Child-resistant rotating lock for manually operated pump dispenser

• US 6,003,738 A
• Filed: 12/29/1997
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Westrock Dispensing Systems, Inc. (WestRock Company)
• Original Assignee: Continental Sprayers International, Inc.
• Inventors: Nelson, Philip L., Foster, Donald D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): DEAL, DAVID R
• Application Number:
  US08/998,793
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 222/153.13, 222/284, 222/384, 222/383.1
• US Class Current: 222/384
• 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 11/1011 without substantial movement of the nozzle in the direction of the pressure stroke
• 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 child resistant lock for manually-operated pump dispensers such as trigger sprayers, prevents movement of the trigger and reciprocation of the sprayer pump element when the lock is engaged.

Claims

1. A locking trigger sprayer comprising:

a sprayer housing;

a pump chamber on the sprayer housing;

a pump element mounted on the pump chamber for reciprocating movement along a first axis between charge and discharge positions of the pump element relative to the pump chamber, the pump element having an abutment;

a trigger mounted on the sprayer housing for movement relative to the sprayer housing, the trigger being operatively connected to the pump element to reciprocate the pump element between its charge and discharge positions in response to movement of the trigger;

a lock base mounted on the sprayer housing for movement of the lock base around a second axis, different from the first axis, between engage and disengage positions of the lock base relative to the sprayer housing, where in the engage position a portion of the lock base is positioned adjacent the pump element abutment where it will engage with the abutment when the pump element is moved from the charge position toward the discharge position and thereby prevent the pump element from moving between its charge and discharge positions, and in the disengage position the portion of the lock base is displaced from the pump element abutment and permits moving the pump element between its charge and discharge positions.

2. The locking trigger sprayer of claim 1, wherein:

the lock base has a circular collar that extends around the sprayer housing and thereby mounts the lock base on the sprayer housing for movement of the lock base around the second axis.

3. The locking trigger sprayer of claim 2, wherein:

the circular collar has an axis of rotation that is parallel with the second axis.

4. The locking trigger sprayer of claim 2, wherein:

the portion of the lock base is an arm that projects outwardly from the collar in a direction alongside the second axis.

5. The locking trigger sprayer of claim 4, wherein:

the lock base has a handle that projects outwardly from the collar in a direction opposite to that of the arm.

6. The locking trigger sprayer of claim 4, wherein:

the pump element is a piston mounted on the pump chamber for reciprocating movement in the pump chamber, the pump element abutment is on an exterior surface of the piston, and the arm of the lock base projects between the abutment and the pump chamber when the lock base is in its engage position and the arm is displaced from between the abutment and the pump chamber when the lock base is in its disengage position.

7. The locking trigger sprayer of claim 1, wherein:

the sprayer housing has a connector adapted to attach the sprayer housing to a bottle container, and the connector has a center axis that is parallel to the second axis.

8. The locking trigger sprayer of claim 1, wherein:

the pump element is a piston mounted on the pump chamber for reciprocating movement in the pump chamber, the pump element abutment is on an exterior surface of the piston, and the portion of the lock base is positioned between the abutment and the pump chamber when the lock base is in its engage position and the portion of the lock base is displaced from between the abutment and the pump chamber when the lock base is in its disengage position.

9. A locking trigger sprayer comprising:

a sprayer housing;

a pump chamber on the sprayer housing;

a pump element mounted on the pump chamber for reciprocating movement between charge and discharge positions of the pump element relative to the pump chamber, the pump element having an abutment;

a trigger mounted on the sprayer housing for movement relative to the sprayer housing, the trigger being operatively connected to the pump element to reciprocate the pump element between its charge and discharge positions in response to movement of the trigger;

a lock base mounted on the sprayer housing for movement of the lock base around an axis of rotation between engage and disengage positions of the lock base relative to the sprayer housing, and an arm projecting outwardly from the lock base in a direction alongside the lock base axis of rotation where the arm is positioned adjacent the pump element abutment where it will engage with the abutment when the pump element is moved from the charge position toward the discharge position and thereby prevent the pump element from moving between its charge and discharge positions when the lock base is in its engage position, and the arm is displaced from the pump element abutment and permits the pump element to move between its charge and discharge positions when the lock base is in its disengage position.

10. The locking trigger sprayer of claim 9, wherein:

the lock base has a circular collar that extends around the sprayer housing and thereby mounts the lock base on the sprayer housing for movement of the lock base around the lock base axis of rotation.

11. The locking trigger sprayer of claim 9, wherein:

the pump element is mounted on the pump chamber for reciprocating movement along a pump element axis that is oriented at an angle relative to the lock base axis of rotation.

12. The locking trigger sprayer of claim 9, wherein:

the sprayer housing has a connector adapted to attach the sprayer housing to a bottle container, and the connector has a center axis that is parallel to the lock base axis of rotation.

13. The locking trigger sprayer of claim 9, wherein:

the lock base has a handle that projects outwardly from the lock base in a direction opposite that of the arm.

14. The locking trigger sprayer of claim 9, wherein:

the pump element is a piston mounted on the pump chamber for reciprocating movement in the pump chamber, the pump element abutment is on an exterior surface of the piston, and the arm of the lock base projects between the abutment and the pump chamber when the lock base is in its engage position and the arm is displaced from between the abutment and the pump chamber when the lock base is in its disengage position.

15. A locking trigger sprayer comprising:

a sprayer housing;

a pump chamber on the sprayer housing;

a pump element mounted on the pump chamber for reciprocating movement between charge and discharge positions of the pump element relative to the pump chamber, the pump element having an abutment;

a trigger mounted on the sprayer housing for movement relative to the sprayer housing, the trigger being operatively connected to the pump element to reciprocate the pump element between its charge and discharge positions in response to movement of the trigger;

a lock base mounted on the sprayer housing for movement of the lock base around an axis of rotation between engage and disengage positions of the lock base relative to the sprayer housing, where in the engage position a portion of the lock base is positioned between the pump element abutment and the pump chamber and prevents the pump element from moving between its charge and discharge positions, and in the disengage position the portion of the lock base is displaced from between the pump element abutment and the pump chamber and permits moving the pump element between its charge and discharge positions.

16. The locking trigger sprayer of claim 15, wherein:

when in the engage position the portion of the lock base positioned between the pump element abutment and the pump chamber will engage with the abutment when the pump element is moved from the charge position toward the discharge position and thereby prevent the pump element from moving between its charge and discharge positions.

17. The locking trigger sprayer of claim 15, wherein:

the portion of the lock base is an arm that projects from the lock base in a direction alongside the lock base axis of rotation.

18. The locking trigger sprayer of claim 17, wherein:

the lock base has a handle that projects outwardly from the collar in a direction opposite to that of the arm.

19. The locking trigger sprayer of claim 15, wherein:

the lock base has a circular collar that extends around the sprayer housing and thereby mounts the lock base on the sprayer housing for movement of the lock base around the lock base axis of rotation.

20. The locking trigger of claim 15, wherein:

the pump element is mounted on the pump chamber for reciprocating movement along a pump element axis that is oriented at an angle relative to the lock base axis of rotation.