Cap and neck unit for fluid dispenser

Claim 1

A cap and neck unit for a fluid dispenser, said unit comprising: a vertical neck adapted for use with a fluid container, said neck having interconnected upper and lower sections, the lower section defining a first hollow vertical cylinder having a first diameter, said first cylinder having a closed top end with a central circular opening having a second and smaller diameter, said upper section defining a second hollow vertical cylinder having said second diameter and open at its upper and lower ends, the lower end being coincident with said central opening, the outer surface of said first cylinder having a single continuous endless groove which has upper and lower horizontal regions interconnected by inclined regions; a cap having a top and a vertical interior chamber extending downwardly from the top and terminating in a hollow cylindrical region open at bottom, said region having a third cylindrical diameter larger than said first diameter and disposed concentrically about said neck, said region having an inwardly extending horizontal prong engaging said groove, said cap being rotatable about said neck between a first position at which said prong engages said lower horizontal region and the vertical separation between said top and said upper end of the upper section is a minimum and a second position at which said prong engages said upper horizontal region and said separation is a maximum; an elongated hollow discharge conduit open at both first and second ends and secured to said top, the second end of the conduit being disposed outside the chamber and constituting a discharge orifice, said first conduit end being horizontally spaced from and disposed above the upper end of the upper section; and sealing means secured to said top and disposed within said chamber, said sealing means including a third vertical hollow cylinder secured at its upper end to said top and open at its lower end, said third cylinder having a fourth diameter larger than said second diameter and smaller than said first diameter, said third cylinder being disposed concentrically about said second cylinder, and further including a sealing member secured to said top and disposed within the third cylinder, said first conduit end being connected to the third cylinder and communicating with the interior thereof, said means closing the upper end of the upper section and closing said first conduit end with said member being in sealing engagement with the upper end of the upper section when said cap is in the first position, said means leaving the upper end of the upper section open with said member being spaced above the upper end of the upper section to establish communication between said first conduit end and the upper end of the upper section when said cap is in the second position.