Dispensing – With filter – Associated with vent passage
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-17
2001-07-10
Shaver, Kevin (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
With filter
Associated with vent passage
C222S189110, C222S383100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257455
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a pump dispenser adapted to be mounted on a container and having passive means for venting gas pressure from the container to the outside.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
With container mounted manual pump dispensers, it is now common to use gas-producing substances, for example, hydrogen peroxide which generates gas when it comes in contact with water containing iron. The stress produced by such positive pressure can result in deformation of the container, cracking, leakage and so on. The problem is particularly acute where, in order to reduce cost or environmental impact, thinner-walled containers are used.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,629 to Michael E. Hardy issued May 19, 1998 deals with the need for passive means to vent gas buildup in containers having pump dispensers attached. Specifically, the Hardy patent provides gas-permeable material preferably in a frame over an opening in the container cap provided in the pump dispenser.
While in the past mechanical means have been used to permit venting of the outside air into the container, such venting means are usually only open upon the actuation of the trigger, for instance. Such mechanical means would also vent built-up gas pressure to the outside. However, during periods of storage the trigger is never actuated and, hence, the mechanical means does not operate to permit venting of built-up gases to the outside.
It is an object of the present invention to provide in a pump dispenser passive means—as opposed to mechanical means—for venting built-up gases from the container without appreciably altering the structure of the pump and without permitting leakage of liquid product if the container tips over.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is, of course, described in the claim language appended hereto. Briefly, for a pump dispenser having an inverted cup-shaped cylinder with a piston operable therein and having a downward intake tube, the invention is a retainer slidably receiving the intake tube and supporting the cylinder. The retainer has a spool-like shape with a central sleeve and a curved peripheral surface at its upper end secured to a curved surface at the lower end of the tubular support. The retainer has an annular trough concentric with its axis and features at least one passage through the retainer offset from the axis and ending in a horizontal surface of the trough to permit gas to vent from inside the container to the outside. An essential of the invention is a layer of gas-permeable, liquid-impermeable material secured to the horizontal surface over the end of the passage.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3071276 (1963-01-01), Pellett et al.
patent: 3448882 (1969-06-01), Roy
patent: 4161288 (1979-07-01), McKinney
patent: 4365751 (1982-12-01), Saito
patent: 5579936 (1996-12-01), Costa et al.
patent: 5730306 (1998-03-01), Costa et al.
patent: 5752629 (1998-05-01), Hardy
patent: 5882454 (1999-03-01), Baginski
Bloom Kenneth S.
Jaichandra Doraiswami
Keung Wing-Kwong
Trepina George R.
Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
Shaver Kevin
Willatt Stephanie L.
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