Pump dispenser

Claim 1

A dispenser for communicating both a liquid from a reservoir of a receptacle and a pressurized fluid carrier from an air pump chamber to a flow path and passing a liquid in an atomized state from an exit orifice comprising: (a) a housing adapted for receipt on said receptacle; (b) a liquid pumping mechanism, said liquid pumping mechanism carried by said housing and including (1) a liquid pump chamber adapted for communication with said reservoir, (2) a piston movable in said liquid pump chamber and including a hollow stem defining a portion of said flow path, (3) a valve seat in said stem, (4) a valve in said liquid pump chamber adapted for movement relative to said valve seat to control communication of liquid from said liquid pump chamber to said flow path, (5) a spring urging said piston and valve in one direction whereby said valve moves into said valve seat, and (6) an actuator mounted on said stem for moving said piston in the other direction to pressurize said liquid pump chamber, which pressure acts on said valve to overcome the force of said spring whereby said valve moves in said other direction relative to said piston and out of said valve seat; (c) an air pumping mechanism including said air pump chamber, said air pump chamber defined by a wall of said housing continuous around said stem and a skirt of said actuator juxtaposed to said wall, one of said wall and skirt having sealing means cooperating therebetween so that said air pump chamber which normally is open to atmosphere is sealed when said actuator is moved relative to said wall in said other direction and the air therein is compressed; and, (d) a plurality of openings formed in said stem, said openings disposed equiangularly around said stem and arranged thereby to direct air under pressure and along multiple paths into said flow path to enhance mechanical break-up and atomization of liquid flowing therein.