Atomizing fluid dispenser two

• US 5,020,696 A
• Filed: 11/27/1989
• Issued: 06/04/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Specialty Packaging Licensing Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: RJS Industries Inc.
• Inventors: Cater, Miro S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): DERAKSHANI, PHILIPPE
• Application Number:
  US07/441,893
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 222/321, 222/341, 222/383, 222/385, 222/400.5, 222/401, 222/402.1, 222/402.2, 417/544, 229/333
• US Class Current: 222/321.2
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1018 and the controlling element cooperating with means for opening or closing the inlet valve B05B11/1019 takes precedence

Abstract

A vertical hollow body has a first upper hollow vertical cylinder and a second lower hollow outer vertical cylinder. A third inner hollow vertical cylinder is disposed concentrically within and spaced from the second cylinder. The lower ends of the first and second cylinders are joined. The upper end of the third cylinder has an aperture. A hollow piston is vertically movable within the first cylinder. A vertical member has an upper section extending into the piston interior, an enlarged middle section and a fourth vertical hollow cylinder as an enlarged lower section. The fourth cylinder has an inner shoulder at its upper end. A spring is disposed between and bears against the joined lower ends and the shoulder. A pump chamber is defined by a hollow vertical region bounded by adjacent portions of the body, member and piston and has a first fluid entry port and a second fluid discharge port. An actuator device is disposed above and engages the piston to open the second port and close the first port on the downward stroke and to open the first port and close the second port on the upward stroke.

Claims

1. An atomizing dispenser for dispensing fluid from a container of this fluid, the dispenser comprising:

a vertical hollow elongated body having a vertical axis, the body having an upper section defining a first hollow vertical cylinder having a top opening and a lower section defining a second outer hollow vertical cylinder having a diameter smaller than that of the first cylinder and a third inner hollow vertical cylinder concentric with and spaced inwardly from the second cylinder, the second and third cylinders being joined together at their lower ends, the upper end of the third cylinder being disposed below the upper end of the second cylinder and having an aperture therein, the upper end of the second cylinder being open, the lower end of the first cylinder curving inwardly to merge with the upper end of the second cylinder, the inner cylindrical surface of the second cylinder in a region adjacent but below the region of merger of the first and second cylinders having a horizontally extending groove disposed therein;

a hollow piston having upper and lower open ends and having an axis coincident with the body axis, the piston being vertically movable along its axis with the lower end of the piston slidably engaging the inner surface of the upper section of the body;

a vertical member having an axis coincident with the body axis and being vertically movable along its axis between fully raised and fully lowered positions, the member having an upper section extending through the lower end of the piston into the hollow interior thereof, an integral middle section which is enlarged with respect to the upper section and an integral lower section which is further enlarged, the lower section defining a fourth vertical hollow cylinder disposed between the second and third cylinders and having an open lower end, the fourth cylinder having an inwardly extending horizontal shoulder at its upper end and having a diameter which is slightly less than that of the second cylinder and is larger than that of the third cylinder, the lower end of the fourth cylinder slidably engaging the inner surface of the upper end of the second cylinder when the member is fully raised and being disposed adjacent the joined lower ends of the second and third cylinders when the member is fully lowered;

spring means disposed within the body to bear against the joined lower ends of the second and third cylinders and to extend upwardly into the fourth cylinder to bear against said shoulder, the spring means having fully extended and fully compressed positions;

a pump chamber defined by a hollow vertical region bounded by adjacent portions of the body, member and piston, the region in horizontal cross section defining a hollow circular annulus centered on the body axis, the chamber cooperating with said adjacent portions to establish a first chamber port for fluid entry and a second chamber port for fluid discharge, the first port being formed between the lower end of the fourth cylinder and the horizontal groove, the first port being open when the lower end of the fourth cylinder is aligned therewith and being closed when the lower end of the fourth cylinder is out of alignment with the horizontal groove, the second port being formed between the middle member section and the piston, the second port being opened when the piston is separated from the middle member section and being closed when the piston and middle member section are engaged, the chamber, after the dispenser is primed, being normally filled with fluid and sealed at both ports to prevent fluid from leaking out of the chamber when the piston and member are in fully raised positions, the first port being at least partially unsealed to allow fluid to enter the chamber when the member is being raised from fully lowered to fully raised position, the lower end of the fourth cylinder is aligned with the horizontal groove and the middle member section and piston are engaged, the second port being at least partially unsealed to allow fluid to be discharged from the chamber when the member is being lowered from fully raised to fully lowered position and the upper member section is disengaged from the piston; and

actuator means provided with a fluid discharge orifice and having an axis coincident with the body axis, the actuator means being disposed above and engaging the piston in a normal fully raised position at which the member and piston are in fully raised position, both chamber ports are sealed and the spring means is in fully extended position, the actuator means, when subjected to downward pressure, establishing a force which moves the piston and member downwardly with the piston and middle member section being disengaged, thereby producing a spray discharge of fluid through the discharge orifice, until the piston and middle member section are engaged in fully lowered postions and the spring means is in fully compressed position, the spring means, when the downward pressure on the actuator means is released, automatically returning to its fully extended position, thereby returning the actuator means to its normal raised position.

3. The dispenser as set forth in claim 1 wherein on the upward stroke a suction force developed within the chamber creates an onward force onto that portion of the area of the piston that is exposed to the pump chamber which is opposite to and exceeds the force of the spring until the lower end of the cylinder is aligned with the horizontal groove and the suction force is relieved by the opening of the first port whereby the spring forces the piston upward and closes the first port and thereafter returns the actuator means to its normal raised position.

4. The dispenser of claim 3 wherein the lower end of the piston has an external skirt and another horizontal groove is formed in the region where the lower end of the first cylinder merges with the upper end of the second cylinder, the piston reaching its lowest position when the skirt engages the second groove.

5. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein the lower end of the lower section of the member is provide with an external peripheral lip.

2. An atomizing dispenser for dispensing fluid from a container of this fluid, the dispenser comprising:

a vertical hollow elongated body having a vertical axis, the body having an upper section defining a first hollow vertical cylinder having a top opening and a lower section defining a second outer hollow vertical cylinder having a diameter smaller than that of the first cylinder and a third inner hollow vertical cylinder concentric with and spaced inwardly from the second cylinder, the second and third cylinders being joined together at their lower ends, the upper end of the third cylinder being disposed below the upper end of the second cylinder and having an aperture therein, the upper end of the second cylinder being open, the lower end of the first cylinder curving inwardly to merge with the upper end of the second cylinder;

a hollow piston having upper and lower open ends and having an axis coincident with the body axis, the piston being vertically movable along its axis with the lower end of the piston slidably engaging the inner surface of the upper section of the body;

a vertical member having an axis coincident with the body axis and being vertically movable along its axis between fully raised and fully lowered positions, the member having an upper section extending through the lower end of the piston into the hollow interior thereof, an integral middle section which is enlarged with respect to the upper section and an integral lower section which is further enlarged, the lower section defining a fourth vertical hollow cylinder disposed between the second and third cylinders and having an open lower end, the fourth cylinder having an inwardly extending horizontal shoulder at its upper end and having a diameter which is slightly less than that of the second cylinder and is larger than that of the third cylinder, the lower end of the fourth cylinder slidably engaging the inner surface of the upper end of the second cylinder when the member is fully raised and being disposed adjacent the joined lower ends of the second and third cylinders when the member is fully lowered;

spring means disposed within the body to bear against the joined lower ends of the second and third cylinders and to extend upwardly into the fourth cylinder to bear against said shoulder, the spring means having fully extended and fully compressed positions;

a pump chamber defined by a hollow vertical region bounded by adjacent portions of the body, member and piston, the region in horizontal cross section defining a hollow circular annulus centered on the body axis, the chamber cooperating with said adjacent portions to establish a first chamber port for fluid entry and a second chamber port for fluid discharge, the chamber, after the dispenser is primed, being normally filled with fluid and sealed at both ports to prevent fluid from leaking out of the chamber when the piston and member are in fully raised positions, the first port being at least partially unsealed to allow fluid to enter the chamber when the member is being raised from fully lowered to fully raised position, the second port being at least partially unsealed to allow fluid to be discharged from the chamber when the member is being lowered from fully raised to fully lowered position and the upper member section is disengaged from the piston; and

actuator means provided with a fluid discharge orifice and having an axis coincident with the body axis, the actuator means being disposed above and engaging the piston in a normal fully raised position at which the member and piston are in fully raised position, both chamber ports are sealed and the spring means is in fully extended position, the actuator means, when subjected to downward pressure, establishing a force which moves the piston and member downwardly, thereby producing a spray discharge of fluid through the discharge orifice, until the piston is in fully lowered position and the spring means is in fully compressed position, the spring means, when the downward pressure on the actuator means is released, automatically returning to its fully extended position, thereby returning the actuator means to its normal raised position.