Patent Application
20050173560
This invention relates to the field of manually operated trigger sprayers for dispensing liquids from bottles and similar containers, and more particularly to a trigger actuated pump sprayer with an ergonomic trigger which enables consumers to operate the sprayer for extended periods of time with ease.
Manually operated trigger sprayers for dispensing liquids from a bottle or a similar container are well known and are in wide use in connection with the application of home cleaning products. Such dispensers-provide a convenient means of dispensing, applying and using such home cleaning products. A variety of such trigger sprayers is known in the prior art.
Trigger actuated pump sprayers are typically mounted on the neck of a container of a liquid product to be dispensed. In use, the consumer grasps the container neck and the closure cap provided for mounting the trigger sprayer to the container. The consumer dispenses the product by engaging the trigger lever for stroking the pump for dispensing. Depending on the product being dispensed and/or the task at hand, sprayers can be used to dispense small quantities of product on an occasional basis or can be used to dispense larger amounts of product over an extended period of time. In the latter case, the consumer often experiences fatigue especially if the container is large and heavy.
The art is in search of improved trigger sprayers that allow consumers to operate the sprayers more conveniently for prolonged periods of time without incurring the discomforts associated with using prior art devices.
The invention is based, in part, on the demonstration that incorporating an improved ergonomic trigger to manually operated pump sprayers can significantly reduce or eliminate the fatigue associate with prolonged use of trigger sprayers.
In one aspect, the invention is directed to a trigger for a sprayer that includes a housing with a pump therein wherein the sprayer is manually actuated by the reciprocating action of a pump, the trigger including: a lever, which is pivotally mounted on the housing for engaging the pump, and that comprises an elongated lever having a finger engaging surface that includes an upper section, a middle section, and a lower section, wherein the middle section has a width that is shorter than the widths of the upper section and of the lower section.
In another aspect, the invention is directed to a trigger sprayer for manually dispensing fluid from a container that includes:
In yet another embodiment, the invention is directed to a trigger sprayer for manually dispensing fluid from a container that includes:
Referring to
As illustrated in
The upper and middle sidewalls 18A, 18B and 32A, 32B, respectively extend longitudinally and continuously between their edges to the rear wall 26. The lower sidewalls 34A, 34B extend between their front edges to the lower rear wall 38. The lower sidewalls 34A, 34B and lower rear wall 38 define a constricted throat portion 40 situated immediately above the collar 16.
The support surface 28 is dimensioned to fit on the web of a person's hand when the sprayer is being operated. In addition, the size and configuration of the exterior contour of the throat 40 are selected to enable a person to readily grasp the sprayer with the palm of his hand essentially surrounding the collar 16 and bottle neck 15 such that the web of the hand between the thumb and forefinger underlie the support surface 28. The thumb, forefinger and hand web likewise grip about the constricted throat portion 40. The user can manipulate the trigger lever 24 by the forefinger and/or middle finger by pulling the trigger to actuate the pump. As will be further described, for maximum comfort the ergonomic trigger of the present invention is configured to be pulled using two or three fingers.
The front surface of the trigger 24 preferably includes a plurality of gripping elements 27 that are formed on the recesses in the trigger body. As illustrated in
The front surface of the trigger 24 has an hourglass-shaped perimeter and, in one embodiment, a generally continuous, slightly concave contour extending along its length from the proximal (or upper) to distal end of the trigger. Alternatively, the front surface can exhibit a center bulge that protrudes outward to create a slight protrusion along a center of the front surface that traverses longitudinally along the middle of the gripping elements 27.
A flexible member 42 in contact with the piston 46 functions as the movable portion of the inlet ball valve and as a piston ring. The piston conduit orifice 62 may be blocked in response to pressure within the pump chamber 40 by the ball 52 of the inlet ball valve.
Fluid in the pump chamber 40 may be discharged from the dispenser through an outlet conduit 70 and a nozzle fitting 71. The nozzle fitting carries an operative discharge check valve 72. The fitting 71 and check valve 72 are enclosed in a nozzle cap 22 which, depending on its position, controls the form of discharge, e.g., stream or spray. The discharge path includes outlet orifice 74 which is shown in the “off” position in
The trigger 24 is pivotally attached to the projections 78 located on opposite sides of the housing. The reciprocating arm 76 is attached the trigger 24 on one end and operatively connected to the piston 46 on the other end. The reciprocating action of the pump dispenser is initiated from the downward position of the piston 46. As the trigger 24 is pulled toward the collar 16 to raise the piston 46, forcing liquid in the pump chamber 40 out delivery tube 70 and through the discharge check valve 72 and the orifice 74. When the trigger 24 is released, the spring 56 pulls the piston 46 downward, creating a negative pressure in the pump chamber 40 and causing the ball 52 of the ball valve to raise off the valve seat drawing liquid from the piston conduit 48 upward into the chamber 40. In the event that the pump chamber 40 is empty, it is necessary to “prime” the pump by retracting the trigger 24 a few times before the pump chamber 40 is adequately filled with liquid.
The particular internal pump mechanism is not critical to the invention. The improved ergonomic trigger can be employed with conventional manually actuated piston or bellows-type pumps that are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,227,650 to McKinney, U.S. Pat. No. 4,538,745 to Dunning et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,236 to Bloom, U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,361 to Bloom, U.S. Pat. No. 6,332,562 to Sweeton, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,175 to Bloom Which are all incorporated herein by reference.
FIGS. 6 to 12 illustrate another embodiment of the ergonomic trigger 94 with its generally hourglass-shaped front exterior contour 80, 82, and 84. The exterior contour preferably defines a continuous, slightly concave smooth surface. In this embodiment, the gripping surface is textured and covers essentially the entire front surface of the trigger 94. The body of the trigger 94 is preferably made of a hard molded plastic and the gripping surface is embedded within a recess with the body surface. At least a portion of the edge 86 of the body of the trigger 94 where the fingers are in contact with the trigger 94 is rounded for ease of handling.
The front finger-grasping surface comprises three sections: (1) an upper section 80, (2) a middle section 82, and (3) a lower section 84. To permit a consumer to use 2 or 3 fingers to engage the trigger 94, the finger engaging surface preferably has an overall length of about 45 mm to 65 mm, as measured along its surface. In addition, the upper section 80 preferably has a width of about 17 mm to 27 mm, the middle section 82 preferably has a width of about 7 mm to 16 mm, and the lower section 84 preferably has a width of about 17 mm to 27 mm. Finally, the upper section 80 preferably has a length of about 17 mm to 25 mm, the middle section preferably has a length of about 11 mm to 15 mm, and the lower section preferably has a width of about 17 mm to 25 mm. As illustrated, in a preferred embodiment of the trigger, the hourglass front exterior configuration as an upper section 80 with dimensions that are substantially identical to those of the lower section 84.
The configuration of the back surface 96 of the trigger 94 as illustrated in
In use, a consumer grasps the container neck and the and at least the collar such that the container is supported at the user's hand by the rearwardly extending support surface 28 (
While various advantageous embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
