Dispensing – With discharge assistant – With movable nozzle interconnected therewith
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-15
2001-04-03
Shaver, Kevin (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
With discharge assistant
With movable nozzle interconnected therewith
C222S153130
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209761
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
U.S. Pat. No. 3,759,426 discloses a pump for mounting on a receptacle, the pump comprising a pushbutton that is movable relative to a pump body between a high position and a low position and that co-operates therewith to define a pump chamber of variable volume, the pump body having a vent suitable for communicating via a passage with the outside of the receptacle when the pushbutton is in an intermediate position between its high and low positions, thereby enabling air to enter into the receptacle while substance is being sucked into the pump chamber.
The pushbutton has an outer skirt suitable for isolating the vent when the pushbutton is in its high position and when it is in its low position. The pushbutton has an inner skirt which co-operates with the outer skirt to define a groove suitable for housing a return spring.
The outer skirt is exposed to the possibility of being dirtied, which dirt can then come into contact with the substance contained in the pump body.
In addition, the return spring is immersed in the substance, which can give rise to problems of compatibility.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a novel pump with air intake which is not only low cost in structure and reliable in operation, but which also guarantees good conditions for conserving the substance in the receptacle.
The pump of the invention is of the type comprising a pump for mounting on a receptacle, the pump comprising a pushbutton that is movable relative to a pump body between a high position and a low position, and that co-operates with the pump body to define a pump chamber of variable volume, the pump body having a vent suitable for communicating via a passage with the outside of the receptacle when the pushbutton is in an intermediate position between its high and low positions, thereby enabling air to enter into the receptacle while substance is being sucked into the pump chamber, and wherein the pushbutton includes an inner skirt integrally formed therewith and suitable for sliding in sealed manner inside the pump body, said inner skirt being shaped so as to isolate said vent from the outside both when the pushbutton is in its high position and when it is in its low position.
Thus, in the invention, the inside of the receptacle communicates with the outside only when the pushbutton is in an intermediate position between its high and low positions, i.e. at the moment of use.
The substance contained in the receptacle therefore remains isolated from the outside when the pushbutton is in its low position for transport or when it is in its high position waiting for use.
By way of example, this prevents the solvents or perfumes contained in the substance inside the receptacle escaping from the receptacle through the air intake passage in the event of the pump not being used for a long period of time.
The inner skirt of the pushbutton, because of its position inside the pushbutton, is not subject to possible dirtying that might hinder the operation of the pump or contaminate the substance contained inside the receptacle.
In a particular embodiment, the inner skirt presses in sealed manner against the pump body via its bottom portion, and the distance between the vent and said bottom portion when the pushbutton is in its low position is less than or equal to, and preferably substantially equal to, the displacement stroke of the pushbutton from its low position towards its high position, such that said bottom portion isolates said vent from the outside when the pushbutton is in its high position.
Advantageously, the inner skirt presses in sealed manner via its top portion against the top end of the pump body when the pushbutton is in its low position.
Preferably, the inner skirt has a setback between its bottom portion and its top portion, the setback providing an annular space inside the pump body, with said vent opening out into said space while the pushbutton is in its low position and while the pushbutton is in an intermediate position between its high position and its low position.
In a particular embodiment, the pump body is connected at its top end via an annular bearing surface to a mounting skirt secured to a neck of the receptacle.
Advantageously, the mounting skirt is extended upwards by a cylindrical wall that defines a guide for a helical spring that operates in compression to return the pushbutton to its high position.
The pushbutton preferably has a delivery valve including a ball constituting its valve member.
The ball is held in a housing of the pushbutton by retaining means which are advantageously formed integrally therewith by molding a plastics material.
Preferably, the above-mentioned housing is situated in a duct, and said retaining means are constituted by the bottom end of the duct, which end is shaped so as to enable the ball to be put into place by elastic deformation.
Advantageously, the pump body has a suction valve including a ball as its valve member, and the bottom end of the above-mentioned duct is organized in such a manner as to hold the suction valve ball in the closed position when the pushbutton is in its low position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3062416 (1962-11-01), Cooprider
patent: 3146920 (1964-09-01), Benjamin
patent: 3228347 (1966-01-01), Corsette
patent: 3759426 (1973-09-01), Kane et al.
patent: 5351863 (1994-10-01), Cecil et al.
patent: 5711460 (1998-01-01), Saito et al.
patent: 0 779 106 A2 (1997-06-01), None
patent: 1236720 (1960-06-01), None
patent: 1158058 (1967-02-01), None
patent: 2 141 186 (1984-12-01), None
Bui Thach H
L'Oreal
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Shaver Kevin
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