Afa Products, Inc.

Afa Polytek B.v.

Dispensing Technologies B.v.

Petrus L Hurkmans

Wilhelmus J Maas

Emile B Steijns

Wilhelmus Johannes Joseph Maas

Douglas S Martin

Wilhelmus J Mass

The invention relates to a container for a product for dispensing, comprising a relatively stiff outer container () having at least one dispensing opening (), and a deformable inner container () to be filled with the product which is accommodated in the outer container and which likewise has a dispensing opening (). The inner container is connected to the outer container both in the vicinity of the dispensing opening and at least at one location remote therefrom. The connection is formed in that the outer container has an opening () through which protrudes at least one fixing element () connected to the inner container. This fixing element is pin-like and has an end part of which the dimensions are larger than those of the opening. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing such a container.

Container with deformable inner container and method for manufacture thereof

Spray dispenser

A liquid dispenser includes a container having an opening for receiving a liquid, and a dispenser subassembly having an outlet and a closing member cooperating with the outlet, the closing member being movable between a first closed position whereby the closing member engages the container opening and a second open position whereby the closing member is remote from the container opening. At least part of the dispensing subassembly is preformed on the container and the remaining part of the dispenser subassembly is connectable therewith.

Liquid dispenser and assembly methods therefor

A precompression system for a liquid dispenser prevents liquid from being discharged from the dispenser until a predetermined pressure level has been attained within the dispenser. The liquid dispenser preferably has a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet for discharging the liquid. The precompression system includes a pump chamber having a piston movable in the pump chamber for drawing liquid through the inlet and discharging the liquid through the outlet. The precompression system also includes a valve chamber having a spring valve disposed between the pump chamber and the outlet and being operable to allow liquid in the pump chamber to reach the outlet only after a predetermined pressure is established in the pump chamber and to stop liquid from reaching the outlet when the pressure in the pump chamber falls below the predetermined pressure. The spring valve includes a resilient diaphragm that is normally closed over a valve seat opening in the valve chamber, as well as a peripheral flap extending from the first end of the spring valve for selectively closing the inlet. The valve chamber is in fluid communication with but not in alignment with the pump chamber.

Precompression system for a liquid dispenser

A liquid dispenser includes a dispenser subassembly having an inlet, an outlet, and a pump in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet, the pump being movable between a first position and a second position. The liquid dispenser also has a container including an opening for receiving a liquid and an actuating element connected thereto. The actuating element is engagable with the dispenser subassembly when the container and the dispenser subassembly are assembled together. Engagement of the actuating element with the dispenser subassembly is a prerequisite for operating the pump and dispensing the liquid from the dispenser. Also disclosed is a method of priming a liquid dispenser during final assembly thereof whereby the liquid dispenser will be immediately ready to discharge a liquid without further priming, such as is required with conventional liquid dispensers. The dispenser may also have a precompression system that stops liquid from being discharged until a predetermined pressure level has been attained in a pump chamber.

The shroud and skeletal body assembly for a trigger sprayer comprises: a skeletal body including a lower portion, an upright body portion extending upwardly from the lower portion and having a forwardly extending piston receiving portion, a waterway defining portion above the piston receiving portion and extending forwardly of the upright body portion, and hook structure extending rearwardly from the upright body portion; and a shroud having a top wall, spaced apart side walls, a back wall, and a short rear bottom wall extending forwardly from the back wall, and latch structure extending between the side walls at a position to be engaged by the hook structure when the shroud is brought into engagement with the skeletal body.

Shroud and skeletal body for trigger sprayer

The nozzle assembly comprises two pieces, they being: a nozzle cap; and, an integral nose bushing on which the nozzle cap is threadedly received. The integral nose bushing includes a body portion received and mounted in a body of a trigger sprayer and a bushing portion integral with the bushing portion. The bushing portion includes a generally cylindrical portion having a distal end and a proximal end with the proximal end having threads thereon and the distal end having a smooth outer cylindrical surface. The cylindrical portion has an annular slot therein defining an outer cylindrical flange and a central cylindrical portion. The central cylindrical portion has an outer end which extends outwardly of the outer cylindrical flange and which has an outer end having an annular wall defining therein a swirl cavity. The nose bushing has a passage therein communicating a waterway in the bushing portion with the annular slot in the cylindrical portion. The nozzle cap includes a generally cylindrical skirt formation extending rearwardly from a front wall of the cap having an orifice extending through the front wall. The generally cylindrical skirt formation includes an internal threaded portion which is adapted to mate with threads on the threaded portion of the nose bushing. The nozzle cap also has, on a rear surface of the front wall, an axially, rearwardly extending annular projection which surrounds the orifice and which is sized to be received in and seal with the walls of the swirl cavity.

Nozzle assembly including a nozzle cap and a unitary nose bushing

The child-resistant nozzle cover is used to cover a nozzle cap of a nozzle assembly for a trigger sprayer having a body, the nozzle assembly including a nose bushing at a front end of the body, the nozzle cap being rotatably mounted on the nose bushing of the sprayer, and the nozzle cap having a proximal end, a distal end including a generally annular rear edge, and an outer surface. The cover comprises a generally annular hood substantially covering the outer surface of the nozzle cap, being rotatable about the nozzle cap and nose bushing and having a proximal end, a distal end, an outer peripheral surface and an inner generally annular surface. Retaining structure is provided at the proximal end of the hood for retaining the hood on the nozzle assembly. The hood is made of flexible or resilient material so that upon applying sufficient radial forces to the hood generally on a diameter extending transversely of the hood, the hood becomes distorted and frictionally engages the nozzle cap whereby the nozzle cap can be rotated by rotating the hood then engaging the nozzle cap.

Child resistant nozzle cover

The trigger sprayer comprises: a body having a cylinder therein; a liquid inlet in communication with the cylinder; an outlet waterway in communication with the cylinder; an outlet nozzle which has an outlet orifice and which is movable to and from a position in communication with the waterway; a piston having an inner and an outer end and being received in said cylinder and being movable between an outer at rest position and an inner pumping stroke position during the pumping strokes of the piston in the cylinder; a trigger operatively coupled to the body and acting on the outer end of the piston; a precompression valve in the cylinder, the valve being operable to allow liquid in the cylinder to enter the waterway only after a predetermined pressure is established in the cylinder and to stop liquid from entering the waterway when the pressure in the cylinder falls below the predetermined pressure; and, biasing structure for biasing the piston away from the valve.

Precompression valve for trigger sprayer

The nozzle assembly for a foam-spray-off trigger sprayer comprises a barrel with perforated end wall member and a nozzle member which has an elongate central axis and which is constructed to be mounted on the outer end of a nose bushing having liquid direction structure for directing liquid into a swirl. The nozzle member has a rear barrel portion and a front barrel portion with an internal wall therebetween. The internal wall has an orifice located on the central axis and is positioned to receive swirling liquid from the nose bushing for injection into the front barrel portion. The barrel with perforated end wall member includes an outer hollow cylindrical body and a transversely extending perforated wall mounted in the cylindrical body and structure for mounting the barrel with perforated end wall member for axial movement on and relative to the front barrel portion.

Foam-spray-off trigger sprayer

The trigger operated pumping mechanism for a fluid dispensing device comprises a body extending rearwardly from a discharge end of the fluid dispensing device toward a hand gripping formation of the fluid dispensing device. The body has a hollow cylinder therein extending to a rear wall. A piston is received in the cylinder. A trigger is movably mounted to the body, has a front side and a back side, and is coupled to the piston. A biasing mechanism for biasing the trigger away from the body to bias the piston coupled to the trigger out of the cylinder is positioned between the body and the trigger. The biasing mechanism includes non-metal, non-coiled, elongate spring structure having opposite ends, extending rearwardly from the trigger toward the hand gripping formation, having one end positioned adjacent to and acting against the trigger and having another end positioned rearwardly of the trigger adjacent the body at a location which is closer to the rear wall of the cylinder than to the trigger.

Plastic spring assembly for trigger sprayer

The pumping mechanism is used in a trigger operated fluid dispensing device, e.g. a trigger sprayer, for pumping fluid from a storage container into a discharge end of a body of the dispensing device. The pumping mechanism includes a chamber within the body of the trigger sprayer, a piston received in the cylinder, two flap valves associated with an internal back wall of the chamber, and a manually operated trigger movably connected to the body of the dispensing device and coupled to an outer end of the piston. The flap valves are normally closed and pressure controlled to ensure a quick filling and emptying of the collection chamber.

Flap valve assembly for trigger sprayer

The trigger operated pumping mechanism for a fluid dispensing device comprises a body and the pumping mechanism comprises a cylinder in the body of the dispensing device, a piston received in the cylinder and having a piston rod extending outwardly therefrom to an outer end and a trigger movably mounted to the body and having a front side and a back side. A first coupling structure is provided on the outer end of the piston rod for coupling to the trigger. A second coupling structure is provided on the back side of the trigger for releasably coupling to the first coupling structure on the piston rod in a snap-fitting manner and a spring is provided outside of the cylinder for biasing the trigger away from the body.

Growing community of inventors

Someren, Netherlands

Petrus L Hurkmans