초록 ▼

This invention relates to pump-action nozzle devices and methods of making the same. The dispenser nozzles of the invention comprises a body which defines an internal chamber having an inlet through which fluid may be drawn into said chamber and an outlet through which fluid present in the chamber m

This invention relates to pump-action nozzle devices and methods of making the same. The dispenser nozzles of the invention comprises a body which defines an internal chamber having an inlet through which fluid may be drawn into said chamber and an outlet through which fluid present in the chamber may be expelled from the nozzle. The inlet comprises an inlet valve and the outlet comprises an outlet valve. Fluid is dispensed from the dispenser nozzles by pulling the trigger handle of a trigger actuator to resiliently deform or displace a portion of the body of the device that defines the chamber, thereby compressing the chamber and actuating the dispensing of fluid. In preferred embodiments, the outlet comprises an outlet passageway that extends from the chamber to an outlet orifice. One or more spray-modifying features are preferably formed within the outlet passageway.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A pump-action nozzle device adapted to be fitted to an opening of a container so as to enable fluid stored in said container to be dispensed, said device having a body which defines an internal chamber, said device also having an inlet through which fluid may be drawn i

The invention claimed is: 1. A pump-action nozzle device adapted to be fitted to an opening of a container so as to enable fluid stored in said container to be dispensed, said device having a body which defines an internal chamber, said device also having an inlet through which fluid may be drawn into said chamber and an outlet through which fluid present in the chamber may be expelled from the device, said outlet comprising an outlet orifice and a fluid passageway connecting the chamber with the outlet orifice, said device comprising an inlet valve adapted to only permit fluid to flow into the chamber through the inlet when the pressure within the chamber falls below the pressure within the interior of the container to which the device is attached by at least a predetermined minimum threshold amount and said device comprising an outlet valve configured to only permit fluid to flow out of the chamber and be expelled from the nozzle when the pressure within the chamber exceeds the external pressure at the outlet by at least a predetermined threshold amount, wherein the body includes two parts which between them define the internal chamber and at least part of the outlet passageway, and wherein at least a portion of a first one of the two parts of the body which define said chamber is configured to: (a) resiliently deform from an initially resilient biased configuration to a distended or deformed configuration in response to the application of a pressure, whereby the volume of said chamber defined by said portion of the body is reduced as said portion of the body is deformed from said initial configuration to said distended or deformed configuration, said reduction in volume causing the pressure within the chamber to increase and fluid to be ejected through the outlet; and (b) subsequently return to its initial resiliently biased configuration when the applied pressure is removed, thereby causing the volume of the chamber to increase and the pressure therein to fall such that fluid is drawn into the chamber through the inlet valve; and characterized in that said deformable portion of the first part of the body is non-planar and generally dome-shaped when in its initial resiliently biased configuration and in that the second of said parts of the body has a non-planar region which defines the internal chamber together with the deformable portion, said nonplanar and generally dome-shaped portion of said first part resiliently deforming and entering a concave region of said second of said parts thereby reducing dead space within said internal chamber, the first of said parts of the body comprising the resiliently deformable portion and a rigid framework integral with the resiliently deformable portion, the rigid framework having a first planar rigid abutment surface surrounding said deformable portion in which the first planar rigid abutment surface of the second of said parts of the body, the second of said rigid abutment surface being located about an outer periphery of the concave region of said second of said parts of the body, the nozzle device further comprising a trigger actuator having a trigger handle that is adapted to be pulled by an operator to actuate the device and an engagement portion configured to engage said deformable portion and cause it to deform from its resiliently biased position towards the non-planar region of the second of said parts of the body when said trigger handle is pulled. 2. A pump action nozzle device according to claim 1, wherein the trigger handle is pivoted on the upper surface of the nozzle device, above an upper face of the body, and has a part extending across said resiliently deformable or displaceable portion and bearing thereon to resiliently deform or displace said portion when the trigger handle is actuated, and the handle having a part for manipulation which extends below and in front of the body of the nozzle device, and an engagement portion configured to engage said portion of the body and cause it to deform from its resiliently biased position when said trigger handle is pulled. 3. A nozzle device according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises a base part and an upper part, and said chamber or chambers is or are at least partly defined by a hollowed out part or concavity in either or both of said parts. 4. A nozzle device according to claim 1, wherein the deformable portion makes up at least part of the surface of the body of the device. 5. A nozzle device according to claim 1, wherein the deformable portion is on one side of the device. 6. A nozzle device according to claim 1, wherein the deformable portion is below the device. 7. A nozzle device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises less than six component parts. 8. A nozzle device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises no more than three component parts. 9. A nozzle device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises two component parts. 10. A nozzle device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a single component part. 11. A nozzle device according to claim 1, wherein the trigger actuator is a separate component that is configured to be fitted to the body of the nozzle device. 12. A nozzle device according to claim 1, wherein the trigger is integrally formed with the nozzle device. 13. A nozzle device according to preceding claim 1, wherein the trigger actuator is pivotally mounted to the body of the nozzle device such that pulling the trigger handle causes the engagement portion to be displaced about the pivot and apply pressure to the resiliently deformable portion of the body of the nozzle device. 14. A nozzle device according to claim 13, wherein the trigger actuator is adapted to pivot about an edge of the upper surface of the nozzle device. 15. A nozzle device according to claim 13, wherein the trigger actuator is adapted to pivot at a position proximate to the middle of the upper surface of the nozzle device. 16. A nozzle device according to claim 1, wherein the trigger actuator is integrally formed with the body. 17. A nozzle device according to claim 16, wherein said trigger actuator is connected to the body of the device by a foldable connection element and is configured to pivot about the connection element to enable said portion of the body to be deformed. 18. A nozzle device according to claim 1, wherein said nozzle is integrally formed with said container so as to enable fluid stored in said container to be dispensed during use. 19. A nozzle device according to claim 1, wherein one of said parts of the body is a base part and other of said parts is an upper part. 20. A nozzle arrangement according to claim 19, wherein the upper part comprises said generally dome-shaped resiliently deformable portion of the body that defines the chamber including a flattened dome upper part. 21. A nozzle device according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the inlet, inlet valve, outlet, outlet valve, and chamber and air release valve are all defined by the body. 22. A nozzle device according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle device comprises a locking means configured to prevent fluid being dispensed accidentally. 23. A nozzle device according to claim 22, wherein the lock is integrally formed with the body. 24. A nozzle device according to claim 1, wherein the device further comprises an air leak valve through which air can flow to equalize any pressure differential between the interior of the container and the external environment, but prevents any fluid leaking out of the container if it is inverted. 25. A nozzle device according to claim 1, wherein said device is adapted to dispense a bolus of liquid at its outlet. 26. A nozzle device according to claim 1, wherein said outlet of the said device is adapted to dispense a fluid in the form of a spray. 27. A nozzle device according to claim 26, wherein the outlet passageway comprises two or more internal spray-modifying features disposed before a final spray orifice or a swirl chamber configured to reduce the size of the liquid droplets dispensed through the outlet orifice of the nozzle device during use. 28. A nozzle device according to claim 27, wherein the internal spray-modifying features comprise two or more expansion chambers. 29. A nozzle device according to claim 27, wherein the internal spray-modifying features comprise two or more multiple spray orifices or throttles. 30. A nozzle device according to claim 27, wherein the internal spray-modifying features comprise one or two swirl chambers. 31. A nozzle device according to claim 27, wherein the internal spray-modifying features comprise three or more swirl chambers. 32. A nozzle device according to claim 27, wherein the internal spray-modifying features comprise two internal spray orifices. 33. A nozzle device according to claim 32, wherein the internal spray-modifying features comprise three or more internal spray orifices. 34. A nozzle device according to claim 27, wherein the internal spray-modifying features include one or more venturis. 35. A nozzle device according to claim 27, wherein part of the outlet passageway and outlet orifice are in the form of a separate unit or insert, which is connected to the outlet of the chamber to form the outlet of the nozzle device. 36. A nozzle device according to claim 35, wherein said insert is connected to the body of the device by a hinge so as to enable it to be optionally swung into the required position for use and swing out of position when it is not required. 37. A nozzle device according to claim 1, wherein said portion of the body that can be displaced is a piston mounted within a piston cylinder. 38. A nozzle device according to claim 1, wherein said portion of the body is in the form of a bellows. 39. A nozzle device according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the parts of the device are made from materials which are compatible for welding. 40. A nozzle device according to claim 1, wherein the outlet valve is a pre-compression valve which operates as a one-way valve, and which permits fluid to pass only when a threshold pressure has been reached. 41. A nozzle device according to claim 40, wherein the outlet valve is formed integrally with the body. 42. A nozzle device according to claim 1, wherein the inlet valve comprises a flap valve, comprising a first flap to close the inlet and a second reinforcing flap which acts on the opposite side of the first flap to reinforce the closing actions. 43. A nozzle device according to claim 1, wherein a seal is formed in the body, said seal encompassing the nozzle passageway and the chamber. 44. A container having a pump-action nozzle device according to claim 1, fitted to an opening thereof so as to enable the fluid stored in the container to be dispensed from the container through said nozzle device during use. 45. A container having a pump-action nozzle device according to claim 1, integrally formed therewith so as to enable the fluid stored in the container to be dispensed from the container through said nozzle device during use. 46. A nozzle device according to claim 1, wherein said device comprises at least two component parts for assembly with a snap fit. 47. A nozzle device according to claim 1, wherein said device comprises at least two component parts for assembly by welding. 48. A nozzle device according to claim 1, wherein said device comprises at least two component parts for assembly by means of over molding. 49. A nozzle device according to claim 1, wherein said device comprises at least one component part formed by injection molding, and wherein a blowing agent is incorporated into a mold together with a plastic material. 50. A nozzle device according to claim 1, wherein said device comprises at least one component part formed from at least two plastic materials using bi-injection molding. 51. A nozzle device according to claim 50, wherein the at least one component part comprises a base portion formed by means of a bi-injection molding process in which a rigid material is injected into a mold in a first stage and a second relatively flexible material is over molded onto the rigid material in a second stage of the process.