US2714529A - Spray type dispenser - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 2, 1955 A. P. KEBEL SPRAY TYPE DISPENSER Filed Feb. 12, 1952 8 7 Q 2 8 9 2 I 2 .l U h LI 5 3 II m. I u 2 c I IIII I. 3 ll H 2 O my H 4 INVENTOR. HR THUR fi? K555; W

HT RNEY 2,714,529 Patented Aug. 2, 1955 SPRAY TYPE DISPENSER Arthur P. Kebel, Kalamazoo, Mich., assignor to Miller Protecto Products, a corporation of Mifigan Application February 12, 1952, Serial No. 271,222 6 Claims. (Cl. 299-88) This invention relates to a spray-type dispenser and particularly to a type thereof having a flexible bulb formed integrally with a skirt encircling the remainder of the apparatus and holding same in operating position on a bottle.

In the past, there have been ofiered a wide variety of atomizer, or spray-type, dispensing devices for use with bottles of various types but all of them, insofar as I am aware, have required the use of metal parts and have involved complex and sometimes unsightly constructions at the upper end of a bottle. Further, the fabrication of the considerable number of small metal parts which have previously been required for the manufacture of atomizing devices has entailed considerable expense, such expense often being greater than the combined expense of the bottle and its contents.

These parts have often required for assembly special operations, as spinning, which required special tools and other equipment. This is a further source of expense from both the standpoint of equipment and labor and hence it is desirable to provide a dispenser comprised of relatively few parts which can be quickly assembled by manual operations only, and which when so assembled will be effective and reliable in operation and not likely to require adjustment or maintenance.

Further, some types of dispensers have been capable of use only with bottles of special design or shape. Since this obviously involves expense which in small quantities may become prohibitive, it is further desirable to provide a spray dispenser which can be applied to any standard bottle having an upstanding, or otherwise extending, neck merely by use of a simple, and wholly concealed, adapter.

Therefore, a principal object of the invention has been to provide a spray-type dispenser for use with a bottle, which dispenser comprises relatively few and simple parts.

A further object of the invention has been to provide a spray-type dispenser, as aforesaid, whose parts can all be economically molded from organic plastic material.

A further object of the invention has been to provide'a spray-type dispenser, as aforesaid, in which the parts may be readily assembled in operating position without the necessity of using special tools or fixtures.

A further object of the invention has been to provide a spray-type dispenser, as aforesaid, which can be completely enclosed by a single part which part may extend from a point adjacent the upper end of the bottle where the internal working parts are contained both upwardly to form a compressible bulb and downwardly to form a skirt which can be so contoured as .to blend smoothly into the lines of the bottle.

A further object of the invention has been to provide a spray-type dispenser, as aforesaid, which can be applied to any standard bottle having an upstanding, or otherwise extending, neck merely by use of a simple, and wholly concealed, adapter.

Other objects and purposes of the invention will be apparent to persons acquainted with this type of apparatus upon a reading of the following disclosure and inspection of the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a view in central vertical section of a bottle with my improved dispenser afiixed thereon.

Figure 2 shows a section taken on the line llll of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a bottom View of one of the parts of my dispenser.

Figure 4 shows a view of a closure plug.

General description In general, my improved dispensing head comprises a cup-shaped member 1 supporting and embracing a disk 2. Said disk 2 has a recess on its underside defining in diametric cross-section a pair of oppositely extending involute curves. A central opening extends through the bottom of said cup-shaped member 1 for communication with the bottle and a valve 3 is located between the bottom of said cup-shaped member and said disk 2. A dispensing opening 4 extends through the side of the cup shaped member. An external member 5 holds the entire structure together, provides a compressible bulb on the upper side thereof, holds it to the top of the bottle and provides, if desired, a complete enclosure extending to the shoulder of the bottle for providing an attractive appearance.

Detailed description Referring now to the drawings in more detail, said cup-shaped member 1 has a bottom 11 peripherally surrounded by a side flange i2. Said bottom 11 has a central opening 13 therethrough and is peripherally provided with a downwardly extending neck 14 to which is attached the tube 16 for communication with the li uid in the bottle. A plurality, such as three, shallow scalloped portions 15, 17a and 1711 (Figure 2), are positioned in the internal surface of the side flange 12 for purposes appearing hereinafter. The dispensing opening 4 extends radially through the side flange l2 and extends from the deepest portion of the scalloped portion 15.

A disk 2 is generally circular and of such size as to fit snugly within the side flange 12 of the cup-shaped member 1. Its thickness is equal to the height of said flange member so that when said disk 2 is resting on the bottom of the cup, its upper surface is flush with the upper surface of the flange. The underside of disk 2 is so contoured that its surface 18 is defined in any diarnetric cross-section by a pair of curves, as involute curves, as shown in Figure 1, such that there is a small spreader point 19 depending from the center of the said disk member 2 and a peripheral rim 21 also depending from said disk member a distance greater than said spreader point. Both the upper and lower peripheral corners of the said disk 2 are beveled as indicated at 22 and 23. Radial channels 20 are on the underside of the cup-shaped member 1, to provide for return of liquid material to the bottle. The length of the passageway 4 is controlled by the size of the flat portion 25 (Figure 2).

A plurality, as three channels 359, are cut radially through the underside of the rim 21 (Figure 3) to provide for the passage of air and liquid from the underside of said disk member to the passageway provided by the bevel 22.

Both said disk and said cup-shaped member are made of any convenient plastic material, such as phenolformaldehyde, and it will be appreciated that the parts thereof are all sufliciently simple that the accurate and economical molding of these parts is entirely feasible.

The valve member 3, comprising a thin, disk-shaped member, is positioned centrally of the cup-shaped member 1 and is of diameter less than the diameter of the downwardly extending peripheral rim 21. Hence, it will not interfere with the contacting by said rim of the bottom portion 11 of the cup-shaped member, but said rim will insure that the valve 3 will at all times remain over the central opening 13.

The external enclosure comprises a bulb portion 26, a retaining portion 27 and a skirt portion 28. Said retaining portion surrounds the flange 12 of said cup-shaped member 1 and has an internal notch 29 therein embracing the rim 31 formed on the outer periphery of the flange 12 and adjacent the upper edge thereof. low said cup-shaped member 1 the retaining part of said external enclosure 5 has another annular recess 32 embracing the rim of the adapter 49, said adapter being internally threaded to engage the external threading of the bottle neck. Alternatively, said rim 35 may, if desired, be formed directly on the neck of a bottle. Immediately above the retaining portion 27 of said external enclosure 5 there is an annular shoulder 33 extending across the upper edge of the flange 12 and sufiiciently over the edge of the disk 2 that said disk is held firmly in position against the bottom 11 of the cup-shaped member. The upper side of said disk is provided with grooves 34 to permit the passage of air from within the interior 36 of said bulb 26 to the passageway provided by the bevel 23 and thence to the passageways provided by the scalloped portions 15, 2.

17a and 17b.

Extending upwardly from the radially inner edges of said shoulder 33 is the bulb 26. In this particular embodiment it has been found preferable to thicken the bulb at and near its central portion in order to provide a more rapid return thereof into its normal position and to maintain said bulb in a smoothly curved condition.

The skirt portion 28 of said external enclosure 5 extends downwardly from the region adjacent the rim of the bottle to, the shoulder. 38 of the bottle and is suitably contoured and tapered to a flange 41 lying closely against said shoulder of the bottle. Thus, the external enclosure 5 encloses the entire structure of both the upper end of the bottle and the internal operating parts of the dispensing head and thereby and attractive appearance ing 42 is provided 7 closure 5 in register with the atomizing opening 4 to permit the passage therethrough of the atomized liquid.

It will be apparent in view of the foregoing that the ex ternal enclosure 5 is made from a resilient material, such as rubber or one of the vinyl plastic materials, in order that it may be stretched over the rim 31 of the cup member,1. The valve 3 is made from a flexible plastic, as polyethylene.

If desired a plug 45 (Figure 4) may be provided for insertion into the opening 42 for closing same when the device is not in use and, particularly, for improving the appearance prior to the initial sale of the package.

In assembling the spray dispenser, the adapter and a threaded bottle, it will be understood that the adapter may be arranged first on either the bottle or thedispenser. dispenser unit may be preassembled and merely screwed onto the bottle in the same manner as an ordinary screw cap. Further, it may be removed by merely unscrewing, the bottle refilled, and the dispenser replaced.

Operation Immediately be- I" provides an exceedingly neat for the entire unit. An open-. through the side of the external en-.

If assembled first with the'dispenser, the entire 34 and the passageways 15, 17a and 17b into the space under the disk 2. Inasmuch as said airstreatns approach said disk from a plurality of directions, an extremely violent agitation will take place therein by which the liquid is thoroughly broken up and entrained in the air. Simultaneously, air will flow out the opening 4 and thus the passageway 15 will become a point of lower pressure than the passageways 17a and 1717. This will permit a flow of air and entrained liquid into the passageway 15 Where it will encounter further air from within the bulb chamber 36 and be further agitated and mixed prior to its flowing out through the atomizing passageway 4. The release of pressure occurring at the radially external port of the passageway 4 will permit expansion of the air and elfect a further and final atomization of the liquid. T hus, a fine I and uniform spray will be formed and will pass through.

the opening 42 to the atmosphere.

It will thus be observed that three separate regions are provided for the breaking up of the liquid and hence it will be appreciated that an extremely fine spray will be provided. 7

After the atomizer has been used, a small quantity of liquid will be retained above the valve 3 so that upon again commencing use thereof a spray will be obtained upon the first depression of the bulb member 26; How ever, it will be recognized that if the liquid is highly volatile, this condition will not remain indefinitely so that if the dispenser remains unused for a matter of several hours it will again be necessary to depress the'bulb 26 once or twice prior to the obtaining of a spray in order to raise liquid from the container into the atomizer head. Any liquid which gathers outside of the atomizing passageway 4 will return by gravity through the channels 20 to the bottle.

- without departure from the principles of the invention above the valve 3, air will be expelled through the opening 7 4. Upon the return of the bulb 26 to its upward position, liquid will be drawn through the central opening 13 past the valve 3 and into the chamber underneath the disk 2. Some of said liquid will also enter into the scallopedportion or'passageway 15 which will function, at least in part, as a mixing chamber Upon again depressing the bulb portion 26, air will be driven through the grooves It will thus be recognized thatI have provided a device which can be readily molded of plastic material and comprises only a few parts. The parts may be quickly and readily assembled by hand into a complete atomizer and. no special operations or tools are required therefor. 7

Each of the parts are sufiiciently simple that they can be molded to a high degree of accuracy by ordinary molding techniques and thus the finished product is well adapted to mass production and the products thereof will all operate eifectively within a high degree of accuracy.

The external enclosure ,5, and particularly the retainer portions 27 and skirt portion 28 thereof may be externally contoured in a variety of ways as desired to secure any selected decorative efiects for the upper 'end of the package;-

The specific sizes of the several passageways and openings, and other proportions, may be selected as required according to known practice to adapt the dispenser liquids of different viscosities.

While a particular embodiment has been here chosen 7: for illustrative purposes, -it-will be understood that many of its details are illustrative only and can be varied freely within the scope of the hereinafter appended claims and excepting as said claims are by their own terms expressly limited otherwise.

I claim:

1. An atomizer head for use with a bottle having an upstanding neck, the combination comprising: a generally cup-shaped member having a central opening through the bottom thereof for communication with the interior, of the bottle; a disk member within said cup-shaped member and having a concavity in its lower surface defining a liquid chamber between said disk member and the bottom of said cup member; an atomizing opening through the side of said cup member; a plurality of grooves in the upper surface and sidewall of said disk defining a passageway from a point abovesaid disk member to a pointadjacent' said atomizing opening, and a groove in the lower surface of said disk defining a passageway from said able valve in said liquid chamber normally closing said cup central opening; and an encircling wall of resilient organic plastic material having a retaining portion engaging the external periphery of said cup-shaped member and engaging also the upper end of said bottle and having an opening therethrough in register with said atomizing opening and a bulb member formed on and integral with the upper end of said retaining portion for enclosing an air space above said disk.

2. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said retaining portion has an internal groove therein and said cupshaped member has an external ridge extending from a point near its upper edge into said internal groove and said retaining portion has an internal groove positioned immediately below said cup-shaped member for en gagement with a radially projecting external rim on said bottle.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including also a depending skirt extending downwardly from said retaining portion for engaging the upper surface of said bottle.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said retaining portion has an internal groove therein and said cup shaped member has an external ridge extending from a point near its upper edge into said internal groove, said retaining portion has an internal groove positioned immediately below said cup-shaped member, and an internally threaded annular adapter having a radially extending rim at its upper end, said rim snugly received in said last-named groove.

5. In an atomizer head adapted for fabrication from organic plastic materials and for use with a bottle having an upstanding neck thereon, the combination comprising: a cup shaped member having a sidewall and a bottom wall with a central opening therethrough for communication with the interior of said bottle; a valve member normally closing said opening; a disk member received within said cup shaped member and having a central, concave chamber formed on the underside thereof, the rim of which rests on the bottom of said cupshaped member and surrounds said valve; radial passageways formed radially through said rim; means defining air and liquid passageways axially of said cup member on the inner surface of the sidewall thereof and an atomizing passageway positioned radially through said sidewall and in communication with one of said axial passageways; a retaining member engaging the rim of said cup member at a point above said atomizing passageway and having a shoulder extending radially inwardly of said cup member to engage the upper surface of said disk member, radial passageways for providing communication from the inner edge of said shoulder to the edge of said disk member, both the upper and lower edges of said disk member being beveled for providing circumferential passageways connecting both said groups of radial passageways and said axial passageways; a portion of said retaining member extending downwardly sufficiently to engage the neck of said bottle and said retaining member extending also upwardly to form a compressible bulb above said disk member.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein the chamber between the disk and the bottom of said cup is defined in any diametric cross-section by an involute curve providing a depending spreader point centrally of said disk and a depending rim adjacent the periphery of said disk for contacting the bottom of said cup, said rim depending from said disk further than said spreader point.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,422,778 Petcher July 11, 1922 2,465,274 Rudd Mar. 22, 1949 2,492,405 Strokalitis Dec. 27, 1949

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