Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Fluid pressure responsive discharge modifier* or flow... – Resilient or deformable terminal outlet
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-06
2002-09-03
Doerrler, William C. (Department: 3752)
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Fluid pressure responsive discharge modifier* or flow...
Resilient or deformable terminal outlet
C239S533140, C239S463000, C239SDIG001, C239SDIG001, C222S494000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06443373
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to outlet nozzles for a fluid under pressure, specifically a flexible membrane acting as an outlet channel stopper for a nozzle that is adaptable for use in already existing spray nozzle constructions without altering or otherwise modifying the existing nozzle construction.
More concretely, the present invention covers improvements in flexible membranes capable of selectively regulating the hermetic closure of a fluid under pressure in outlet nozzles of the type of nozzles capable of emitting a spray cloud, a sprinkling, a definite dosage of a gel, a definite mass of a pasty liquid or cream, a drop or discharge of a gas, or a jet of a liquid according to the design of the nozzle and the result desired.
Nonlimiting examples simply illustrative of these functions are presented by aerosol containers or containers possessing a pump capable of creating a positive pressure in the interior of such containers and discharging the liquid in the form of a fine sprinkling, such as a perfume, etc.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
For the purposes of the present invention, the following elements shall be named and identified by the terms given below:
NOZZLE: Identifies the body that, in communication with the fluid, permits discharge of the fluid in the ways indicated above.
OUTLET HEAD: Identifies the element which contains or is connected with the pumping element or valve at one end, whereas at its other end it contains or is connected with the nozzle. This outlet head can coincide with the operating element of the valve or pump, and it can be connected to the nozzle either directly or by means of a delivery line for the purpose.
CONTENTS: This defines the fluid, gas, air, or powder contained within the container and intended for discharge through the nozzle.
PACKAGE: This term identifies as such any closed container capable of containing the contents in its interior, maintaining the contents under the pressure of another agent, such as a gas, or by subjecting the contents to the action of a pump capable of exerting pressure on the contents.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Aerosol containers and containers possessing a pump or pumping element to deliver their contents are extensively known. These containers discharge their contents through the action of a pump or by means of the action of a gas which keeps the contents under positive pressure.
This is also the case when the contents are subjected to an outside pressure source.
The contents are usually delivered through an outlet nozzle. Nozzles generally consist of small partition walls perpendicular to the direction of the axis of the discharging fluid flow volume provided with a small hole. The inside surface of this partition wall demarcates the front surface of a small chamber within which fluid under pressure arrives from a side clearance.
The interconnection between this clearance and the small chamber is attained by at least one channel that communicates between said clearance and the chamber. This channel can consist of an annular distributor, or it can consist of one or more channels which are radial or eccentric in relation to the center of the partition wall and which coincide with the outlet hole. This arrangement creates a whirlpool effect thereby optimizing the dispersion of the sprinkling cloud. This compartment wall is suitably created by means of a part inserted into the end of the nozzle.
The back surface of this small chamber (considering its front surface the one nearer to the outlet orifice) is defined by an insert piece, which is an elongated element that is coaxial to the axis of the nozzle outlet orifice. The insert piece has a lateral clearance with its housing walls allowing the fluid to flow from the container toward the outlet orifice.
This known construction recognises as one of its main drawbacks that the closure of the container is attained in a distant position to the orifice of the outlet nozzle. For instance, this closure is known to be performed through a valve construction usually placed in a position intermediate between the container and said nozzle.
The contents of said container as a rule can be degraded and sometimes polymerised by prolonged contact with the air. For instance, if the contents is a lacquer, paint, or an organic formulation (medicine) the oxidation or polymerisation of the mass placed between the outlet nozzle and the inner closure valve should be avoided, specially considering that this passage sometimes can be of a significant length, hence the degraded mass of contents is significant, leading to stoppage problems stemming from polymerisation, or even toxicity or the lost therapeutic value stemming from oxidation.
Therefore, the ideal solution to this problem is to provide the nozzle at its outlet with stoppage or closure means of an automatic nature. Thus, when the pump is activated, the pressure from the pump acts on said means, which would release their closing pressure on the outlet orifice. As a soon as the pressure is decreased or eliminated, the closure means will once again hermetically seal said outlet.
The prior Art recognises several constructions attempting to solve this problem. Two relevant prior art reference discuss solutions to this problem:
A) U.S. Pat. No. 4,249,681, to Floyd R. French. This construction depicts a manually operated sprayer for dispensing liquids from a container, having a resilient diaphragm convexed towards and in seating engagement with the dispensing orifice. The diaphragm is designed to flex out of engagement with the outlet orifice when the pressure of the liquid in the pump chamber exceeds the engaging force of the diaphragm. To this end, the resilient diaphragm is made out of a moulded plastic convex hemisphere, which is integral to a dispenser insert having the dispensing orifice
68
and pressed in engagement against the orifice
68
by a stationary partition
61
, belonging to the cylinder walls of the pump.
B) French Patent No. FR 2,524,348, to Michel Ramis. This reference also provides the outlet orifice with stopping means, but of an even more radical nature. At
FIG. 3
of Ramis, the patent discloses an open-base cylinder with a convex integral diaphragm
20
, retained in its convexed (closed) position by means of a complementary shaped jacket
21
, which abuts against the insert
22
having the exit orifice.
The most commonly known pressure fluid dispensers each have at its exit nozzle a quite simple construction, which is depicted as part of FIG.
1
:
a) an outlet plate (
10
), with an outlet orifice (
11
) communicating with an outlet duct provided in plate (
10
) and secured to an outlet nozzle (
1
);
b) at least one collecting groove (
12
) formed in the inner surface of plate (
10
) and connecting the periphery (
13
) of said inner surface of plate (
10
) with said outlet orifice (
11
);
c) an insert body (
20
) of cylindrical shape, placed into a cavity (
2
) of the head of exit nozzle (
1
), coaxial to orifice (
11
) of plate (
10
), determining the cylindrical walls (
21
) of the lateral surface of insert (
20
) at least a passage (
22
) with said cavity, communicating this passage with a pump (not shown) and with the peripheral channel (
13
). The inner face of the outlet plate (
10
) abuts and is generally pressed against the foremost surface (
23
) of the insert body (
20
), thus defining the collecting channels (
24
) when faced with said grooves (
12
).
The above said construction is herein referred to as “most commonly known nozzles” and they constitute a standard in this art area. Millions of these most commonly known nozzles are manufactured daily, and may be found in perfume, medicinal, cosmetic and household cleansing fluid containers.
French and Ramis each provides a sealing and closing action against an outlet orifice, but neither construction is adaptable to the existing most commonly known nozzles. In fact, both prior art constructions must be specifically moulded and their components are not interchangeable or adaptable to these most commonly known nozzles.
It is impossible to place any of th
Abramson Ronald
Doerrler William C.
Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP
Nguyen Dinh Q.
Sullivan Peter A.
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