Pump dispenser with locking feature

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018311693-A1
Application number	US-201815993809-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 31, 2018
Priority date	Jul 20, 2015
Publication date	Nov 1, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A pump dispenser includes a dispenser head rotatable relative to a locking ring for a lock-down feature during shipment. The lock-down feature requires a greater torque to initially rotate the dispenser head from the lock-down position, and a lesser torque to further rotate the dispenser head to a use position. The lock-down feature incorporates an interference between the dispenser head and locking ring, either inside the dispenser head, on an outer periphery of the dispenser head, or between threads connecting the dispenser head and locking ring.

First claim

1 . A fluid dispenser comprising:
a dispenser head comprising
a fluid inlet;
a fluid outlet;
a depending skirt;
a locking groove on a lower edge of the depending skirt; and
a first thread on the inside surface of the depending skirt;
a locking ring comprising
a lower rim;
an upper rim;
a locking bump on the lower rim;
a cylindrical wall between the lower rim and upper rim; the cylindrical wall having a lower edge; and
a second thread on the outer surface of the cylindrical wall; and
an interference fit between the locking groove and the locking bump; wherein the dispenser head is rotatable relative to the locking ring between a lock-down position and an unlocked position; wherein rotation of the dispenser head in the vicinity of the lock-down position requires a first torque and rotation of the dispenser head apart from the lock-down position requires a second torque, and the first torque is greater than the second torque.

2 . The fluid dispenser of claim 1 , further comprising a pump engine connected to the fluid inlet.

3 . A fluid dispenser comprising:
a dispenser head comprising
a fluid inlet;
a fluid outlet;
a depending skirt; and
a first thread on the inside surface of the depending skirt;
a locking ring comprising
lower rim;
an upper rim;
a cylindrical wall between the lower rim and upper rim; the cylindrical wall having a lower edge; and
a second thread on the outer surface of the cylindrical wall; and
an interference fit between the dispenser head and the locking ring; wherein the dispenser head is rotatable relative to the locking ring between a lock-down position and an unlocked position; wherein rotation of the dispenser head in the vicinity of the lock-down position requires a greater torque than rotation of the dispenser head apart from the lock-down position.

4 . The fluid dispenser of claim 3 , wherein the interference fit comprises a protrusion on the lower rim and a groove on the lower edge of the cylindrical wall.

5 . The fluid dispenser of claim 3 , wherein the interference fit is between a lower end of the first thread and a lower end of the second thread.

6 . The fluid dispenser of claim 5 , wherein the interference comprises one of a nonuniform thread size, a nonuniform thread pitch, and a nonuniform thread path.

7 . The fluid dispenser of claim 3 , wherein the interference fit is between an upper end of the first thread and an upper end of the second thread.

8 . The fluid dispenser of claim 7 , wherein the interference comprises one of a nonuniform thread size or a nonuniform thread path.

9 . The fluid dispenser of claim 3 further comprising a pump engine connected to the fluid inlet.

10 . The fluid dispenser of claim 3 , further comprising a fluid container connected to the dispenser head.

11 . The fluid dispenser of claim 3 , wherein the interference fit comprises a notch on the lower edge of the cylindrical wall, a latch on the lower rim, and a pad connected to the notch, whereby a pinching force on the pad disengages the latch from the notch.

12 . The fluid dispenser of claim 3 , wherein the interference fit comprises one or more frangible connections between the lower edge of the cylindrical wall and a retention ring attached to the locking ring.

13 . The fluid dispenser of claim 12 , wherein the retention ring is attached to the locking ring by a plurality of ring ratchets.

14 . The fluid dispenser of claim 12 , wherein the frangible connections provide a tamper-evident feature.

Assignees

• Silgan Dispensing Systems Corp

Inventors

• Espinoza Alejandro

Classifications

• B05B11/1023

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

• B05B11/106 Primary

  in a retracted position, e.g. in an end-of-dispensing-stroke position · CPC title

• B05B11/1059 Primary

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

• B05B11/1074

  located outside pump chambers · CPC title

• B05B11/1047

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