Collapsible cap mechanism for shielding pump actuator and liquid material-dispensing container including the same
AssigneeLIR-USA Manufacturing Co., Inc.
InventorPatrick Fraillon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
For a liquid material dispenser having a neck and a pump actuator disposed outwardly of and depressible toward the neck, collapsible cap mechanism mountable on the neck to shield the pump actuator against accidental operation. The mechanism includes a cap that can be moved lengthwise of the neck between extended and collapsed (retracted) positions in which it respectively laterally surrounds and exposes the pump actuator.
Claims9
Collapsible cap mechanism for shielding a pump actuator mounted on a neck of a liquid material container, the actuator being disposed upwardly of and depressible toward the neck, said mechanism comprising:
- (a) a cap for surrounding the actuator and neck, said cap having a lower open end and an upper end with an orifice for passage of the actuator therethrough;
- (b) a mounting member for securing the cap to the neck while permitting limited rotational and translational movement of the cap relative to the neck such that the cap is displaceable lengthwise of the neck between an upper, extended position in which it laterally surrounds the actuator and a lower, collapsed position in which it exposes the actuator;
- and
- (c) a manually rotatable member, engaged by the mounting member so as to be retained on the neck against movement lengthwise of the neck, for imparting rotary movement to the cap;
- said cap, said mounting member and said rotatable member being mutually arranged such that rotation imparted to the cap by the rotatable member causes movement of the cap lengthwise of the neck between said upper and lower positions.
A liquid material dispenser comprising:
- (a) a container for holding a quantity of liquid material, said container having a neck;
- and
- (b) a pump actuator mounted on said neck, the actuator being disposed upwardly of and depressible toward the neck;
- wherein the improvement comprises:
- (c) manually operable collapsible cap mechanism mounted on the neck for shielding the pump actuator, including (i) a cap supported externally of the neck for movement lengthwise of the neck between positions in which the cap respectively laterally surrounds and exposes the pump actuator, the cap having an upper end opening dimensioned to permit passage of the actuator therethrough, (ii) a mounting member for securing the cap to the neck while permitting limited rotational and translational movement of the cap relative to the neck such that the cap is displaceable lengthwise of the neck between said positions, and (iii) a manually rotatable member, engaged by the mounting member so as to be retained on the neck against movement lengthwise of the neck, for imparting rotary movement to the cap;
- said cap, said mounting member and said rotatable member being mutually arranged such that rotation imparted to the cap by the rotatable member causes movement of the cap lengthwise of the neck between said positions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.