Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B11/00—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use
  • B05B11/01—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use characterised by the means producing the flow
  • B05B11/10—Pump arrangements for transferring the contents from the container to a pump chamber by a sucking effect and forcing the contents out through the dispensing nozzle
  • B05B11/1087—Combination of liquid and air pumps
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B11/00—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use
  • B05B11/01—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use characterised by the means producing the flow
  • B05B11/10—Pump arrangements for transferring the contents from the container to a pump chamber by a sucking effect and forcing the contents out through the dispensing nozzle
  • B05B11/1001—Piston pumps
  • B05B11/1004—Piston pumps comprising a movable cylinder and a stationary piston
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B11/00—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use
  • B05B11/01—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use characterised by the means producing the flow
  • B05B11/10—Pump arrangements for transferring the contents from the container to a pump chamber by a sucking effect and forcing the contents out through the dispensing nozzle
  • B05B11/1028—Pumps having a pumping chamber with a deformable wall
  • B05B11/1029—Pumps having a pumping chamber with a deformable wall actuated by a lever
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B11/00—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use
  • B05B11/01—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use characterised by the means producing the flow
  • B05B11/10—Pump arrangements for transferring the contents from the container to a pump chamber by a sucking effect and forcing the contents out through the dispensing nozzle
  • B05B11/1042—Components or details
  • B05B11/1066—Pump inlet valves
  • B05B11/1067—Pump inlet valves actuated by pressure

Definitions

• the present invention relates to improvements in or relating to pump-
• Pump-action nozzle devices are commonly used as a means for
• One-way valves are provided at the inlet and the outlet to ensure that
• the actuator is typically a portion of the body of the nozzle device that
• trigger-actuated nozzle devices a trigger that an operator can pull and then subsequently release
• trigger-actuated nozzle devices a trigger that an operator can pull and then subsequently release
• size of the pump-action device is also dictated to certain extent by the size of
• the size of the device is usually
• the present invention seeks to address the aforementioned problems
• a pump-action nozzle device adapted to be fitted to a container
• said device having a body which defines:
• said outlet further comprising an outlet
• valve configured to only open and permit fluid to be dispensed
• inlet further comprising a valve configured to only open and
• said body comprises a base portion and a housing portion
• a conventional pump-action nozzle device for the internal chamber of a conventional pump-action nozzle device to be a
• nozzle device and typically extends into the interior of the container.
• the inlet and outlet valves are, in preferred
• the bulk of the device can be significantly reduced and the chamber
• the nozzle device of the present invention may be adapted to be fitted to
• a container by any suitable means.
• it is the base portion of the
• nozzle device that is configured to be fitted to an opening of a container.
• the base comprises a cavity adapted to receive a
• the neck may be secured in the cavity by any suitable securing
• the base is a screw top which can be fitted to an opening of
• the container i.e. the neck of the container is provided with a screw thread that is adapted to screw into a groove formed in the internal wall of the base, or vice
• the base also defines the inlet of the device.
• the internal surface is an end wall or surface which is disposed
• the housing which is also preferably mounted onto the
• chamber is defined between the base and housing will be substantially outside
• the of the device may extend into the interior of the container, it is preferred that
• substantially entire internal chamber is positioned outside the container.
• the housing forms one or more internal
• the housing is slidably mounted within a recess or groove
• the chamber of the base is configured to be fitted to a container.
• the device further comprises a plunger.
• the function of the plunger is primarily to
• volume of the internal chamber is reduced during the first stage of the operation
• the plunger forms two seals with the wall of the chamber, namely a first
• the seal or seals must be maintained while the housing is moved relative to the
• plunger may be fixed to the housing within the chamber so that when the
• the plunger is seated on an upper surface of the base of the device so that the space within the sealed portion of the chamber
• the plunger may be made from any suitable material, such as rubber or
• the plunger may be integrally formed with the plunger
• the plunger may
• insert extends from one end of the chamber to the opposing end (as described
• insert is configured to resiliently deform from an initial resiliently biased
• the nozzle device comprises a resilient means which is
• the resilient means is a spring disposed within
• said insert forms the resilient means which is biased to urge the base and the
• container can apply pressure to the housing of the device against the action of
• the resilient means and thereby cause the volume of the internal chamber to be
• resilient means urges then urges the housing and the base apart and thus causes
• At least a portion of the internal passageway of the outlet is
• passageway may be defined by just one of said component parts.
• each of said parts has an abutment
• At least one of the abutment surfaces has one or more groove and/or recesses
• both of said abutment surfaces have one or more grooves and/or
• abutment surfaces which define an internal passageway of a nozzle device are
• the outlet valve may be any suitable valve assembly configured to only
• threshold pressure The minimum threshold pressure required will depend on
• the threshold pressure may be set very low if the product is to be dispensed slowly or gradually (as is the
• the contents of the chamber may be ejected at a pressure of 6 bars
• the outlet valve may be set at 5 bars.
• the outlet valve could be a ball valve, for example,
• the outlet valve is
• outlet comprises a outlet orifice and an internal passageway, at least a portion
• the outlet valve is preferably formed within said portion of the
• the nozzle device may also be formed in a portion of
• the valve comprises a valve member that is formed on one of the
• valve member being resiliently biased against the
• valve member is in the form of a resiliently deformable
• the flap is further configured to resiliently deform
• fluid from the chamber can flow along the internal passageway to the outlet
• the flap may simply extend
• the flap is resiliently biased
• the flap is mounted within a chamber
• the chamber provides sufficient space
• the flap will also be configured so that it can only be
• valve a one-way outlet valve
• valve member is in the form of a plug which is
• passageway but is configured to also be displaced to define an opening or channel through which fluid can flow when the when the pressure within the
• plug itself may be configured to deform so as to define a channel or opening
• the plug is mounted to a resiliently deformable surface which
• valve member may be adapted to resiliently
• valve member and/or the surface on which it is mounted may be any suitable valve member and/or the surface on which it is mounted.
• the outlet orifice is positioned at the end of the internal passageway.
• the outlet orifice is formed at an edge of the abutment surfaces of
• the outlet is defined by the
• the housing portion of the body Preferably, the housing comprises two component
• the housing comprises a first component part that defines the internal chamber together with the base and comprises an
• internal passageway further comprises one or more internal spray-modifying
• the nozzle device may be configured to receive an
• the insert which comprises one or more spray-modifying features.
• the insert can
• orifice flows into an inlet of said insert and through an internal passageway
• venturi chamber where air is drawn into the fluid stream by venture
• orifice in the form of a slit, or multiple outlet orifices.
• outlet valve is positioned before (or upstream from)
• the one or more spray modifying features such that fluid can only flow through
• the inlet valve may be any suitable valve assembly which enables the
• the plunger is seated on the
• valve member or stem which extends
• valve member a valve seat formed in the base.
• valve member a valve seat formed in the base.
• stem may be a separate component, i.e. it is not integrally formed with the
• valve member or stem is
• the container may flow into the chamber of the device when the pressure within
• the device comprises an air leak valve configured to enable air from the external environment to access the
• leak valve is a one-way valve, which enables air to flow into the container from
• a dip tube is fitted to the base to enable a product stored in
• the container to be drawn into the device from the interior of the container.
• compartment or chamber configured to a eject a stream of air through the
• the said air chamber is provided with an outlet valve
• compartment/chamber during the first stage of operation may be introduced
• the nozzle device further comprises an air inlet valve configured to open and permit air to access the air compartment only
• the air may be drawn into the air chamber/compartment through
• the first compartment comprises a plunger as discussed
• the second air chamber/compartment is also provided with an air
• the air plunger is adapted to form a seal with the housing
• the air inlet valve also functions as the air
• the nozzle devices of the present invention are preferably formed from
• the component parts of the nozzle arrangement may be moulded individually and then connected together to form the assembled nozzle
• some or all of the components may be formed by a
• component parts may be made from the same or a different material.
• the housing is composed of two component parts
• each component part may be made moulded separately and then joined together
• the two component parts may be connected to one another by a
• the parts may be releasably connectable to one another.
• the device of the present invention may also be provided with a trigger
• the trigger actuator is preferably configured so that, when the trigger is pulled, the housing of the device is caused to move towards the base and
• the trigger actuator is a separate component that is fitted to
• the pump-action nozzle device and which comprises a trigger handle and two
• a first attachment element fixes the actuator
• one attachment element is integrally formed with the trigger
• trigger actuator adapted to be fitted to a pump nozzle device comprising an
• said trigger actuator is configured so that when the trigger
• the trigger actuator provides a means by which a pump nozzle
• a device may be converted into a trigger actuated pump-action nozzle device.
• the trigger actuator is preferably formed as discussed above.
• dispenser which is dispensing a product such as a foam or mousse.
• a product such as a foam or mousse.
• object of the present invention therefore, to provide a pump-action nozzle
• a pump-action nozzle device adapted to be fitted to an opening of a
• said nozzle device having a body which defines an internal chamber
• said body is configured such that the internal volume of the
• the nozzle devices of the third aspect of the present invention are to be drawn into the air chamber from the external environment.
• the nozzle devices of the third aspect of the present invention are to be drawn into the air chamber from the external environment.
• the actuator is operated to compress both the internal
• chambers can be increased to cause fluid to be drawn into the internal chamber
• outlet valve and outlet valve are defined by the body of the device, as
• the device of the device is defined by the body of the device.
• third present invention is simpler in design/construction and comprises a
• the bulk of the device can be significantly reduced and the chamber
• the device comprises a resilient means configured to cause
• the body of the device comprises two component parts that
• resilient means is preferably biased against both of said parts to urge the two
• the resilient means may be a spring or other
• the air chamber may be a separate compartment of the internal chamber
• Air may be drawn into the air chamber through outlet orifice and the
• the device may
• the air inlet preferably comprises an air inlet valve
• the outlet channel may be one or more fine holes or pores which permit
• the outlet channel comprises an air release valve adapted
• the air release valve will be a two-way valve
• the chamber exceeds a predetermined minimum pressure, and flow into the air
• the air release valve is preferably a one
• the outlet valve and the air release valve are configured to
• the internal passageway is separated from said air chamber
• outlet channel is formed in an upper or lower wall of the chamber respectively.
• the outlet channel is positioned so that air is introduced into
• At least a portion of the internal passageway of the outlet is
• the internal passageway may be defined by just one of said component parts.
• said parts has an abutment surface which contacts the abutment surfaces of the
• At least one of said abutment surfaces has one or more groove and/or recesses formed thereon which define said internal passageway between
• the at least a portion of the internal passageway is defined
• abutment surfaces have one or more grooves and/or recesses formed thereon
• the outlet valve may be any suitable valve assembly configured to only
• threshold pressure The minimum threshold pressure required will depend on
• the threshold pressure may
• the threshold pressure may be much higher if the nozzle device is to be used to
• the contents of the chamber may be ejected
• the outlet valve may be set at 5 bars.
• the outlet valve could be a ball valve, for example,
• the outlet valve is a
• the valve is open) when the pressure within the chamber exceeds the
• predetermined ⁇ iinimum threshold pressure predetermined ⁇ iinimum threshold pressure
• the outlet comprises a outlet orifice and an internal passageway, at least a
• the outlet valve is preferably formed by said portion of the nozzle device
• the nozzle device may also be formed in a portion of
• the valve comprises a valve member that is formed on one of the
• valve member being resiliently biased against the opposing surface of the other component part or parts, thereby closing the
• valve member is in the form of a resiliently deformable
• the flap is further configured to resiliently deform
• fluid from the chamber can flow along the internal passageway to the outlet
• the flap may simply extend
• the flap is resiliently biased
• the chamber provides sufficient space
• valve member is in the form of a plug which is
• plug itself may be configured to deform so as to define a channel or opening
• the plug is mounted to a resiliently deformable surface which
• valve member and/or the surface on which it is mounted may be any suitable valve member and/or the surface on which it is mounted.
• the outlet valve is defined by the body of
• the device rather than being a separate component.
• the device rather than being a separate component.
• valve member formed thereon as an integral component
• the outlet orifice is positioned at the end of the internal passageway.
• the outlet orifice is formed at an edge of the abutment surfaces of
• the internal passageway further comprises one or more internal
• the nozzle device may be
• the insert can be positioned in relation to the nozzle device so that
• venturi chamber where air is drawn into the fluid stream by venture
• orifice in the form of a slit, or multiple outlet orifices.
• outlet valve is positioned before (or upstream from)
• the one or more spray modifying features such that fluid can only flow through
• outlet channel is arranged to
• Such a chamber may be an
• the inlet valve may be any suitable valve assembly which enables the
• the actuator may be any suitable means by which the compression and
• actuator may be a portion of the body that can be pressed by an operator to
• a trigger actuator that can be pulled by an operator to facilitate
• the device comprises an air leak valve
• valve is a one-way valve, which enables air to flow into the container from the
• the nozzle devices of the third aspect of the present invention are
• components may be formed by a bi-injection moulding process whereby a first
• the first and second component parts may be made from the same or a
• each component part may be made moulded separately and then joined together
• the two component parts may be connected to one another by a
• ultrasonic welding or alternatively, the parts may be releasably
• Figure 1A is a cross-sectional view taken through a first embodiment of
• Figure IB is an exploded cross-sectional view showing the components
• Figure 2A is a cross-sectional view taken through a second embodiment
• Figure 2B is an exploded cross-sectional view showing the components which make up the device shown in Figure 2A;
• Figure 3 A is a cross-sectional view of the housing 102 shown in Figures
• Figure 3B is a plan view of the underside of the housing 102 shown in
• Figure 4 is a plan view of the base 101 shown in Figure 2A;
• Figure 5A is a cross-sectional view of the plunger 108 shown in Figures
• Figure 5B is a plan view of the plunger 108 shown in Figures 2A and
• Figures 6A and 6B are both cross-sectional views showing the top
• Figure 7A is a cross-sectional view of the nozzle outlet 106 shown in
• Figure 7B is a perspective view of the recess 704 shown in Figure 7A;
• Figure 7C is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X' of Figure 7A
• Figure 8 is a cross-sectional diagrammatical view taken through the upper portion of the housing 102 of an alternative embodiment of the present
• Figures 9A to 9c are cross-sectional diagrammatical views showing
• Figure 10A is a cross-sectional view of a device of the present invention
• Figure 1 OB is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in Figure 8 A
• Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken through the housing 102 of an
• Figure 12A is an exploded cross-sectional view of a further alternative
• Figure 12B is a cross-sectional view of the assembled nozzle
• Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of a further alternative embodiment
• Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view to yet another alternative
• Figures 1 to 14 all exemplify the first aspect of the present invention.
• Figures 10A and 10B exemplify the second aspect of the present invention.
• FIGS 2 A to 8, 13 and 14 exemplify the third aspect of the present invention.
• a first embodiment of a device 100 according to the present invention is
• the device 100 comprises a base 101 which
• This internal cavity 150 is adapted to receive a
• the device 100 to be screwed onto the container for use.
• the device 100 further comprises a housing 102 which is slidably
• the groove 103 of the base is provided with detents (in this case an
• a plunger 108 is disposed.
• the plunger 108 is seated on the base 101
• the chamber formed by the housing 102 and form a sealing engagement therewith.
• the plunger 108 also comprises an integrally formed, downwardly
• valve member 108a which is received within a valve seat 109
• valve member 108a together with the valve seat
• An inlet channel 110 is also formed in the base 101
• the housing 102 comprises a first part 102c which defines the internal
• chamber 107 and additionally comprises a second part in the form of a lid 104.
• the first part 102c defines an upper wall 102d and side wall 102e of the
• the abutment surfaces of the first part 102c and the lid 104 comprises
• abutment surfaces are contacted together to define the remainder of the internal
• An outlet orifice 112 is formed where the grooves/recesses
• a one-way outlet valve is formed within the internal passageway defined by the abutment surfaces of the lid 104 and the first part of the housing 102c.
• the lid 104 is provided with a resiliently mounted flap 105 which
• the flap 105 is resiliently biased against the upper surface of the first
• the outlet valve is a one-way
• a coiled spring 111 is positioned within the chamber 107.
• the spring is
• housing additional comprises a support member 102b which extends
• the support member 102b provides support to the
• the spring urges the housing 102 upwards and away from the base so
• the lid 104 of the housing 102 can be pressed
• n- nimum threshold value for example 5 bars
• the plunger would be replaced with the
• This second embodiment is the same as
• a chamber 107 that is composed of two separate, internally-sealed
• the central compartment 107a is equivalent to the chamber 107
• the circular wall -201 of the housing 102 defines the central compartment
• This wall 201 is received wilhin a corresponding circular recessed
• the chamber 107a comprises a
• the second compartment is an air chamber 203 which surrounds the central compartment 107a.
• the air compartment 203 is defined between the
• An air plunger 204 is
• the air plunger 204 is circular in shape and comprises a recess 205
• FIG. 4 to illustrate the arrangement of the respective recesses and protrusions.
• the air chamber 203 comprises an outlet channel 204 which connects
• An air release valve (not shown) is provided in the outlet channel 204.
• the valve is a two way valve adapted to open and permit air to be dispensed
• the valve is preferably configured to open at the same time
• the housing 102 may be
• FIG 2 is shown in Figures 3 A and 3B. Referring to these Figures, it can be
• the housing has two outlets formed in its upper surface, namely the
• the edge 501 could be displaced from contact with the housing during the first stage of operation of the device by the pressure difference between the
• the plunger also has a downwardly extending valve member
• valve seat 109 of the base 101 to form the inlet valve.
• the lid is composed of two parts, a body 601 which is adapted to be
• hinged lid portion 602 has the resiliently deformable flap 105a formed on its
• the hinged lid portion 602 also has
• the abutment surface 701 comprises an aperture which
• the recess is semicircular in cross-sectional profile
• abutment surface of the lid 602 (not shown) comprises a similar groove to the
• the fluid outlet arrangement is
• recesses 707 extend from either side of the horseshoe-shaped recess 705
• the channel 204 is shown in Figures 7A and 7B as a direct channel
• Figure 7C is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X' of Figure 7A.
• Figure 7C the horseshoe-shaped recesses 705 and the horseshoe-shaped
• protrusion 706, which form the horseshoe shaped seal, are visible on either side
• expansion chamber 710 is also shown.
• the lid 104 is fitted to the upper surface of the first part 102c
• housing 102 is covered by a resiliently deformable membrane 801, which is
• valve member for the outlet valve of the device.
• the membrane 801 is caused to deform away from
• the membrane returns to its original position in which the
• Figure 9A shows a modification to the air plunger 204 and base 101
• the housing 102 is slidably mounted in a recess 103 of
• the air plunger 204 is modified to
• the resiliently mounted arm 901 is positioned
• air plunger 204 is resiliently biased to still seal the opening 902, whereas when
• the housing moves upwards relative to the base, the arm 901 is displaced from
• the opening 902 and air can pass through the opening until the rim 903 urges the arm 901 back towards the opening to reform the seal.
• Figure 9B shows yet another alternative embodiment of the device of the
• present invention which comprises an air leak formed therein.
• shown in figure 9B is similar to that shown in Figures 2A and 2B in certain
• 107a of the chamber is provided with a plunger of different construction to the
• plunger 108 In this embodiment, the plunger in the central cavity 107a is
• valve member 911 is received within
• valve seat 109 of the base 101 to form the first valve.
• valve is formed by a resiliently deformable membrane 801 having a
• the air plunger 204 is also of a different form but, in common with the
• FIG. 9 A comprises a resiliently mounted arm 901
• Figure 9C shows a further alternative embodiment of the device, which
• the base rather than being slidably mounted within a recessed groove formed in

Landscapes

• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)
• Reciprocating Pumps (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=32599048

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Families Citing this family (12)

Family Cites Families (10)

• 2003
  • 2003-12-05 EP EP03786088A patent/EP1569758A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-12-05 AU AU2003295088A patent/AU2003295088A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-12-05 JP JP2005502457A patent/JP2006509694A/ja not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-12-05 WO PCT/GB2003/005302 patent/WO2004054722A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2003-12-05 BR BR0316936-7A patent/BR0316936A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2003-12-05 US US10/538,850 patent/US20060071030A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-12-05 CA CA002509324A patent/CA2509324A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-12-05 WO PCT/GB2003/005316 patent/WO2004054723A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2003-12-05 AU AU2003290230A patent/AU2003290230A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-12-05 MX MXPA05006300A patent/MXPA05006300A/es not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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