Compression spring assembly and methods of using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11754137-B2
Application number	US-202117372838-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2021
Priority date	Jan 3, 2018
Publication date	Sep 12, 2023
Grant date	Sep 12, 2023

Abstract

An all plastic compression spring assembly includes a slotted tubular spring element formed from a tensile polymer material and upper and lower loading cones received at opposing upper and lower ends of the slotted tubular spring element. The upper loading cone may be axially compressible towards the lower loading cone within the slotted tubular spring element whereby the slotted tubular spring element radially expands in tension to create an opposing radial contraction force, and in turn, an axial extension spring force. When released, the spring element elastically returns to its normal at rest shape, returning the cones to their normal at rest positions. In some dispenser configurations, the lower loading cone may be stationary or fixed within the dispensing head and the upper loading cone may be downwardly compressible toward the lower loading cone by movement of a nozzle head.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tubular spring element for a compression spring assembly, comprising:
a cylindrical shape, wherein the tubular spring element is molded from a tensile, recyclable polymer material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, high-density polyethylene, and low-density polyethylene;
a wall thickness, wherein the wall thickness comprises a uniform wall thickness;
a first end;
a second end;
a single longitudinal slot extending from the first end to the second end; and
wherein the slot allows the tubular spring element to expand radially upon application of an axial force to an inner wall edge of at least one end of the tubular spring element.

2. The tubular spring element of claim 1 , wherein the single longitudinal slot defines a first opposing edge of the single longitudinal slot and a second opposing edge of the single longitudinal slot.

3. A tubular spring element for a compression spring assembly, comprising:
a cylindrical shape;
a wall thickness;
a first end;
a second end;
a single longitudinal slot extending from the first end to the second end;
a first strain reducing rib extending along the first opposing edge; and
a second strain reducing rib extending along the second opposing edge,
wherein the slot allows the tubular spring element to expand radially upon application of an axial force to an inner wall edge of at least one end of the tubular spring element.

4. The tubular spring element of claim 3 , wherein each of the first strain reducing rib and second strain reducing rib comprise symmetrical convex surfaces extending radially outward and circumferentially outward from the first opposing edge and second opposing edge.

5. The tubular spring element of claim 3 , wherein the wall thickness further comprises:
a first thinner wall thickness at the first slot edge and at the second slot edge adjacent the first strain reducing rib and the second strain reducing rib; and
a second thicker wall thickness diametrically opposed from the slot edges.

6. A tubular spring element for a compression spring assembly, comprising:
a cylindrical shape;
a wall thickness;
a first end;
a second end;
a single longitudinal slot extending from the first end to the second end; and

wherein the slot allows the tubular spring element to expand radially upon application of an axial force to at least one end of the tubular spring element, and
wherein the wall thickness further comprises an increasing wall thickness moving away from the first slot edge and the second slot edge.

7. The tubular spring element of claim 6 , further comprising chamfered inner wall edges.

8. The tubular spring elements of claim 6 , wherein the tubular spring element is molded from a material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, high-density polyethylene, and low-density polyethylene.

9. The tubular spring element of claim 6 , wherein the tubular spring element is recyclable.

10. The tubular spring element of claim 6 , wherein application of an axial force on the first end and the second end creates outward deflection and loading of the tubular spring element which is released with removal of said axial force.

11. A tubular spring element for a compression spring assembly, comprising a slotted tube having a hyperboloid inner and outer wall shape, the slotted tube having
a wall thickness;
a first end;
a second end;
a single longitudinal slot extending from the first end to the second end; and
wherein the slot allows the tubular spring element to expand radially upon application of an axial force to an inner wall edge of at least one end of the tubular spring element.

12. The tubular spring element of claim 11 , wherein the wall thickness comprises a uniform wall thickness.

13. The tubular spring element of claim 11 , wherein the single longitudinal slot defines a first opposing edge of the single longitudinal slot and a second opposing edge of the single longitudinal slot.

14. The tubular spring element of claim 11 , wherein the wall thickness further comprises an increasing wall thickness moving away from the first slot edge and the second slot edge.

15. The tubular spring element of claim 11 , further comprising chamfered inner wall edges.

16. The tubular spring elements of claim 11 , wherein the tubular spring element is molded from a material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, high-density polyethylene, and low-density polyethylene.

17. The tubular spring element of claim 11 , wherein the tubular spring element is recyclable.

18. The tubular spring element of claim 11 , wherein application of an axial force on the first end and the second end creates outward deflection and loading of the tubular spring element which is released with removal of said axial force.

Assignees

• Silgan Dispensing Systems Corp

Inventors

• Deman Eelco H
• Zuijderduijn Paulus

Classifications

• A47K5/1205 Primary

  Dispensing from the top of the dispenser with a vertical piston · CPC title

• B05B11/1023

  having an outlet valve opened by deformation or displacement of the piston relative to its actuating stem · CPC title

• B05B11/1074

  located outside pump chambers · CPC title

• B05B11/1076

  Traction springs, e.g. stretchable sleeve · CPC title

• F16F1/3605

  characterised by their material (F16F1/362, F16F1/364, F16F1/366, F16F1/37 take precedence; composition of macromolecular compounds in general C08L) · CPC title