US2738228A - Pressure applicator - Google Patents

Description

March 13, 1956 w, M 2,738,228

PRESSURE APPLICATOR Filed May 28. 1954 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. VV/LLl/IM MA CK.

HTT'ORNE).

iUnited States Patent PRESSURE APPLICATOR William Mack, Hartford, Conn., assignor to Frank E.

Wolcott, West Hartford, Conn.

Application May 28, 1954, Serial No. 433,232

18 Claims. (Cl. 299-95) This invention relates to an improvementin a pressure applicator of the type fully described in my co-pending application Serial No. 380,213, filed September 15, 1953, and now abandoned, and is intended for applying pressure to containers, such as bottles, cans and the like, and thereby causing the material contained therein to be forced through a suitable dispensing nozzle.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved construction for such pressure applicators whereby a pressure bulb may be readily attached to a closure cap of a container and pierced as the said ca is screwed down'upon the container.

A further object is the provision of such a device in which a dispensing valve is contained within the closure cap and the pressure bulb is positioned within the container so that it is protected against being displaced while in use in said container.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved mechanism which is highly efficient in its operation, easy to operate and which may be produced by mass production methods in a highly economical manner.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more clearly understood from the following description and from the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is an enlarged plan view of a pressure applicator embodying the present invention and shows the same attached to a liquid container.

Fig. 2 is a side view of said applicator and container in central vertical section.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the applicator on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the carrier member showing the detachable connection for the pressure bulb. V

Fig. 5 is a side view of my improved pressure applicator, partly in central vertical section and showing the normal position of the parts before said applicator is attached to the container.

Fig. 6 is a sectional side view of a portion of the carrier member illustrating the construction of the pressure bulb receptacle.

Fig. 7 is a side view of the upper portion of the pressure bulb.

Fig. 8 is a front view of said upper portion of the pressure bulb.

Fig. 9 is a front view of the dispensing nozzle with the sprayer member removed therefrom.

Fig. 10 is a rear view of the sprayer disk.

As illustrated in the drawings, my improved pressure applicator preferably includes a base 5 that is in the form of a closure cap and thereby renders the said applicator adaptable to containers of various types having a standard neck portion which will properly fit the said cap. Such containers may include a body 6 with a threaded neck portion 7 that projects from the top of the container and is provided with a suitable seat 8 surrounding the mouth of the container at the end of said neck portion. As .shown, the said seat 8 is preferably provided by a rolled edge forming an annular bead along the edge of the container mouth.

The base 5 has a top portion 9 and an annular skirt 10 depending therefrom and forming an inverted recess 11. Said base or closure cap is preferably constructed of a molded plastic material and has, along the lower edge of the skirt 10, an outwardly extending flange 12.

A threaded liner 13 .is contained within said cap and has a radial flange 14 along the lower edge thereof which underlies the skirt 10 and is formed over the flange 12 so as to secure said liner to the closure cap. The upper end of the liner has a radially extending flange 15 which is provided to retain the parts of my improved applicator as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Between the bottom of the inverted recess 11 and the flange 15, there is contained within said recess a carrier member 16 that is preferably in the form of a plate or disk, and a pair of annular washers 17 and 18 that are disposed above and below the said carrier member 16; the washer 17 being located between the said carrier member and the bottom of the recess 11, while the washer 18 is located between said carrier and the sealing bead 8.

The carrier member 16 is preferably formed to provide an annular sealing rib 19 which is adapted to impress the washer 17 so as to insure a leak proof sealing contact between the said carrier member and the closure cap.

The bead 8 is also adapted to impress the washer 18 so as to provide a leak proof contact between the said bead and the carrier member.

The said carrier member 16 is normally movable vertically within the closure cap but it is prevented from rotating relatively to said cap by means of a tab 20 which projects therefrom and slidably fits within a vertical groove 21 in the inner surface of the skirt 10, which groove is preferably contained within a thickened portion of the closure cap that is provided by a boss 22, on the exterior of said cap, having a side portion 23 on the skirt 10 and a top portion 24 on the top of the cap.

The carrier member 16 is also provided with a receptacle 25 for containing a pressure bulb. The said receptacle preferably includes a recess 26 which is formed downwardly in the carrier member and has a bottom 27 with an elongated opening 28 therein having opposed downwardly extending notches 29 in the opposite sides of the said opening.

As shown in the drawings, the pressure bulb 30 .is of a conventional type which may contain such commonly known highly compressible mediums as CO2, nitrous oxide or Freon. The said pressure bulb has a'reduced neck portion 31 forming the mouth of said bulb in which there is preferably inserted a sealing cap 32 having, in the bottom thereof, a sealing diaphragm 33 which may be easily pierced by a suitable pointed member such as will be hereinafter described. The said cap has a flange which is adapted to fit through the opening 28 and is preferably elongated to provide oppositely extending projections 34-34 having downwardly extending bosses 35-35 which fit into the notches 2929.

As shown clearly in Fig. 2, a spear 36 is mounted in the bottom of the recess 11 and extends downwardly into the receptacle 25 in the carrier 16. The said spear has a point 37 thereon adapted to pierce the diaphragm 33 of the pressure bulb 30 and is of a length which, as shown in Fig. 5, will normally position the piercing point 37 above the diaphragm 33. a

In order to prevent unintentional piercing of the diaphragm 33, after a pressure bulb has been attached to the said pressure applicator and before the applicator .is attached to a container such as shown, there is provided a washer 38 which engages the top of the cap 32. and-a retaining spring 39 that is contained between the bottom of the recess 11 and the said washer 38 for resiliently foreing the pressure bulb downwardly and the bosses -35 into locking engagement with the notches 2929 to thereby securely retain the bulb in attached position and .to prevent rotation of the bulb so that it will retain its connection with the carrier member.

My improved pressure applicator also includes a dispensing valve which is preferably constructed of a cup shaped casing that is contained within a recess 41, in the-top of the boss-22, and extends downwardly through the top 9 of the closure cap and through a hole 41-a in the carrier disk and has a flange 42 which rests upon the bottom of the said recess 41 as shown. The casing maybe connected to the closure cap by inserting it during the .molding operation or it may be forced tightly into an appropriate opening in the top of the cap to provide a'leak proof seal between the casing and the closure cap.

The said casing has an axialrecess therein forming a valve chamber 43 in Which there is slidably contained a valve stem 44 having a lower portion 45 of reduced diameter, an enlarged middle portion 46 which is slidable within the recess 43 and an upper portion 47.

This upper portion is bored to provide an axial passage48 in said valve stem which has ports 49 at the lower end thereof that extend therefrom to the exterior of the portion47 of said stem.

The said valve stem is forced upwardly by means of a-spring 50 and a packing ring 51 surrounds said valve stem to seal the chamber 43. This packing ring is secured to the valve casing 40 as shown and covers the ports 49 when the valve stem is in its normal position.

A dispensing nozzle 52 is secured to the top of the valve stem portion 47 and provides a thumb engageable push button for operating the dispensing valve as will be hereinafter described.

'The said nozzle, as shown, has a discharge passage 53 which communicates with the passage 48 and the valve stem. A recess 54 is formed in the front of the nozzle 52and this recess provides a front wall 55 in which there is provided an annular groove 56 that communicates withthe discharge passage 53.

A spraying disk 57 is fitted into the recess 54 and against the wall 55 as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The said disk has a recess in its inner surface, an orifice 59 which extends through said disk from the-bottom of said recess and a series of spiral grooves 60 that communicate with the recess 58 and with the groove 56 when the disk is in the position shown in Fig. 2, for conducting fluid from the grove 56 to the orifice 59. i

.As shown, a suitable tube 61 is attached to the bottom of-the valve casing and extends .to apoint adjacent the bottom of the container so as to conduct the fluid in the container to the dispensing valve when pressure is provided in the container above the fluid level.

The container 6 is supplied with a suitable closure cover that is screwed onto the neck 7 to seal the container until the pressure applicator is attached thereto.

The operation of myimproved pressure applicator is as follows.

When it is desired to pressurize the container, a pressure bulb 30 is first inserted into the opening 28, against me force of the spring 39, and then rotated until the said pressure bulb is in the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, wherein the .bosses 3535 are forced into engagement with the notches 2929. The cap onthe container is then removed and the cap 5 of my improved applicator is attached to the container by inserting the pressure bulb and the tube 61 into the containerand screwing the base 5 down onto the neck of the container. As the cap moves down, the washer 18 will engage the head 8 of the container neck and the said washer will move upwardly with the carrier plate 16 and therebycarry the washer 17 into engagement with the bottom of the recess ll and seal the c'o ntainer. Further downward movement of the cap upon the neck of the container will tend to squeeze the washers 17 and 18 and carry the carrier plate further towards the bottom of the recess. This will cause the diaphragm 33 to be carried up onto the point 37 "of the piercing pin 36 and the said pin will then pierce the diaphragm and cause the pressure to pass out of said bulb. The said pressure will then pass through the openings 28 and the hole 41-a, enter into the container and fill the space above the contents thereof and thereby pressurize the container for the discharge of its contents.

It will be noted that the annular rib 19 on the carrier disk will imbed itself into the washer 17 and thereby p ermit further movement of the carrier plate after the said washer has been engaged by the rib. Such increased movement is highly desirable for the rea's'ontha't it permits greater movement of the point 37 relatively to the diaphragm 33 and thereby ensures sealing operation of the Washers 17 and 18 before the said diaphragm is pierced and the pressure is allowed to escape from the pressure bulb.

it will also be noted that the spring 39 will operate to force the bosses 3535 into locking engagement with the notches 29 when the parts are in their normal .position, as shown in Fig. 5, and to retain the said locking engagement and permit vertical movement of the carrier plate to the position shown in Fig. 2.

The said spring 39 is provided with diverging-leg portions 39-a which will straddle the casing 40 inthe dispensing valve and thereby retain the said spring against rotation about the piercing pin 36 as the pressure bulb is rotated to bring it into locking position.

When a container has been pressurized in the manner above described, the liquid contents of the said container may be dispensed at will by simply aimingthenozzle 52 and forcing it downwardly with the thumb. This will cause the valve stem 44 to move downwardly against the tension of the spring 50 and thereby carry the ports 49 below the packing ring 51. The liquid in the container, which is then under pressure, will beforced upwardlyin the tube 61 and into the chamber 43 where it willpass through the ports 49 and the passage 48 into the passage 53. From there, the said liquid material will enter the annular groove 56 and pass into the spiral grooves 60 whereby it will be centered into the recess 58 and then forced through the orifice 59. Forcing the liquid .material through the said spiral grooves into ,the recess 58 will cause it to whirl and become atomized and the degree of atomization may be varied by modifying the said grooves 60. If desired, other types of disksmaybe used, in place of the spraying disk 57,.so as to dispense the material in different types of jets such as a spray, an atomizer, or a solid jet.

It will be. understood fromthe above describptionthat my improved pressure applicator provides a device in which a pressure bulb may be mounted in asealed condition and then pierced as the said applicator isattached to a container and after the container has .become.sealed by said device so that no pressure from the said-bulb will escape during the attachment of the device to the container.

My improved pressure applicator provides an efficient device in which the control, or dispensing, valve'is carried by the device and thereby renders the said device a complete unit which includes the closure cap for .thecontainer, the pressure bulb and the dispensing valve as above described.

I claim:

1. A pressure applicator for a container having a neck portion and an open mouth, the said applicator including a closure cap adapted to be secured tosaid neck portion for sealing the mouth, a carrier member movable in said closure cap, sealing means between said carrier member and container neck for sealing thefsaid mouth, a receptacle in said carrier member for 'a' pre'ssure bulb, means in said receptacle for retaining the'pi'es'sure in position therein, a spring member "for "urging the pressure bulb into engagement with the said retaiuihg means, a piercing point projecting downwardly into said receptacle, the said carrier member being movable upwardly in the closure member to carry the pressure bulb into contact with the said piercing point and thereby cause discharge of the pressure therein into the container, a control valve carried by said closure cap, and means on said cap for operating the valve.

2. A pressure applicator for a container having a neck portion and an open mouth, the said applicator including a closure cap engageable with the said neck portion of the container, a carrier member movable in said closure member, a sealing washer at one side of the carrier member and between said carrier and closure members, a separate sealing washer at the opposite side of said carrier member and adapted to engage the neck of the container, a receptacle in said carrier member for a pressure bulb, a piercing pin projecting downwardly from the closure member into the said receptacle, a control valve mounted in said closure member and extending downwardly therefrom, passage means extending through the carrier member for communicating the pressure from the bulb with the interiorof the container, a spring member in said closure cap for retaining a pressure bulb in the receptacle, a dispensing valve including a casing mounted in said closure cap and projecting downwardly therefrom through an opening in the carrier member, a tube depending from said casing, a valve stem vertically movable in said valve casing, spring means normally urging said stem into valve closing position, and a dispensing nozzle secured to said stem and projecting upwardly from the closure cap in position to be thumb operated for actuating the valve stem.

3. A pressure applicator for a container having a threaded neck portion and an open mouth adjacent thereto with an annular seat surrounding said mouth, the said applicator including a closure member having an inverted recess therein with a threaded portion for fitting the threaded neck portion of the container, a carrier disk in said closure cap movable towards the bottom of the inverted recess, a sealing washer below the said carrier disk engageable with the said seat of the container, a separate sealing washer between the said carrier, disk and the bottom of the invertedrecess, a receptacle in said carrier disk to receive a pressure bulb, a piercing pin projecting downwardly from the bottom of the recess into said receptacle, a spring member anchored on said piercing pin and disposed between the said receptacle and the bottom of the recess, the said carrier member being movable upwardly in said recess as the closure cap is screwed on to the neck of the container whereby a pressure bulb in the receptacle will beamoved into engagement with the piercing pin and piercedthereby to permit pressure from said bulb to escape therefrom and enter the container, a dispensing valve mounted in said closure cap and projecting downwardly through an opening in the carrier disk member,

a tube connected to said dispensing valve and depending downwardly therefrom into the container, a valve stem vertically movable for operating said dispensing valve, a dispensing nozzle secured to said stem, and passages in said stem communicating with a dispensing passage in the nozzle, the said nozzle projecting above the closure cap and being operable with the thumb for operating the said dispensing valve.

'4. A pressure applicator as set forth in claim 3 wherein the dispensing nozzle is contained within a recess in the top of the closure member and normally projects above said closure member in position to be engaged with the thumb of a hand holding the container.

5. A pressure applicator for a container having a threaded neck portion and an open mouth adjacent thereto, the said applicator including a closure cap having an inverted recess therein, a tubular liner projecting into said recess and threaded to engage the threaded portion of the said container neck, a disk-shaped carrier member sires-gas movable vertically in said recess between the top of the tubular liner and the recess, means for preventing rotation of the carrier disk in said recess, a sealing washer contained between the top of the tubular liner and the bottom of the carrier member, a separate sealing washer contained between the bottom of the inverted recess and the top of the carrier member, a receptacle in the carrier member for receiving a pressure bulb, a piercing pin projecting downwardly from the bottom of the inverted recess into said receptacle, a spring member surrounding the said piercing pin and abutting the bottom of the inverted recess, a dispensing valve mounted in the top of said closure member and depending into the inverted recess, the said valve extending through an opening in the carrier member which is substantially larger than the valve to provide a passage surrounding said valve and communicating with the portion of the inverted recess above the carrier member, and a thumb engageable operating member connected to said valve and projecting above the topof the closure member for operating said a dispensing valve.

6. A pressure applicator for a container having a threaded neck portion and an open mouth adjacent thereto, the said applicator including a closure cap having an inverted recess therein with a surrounding skirt having an outwardly extending flange along the free edge thereof, a tubular liner contained within said recess and having an outwardly extending flange engaging the flange on the skirt for securing the said liner to the closure cap, an outwardly extending flange forming a seat at the upper end of said tubular liner spaced from the bottom of the inverted recess, a movable carrier member between said tubular liner and the bottom of the recess, a sealing washer between the said seat and the carrier member, a separate sealing washer between the carrier member and the bottom of the recess, a receptacle on said carrier member for receiving a pressure bulb, a piercing pin projecting downwardly from the bottom of the recess into said receptacle, a spring member surrounding the piercing pin, a washer on said piercing pin between the spring and the receptacle, a dispensing valve mounted in the closure member and projecting vertically through the top thereof, a nozzle communicating with said valve, 2. tube connected to the valve and extending to adjacent the bottom of the container, and a thumb operable member for operating said valve projecting above the top of the closure member.

7. A pressure applicator as set forth in claim 6, wherein the receptacle includes a cup-shaped portion depending from the carrier member and having an elongated opening through the bottom thereof and recesses in said bottom adjacent to the said opening to receive portions of a pressure tube.

8. A pressure applicator as set forth in claim 6 wherein the spring member is constructed of sheet metal and is formed to provide a C-shaped loop staked on the piercing pin and contained between the bottom of the inverted recess and the washer on said pin.

9. A pressure applicator as set forth in claim 6, including extensions on the spring member straddling the dispensing valve to prevent rotation of said spring member.

10. A pressure applicator for a container having a neck portion and an open mouth adjacent thereto, the said applicator including a closure cap having an inverted recess with a surrounding skirt, a tubular liner contained within said recess and secured to the said skirt, an annular. seat at the upper end of the tubular liner spaced from the bottom of the inverted recess, a carrier member movable between the said seat and bottom, an annular sealing washer between said seat and carrier member, a, separate annular sealing washer between said carrier member and bottom, a receptacle on said carrier member for receiving a pressure bulb, a piercing pin projecting from said bottom into the receptacle, a spring member anchored on said bottom and engageable with the pressure bulb for retairiing it" in the receptacle; a dispensing valveimounte'd in"the closure member and"extending"through' the top thereof, a 'nozzle eifimufiic'anng'wnh said valve, a tube extending from the variants the container, and a thumb operable member for operating said valve'projecting above the top'of the closure member. i V

"11. A pressure applicator as set forth in claim 10, wherein the receptacleincludesa cup-shaped portion depending from the carrier mernber and the spring member extends into said receptacle." i

12. A pressure applicator as set forth in claim 10, wherein the receptacle includes a cup-shaped portion depending from the carrier member, the piercing pin ex tends downwardly through the bottom of said receptacle, a washer slidable on said pin and contained within said receptacle, and 'a spring membersurrounds the pin and is located between the bottom of the inverted recess and the said washer. i V

i 13. A pressure applicator for a container having a threaded neck portion and an open mouth adjacent thereto, the said applicator including a closure cap having an inverted recess therein, a tubularliner projecting into said recess and threaded to engage the threaded portion of the container neck, the said liner being spaced from the wall of the inverted recess and having an outwardly extending flange at the top thereof forming a seat, an outwardly extending flange at the lower end of said liner, secured to the free edge of the surrounding wall of thesaid inverted recess, a disk-shaped carrier member having a cup-shaped portion forming receptacle, a tongue on the carrier member extending into a vertical groove in the wall o f'the inverted recess to prevent'rotation of said carrier member, the bottom of said receptacle having an elongated opening therein and notches adjacent the edge of said opening to receive projections on a pressure bulb when inserted into said receptacle, a piercing pin extending downwardly from the bottom of the inverted recess into the said opening in' the receptacle, a washer slidable on said pin above the bottom of the receptacle, a spring member surrounding thepin and contained between the bottom of the inverted recess and the said washer, a'sealing washer between the seat at the top of the tubular liner and the carrier member, a separate sealing washer between the top of the carrier member and the bottom of the inverted recess, an annular stiffening rib on said carrier member cngageable with the latter sealing washer, a. dispensing valve mounted inthe top of the closure member and extending therethrough, the said'valvehaving a. portion I depending therefrom into the inverted recess and extending through an opening in the carrier member, a tube connectcd to said depending'portionof the valve and extending to adjacent the bottom of the container, an operating stem extending vertically from the valve into a recess in the top of the closure member, and a thumb operable nozzle secured to said stem and projecting above the said recess in the top of the closure member for operating the valve. I i i 14. A pressure applicator for a container having a neck portion; the said applicator includinga closure cap for said container having a dispensing nozzle, a discharge tube depending downwardly from the closure cap and communicating with the nozzle, a manually operable valve on the cap for controlling flow from the discharge tube to the nozzle, means for drawing down the cap on'the container and securing it to the neck portion, an apertured carrier plate arranged for support by the neck portion of the container, a pressure bulb depending from the carrier plafte'and having a princturable neck portion supported in an aperture in the carrier plate, a piercing" point fixed'on the closure sti end projecting downwardly for puncturing the nec k portion'of the pressure bulb as the cap is drawn down on the container, and means for preventing relative'rotation of the cap and the carrier plate;

"l5."A'"prssure applicator as set forth in claim 14 wherein thevertical axis of the piercing point and the pressure bulb is offset from the vertical axis of the container.

16. A pressure applicator for a container having a threaded neck'portion, the said applicator including a closurecap fo'rsaid container having a dispensing nozzle, a discharge tube depending downwardly from the closure cap and communicating with the nozzle, a manually operable valve on the cap for controlling flow from the discharge tube to the nozzle, a sleeve engaging a shoulder on the'cap and threaded complementally to the threaded neck portion o'f'theontainer to draw down the cap on the container, anapertured carrier plate disposed at the neck portion of 'the'eontainer, a pressure bulb depending from the carrier plate and" having a puncturable neck portion supportedin an aperture in the carrier plate, a piercing point'fixed" on the'closure cap and projecting down wardly' for puncturing the pressure bulb as the cap is drawn down'on the container, said carrier plate having a peripheral portion engaged by the neck portion of the container for s upporting the carrier plate and depending pressure bulb during puncturing of the bulb, and means for preventing relative rotation of the cap and the carrier plate, said bulb being punctured solely as the result of vertical movement of the cap relative to the carrier plate;

17. In a dispenser for flowable materials, a disposable container for the material having a threaded neckportion, a closurec apfor the container having a dispensing nozzle, a discharge tube depending downwardly from .the closure cap and communicating with the nozzle, 'a manuallyope'rable valve on the cap for controlling flow from the discharge tube to the nozzle, means secured to the cap and threadably engaging the neck portion of the container for drawing down the closure cap on the container, an apertured carrier plate extending across the neck of the container, a pressure bulb depending from the carrier plate and having a puncturable neek supp orted in an aperture in the carrier plate, a piercingpoint fixed on the closure cap and projecting downwardly for puncturing the pressure bulb as the cap is drawn down on the container, means on the neck of the container vertically supporting the carrier plate, and means for maintaining the piercing point and pres sure bulb in registry and preventing relative rotation of the erasure "cap and carrier plate.

18 A dispenser for flowable materials including a disposable container for the material to be dispensed having a threaded neck portion, a removable dispensing head havirig'rneans to draw down the head on the threaded neck portion of the container, a dispensing nozzle in the head, a discharge tube communicating with the nozzle and depending from the head, a manually operable valve the head for controlling flow from the discharge tube to the nozzle, a piercing point fixedto the head and projecting downwardly therefrom, an apertured carrier plate between the head and the interi or of the container, a pressure bulb depending from the carrier plate into the container and having a puncturable neck portion supported in an aperture in the carrier plate in alignment with the piercing point, means on the neck portion of the container abutting the carrier plate and means for preventing relative rotation of the carrier plate and dispensing head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,905,98d Jacobs Apr. 25, 1933 2, 5 47,0 5 2 Sollmann Apr/ 3, 1951

Images