Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SPRAY-TYPE DISPENSER CAP CONSTRUCTION
This invention relates generally to closur~ ~ap
constructions for hand-held dispensers.
U. S. Patent No. 2,998,902 dated September 5, 1961,
issued to R. Tho~as and entitled CAPTIVE CAP DISPENSING
CLOSURE, discloses a dispensing closure incorporating a
base cap with an upstanding sealing plug (32) which
effects a seal with the walls o~ an orifice in a push-
pull closure member or nozzle.
U. S. Patent No. 3,326,426 dated June 20, 1967,
issued to A. Porter, and entitled CLOSURE CAP FOR CON-
TAINERS, relates to a closure construction having an
upstanding sealing peg on a base cap, the peg having a
channel (20) that, together with the inner wall of the
push-pull cap, forms a single dispensing orifice when
the push-pull cap is advanced, Fig. 2.
U. S. Patent No. 3,276,640 dated October 4, 1966,
issued to M. Kessler, and entitled CLOSABLE POURING
SPOUT AND AN AXIALLY SLIDABLE CAP MOVING A PLUG THEREON
FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS, also shows a push-pull closure
construction for a dispenser. Sealing of the dispenser
is accomplished by a sealing peg carried on the push-
pull cap, and which seals against an internal bead in
the discharge opening of the base part. The bore of the
push-pull cap is fluted, as shown.
U. S. Patent No. 3,572,559 dated March 30, 1971,
issued to M. Stull, and entitled MULTIPOSITION DISPENS-
ING CAP, illustrates a dispensing cap construction com-
prising a push-pull cap member (16) having a central
orifice, and a base member having an upstanding sealing
plug or pin (30). The push-pull cap member is moveable
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between a factory-seal position, Fig. l; a consum~r-seal
position, Fig. 3; and an open, discharging position,
Fig. 4.
Other push-pull cap constructions are illustrated
in U. S. Patent ,No. 3,599,845 dated August 17, 1971,
issued to C. Miller and entitled CONTAINER CLOSURE, and
U. S. Patent No. 3,216,630 dated November 9, 1965,
issued to M. Stull, and entitled.CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS.
While the devices set forth in the above identified
patents have, in several cases, achieved commercial suc-
cess, there has been a need for a simple push-pull cap
construction which could impart modified or special dis-
charge characteristics to the product being dispensed,
without resorting to expensive mold configurations,
multi-step molding processes, and the like.
The present invention provides a spraying-type dis-
penser cap for hand-held squeeze-bottle dispensers, com-
prising in combination a cap body having means for attach-
ment to the neck of a dispensing bottle, said body having
a tubular orifice portion through which product is intend-
ed to flow from said bottle, a stopper plug having a
smooth sealing surface, and means mounting the stopper
plug on said orifice portion in the path of flow of said
'~ product, a slide valving member slidably mounted on said
` orifice portion and movable thereon between a sealing
position and a discharging position, said valving member
having a discharge opening into which the stopper plug
extends and closely fits, and a plurality of discharge
passages in the surface of the stopper plug, coacting
with walls of the discharge opening of the valving mem-
ber to form small orifices for effecting a multi-stream
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spray of product when the valving member is in its dis-
charging position.
Other features and advantages will hereinafter ap-
; pear.
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the spraying-type cap
construction of the present disclosure, showing a cap
body and a valving member carrie~ thereby, and a stopper
plug on the cap body, the plug having multiple axially-
extending circumferentially spaced grooves.
Fig. 2 is a front view, partly in elevation andpartly in axial section, of the dispenser cap construc-
tion of Fig. 1, with the valving member disposed in a
closed, sealing position on the cap body.
Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the cap body per se of
a slightly modified construction, incorporating a differ-
ent groove configuration on the stopper plug.
Fig. 4 is an axial section of the cap construction
of Fig. 3, showing the valving member disposed in an
extended, product-discharging position, and
Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the valving member,
showing stiffening ribs on the undersurface thereof.
Referring now to the figures, there is shown a dis-
penser cap construction for hand-held bottles or contain-
ers, the cap construction being generally designated by
the numeral 10 and comprising a cap body 12 having an
annular side wall 14 and a transverse top wall 16. The
side wall 14 is provided with internal threads 18 of
usual design, adapted to mate with the corresponding
threaded neck portion of the squeeze bottle or container
(not shown) with which the cap construction is to be em-
ployed.
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The cap body 12 has an upstanding generally cylin-
drical or tubular orifice portion 20 in which there is
fixedly carried a stopper plug 22, Fig. 2; or 22a, Fig.
4. The plug 22, Fig. 2, or 22a, Fig. 4, is disposed in
the orifice portion 20 and in the path of flow of the
product being discharged. It is held in position by a
bridge-like formation comprising oppositely disposed
integrally formed support legs 2~.
In accordance with the present disclosure there is
provided an improved valving member 26 for the cap body
12, which not only controls the opening and closing of
the orifice portion 20, but also in the open position,
; cooperates with the stopper plugs 22 or 22a to impart a
spray-like, multi-stream characteristic to the product
being dispensed, the latter preferably belng in the form
of a non-viscous liquid, such as water, solvents, liquid
detergents, and the like. The valving member 26 is in
the form of a push-pull closure cap, and has the config-
uration of an inverted cup. The upper wall 28 of the
valving member 26 has a discharge opening 30 which is
adapted to be selectively closed off by the stopper
plugs 22 or 22a when the valving member 26 is disposed
in its closed, sealing position, as illustrated in Fig.
2, for example, wherein the walls of the opening 30
tightly seal against a cylindrical lowermost portion 32
of the stopper plug 22. The portion 32 constitutes a
smooth sealing surface.
As shown, the valving member 26 has a conical upper
surface 34 and a conical lower surface 36 having pockets
37, Fig. 5, which surfaces meet at a circular line or
intersection 38, constituting a finger-engageable lift-
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ing edge by which the valving member 26 can be manually
shifted between its open and closed positions.
The valving member 26 has a generally cylindrical
inner bearing surface 39 and a conical undersurface, the
latter in turn b,eing reinforced by multiple radially
disposed stiffening ribs 44, Fig. 5. Disposed on the
exterior surface of the tubular orifice portion 20 of
the cap body 12 is an annular be~d 46, which slidably
engages the cylindrical inner surface 39 of the valving
member 26, and provides a seal therewith during both
storage and discharge, to prevent leakage. A secondary
bead 48 on the lowermost edge or lip of the valving mem-
ber 26 similarly provides a sliding seal with the cylin-
drical outer surface 41 of the orifice portion 20. The
two beads 46, 48 also engage one another in the position
of Fig. 4, in the nature of stop shoulders, to thereby
retain the valving member 26 against inadvertent separa-
tion from the cap body 12.
The improved combination involving the stopper plug
22 or 22a and the discharge opening 30 of the valving
member 26, provides the unique spray characteristic to
the product being dispensed. In accomplishing the spray-
type discharge, the stopper member 22 in Fig. 1 or 22a
in Fig. 3 is provided with a plurality of closely spaced
external, axially-extending circumferentially spaced
grooves 50 or 50a, which, with the cylindrical-walled
opening 30 of the valving member 26, in the position of
Fig. 4, form multiple individual discharge passages
through which the liquid passes, these discharge pass-
ages being disposed in a circular pattern in axial align-
ment with the axis of the stopper plug 22. As shown in
Figs. 3 and 4, the grooves 50a are not so closely spaced,
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compared to those of Fig. 1. As the liquid exits past
the upper end of either stopper plug 22 or 22a, it has
the form of a plurality of individual streams or jets
which are coextensive with one another, and either
parallel, or els,e somewhat divergent, depending in part
upon the precision with which the grooves have been
molded. The grooves are preferably uniformly spaced cir-
cumferentially, as shown.
As illustrated in Fig. 4, when the valving member
is disposed in its discharging position, the stopper
plug 22a extends a small, finite distance above the
uppermost surface of the valving member 26, adjacent the
opening 30. It is considered that this slight extension
contributes to the desired spray characteristic, and
minimizes the effects of capillarity at the exit points
of the individual streams. As presently understood, it
is believed that capillary action might give rise to a
tendency to form drips, or otherwise cause distortion in
the paths of the individual exiting streams. Also, as
presently understood, this slight extension forms a
multiplicity of external open channels of finite length
and which are not confined by the walls of the opening
30. This lack of confinement is believed to give rise to
a tendency for the individual streams to diverge away
from one another in the form of a conical pattern, at
locations removed from the area of the stopper plug.
As an alternative, the grooves 50 or 50a can, if
desired, diverge very slightly toward the outer end of
the stopper plug, in order to impart a more pronounced
divergence to the individual streams. The rate of dis-
charge is controlled by the user, who adjusts the squeeze
force applied to the bottle (not shown) in order to
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attain the desired force of the spray, as can be readily
understood.
The disclosed construction has the advantage of
extreme simplicity, involving basically two molded plas-
tic components. ~he functioning is simple, involving a
mere push-pull operation which can be readily accom-
plished by the user. The spray characteristic, by virtue
of the grooves 50 or 50a in the ~topper plug 22 or 22a
and the cylindrical-walled configuration of the dis-
charge opening in the valving member, is automatically
imparted to the liquid being dispensed, without the need
for twisting operations, or else precise positioning of
the valving member 26 to a predetermined axial position
on the cap body 12. Instead, the user merely pulls the
valving member 26 outwardly until the beads 46, 48 en-
gage, the beads 46, 48 thus constituting a stop or limit;
at such time, the valving member 26 is automatically in
position for discharging of the liquid, and such liquid
having the desired, predetermined spray characteristic.
The spray characteristic includes multiple indi-
vidual streams or jets of product, coextensive with one
another, and being either generally parallel or else
somewhat divergent as they leave the area of the stopper
plug .
An especially economical construction is realized,
resulting in low manufacturing costs and without sacri-
fice of ease of use by the consumer. The individual parts
can be molded of suitable plastic substance in simple
mold cavities, and mass produced relatively inexpensive-
ly. Also, the device is especially easy for the consumer
to use, as well as being rugged and reliable over extend-
ed periods of use.
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It has been found to be highly resistant to inad-
vertent leakage at all times. Also there are largely
eliminated potential problems with capillarity, as well
as the tendency for the product being dispensed to form
undesirable drip,s or globules, as opposed to a spray-
type pattern.
The disclosed construction is thus seen to represent
a distinct advance and improvemept in the field of dis-
penser caps.
Variations and modifications are possible without
departing from the spirit of the invention.
Each and every one of the appended claims defines
an aspect of the invention which is separate and distinct
from all others, and accordingly it is intended that
each claim be treated as such when examined in the light
of the prior art devices in any determination of novelty
or validity.
