Engagement flange for fluid dispenser pump piston

• US 8,091,739 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OP hygiene IP Gmbh
• Original Assignee: Gotohti.Com Inc.
• Inventors: Ophardt, Heiner, Jones, Andrew, Shi, Zhenchun (Tony), Charron, Charles S., Mirbach, Ali
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P
• Assistant Examiner(s): NICHOLS II, ROBERT K
• Application Number:
  US12/318,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20100140297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 222/518, 222/383.1, 222/181.2, 222/181.3, 222/321.7, 222/321.8, 222/325, 222/321.6, 222/321.9, 222/509, 222/524, 222/525, 239/602, 239/600, 239/DIG.12, 403/329
• US Class Current: 222/181.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1207 Dispensing from the bottom of the dispenser with a vertical piston
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/025 with manually operated pistons G01F19/005 takes precedence

Abstract

An improved arrangement for removably coupling a movable element of a piston pump to an actuator mechanism with the movable element including a resilient member which prevents radial movement of the movable element relative a catch member of the actuator mechanism from a coupled orientation unless the resilient member is deflected from an unbiased inherent configuration.

Claims

1. A dispenser for dispensing fluid comprising:

a housing,

a fluid containing reservoir having an outlet,

the housing supporting the reservoir in a dispensing position,

the reservoir being insertable into said housing to assume said dispensing position and removable therefrom for replacement,

a valving mechanism disposed across the outlet for dispensing fluid from the reservoir, the valving mechanism comprising a reciprocally movable element for reciprocal movement along an axis relative to the housing when the reservoir is in the dispensing position to dispense fluid,

the housing including an actuator mechanism for actuating the reciprocally movable element, the actuator mechanism movable relative the housing between a first position and a second position, the actuator mechanism including a catch member,

the movable element including an engagement mechanism to engage the catch member and releasably couple the movable element to the actuator mechanism in a coupled orientation in which movement of the actuator mechanism between the first position and the second position results in axial reciprocal movement of the movable element,

the engagement mechanism comprising a resilient member extending radially outwardly from the movable element in an unbiased inherent configuration, the resilient member being resiliently deflectable radially from the inherent configuration to deflected configurations of different radial extents than the inherent configuration and biased to return to the inherent configuration when deflected from the inherent configuration,

wherein from the coupled orientation on moving the movable element radially relative the catch member engagement between the catch member and the resilient member on the movable element deflects the resilient member radially from the inherent configuration to one of the deflected configurations permitting the resilient member and catch member to move radially from the coupled orientation to a radial uncoupled orientation in which the reservoir may be removed from the housing,

in the coupled orientation the resilient member while in the inherent configuration engaging with the catch member to prevent moving the movable element radially relative the catch member from the coupled orientation to the radial uncoupled orientation.

2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein from the radial uncoupled orientation on relative forcing the resilient member radially inwardly into the catch member engagement therebetween deflects the resilient member radially permitting the resilient member and catch member to move radially from the radial uncoupled orientation to the coupled orientation.

3. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the engagement mechanism and catch member may further assume an axial uncoupled orientation in which the movable element and the actuator mechanism are aligned coaxially about the axis and from which axial uncoupled orientation on relative forcing the resilient member axially into the catch member engagement therebetween deflects the resilient member radially permitting the resilient member and catch member to move axially from the axial uncoupled orientation to the coupled orientation.

4. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the movable element having a fluid discharge passageway axially therethrough through which fluid from the reservoir is dispensed axially through the movable element, the discharge passageway having an inner end which receives fluid from the outlet of the reservoir and an outer end out of which fluid is dispensed.

5. A dispenser as claimed in claim 4 wherein:

said resilient member comprises a plurality of resilient finger members spaced circumferentially of the axis about the movable element,

each finger member coupled to the movable element at a fixed end of the finger member and extending to a distal end portion,

each finger member assuming in the inherent configuration an unbiased position,

each finger member being resiliently deformable from its unbiased position to biased positions.

6. A dispenser as claimed in claim 5, wherein the finger members are resiliently deformable from their respective unbiased positions to biased positions in the distal end portions can be moved radially through the catch member of the actuator member in a radial direction from the coupled orientation to the radial uncoupled orientation.

7. A dispenser as claimed in claim 6 wherein:

each resilient finger extends from its fixed end to its distal end in a direction selected from the group of extension directions consisting of;

radially outwardly;

radially outwardly and axially;

radially inwardly;

radially inwardly and axially; and

axially, and

each finger member being resiliently deformable from its unbiased position to biased positions in which the distal end portion is moved in a direction selected from the group of deflection directions consisting of;

radially inwardly;

radially outwardly;

radially inwardly and axially;

radially outwardly and axially; and

axially.

8. A dispenser as claimed in claim 4 wherein:

the catch member having a central cavity formed therein coaxially about the axis, and

wherein in the coupled orientation the movable element located coaxially within the cavity.

9. A dispenser as claimed in claim 8 wherein:

the cavity is defined within a circumferential axially extending side wall of the catch member,

a radial exitway extending radially from the cavity through the side wall for passage of the movable element in moving from the coupled orientation to the uncoupled orientation,

in the coupled orientation the resilient member while in the inherent configuration engaging with the side wall of catch member to prevent moving the movable element radially relative the catch member from the coupled orientation to the radial uncoupled orientation by reason of the exitway having a width normal to the axis less than a diameter of the resilient member while in the inherent configuration.

10. A dispenser as claimed in claim 8 wherein the catch member having an central cavity formed therein coaxially about the axis, and

wherein in the coupled orientation the movable element located coaxially within the cavity,

the cavity is defined within a circumferential axially extending side wall between a radially extending inner end wall and a radially extending outer end wall spaced axially from the inner end wall,

the movable member having in the inherent configuration an exitway extending radially through the side wall,

the side wall having an interior surface facing radially into the cavity,

the inner end wall having an axially outwardly directed interior surface facing axially into the cavity,

the outer end wall having an axially inwardly directed interior surface facing axially into the cavity,

keyway portions of each of the interior surfaces of the side wall, the first end wall and the second end wall lying in a first rotational surface defined by rotation of a first shape about the axis,

key portions of the exterior surfaces of the movable member lying in a second rotational surface defined by rotation about the axis when the movable member is coaxial about the axis of a second shape substantially the same shape as the first shape.

11. A dispenser as claimed in claim 8 wherein the catch member including a radial exitway extending radially from the cavity for passage of the movable element in moving from the coupled orientation to the uncoupled orientation,

the exitway having a circumferential extent relative the axis which permits movement of the movable element radially relative the catch member through the exitway when the resilient member is in one of the deflected configuration yet preventing movement of the movable element radially relative the catch member through the exitway when the resilient member is in the inherent configuration.

12. A dispenser as claimed in claim 11 wherein the cavity is defined within a circumferential axially extending side wall of the catch member with the exitway extending radially through the side wall,

the side wall having an interior surface facing radially inwardly into the cavity,

exit cammming surfaces on the interior surface of the side wall on opposite circumferentially spaced sides of the exitway for engagement with the resilient member such that from the coupled orientation on moving the movable element radially outwardly into the exitway engagement between the opposed exit cammming surfaces and the resilient member compresses the resilient member radially to reduce the width of the movable member normal to the axis sufficiently that the movable member may pass radially through the exitway from the coupled orientation to the radial uncoupled orientation.

13. A dispenser as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

the resilient member comprises a plurality of resilient finger members spaced circumferentially of the axis about the movable element,

each finger member coupled to the movable element at a radially inner end of the finger member and extending radially outwardly to a distal end portion,

each finger member assuming in the inherent configuration an unbiased position,

the finger members being resiliently deformable from their unbiased position to biased positions in which the distal end portions are moved radially inwardly.

14. A dispenser as claimed in claim 12 wherein:

the side wall having an exterior surface facing radially outwardly from the cavity,

entry caroming surfaces on the exterior surface of the side wall on opposite circumferentially spaced sides of the exitway for engagement with the resilient member such that from the radial uncoupled orientation on moving the movable element radially inwardly into the exitway engagement between the opposed entry camming surfaces and the resilient member compresses the resilient member radially to reduce the width of the movable member normal to the axis sufficiently that the movable member may pass radially through the exitway from the radial uncoupled orientation to the coupled orientation.

15. A dispenser as claimed in claim 14 wherein:

the cavity is defined between two axially spaced radially extending end walls of the catch member, a first inner end wall having an interior surface directed axially outwardly into the cavity and a second outer end wall having an interior surface directed axially inwardly into the cavity,

in the coupled orientation engagement between axially directed surfaces on the movable element and the interior surfaces of the end walls maintains the movable element in the cavity against removal therefrom by movement in an axial direction,

said resilient member comprises a plurality of resilient finger members spaced circumferentially of the axis about the movable element, each finger member coupled to the movable element at a radially inner end of the finger member and extending radially outwardly to a distal end portion,

each finger member assuming in the inherent configuration an unbiased position,

each finger member being resiliently deformable from its unbiased position to biased positions in which the distal end portion is moved radially inwardly,

the finger members are resiliently deformable from their respective unbiased positions to biased positions in which the distal end portions are moved radially inwardly sufficiently to let the distal end portions move radially through the catch member of the actuator member in a radial direction from the coupled orientation to the radial uncoupled orientation,

the resilient finger members extending both radially outwardly and axially inwardly from their radially inner end to their distal end,

the finger members having axially outwardly and radially outwardly directed cam surfaces for engagement with the camming surfaces on the exterior surface of the side wall on opposite circumferentially spaced sides of the exitway to compresses the resilient member radially,

the finger members having an axially inwardly facing catch surface axially inwardly of the cam surface to engage the interior surface of the first inner end wall,

the finger members having an axially outwardly facing catch surface axially outwardly of the cam surface to engage the interior surface of the second outer end wall.

16. A dispenser as claimed in claim 12 wherein:

the catch member including an axial entranceway extending circumferentially about the axis axially into the cavity for passage of the movable element in moving from an axial uncoupled orientation in which the movable element is axially aligned with the cavity axially spaced therefrom to the coupled orientation,

the entranceway having a diametrical extent which permits movement of the movable element axially relative the catch member through the entranceway when the resilient member is in one of the deflected configurations yet preventing movement of the movable element axially relative the catch member through the entranceway when the resilient member is in the inherent configuration.

17. A dispenser as claimed in claim 16 wherein:

the cavity is defined between a radially extending inner end wall and a radially extending outer end wall spaced axially from the inner end wall,

the entranceway extending axially through the inner end wall,

the first end wall having exterior surfaces facing axially inwardly inwardly from the cavity,

entry camming surfaces on opposite radially spaced sides of the exterior surfaces of the inner end wall about the entranceway for engagement with the resilient member such that from the axial uncoupled orientation on moving the movable element axially into the entranceway engagement between the opposed entry camming surfaces and the resilient member compresses the resilient member radially to reduce the width of the movable member normal to the axis sufficiently that the movable member may pass axially through the entranceway from the axial uncoupled orientation to the coupled orientation.

18. A dispenser as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

the resilient member comprises a plurality of resilient finger members spaced circumferentially of the axis about the movable element,

each finger member coupled to the movable element at a radially inner end of the finger member and extending radially outwardly to a distal end portion,

each finger member assuming in the inherent configuration an unbiased position,

each finger member being resiliently deformable from its unbiased position to biased positions;

(a) in which the distal end portion is moved radially inwardly sufficiently to let the distal end portions move radially pass the catch member of the actuator member in a radial direction, and (b) in which the said distal end portions are moved radially inwardly sufficiently to let the distal end portions move axially pass the catch member of the actuator member in an axial direction.

19. A dispenser as claimed in claim 18, wherein when the movable element is in the axial uncoupled orientation, on first cycling of the actuator member between the first position and the second position, the actuator member engages the distal end portions of the finger members to deflect the distal end portions to their biased positions and on the movable element assuming the coupled orientation, said distal end portion of the finger members returning to their unbiased positions coupling the movable element and catch member of the actuator mechanism in the coupled orientation.

20. A dispenser for dispensing fluid comprising:

a housing,

a fluid containing reservoir having an outlet,

the housing supporting the reservoir in a dispensing position,

the reservoir being insertable into said housing to assume said dispensing position and removable therefrom for replacement,

a valving mechanism disposed across the outlet for dispensing fluid from the reservoir, the valving mechanism comprising a reciprocally movable element for reciprocal movement along an axis relative to the housing when the reservoir is in the dispensing position to dispense fluid,

the housing including an actuator mechanism for actuating the reciprocally movable element, the actuator mechanism movable relative the housing between a first position and a second position, the actuator mechanism including a catch member,

the movable element including an engagement mechanism to engage the catch member and releasably couple the movable element to the actuator mechanism in a coupled orientation in which movement of the actuator mechanism between the first position and the second position results in axial reciprocal movement of the movable element,

the catch member having a side wall which extends axially relative the axis and circumferentially relative the axis to define a central cavity therein coaxially about the axis,

a radial exitway extending radially from the cavity through the side wall,

in the coupled orientation the movable element located coaxially within the cavity,

the engagement mechanism comprising a resilient member carried on the movable element,

the resilient member inherently assuming an unbiased inherent configuration,

the resilient member being resiliently deflectable from the inherent configuration to deflected configurations and inherently biased to return to the inherent configuration when deflected from the inherent configuration,

in the coupled orientation the resilient member while in the inherent configuration engaging with the side wall of the catch member to resist moving the movable element radially relative the catch member from the coupled orientation through the exitway to the radial uncoupled orientation,

wherein from the coupled orientation on moving the movable element radially relative the catch member toward the exitway engagement between the catch member and the resilient member on the movable element deflects the resilient member from the inherent configuration to deflected configurations conforming to a shape of the exitway so as to permit the deflected resilient member to move radially from the coupled orientation through the exitway to a radial uncoupled orientation.

21. A dispenser as claimed in claim 20 wherein:

the cavity is further defined axially between a radially extending inner end wall and a radially extending outer end wall spaced axially from the inner end wall,

the side wall having an interior surface facing radially into the cavity,

the inner end wall having an axially outwardly directed interior surface facing axially into the cavity,

the outer end wall having an axially inwardly directed interior surface facing axially into the cavity,

keyway portions of each of the interior surfaces of the side wall, the first end wall and the second end wall lying in a first rotational surface defined by rotation of a first shape about the axis,

key portions of the exterior surfaces of the movable member lying in a second rotational surface defined by rotation about the axis when the movable member is coaxial about the axis of a second shape substantially the same shape as the first shape.