Pump sprayer for viscous or solids laden liquids

Abstract

A hand holdable spray delivery system for dispensing a relatively viscous and/or solids laden liquid is provided. This spray delivery system includes a container adapted to house the liquid. A manually actuated pump device is mounted on the container. The pump device including an inlet passage, a pump chamber, and a discharge passage having a distal end connected in liquid communication so that the liquid is pumped from within the container, through the inlet passage, into the pump chamber and through the discharge passage upon manual actuation of the pump device. A slotted spray nozzle including a housing having an inlet side and an exit side is also included. The housing having an internal recess through the inlet side that terminates in an elongated orifice at the exit side. The internal recess being attached in liquid communication to the distal end of the discharge passage such that the liquid passing through the discharge passage flows through the slotted spray nozzle and converges toward the elongated orifice. The liquid is dispensed therefrom in a dispersed spray. The slotted spray nozzle can be made of a rigid material or an elastomeric material. A fan shaped dispersed spray pattern is generated when the nozzle is made using a rigid material, however, when an elastomeric material is utilized, the nozzle is capable of ejecting particles larger than the smallest dimension of the elongated orifice, thereby substantially reducing the likelihood of clogging. Several versions of the spray delivery system are illustrated, including a trigger operated sprayer and a reciprocating finger pump.