Single-polymer, reciprocating dispenser for foam products
AssigneeRieke Packaging Systems Limited
InventorSimon Christopher Knight
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An all-plastic, reciprocating foam dispenser is contemplated. The dispenser relies upon a bellows that also serves as the air chamber/cylinder, thereby eliminating the need for complex valving while also reducing total plastic mass and shortening the axial profile of the dispenser. In this manner, the dispenser can be coupled to narrow-necked containers (≤40 mm diameter) and dispense large doses (≥1.2 mL). A locking collar secures the pump in a sealed, up-locked position, while also providing greater flexibility to adjust the air-to-liquid ratio to help impart the desired consistency to the dispensed foam product.
Claims17
A reciprocating pump for dispensing foam products, the pump comprising:
- an actuator defining an outlet for dispensing a foam product;
- a mixing chamber communicating with the outlet;
- a resilient, compressible bellows defining an air chamber coupled to the actuator so as to urge the actuator into a fully extended position;
- a closure cap coupled to a closure plate having an air inlet valve, wherein the bellows is coupled to the closure plate;
- a pump body coupled to the closure plate and/or the closure cap and wherein the pump body has a hollow cylindrical tube defining a liquid chamber, a radial flange coupled to the closure plate and extending away from the cylindrical tube, at least one vent aperture formed where the radial flange is joined to the cylindrical tube, and a liquid inlet sealed by a liquid inlet valve;
- a stem having a first end and coupled to the bellows and a second end coaxially received within the liquid chamber, wherein the stem is configured to deliver fluid from the liquid chamber into the mixing chamber;
- a piston coupled to the second end of the stem, wherein the piston is configured to:
- (i) draw fluid through the liquid inlet and into the liquid chamber, when the actuator is returned to the fully extended position, and (ii) block a vent opening formed in the liquid chamber when the bellows is in a fully extended position;
- and
- wherein ambient air flows along a tortuous path and sequentially from outside the pump (i) between the closure cap and the closure plate, (ii) through the air inlet valve, (iii) into the air chamber, (iv) between the bellows and actuator, and (v) into the mixing chamber;
- and
- wherein make up air flows sequentially from the air chamber (i) between closure plate and the pump body and (ii) through the vent aperture and wherein air flow through the makeup air pathway is caused by the bellows being compressed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.