US3086716A - Atomizers - Google Patents

Description

April 1963 E. DE KOLB ATOMIZERS Filed Dec. 15, 1961 FIG. 1

I /ll FIG. 3

INVENTOR 5 44% BY ATTORNEY United States 3,086,716 ATGMHZERS Eric De Kolb, New York, N.Y., assignor to Coty, lnc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 15, 1961, Ser. No. 159,545 1 Claim. (Q1. 239333) This invention relates to atomizers and more particularly to a dispenser atomizer incorporated into the cap of a perfume bottle or the like.

Conventional atomizer dispensers capable of producing a fine mist are relatively bulky and add appreciably to the over-all size of a container with which they are used. Further, they are usually complex and accordingly expensive.

This invention comprises a reliable yet simplified atomizer dispensed construction which may be built into the container cap with many attendant advantages.

The invention will be further understood from the following description and figures in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through the cap atomizer, the operating button being locked in the inoperative position;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 1 but with the operating button released;

FIGURE 3 is a view taken substantially along the line 33 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a view taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 2.

The container may be of glass, plastic, or any other desired material. It has a threaded neck 11 on which the cap atomizer dispenser is screwed.

Cap body 12 is shown to be ornamentally formed though it may assume any outer shape. It is formed with a central longitudinal bore 13 in which is disposed the dispensing and atomizing apparatus.

The inner wall 14 of bore 13 has diametrically opposite bosses 15 which serve to lock the operating button. Said inner wall 14 is also formed with an annular step 16 against which seats the pump, all as will hereinafter be explained. Also formed in cap body 12 is a shallow locating groove 17 so that the pumping apparatus may be properly oriented when first installed. Formed through groove 17 is outlet port 18. A hollow closure plug 19 having a finger tip prying extension 21 frictionally fits into port 18 to close the same when the device is not in use.

The pump 21 comprises a central tube 22 which forms a chamber and extends for substantially the full length of the pump, narrowing down at its lower end 22a. Fitted into lower end 22a is an elongated plastic tube 23 which dips into the perfume as far as the base of the bottle 19 as is conventional.

Integrally formed around tube 22 is downwardly depending outer skirt 24. Skirt 24 is formed with an outer annular ridge 25 which seats against step 16 to limit the inward disposition of the pump. Skirt 24 serves as a liner for the lower end of bore 13'.

Inner wall 26 of skirt 24 is threaded complementarily with threaded bottle neck 11 for connecting the apparatus to the bottle. integrally formed with tube 22 and skirt 24 is rectangular enlargement 27 which fits into shallow groove 17 so as to properly orient the pump apparatus when first installed. Enlargement 27 is formed with a horizontal bore or lateral outlet chamber 23 which communicates with the interior of tube 22 by means of hole 29.

Disposed within central tube 22 is vertically reciprocatory plunger 30 having upper central hollow 31. Its lower end 32 is cupped and serves as a terminal or seat for compression spring 33. Spring 33 is circumferentially enlarged along its lower end, the enlargement thereof being seated in annular seat 34 formed in the inner wall of 3,086,715 Patented Apr. 23, 1963 ice tube 22. Accordingly, spring 33 cannot descend further than its seated position.

Further formed in the lower end of tube 22 is ball seat 35 in which is normally and freely seated ball valve 36.

Disposed in horizontal bore 28 is metal discharge tube 37 which is frictionally held therein. Tube 37 has an outer wall 38 in which is formed a dispensing hole 39. In order to produce atomization of the liquid perfume, a plug 40 is fitted into tube 37. Plug 40 has an end annular enlargement 41. The surface of plug 40 is formed with longitudinal parallel narrow grooves 42 through which the perfume is forced as will hereinafter be explained. Accordingly, the perfume is broken up into a mist and is dispensed in atomized form through hole 39. It will be observed that grooves 42 extend radially into the front face of plug 40 so as to jointly terminate adjacent to hole 39.

Gasket 45 is of polyethylene or the like and is interposed between the bottle neck lip and the underside of skirt 24.

Central operating button 46 is slidably or reciprocably disposed within bore 13 of cap 12. It is formed with a central finger 47 which fits into hollow 31 of plunger 30. Formed on the lower edge of button 46 are diametrically opposite ears 48 which co-act with bosses 15 so as to either lock the button 46 in a downward, inoperative position as illustrated in FIGURE 3, or permit limited rotation thereof in the upward posiiton illustrated in FIGURE 2. Ears 43 also meet ledge 49 in the upper position of the button 46 as illustrated in FIGURE 2 so as to prevent outward displacement of the button. Fitted into button 46 is plastic liner 50 although it may be integral with the button.

The device is operated as follows:

Normally the button 46 is in its locked, downward position, the bosses 15 engaging the ears 48 as illustrated in FIGURE 3. At this time, the closure plug 19 is in port 18, covering the dispensing tube 37. When it is desired to dispense the perfume, the closure plug 19 is pryed olf. Thereafter, the button 46 is slightly pressed down manually and rotated until the ears 48 pass the bosses 15. At this time the spring 33 will push the button 46 to its upward position shown in FIGURE 2.

Next the button 46 is pumped repeatedly against the action of spring 33. At each stroke it forces the air within tube 22 through the dispensing tube 37, while ball valve 36 is forced against its seat. When the button 46 is released at each stroke, the pressure within tube 22 is lowered so that perfume rises in dip tube 23 and fills tub 22, unseating the ball 36 as it does so. This will continue until tube 22 is full of perfume, probably taking about three or four strokes to do so. When it is full, the next stroke will not only seat the ball forcefully by hydraulic pressure, but the perfume will be forced through hole 29, grooves 42 and out of hole 39 in an atomized spray. The user will continue such spraying as desired and may lock the button again by the depressing and rotating action above described.

It will be recognized from the foregoing that I have provided an atomizer apparatus within the confines of the cap 12 with the advantages of conserving space while providing most eflicient action. When the operating button 46 is in its downward or locked position it is substantially recessed within the cap body 12 as observed in FIGURES l and 3 so that not only is compactness achieved but the possibilty of actuating the pump mechanism accidentally is minimized.

There has been shown what is now considered a preferred embodiment of the invention but it is obvious that changes and omissions may be made without departing from its spirit.

What is claimed is:

A combined bottle cap and atomizer comprising a hollow cap body having screw threads for connecting the cap body to a threaded bottle neck, a pump within the hollow cap body and having a central hollow tube, and a vertically reciprocatory plunger and valve means disposed in said tube, said plunger being operative to lower the pressure within said tube when said plunger is reciprocated, a fixed lateral outlet chamber formed in said body and communicating with said hollow tube, atomizing and discharge means in said outlet chamber, and a reciprocatory operating button connected to said plunger, said button being vertically reciprocable from above said body to an inward position substantially recessed Within said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Dinneen May 25, Threm Sept. 7, Bacheller Apr. 3, Cotter Sept. 18, Cornelius July 29, Leshin May 7, Fedit June 26,

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