HK1094173A - Dual component and dual valve trigger sprayer which mixes components in discharge passage - Google Patents

Description

Two-component, two-valve trigger sprayer for mixing components in discharge passage

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application is a partial continuation of the currently pending application having application number 10/419,570, filed on 21/4/2003, and is a partial continuation of the application having application number 08/349,741, filed on 5/12/1994, and filed on 22/4/2003, U.S. Pat. No. 6,550,694.

Technical Field

The present application relates to a trigger sprayer that is connectable to two container volumes containing separate liquids. The sprayer has a trigger that is operated to draw separate liquids into two separate pump chambers and then to supply the two separate liquids from the pump chambers to the discharge passage of the sprayer. In the discharge channel, the two separate liquids are mixed together before they are dispensed as a spray from the discharge channel.

Background

A trigger sprayer is one type of sprayer having a pivoting trigger that can be manually operated to dispense liquid from the sprayer. A typical trigger sprayer is connected to a liquid container to dispense the contents of the container as a spray, stream, or foam in response to manual reciprocation of the trigger. Trigger sprayers of this type have been used in the past to dispense a variety of different types of liquids from a container to which the trigger sprayer is attached. However, conventional trigger sprayers have drawbacks when employing certain types of liquids.

Certain liquids dispensed from conventional trigger sprayers are the product of two or more separate component liquids that remain stable when the separate component liquids are separated and have only a limited shelf life when they are mixed together. Trigger sprayers attached to containers containing this type of liquid cannot be stored or stored for extended periods of time before the liquid product begins to lose its effectiveness. In order to dispense this type of liquid using a conventional trigger sprayer and to ensure that the shelf life of the liquid product does not expire before the liquid product is sold, the individual liquid components of the final liquid product must be mixed together to make the final liquid product just prior to the liquid product being filled into containers and shipped to the market where they are sold.

In addition, some liquid products are composed of one or more component liquids that are not readily miscible with each other, such as water and oil. When liquid products of this type are loaded into containers with trigger sprayers, the individual liquid components that make up the final product tend to separate from one another during product inventory storage or during product shelf servicing. In using a conventional sprayer containing this type of product, the trigger sprayer is operated so that only the liquid component that settles to the bottom of the container is dispensed after the individual components of the finished product have separated. In the case of oil and water, only the water component of the liquid is dispensed first from the sprayer. When all the water has been dispensed, then only the oil is dispensed from the sprayer.

Various multi-compartment trigger sprayers have been designed to overcome the problems associated with conventional trigger sprayers that employ dispensing liquid products that have a limited shelf life and/or components that tend to separate from one another over time. These new designs include a trigger sprayer attached to a liquid container that holds the components of the liquid product in isolation from each other until they are drawn from the container by the trigger sprayer. Trigger sprayers of this type include sprayers that first mix the individual components of a liquid product within the pump chamber of the sprayer before it is dispensed. However, even newer designs of these trigger sprayers have drawbacks. Once the trigger sprayer pump chamber is filled with the two components of the final liquid product, the shelf life of the liquid product within the pump chamber can be terminated when the trigger sprayer is between uses. Also, the individual liquid components of the final product separate from each other within the pump chamber of the sprayer. As a result, the liquid first dispensed from the sprayer when the trigger sprayer is next operated is the liquid held in the pump chamber. The shelf life of these liquids may have expired or the components thereof have separated. In both cases, the mass of liquid dispensed first from the sprayer may be less than the expected mass.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages associated with prior art trigger sprayers that dispense liquids composed of at least two separate component liquids. The trigger sprayer of the present invention keeps the two component liquids isolated from each other until they are first mixed together just prior to their being dispensed from the sprayer. Thus, the problem of terminating shelf life and/or separation of the component liquids in the container or trigger sprayer is avoided.

Disclosure of Invention

The trigger sprayer of the present invention is designed to be attached to a container containing two separate liquid components. The two separate liquid components are mixed together to form the final liquid product just prior to their being dispensed from the sprayer. The sprayer of the present invention may be connected to two separate containers containing two separate liquid components, or alternatively may be connected to a single liquid container having a partition inside to divide the container into separate container volumes containing separate liquid components.

The trigger sprayer of the present invention includes a sprayer housing consisting essentially of two separate sections, a pump chamber section and a vent chamber section. The two parts are molded separately from one another due to tooling costs and then assembled together to form the housing of the trigger sprayer.

Included within the housing is a fluid discharge passage. A nozzle assembly having a liquid discharge orifice is inserted into one end of the discharge passage and inlet openings are provided in the end wall adjacent the opposite end of the discharge passage. A fluid spinner is included in the discharge passage adjacent the discharge orifice and a one-way valve is included in the discharge passage adjacent the outlet orifice.

A pair of individual pump chambers are provided in the pump chamber section of the housing. Each chamber has a piston mounted for reciprocating movement therein. Each pump piston is connected to a single trigger that is mounted to the sprayer housing for pivotal movement relative to the housing. The pump pistons reciprocate within their respective pump chambers in response to pivotal movement of the trigger.

A pair of separate exhaust chambers are provided in the exhaust chamber portion of the sprayer housing. Each of the pair of vent chambers is in communication with one of the two separate container volumes through a vent passageway between the vent chamber and the container volume to which it is connected. A pair of exhaust pistons are included in the exhaust chamber for reciprocating movement therein. The reciprocating movement of the vent piston within the vent chamber opens and closes communication between the exterior environment of the sprayer housing and the two separate reservoir volumes through the pair of vent passageways and the pair of vent chambers. Each vent piston is operatively connected to the trigger and reciprocates within an associated vent chamber in response to pivotal movement of the trigger on the sprayer housing.

A pair of separate liquid passages extend through the sprayer housing. The pair of passageways communicate the pair of pump chambers with the inlet opening of the fluid discharge passage through a pair of outlet openings in the discharge passage end wall. The pair of liquid passages also communicate the two pump chambers with the two separate container volumes. Each liquid passage has a check valve therein. Check valves of the two liquid passages allow the two separate liquids contained in the two separate container volumes to be drawn through the passages into the pair of pump chambers in response to reciprocation of the pump pistons within their respective chambers. The check valve prevents backflow of liquid from the pump chamber through the passageway to the two separate container volumes.

Two separate liquids drawn into the two separate pump chambers are pumped from the two pump chambers through the liquid passage and a pair of discharge orifices into the inlet orifice of the discharge passage where the two separate liquids are first mixed together. The flow of the two liquids through the two outlet openings into the inlet of the discharge channel is controlled by a one-way valve in the discharge channel. The one-way valve allows two separate liquids to flow through the outlet apertures into the inlet aperture, but prevents reverse flow of liquid from the inlet aperture through the pair of outlet apertures. The two separate liquids mix together in the discharge passage to form the final liquid product that is pumped through the liquid spinner in the discharge passage and dispensed from the trigger sprayer through the nozzle orifice.

In another embodiment of the trigger sprayer, the pair of liquid passages leading from the pair of pump chambers do not pass through an end wall of the single liquid discharge passage. Instead, the pair of liquid passages leading out from the pair of pump chambers communicate with a pair of individual liquid discharge passages. A pair of individual check valves are located in the pair of liquid discharge passages. The pair of separate check valves allow the liquids to flow through the two separate discharge passages to the mixing chamber of the nozzle assembly of the trigger sprayer where the two liquids are first mixed. The use of two separate check valves in the two separate discharge passages ensures that there is no cross-mixing of the two liquids within the discharge passage of the trigger sprayer and that the two liquids can only contact each other after they are discharged from the two separate liquid discharge passages through the two separate check valves.

Drawings

Further objects and features of the present invention will be disclosed in the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention and in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view in cross-section of a trigger sprayer of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the trigger sprayer of FIG. 1 in cross-section taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

fig. 3 is a rear view of the cross-section of the trigger sprayer of fig. 1 taken along line 3-3 of fig. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view in cross-section of the pump chamber portion of the sprayer housing;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of a section of the pump chamber portion of the sprayer housing taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view of another embodiment of the trigger sprayer;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the trigger sprayer of FIG. 6; and the combination of (a) and (b),

fig. 8 is a cross-sectional top view of the trigger sprayer of fig. 7 in the plane of line 8-8 shown in fig. 7.

Detailed Description

The trigger sprayer of the present invention is designed to be attached to a container containing two separate liquid components in separate interior volumes of the container. The two separate liquid components, which are kept separate in the container, are mixed together by the sprayer to form the final liquid product just prior to their being dispensed from the sprayer. The sprayer of the present invention may be connected to two separate containers containing two separate liquid components in separate volumes within the containers, or alternatively may be connected to a single liquid container having a partition within the container dividing the container into two separate volumes containing separate liquid components. The trigger sprayer 10 of the present invention is shown in fig. 1 as being connected to a single container 12 having an internal partition 14, the partition 14 dividing the interior of the container into separate container volumes 16, 18. The container shown in phantom in fig. 1 is used for illustrative purposes only and the trigger sprayer 10 of the present invention should not be construed as being suitable only for use with this particular type of container.

The trigger sprayer 10 of the present invention includes a sprayer housing consisting essentially of two separate housing sections, a pump chamber section 20 and a vent chamber section 22. Both housing parts are usually made of plastic. The two housing portions are assembled to one another and the remaining components of the trigger sprayer are assembled into the two housing portions as will be explained.

Referring to fig. 4 and 5, the pump housing portion 20 is shown disassembled from the vent chamber portion and other components of the trigger sprayer. The pump chamber section 20 includes a liquid discharge passage 24 extending through the housing between an outlet end 26 of the passage shown to the left in figure 4 and an inlet end 28 of the passage shown to the right in figure 4. The outlet end 26 of the passageway is dimensioned to receive the nozzle tip 30 of the atomizer shown in fig. 1. The discharge passage terminates at the inlet end 28 at an end wall 32, the end wall 32 extending through the middle of and around the periphery of the discharge passage. A valve seat 34 is recessed intermediate the end walls and toward the inlet end 28 of the discharge passage. The end wall 32 is fixedly formed within the pump chamber section 20 and defines a pair of semi-circular outlet apertures 36, 38 on opposite sides of the end wall.

The outlet openings 36, 38 are portions of two fluid passages 40, 42 that extend through the pump chamber portion between a pair of outlet openings 36, 38 to two separate sets of check valve abutments 44, 46. The check valve abutments 44, 46 are located at two more distant portions 48, 50 of the individual liquid passages. As will be explained, the check valve abutments 44, 46 limit the movement of the ball valve element within the two additional sections 48, 50 of the liquid passage. The two liquid passage sections 48, 50 extend downwardly from the check valve seat shown in figures 4 and 5 to port holes 52, 54 in the passages which communicate the passages with a pair of pump chambers 56, 58 also formed in the pump chamber section 20. Each pump chamber 56, 58 has a cylindrical configuration dimensioned to receive a pump piston reciprocating therein, as will be described.

It can be seen that the described configuration of the pump chamber section 20 heretofore provided two separate liquid passages for the separate liquid components to flow from the two pump chambers 56, 58 through the port openings 52, 54 and the liquid passage sections 48, 50 bypassing the check valve seats 44, 46 and flowing through the liquid passage sections 40, 42 to the two outlet openings 36, 38. The two liquid components pumped from the two pump chambers 56, 58 are first mixed together at the inlet end 28 of the discharge passage 24 as they pass through the two outlet openings 36, 38 in the discharge passage end wall 32.

The pump chamber section 20 is also provided with a cylindrical section 60 below the two pump chambers 56, 58 which is dimensioned to receive the vent chamber section 22 therein. The cylindrical portion 60 of the pump chamber section has an aperture 62 in its forward wall which provides access for a pair of vent pistons extending into the vent chambers of the vent chamber section, as also described.

In fig. 1, the nozzle head 30 is shown fitted into the outlet end 26 of the discharge channel 24. The nozzle tip 30 has a tubular portion 64 that is inserted into the discharge passage outlet end 26 to secure the nozzle tip to the pump chamber portion 20 of the sprayer housing. Tubular portion 64 terminates at a left end as viewed in FIG. 1 in an orifice wall 66, orifice wall 66 having a nozzle bore 68 extending therethrough.

A fluid spinner assembly 70 is partially housed within the tubular portion 64 of the nozzle head. The fluid assembly 70 has a fluid spinner at its left end against the bore wall 66 and a one-way valve 72 at its right end. The one-way valve 72 is formed as a ring-shaped diaphragm valve having a projection 74 at its center which seats within the valve seat 34 formed in the end wall 32. The periphery of the check valve 72 seats against the annular portion of the end wall 32. The one-way valve 72 is configured to allow fluid to flow into the inlet end 28 of the discharge passage 24 through the two outlet openings 36, 38 in the end wall 32, but to prevent fluid from flowing back from the discharge passage inlet end 28 to the two outlet openings 36, 38. Although a diaphragm type valve is shown as the one-way valve 72, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that other types of one-way valve configurations may be used in place of the diaphragm valve.

The trigger 76 is mounted to the pump chamber housing section 20 for pivotal movement of the trigger relative to the trigger sprayer as is conventional. A push rod assembly 78 is connected to the trigger 76 and extends therefrom toward the pair of pump chambers 56, 58. The push rod assembly includes a pair of projecting rods that connect the assembly to a pair of pistons 80, 82 (see fig. 3). A pair of pistons 80, 82 are mounted in the pair of pump chambers 56, 58 for reciprocation of the pistons within the pump chambers in response to pivotal movement of the trigger 76 on the trigger sprayer. Manually actuating trigger 76 to the right as viewed in FIG. 1 moves both pistons 80, 82 to the right within their respective pump chambers 56, 58, thereby reducing the interior volume of the pump chambers and forcing air within the pump chambers out through the respective port openings 52, 54 upon pump actuation, and forcing two separate liquids out of the pump chambers 56, 58 through the respective port openings 52, 54 after the two separate liquids have been filled into the pump chambers. The push rod assembly 78 also includes a pair of individual exhaust piston rods 84 (only one of which is visible in the figures). The reciprocating movement of a pair of vent pistons 86 within their respective vent chambers may also be caused when the trigger 76 on the pump chamber housing section 20 is operated, as will be described. Thus, the push rod assembly 78 provides an operative connection between the trigger 76 and a pair of pump pistons 82 and a pair of vent pistons 86. When the trigger 76 is operated, a pair of pump pistons 82 and a pair of vent pistons 86 may be caused to reciprocate simultaneously within their respective chambers due to the operative connection provided by the push rod assembly 78 with the trigger.

The vent chamber housing 22 has a cylindrical base 88 dimensioned to fit closely within the cylindrical portion 60 of the pump chamber housing section 20, as shown in figure 1. The vent chamber section 22 also includes a pair of vent chambers 90, 92 arranged side-by-side at the top of the cylindrical base 88. Each vent chamber 90, 92 has a front aperture accessible through the front aperture 62 of the pump chamber housing section 20. As shown in fig. 1, with the vent chamber housing section 22 assembled in the pump chamber section 20, a pair of vent pistons 86 and their respective vent piston rods 84 extend through the pump chamber housing section front aperture 62 into the front apertures of the vent chambers 90, 92, each vent piston 86 being disposed in one of the vent chambers. The two vent chambers 90, 92 also include their respective vent ports 94, 96 that communicate the vent chambers with the separate interior volumes to which the trigger sprayer 10 is attached in use. When the vent pistons are in their rest positions relative to the vent chambers 90, 92 shown in fig. 1, the vent pistons block vent communication from the two separate container volumes through the respective vent ports 94, 96 to the external environment of the trigger sprayer. When the trigger 76 is operated to cause the vent pistons to move to the right as viewed in fig. 1 within their respective vent chambers 90, 92, the vent pistons 86 pass over the respective vent ports 94, 96 and thereby establish vent communication from both individual container volumes and their associated vent chambers 90, 92 to the exterior environment of the trigger sprayer through the vent ports 94, 96.

The vent housing portion 22 also includes a pair of individual liquid passage columns 98, 100 extending upwardly from the cylindrical base 88 of the vent housing portion. A valve seat 102 is formed at the top of each column of liquid passages. The ball valve 104 rests on the valve seat 102, thereby providing a check valve at the top of each liquid passage column. Movement of the ball valve 104 away from the valve seat 102 is limited by the check valve seats 44, 46 formed in the pump chamber housing section 20 at the top of the pair of liquid passage sections 48, 50. It should be noted that the outer perimeter portion of each fluid passage 98, 100 is slightly smaller than the inner perimeter of the fluid passage sections 48, 50 of the pump chamber housing section 20, and the column of fluid passages extends into the pump chamber housing section 20. The difference between the outer dimensions of the liquid passage columns 98, 100 of the vent chamber section 22 and the inner dimensions of the liquid passage sections 48, 50 of the pump chamber section 20 causes the two separate liquids to flow through a pair of check valves in each liquid passage section 48, 50 and into a pair of port holes 52, 54 of the respective pump chambers 56, 58 in the pump chamber housing section 20. Since the two liquid passage columns 98, 100 of the vent chamber section 22 extend downwardly from the valve seat 102, their diameters are increased to an outer diameter that fits closely within the interior of the liquid passage sections 48, 50 of the pump chamber housing 20, thereby providing a sealed connection between the outer surfaces of the vent chamber liquid passage columns 98, 100 and the inner surfaces of the pump chamber liquid passage sections 48, 50. At the bottom of each liquid passage column 98, 100 is a connecting neck 106, 108. The connecting necks 106, 108 are arranged side-by-side within the cylindrical base 88 of the vent chamber section and are best seen in fig. 2 and 3.

Inserted into the cylindrical base 88 of the vent chamber housing portion 22 is a dip tube adapter 114. The dip tube adapter is interconnected with the trigger sprayer 10 with a container having two separate container volumes containing two separate fluid components to provide communication between the two separate container volumes and two separate vent chambers 90, 92 and two separate liquid passage columns 98, 100.

The dip tube adapter 114 has a cylindrical sidewall 124 that is dimensioned to fit closely within the interior of the vent chamber housing cylindrical base 88. An annular flange 126 is provided at the bottom of the sidewall. When the trigger sprayer is attached to the container, the flange projects below the cylindrical base of the vent chamber housing and overlies the upper portion of the container neck. Below the flange 126 is an annular gasket 128 that provides a seal between the annular flange 126 and the container neck when the trigger sprayer is connected to the container. An annular top wall 130 covers the top of the adapter cylindrical side wall 124. A partition 132 depends downwardly from the top wall 130 and bisects the interior of the adapter surrounded by the side walls 124. As shown in FIG. 1, partition 132 extends to the bottom surface of adapter flange 126 and fits in sealing engagement against the top of the sealingly mating vessel partition 14. Gasket 128, together with the sealing engagement between adapter bulkhead 132 and container bulkhead 14, seals the separate interior volumes 16, 18 of the container from each other, thereby preventing leakage of liquid between the separate volumes.

A pair of dip tube connection sleeves 134, 136 depend downwardly from the adapter top wall 130. Each dip tube sleeve is located on an opposite side of the adapter bulkhead 132. The interior of the dip tube sleeves 134, 136 are dimensioned to receive respective dip tubes 138, 140 therein. As shown in fig. 1, each dip tube 138, 140 received within a respective dip tube sleeve 134, 136 depends downwardly into a respective separate interior volume 16, 18 of the container 12. Dip tube sleeves 134, 136 have apertures through adapter top wall 130 and communicate with respective liquid passage columns 98, 100 through respective intermediate fluid conducting conduits 142, 144. As seen in fig. 1 and 3, the dip tube 140 extends upwardly through the interior of the adapter 114 and into the dip tube sleeve 136. Liquid passes through the dip tube 140 and also through the dip tube sleeve 136 into the intermediate conduit 144 seen in FIG. 3. An intermediate conduit 144 projects upwardly from the top wall 130 of the adapter and communicates with the connecting neck 108 of the liquid passage column 100 of the pump chamber housing section 20. The liquid passage post 100 communicates with the pump chamber 58 through the check valve seat 102 and the chamber port hole 54.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, another dip tube 138 extends upwardly through the interior of the adapter 114 and into the dip tube sleeve 134. Liquid passes through the dip tube 138 and also through the dip tube sleeve 134 into the intermediate conduit 142. The intermediate conduit 142 in communication with the dip tube 138 has an angular configuration as best seen in fig. 1. The intermediate conduit 142 is secured in sealing engagement to the adapter top wall 130 and conducts liquid received from the dip tube 138 through a section of the conduit 142 that extends above the adapter top wall 130 to another section of the conduit that projects from the top wall into the connecting neck 106 of the liquid passage column 98 of the pump chamber housing section 20. The intermediate conduit 142 provides fluid communication from the dip tube 138, through the conduit, through the fluid passage post 98, through the pump chamber port aperture 52 to the pump chamber 56. The angular configuration of the intermediate conduit 142 allows for the spaced arrangement of two dip tubes 138, 140 that each depend into a separate interior volume of the container 116.

Also projecting upwardly from the top wall 130 of the adapter are a pair of vent conduits 150, 152. The vent port conduit 150 communicates with the separate interior volume 16 of the container through the aperture in the adapter top wall 130 when the trigger sprayer is attached to the container 12, and the vent port conduit 152 communicates with the separate interior volume 18 of the container through the aperture in the adapter top wall 130 when the trigger sprayer is attached to the container. The exhaust port conduit 150 also communicates with the exhaust port 94 of the exhaust chamber 90. The exhaust port conduit 152 communicates with the exhaust chamber 92 through the exhaust port 96. With the described arrangement, communication between the exterior wall environment and the container interior volume 16 is achieved through the vent chamber 90, the vent port aperture 94, and the vent port conduit 150 as the vent piston 86 reciprocates within its chamber 90, 92 past the respective vent port aperture 94, 96. Communication between the external environment and the container interior volume 18 is achieved through the vent chamber 92, the vent aperture 96, and the vent conduit 152. In this manner, the sealed, separate interior volumes of the container are all vented to the environment exterior of the trigger sprayer.

When liquid is drawn up from the separate container volumes 16, 18, operation of the trigger 76 causes the two pump pistons 80, 82 to reciprocate within their respective pump chambers 56, 58. The reciprocation of the piston within its chamber draws liquid up through both dip tubes 138, 140 and through their respective intermediate conduits 142, 144 to their respective liquid passage columns 98, 100. From the liquid passage columns 98, 100, the two separate liquids continue their travels, bypassing the valve seats 102 at the top of each column and then being drawn into the pump chambers 56, 58 through their respective port holes 52, 54. When the pump chamber is filled with two separate liquids drawn from the separate container volumes, continued reciprocation of the pump piston within its chamber causes the two separate liquids to be forced out of the port holes 52, 54 through the liquid passage sections 48, 50 outside the liquid passage columns 98, 100 to the respective liquid passage sections 40, 42 leading to the discharge passage 24. From the liquid channel segments 40, 42, the two separate liquids pass through the outlet openings 36, 38 in the discharge channel end wall 32 into the inlet end 28 of the discharge channel where they are mixed for the first time. From the inlet end 28 of the discharge channel, the two liquids now mixed continue through the channel and are dispensed through the nozzle orifice 68 of the sprayer.

Because of the trigger sprayer configuration described above, the two separate liquid components remain separate from each other and do not mix with each other in the two separate container volumes until the two separate liquids are drawn from the respective volumes by the trigger sprayer through a pair of separate pump chambers to the sprayer discharge passage where the two separate components are first mixed together.

Fig. 6, 7 and 8 show a modified embodiment of the previously described trigger sprayer of fig. 1-5. The trigger sprayer of fig. 6-8 has a number of the same structures and many of the same components as in the trigger sprayer of fig. 1-5 described at the outset. Accordingly, only the structural differences between the trigger sprayer of fig. 6-8 and the trigger sprayer of fig. 1-5 will be described in detail. Substantially the same components of the trigger sprayer of fig. 6-8 as those of the trigger sprayer of fig. 1-5 are identified by the same reference numerals with a single prime (') added.

In the previously described embodiment of the trigger sprayer of fig. 1-5, the single valve 72 sealing the two outlet orifices 36, 38 of the liquid discharge passages 40, 42 presents the potential for cross contamination between the two liquids passing through the two liquid passages 40, 42. When the single valve 72 is used to seal the two outlet openings 36, 38 of the two fluid passages 40, 42, there is a potential for liquid flowing from one of the fluid passages to cross over and contaminate the liquid in the other fluid passage when the single valve 72 is opened.

The embodiment of the trigger sprayer shown in fig. 6-8 eliminates the possibility of cross contamination between the two liquids being dispensed through the trigger sprayer.

Referring to fig. 6, the trigger sprayer of fig. 6-8 also includes a pump housing portion 20' that is similar to the pump housing portion 20 of the previously described embodiment. The pump housing portion 20 ' includes a pair of pump chambers 56 ', 58 ' in communication with a pair of liquid passage sections 58 ', 50 ' through port holes. As in the first-described embodiment, a pair of pump pistons 80 ', 82' are reciprocated within their respective pump chambers by manually operating a trigger 76 'mounted for pivotal movement on the pump housing portion 20'. The reciprocating motion of the pump pistons 80 ', 82' within their respective pump chambers 56 ', 58' draws liquid into both pump chambers and then pumps or dispenses the liquid from the pump chambers 56 ', 58' through their respective port apertures and the respective liquid passage sections 48 ', 50' toward the discharge nozzle aperture of the trigger sprayer.

As shown in fig. 8, the two liquid passage sections 48 ', 50 ' extending upwardly through the pump housing portion 20 ' communicate at their top ends with two separate liquid discharge passages 152, 154. The liquid discharge passages 152, 154 extend through the pump housing portion 20 ' from the upstream end of the passage communicating with the two liquid passages 48 ', 50 ', respectively, to a pair of outlet openings 156, 158 at the opposite downstream end of the respective liquid discharge passages 152, 154. Each liquid discharge passage 152, 154 extends linearly through the pump housing portion 20' and has a central axis 162, 164. The two central axes 162, 164 are parallel to each other as shown in fig. 8.

The nozzle assembly 172 is mounted on the pump housing portion 20' adjacent the outlet apertures 156, 158 of the liquid discharge passages 152, 154. The nozzle assembly 172 basically includes a nozzle base 174 and a nozzle cap 176 mounted for rotation on the base.

The nozzle base 174 has a central wall 178. A pair of liquid discharge tubes 182, 184 project outwardly from the upstream side of the central wall 178. Each of the liquid tubes 182, 184 is mounted in one of the liquid discharge passages 152, 154 of the pump housing portion 20'. The lumens of the liquid discharge tubes 182, 184 communicate with the liquid discharge passages 152, 154. The liquid discharge tubes 182, 184 have a central axis that is coaxial with the central axes 162, 164 of the liquid discharge passages 152, 154. At least one communication port 186, 188 passes through the nozzle base central wall 178 to communicate with the interior cavity of the liquid discharge tube 182, 184.

A cylindrical wall 192 projects outwardly from the side of the nozzle base central wall 174 opposite the pair of liquid discharge tubes 182, 184. The cylindrical wall 192 has an inner surface that surrounds a mixing chamber 194 within the cylindrical wall. The mixing chamber 194 communicates with the interior cavity of each liquid discharge tube 182, 184 through a respective port 186, 188 through the central wall 178. A liquid spinner 196 having a swirl chamber 198 also projects outwardly from the nozzle base central wall 178. The spinner 196 is located in the center of the cylindrical wall 192 and the volume of the mixing chamber 194 surrounds the liquid spinner. The liquid spinner 196 and swirl chamber 198 are constructed in the conventional manner of indexing nozzle assemblies. It should be appreciated that the configuration of the liquid spinner 196, and in particular the configuration of the swirl chamber 198 at the distal end of the liquid spinner, will vary depending on the desired liquid discharge conditions of the nozzle assembly 172.

The nozzle cap 176 is mounted on the cylindrical wall 192 for rotation of the cap relative to the nozzle base 174. The interior of the nozzle cap 176 has a connection cylinder 202 that engages on the outer surface of the nozzle base cylindrical wall 192, connecting the nozzle cap 176 for rotation on the nozzle base 174. The nozzle cap interior also has a sealing cylinder 204 that engages in sliding sealing contact against the interior surface of the nozzle base cylindrical wall 192. The nozzle cap interior also has a liquid discharge control cylinder 206 that engages over the liquid spinner 196 and spinner swirl chamber 198. The nozzle cap liquid discharge control cylinder 206 is of conventional construction. Liquid discharge holes 208 pass through the end wall of the nozzle cap. The configuration of the liquid discharge control cylinder 206 and the liquid spinner 196 and swirl chamber 198 allows the nozzle assembly 172 to provide an off condition that prevents liquid from being discharged through the nozzle assembly and any combination of spray, jet and/or foam as the liquid is discharged from the trigger sprayer in the form of a spray, jet and/or foam, respectively.

A pair of spaced, single check valves 212, 214 are located in the pair of liquid discharge passages 152, 154 and the pair of liquid discharge tubes 182, 184. Each check valve 212, 214 has a central shaft 216, 218 with a cross-shaped cross-section. The shafts 216, 218 have axes that are coaxial with the central axes 162, 164 of the liquid discharge passages 152, 154. Each valve 212, 214 is symmetrical about its central axis. As shown in fig. 8, the upstream ends of the shafts 216, 218 are inserted into the outlet apertures 156, 158 of the liquid discharge passages 152, 154 and secure the valves 212, 214 in a desired position relative to the liquid discharge passages 152, 154. The downstream ends of the valve shafts 216, 218 also engage against the nozzle base central wall 178 to precisely position the check valves 212, 214 in the liquid discharge passages 232, 254 and the liquid discharge tubes 182, 184. Each valve 212, 214 has a tapered flange or skirt 222, 224. The flanges 222, 224 extend axially in the downstream direction while extending radially outward. The outer surfaces of the flanges 222, 224 are in sealing contact engagement with the inner surfaces of the liquid discharge tubes 182, 184. The flanges 222, 224 are flexible and compress when subjected to liquid moving under pressure through the liquid discharge passages 152, 154 to the liquid discharge tubes 182, 184. The nozzle flanges 222, 224 are also resilient and will flex radially outward when fluid pressure is removed from the check valves 212, 214. This causes the flanges 222, 224 to engage against the inner surfaces of the liquid discharge tubes 182, 184 and prevents liquid from flowing back in the upstream direction from the liquid discharge tubes 182, 184 to the liquid discharge channels 152, 154.

When the trigger 76 ' of the trigger sprayer embodiment of fig. 6-8 is manually operated, liquid is pumped from the two pump chambers 56 ', 58 ' upwardly and through the two liquid discharge passages 152, 154. Liquid engaging the flanges 222, 224 against the check valves 212, 214 causes the flanges to compress allowing liquid to bypass both check valves 212, 214. The liquids then pass through the ports 186, 188 of the nozzle base central wall and mix for the first time on the opposite side of the central wall within the mixing chamber 194. Depending on the position of the nozzle cap 176 relative to the nozzle base 174, the liquid is then discharged from the discharge orifice 208 of the nozzle assembly 172 as a spray, stream, and/or foam.

Thus, the two separate and spaced check valves 212, 214 of the trigger sprayer of fig. 6-8 allow the two liquid components pumped from the pump chambers 56 ', 58' to remain isolated from each other until they are first mixed in the mixing chamber 194 of the nozzle assembly. The two separate check valves 212, 214 in the two separate liquid discharge passages 152, 154 eliminate the potential for contamination of the separate liquid component streams present in the trigger sprayer embodiment configurations of fig. 1-5.

While the invention has been described by reference to specific embodiments, it should be understood that modifications and variations may be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims (20)

1. A manually operated trigger sprayer comprising:

a sprayer housing;

a pair of pump chambers within the sprayer housing;

a pair of liquid discharge passages extending through the sprayer housing, each liquid discharge passage having an inlet end communicating with one of the pump chambers and an opposite outlet end from which liquid is discharged; and

a pair of check valves, each of which controls the flow of liquid from the inlet end to the outlet end of the liquid discharge passage through one of the pair of liquid discharge passages and prevents the backflow of liquid from the outlet end to the inlet end of the liquid discharge passage through the liquid discharge passage.

2. The trigger sprayer of claim 1, further comprising:

the pair of check valves are spaced apart from each other.

3. The trigger sprayer of claim 1, further comprising:

a pair of pump pistons, each pump piston being mounted for reciprocal movement within one of the pump chambers.

4. The trigger sprayer of claim 3, further comprising:

a trigger mounted on the sprayer housing for pivotal movement relative thereto, the trigger being operatively connected to the pair of pump pistons.

5. The trigger sprayer of claim 4, further comprising:

the pair of check valves are separate components of the trigger sprayer.

6. The trigger sprayer of claim 1, further comprising:

each check valve has a central axis and each check valve is symmetric about the central axis of the check valve.

7. The trigger sprayer of claim 6, further comprising:

the check valve central axes are parallel to each other.

8. The trigger sprayer of claim 1, further comprising:

a nozzle assembly mounted on the sprayer housing, said nozzle assembly having a liquid mixing chamber in communication with said pair of liquid discharge passages.

9. The trigger sprayer of claim 8, further comprising:

a liquid spinner in the liquid mixing chamber.

10. The trigger sprayer of claim 8, further comprising:

a pair of liquid discharge tubes on the nozzle assembly, each liquid discharge tube having an interior chamber in communication with one of the liquid discharge passages of the sprayer housing.

11. The trigger sprayer of claim 10, further comprising:

each check valve is located between a liquid discharge passage and a liquid discharge pipe.

12. A manually operated trigger sprayer comprising:

a sprayer housing;

a pair of liquid discharge passages extending through the sprayer housing;

a nozzle assembly mounted on the sprayer housing, said nozzle assembly having a pair of liquid discharge tubes in communication with said pair of liquid discharge channels; and

a pair of check valves controlling the flow of liquid from the pair of liquid discharge passages to the pair of liquid discharge pipes and preventing the reverse flow of liquid from the pair of liquid discharge pipes to the pair of liquid discharge passages.

13. The trigger sprayer of claim 12, further comprising:

a mixing chamber within the nozzle assembly, the mixing chamber in communication with the pair of liquid discharge tubes.

14. The trigger sprayer of claim 13, further comprising:

a liquid spinner in the mixing chamber.

15. The trigger sprayer of claim 12, further comprising:

the pair of check valves are spaced apart from each other.

16. The trigger sprayer of claim 12, further comprising:

each check valve has a central axis and each check valve is symmetric about the central axis of the check valve.

17. The trigger sprayer of claim 16, further comprising:

the central axes of the check valves are parallel.

18. The trigger sprayer of claim 12, further comprising:

the nozzle assembly having a central wall from one side of which the liquid discharge tube projects outwardly; and

a cylindrical wall projects outwardly from the side of the central wall opposite the pair of discharge tubes, the cylindrical wall extending around a mixing chamber within the cylindrical wall, the mixing chamber communicating with the pair of liquid discharge tubes through the central wall.

19. The trigger sprayer of claim 18, further comprising:

a liquid spinner within said mixing chamber, said cylindrical wall extending around said liquid spinner.

20. The trigger sprayer of claim 18, further comprising:

the pair of check valves abuttingly engage the central wall.