All-polymer helical biasing member and pump dispenser incorporating same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12364995-B2
Application number	US-202118022041-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 18, 2021
Priority date	Aug 18, 2020
Publication date	Jul 22, 2025
Grant date	Jul 22, 2025

Abstract

A biasing member for use in reciprocating dispenser pumps is contemplated. The member is made completely of polymeric materials and is suitable as a direct replacement for metallic coil springs. The biasing member includes spiral shape defined by inner and outer helix traces, with a series of perforations provided along one or both of those traces. These perforations, in conjunction with thinned channels, the size and shape of holes, and the size and shape of apertures, all cooperate to allow for a spring with sufficient resilience and greater spring force in comparison conventional, all-polymer biasing members.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A biasing member with an axial void for appropriate for combination with a reciprocating dispenser, the biasing member comprising: a wall section with a hollow center and an outer helix trace radially offset from an inner helix trace, with both the outer helix trace and the inner helix trace spiraling round a central axis of the biasing member from a bottom edge to a top edge; wherein the wall section includes a solid, contiguously-formed polymer sheet intersecting portions of the outer and inner helix traces so as to impart a corrugated surface to the wall section; and wherein a plurality of perforations are formed in the polymer sheet and positioned so as to regularly interrupt at least one of the outer helix trace and the inner helix trace, wherein the plurality of perforations comprise a number of axially aligned sets of holes with each set of axially aligned holes separated by an axially aligned set of apertures.

2. The biasing member of claim 1 wherein the axially aligned holes interrupt the outer helix trace.

3. The biasing member of claim 1 wherein the axially aligned apertures interrupt the outer helix trace.

4. The biasing member of claim 1 wherein the holes have a different shape than the apertures.

5. The biasing member of claim 4 wherein an uppermost hole in each axially aligned set of holes has a smaller diameter in comparison to a lowermost hole of that set.

6. The biasing member of claim 1 wherein the holes have an oval shape.

7. The biasing member of claim 1 wherein the apertures have a polygonal shape.

8. The biasing member of claim 1 wherein the plurality of perforations are defined by a regular pattern of axially continuous vertical sections connected by a regular pattern of horizontal members and pitched members.

9. The biasing member of claim 1 wherein a minimum radius of outer helix trace, as measured within a horizontal plane of the biasing member, is larger than a maximum radius of the inner helix trace in any horizontal plane of the biasing member.

10. The biasing member of claim 1 wherein the plurality of perforations regularly interrupt both the outer helix trace and the inner helix trace.

11. The biasing member of claim 1 wherein the outer helix trace remains offset from the inner helix trace at a constant axial distance.

12. The biasing member of claim 1 further comprising an upper radial flange at the top edge and a lower radial flange at the bottom edge.

13. The biasing member of claim 12 wherein formations are formed on a horizontal surface of the upper radial flange and/or the lower radial flange.

14. The biasing member of claim 13 wherein the formations include at least one of radially aligned ribs, an inner circular wall, and an outer circular wall.

15. The biasing member of claim 12 wherein formations are formed on a vertical surface of the upper radial flange and/or the lower radial flange.

16. The biasing member of claim 15 wherein the formations include at least one of an axially extending sidewall, coupling formations formed in an outer facing of the axially extending wall, and coupling formations formed in an inner facing of the axially extending wall.

17. A biasing member with an axial void for appropriate for combination with a reciprocating dispenser, the biasing member comprising: a wall section with a hollow center and an outer helix trace radially offset from an inner helix trace, with both the outer helix trace and the inner helix trace spiraling round a central axis of the biasing member from a bottom edge to a top edge; wherein the wall section includes a solid, contiguously-formed polymer sheet intersecting portions of the outer and inner helix traces so as to impart a corrugated surface to the wall section wherein a plurality of perforations are formed in the polymer sheet and positioned so as to regularly interrupt at least one of the outer helix trace and the inner helix trace; and wherein the wall section includes at least one axially aligned channel having a thinner wall in comparison to the contiguously-formed polymer sheet constituting a remainder of the wall section.

18. The biasing member of claim 17 wherein a plurality of axially aligned channels are provided.

19. The biasing member of claim 18 wherein each axially aligned channel is spaced apart equally from one another.

20. The biasing member of claim 17 wherein the axially aligned channel(s) are configured to include a portion of the plurality of perforations, with any remaining portion of the plurality of perforations disposed on portions of the wall section without the axially aligned channel(s).

Assignees

• Rieke Packaging Systems Ltd

Inventors

• Knight Simon Christopher

Classifications

• B05B11/1074

  located outside pump chambers · CPC title

• B05B11/1023

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

• B05B11/1047

  the pump being preassembled as an independent unit before being mounted on the container · CPC title

• B05B11/1077 Primary

  characterised by a particular shape or material (B05B11/1076 takes precedence) · CPC title