Pump device including multiple function collapsible pump chamber
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorRobert J. Peterson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A collapsible pump chamber is provided which includes several functional elements of a pump device. For example, the collapsible pump chamber may be a bellows which includes a functional element of an outlet valve, a functional element of a biasing feature, and a functional element of a spin chamber. Consequently, a functional element of all of the downstream functions are incorporated into the bellows. This can significantly reduce costs due to reduced tooling and assembly, for example. In contrast, there are no upstream components incorporated into the bellows which enables the upstream or inlet end of the bellows to be wide open. This wide open upstream end of the bellows makes molding easier.
Claims20
A manually operated dispensing device for pumping a liquid from a supply container and spraying the liquid through a discharge orifice comprising:
- (a) a housing for sealingly mounting the dispensing pump to the supply container, the housing including a portion of a liquid passage providing fluid communication from the supply container downstream to the discharge orifice;
- (b) a swirl chamber, including a swirl channel and a discharge orifice, defining the terminal portion of the liquid passage, the swirl chamber being delineated by a first functional element including the discharge orifice and a second functional element;
- (c) an inlet valve located within the liquid passage, the inlet valve being closed to prevent fluid flow therethrough during periods of positive downstream pressure and being open to permit fluid flow therethrough during periods of negative downstream pressure;
- (d) an outlet valve located downstream of the inlet valve within the liquid passage, the outlet valve being open to permit fluid flow therethrough during periods of positive upstream pressure and being closed to prevent fluid flow therethrough during periods of negative upstream pressure;
- (e) a collapsible pump chamber defining a portion of the liquid passage downstream of the inlet valve and upstream of the outlet valve, the collapsible pump chamber including the second functional element of the swirl chamber as an integral component thereof.
A manually operated dispensing device for pumping a liquid from a supply container and dispensing the liquid through a discharge orifice comprising:
- (a) a housing for sealingly mounting the dispensing pump to the supply container, the housing including a liquid passage providing fluid communication from the supply container downstream to the discharge orifice;
- (b) an inlet valve including a moveable valve member and located within the liquid passage, the inlet valve being closed to prevent fluid flow therethrough during periods of positive downstream pressure and being open to permit fluid flow therethrough during periods of negative downstream pressure;
- (c) an outlet valve including a moveable valve member and located downstream of the inlet valve within the liquid passage, the outlet valve being open to permit fluid flow therethrough during periods of positive upstream pressure and being closed to prevent fluid flow therethrough during periods of negative upstream pressure;
- (d) a biasing feature for biasing the outlet valve, the inlet valve, or both closed, the biasing feature including a functional element acting against the relevant moveable valve member to provide some portion of the biasing force;
- and
- (e) a collapsible pump chamber defining a portion of the liquid passage downstream of the inlet valve and upstream of the outlet valve, the functional element of the biasing feature being an integral component of the collapsible pump chamber.
A manually operated dispensing device for pumping a liquid from a supply container and dispensing the liquid through a discharge orifice comprising:
- (a) a housing for sealingly mounting the dispensing pump to the supply container, the housing including a liquid passage providing fluid communication from the supply container downstream to the discharge orifice;
- (b) an inlet valve located within the liquid passage, the inlet valve being closed to prevent fluid flow therethrough during periods of positive downstream pressure and being open to permit fluid flow therethrough during periods of negative downstream pressure;
- (c) an outlet valve located downstream of the inlet valve within the liquid passage, the outlet valve being open to permit fluid flow therethrough during periods of positive upstream pressure and being closed to prevent fluid flow therethrough during periods of negative upstream pressure;
- (d) a collapsible pump chamber defining a portion of the liquid passage downstream of the inlet valve and upstream of the outlet valve, the outlet valve including a valve member which is capable of being biased closed against a cooperating valve seat by an axial biasing force, the valve member being an integral component of the collapsible pump chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.