Claims
- 1. A pump comprising:
a pump inlet; and a reservoir having a first portion and a second well portion, said first portion and said well portion being in open fluid communication, said well portion encompassing less volume than said first portion, wherein said pump inlet being locatable in said well portion.
- 2. A pump as in claim 1, wherein said well portion is located gravitationally below said first portion.
- 3. A pump as in claim 1, wherein said volume of said well portion being greater than one dose of the pump.
- 4. A pump as in claim 1, wherein said well portion is generally cylindrical.
- 5. A pump as in claim 1, wherein said well portion is concave.
- 6. A pump as in claim 1 further comprising a dip tube, wherein said pump inlet is formed at an end of said dip tube, said dip tube being extendable into said well portion.
- 7. A pump comprising:
an actuator having a nozzle; and a releasable cap for selectively covering said actuator, said releasable cap including a first shield located to at least partially cover said nozzle with said cap covering said actuator, said first shield entrapping a fixed volume of air about said nozzle when at least partially covering said nozzle.
- 8. A pump as in claim 7, wherein said releasable cap further includes a second shield located spaced-apart from said first shield.
- 9. A pump as in claim 8, wherein said first and second shields are located diametrically opposite on said cap.
- 10. A pump as in claim 7, wherein said releasable cap is formed to releasably engage a portion of the pump surrounding said actuator.
- 11. A pump as in claim 7, wherein said first shield includes an inner surface being at least partially flat.
- 12. A pump as in claim 11 further comprising an annular rim located about said nozzle, said inner surface of said first shield being formed to abut, or near abut, said rim with said first shield at least partially covering said nozzle.
- 13. A pump comprising:
a tubular piston having first and second ends; and a poppet having an enlarged head, said head having a diameter greater than the diameter of said first end of said piston, said first end of said piston being deflectable in response to interferingly engaging said head so as to define a seal therewith.
- 14. A pump as in claim 13, wherein said piston having an inner surface, said inner surface of said piston on, or in proximity to, said first end interferingly engaging said head.
- 15. A pump as in claim 13, wherein said first end of said piston is formed with a wall thickness less than that of adjacent portions.
- 16. A pump as in claim 13, wherein said head includes a first arcuate portion, said first end of said piston interferingly engaging said first arcuate portion.
- 17. A pump as in claim 16, wherein said head includes a second arcuate portion extending from said first arcuate portion.
- 18. A pump as in claim 13, wherein said piston further includes a shoulder for engaging a portion of the pump and for limiting the extent of movement of said piston, said shoulder being spaced from said first end of said piston.
- 19. A pump comprising:
a fluid passage terminating at a nozzle; a valve seat disposed along said fluid passage; a plurality of deflectable spring arms extending from said valve seat; and a check valve element disposed between said spring arms and said valve seat, wherein said spring arms deflect in response to movement of said check valve element away from said valve seat.
- 20. A pump as in claim 19, wherein said spring arms are in continuous contiguous contact with said check valve element.
- 21. A pump as in claim 19, wherein said spring arms are each cantilevered to said valve seat.
- 22. A pump as in claim 19, wherein said check valve element is a ball check valve element.
- 23. A pump as in claim 19, wherein each of said spring arms terminates in an enlarged free end.
- 24. A pump as in claim 19, wherein said spring arms each terminate in a free end, said free ends defining a locus of points spaced apart to define an area smaller than the diameter of said check valve element so as to restrict passage of said check valve element through said spring arms.
- 25. A pump as in claim 19, wherein said spring arms urge said check valve element into sealing engagement with said valve seat.
- 26. A pump as in claim 19, wherein said spring arms are each identically or substantially identically shaped.
- 27. A pump as in claim 19, wherein said spring arms are equally-spaced about said valve seat.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/284,157, filed Apr. 16, 2001.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60284157 |
Apr 2001 |
US |