1. Field of the Invention:
Embodiments of the invention relate to fluid pump devices and more particularly to fluid pump devices which may be mounted to containers for pumping fluids from the containers utilizing a deformable membrane.
2. State of the Art:
Pump devices are well known and are used on a variety of products to pump liquids. For example, pump devices are generally attached to liquid containing containers in order to facilitate evacuation of the liquid from the container. Conventional pump systems include piston pump systems and membrane-type pump systems.
Conventional piston pumps are well known and typically include a piston positioned within an accumulator. A valve in the accumulator may prevent or allow liquid from a container to flow into the accumulator depending on the stroke of the piston. A spring typically biases the piston. When the piston is pushed downward into the accumulator, commonly referred to as the downstroke, a fluid flow path around the piston opens and the accumulator valve remains shut such that any fluid accumulated in the accumulator may be forced through the fluid flow path. A spring force acts against the piston. When the piston is released from the downstroke the spring biases the piston back into its starting position; this is also known as the upstroke. During the upstroke, movement of the piston opens the accumulator valve, pulling fluid into the accumulator for delivery during the next downstroke. Operation of conventional piston pumps is well known and may vary from the foregoing.
Membrane-type pump devices typically include a deformable membrane defining a pump chamber. Application of a force to the membrane pushes liquid product out of the pump chamber through a valve or liquid flow path. Release of the force on the membrane allows the membrane to return to its original form. During the return of the membrane to its original form a valve may be opened allowing liquid to flow into the pump chamber from a container or other liquid storage device. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publications 20070181611 and 2007164052 disclose such membrane-type pump devices.
Membrane-type pump devices may be less expensive than conventional piston pumps in some instances because they typically include fewer moving parts and are easier to assemble. However, membrane-type pumps may sacrifice quality and functionality to achieve such lower costs and ease of assembly. Therefore, it is desirable to decrease the cost of membrane-type pumps and/or to improve the functionality of membrane-type pumps.
According to certain embodiments of the invention, a pump may include a body, a closure, a membrane and a cap, wherein the body and the closure are fitted together and the membrane is fitted to the body such that a cavity is formed between the membrane and the closure. A cap fitted over the membrane may include a removable cap portion.
According to various embodiments of the invention, a cap may include a cap body and a removable cap portion. In some embodiments, the removable cap portion may be configured to protect the membrane from actuation. In other embodiments, the removable cap portion may be configured to support a top load. In still other embodiments of the invention, the removable cap portion may be configured to evidence tampering with the membrane or the pump.
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 embodiments of the invention, a pump for dispensing fluid products may include a flexible or elastomeric membrane attached to a body wherein the membrane and the body define a pump chamber. The membrane and the body may be a molded plastic part, a bi-injected plastic part including at least two plastic or moldable materials, or separate molded or formed parts fitted together. A closure device may be attached to, fitted with, integrally formed, or otherwise associated with the body for attaching the pump to a container or fluid source. The membrane may include one or more sealable openings through which a fluid product may be dispensed when a force is applied to the membrane. A cap may be fitted over a portion or all of the membrane and a portion of the cap may be removable such that a portion of the cap prevents activation of the membrane or the application of a force to the membrane until the portion of the cap is removed.
A pump 100 according to various embodiments of the invention is illustrated in
A cross sectional view of a pump 100 according to various embodiments of the invention is illustrated in
A closure 120 according to various embodiments of the invention is illustrated in
A ball seat 121 may include any conventional ball seat 121 or mechanism for retaining a ball 122 for a valve. In other embodiments of the invention, a ball seat 121 and ball 122 may be substituted with an alternative valve such as a flap valve or other valve system as conventionally known.
A tube retainer 123 may include any conventional tube retaining mechanism. For example, the tube retainer 123 illustrated in
The closure mechanism 126 illustrated in
According to various embodiments of the invention, the closure 120 may also include a valve post 128. The valve post 128 may extend from the closure 120 vertically or in another direction such that when the closure 120 is mounted or attached to the body 110, the valve post 128 abuts or otherwise contacts at least a portion of the membrane 130.
A closure 120 may also include a lip 129 or a partial lip 129 circumscribing the closure 120. The lip 129 may be used to retain the closure 120 within a body 110 of a pump 100.
A closure 120 according to various embodiments of the invention may be a single piece. For example, the closure 120 may be a single molded plastic part. In other embodiments, the closure 120 may be made of one or more parts which have been attached together or otherwise joined to form the closure 120.
A body 110 and membrane 130 combination of a pump 100 according to embodiments of the invention is illustrated in
A body 110 according to embodiments of the invention may be formed of a plastic or other material and in some instances, a moldable material. As illustrated in
A membrane 130 according to embodiments of the invention may include an elastomeric material, flexible material, or material which may be deformed and which will return substantially to its original shape after being deformed. In some embodiments of the invention, the membrane 130 includes an elastomeric material bi-injected with the body 110 such that the membrane 130 and body 110 are a single part. In other embodiments of the invention, a membrane 130 may be attached to, secured to, or otherwise joined with a body 110 to form a body 110 and membrane 130 structure as illustrated in
According to embodiments of the invention, a membrane 130 may include a valve 132. A valve may include a slot cut in the membrane 130, a flap in the membrane 130, or other structure in the membrane 130 or attached to the membrane 130 to act as a valve between an interior space between the membrane 130 and the closure 120 and the passageway 113 through the body 110. For example, the membrane 130 illustrated in
A closure 120 may be fitted on an interior of the body 110 as illustrated in
A cap 140 according to embodiments of the invention may be fitted to the body 110 around or over the membrane 130. A cap 140 may include one or more of a cap body 142, a removable cap portion 144, and a cap opening 146.
For example, a cap 140 according to embodiments of the invention is illustrated in
According to some embodiments of the invention, a removable cap portion 144 of a cap 140 may protect the membrane 130 under the removable cap portion 144 from actuation. For example, a cap 140 as illustrated in
Inclusion of a removable cap portion 144 with pumps 100 according to embodiments of the invention also provides notification to a purchaser or user of tampering. For example, if a removable cap portion 144 is intact with the cap body 142 tampering may not have occurred. However, if the removable cap portion 144 is missing or has been partially separated from the cap body 142, evidence of tampering is visually apparent.
A removable cap portion 144 may be formed with the cap during molding or production of the cap. For example, the removable cap portion 144 illustrated in
In some embodiments of the invention, a vent in the pump 100 allows the interior of a container to which the pump 100 is attached to equilibrate with atmospheric pressure.
According to various embodiments of the invention, a pump 100 may be assembled by providing a closure 120, a body 110, a membrane 130 and a cap 140. A ball 122 may be fitted in a ball seat 121 of the closure 120 and a dip tube 124 may be attached or otherwise joined to a tube retainer 123 portion of the closure 120. The closure 120 may be snap fitted or otherwise joined with the body 110 such that a fluid chamber between a top surface of the closure 120 and an interior surface of a membrane 130 connected to the body 110 is formed. A membrane 130 may be attached to the body 110 or may be integral with the body 110 prior to joining the closure 120 with the body 110. A cap 140 may be positioned over the membrane 130 and body 110 and joined to the body 110 to finalize the pump 100.
According to certain embodiments of the invention, the assembly of the pump 100 may include the cutting of a valve 132 in the membrane 130. In further embodiments, the closure 120 and body 110 may be aligned prior to joining such that a valve post 128 of the closure 120 mates with, abuts, or otherwise contacts a valve 132 in the membrane 130 in the assembled form.
A pump 100 according to embodiments of the invention may be used in any desired manner. According to some embodiments, a pump 100 may include a removable cap portion 144 preventing actuation of the pump 100. Removal of the removable cap portion 144, such as by prying or otherwise pulling the removable cap portion 144 from the cap body 142, may expose the membrane 130 and allow operation of the pump 100. An application of force on the membrane 130 may collapse or deform the membrane 130, forcing a fluid product in the pump chamber between the membrane 130 and the closure 120 out a valve 132 of the membrane 130.
For example, the pump 100 illustrated in
Pump devices according to various embodiments of the invention may include membranes 130 made from one or more elastomeric materials. An elastomeric material may include any material capable of being subjected to a resilient deformation sufficient to fulfill the requirements of the one or more embodiments of the invention. Elastomeric materials used with embodiments of the invention may include plastic materials such as for example polypropylene. Other materials may also be used to form the membranes or part of the membranes 130 according to various embodiments of the invention.
According to embodiments of the invention, the various components of a pump 100 may be made in any desired shape or form and are not limited to those illustrated. Further, the components may be made from different materials, different colored materials, or different textured materials to add aesthetic effects to the pumps 100.
While various embodiments of the invention are described with respect to the delivery or pumping of fluid products or liquids, it is understood that such embodiments may also be used to deliver and/or pump products made of a combination of any of liquid, solid, or gas. For example, a fluid product including a liquid having solid particles mixed therein may be pumped or dispensed utilizing various embodiments of the invention.
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 U.S. Provisional Application No. 61232085, entitled “PUMP DEVICE AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME,” filed Aug. 7, 2009, and incorporates the same herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61232085 | Aug 2009 | US |