Swivel pump dispenser for dispensing liquid from a selected one of plurality of liquid compartments

#This invention relates generally to a liquid pump dispenser capable of dispensing liquid from a selected one of a plurality of liquid compartments of a single compartmented container or of separate container sections.

#Various household and commercial cleaning products are used for a variety of purposes in a room of the home or office requiring a number of separate containers each of which must be dispensed separately. For example, a carpet spot removal is a special product and a wall and floor cleaner is yet another product while a glass cleaner is yet another. All these products must be stored in their on own containers with their own dispensers, causing clutter and frustration. A multi-compartmented container of these different products can be utilized with a single swivel pump dispenser which selects one product at a time upon rotation of the dispenser about its axis. Such reduces the need for separate containers of various household and commercial cleaners with their own dispensers, thereby saving storage space and providing for convenient multi-product dispensing. One such apparatus is known and disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,431. A single pump assembly is detachably mounted on a multi-compartmented container and rotates relative thereto to select the liquid to be pumped. An inlet tube of the pump assembly connects to one of several openings of a base plate of the pump assembly, from which a dip tube extends into each compartment, upon dispenser rotation for selecting the product to be dispensed.

#One major drawback of such a dispenser is that no provision is made for venting the compartments, so as to replenish each compartment with air upon removal of product during dispensing, to avoid container collapse and hydraulic lock of the pump. Besides, the pump dispenser is coupled to a base plate of the container closure by the provision of spring-biased rivet fasteners permitting the lower end of an inlet tube to be aligned with an opening in the base plate from which a dip tube extends upon dispenser rotation. To effect rotation, the pump body must be lifted against the bias of the spring and rotated. The upper end of each dip tube has annular recesses in which are seated O rings. As the pump is rotated the end of the product inlet tube rides on the top surface of the base plate and then registers with one of the openings therein by snapping into the openings under the urging of the spring. Despite the O ring seals, such an arrangement will leak each time the inlet tube hops from one opening to the next. Besides, there is a tendency to wear the end of the inlet tube and/or the area surrounding the opening with which it is aligned each time the dispenser is rotated to select one of the separately compartmented liquids. This wearing can eventually produce leakage.

#FIG. 1 is an expanded perspective view of the pump dispenser assembly according to the invention shown with adjoining interconnected containers;

#FIG. 2 is a side view, partly in section, of components according to the invention shown in extended view;

#FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the various parts of the present assembly assembled together;

#Turning now to the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, a swivel pump dispenser assembly according to the invention as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 includes a known trigger operated pump dispenser of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,377, commonly owned herewith, the entirety of which is herein incorporated specifically by reference. The dispenser includes a pump piston 10 operating in a cylinder 11 against the bias of a piston return spring 12 so as to form together with the cylinder a variable volume pump chamber 13. An inlet pipe 14 supported on a disc 15 which may be press-fitted into pump housing 16 supports the inlet pipe which defines an inlet passage 17 valved as at 18 for delivering liquid product into the pump chamber on each return stroke of the piston on relaxation of trigger lever 19. Also supported by disc 15 is a vent pipe 21 which defines a vent passage 22 in communication with a vent port 23 formed in the piston cylinder outboard of chamber 13 and being exposed to atmosphere during each pumping stroke as described in more detail in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,377 patent.

#The pump housing has coupled thereto a container closure 24 which would normally be mounted to a single container of a single product. Instead, closure 24 may be thread coupled to a swivel element 25 having sleeves 26, 27 respectively telescoped with pipes 14, 21 upon coupling, forming air and liquid seals respectively. Base wall 28 of the swivel has a liquid opening 29 formed therein as well as a vent opening 31. Adhered, molded onto, or otherwise secured to the outer face of wall 28 is an elastomeric disc seal 32 having openings 33, 34 therein respectively in alignment with openings 29, 31.

#A cap 35 having a base wall 36 has an upwardly extended castellated sleeve 37 formed by cutouts 38 for a purpose to be described hereinafter. An interrupted annular inwardly extending rib 39 is formed at the upper end of sleeve 37 for the reception in annular groove 41 formed in the outer wall of swivel element 25. Base wall 36 of cap 35 has formed therein pairs of openings 42, 43; 44, 45; 46, 47. Openings 42, 44, 46 are liquid openings, and openings 43, 45, 47 are vent openings of the pairs. (See FIGS. 4 and 6 to 8).