The present disclosure generally relates to fluid dispensing devices and, more particularly, to fluid dispensing devices capable of delivering fluid in multiple directions simultaneously.
Various types of fluid dispensing devices are known for dispensing controlled amounts of fluid in a spray pattern. In general, previous devices discharge product in a single direction, typically to avoid spraying product onto the user. Other conventional fluid dispensing devices may provide multiple discharge outlets, however only one outlet may be used at any given time, and therefore these devices still discharge in a single direction.
In certain applications, such as toilet bowl cleaners, the product is applied to the toilet bowl in a full, 360° arc. Conventional toilet bowl cleaner dispensers, which discharge product in a single direction, require rotation of the user's hand and arm to cover the entire area of the bowl with product. Additionally, the angle at which the product discharges from the dispenser often requires the user to further contort his or her body to point the dispenser in the desired direction.
According to certain aspects of this disclosure, a dispensing closure is provided for attachment to a container, in which the dispensing closure includes a closure body adapted for coupling to the container and defining a dispensing surface and a dispensing orifice formed in the closure body and defining an orifice axis along which an initial fluid flow path extends from the dispensing orifice. A deflector is coupled to the closure body and supported in spaced relation to the dispensing surface to define a dispensing gap between the closure body and the deflector, the deflector including a deflector surface oriented to face the dispensing orifice. The deflector surface is configured to generate a spray pattern extending at a deflection angle with respect to the orifice axis, the spray pattern extending in at least two directions simultaneously.
According to additional aspects of this disclosure, a fluid dispensing device may include a container having a connection end defining an opening, a cap assembly defining a cap axis and a discharge orifice oriented at a deflection angle relative to the cap axis, the cap assembly including, and a cap having a side wall rotatably coupled to the container and defining an internal chamber fluidly communicating with the container opening, wherein rotation of the cap relative to the container actuates the cap between an open position and a closed position. A deflector is coupled to the side wall of the cap and includes a deflector surface defining a discharge path extending between the container opening and the discharge orifice. The cap assembly is configured to permit fluid flow through the discharge path when the cap is in the open position and prevent fluid flow through the discharge path when the cap is in the closed position
For a more complete understanding of this disclosure, reference should be made to the embodiments illustrated in greater detail on the accompanying drawings, wherein:
It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale and that the disclosed embodiments are sometimes illustrated diagrammatical and in partial views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of this disclosure or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that this disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.
Various embodiments of fluid dispensing devices are disclosed for use with a container holding a product, wherein the dispensers generate a spray pattern that simultaneously extends in multiple directions. The product may be a viscous or non-viscous fluid. The container may be a flexible squeeze container, an aerosol container, or other known structure for holding a flowable product. The action needed to dispense the product may be manual or automatic. The dispenser may be positioned at any usable location on the container, such as the top, bottom, or side of the container. Additionally, the dispenser may be operative in any usable orientation of the container, such as vertically upright, inverted, horizontal, or tipped/angled orientation. In general, the dispensers accomplish a multi-direction spray pattern by directing one or more streams of fluid in multiple directions simultaneously.
As used herein, the term “spray jet” refers to the three-dimensional shape of the material between the exit orifice and the target surface, while the term “spray pattern” refers to the two-dimensional area of the target surface that is covered by material when the nozzle is held stationary.
Fluid dispensing devices may use a variety of different containers. The containers may hold one or a combination of various ingredients, and typically use a permanent or temporary pressure force to discharge the contents of the container. When the container is an aerosol can, for example, one or more chemicals or other active ingredients to be dispensed are usually mixed in a solvent and are typically further mixed with a propellant to pressurize the can. Known propellants include carbon dioxide, selected hydrocarbon gas, or mixtures of hydrocarbon gases such as a propane/butane mix. For convenience, materials to be dispensed may be referred to herein merely as “actives”, regardless of their chemical nature or intended function. The active/propellant mixture may be stored under constant, but not necessarily continuous, pressure in an aerosol can. The sprayed active may exit in an emulsion state, single phase, multiple phase, and/or partial gas phase. Without limitation, actives can include insect control agents (such as propellant, insecticide, or growth regulator), fragrances, sanitizers, cleaners, waxes or other surface treatments, and/or deodorizers.
An exemplary embodiment of a fluid dispensing device 10 is illustrated in
An alternative embodiment of a fluid dispensing device 40 is illustrated in
A third embodiment of a fluid dispensing device 60 is illustrated in
Yet another embodiment of a fluid dispensing device 100 is illustrated in
A cap 116 is coupled to the container 102 for directing fluid exiting the container opening 106. As best shown in
The cap 116 includes an outer sidewall 120. A lower flange 122 extends radially inwardly from a bottom end of the outer sidewall 120 and is rotatably received by the annular recess 112 of the container 102, thereby permitting the cap 116 to rotate about the cap axis 118 relative to the container 102. A top wall 124 extends radially inwardly from a top end of the outer sidewall 120. An inner sidewall 126 is attached to the top wall 124 and extends axially inwardly into the container 102 to define an internal chamber 128 that fluidly communicates with the container opening 106. An upper flange 130 extends radially inwardly from a top end of the inner sidewall 126 and defines a plurality of dispensing orifices 132 (
A deflector 140 is coupled to the cap 116 for directing the fluid generally in a radially outward direction. As best shown in
A plurality of discharge openings 148 are formed in an outer edge of the cover 144 to create spray jets of fluid extending radially outwardly from the cap 116. In the exemplary embodiment, the cover 144 has approximately twenty discharge openings 148, however more or less openings may be used. The discharge openings 148 may be evenly spaced around a perimeter of the cover 144 so that they are oriented at discrete radial angles, thereby to form simultaneous multiple spray jets directed in multiple different directions during use. Alternatively, the discharge openings 148 may be configured to create a spray pattern formed as a continuous curtain of fluid. As a further alternative, the discharge openings 148 may be unevenly spaced around the cover 144 so that some discharge openings 148 are more closely spaced while other discharge openings 148 are spaced farther apart from each other. Such an uneven distribution of discharge openings 148 may be advantageous for covering a surface that is not uniformly spaced from the device 10, such as an oval-shaped toilet bowl. The spray jets may form an overall spray pattern that covers a desired coverage angle around the cap 116. For example, the coverage angle may be 360° to provide a spray pattern that extends continuously around the cap 116, as may be advantageous for applications.
Alternatively, the coverage angle may be less than 360°, depending on the particular application. For example, the discharge openings 149 may be formed only partially around the cover 144 to form a spray pattern that extends around a coverage angle of 180°, 160°, 90° or any other coverage angle less than 360°. While the discharge openings 148 may be entirely formed in the cover 144, the illustrated embodiment shows discharge openings 148 that are formed between complimentary voids in both the cover 144 and the cap 116.
Each of the discharge openings 148 may be oriented to form a spray jet that projects at a deflection angle relative to the cap axis 118. In the exemplary embodiment, each discharge opening 148 is oriented at a deflection angle β of approximately 70 degrees, however other deflection angles may be used without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, a deflection angle β of approximately 90 degrees may be used, or even a deflection angle β of greater than 90 degrees may be used for spraying difficult to reach areas, such as under the rim of a toilet bowl. Additionally, the discharge openings 148 of the cover 144 may be oriented at multiple different deflection angles. For example, some of the discharge openings 148 may be oriented at a first deflection angle (such as approximately 70 degrees) while other discharge openings 148 of the same cover 144 may be oriented at a second deflection angle (such as approximately 75 degrees). Still other discharge openings 148 may be oriented at a third or more deflection angles. While the illustrated discharge openings 148 are shown having substantially the same diameters, the discharge openings 148 may alternatively have different diameters. Still further, while the discharge openings 148 are shown oriented along substantially radial paths extending from the cap axis 118, one or more of the discharge openings 148 may be oriented at an angle relative to the radial path.
A control valve 150 may be provided to permit fluid flow only when desired. The exemplary control valve 150 includes a valve body 152 sized to sealingly engage the container opening 106. The valve body 152 is coupled to an outer wall 154 by a plurality of webs 156 (
The outer wall 154 may be operatively coupled to the cap 116 to move the valve body 152 between open and closed positions. In the exemplary embodiment, two cam tabs 160 extend from an exterior surface of the outer wall 154 and are sized for slidable insertion into the cam slot 134. Accordingly, rotation of the cap 116 slides the cam tabs 160 along the slot 134, thereby translating the control valve 150 along the cap axis 118. Rotating the cap 116 in a first direction drives the control valve 150 to the closed position, in which the valve body 152 sealingly engages the container opening 106. Rotating the cap 116 in a second, opposite direction drives the control valve 150 to the open position, in which the valve body 152 is spaced from the container opening 106. In the open position, fluid may flow through the container opening 106 and the spaces 158 in the control valve 154 into the internal chamber 128.
A combination valve 170 may provide a dispensing orifice valve for controlling flow of fluid through the dispensing orifices 132, and a vent valve for controlling vent air flow into the container 102. An outer portion of the combination valve 170 provides a discharge valve 172 for controlling fluid flow through the dispensing orifices 132. The discharge valve 172 comprises an annular flap 174 formed of a material that deflects in response to pressure differential between the internal chamber 128 and atmosphere. Specifically, the flap 174 is configured to have a normally closed position, in which the flap 174 extends over the dispensing orifices 132 to prevent fluid flow therethrough, as best shown in
An inner portion of the combination valve 170 may be formed as a one-way vent valve 176 to control the flow of vent air into the container 102. The one-way vent valve 176 includes a vent valve inlet 178 fluidly communicating with atmosphere and a vent valve outlet 180 fluidly communicating with the cap internal chamber 128. The one-way vent valve 176, which may be formed as a duckbill valve, is configured to permit fluid flow from the vent valve inlet 178 to the vent valve outlet 180. Accordingly, the one-way vent valve 176 is configured to be normally closed during operation, but will open when the pressure inside the internal chamber 128 is below the atmospheric pressure, thereby to permit vent air to enter the container 102. For example, where a user squeezes the container 102 to discharge fluid, the subsequent release of the container will reduce the pressure inside the internal chamber 128, thereby permitting air to be drawn into the container 102 through the one-way vent valve 176.
Another embodiment of a fluid dispensing device 200 is illustrated in
The fluid dispensing device 200 further includes the control valve 202 for selectively opening or closing the device. As best shown in
A further embodiment of a fluid dispensing device 300 is illustrated in
The control valve 302 is operably coupled to the cap 308 to move axially in response to rotation of the cap 308. The control valve 302 includes an outer wall 318 rotatably coupled to the cap 308 and a transition wall 320 having a frusto-conical shape that extends radially inwardly from the outer wall 318. A generally cylindrical inner wall 322 is coupled to the transition wall 320 and defines a valve inlet 324. The transition wall 320 defines a valve seat 326 that is shaped to sealingly engage the deflector surface 314 when the control valve 302 is in the closed position. When the control valve is actuated to the open position, as shown in
Yet another embodiment of a fluid dispensing device 400 is illustrated in
While such embodiments have been set forth, alternatives and modifications will be apparent in the above description to those skilled in the art. These and other alternatives are considered equivalents in the spirit and scope of this disclosure and the appended claims.
The various embodiments of a fluid dispensing device disclosed herein may be capable of discharging fluid in multiple directions simultaneously. The device may be used to dispense fragrances, cleaners, pest repellants, or other types of actives.