Liquid dispensing pump automatically sealable against leakage

Abstract

A finger-operable pump, adapted to be mounted on a hand-held container of liquid consumer product to provide an unpressurized dispenser package, includes a housing, that defines a pumping chamber, and a plunger telescopically received in the chamber for conventional pumping movement. A stem formed with the plunger projects outwardly of the housing. The pump further incorporates an inprovement in the form of an automatically operable seal arrangement for preventing leakage of liquid which comprises a conical valve seat formed about the mouth of a discharge passage through the plunger and stem and a valve element, having dome-shaped and conical portions, located in the pumping chamber to sealingly engage the valve seat. An actuator button is mounted on the outer end of the plunger stem and is linked, through an elongated connecting rod, to the valve element to move it out of engagement with the valve seat and then to reciprocate the plunger into the pumping chamber away from a home position. A spring automatically closes the valve element and seat when the actuator button is released and then urges the plunger back to its home position. Separate ring and gland seals prevent leakage past the actuator button-plunger stem connection.