Hand operated sprayer with automatic container vent

Claim 2

A manually operated liquid dispenser adapted to be attached to a container holding a liquid to be dispensed comprising a. component retaining body means, the bulk of which is located outside of said container when attached thereto, b. an outwardly opening bore defined within the interior of the component retaining body means, c. a piston shiftable within the bore and bounding a variable compartment with said bore, d. inlet and outlet means disposed within the component retaining body means for delivering liquid into and out of the compartment bounded by the piston and bore, e. operating means, including a trigger normally actuated by the application of substantially horizontal force by the fingers thereto, for shifting the piston within the bore between a normal, non-pumping position and a pumping position, f. venting means extending through the body means and opening, at one end, into the bore, and g. a single unit providing seal means for the venting means, the seal means and the compartment, in normal non-pumping position, preventing communication to the ambient air from the venting means and the compartment, thereby forming a positive closure for the container, the seal means in pumping position permitting free communication between the venting means and the ambient air.

Claim 3

A dispenser according to claim 1 in which the seal means is located within the bore.

Claim 4

A dispenser according to claim 2 in which the seal means is secured circumferentially about the piston.

Claim 5

A dispenser according to claim 1 in which the seal means comprises a pair of spaced apart seals.

Claim 6

The dispenser according to claim 4 in which said seals straddle said venting means.

Claim 7

A dispenser according to claim 4 in which the spaced apart seals are secured circumferentially about the piston.

Claim 8

The dispenser according to claim 6 in which at least one of said spaced apart seals is an integral part of said piston.

Claim 9

A dispenser according to claim 4 in which the seals are integrally molded with the piston.

Claim 10

A dispenser according to claim 4 in which at least one of said seals is a lip seal.

Claim 11

A dispenser according to claim 1 in which the operating means includes resilient means to urge the piston to the normal, non-pumping position.

Claim 12

A dispenser according to claim 1 further comprising a container for retaining the liquid to be dispensed, the component retaining body means being secured upon the container so that the inlet means contacts the liquid and the venting means in pumping position extends between the ambient air and the air in the container above the liquid level.

Claim 13

The dispenser according to claim 1 in which at least the piston is a molded resilient article of a thermoplastic selected from polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), synthetic rubber, natural rubber, polyvinylchloride, polyacetate, polyamide, polyester and mixtures thereof.

Claim 14

A manually operated liquid dispenser adapted to be attached to a container holding a liquid to be dispensed comprising a. component retaining body means, the bulk of which is located outside of said container when attached thereto, b. a dip tube depending from said body means, c. inlet means within said body means for admitting liquid thereinto, d. outlet means including a discharge orifice located at one end of the body means remote from the inlet means to dispense liquid therefrom, e. check valve means disposed within the component retaining body means to regulate the flow of liquid, f. an outwardly opening bore defined within the interior of the body means and communicating with the inlet and outlet means, g. a piston shiftable within said bore and defining a variable volume pumping chamber therewith, h. operating means, including a trigger normally actuated by the application of substantially horizontal force by the fingers thereto, for shifting the piston within the bore between a normal, non-pumping position and a pumping position. i. venting means extending through the body means and opening, at one end, into the bore, and j. a single unit providing seal means for the venting means and the pumping chamber, the seal means in normal non-pumping position preventing communication to the ambient air from the venting means and the pumping chamber thereby providing a positive closure for the container, the seal means in pumping position permitting free communication between the venting means and the ambient air.

Claim 15

A manually operated liquid dispenser adapted to be attached to a container holding a liquid to be dispensed comprising a. component retaining body means, the bulk of which is located outside of said container when attached thereto, b. a dip tube depending from said body means, c. inlet means within said body means for admitting liquid thereinto, d. outlet means including a discharge orifice located at one end of the body means remote from the inlet means to dispense liquid therefrom, e. check valve means disposed within the component retaining body means to regulate the flow of liquid, f. an outwardly opening bore defined within the interior of the body means and communicating with the inlet and outlet means, g. a piston shiftable within said bore and defining a variable volume pumping chamber therewith, h. operating means, including a trigger normally actuated by the application of substantially horizontal force by the fingers thereto, for shifting the piston within the bore between a normal, non-pumping position and a pumping position. i. venting means extending through the body means and opening, at one end, into the bore, and j. a single unit providing seal means for the venting means and the pumping chamber, the seal means in normal non-pumping position preventing communication to the ambient air from the venting means and the pumping chamber thereby providing a positive closure for the container, the seal means in pumping position permitting free communication between the venting means and the ambient air.

Claim 16

A dispenser according to claim 13 in which the seal means comprises a pair of spaced apart seals.

Claim 17

A dispenser according to claim 14 in which the seals are secured circumferentially about said piston.

Claim 18

A dispenser according to claim 14 in which the seals are integrally molded with said piston.

Claim 19

A dispenser according to claim 15 in which at least one of said seals is a lip seal.

Claim 20

A dispenser according to claim 13 further comprising a container for retaining the liquid to be discharged, the component retaining body means being secured to said container so that the dip tube extends downwardly into the liquid and said venting means in pumping position extending between and providing communication between the ambient air and the air in the container above the liquid level.

Claim 21

A manually operated liquid dispenser adapted to be attached to a container holding a liquid to be dispensed comprising a. component retaining body means, the bulk of which is located outside of said container when attached thereto, the body means including an intake body and a trigger housing, the intake body having a circumferential groove formed therein, and the lower end of the trigger housing having an annular configuration that fits snugly within said groove, b. an outwardly opening bore defined within the interior of the component retaining body means, c. a piston shiftable within the bore and bounding a variable compartment with said bore, d. inlet and outlet means disposed within the component retaining body means for delivering liquid into and out of the compartment bounded by the piston and bore, e. operating means, including a trigger normally actuated by the application of substantially horizontal force by the fingers thereto, for shifting the piston within the bore between a normal, non-pumping position and a pumping position, f. venting means extending through the body means and opening, at one end, into the bore, g. seal means for the venting means, the seal means, in normal non-pumping position, preventing communication between the venting means and the ambient air, the seal means in pumping position permitting free communication between the venting means and the ambient air.

Claim 22

A manually operated liquid dispenser adapted to be attached to a container holding a liquid to be dispensed comprising a. component retaining body means, the bulk of which is located outside of said container when attached thereto, the body means including an intake body and a trigger housing, the intake body having a circumferential groove formed therein, and the lower end of the trigger housing having an annular configuration that fits snugly within said groove, b. an outwardly opening bore defined within the interior of the component retaining body means, c. a piston shiftable within the bore and bounding a variable compartment with said bore, d. inlet and outlet means disposed within the component retaining body means for delivering liquid into and out of the compartment bounded by the piston and bore, e. operating means, including a trigger normally actuated by the application of substantially horizontal force by the fingers thereto, for shifting the piston within the bore between a normal, non-pumping position and a pumping position, f. venting means extending through the body means and opening, at one end, into the bore, g. seal means for the venting means, the seal means, in normal non-pumping position, preventing communication between the venting means and the ambient air, the seal means in pumping position permitting free communication between the venting means and the ambient air.

Claim 23

A dispenser according to claim 19 in which a flange extends circumferentially about said intake body and said body means further comprises a screw cap, the upper end of said cap resting upon said flange with the skirt of said cap depending therebelow.

Claim 24

A dispenser according to claim 19 in which the venting means comprises a first passage extending axially through the trigger housing and a second passage extending axially through said intake body, said passages being aligned with each other when the trigger housing is seated within the circumferential groove in the intake body.

Claim 25

A manually operated liquid dispenser adapted to be attached to a container holding a liquid to be dispensed comprising a. component retaining body means, the bulk of which is located outside of said container when attached thereto, the body means including an intake body and a housing, for actuating means, the intake body having a circumferential groove formed therein, and the lower end of the housing for the actuating means having an annular configuration that fits snugly within said groove, b. an outwardly opening bore defined within the interior of the component retaining body means, c. a pump means shiftable within the bore and bounding a variable compartment with said bore, d. inlet and outlet means disposed within the component retaining body means for delivering liquid into and out of the compartment bounded by the pump means and bore, e. actuating means, for shifting said pump means within the bore between a normal, non-pumping position and a pumping position, f. venting means extending through the body means and opening, at one end, into the bore, g. seal means for the venting means, the seal means, in normal non-pumping position of said pump means, preventing communication between the venting means and the ambient air, the seal means in pumping position of said pump means permitting free communication between the venting means and the ambient air.

Claim 26

A manually operated liquid dispenser adapted to be attached to a container holding a liquid to be dispensed comprising a. component retaining body means, the bulk of which is located outside of said container when attached thereto, the body means including an intake body and a housing, for actuating means, the intake body having a circumferential groove formed therein, and the lower end of the housing for the actuating means having an annular configuration that fits snugly within said groove, b. an outwardly opening bore defined within the interior of the component retaining body means, c. a pump means shiftable within the bore and bounding a variable compartment with said bore, d. inlet and outlet means disposed within the component retaining body means for delivering liquid into and out of the compartment bounded by the pump means and bore, e. actuating means, for shifting said pump means within the bore between a normal, non-pumping position and a pumping position, f. venting means extending through the body means and opening, at one end, into the bore, g. seal means for the venting means, the seal means, in normal non-pumping position of said pump means, preventing communication between the venting means and the ambient air, the seal means in pumping position of said pump means permitting free communication between the venting means and the ambient air.