Trigger Sprayer Piston Rod With Integral Spring and Pivoting Piston Connection

Abstract

A manually operated trigger sprayer is constructed with a reduced number of parts and in a novel manner in which the conventional metal coil spring is replaced with a pair of plastic bowed springs that are integral with the piston rod and the pump piston is connected to the piston rod by a pivoting connection that prevents radial force components acting on the piston rod from the springs from being transferred to the pump piston.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

Further features of the invention are set forth in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and in the drawing figures wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side sectioned view of the trigger sprayer of the invention with the trigger in a forward position relative to the sprayer housing;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the disassembled component parts of the trigger sprayer;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the trigger sprayer;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the trigger sprayer with the shroud removed;

FIG. 5 is a side sectioned view of the trigger sprayer along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 and with the trigger in a rearward position relative to the sprayer housing;

FIG. 6 is a side-sectioned view of the trigger sprayer similar to that of FIG. 5, but showing the piston rod with an integral spring and a pivoting connection with the piston assembly;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the piston rod and piston assembly of FIG. 6 removed from the trigger sprayer;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7, but with the piston assembly disassembled from the piston rod;

FIG. 9 is a side-sectioned view of the piston assembly and piston rod; and,

FIG. 10 is a plan sectioned view of the piston assembly and piston rod taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

Claims

1) A manually operated trigger sprayer comprising: a sprayer housing having a pump chamber in the sprayer housing, the pump chamber having a center axis that defines mutually perpendicular axial and radial directions, a liquid inlet opening on the sprayer housing, a liquid supply passage extending through the sprayer housing communicating the liquid inlet opening with the pump chamber, a liquid outlet opening on the sprayer housing, and a liquid discharge passage extending through the sprayer housing communicating the liquid outlet opening with the pump chamber;a trigger mounted on the sprayer housing for movement of the trigger relative to the sprayer housing;a piston rod operatively connected to the trigger for movement of the piston rod in response to movement of the trigger;a pump piston mounted in the pump chamber for axial reciprocating movement of the pump piston in the pump chamber; and,a pivoting connection between the piston rod and the pump piston, the pivot connection moving the pump piston axially in the pump chamber in response to movement of the piston rod, the pivoting connection transferring axial components of force exerted on the piston rod to the pump piston and preventing transferring of radial components of force exerted on the piston rod to the pump piston.

2) The trigger sprayer of claim 1, further comprising: the piston rod having an opening in the piston rod that is positioned at an opposite end of the piston rod from the trigger; and,the pump piston having a post that extends from the pump piston and through the opening on the piston rod to a distal end of the pump piston post positioned at an opposite side of the opening in the piston rod from the pump piston, thereby providing the pivoting connection between the piston rod and the pump piston.

3) The trigger sprayer of claim 2, further comprising: the pump piston having a pair of pins that project radially outwardly from opposite sides of the pump piston post distal end, the pair of pistons being positioned on an opposite side of the opening in the piston rod from the pump piston.

4) The trigger sprayer of claim 2, further comprising: the pump piston post having a slot that extends axially into the distal end of the pump piston post between the pair of pivot pins.

5) The trigger sprayer of claim 4, further comprising: the piston rod having a center web that extends axially into the slot in the pump piston post distal end.

6) The trigger sprayer of claim 2, further comprising: the piston rod having a radially extending flange at the end of the rod that is opposite the trigger and adjacent the pump piston, and the opening extending through the flange.

7) The trigger sprayer of claim 6, further comprising: the pump piston post having a pair of radially extending pivot pins on the post distal end, the pivot pins being positioned on an opposite side of the piston rod flange from the pump piston.

8) The trigger sprayer of claim 7, further comprising: the pump piston post having a slot extending axially into the distal end with the pair of pivot pins being positioned on opposite sides of the slot.

9) A manually operated trigger sprayer comprising: a sprayer housing having a pump chamber in the sprayer housing, the pump chamber having a center axis that defines mutually perpendicular axial and radial directions, a liquid inlet opening on the sprayer housing, a liquid supply passage extending though the sprayer housing communicating the liquid inlet opening with the pump chamber, a liquid outlet opening on the sprayer housing, and a liquid discharge passage extending through the sprayer housing communicating the liquid outlet opening with the pump chamber;a trigger mounted on the sprayer housing for movement of the trigger relative to the sprayer housing;a piston rod operatively connected to the trigger for movement of the piston rod in response to movement of the trigger;a spring having a length with opposite proximal and distal ends, the spring proximal end being connected to the piston rod with the spring length extending from the spring proximal end outside the pump chamber to the spring distal end;a pump piston mounted in the pump chamber for axially reciprocating movement of the pump piston in the pump chamber; and,a pivoting connection between the piston rod and the pump piston, the pivoting connection moving the piston axially in the pump chamber in response to axial component forces acting on the piston rod that are transferred to the pump piston by the pivoting connection where radial component forces acting on the piston rod are not transferred to the pump piston by the pivoting connection.

10) The trigger sprayer of claim 9, further comprising: the spring having a curved length that extends from the spring proximal end outside of the pump chamber to the spring distal end.

11) The trigger sprayer of claim 9, further comprising: the spring being one of a pair of springs integrally connected to the piston rod, each spring having a proximal end integrally connected to the piston rod and each spring having a length extending from the proximal end away from the piston rod to a distal end of the spring.

12) The trigger sprayer of claim 9, further comprising: the piston rod having a radially oriented opening in an end of the piston rod that is opposite the trigger;the pump piston having a post that extends axially from the pump piston and through the radially oriented opening in the piston rod and thereby provides the pivoting connection between the piston rod and the pump piston.

13) The trigger sprayer of claim 12, further comprising: the pump piston post having a distal end spaced axially from the pump piston and a pair of radially extending pivot pins on the post distal end, the pair of pivot pins being positioned on an opposite side of the radially oriented opening in the piston rod from the pump piston.

14) The trigger sprayer of claim 12, further comprising: the pump piston post having a distal end and a slot that extends axially into the post distal end, the slot being positioned on an opposite side of the radially oriented opening in the piston rod from the pump piston.

15) The trigger sprayer of claim 14, further comprising: the pump piston having a pair of pivot pins that project radially from the post distal end on opposite sides of the slot, the pair of pivot pins being positioned on an opposite side of the radially oriented opening in the piston rod from the pump piston.

16) The trigger sprayer of claim 15, further comprising: the piston rod having a radially extending flange at the end of the piston rod that is opposite the trigger, and the radially oriented opening extending through the radially oriented flange.

17) The trigger sprayer of claim 9, further comprising: the piston rod having a radially extending flange at an end of the piston rod that is opposite the trigger and adjacent the pump piston, the flange having an opening; and,the pump piston having a post that extends axially from the pump piston and through the flange opening to a distal end of the post positioned on an opposite side of the flange from the pump piston.

18) The trigger sprayer of claim 17, further comprising: the distal end of the pump piston post having a pair of pivot pins that project radially outwardly from the post distal end, the pair of pivot pins being positioned on an opposite side of the piston rod flange from the pump piston.

19) A manually operated trigger sprayer comprising: a sprayer housing having a cylindrical pump chamber wall containing a pump chamber, the pump chamber having a center axis that defines mutually perpendicular axial and radial directions relative to the trigger sprayer, a liquid inlet opening on the sprayer housing and a liquid supply passage extending through the sprayer housing and communicating the liquid inlet opening with the pump chamber, a liquid outlet opening on the sprayer housing and a liquid discharge passage extending through the sprayer housing and communicating the liquid outlet opening with the pump chamber;a trigger mounted on the sprayer housing for movement of the trigger relative to the sprayer housing;a piston rod having an axial length with opposite forward and rearward ends, the piston rod forward end being operatively connected to the trigger for movement of the piston rod in response to movement of the trigger, the piston rod rearward end having a radially extending flange with an opening through the flange;a pump piston mounted in the pump chamber wall for axial reciprocating movement of the pump piston in the pump chamber, the pump piston being positioned on one side of the piston rod flange and having a post extending axially from the pump piston and through the flange opening, the post having a pair of pins that project radially from the post across an opposite side of the piston rod flange from the pump piston and thereby provide a pivoting connection between the piston rod and the pump piston; and,a pair of narrow, elongate curved springs with opposite proximal and distal ends, the spring proximal ends being integrally connected to the piston rod and the spring lengths extending from the piston rod across the pump chamber wall outside the pump chamber to the distal ends of the springs.

20) The trigger sprayer of claim 19, further comprising: the pump piston post having an axial slot in the post, and the pair of pins being positioned on opposite sides of the slot.

21) A manually operated trigger sprayer comprising: a sprayer housing having a pump chamber with a center axis that defines mutually perpendicular axial and radial directions relative to the sprayer housing, a liquid inlet opening on the sprayer housing, a liquid supply passage extending through the sprayer housing and communicating the liquid inlet opening with the pump chamber, a liquid outlet opening on the sprayer housing, and a liquid discharge passage extending through the sprayer housing and communicating the pump chamber with the liquid outlet opening;a trigger mounted on the sprayer housing for movement of the trigger relative to the sprayer housing;a pump piston mounted in the pump chamber for reciprocating movement of the pump piston in the pump chamber;a post projecting from the pump piston to a distal end of the post, the post having a slot in the post distal end; and,a piston rod operatively connected to the trigger for movement of the piston rod in response to movement of the trigger, the piston rod having a web that extends into the slot in the post distal end.

22) The trigger sprayer of claim 21, further comprising: the post projecting axially from the piston toward the trigger, the slot extending axially into the post distal end; and,the piston rod web extending axially into the slot.

23) The trigger sprayer of claim 21, further comprising: a flange on the piston rod, the flange having an opening through the flange; and,the post extending through the flange opening.

24) The trigger sprayer of claim 23, further comprising: the flange extending radially from the web.

25) The trigger sprayer of claim 23, further comprising: a pair of projections on the post on opposite sides of the slot, the pair of projections engaging against the flange.

26) The trigger sprayer of claim 25, further comprising: the pair of projections extending radially outwardly from the post on opposite sides of the slot.

27) A manually operated trigger sprayer comprising: a sprayer housing having a pump chamber with a center axis that defines mutually perpendicular axial and radial directions relative to the sprayer housing, a liquid inlet opening on the sprayer housing, a liquid supply passage extending through the sprayer housing and communicating the liquid inlet opening with the pump chamber, a liquid outlet opening on the sprayer housing, and a liquid discharge passage extending through the sprayer housing and communicating the pump chamber with the liquid outlet opening;a trigger mounted on the sprayer housing for movement of the trigger relative to the sprayer housing;a pump piston mounted in the pump chamber for reciprocating movement of the pump piston in the pump chamber;a post projecting from the pump piston toward the trigger to a distal end of the post;a piston rod operatively connected to the trigger for movement of the piston rod in response to movement of the trigger, the piston rod having a flange with an opening through the flange, and the post extending through the flange opening with the post distal end being positioned on one side of the flange and the piston being positioned on an opposite side of the flange.

28) The trigger sprayer of claim 27, further comprising: the post extending axially from the post toward the trigger; and,the flange extending radially from the piston rod.

29) The trigger sprayer of claim 28, further comprising: the post having a pair of projections that extend radially from the post and engage against the one side of the flange.

30) The trigger sprayer of claim 29, further comprising: the post having a slot that extends axially into the post between the pair of projections.

31) The trigger sprayer of claim 30, further comprising: a web on the piston rod that extends into the post slot.