Dispensing pump with locking structures and methods of using the same

A dispensing pump comprising:

• a pump base;
• a dispensing head including a piston stem which is axially guided within the pump base between an extended position and a retracted position;
• a spring assembly captured between the pump base and the piston stem biasing the dispensing head to said extended position;
• and
• a releasable lock coupled between the pump base and the dispensing head, wherein said pump base includes a closure ring and the releasable lock comprises a slotted tubular band captured between the closure ring and the dispensing head, said slotted tubular band releasably maintaining said dispensing head in said extended position.

A dispensing pump comprising:

• a pump base;
• a dispensing head including a piston stem which is axially guided within the pump base between an extended position and a retracted position;
• a spring assembly captured between the pump base and the piston stem biasing the dispensing head to said extended position;
• and
• a releasable lock coupled between the pump base and the dispensing head,
• wherein said pump base includes a closure ring and the releasable lock comprises a frangible tubular band captured between the closure ring and the dispensing head, said frangible tubular band releasably maintaining said dispensing head in said extended position.

A dispensing pump comprising:

• a pump base;
• a dispensing head including a piston stem which is axially guided within the pump base between an extended position and a retracted position;
• a spring assembly captured between the pump base and the piston stem biasing the dispensing head to said extended position;
• and
• a releasable lock coupled between the pump base and the dispensing head,
• wherein said spring assembly comprises:
• a slotted tubular spring element formed from a tensile polymer material;
• a first loading cone received at a first end of said slotted tubular spring element, said first loading cone being fixed relative to said pump base;
• and
• a second loading cone received at said second end of said slotted tubular spring element, said second loading cone being movable relative to said pump base.

A dispensing pump comprising:

• a pump base including an accumulator cup and a closure ring;
• a dispensing head including a piston stem which is axially guided within the closure ring between an extended position and a retracted position;
• a spring assembly captured between the pump base and the piston stem biasing the dispensing head to said extended position;
• and
• a rotatable lock coupled between the pump base and the dispensing head, the rotatable lock comprises:
• a plurality of axially extending guide lugs disposed on the piston stem;
• a chaplet received within the closure ring, the chaplet including a plurality of axially extending guide slots for guiding axial movement of the dispensing head between said retracted and said extended positions,
• said dispensing head being rotatable relative to said chaplet between a locked position and an unlocked position,
• said guide lugs and the chaplet including mating surfaces which are engaged in the locked position and disengaged in the unlocked position.

A dispensing pump comprising:

• a pump base including an accumulator having a dip tube port within a bottom wall, and further having a ball valve within said dip tube port, said pump base further including a closure ring securing said accumulator to a neck of a container;
• a dispensing head including a piston stem which is guided within the pump base and has a terminal end which extends into the accumulator;
• a piston seal received about the piston stem and forming a seal with inner walls of the accumulator;
• a spring assembly comprising:
• a slotted tubular spring element formed from a tensile polymer material;
• and
• first and second loading cones received at opposing first and second ends of said slotted tubular spring element,
• said first loading cone formed with said bottom wall of said accumulator,
• said second loading cone received at said terminal end of said piston stem and being movable with said dispensing head relative to said first loading cone;
• and
• a releasable lock coupled between the pump base and the dispensing head.