Dispensing – With discharge assistant – With movable nozzle interconnected therewith
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-08
2001-01-16
Shaver, Kevin (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
With discharge assistant
With movable nozzle interconnected therewith
C222S153130, C604S192000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173868
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a manually operated pump nasal sprayer and more particularly to a nasal sprayer having a folding actuator mounted on the sprayer that can be used as a dust cover and a shipping clip preventing actuation during shipping and storage when in the closed position, and can be used as a finger grip when in the open position.
Covers for manually operated pump nasal sprayers are needed to keep the nasal adaptor of the sprayer clean and free from unwanted dust, dirt and bacteria. A nasal sprayer having a folding actuator can be multi-functional having various applications, such as a dust cover, a shipping clip and a finger grip. While there are numerous mechanisms in the art that have separate covers for a nasal adaptor, none are multi-purpose and versatile enough to be useful in both an open and closed position for different functions.
Generally, dust covers and actuators for nasal pump sprayers are separate elements wherein the dust covers are cup-like caps and are snapped on or screwed on the sprayer such as those shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,429 entitled “Manually-Operable Spray Dispenser With Locking Mechanism”, issued to Bishop et al. The dust cover in the Bishop patent is a cup-like cap mounted on the winged actuator and the actuator is mounted on the screw cap of the sprayer. The separateness of each element requires a certain agility and effort in removing the cover from the sprayer. Moreover, the user must keep track of the cover, while using the sprayer, so the cover is not misplaced, dropped or contaminated. It is generally more expensive to manufacture separate, distinct parts as opposed to a single part. Covers like those shown in the Bishop patent may achieve their stated objectives, however it is desirable to have a cover that is multi-functional, yet economical, easy to manufacture and assemble and easy to use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a cover to prevent dust and other unnecessary debris from coming into contact with the nasal adaptor or nozzle of a nasal pump sprayer.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a cover that can be used as a shipping clip for the nasal pump sprayer when the sprayer is transported.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cover for a nasal pump sprayer that can be used as a finger grip to aid the user in gripping the sprayer when in use.
Still another advantage of the present invention is to provide a cover that is maintained on the sprayer at all times and as such, is not prone to being lost or misplaced by the user.
According to the invention, the nasal pump sprayer has a pump body with an upstanding elongated discharge nozzle that extends from a reciprocating plunger head. The nasal pump sprayer also has an actuating means comprising a pair of opposed wings extending laterally outwardly from and hinged to the plunger head and a pair of stop projections that form a support surface for the wings when they are in an open position. The wings are used as finger grips for reciprocating the plunger head when in the open position and are used as a dust cover and shipping clip to cover the nozzle when in the closed position.
The presently claimed invention may have other objects, advantages and novel features that will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4640443 (1987-02-01), Corsette
patent: 4944429 (1990-07-01), Bishop et al.
patent: 5215227 (1993-06-01), Farner
patent: 5894963 (1999-04-01), Hirota
patent: 6092692 (1999-04-01), Riskin
Bui Thach H
Calmar Inc.
Dykema Gossett PLLC
Shaver Kevin
LandOfFree
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