquid flows through the apertures and into the annular chamber, with a resulting reduction of velocity, and then along the longitudinal grooves and through the tangential grooves into the swirl chamber. A cap is provided which variably engages the discharge nozzle and which has at least a central projection on the inner side of its front face, and preferably an annular groove formed by an outer projection surrounding the central projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Contico International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Foster, Philip L. Nelson