Foam pump actuator with folding nozzle suitable for e-commerce
OwnerArmin Arminakinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An actuator for a hand operated foam dispensing pump that utilizes a folding nozzle is presented. The folding nozzle of the actuator is configured so as to lock the actuator in place and prevent operation of the pump when the nozzle is folded. The actuator substantially reduces pump closure loosening (back-off) and nozzle breakage during shipping of a filled product by eliminating trigger handles or other conventional nozzle types which protrude from the side of the actuator. As such, the new actuator is particularly well-suited for use in e-commerce where the shipping of unboxed products is becoming increasingly common. The actuator is configured such that actuator depression (actuation) cannot occur when the folding nozzle is in a folded position.
Claims20
An actuator assembly for a hand operated pump comprising:
- an actuator having a hollow body, a nozzle having an inlet end and an outlet end with a flow passage therebetween, and a closure having a hollow body;
- wherein the nozzle is configured to attach to the actuator and fold between an open and a closed position;
- wherein the actuator is configured with an oval shaped perimeter having a recessed, flat rectangular front surface for receipt of the nozzle when the nozzle is in the closed position, the actuator having a closed, sloped top end and an open bottom end;
- wherein the actuator includes an internal, vertically oriented tube, the tube having a circular interior wall, a radially closed upper end and a radially open bottom end, wherein the tube further includes an opening in fluid communication with the flow passage of the nozzle at the nozzle's inlet end;
- wherein the closure includes an oval shaped opening configured to correspond to the perimeter of the oval shaped actuator, wherein the actuator is slideably received within the generally oval shaped opening of the closure;
- means for preventing actuator depression when the nozzle is in the closed positon;
- means for attaching the actuator to a fluid outlet of a hand operated pump;
- means for attaching the closure to a hand operated pump;
- and
- means for retaining the nozzle in the closed position to prevent inadvertent opening of the nozzle.
An actuator assembly for a hand operated pump comprising:
- an actuator having a hollow body, a nozzle having an inlet end and an outlet end with a flow passage therebetween, and a closure having a hollow body;
- wherein the nozzle is configured to attach to the actuator and fold between an open and a closed position;
- wherein the actuator is configured with a curved perimeter having a recessed, front surface for receipt of the nozzle when the nozzle is in the closed position, the actuator having a closed end and an open bottom end;
- wherein the nozzle has a raised semi-circular portion at the nozzle's outlet end, wherein the raised semi-circular portion functions as a finger tab to allow a user to pull the nozzle open from the closed position;
- wherein the actuator includes an internal, vertically oriented tube, the tube having a circular interior wall, a radially closed upper end and a radially open bottom end, wherein the tube further includes an opening in fluid communication with the flow passage of the nozzle at the nozzle's inlet end;
- wherein the closure includes a curved opening configured to correspond to the curved opening of the actuator, wherein the actuator is slideably received within the curved opening of the closure;
- means for preventing actuator depression when the nozzle is in the closed positon;
- means for attaching the actuator to a fluid outlet of a hand operated pump;
- means for attaching the closure to a hand operated pump;
- and
- means for retaining the nozzle in the closed position to prevent inadvertent opening of the nozzle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.