Spray dispenser

• US 9,211,557 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2010
• Issued: 12/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: London & General Packaging Ltd. (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: Syson, Paul, Simpson, Neil, Tucker, James, Rossington, Karen
• Primary Examiner(s): Buechner, Patrick M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Carroll, Jeremy W
• Application Number:
  US13/502,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20130008923A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,883 Days
• Field of Search: 222/383.1, 222/382, 222/189.09
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/081 Gamma radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/23 Containers, e.g. vials, bottles, syringes, mail
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0037 Containers for several components B05B11/0078
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0039 associated with means for compensating the pressure difference between the ambient pressure and the pressure inside the container, e.g. pressure relief means
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0044 compensating underpressure by ingress of atmospheric air into the container, i.e. with venting means venting means for deformable containers B05B11/047
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/00442 the means being actuated by the difference between the atmospheric pressure and the pressure inside the container
• 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 11/1011 without substantial movement of the nozzle in the direction of the pressure stroke
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1042 Components or details
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1052 Actuation means locking means therefor B05B11/1059; the dispensing stroke being affected by the stored energy of a spring B05B11/109

Abstract

A spray dispenser is provided, the spray dispenser comprising a container for holding a liquid to be dispensed and a dispensing assembly for extracting liquid from said container, the dispensing assembly comprising a pressure-relief valve for release of excessive pressure in the container and a filter arranged to permit egress of gas through the filter, inhibit egress of liquid from the container and to inhibit ingress of contaminants into the container through the pressure relief valve. A dispensing assembly for use is a spray dispenser is also provided.

Claims

1. A spray dispenser comprising a container for holding a liquid to be dispensed and a dispensing assembly for extracting liquid from said container, the dispensing assembly comprising a pressure-relief valve for release of excessive pressure in the container, wherein the valve is selected from the group consisting of a swing valve, a ball check valve and a duckbill valve, a filter housing removably coupled with the dispensing assembly, and a filter arranged in the filter housing to permit egress of gas from the container through the filter and through the pressure-relief valve, the filter inhibiting egress of liquid from the container through the filter, the pressure-relief valve being closed in the absence of excessive pressure to inhibit ingress of air and contaminants into the container wherein:

the filter is in a gas flow path between the interior of the container and the pressure-relief valve, or

the pressure-relief valve is in a gas flow path between the interior of the container and the filter.

2. A spray dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the filter inhibits ingress of particulate into the container.

3. A spray dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the filter comprises pores which permit passage therethrough of gas, but inhibit passage therethrough of particulate.

4. A spray dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the filter is located within a filter housing.

5. A spray dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises a fluid containment portion which is collapsible.

6. A spray dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the container comprises a collar which is more rigid than the fluid containment portion.

7. A spray dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises a container seal-forming surface and the spray dispenser comprises a sealing member for forming a seal against the container seal-forming surface to inhibit ingress of air into the container.

8. A spray dispenser according to claim 7, wherein the dispenser assembly comprises the sealing member.

9. A spray dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the spray dispenser is provided with a closure for inhibiting access to the container.

10. A spray dispenser according to claim 9, wherein the dispensing assembly comprises the closure.

11. A spray dispenser according to claim 9, wherein the closure is provided with both the pressure-relief valve and the filter.

12. A spray dispenser according to claim 1 comprising a housing for enclosing the container.

13. A spray dispenser according to claim 12, wherein the housing supports the container.

14. A spray dispenser according to claim 12, comprising a closure being removably attachable to the housing.

15. A spray dispenser according to claim 1, the dispensing assembly comprising a dispensing line, wherein the dispensing line is in a gas-tight sealing engagement with a dispensing line seal provider.

16. A spray dispenser according to claim 15, wherein the dispensing line seal provider is in the form of an apertured plate, the plate being provided with an aperture which receives the dispensing line in sealing engagement.

17. A spray dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing assembly is mountable onto, and dismountable from, the container.

18. A spray dispenser according to claim 1, the filter comprising a hydrophobic membrane.

19. A dispensing assembly for use in a spray dispenser to dispense liquid from a container, the dispensing assembly comprising a pressure-relief valve for release of excessive pressure in a container to which the dispensing assembly is fitted and a filter arranged to permit egress of gas from the container through the filter and through the pressure-relief valve, the filter inhibiting egress of liquid from a container to which the dispensing assembly is fitted, the pressure-relief valve being closed in the absence of excessive pressure in a container to which the dispensing assembly is fitted so as to inhibit ingress and air and contaminants into a container to which the dispensing assembly is fitted, wherein

the filter is in a gas flow path between the interior of the container to which the dispensing assembly is fitted and the pressure-relief valve, or

the pressure-relief valve is in a gas flow path between the interior of the container to which the dispensing assembly is fitted and the filter.