초록 ▼

An airless dispenser pump assembly includes a pump mechanism with an inlet valve that is configured to efficiently pump viscous fluids and that is able to be pre-primed when the pump mechanism is attached to a container. In one form, the inlet valve includes a seal member that seals an inlet port of

An airless dispenser pump assembly includes a pump mechanism with an inlet valve that is configured to efficiently pump viscous fluids and that is able to be pre-primed when the pump mechanism is attached to a container. In one form, the inlet valve includes a seal member that seals an inlet port of the pump and an outer support member that secures the inlet valve to the rest of the pump mechanism. Two or more legs generally extend in a circumferential direction between the support member and the seal member in order to create a large flow opening for fluid flow through the inlet valve when opened and to rapidly close the inlet valve. The pump mechanism further includes an outlet valve that is configured to draw fluid back from a nozzle of the pump after dispensing in order to minimize build up around the nozzle.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An airless dispenser pump assembly, comprising: a pump mechanism defining a pump cavity with an inlet port through which viscous fluid from a container is supplied, the pump mechanism sealing with the container and being configured to minimize air infiltration into the contai

What is claimed is: 1. An airless dispenser pump assembly, comprising: a pump mechanism defining a pump cavity with an inlet port through which viscous fluid from a container is supplied, the pump mechanism sealing with the container and being configured to minimize air infiltration into the container, the pump mechanism including a piston slidably received in the pump cavity to pump the fluid from the pump cavity, an outlet valve member configured to permit flow of the viscous fluid out of the pump cavity during a dispensing stroke of the piston and to firm a vacuum in the pump cavity during an intake stroke of the piston, and an inlet valve member covering the inlet port, wherein the inlet valve member includes an outer support member, an inner seal member that is sized to seal the inlet port during the dispensing stroke of the piston, and two or more connection legs connecting the outer support member to the inner seal member for rapidly closing the inlet port during the dispensing stroke of the piston, wherein at least one of the connection legs includes a circumferential portion that extends in a circumferential direction around the seal member to provide a large flow aperture for the viscous fluid between the legs during the intake stroke of the piston. 2. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising: wherein the piston includes a shaft that defines a flow passage; and a metallic spring wrapped around the shaft, outside the flow passage, to minimize metallic contamination of the viscous fluid. 3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the piston, outlet valve member and inlet valve member are made of non-metallic material. 4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the piston defines a flow passage with a valve seat against which the outlet valve member seals during the intake stroke. 5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein: the pump mechanism includes an outlet opening fluidly coupled to the flow passage for dispensing fluid from the flow passage; the flow passage has a first portion located proximal the valve seat and a second portion located distal to the valve seat; the first portion is sized slightly larger than the outlet valve member to allow the outlet valve member to slide within first portion while creating a piston like fit between the first portion and the outlet valve member for drawing the viscous fluid back from the outlet opening during the intake stroke of the piston; and the second portion is sized larger than the first portion to allow the viscous fluid to flow around the outlet valve member and out the outlet opening during the dispensing stroke of the piston. 6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the second portion includes a guide structure that guides the outlet valve member back into the first portion for reducing air infiltration into the pump cavity. 7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the guide structure includes one or more ribs. 8. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the pump mechanism includes a stop member extending proximal the second portion to limit movement of the outlet valve member. 9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the outlet valve member is spherical. 10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the inlet valve is disk shaped. 11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the support member is ring shaped. 12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein: the inlet valve includes three of the connection legs; the three connection legs each include the circumferential portion; and the three connection legs are equidistantly spaced apart around the inner seal member. 13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the pump mechanism includes a seal ridge disposed around the inlet port to preload the inlet valve member. 14. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the pump mechanism includes: a pump body configured to couple to the container, the pump body defining the inlet port: a pump cylinder defining the pump cavity; and wherein the pump cavity and the pump cylinder are coupled together with the inlet valve member sandwiched in between to retain the inlet valve member over the inlet port. 15. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising the container. 16. The assembly of claim 15, further comprising: a follower piston slidably disposed in the container with at least one seal member that seals against the container; and wherein the container has a base with a support member that supports the follower piston during filing of the container to minimize damage of the seal member. 17. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising: wherein the pump mechanism includes an outlet opening from which the viscous fluid is dispensed; and a plug received in the outlet opening to reduce leakage of the viscous fluid during shipping, wherein the plug includes a vent channel sized to vent air from the pump mechanism as the pump mechanism is attached to the container to allow pre-priming of the pump mechanism. 18. A dispenser pump assembly, comprising: a pump mechanism defining a pump cavity, the pump mechanism including an inlet valve member for controlling flow of fluid into the pump cavity, a piston slidably received in the pump cavity to pump the fluid from the pump cavity, the piston defining a flow passage through which the fluid from the pump cavity is pumped, a pump head having a dispensing outlet fluidly coupled to the flow passage for dispensing the fluid, an outlet valve member received in the flow passage of the piston for controlling flow of the fluid out of the pump cavity, and wherein the flow passage includes a first portion sized to create a piston like fit between the first portion and the outlet valve member for drawing the fluid back from the dispensing outlet after the fluid is dispensed, a second portion sized larger than the first portion to allow the fluid to flow around the outlet valve member during dispensing of the fluid, and wherein the piston includes a guide structure extending within the second portion of the flow passage to align the valve member with the first portion. 19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the guide structure includes one or more ribs extending radially inwards from the piston along the flow passage. 20. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the pump head includes a stop member extending proximal the second portion to limit movement of the outlet valve member. 21. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the outlet valve member has a spherical shape. 22. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the inlet valve member includes: an outer support member; an inner seal member; and at least three connection legs connecting the outer support member to the inner seal member. 23. An airless dispenser pump assembly, comprising: a container defining a container cavity in which a viscous fluid is contained; an airless dispensing pump mechanism secured to the container to pump the viscous fluid from the container cavity; the pump mechanism sealing the container cavity to minimize air infiltration into the container cavity; the container including means for reducing an effective size of the container cavity as the pump mechanism pumps the viscous fluid from the container cavity; and the pump mechanism including an inlet port through which the viscous fluid from the container cavity is supplied to the pump mechanism, a piston slidably disposed in the pump mechanism to move between a dispensing stroke in which the viscous fluid is dispensed from the pump mechanism and an intake stroke in which the viscous fluid is drawn into the pump mechanism, and an inlet valve member covering the inlet port, the inlet valve member including an outer support member, an inner seal member that is sized to seal the inlet port during the dispensing stroke of the piston, and two or more connection legs connecting the outer support member to the inner seal member for rapidly closing the inlet port during the dispensing stroke of the piston, at least one of the connection legs including a circumferential portion that extends in a circumferential direction around the seal member to provide a large flow aperture for the viscous fluid between the legs during the intake stroke of the piston. 24. The airless dispenser pump assembly of claim 23, in which the means for reducing the effective size of the container cavity includes a follower piston slidably disposed in the container. 25. The airless dispenser pump assembly of claim 24, further comprising: the valve member having a generally flat disk shape; and the pump mechanism including a pump body that is flat facing the follower piston to coincide in shape with the follower piston for facilitating emptying of the viscous fluid from the container cavity. 26. The airless dispenser pump assembly of claim 24, further comprising: the container having a closed end and an open end, the follower piston being disposed between the closed end and the open end of the container; and the pump mechanism being attached to the open end of the container. 27. The airless dispenser pump assembly of claim 23, further comprising: the piston defining a flow passage through which the viscous fluid flows; and a return spring configured to bias the piston; the return spring disposed along the outside of the piston and outside of the flow passage to eliminate contact between the viscous fluid and the return spring. 28. The airless dispenser pump assembly of claim 23, further comprising: the pump mechanism including a dispensing outlet to dispense the viscous fluid from the pump, a flow passage through which the viscous fluid flows to the dispensing outlet, an outlet valve disposed in the flow passage, and the flow passage including a first portion sized to create a piston like fit between the first portion and the outlet valve member for drawing the fluid back from the dispensing outlet after the dispensing stroke, and a second portion disposed between the first portion and the dispensing outlet, the second portion being sized larger than the first portion to allow the fluid to flow around the outlet valve member during dispensing of the fluid. 29. The airless dispenser pump assembly of claim 28, in which the second portion has one or more guide ribs for aligning the outlet valve with the first portion of the flow passage. 30. The airless dispenser pump assembly of claim 23, further comprising: a plug received in the outlet opening to reduce leakage of the viscous fluid during shipping, wherein the plug includes a vent channel sized to vent air from the pump mechanism as the pump mechanism is attached to the container to allow pre-priming of the pump mechanism. 31. A dispenser pump assembly, comprising: a pump mechanism defining a pump cavity, the pump mechanism including an inlet valve member for controlling flow of fluid into the pump cavity, wherein the inlet valve member includes an outer support member, an inner seal member, and at least three connection legs connecting the outer support member to the inner seal member, a piston slidably received in the pump cavity to pump the fluid from the pump cavity, the piston defining a flow passage through which the fluid from the pump cavity is pumped, a pump head having a dispensing outlet fluidly coupled to the flow passage for dispensing the fluid, an outlet valve member received in the flow passage of the piston for controlling flow of the fluid out of the pump cavity, and wherein the flow passage includes a first portion sized to create a piston like fit between the first portion and the outlet valve member for drawing the fluid back from the dispensing outlet after the fluid is dispensed, and a second portion sized larger than the first portion to allow the fluid to flow around the outlet valve member during dispensing of the fluid.