Nozzle Assembly and Method for Fluid Dispensing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016016188-A1
Application number	US-201414772881-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 6, 2014
Priority date	Mar 8, 2013
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fluid delivery system for dispensing fluid can include a dispenser, such as a trigger engine-type dispenser ( 100 ), configured to draw fluid up from a container. A nozzle assembly can include a nozzle ( 160 ), and a nozzle slide ( 112 ). The nozzle slide can be configured to slide and/or rotate relative to the shroud ( 102 ) to provide different dispensing modes. In alternative examples, the nozzle ( 160 ) can be configured to rotate in 30 degree increments relative to the shroud ( 102 ) to provide the different dispensing modes or the nozzle assembly can include a nozzle extension, and the nozzle extension can be configured to rotate relative to the shroud to provide different dispensing patterns out of the nozzle. In another example a first nozzle can be configured to provide one or more dispensing modes, and a second nozzle can be configured to provide a different dispensing mode than the first nozzle. Methods of dispensing fluids and methods of assembling fluid dispensers are also disclosed.

First claim

1 . A trigger sprayer comprising:
a housing having an inlet portion and an outlet portion; a pumping mechanism including a trigger lever associated with the housing; a coupling provided at the inlet portion and configured to secure the housing to a container having a front wall defining a vertical plane; and a first nozzle provided at the outlet portion and configured to be selectively moveable by a user between a first position in which the first nozzle does not extend beyond the vertical plane defined by the front wall of the container and a second position in which at least a portion of the first nozzle extends beyond the vertical plane defined by the front wall of the container.

2 . The trigger sprayer of claim 1 wherein the first nozzle provides a first dispensing mode in the first position and a second dispensing mode in the second position that is different than the first dispensing mode.

3 . The trigger sprayer of claim 2 wherein the first dispensing mode provides a spray pattern and the second dispensing mode provides a stream pattern.

4 . The trigger sprayer of claim 2 wherein the first nozzle comprises a tip portion and a slide portion, the slide portion being configured to move outward in a substantially linear manner relative the housing for moving the tip portion beyond the vertical plane defined by the front wall of the container.

5 . The trigger sprayer of claim 4 wherein the nozzle is mounted to a nozzle slide, the nozzle slide being configured to rotate relative to the housing into an off position.

6 . The trigger sprayer of claim 5 wherein the nozzle slide rotates approximately 30 degrees relative to the housing to achieve the off position.

7 . The trigger sprayer of claim 1 further comprising a second nozzle provided at the outlet portion of the housing, wherein the first nozzle provides a first dispensing mode and the second nozzle provides a second dispensing mode that is different than the first dispensing mode.

8 . The trigger sprayer of claim 7 wherein the second nozzle is configured to provide a third dispensing mode and an off mode and wherein the second nozzle is configured to rotate between the second dispensing mode, the third dispensing mode, and an off position.

9 . The trigger sprayer of claim 7 wherein the first nozzle is configured to slide from a closed position to an open position to provide the first dispensing mode.

10 . The trigger sprayer of claim 7 wherein the second nozzle provides at least one stop for the first nozzle to prevent the first nozzle from being positioned into the open position when the second nozzle is in a dispensing mode.

11 . The trigger sprayer of claim 7 further comprising a nozzle adapter for receiving the first nozzle and the second nozzle, the nozzle adapter comprising a first passageway for directing fluid to the first nozzle and a second passageway for directing fluid to the second nozzle.

12 . The trigger sprayer of claim 11 wherein the nozzle adapter further comprises a recess for receiving a corresponding projection on the first nozzle to secure the first nozzle in an operating position and a guide for permitting the first nozzle to slide from a closed position to an open position.

13 . The trigger sprayer of claim 12 wherein the recess of the nozzle adapter is configured to receive a valve for directing fluid to a first nozzle passageway in the first nozzle when the first nozzle is in the open position and wherein the first nozzle is configured to block flow from the valve when the first nozzle is in the closed position.

14 . The trigger sprayer of claim 13 wherein the recess of the nozzle adapter is configured to receive a gasket to provide a seal between the first passageway in the nozzle adapter and the first nozzle passageway.

15 . The trigger sprayer of claim 11 wherein the nozzle adapter further comprises a first spout having a barb for securing the second nozzle to the nozzle adapter.

16 . The trigger sprayer of claim 15 wherein the nozzle adapter further comprises a second spout being formed within a cutout portion of the nozzle adapter and being configured to receive a dispensing tube.

17 . The trigger sprayer of claim 16 wherein the second spout comprises a keyway for receiving the dispensing tube and for preventing rotation of the nozzle adapter relative to the dispensing tube.

18 . A fluid delivery system for dispensing fluid comprising:
a dispenser configured to draw fluid up from a container, a nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle and a means for effectively extending the nozzle length to provide at least one dispensing mode.

19 . The fluid delivery system of claim 18 further comprising a slit valve and wherein when the nozzle extends, the nozzle moves relative to the slit valve, the nozzle slide is configured to move to a first position to provide a spray pattern and a second position to provide a stream pattern, wherein in the first position the nozzle is located at a first distance away from the slit valve and in the second position the nozzle is located at a second distance away from the slit valve and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

20 . A method of assembling a fluid delivery system comprising:
filling a container with a fluid, the container having a front wall defining a vertical plane; coupling a trigger sprayer to the container, the trigger sprayer comprising: a housing having an inlet portion and an outlet portion; a pumping mechanism including a trigger lever associated with the housing; a coupling provided at the inlet portion and configured to secure the housing to a container having a front wall defining a vertical plane; and a first nozzle provided at the outlet portion and configured to be selectively moveable by a user between a first position in which the first nozzle does not extend beyond the vertical plane defined by the front wall of the container and a second position in which at least a portion of the first nozzle extends beyond the vertical plane defined by the front wall of the container; applying a shrink sleeve label to the container by passing the shrink sleeve label over the trigger sprayer while the first nozzle is in the first position.

Assignees

• Johnson & Son Inc S C

Inventors

• Spang Ronald H
• Mcdonnell Matthew T
• Leifheit David H
• Nelson Cory J
• Thurin Matthew N
• Anthony Iii Philip M
• Eiger Aaron B
• Thompson Evan P

Classifications

• B05B11/1023

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

• B05B11/1011 Primary

  without substantial movement of the nozzle in the direction of the pressure stroke · CPC title

• B05B11/1045

  the pump being preassembled as an independent unit before being mounted on the container (B05B11/1047, B05B11/1049 take precedence) · CPC title

• B05B1/12 Primary

  capable of producing different kinds of discharge, e.g. either jet or spray (having selectively-effective outlets B05B1/16) · CPC title

• B05B11/1059

  Means for locking a pump or its actuation means in a fixed position (B05B11/1091 takes precedence) · CPC title