Dispenser with lock

• US 7,249,692 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2005
• Issued: 07/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sequistperfect Dispensing Foreign, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Seaquist Perfect Dispensing Foreign Incorporated
• Inventors: Hallman, Paul E., Cho, Sean H., Ksiazk, Jason A., Werner, Jonathan D., Walters, Peter J., Braun, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicolas; Frederick C.
• Application Number:
  US11/268,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20060113327A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 222/153.13, 222/153.14, 222/153.12, 222/153.1, 222/182, 222/321.8, 222/381, 222/383.1, 222/402.11, 222/402.13, 222/402.15, 222/321.7, 222/321.9, 222/402.1
• US Class Current: 222/153.11
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1014 the pump chamber being arranged substantially coaxially to the container
• 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: B65D 83/201 Lever-operated actuators B65D83/206 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/22 with a mechanical means to disable actuation B65D50/00 takes precedence

Abstract

A dispensing assembly is provided for a container of fluent material. A hand-operable dispenser cartridge is adapted to be mounted to the container. An actuator, which may include a nozzle or spout, is mounted on the cartridge. A locking sleeve is mounted around the cartridge and has an upper abutment edge and a recess. The locking sleeve can be rotated between a first rotated position preventing actuation of the dispensing assembly and a second rotated position permitting actuation of the dispensing assembly.

Claims

1. A dispensing assembly in the form of a dispensing pump assembly for a container of fluent material, said assembly comprising:

(A) a pump cartridge that (1) has an outwardly projecting, reciprocatable, product-dispensing stem biased to an elevated rest position, and (2) is adapted to be installed in a mouth of a container that has a connection feature adjacent the mouth;

(B) a closure for mounting on said container at said mouth and having (1) a connection feature for mating with said container connection feature to connect said closure to said container, (2) a retention feature for engaging a portion of said pump cartridge to retain said pump cartridge on said container, and (3) an opening into which said pump cartridge projects, (4) an annular shoulder, and (5) an annular shroud that extends (a) upwardly from the inner periphery of said annular shoulder, and (b) laterally around a portion of said pump cartridge;

(C) an actuator mounted on said stem and that has (1) a laterally projecting spout defining a dispensing passage for establishing fluid communication between said stem and the exterior of said actuator, and (2) a top end defining a force-bearing actuation region for being subjected to an actuation force to depress said actuator to urge said stem further into said pump cartridge to actuate said pump assembly;

(D) a non-removable locking sleeve rotatably mounted on said closure around both said stem and actuator, said locking sleeve defining at least a first upper abutment edge for engaging an underside of said spout to prevent downward movement of said actuator when said locking sleeve is in a first rotated position to lock said pump assembly from being actuated, said locking sleeve defining at least a first recess for accommodating downward movement of said actuator spout when said locking sleeve is in a second rotated position while said actuator is depressed to actuate said pump assembly, said locking sleeve being disposed around said closure annular shroud, said locking sleeve having a bottom end supporting said locking sleeve on said closure annular shoulder for rotation about said closure annular shroud, said locking sleeve including a radially outwardly extending peripheral flange adjacent said locking sleeve bottom end;

(E) an exterior housing that is mounted around at least a portion of said closure and fixed thereto, said housing having an open upper end receiving said locking sleeve bottom end and said locking sleeve peripheral flange, said housing having a radially inwardly projecting retention lip at said open upper end of said housing for overlying and engaging said locking sleeve outwardly extending peripheral flange so as to retain said locking sleeve around said housing shroud and to maintain said locking sleeve bottom end on said housing annular shoulder to accommodate rotation of said locking sleeve around said closure shroud;

(F) a trigger support extending from said housing rearwardly of said spout; and

(G) a trigger that

(1) is pivotally mounted to said trigger support,

(2) extends over a portion of said actuator,

(3) defines an aperture located at least partly around said spout to accommodate dispensing of fluent material from said spout through said aperture;

(4) engages said actuator top end, and

(5) has a finger-grippable lever portion extending from said aperture generally downwardly.

2. The dispensing pump assembly in accordance with claim 1 in which

said closure has a plurality of radially outwardly extending, circumferentially spaced vertical ribs below said housing annular shoulder;

and

said housing has at least one radially inwardly projecting internal vertical rib adapted to be received between two of said closure ribs to prevent relative rotation between said housing and said closure.

3. The dispensing pump assembly in accordance with claim 1 in which

said closure has an open bottom end defining said closure opening into which said pump cartridge can project;

said closure has an annular retention bead projecting radially outwardly adjacent said closure bottom end;

said exterior housing has a bottom end; and

said exterior housing has an annular groove that is adjacent said housing bottom end and that faces radially inwardly for receiving said closure retention bead in a snap-fit engagement to retain said housing on said closure.

4. The dispensing pump assembly in accordance with claim 1 in which said locking sleeve and said housing have interengageable features accommodating rotation of said locking sleeve relative to said closure between (1) at least one unlocked actuatable position corresponding to said second rotated position permitting reciprocation of said actuator, and (2) at least one releasably locked position corresponding to said first rotated position preventing reciprocation of said actuator.

5. The dispensing pump assembly in accordance with claim 4 in which said interengageable features include

at least one arcuate tab that is on said housing and that projects radially inwardly;

and

at least two arcuate notches that are circumferentially spaced apart on said locking sleeve and that each opens radially outwardly for releasably receiving said housing tab in a releasable detent engagement to releasably hold said locking sleeve selectively in one of said first rotated position and said second rotated position.

6. The dispensing pump assembly in accordance with claim 4 in which said interengageable features include

at least one tab that is on said housing and that projects radially inwardly;

and

at least one pair of spaced-apart ramps on said locking sleeve, each said ramp having a tapered long surface and an angled shorter retention wall generally facing the angled shorter retention wall of the other ramp to define a radially outward opening for releasably receiving said housing tab in a releasable detent engagement between said retention walls to releasably hold said locking sleeve selectively in one of said first rotated position and said second rotated position.

7. The dispensing pump assembly in accordance with claim 1 adapted to be installed in a mouth of a container having an external male thread around said mouth, and in which said closure has an internal female thread for mating with said container external male thread.

8. The dispensing pump assembly in accordance with claim 1 in which

said assembly is adapted for use with a container having an upwardly facing, annular rim around said container mouth;

said pump cartridge includes a peripheral flange extending radially outwardly; and

said closure has a radially inwardly projecting flange to define said retention feature on said closure wherein said radially inwardly projecting flange is adapted to overlie said pump cartridge flange and to clamp said pump cartridge flange against said container rim.

9. The dispensing pump assembly in accordance with claim 1 in which

said locking sleeve has a third rotated position and fourth rotated position;

said locking sleeve defines a second upper abutment edge for engaging the underside of said actuator spout to prevent downward movement of said actuator when said locking sleeve is in said third rotated position; and

said locking sleeve defines a second recess for accommodating downward movement of said actuator spout when said locking sleeve is in said fourth rotated position while said actuator is depressed.

10. The dispensing pump in accordance with claim 1 in which

said actuator top end defines spaced-apart, linear, parallel grooves aligned generally parallel;

and

said trigger defines two spaced-apart, linear cam ribs aligned generally parallel to said actuator grooves for each being received in one of said grooves.

11. A dispensing assembly for a container of fluent material, said assembly comprising:

(A) a dispenser cartridge that (1) has an upwardly projecting, reciprocatable, product-dispensing stem biased to an elevated rest position, and (2) is adapted to be installed in a mouth of a container;

(B) an actuator that (1) is mounted on said stem for establishing fluid communication between said stem and the exterior of said actuator for dispensing said fluent material, (2) has a force-bearing actuation region for being subjected to an actuation force to depress said actuator to urge said stem further into said dispenser cartridge to actuate said dispensing assembly, and (3) has a lateral projection; and

(C) a locking sleeve rotatably mounted around both said stem and actuator, said locking sleeve having a first rotated position, a second rotated position, a third rotated position, and a fourth rotated position, said locking sleeve defining a first upper abutment edge for engaging an underside of said actuator lateral projection to prevent downward movement of said actuator when said locking sleeve is in a first rotated position to lock said dispensing assembly from being actuated, said locking sleeve defining a first recess for accommodating downward movement of said actuator lateral projection when said locking sleeve is in a second rotated position while said actuator is depressed to actuate said dispensing assembly, said locking sleeve defining a second upper abutment edge for engaging the underside of said actuator lateral projection to prevent downward movement of said actuator when said locking sleeve is in said third rotated position, and said locking sleeve defining a second recess for accommodating downward movement of said actuator lateral projection when said locking sleeve is in said fourth rotated position while said actuator is depressed.

12. The dispensing assembly in accordance with claim 11 in which said actuator lateral projection is a spout having a dispensing passage that functions to define at least part of said fluid communication between said stem and the exterior of said actuator.

13. The assembly in accordance with claim 12 in which

said actuator is generally cylindrical except for said laterally projecting spout;

and

said actuator has a generally cylindrical skirt which extends below said spout.

14. The dispensing assembly in accordance with claim 11 in which

said dispensing assembly is adapted to be installed in a mouth of said container that has a connection feature adjacent the mouth;

and

said dispensing assembly further includes a closure for mounting on said container at said mouth and having

(1) a connection feature for connecting with said container connection feature to connect said closure to said container,

(2) a retention feature for engaging a portion of said dispenser cartridge to retain said dispenser cartridge on said container, and

(3) an opening into which said dispenser cartridge can project.

15. The dispensing assembly in accordance with claim 11 in which

said actuator includes a top end that defines said force-bearing actuation region;

said actuator lateral projection is a spout having a dispensing passage that functions to define at least part of said fluid communication between said stem and the exterior of said actuator;

said dispensing assembly further includes

(1) a trigger support defined on said housing rearwardly of said spout; and

(2) a trigger that

(a) is pivotally mounted to said trigger support,

(b) extends over a portion of said actuator,

(c) defines an aperture located at least partly around said spout to accommodate dispensing of fluent material from said spout through said aperture,

(d) engages said actuator top end, and

(e) has a finger-grippable lever portion extending generally downwardly from said aperture below the elevation of said spout.

16. The dispensing pump in accordance with claim 15 in which

said actuator top end defines spaced-apart, linear, parallel grooves aligned generally parallel to said actuator spout;

and

said trigger defines two spaced-apart, linear cam ribs aligned generally parallel to said actuator spout for each being received in one of said grooves.

17. A dispensing assembly for a container of fluent material, said assembly comprising:

(A) a dispenser cartridge that (1) has an upwardly projecting, reciprocatable, product-dispensing stem biased to an elevated rest position, and (2) is adapted to be installed in a mouth of a container;

(B) an actuator that (1) is mounted on said stem for establishing fluid communication between said stem and the exterior of said actuator for dispensing said fluent material, (2) has a force-bearing actuation region that can be subjected to an actuation force to depress said actuator to urge said stem further into said dispenser cartridge to actuate said dispensing assembly, and (3) has a lateral projection; and

(C) a locking sleeve rotatably mounted around both said stem and actuator, said locking sleeve defining at least a first upper abutment edge for engaging an underside of said actuator lateral projection to prevent downward movement of said actuator when said locking sleeve is in a first rotated position to lock said dispensing assembly from being actuated, said locking sleeve defining at least a first recess for accommodating downward movement of said actuator lateral projection when said locking sleeve is in a second rotated position while said actuator is depressed to actuate said dispensing assembly; and

wherein

said dispensing assembly is adapted to be installed in a mouth of a container that has a connection feature adjacent the mouth;

said dispensing assembly further includes a closure for mounting on said container at said mouth and having

(1) a connection feature for connecting with said container connection feature to connect said closure to said container,

(2) a retention feature for engaging a portion of said dispenser cartridge to retain said dispenser cartridge on said container, and

(3) an opening into which said dispenser cartridge can project;

said dispenser cartridge is an aerosol dispensing valve; and

said closure is a valve mounting cup having

(1) a peripheral mounting flange for mounting said cup to said container; and

(2) an annular inner wall that

(a) defines said closure opening, and

(b) engages said aerosol dispensing valve to retain said aerosol dispensing cartridge on said container.

18. A dispensing assembly for a container of fluent material, said assembly comprising:

(A) a dispenser cartridge that (1) has an upwardly projecting, reciprocatable, product-dispensing stem biased to an elevated rest position, and (2) is adapted to be installed in a mouth of a container;

(B) an actuator that (1) is mounted on said stem for establishing fluid communication between said stem and the exterior of said actuator for dispensing said fluent material, (2) has a force-bearing actuation region that can be subjected to an actuation force to depress said actuator to urge said stem further into said dispenser cartridge to actuate said dispensing assembly, and (3) has a lateral projection; and

(C) a locking sleeve rotatably mounted around both said stem and actuator, said locking sleeve defining at least a first upper abutment edge for engaging an underside of said actuator lateral projection to prevent downward movement of said actuator when said locking sleeve is in a first rotated position to lock said dispensing assembly from being actuated, said locking sleeve defining at least a first recess for accommodating downward movement of said actuator lateral projection when said locking sleeve is in a second rotated position while said actuator is depressed to actuate said dispensing assembly; and

wherein

said dispensing assembly is adapted to be installed in a mouth of a container that has a connection feature adjacent the mouth;

said dispensing assembly further includes a closure for mounting on said container at said mouth and having

(1) a connection feature for connecting with said container connection feature to connect said closure to said container;

(2) a retention feature for engaging a portion of said dispenser cartridge to retain said dispenser cartridge on said container, and

(3) an opening into which said dispenser cartridge can project;

said dispenser cartridge is a dispensing pump cartridge for being disposed in a mouth of said container having an external male thread around said mouth;

said closure has an internal female thread for mating with said container external male thread;

said closure includes an annular shoulder;

said closure includes an annular shroud that extends (1) upwardly from the inner periphery of said annular shoulder, and (2) laterally around a portion of said pump cartridge;

said locking sleeve is disposed exterior of, and around, said closure annular shroud; and

said locking sleeve bottom end supports said locking sleeve on said closure annular shoulder for rotation about said closure annular shroud.

19. A dispensing assembly for a container of fluent material, said assembly comprising:

(A) a dispenser cartridge that (1) has an upwardly projecting, reciprocatable, product-dispensing stem biased to an elevated rest position, and (2) is adapted to be installed in a mouth of a container;

(B) an actuator that (1) is mounted on said stem for establishing fluid communication between said stem and the exterior of said actuator for dispensing said fluent material, (2) has a force-bearing actuation region that can be subjected to an actuation force to depress said actuator to urge said stem further into said dispenser cartridge to actuate said dispensing assembly, and (3) has a lateral projection; and

(C) a locking sleeve rotatably mounted around both said stem and actuator, said locking sleeve defining at least a first upper abutment edge for engaging an underside of said actuator lateral projection to prevent downward movement of said actuator when said locking sleeve is in a first rotated position to lock said dispensing assembly from being actuated, said locking sleeve defining at least a first recess for accommodating downward movement of said actuator lateral projection when said locking sleeve is in a second rotated position while said actuator is depressed to actuate said dispensing assembly; and

wherein

said dispensing assembly is adapted to be installed in a mouth of a container that has a connection feature adjacent the mouth;

said dispensing assembly further includes a closure for mounting on said container at said mouth and having

(1) a connection feature for connecting with said container connection feature to connect said closure to said container,

(2) a retention feature for engaging a portion of said dispenser cartridge to retain said dispenser cartridge on said container, and

(3) an opening into which said dispenser cartridge can project;

said locking sleeve has a bottom end on which said locking sleeve is supported for rotation relative to said dispenser cartridge, actuator, and closure;

said locking sleeve includes a radially outwardly extending peripheral flange adjacent said locking sleeve bottom end; and

said dispensing assembly further includes an exterior housing that is mounted around at least a portion of said closure and is fixed thereto, said housing having a housing opening that receives said locking sleeve bottom end and said locking sleeve peripheral flange, and said housing having a retention lip at said housing opening for overlying and engaging said locking sleeve peripheral flange so as to retain said locking sleeve around said stem and actuator to accommodate rotation of said locking sleeve.

20. The dispensing pump assembly in accordance with claim 19 in which said locking sleeve and said housing have interengageable features accommodating rotation of said locking sleeve relative to said housing between (1) at least one unlocked actuatable position corresponding to said second rotated position permitting reciprocation of said actuator, and (2) at least one releasably locked position corresponding to said first rotated position preventing reciprocation of said actuator.

21. The dispensing pump assembly in accordance with claim 20 in which said interengageable features include

at least one arcuate tab that is on said housing and that projects radially inwardly;

and

at least two arcuate notches that are circumferentially spaced apart on said locking sleeve and that each opens radially outwardly for releasably receiving said housing tab in a releasable detent engagement to releasably hold said locking sleeve selectively in one of said first rotated position and said second rotated position.

22. The dispensing pump assembly in accordance with claim 20 in which said interengageable features include

at least one tab that is on said housing and that projects radially inwardly;

and

at least one pair of spaced-apart ramps on said locking sleeve, each said ramp having a tapered long surface and an angled shorter retention wall generally facing the angled shorter retention wall of the other ramp to define a radially outward opening for releasably receiving said housing tab in a releasable detent engagement between said retention walls to releasably hold said locking sleeve selectively in one of said first rotated position and said second rotated position.

23. A dispensing assembly for a container of fluent material, said assembly comprising:

(A) a dispenser cartridge that (1) has an upwardly projecting, reciprocatable, product-dispensing stem biased to an elevated rest position, and (2) is adapted to be installed in a mouth of a container;

(B) an actuator that (1) is mounted on said stem for establishing fluid communication between said stem and the exterior of said actuator for dispensing said fluent material, and (2) has a top end defining a force-bearing actuation region for being subjected to an actuation force to depress said actuator to urge said stem further into said dispenser cartridge to actuate said dispensing assembly;

(C) an exterior housing outwardly of and surrounding, said dispenser cartridge, said housing including a trigger support located rearwardly of said actuator;

(D) a trigger that

(1) is pivotally mounted to said trigger support for movement between an elevated, unactuated position and a lowered, actuated position,

(2) extends over a portion of said actuator and rearwardly beyond said actuator to said trigger support,

(3) defines an aperture located adjacent said actuator to accommodate dispensing of fluent material from said actuator through said aperture,

(4) engages said actuator top end,

(5) has a finger-grippable lever portion extending from said aperture, and

(6) has an arm that extends a from said trigger at (a location between said trigger support and said actuator, and (b) downwardly alongside said actuator; and

(E) a locking sleeve rotatably mounted around both said stem and actuator, said locking sleeve defining at least a first upper abutment edge for engaging said trigger arm to prevent downward movement of said trigger and actuator when said locking sleeve is in a first rotated position to lock said dispensing assembly from being actuated, said locking sleeve defining at least a first recess for receiving said arm to accommodate downward movement of said trigger and actuator when said locking sleeve is in a second rotated position while said trigger is lowered to depress said actuator to actuate said dispensing assembly.

24. The dispensing assembly in accordance with claim 23 in which said actuator has a lateral projection in the form of a spout having a dispensing passage that functions to define at least part of said fluid communication between said stem and the exterior of said actuator.

25. The assembly in accordance with claim 24 in which

said actuator is generally cylindrical except for said laterally projecting spout;

and

said actuator has a generally cylindrical skirt which extends below said spout.

26. The dispensing assembly in accordance with claim 23 in which

said dispensing assembly is adapted to be installed in a mouth of a container that has a connection feature adjacent the mouth;

and

said dispensing assembly further includes a closure extending within said housing for mounting on said container at said mouth and having

(1) a connection feature for connecting with said container connection feature to connect said closure to said container,

(2) a retention feature for engaging a portion of said dispenser cartridge to retain said dispenser cartridge on said container, and

(3) an opening into which said dispenser cartridge projects.

27. The dispensing assembly in accordance with claim 26 in which

said locking sleeve has a bottom end on which said locking sleeve is supported for rotation relative to said dispenser cartridge, actuator, and closure;

said locking sleeve includes a radially outwardly extending peripheral flange adjacent said locking sleeve bottom end; and

said exterior housing is mounted around at least a portion of said closure and is fixed thereto, said housing having a housing opening that receives said locking sleeve bottom end and said locking sleeve peripheral flange, and said housing having a retention lip at said housing opening for overlying and engaging said locking sleeve peripheral flange so as to retain said locking sleeve around said stem and actuator to accommodate rotation of said locking sleeve.

28. A dispensing assembly for a container of fluent material, said assembly comprising:

(A) a dispenser cartridge that (1) has an upwardly projecting, reciprocatable, product-dispensing stem biased to an elevated rest position, and (2) is adapted to be installed in a mouth of a container;

(B) an actuator that (1) is mounted on said stem for establishing fluid communication between said stem and the exterior of said actuator for dispensing said fluent material, and (2) has a top end defining a force-bearing actuation region that can be subjected to an actuation force to depress said actuator to urge said stem further into said dispenser cartridge to actuate said dispensing assembly;

(C) an exterior housing outwardly of, and surrounding, said dispenser cartridge, said housing including a trigger support located rearwardly of said actuator;

(D) a trigger that

(1) is pivotally mounted to said trigger support for movement between an elevated, unactuated position and a lowered, actuated position,

(2) extends over a portion of said actuator,

(3) defines an aperture located adjacent said actuator to accommodate dispensing of fluent material from said actuator through said aperture,

(4) engages said actuator top end,

(5) has a finger-grippable lever portion extending from said aperture, and

(6) an arm that extends downwardly alongside said actuator; and

(E) a locking sleeve rotatably mounted around both said stem and actuator, said locking sleeve defining at least a first upper abutment edge for engaging said trigger arm to prevent downward movement of said trigger and actuator when said locking sleeve is in a first rotated position to lock said dispensing assembly from being actuated, said locking sleeve defining at least a first recess for accommodating downward movement of said trigger and actuator when said locking sleeve is in a second rotated position while said trigger is lowered to depress said actuator to actuate said dispensing assembly; and

wherein

said dispensing assembly is adapted to be installed in a mouth of a container that has a connection feature adjacent the mouth;

said dispensing assembly further includes a closure extending within said housing for mounting on said container at said mouth and having

(1) a connection feature for connecting with said container connection feature to connect said closure to said container,

(2) a retention feature for engaging a portion of said dispenser cartridge to retain said dispenser cartridge on said container, and

(3) an opening into which said dispenser cartridge can project;

said dispenser cartridge is an aerosol dispensing valve; and

said closure is a valve mounting cup having

(1) a peripheral mounting flange for mounting said cup to said container; and

(2) an annular inner wall that

(a) defines said closure opening, and

(b) engages said aerosol dispensing valve to retain said aerosol dispensing cartridge on said container.

29. A dispensing assembly for a container of fluent material, said assembly comprising:

(A) a dispenser cartridge that (1) has an upwardly projecting, reciprocatable, product-dispensing stem biased to an elevated rest position, and (2) is adapted to be installed in a mouth of a container;

(B) an actuator that (1) is mounted on said stem for establishing fluid communication between said stem and the exterior of said actuator for dispensing said fluent material, and (2) has a top end defining a force-bearing actuation region that can be subjected to an actuation force to depress said actuator to urge said stem further into said dispenser cartridge to actuate said dispensing assembly;

(C) an exterior housing outwardly of, and surrounding, said dispenser cartridge, said housing including a trigger support located rearwardly of said actuator;

(D) a trigger that

(1) is pivotally mounted to said trigger support for movement between an elevated, unactuated position and a lowered, actuated position,

(2) extends over a portion of said actuator,

(3) defines an aperture located adjacent said actuator to accommodate dispensing of fluent material from said actuator through said aperture,

(4) engages said actuator top end,

(5) has a finger-grippable lever portion extending from said aperture, and

(6) an arm that extends downwardly alongside said actuator; and

(E) a locking sleeve rotatably mounted around both said stem and actuator, said locking sleeve defining at least a first upper abutment edge for engaging said trigger arm to prevent downward movement of said trigger and actuator when said locking sleeve is in a first rotated position to lock said dispensing assembly from being actuated, said locking sleeve defining at least a first recess for accommodating downward movement of said trigger and actuator when said locking sleeve is in a second rotated position while said trigger is lowered to depress said actuator to actuate said dispensing assembly; and

wherein

said dispensing assembly is adapted to be installed in a mouth of a container that has a connection feature adjacent the mouth;

said dispensing assembly further includes a closure extending within said housing for mounting on said container at said mouth and having

(1) a connection feature for connecting with said container connection feature to connect said closure to said container,

(2) a retention feature for engaging a portion of said dispenser cartridge to retain said dispenser cartridge on said container, and

(3) an opening into which said dispenser cartridge can project;

said dispenser cartridge is a dispensing pump cartridge for being disposed in a mouth of a container having an external male thread around said mouth;

said closure has an internal female thread for mating with said container external male thread;

said closure includes an annular shoulder;

said closure includes an annular shroud that extends (1) upwardly from the inner periphery of said annular shoulder, and (2) laterally around a portion of said pump cartridge;

said locking sleeve is disposed exterior of, and around, said closure annular shroud; and

said locking sleeve bottom end supports said locking sleeve on said closure annular shoulder for rotation about said closure annular shroud.

30. A dispensing assembly for a container of fluent material, said assembly comprising:

(A) a dispenser cartridge that (1) has an upwardly projecting, reciprocatable, product-dispensing stem biased to an elevated rest position, and (2) is adapted to be installed in a mouth of a container;

(B) an actuator that (1) is mounted on said stem for establishing fluid communication between said stem and the exterior of said actuator for dispensing said fluent material, and (2) has a top end defining a force-bearing actuation region that can be subjected to an actuation force to depress said actuator to urge said stem further into said dispenser cartridge to actuate said dispensing assembly;

(C) an exterior housing outwardly of, and surrounding, said dispenser cartridge, said housing including a trigger support located rearwardly of said actuator;

(D) a trigger that

(1) is pivotally mounted to said trigger support for movement between an elevated, unactuated position and a lowered, actuated position,

(2) extends over a portion of said actuator,

(3) defines an aperture located adjacent said actuator to accommodate dispensing of fluent material from said actuator through said aperture,

(4) engages said actuator top end,

(5) has a finger-grippable lever portion extending from said aperture, and

(6) an arm that extends downwardly alongside said actuator; and

(E) a locking sleeve rotatably mounted around both said stem and actuator, said locking sleeve defining at least a first upper abutment edge for engaging said trigger arm to prevent downward movement of said trigger and actuator when said locking sleeve is in a first rotated position to lock said dispensing assembly from being actuated, said locking sleeve defining at least a first recess for accommodating downward movement of said trigger and actuator when said locking sleeve is in a second rotated position while said trigger is lowered to depress said actuator to actuate said dispensing assembly; and

wherein

said locking sleeve and said exterior housing have interengageable features accommodating rotation of said locking sleeve relative to said housing between (1) at least one unlocked actuatable position corresponding to said second rotated position permitting reciprocation of said actuator, and (2) at least one releasably locked position corresponding to said first rotated position preventing reciprocation of said actuator; and

said interengageable features include

at least one arcuate tab that is on said housing and that projects radially inwardly; and

at least two arcuate notches that are circumferentially spaced apart on said locking sleeve and that each opens radially outwardly for releasably receiving said housing tab in a releasable detent engagement to releasably hold said locking sleeve selectively in one of said first rotated position and said second rotated position.

31. A dispensing assembly for a container of fluent material, said assembly comprising:

(A) a dispenser cartridge that (1) has an upwardly projecting, reciprocatable, product-dispensing stem biased to an elevated rest position, and (2) is adapted to be installed in a mouth of a container;

(B) an actuator that (1) is mounted on said stem for establishing fluid communication between said stem and the exterior of said actuator for dispensing said fluent material, and (2) has a top end defining a force-bearings actuation region that can be subjected to an actuation force to depress said actuator to urge said stem further into said dispenser cartridge to actuate said dispensing assembly;

(C) an exterior housing outwardly of, and surrounding, said dispenser cartridge, said housing including a trigger support located rearwardly of said actuator;

(D) a trigger that

(1) is pivotally mounted to said trigger support for movement between an elevated, unactuated position and a lowered, actuated position,

(2) extends over a portion of said actuator,

(3) defines an aperture located adjacent said actuator to accommodate dispensing of fluent material from said actuator through said aperture,

(4) engages said actuator top end,

(5) has a finger-grippable lever portion extending from said aperture, and

(6) an arm that extends downwardly alongside said actuator; and

(E) a locking sleeve rotatably mounted around both said stem and actuator, said locking sleeve defining at least a first upper abutment edge for engaging said trigger arm to prevent downward movement of said trigger and actuator when said locking sleeve is in a first rotated position to lock said dispensing assembly from being actuated, said locking sleeve defining at least a first recess for accommodating downward movement of said trigger and actuator when said locking sleeve is in a second rotated position while said trigger is lowered to depress said actuator to actuate said dispensing assembly; and

wherein

said locking sleeve and said exterior housing have interengageable features accommodating rotation of said locking sleeve relative to said housing between (1) at least one unlocked actuatable position corresponding to said second rotated position permitting reciprocation of said actuator, and (2) at least one releasably locked position corresponding to said first rotated position preventing reciprocation of said actuator; and

said interengageable features include

at least one tab that is on said housing and that projects radially inwardly; and

at least one pair of spaced-apart ramps on said locking sleeve, each said ramp having a tapered long surface and an angled shorter retention wall generally facing the angled shorter retention wall of the other ramp to define a radially outward opening for releasably receiving said housing tab in a releasable detent engagement between said retention walls to releasably hold said locking sleeve selectively in one of said first rotated position and said second rotated position.

32. A dispensing assembly for a container of fluent material, said assembly comprising:

(A) a dispenser cartridge that (1) has an upwardly projecting, reciprocatable, product-dispensing stem biased to an elevated rest position, and (2) is adapted to be installed in a mouth of a container;

(B) an actuator that (1) is mounted on said stem for establishing fluid communication between said stem and the exterior of said actuator for dispensing said fluent material, and (2) has a top end defining a force-bearing actuation region that can be subjected to an actuation force to depress said actuator to urge said stem further into said dispenser cartridge to actuate said dispensing assembly;

(C) an exterior housing outwardly of, and surrounding, said dispenser cartridge, said housing including a trigger support located rearwardly of said actuator;

(D) a trigger that

(1) is pivotally mounted to said trigger support for movement between an elevated, unactuated position and a lowered, actuated position,

(2) extends over a portion of said actuator,

(3) defines an aperture located adjacent said actuator to accommodate dispensing of fluent material from said actuator through said aperture,

(4) engages said actuator top end,

(5) has a finger-grippable lever portion extending from said aperture, and

(6) an arm that extends downwardly alongside said actuator; and

(E) a locking sleeve rotatably mounted around both said stem and actuator, said locking sleeve defining at least a first upper abutment edge for engaging said trigger arm to prevent downward movement of said trigger and actuator when said locking sleeve is in a first rotated position to lock said dispensing assembly from being actuated, said locking sleeve defining at least a first recess for accommodating downward movement of said trigger and actuator when said locking sleeve is in a second rotated position while said trigger is lowered to depress said actuator to actuate said dispensing assembly; and

wherein

said locking sleeve has a third rotated position and fourth rotated position;

said locking sleeve defines a second upper abutment edge for engaging said trigger arm to prevent downward movement of said trigger when said locking sleeve is in said third rotated position; and

said locking sleeve defines a second recess for receiving said arm to accommodate downward movement of said trigger arm when said locking sleeve is in said fourth rotated position while said actuator is depressed.

33. The dispensing pump in accordance with claim 32 in which

said actuator top end force-bearing actuation region defines spaced-apart, linear, parallel grooves;

and

said trigger defines two spaced-apart, linear cam ribs for each being received in one of said grooves.