Liquid dispenser with refill packing

• US 5,819,986 A
• Filed: 09/06/1996
• Issued: 10/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Itsac NV
• Original Assignee: Itsac NV
• Inventors: Last, Laurens, Stokhuyzen, Michiel
• Primary Examiner(s): KAUFMAN, JOSEPH A
• Application Number:
  US08/702,545
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 222/95, 222/96, 222/105, 222/383.1
• US Class Current: 222/95
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0054 Cartridges, i.e. containers specially designed for easy attachment to or easy removal from the rest of the sprayer attachment arrangements between pump and container B05B11/1043
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/026 Membranes separating the content remaining in the container from the atmospheric air to compensate underpressure inside the container
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1004 comprising a movable cylinder and a stationary piston
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1011 without substantial movement of the nozzle in the direction of the pressure stroke
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1045 the pump being preassembled as an independent unit before being mounted on the container B05B11/1047, B05B11/1049 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1095 with movable suction side
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0294 Combined with valves

Abstract

A dispenser for liquid, gel, granular or powdered media, comprising an outer container of rigid material in which a suction pump is operated by a trigger mechanism. A pump outlet is connected via a flexible tube to a spray nozzle, and via a suction tube to a connector tube. A refill packing is provided within the outer container and includes an integrally manufactured connector that can be pressed onto the connector tube. The connector tube opens the connector upon insertion thereinto. A special plug, including guide arms, ensures that the connector opens upon insertion of the connector tube, and closes again upon withdrawal of the connector tube from the connector. The connector/connector tube assembly provides leak-free connection of the refill packing within the outer container.

Claims

1. A liquid dispenser with refill packing, comprising:

an openable outer container of rigid material and provided with a pump;

a nozzle connected to the pump at a delivery side of the pump and a connector tube connected to the pump at an intake side of the pump, the connector tube having a hollow pin construction which narrows at an extremity thereof;

an inner container of flexible material in the form of a flexible refill packing for dispensing a liquid;

a plug member closing off the inner container, connectable to the connector tube, and including a connector body having a central bore into which the connector tube is insertable;

a plug head formed in the extremity of the connector tube such that lateral openings in a wall of the extremity are provided adjacent the plug head;

a seat formed in a rear end of the central bore, into which a plug can be inserted to close the rear end of the bore, the plug having a cavity into which the plug head of the connector tube fits; and

guide arms connecting the plug to the connector body and fixing the plug in an open position.

2. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pump comprises an externally openable dispenser pump.

3. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pump comprises an atomizing pump.

4. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connector body further comprises upstanding columns at a back side thereof which extend beyond the plug and are connected at their free ends to a rear edge.

5. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rear edge is provided with lateral pins arranged to prevent the refill packing from being sucked into the connector during a pumping operation.

6. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 4, wherein the plug is connected to the upstanding columns by the guide arms.

7. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connector body further comprises a mounting edge, for mounting the connector body to the inner container.

8. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connector tube further comprises a circumferential groove into which an O-ring is fitted.

9. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connector tube is mounted in the outer container at a bottom side thereof, with the plug head extending in an upward direction for connection to the pump through a flexible hose.

10. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an outlet nozzle,

wherein the outer container further includes an outlet branch integrally formed therewith, and the pump is positioned in a protected space of the outer container and is connected to the outlet nozzle through the outlet branch.

11. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 10, wherein the pump comprises:

a piston pump having a hollow piston rod with a hollow piston connected to the outlet nozzle, and

a pump cylinder reciprocally movable over the piston rod, and being operated by a fork-shaped lever inserted into an engaging member, a fork-shaped end of the lever being pivotally mounted on opposite walls of the outer container.

12. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a trigger including a stem protruding through a slot in a wall of the outer container from an interior of the dispenser to an exterior of the dispenser.

13. The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 12, wherein the outer container has a cover and a locking knob provided near the outlet branch when the cover is closed to guide efficient operation of the trigger by an operator'"'"'s hand during use of the dispenser.

14. A connector system for leak-free connection to spaces filled with gaseous, liquid, granular or powdered media, the connector system comprising:

a connector tube having a hollow pin construction with an extremity, the extremity including a plug head and lateral openings extending through a wall of the extremity adjacent the plug head;

a plug member including a connector body having a central bore which can be closed at a rear end thereof by a plug inserted into a seat formed in the rear end, the plug having a cavity into which the plug head is adapted to fit; and

guide arms which connect the plug to the connector body and fix the plug in an open position.

15. A connector system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the connector tube and the plug member are manufactured as a single piece.

16. A refill packing for connection to a liquid dispenser having a connector tube constructed as a hollow pin with an extremity onto which a plug head is formed, the refill packing comprising:

a plug member including a connector body having a central bore which can be closed at a rear end thereof by a plug inserted into a seat formed in the rear end, the plug having a cavity into which the plug head of the connector tube is adapted to fit.