Manually-operable spray dispenser with locking mechanism

• US 4,944,429 A
• Filed: 08/28/1987
• Issued: 07/31/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schering Corporation (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Schering Corporation (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Blake, William S., Bishop, Keith H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P.
• Application Number:
  US07/090,490
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 222/153, 222/321, 222/383, 222/384, 222/385, 222/402.11, 222/402.12, 222/402.13, 222/562, 222/182, 239/333
• US Class Current: 222/153.13
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0027 Means for neutralising the actuation of the sprayer pump locking means B05B11/1059; Means for preventing access to the sprayer actuation means
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0032 Manually actuated means located downstream the discharge nozzle for closing or covering it, e.g. shutters automatically removed during actuation of a spray pump B05B11/1053
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1007 by adjusting or modifying the pump end-of-sucking-stroke position
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1052 Actuation means locking means therefor B05B11/1059; the dispensing stroke being affected by the stored energy of a spring B05B11/109
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1059 Means for locking a pump or its actuation means in a fixed position B05B11/1091 takes precedence

Abstract

A spraying apparatus is disclosed which employs a manually operable pump adapted to discharge a dosage of a liquid, such as a pharmaceutical preparation, from an associated container. The pump includes a reciprocating stem which extends through a screw cap of the container. An actuator is mounted on the stem of the pump for conjoint reciprocating movement therewith relative to the screw cap. Upon the extension of the actuator and hence the stem, liquid is withdrawn from the container by the pump. Upon the depression of the actuator and hence the stem, the liquid is delivered to a spray nozzle formed integrally with the actuator and then discharged from the nozzle in the form of a spray or mist. In order to ensure the smooth and effective operation of the spraying apparatus, lugs on the actuator cooperate with ribs on the screw cap to inhibit the actuator from rocking on the stem as the actuator is depressed. The lugs also cooperate with a flange on the screw cap to inhibit the actuator from being ejected by the stem of the pump during its reciprocating movement. A dust cover mounted on the actuator is provided with a plurality of resilient legs which extend through the actuator and cooperate with the screw cap to inhibit the inadvertent depression of the actuator and hence the inadvertent actuation of the pump.

Claims

1. Spraying apparatus for withdrawing a dosage of liquid from a container and discharging the dosage of liquid in the form of a spray, comprising a cap removably attachable to a container of liquid;

pumping means for pumping liquid from a container attached to said cap, said pumping means including a stem extending through said cap such that said stem is reciprocable relative to said cap between an extended position and a retracted position;

actuating means for actuating said pumping means, said actuating means being movably mounted over and about said cap such that said actuating means is reciprocable relative to said cap between an extended position and a retracted position and said actuating means including spraying means for spraying liquid delivered thereto by said stem upon the movement of said stem from its extended position to its retracted position in response to the movement of said actuating means from its extended position to its retracted position;

covering means for covering said spraying means when said covering means is mounted on said actuating means; and

locking means for locking said actuating means in a locked position when said covering means is mounted on said actuating means, said locked position corresponding generally to said extended position of said actuating means, whereby said locking means inhibits the inadvertent actuation of said pumping means by said actuating means, said locking means including a plurality of openings provided in an upper surface of said actuating means and a plurality of resilient legs depending from said covering means, each of said legs being sized and shaped so as to extend through a corresponding one of said openings and having a lower end which is positioned in close proximity to an upper edge of said cap.

2. Spraying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said legs further includes a boss extending outwardly therefrom such that said boss engages an underside of said upper surface of said actuating means, whereby said boss inhibits its associated leg from passing back through said corresponding one of said openings after said covering means has been mounted on said actuating means.

3. Spraying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each of said legs is sufficiently flexible to permit it to be deflected outwardly as a result of its engagement with said upper edge of said cap during an attempt to move said actuating means from its extended position to its retracted position when said covering means is mounted on said actuating means, such deflection of said leg causing the outward deflection of its associated boss to thereby further inhibit said leg from passing back through said corresponding one of said openings, whereby said legs and said bosses cooperate to grip said actuating means so as to inhibit any substantial relative movement between said covering means and said actuating means.

4. Spraying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lower end of each of said legs has a contoured surface located so as to engage said upper edge of said cap during an attempt to move said actuating means from its extended position to its retracted position when said covering means is mounted on said actuating means, the shape of said contoured surface being selected so as to promote the deflection of its associated leg.

5. Spraying apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said actuating means is manually movable from its extended position to its retracted position when said covering means is removed from said actuating means.

6. Spraying apparatus for withdrawing a dosage of liquid from a container and discharging the dosage of liquid in the form of a spray, comprising a cap removably attachable to a container of liquid;

pumping means for pumping liquid from a container attached to said cap, said pumping means including a stem extending through said cap such that said stem is reciprocable relative to said cap between an extended position and a retracted position;

actuating means for actuating said pumping means, said actuating means being movably mounted over and about said cap such that said actuating means is reciprocable relative to said cap between an extended position and a retracted position and said actuating means including a plurality of openings provided in an upper surface thereof and spraying means for spraying liquid delivered thereto by said stem upon the movement of said stem from its extended position to its retracted position in response to the movement of said actuating means from its extended position to its retracted position;

covering means removably mounted on said actuating means for covering said spraying means when said covering means is mounted on said actuating means, said covering means being movable conjointly with said actuating means and including locking means formed integrally with said covering means for locking said actuating means in a locked position in response to the movement of said actuating means from its extended position toward its retracted position, said locking means depending from said covering means and extending through said openings in said upper surface of said actuating means to a point in close proximity to said cap said point being located such that said locking means is suspended a predetermined distance above said cap by said covering means, and said locked position being located such that it corresponds generally to said extended position of said actuating means and such that it is reached when said locking means moves said predetermined distance and engages said cap to thereby arrest the movement of said covering means and hence said actuating means relative to said cap, whereby said locking means inhibits the inadvertent actuation of said pumping means by said actuating means.

7. Spraying apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said locking means includes a plurality of resilient legs depending from said covering means, each of said legs being sized and shaped so as to extend through a corresponding one of said openings and having a lower end which is positioned in close proximity to an upper edge of said cap.

8. Spraying apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each of said legs further includes a boss extending outwardly therefrom such that said boss engages an underside of said upper surface of said actuating means, whereby said boss inhibits its associated leg from passing back through said corresponding one of said openings after said covering means has been mounted on said actuating means.

9. Spraying apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each of said legs is sufficiently flexible to permit it to be deflected outwardly as a result of its engagement with said upper edge of said cap during an attempt to move said actuating means from its extended position to its retracted position when said covering means is mounted on said actuating means, such deflection of said leg causing the outward deflection of its associated boss to thereby further inhibit said leg from passing back through said corresponding one of said openings, whereby said legs and said bosses cooperate to grip said actuating means so as to inhibit any substantial relative movement between said covering means and said actuating means.

10. Spraying apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said lower end of each of said legs has a contoured surface located so as to engage said upper edge of said cap during an attempt to move said actuating means from its extended position to its retracted position when said covering means is mounted on said actuating means, the shape of said contoured surface being selected so as to promote the deflection of its associated leg.

11. Spraying apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said actuating means is manually movable from its extended position to its retracted position when said covering means is removed from said actuating means.

12. Spraying apparatus for withdrawing a dosage of liquid from a container and discharging the dosage of liquid in the form of a spray, comprising a cap removably attachable to a container of liquid;

pumping means for pumping liquid from a container attached to said cap, said pumping means including a stem extending through said cap such that said stem is reciprocable relative to said cap between an extended position and a retracted position;

actuating means for actuating said pumping means, said actuating means being movably mounted over and about said cap such that said actuating means and said cap are arranged substantially coaxially and such that said actuating means is reciprocable relative to said cap between an extended position and a retracted position and said actuating means including spraying means seated on said stem of said pumping mans for spraying liquid delivered to said spraying means by said stem upon the movement of said stem from its extended position to its retracted position in response to the movement of said actuating means from its extended position to its retracted position, said spraying means including urging means for urging said stem of said pumping means into its extended position, whereby said actuating is urged into its extended position by said stem, said urging means including a spring;

stabilizing means provided on said cap and said actuating means for stabilizing said actuating means as it moves between its extended position and its retracted position and for inhibiting said actuating means from rocking while said spraying means is seated on said stem, whereby the coaxial relationship between said actuating means and said cap is substantially maintained during such movement of said actuating means, said stabilizing means including a plurality of lugs extending radially inwardly from an inner cylindrical surface of said actuating means and a plurality of ribs extending radially outwardly from an outer cylindrical surface of said cap, said lugs being shorted but wider than said ribs, each of said lugs being positioned between a corresponding pair of said ribs, whereby said lugs cooperate with said ribs to limit the rotational movement of said actuating means relative to said cap, and extending from said inner cylindrical surface of said actuating means a distance selected such that said lugs are in close proximity to said outer cylindrical surface of said cap, and each of said ribs extending from said outer cylindrical surface of said cap a distance selected such that said ribs are in close proximity to said inner cylindrical surface of said actuating means and extending from a lower portion of said outer cylindrical surface of said cap to an upper portion of said outer cylindrical surface of said cap, whereby each of said ribs extends along substantially the entire length of said outer cylindrical surface of said cap;

limiting means for limiting the movement of said actuating means relative to said cap as said actuating means moves from its retracted position toward its extended position, whereby said limiting means inhibits said actuating means from being inadvertently ejected by said stem of said pumping means as said stem moves from its retracted position to its extended position, said limiting means including at least one flange extending radially outwardly from said outer cylindrical surface of said cap, said at least one flange extending circumferentially about said outer cylindrical surface of said cap beneath an upper edge thereof and engaging said lugs on said actuating means when said actuating means is in its extended position, whereby said limiting means determines said extended position of said actuating means as well as its stroke;

covering means for covering said spraying means when said covering means is mounted on said actuating means; and

locking means for locking said actuating means in a locked position when said covering means is mounted on said actuating means, said locked position corresponding generally to said extended position of said actuating means, whereby said locking means inhibits the inadvertent actuation of said pumping means by said actuating means, said locking means including a plurality of openings provided in an upper surface of said actuating means and a plurality of resilient legs depending from said covering means, each of said legs being sized and shaped so as to extend through a corresponding one of said openings and having a lower end which is positioned in close proximity to an upper edge of said outer cylindrical surface of said cap.

13. Spraying apparatus according to claim 12, wherein each of said legs further includes a boss extending outwardly therefrom such that said boss engages an underside of said upper surface of said actuating means, whereby said boss inhibits its associated leg from passing back through said corresponding one of said openings after said covering means has been mounted on said actuating means.

14. Spraying apparatus according to claim 13, wherein each of said legs is sufficiently flexible to permit it to be deflected outwardly as a result of its engagement with said upper edge of said outer cylindrical surface of said cap during an attempt to move said actuating means from its extended position to its retracted position when said covering means is mounted on said actuating means, such deflection of said leg causing the outward deflection of its associated boss to thereby further inhibit said leg from passing back through said corresponding one of said openings, whereby said legs and said bosses cooperate to grip said actuating means so as to inhibit any substantial relative movement between said covering means and said actuating means.

15. Spraying apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said lower end of each of said legs has a contoured surface located so as to engage said upper edge of said cylindrical surface of said cap during an attempt to move said actuating means from its extended position to its retracted position when said covering means is mounted on said actuating means, the shape of said contoured surface being selected so as to promote the deflection of its associated leg.

16. Spraying apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said actuating means is manually movable from its extended position to its retracted position when said covering means is removed from said actuating means.

17. Spraying apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said cap is threadedly attached to a container which holds a pharmaceutical preparation.