US3788526A

US3788526A - Compressed air operated dispenser with mechanical force multiplying means

Info

Publication number: US3788526A
Application number: US00331878A
Authority: US
Inventors: M Thornton; P Riccio
Original assignee: Ciba Geigy Corp
Current assignee: Novartis Corp
Priority date: 1973-02-12
Filing date: 1973-02-12
Publication date: 1974-01-29
Anticipated expiration: 1991-01-29

Abstract

A compressed air actuated dispensing device has a valve assembly having a valve body with a compressed air flow path therethrough and a valve member movable in the valve body and obturating the compressed air flow path. Aspirating means is provided at one end of the compressed air flow path and a product containing means in the device feeds product through a product flow path to the aspirating means. A piston-cylinder means is provided around the other end of the compressed air flow path, and a mechanical force multiplying means having an actuating member projecting out of the device is engaged with the piston for compressing air, the piston engaging the valve member for opening the compressed air flow path only after air in the piston-cylinder means has been compressed.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Thornton et al.

COMPRESSED AIR OPERATED DISPENSER WITH MECHANICAL FORCE MULTIPLYING MEANS Inventors: Marvin L. Thornton, Brookfield,

Conn.; Pasquale R. Riccio, Salem, NH.

Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation, Ardsley,

Filed: Feb. 12, 1973 Appl. No.: 331,878

Related US. Application Data Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 240,725, April 3, 1972, abandoned.

us. c1 222/193, 222/378, 222/401,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Jan. 29, 1974 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 623,404 5/1949 Great Britain 239/355 491,367 8/1938 Great Britain 239/355 Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Larry Martin Attorney, Agent, or Firm- E. F. Wenderoth et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A compressed air actuated dispensing device has a valve assembly having a valve body with a compressed air flow path therethrough and a valve member movable in the valve body and obturating the compressed air flow path. Aspirating means is provided at one end of the compressed air flow path and a product containing means in the device feeds product through a product flow path to the aspirating means. A pistoncylinder means is provided around the other end of the compressed air flow path, and a mechanical force multiplying means having an actuating member projecting out of the device is engaged with the piston for compressing air, the piston engaging the valve membet for opening the. compressed air flow path only 7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENIEU JAN 2 9 I974 SHEEI 2 BF 2 FIG.6

'FIG] FIG.3

llullllllll IIIIIIII FIG.4

COMPRESSED AIR OPERATED DISPENSER WITH MECHANICAL FORCE MULTIPLYING MEANS PRIOR ART There has recently been developed a type of dispenser for fluids which utilizes compressed air for dispensing fluids in the form of a spray. This dispenser gradually builds up the pressure of air, and when a predetermined pressure has been reached, the compressed air is released suddenly for aspirating the fluid product as a spray.

There are many advantages to such a dispenser,

among which are the fact that a conventional aerosol type propellant, such'as Freon, is unnecessary, whereby possible harm to users of the dispenser due to inhalation of the Freon propellant after it has been usedto dispense the fluid is avoided. A further advantage is that such dispensers have a shelf-life limitedonly by the shelf-life of the fluid product to be dispensed, since the air used to. dispense the product is compressed by the user of the dispenser for each dispensing action. Such dispensers are disclosed in copending applications Ser. No. 44,694, now U. S. Pat. No. 3,672,345, and Ser. No. 90,897, Nov. 11, 1970; 139,027, Apr. 30, 1971, and others.

In all of the various forms of the device as disclosed in the previously filed applications, the piston means for compressing the air moves axially of the elongated body of the device, or alternatively the elongated body moves axially of the piston means; and the pressure is directly exerted on the piston means and the elongated body. While this is satisfactory for many users, it would be desirable forsome applications to have a large pressure exerted to actuate the device. With the present devices this would be difficult because pressure is applied directly by the fingers to the piston. Moreover, it can also occur that the particular product to be dispensed by the device requires the device to be held in such a position that it is awkward for the user to exert pressure on the parts of the device. For example, when the dispensin g nozzle for dispensing the spray opens out of the end of the device, that end cannot have a finger or thumb placed thereover to exert axial pressure on the device.

Technical progress in the art would be achieved if a form of the device of the type described above could be developed in which the force exerted by the fingers to compress the air could be multiplied and yet'could be exerted in a direction which is more natural for the fingers of the user.

OBJECTS AND BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of the invention is to provide an improved fluid product dispenser of the type described above which has a finger actuated force multiplying means operatively associated with the piston means for making actuation of the piston means easier.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved fluid product dispenser of the type described above which has the finger actuated means movable in a direction transverse to the axis of the elongated body of the device.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved fluid product dispenser of the type described above in which the finger actuated means can be actuated by either a single finger or a plurality of fingers of the user.

These objects are achieved by the provision of a fluid product dispenser comprising a valve assembly having an elongated valve body which has a compressed air flow path therethrough, a valve member movable in the value body and obturating the compressed air flow path, aspirating' means at one end of the compressed air flow path, the other end of the compressed air flow path opening out of the valve body remote from said aspirating means, a product containing means in the device and a product flow path through the device from the product containing means to the aspirating means. A cylinder is attached to the end of the valve body over the said other end of the compressed air flow path, and a finger actuated actuating bar is movable into the cylinder to operate force multiplying means which actuates the piston. Preferably the finger actuated portion thereof is movable in a direction transverse to the axis of the valve body. Resilient means is provided within the cylinder for returning the piston and force multiplying means to theirinitial positions. The piston engages the valve means after it has moved into the cylinder sufficientlyfar to build up the pressure of the air within the cylinder in order to open the valve means to allow the compressed air to flow along the compressed air flow path.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device according to the invention with the parts in the rest or non-dispensing positions;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional 'view taken on line 3-3 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation view of a part of the device;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the parts in the dispensing positions;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the device; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The device as shown in the figures comprises an elongated body I, and projecting out of the rear portion thereof is an acuating bar 4 which is movable into and out of the elongated body 1 in a manner to be described hereinafter.

Within the body 1 is one arrangement of a valve means, aspirating means, product supply means and piston means which can be actuated by the actuating bar. The arrangement comprises a valve body 5, shown in detail in FIG. 4, having a longitudinally extending passage 6 therein which opens out of the bottom of the valve body in an enlarged recess 7. The other end of the valve body 5 has a further recess 8 therein. Aspirating means in the form of a Venturi nozzle insert 9 has a smaller diameter portion 9a positioned in the recess 8 and extending forwardly of the end of valve body 5. A web 19 integrally formed on the inside of body portion 1 has a central aperture therein into which the larger portion 9b of the Venturi nozzle is tightly fitted. The space around the extending portion of the smaller diameter portion 9a defined between the web 19 and the extending portion constitutes a product supply cham# ber 10 around the nozzle insert. The passage 6 forms a compressed air path through the body 1 from the recess 7 to the recess 8.

The bottom of the valve body 5 fits into a recess in an apertured front wall 22 against an apertured valve seat member 11 in the bottom of the recess, and within the recess 7 over the valve seat member is a poppet valve member 12 which is urged toward the valve seat member 11 by a return spring 14 positioned in the recess 7.

The front end of the valve body 5 has a plate 16 therein having fluid product flow apertures 17 therein the portions of the disc between the apertures 17 forming spokes which support the rim of plate 16. The rim fits tightly against the inside of the wall of body portion 1. The wall of body portion 1 and the valve body 5 define between them a product containing space 18 from which fluid product flows through apertures 17 to the product supply chamber 10. The fluid product flow apertures 17 are obturated by a flat annular gasket 10a which has the outer periphery held tightly between plate 16 and web 19 and in its normal condition fits tightly against the front face of plate 16 and seals apertures 17. The inner edge of the gasket 10 is is free to flex forwardly into the product supply chamber.

The space 24 within the body 1 beyond the front wall constitutes a cylinder, and within the space 24 is a piston 25 which is slidablealong the cylinder. A poppet valve actuating pin is provided on piston which, when the piston is in the full compression position, as in FIG. 5, is long enough to lift the poppet valve 12 from seat 11. The piston 25 has an O-ring seal 26 therearound to prevent leakage of air past the piston when the piston is moving in the compression direction. A piston return spring 27 is positioned between the piston and the front wall 22, and serves the double function of retaining the front wall 22 in position and returning the piston 25 to its initial position after a compression movement.

Air return means is provided in the piston 25. The piston has passages 28 therethrough which are covered on the side toward the valve member 12 by a flap valve in the form of a flexible disc 29 which is fitted around the poppet valve actuating pin 15 and held in a groove around the base of the pin 15. When the piston moves in the compression direction, to the left in FIGS. 1 and 3, the disc 29 is pressed tightly over the passages 28, so that air being compressed does not escape. When the piston 25 moves toward the initial position, to the right in FIGS. 1 and 3, air flows through the passages 28 and lifts the disc so that the air can flow into the cylinder 24 to relieve the vacuum therein.

It will be understood that the above described arrangement is in most ways very similar to the valve means, aspirating means, product supply means and piston-cylinder means disclosed in the applications mentioned. Other arrangements as disclosed in those applications could be substituted for the arrangement described within the scope of the invention.

Force multiplying means is provided for actuating the piston 25 in the compression direction. The elongated body 1 on the side of the piston 25 opposite the valve means has an aperture 30 therein opening out of body 1 transverse to the direction of elongation thereof and in which is mounted the bar 4. The actuating bar has a laterally extending flange 31 around the inner edge thereof extending laterally of the actuating bar and the main part of the bar is freely movable through the aperture 30, while the flange 31 engages under the edge of the aperture 30 to keep the bar from falling out of the body 1. A lever retaining member 32 depends from the actuating bar 4 and has an aperture 32a therethrough. An actuating lever 36 is pivotally mounted on one end of a link 37, the other end of the link 37 being pivotally mounted on a mounting member 33, the lever mounting member being mounted member being mounted on a support 34 in the interior of the body 1 on the opposite side of the piston from the valve means. The link 37 is inclined forwardly toward the piston 25 in the normal or non-dispersing position. One arm 36a of the lever 36 extends through the aperture 32a in the lever retaining member, while the other arm 36b is engaged in a groove 39 in the back of the piston 25. In the embodiment shown, the arm 36b of the lever 36 is bent downwardly and then forwardly toward the piston 25. However, other configurations are possible. The shape of the lever, the relative lengths of the arms, the length of the link 37, the position of the pivot point must be such that when the actuating bar 4 reaches its innermost position, the valve actuating pin 15 on the piston 25 will engage and open the valve 12. Further, in order to obtain sufiicient mechanical advantage to make the piston easy to move, the arm 36a should be significantly longer than the effective length of the arm 26b.

The end of the body 1 is closed by a cap 3 which is force fitted or welded into place. This is provided in order to make it possible to insert the assembly comprised of the support 34, the mounting member 33, the link 37 the lever 36 and the actuating bar 4 through the end of the body 1.

In operation, the parts of the device are normally as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. When pressure is exerted on the actuating bar 4, it is forced into the space within the elongated body 1, pivoting lever 36 about the pivotal connection to link 37 and swinging link 37 forward and downward due to the initial forward inclination of the link 37, thus causing lever portion 36b to move piston 25 against the resistance of the spring 27. The engagement of lever arm 36b in groove 39 causes the piston to move without rotating within body 1. When the actuating bar reaches a position in which the piston has been driven sufficiently far so that the air within the space 24 is compressed sufficiently to aspirate the desired amount of product, the actuating pin 15, on the piston 25 engages and opens the poppet valve, as shown in FIG. 3. The compressed air then flows through the passage 6 and through the nozzle insert 9.

As it flows through the Venturi in the nozzle insert, it

aspirates product from the product containing space 18 by reducing the pressure in product supply chamber 10 and causing the product in product containing space 18, which is at atmospheric pressure to flex the inner edge of gasket 10a into chamber 10. Product is then drawn into the venturi nozzle. It is preferred to tilt the device so that the rear portion is elevated. This insures that product will always press against and escape past gaskets a.

When aspiration is complete, the pressure on the actuating bar is released, and the spring 27 urges the piston 25 away from the poppet valve and pivots lever 36 and link 37 in the opposite direction, thus moving the actuating bar out of the space within the elongated body 1.

'When the actuating bar 4 is being pressed inwardly, the air return means preventsair within the space 24 from escaping. However, when the pressure on the actuating bar is released, the air return means allows air to enter the space 24 to relieve the vacuum.

The gasket 10a closes sufficiently slowly to allow air to bleed back into product containing sapce 18. Alternatively separate vacuum relieving means can be provided.

It will be seen that the position of the actuating bar is such that it is easy for the user of the device to simply I wrap his hand around the elongated body 1 and bring the fingers to bear on the actuating bar. Simply squeezing the device will depress the actuating bar. It is easy and convenient for theuser to place the mouthpiece extension in his mouth with the hand wrapped around the device. This eliminates the awkward manipulation which would be necessary if pressure had to be exerted by the thumb against the end of the device while one end of it is in the mouth. The lever and link acts to multiply the force exerted on the actuating bar to make operation of the actuating bar easy.

It should be understood that while a specific form 0 the valve body 5, nozzle insert 9, product supply space 18, etc. have been described, this form can be altered to any of the forms shown in the copending applications described hereinbefore, or to any other convenient form, without departing from the scope of the invention. The actuating bar arrangement can be used with any of the other arrangements of valve body, nozzle insert, etc.. Moreover, while a specific piston and air return means has been shown and described, other equivalent means can be substituted. For example, actuating pin 15 can be provided-on the piston instead of the poppet valve.

What is claimed is:

l. A dispensing device comprising: a valve assembly having a valve body, said valve body having a compressed air flow path therethrough; a valve member movable in said valve body and obturating said compressed air flow path; aspirating means at one end of the said compressed air flow path, the other end of the compressed air path opening out of the valve body remote from said aspirating means; a product containing means in said device and said device having a product flow path therethrough from said product containing means to said aspirating means; a hollow elongated body having one end around the other end of the compressed air flow path, a piston means movable within said elongated body toward said valve body and being engageable with said valve member for moving said valve member to open said valve member; spring means in said elongated body urging said piston away from said valve body; and force multiplying means in said elongated body on the opposite side of said piston from said valve body and having an actuating member projecting out of said elongated body, said force multiplying means being engaged with said piston for moving said piston toward said valve body when said actuating member is actuated, whereby said piston engages said valve member for opening said compressed air flow path only after air between said piston and said valve body has been compressed.

2. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 whereby said force multiplying means comprises a lever pivotally mounted within said elongated body and having one end engaged with said piston and the other end coupled to said actuating member.

3. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said force multiplying means further comprises a link pivotally mounted on the bottom of hollow elongated body and normally inclined toward said piston, said lever being pivotally mounted on the free end of said link. I

4. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said actuating member comprises an actuating bar, and said elongated body has an opening opening out of the body in a direction transverse to the elongation thereof,

said actuating bar projecting out of said opening and being coupled to the other end of said lever.

5. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 2 in which the face of said piston toward said lever has a groove therein, said one end of said lever being engaged in said groove for causing said piston to slide without rotating within said body.

6. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 2 in which said actuating member has a lever retaining member depending therefrom into said body, said lever retaining member having an aperture therein through which said other end of said lever is engaged with said actuating member.

7. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said actuating member comprises an actuating bar, and said elongated body has an opening opening out of the body in a direction transverse to the elongation thereof,

said actuating bar projecting out of said opening andv ing means.

Claims

1. A dispensing device comprising: a valve assembly having a valve body, said valve body having a compressed air flow path therethrough; a valve member movable in said valve body and obturating said compressed air flow path; aspirating means at one end of the said compressed air flow path, the other end of the compressed air path opening out of the valve body remote from said aspirating means; a product containing means in said device and said device having a product flow path therethrough from said product containing means to said aspirating means; a hollow elongated body having one end around the other end of the compressed air flow path, a piston means movable within said elongated body toward said valve body and being engageable with said valve member for moving said valve member to open said valve member; spring means in said elongated body urging said piston away from said valve body; and force multiplying means in said elongated body on the opposite side of said piston from said valve body and having an actuating member projecting out of said elongated body, said force multiplying means being engaged with said piston for moving said piston toward said valve body when said actuating member is actuated, whereby said piston engages said valve member for opening said compressed air flow path only after air between said piston and said valve body has been compressed.

3. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said force multiplying means further comprises a link pivotally mounted on the bottom of hollow elongated body and normally inclined toward said piston, said lever being pivotally mounted on the free end of said link.

4. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said actuating member comprises an actuating bar, and said elongated body has an opening opening out of the body in a direction transverse to the elongation thereof, said actuating bar projecting out of said opening and being coupled to the other end of said lever.

7. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said actuating member comprises an actuating bar, and said elongated body has an opening opening out of the body in a direCtion transverse to the elongation thereof, said actuating bar projecting out of said opening and being coupled to the remainder of said force multiplying means.