Afa Products, Inc.

Afa Polytek B.v.

U.S. Philips Corporation

The Afa Corporation

Wilhelmus J Maas

Petrus L Hurkmans

Emile B Steijns

Douglas S Martin

Petrus Wilhelmus Hurkmans

Everardus J Nijland

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 trigger sprayer comprises: a body having a cylinder therein; a liquid inlet to the cylinder; an outlet waterway in communication with the cylinder; a piston having an inner end and an outer end received in the cylinder; a fluid path including at least a part of the cylinder and the waterway and extending between the piston and an outlet orifice; a trigger coupled to the body and acting on the outer end of the piston; a precompression valve assembly in the fluid path between the piston and the outlet orifice which is operable to allow liquid in a first part of the fluid path to reach the outlet orifice only after a predetermined pressure is established in the cylinder and to stop liquid from reaching the outlet orifice when the pressure in the cylinder falls below the predetermined pressure and which includes a valve seat in the fluid path, a spring valve element and retaining structure for retaining the spring valve element against the valve seat; biasing structure for biasing the piston away from the precompression valve assembly; and, the piston having, at the inner end thereof, a protrusion which extends axially, outwardly from the inner end a sufficient distance to engage and deform slightly, at least upon the initial movements of the piston, the spring valve element upon squeezing the trigger to a fully squeezed in position.

Precompression valve for trigger sprayer

The child lock nozzle cap assembly is mounted at the forward end of a body of a trigger sprayer and includes: a nozzle cap; first locking structure associated with the nozzle cap; and, second locking structure associated with a trigger of the trigger sprayer and cooperating with the first locking structure to lock the nozzle cap against rotation until and unless either the first locking structure is moved out of engagement with the second locking structure or the trigger is moved to move the second locking structure out of engagement with the first locking structure.

Child lock nozzle cap assembly

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

An apparatus for the simultaneous dispensing of two liquids from two separate liquid reservoirs at least two actuations are necessary in order for the venting of the interior and relieving of the back pressure in the liquid reservoirs. The first actuation is accomplished by rotating a valve having two mating valve members for opening and closing two sets of vertically extending passageways. The first set of passageways allows liquid to flow from the two liquid reservoirs to the intake stem of the spray pump dispenser. The second set of passageways connects both liquid reservoirs to a venting passageway. The second actuation is accomplished by pulling the trigger on the spray pump dispenser so the venting passageway is exposed to the ambient atmosphere. The venting passage reseals when the trigger returns to its rest position.

Two liquid sprayer assembly

'Suction attachment, spray member suitable for use in such a suction attachment, and vacuum cleaner provided with such a suction attachment.' A suction attachment (1) for a vacuum cleaner (119) is provided, which suction attachment (1) has an underpressure chamber (7) with a suction opening (23, 25) and a discharge channel (9) for connection to a suction motor assembly (121) of the vacuum cleaner (119). In the underpressure chamber (7) there is an inner chamber (11) which comprises a spray member (73) for distributing a cleaning liquid over a surface to be cleaned. The spray member (73) comprises a distributor plate (79) which is positioned near an upper side (19) of the inner chamber (11) in a central position relative to an orifice (75) of the inner chamber (11). The distributor plate (79) extends parallel to the side walls (51, 53) of the inner chamber (11) and can be sprayed with the cleaning liquid from a spray nozzle (99). The use of the distributor plate (79) creates in the inner chamber (11) a plane, diverging liquid jet, so that the cleaning liquid is uniformly distributed over a major portion of the orifice (75) of the inner chamber (11) and the surface to be cleaned. The vacuum cleaner (119) is fitted with a suction motor assembly (121) which can be connected to the discharge channel (9) of the underpressure chamber (7) of the suction attachment (1) via a liquid separator (131), and with a cleaning liquid reservoir (141) which can be connected via a liquid pump (143) to the feed channel (77) of the inner chamber (11) of the suction attachment (1).

Suction attachment, spray member suitable for in such a suction

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.

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.

Growing community of inventors

Someren, Netherlands

Wilhelmus J Maas