The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 09, 1997
Filed:
May. 15, 1995
John E Reifenberger, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Robert J Peterson, Loveland, OH (US);
Robert E Stahley, Middletown, OH (US);
J Randall Stigall, Hebron, KY (US);
Michael D Webb, West Chester, OH (US);
Geneva G Otten, Loveland, OH (US);
William Joseph Schmitz, Cincinnati, OH (US);
The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Abstract
A liquid dispensing pump is provided with a supply container venting system and a shipping seal. The pump device includes an upper and lower housing which are axially movable relative to each other between open and closed shipping seal positions. The dispensing pump includes a collapsible pump chamber with at least one shipping seal functional element integral with the chamber. The pump includes actuation elements which cooperate to prevent pump actuation when the shipping seal is closed. The pump may also include a tamper evident device to prevent pump actuation prior to tamper evident tab removal. The chamber may also include an integral valve which has the valve member biased against the valve seat. A supply container venting system for the pump comprises a resilient annular flange angled downward from the bellows at the liquid entry end. The annular flange presses against an interior surface of the lower housing to seal a supply container vent opening against communication with ambient air and moisture. The annular flange remains in contact with the interior surface until either a vacuum generated in the supply container by pumping fluid therefrom deflects the flange away from the interior surface or at least one lug on the upper housing contacts and deflects the annular flange when the upper housing is actuated downward. A wiper extends from the lower housing in contact with the telescopingly engaged upper housing to further minimize any moisture entry between housings that could accumulate and inadvertently pass into the supply container.