Precompression valve for trigger sprayer

Abstract

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.