Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to trigger sprayers and in particular to pre-compression type trigger sprayers.
State of the Art
Trigger sprayers and their uses are well known. In some instances, it is desirable to prevent discharge of a trigger sprayer until a certain pressure—or pre-compression—has been applied to the fluid to be discharged by a trigger sprayer. Various systems have been developed to accomplish such pre-compression features. However, it is desirable to develop new pre-compression configurations which may be easier or more cost efficient to produce and manufacture.
According to certain embodiments of the invention, a pre-compression trigger sprayer may be made of all plastic materials and can be manufactured to dispense in a large range of outputs in spray, stream or foam dispensing patterns. This design can be used to dispense many liquid products from air fresheners, window cleaners, household chemicals, lawn and garden products, automotive products, or other products.
In some embodiments of the invention, a trigger sprayer is of the type wherein structure is provided for preventing pressurizes liquid from being expelled from an outlet orifice in a nozzle of a trigger sprayer until a predetermined pressure of the liquid is reached in a pumping cylinder and the ejection of liquid in a spray, stream or a foam is stopped or cut off when the pressure of the liquid being pumped by the trigger sprayer in the pumping cylinder falls below a predetermined pressure.
In still further embodiments, a trigger sprayer may include a pre-compression valve system located in a vertical cylinder behind the horizontal pumping cylinder of a trigger sprayer.
In further embodiments, a tab on a plastic return spring may be included for increasing the load against the arms of the spring and a locking system may be incorporated that provides a constant pre-load on the pre-compression valve system.
While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming particular embodiments of the present invention, various embodiments of the invention can be more readily understood and appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art from the following descriptions of various embodiments of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
According to various embodiments of the invention, a pre-compression trigger sprayer may include any configuration as shown in
A pre-compression valve 1, as shown in
In some embodiments, a one piece pre-compression valve system as shown in
The pre-compression valve system shown in
The positive lock pre-compression valve pre-load design shown in
A positive lock gasket retention system for a closure is shown in
A bias loaded assist tab 33 on the plastic spring component 8 according to various embodiments of the invention, is shown in
Having thus described certain particular embodiments of the invention, it is understood that the invention defined by the appended claims is not to be limited by particular details set forth in the above description, as many apparent variations thereof are contemplated. Rather, the invention is limited only be the appended claims, which include within their scope all equivalent devices or methods which operate according to the principles of the invention as described.
This application claims the benefit of, and priority to, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/471,308, entitled “PRE-COMPRESSION VALVE SYSTEM IN AN ALL PLASTIC DISPENSER WITH A LOCKING PRE-LOAD, UTILIZING A GASKET RETENTION DESIGN AND A TAB PRE-LOADED SPRING,” filed Apr. 4, 2011, and incorporates the same herein by reference in its entirety.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2012/032133 | 4/4/2012 | WO | 00 | 10/2/2013 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2013/106014 | 7/18/2013 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3981622 | Hall et al. | Sep 1976 | A |
3987529 | Nakagawa et al. | Oct 1976 | A |
4017125 | Durling | Apr 1977 | A |
4050746 | Durling | Sep 1977 | A |
4160627 | Cole | Jul 1979 | A |
4214677 | Bauer et al. | Jul 1980 | A |
4244378 | Brignola | Jan 1981 | A |
4540345 | Frazer | Sep 1985 | A |
4555220 | Hall et al. | Nov 1985 | A |
4669664 | Garneau | Jun 1987 | A |
5092495 | Andre | Mar 1992 | A |
5186481 | Turner | Feb 1993 | A |
5297701 | Steijns et al. | Mar 1994 | A |
5425476 | Montaner et al. | Jun 1995 | A |
5467900 | Maas | Nov 1995 | A |
5730335 | Maas | Mar 1998 | A |
5884820 | Thanisch | Mar 1999 | A |
6116472 | Wanbaugh | Sep 2000 | A |
6126038 | Olegnowicz | Oct 2000 | A |
6364172 | Maas | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6378739 | Maas et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6641003 | Foster | Nov 2003 | B1 |
6705493 | Mijers | Mar 2004 | B1 |
6789303 | Maas et al. | Sep 2004 | B2 |
7517568 | Bitowft et al. | Apr 2009 | B2 |
7520447 | Engelen et al. | Apr 2009 | B2 |
8177102 | Hammond et al. | May 2012 | B2 |
8256648 | Maas et al. | Sep 2012 | B2 |
8677799 | Jamet | Mar 2014 | B2 |
8800823 | Sweeton | Aug 2014 | B2 |
9103307 | Lingener | Aug 2015 | B2 |
9132441 | Hoffman et al. | Sep 2015 | B2 |
20020053577 | Maas et al. | May 2002 | A1 |
20050045658 | Lee | Mar 2005 | A1 |
20050092778 | Bistolfi | May 2005 | A1 |
20050221113 | Bitowft et al. | Oct 2005 | A1 |
20060016910 | Engelen et al. | Jan 2006 | A1 |
20060054642 | Buti | Mar 2006 | A1 |
20060083632 | Hammond et al. | Apr 2006 | A1 |
20060090973 | Potas | May 2006 | A1 |
20060175357 | Hammond | Aug 2006 | A1 |
20070295758 | Foster et al. | Dec 2007 | A1 |
20080230563 | Maas et al. | Sep 2008 | A1 |
20090028734 | Tseng | Jan 2009 | A1 |
20090148342 | Bromberg et al. | Jun 2009 | A1 |
20090152304 | Foster | Jun 2009 | A1 |
20090308897 | Foster et al. | Dec 2009 | A1 |
20110094280 | Jamet | Apr 2011 | A1 |
20110223040 | Lingener | Sep 2011 | A1 |
20120286057 | Maas et al. | Nov 2012 | A1 |
20120305119 | Maas et al. | Dec 2012 | A1 |
20130056499 | Sweeton | Mar 2013 | A1 |
20130068797 | Laidler et al. | Mar 2013 | A1 |
20130341362 | Hoffmann et al. | Dec 2013 | A1 |
20140239018 | Maas et al. | Aug 2014 | A1 |
20150336123 | Hoffmann et al. | Nov 2015 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
1256973 | Jun 2000 | CN |
101767075 | Jul 2010 | CN |
0765689 | Apr 1997 | EP |
9075798 | Mar 1997 | JP |
9075800 | Mar 1997 | JP |
9164350 | Jun 1997 | JP |
H11 42451 | Feb 1999 | JP |
H11 47650 | Feb 1999 | JP |
WO 2007103922 | Sep 2007 | WO |
WO 2007106809 | Sep 2007 | WO |
Entry |
---|
EP Communication dated Nov. 5, 2014 for EP Application No. 12865409.2. |
International Search Report from PCT/US2012/032133 dated Jun. 21, 2012. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20140014691 A1 | Jan 2014 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61471308 | Apr 2011 | US |