Dispensing – With lock or fastening seal – Inhibiting actuation of discharge assistant
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-13
2001-05-08
Bomberg, Kenneth (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
With lock or fastening seal
Inhibiting actuation of discharge assistant
C222S153140, C222S380000, C215S220000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227411
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a manually operated fluid dispenser having a child-resistant nozzle assembly, the dispenser having a dispenser body supporting a nozzle cap for rotation about the longitudinal axis thereof between various ON and OFF positions. The nozzle assembly is designed to prevent children from rotating the cap to its ON position for dispensing fluid therefrom.
It is desirable to provide a construction wherein the nozzle cap cannot be moved from one of its OFF positions to one of its ON positions by a child, but which can be readily so moved by an adult. This end result can be accomplished by providing an arrangement wherein a person is required to sequentially perform at least two different manual functions such as moving a member longitudinally and then rotating the member through a significant angle of rotation. This is very difficult for a child to accomplish, but is a procedure which can easily be performed by an adult.
It is particularly important that a child-resistant nozzle assembly be provided when dispensing various fluids such as household fluids which may be toxic or otherwise harmful if swallowed or if sprayed on the person's skin. It is accordingly a principle object of the invention to provide a nozzle assembly which is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction, yet which is effective in preventing accidental operation of the dispenser by a child.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes a dispenser body which supports a nozzle cap for rotation about the longitudinal axis thereof between ON and OFF positions of the nozzle cap. A nozzle cover is disposed in surrounding relationship to the nozzle cap and is rotatable about the cap axis. The nozzle cover is also movable along the longitudinal axis relative to the nozzle cap. The nozzle cap and the nozzle cover have engaging portions thereon which are longitudinally spaced apart in a first longitudinal position of the nozzle cover relative to the nozzle cap. In this first longitudinal position, the nozzle cover can freely rotate around the nozzle cap, and no rotational movement will be imparted to the nozzle cap. Furthermore, the nozzle cover is disposed in surrounding overlying relationship to the outer surface of the nozzle cap so that a child cannot gain access to the nozzle cap and turn it from an OFF position to an ON position.
When an adult wishes to dispense fluid from the dispenser, the adult manually grasps the nozzle cover and moves it longitudinally relative to the nozzle cap to a second longitudinal position where engaging portions on the nozzle cover come into contact with engaging portions on the nozzle cap. While holding the nozzle cap in this second longitudinal position with sufficient force to overcome sliding, the adult can rotate the nozzle cover and the nozzle cap about the longitudinal axis of the nozzle cap, thereby moving the nozzle cap from an OFF position to an ON position.
When it is desired to move the nozzle cap back to an OFF position, the nozzle cover can again be rotated with the engaging portions in contact with one another to cause the nozzle cap to be rotated to an OFF position. The adult can then move the nozzle cover longitudinally of the nozzle cap to the first longitudinal position where the engaging portions are spaced from one another, and the nozzle cover can be left in this longitudinal position. If a child then rotates the nozzle cover, it will freely rotate relative to the nozzle cap, and the nozzle cap will remain in its OFF position.
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Bomberg Kenneth
Dykema Gossett PLLC
Saint-Gobain Calmar Inc.
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