Self-resetting child-resistant trigger sprayer

• US 6,286,723 B1
• Filed: 03/06/2000
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MeadWestvaco Calmar Incorporated (Meadwestvaco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Saint-Gobain Calmar Incorporated (Meadwestvaco Corporation)
• Inventors: Driskell, William L., Sweeton, Steve L., Montaner, Pedro Parés
• Primary Examiner(s): Derakshani, Philippe
• Application Number:
  US09/519,664
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 222/153.13, 222/383.1, 222/384
• US Class Current: 222/153.13
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1057 Triggers, i.e. actuation means consisting of a single lever having one end rotating or pivoting around an axis or a hinge fixedly attached to the container, and another end directly actuated by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1059 Means for locking a pump or its actuation means in a fixed position B05B11/1091 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1077 characterised by a particular shape or material B05B11/1076 takes precedence

Abstract

A self-resetting child-resistant trigger sprayer having a lock slidingly mounted on the trigger lever for locking the trigger sprayer. The lock has a pair of extensions, a biasing member and a projection that all extend away from the main portion of the body of the lock. The extensions engage a portion of the trigger sprayer and the biasing member provide a restoring force that enables the trigger sprayer to be self-resetting. The projection is capable of being moved by the operator of the sprayer along the trigger lever. When in a raised position, the extensions disengage from a portion of the body of the sprayer placing the sprayer in an unlocked position. However, when the projection is released, the extensions engage a portion of the piston cylinder preventing the piston cylinder from moving and the biasing member automatically force the lock into a lower, locked position on the trigger lever thus rendering the sprayer self-resetting and child-resistant.

Claims

1. A locking body for use with a self-resetting child-resistant trigger operated sprayer comprising:

a one-piece structure including a front portion, a rear portion and a pair of side portions spaced from one another;

said front portion including a projection extending forwardly of said body;

said side portions being interconnected at said forward portion of said body and extending rearwardly from said forward portion in substantially parallel relationship to one another;

said side portions including a pair of spaced resilient arms having upper ends adapted to abut against shoulders on a sprayer;

said side portions having ends at said rear portion adapted to engage a pump body of a sprayer;

said side portions having retainer projections extending laterally therefrom and being adapted to engage a trigger lever of a pump sprayer.

2. The locking body according to claim 1, wherein:

said retainer projections extend inwardly toward one another from said side portions.

3. The locking body according to claim 1, wherein:

said retainer projections extend outwardly from said side portions.

4. The locking body according to claim 1, wherein:

said resilient arms are of arcuate configuration.

5. The locking body according to claim 1, wherein:

said ends of said side portions extend inwardly toward one another.

6. A self-resetting child-resistant sprayer comprising:

a pump body;

a trigger lever pivotally mounted at an upper end thereof to said pump body, said trigger lever having a lower free end and a forward finger engaging surface extending between said ends;

a locking means supported on said trigger lever for preventing trigger actuation in a first position of said locking means;

said locking means having a portion thereof in abutting engagement with a confronting portion of said pump body in said first position;

said locking means having biasing means and being slidingly mounted on said trigger lever;

said locking means having a projection extending forwardly of said finger engaging surface to provide for manually sliding of said locking means against the bias of said biasing means from said first position to a second position in which said extension is out of engagement with said confronting portion of said pump body to permit trigger lever actuation,

said biasing means automatically returning said locking means to said first position.

7. A self-resetting child-resistant sprayer comprising:

a pump body;

a trigger lever pivotally mounted at an upper end thereof to said pump body, said trigger lever having a forward finger engaging surface extending between said ends;

said trigger lever having an opposing free end and rearwardly extending means intermediate said ends for actuating said sprayer upon manual operation of said trigger lever;

a locking means supported on said trigger lever for preventing trigger actuation in a first position of said locking means;

said locking means having a portion thereof in abutting engagement with a confronting portion of said pump body in said first position;

said locking means being slidingly mounted on said trigger lever;

said locking means having biasing means for urging said locking means toward said first position;

said locking means having a projection extending forwardly of said finger engaging surface for manually sliding said locking means against the bias of said biasing means from said first position to a second position in which said extension is out of engagement with said confronting portion of said pump body to permit trigger actuation,

said biasing means automatically returning said locking means to said first position.

8. The locking body according to claim 7, wherein:

said locking means has retainer projections extending inwardly toward one another for retaining said locking means on said trigger lever.

9. The locking body according to claim 8, wherein:

said biasing means are resilient arms of arcuate configuration.

10. The locking body according to claim 9, wherein:

said biasing means is integral with said locking means.

11. The locking body according to claim 10, wherein:

said locking means has a plurality of extensions, each extension having an end extending inwardly.

12. A self-resetting child-resistant sprayer comprising:

a pump body;

a trigger lever pivotally mounted at an upper end thereof to said pump body, said trigger lever having a forward finger engaging surface extending between said ends;

a locking means supported on said trigger lever for preventing actuation of said sprayer in a first position of said locking means and for actuating said pump dispenser in a second position of said locking means;

said locking means having an extension in abutting engagement with a confronting portion of said pump body in said first position and being slidingly mounted on said trigger lever;

said trigger lever having at least one slot therein for slidingly receiving said locking means;

said locking means having biasing means;

said biasing means automatically returning said locking means to said first position; and

said locking means having a projection extending forwardly beyond said finger engaging surface to provide for manually sliding of said locking means against the bias of said biasing means from said first position to a second position in which said extension is out of engagement with said confronting portion of said pump body to permit trigger actuation.

13. The locking body according to claim 12, wherein:

said retainer projections extend outwardly from said side portions away from one another.

14. The locking body according to claim 13, wherein:

said biasing means are resilient arms of arcuate configuration.

15. The locking body according to claim 14, wherein:

said biasing means is integral with said locking means.