WO2001023099A1

WO2001023099A1 - A dispensing head for a sprayer

Info

Publication number: WO2001023099A1
Application number: PCT/EP2000/006915
Authority: WO
Inventors: Maurizio Bistolfi
Original assignee: Guala Dispensing S.P.A.
Priority date: 1999-09-29
Filing date: 2000-07-17
Publication date: 2001-04-05
Also published as: ITMI990593U1; ITMI990593V0; IT247551Y1; AU6435800A

Abstract

A dispensing head (16) for a sprayer (10) for fluid, which has an unusual capability for complete closure of the nozzle (36), comprises a support body (24) for coupling with a housing (14) of a pumping member fixed to a mouth of a container (12) of the fluid so as to define a dispensing chamber (32), a duct (34) in which the fluid can flow through the support body (24) from the dispensing chamber (32) to an extension (29) of the support body (24), and a nozzle (36) which puts the duct (34) into communication with a diffuser (46), the diffuser (46) being arranged at the free end of the extension (29) of the support body (24), the dispensing head (16) further comprising a closure element (52), articulated to the support body (24) and movable from a closed position to an open position, the closure element (52) having an appendage (64) which, when the closure element (52) is in the closed position, is inserted in a slot (30) in the support body (24) to close the nozzle (36).

Description

DESCRIPTION "A dispensing head for a sprayer"

The subject of the present invention is a dispensing head for a sprayer. A dispensing head of a known type consists substantially of a support body. The support body can be coupled with a housing of a pumping member disposed on the mouth of a container of the fluid to be dispensed so as to define a dispensing chamber. A duct branches off the dispensing chamber and the fluid passing through the support body can flow through the duct to reach an extension in which there is a nozzle which puts the duct into communication with a diffuser disposed at the free end of the extension. These known dispensing heads are used in order to arrange means for diverting or treating the fluid downstream of the nozzle, in particular, in order to spray the emulsified fluid as a foam.

In these known dispensing heads, one of the main disadvantages is that it is not possible to close the orifice of the nozzle.

In fact, in known dispensing heads, the diffuser and the means for diverting and treating the fluid, which are disposed in front of the nozzle, cover the orifice of the nozzle, rendering it inaccessible. In these dispensing heads, covers are used which, even in the closed position, allow fluid to leak out during handling of the sprayer or in the event of accidental pressurization of the pumping member. The problem upon which the present invention is based is that of devising a dispensing head of the type specified above which has structural and functional characteristics such as to overcome the disadvantages mentioned with reference to the prior art. This problem is solved by means of a dispensing head of the type specified above, characterized in that it further comprises a closure element articulated to the support body and movable from a closed position to an open position, the closure element having an appendage which, when the closure element is in the closed position, is inserted in a slot in the support body to close the nozzle.

For a better understanding of the invention, an embodiment thereof is described below by way of non- limiting example and is illustrated in the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a sprayer provided with a dispensing head according to the invention, in a partially-sectioned perspective view, Figure 2 shows the dispensing head of Figure 1, in perspective and in the closed position,

Figure 3 is a cross-section through the dispensing head of Figure 2,

Figure 4 shows the dispensing head of Figure 1, in perspective and in the open position,

Figure 5 is a cross-section through the head of Figure 4,

Figure 6 shows the dispensing head of Figure 1 in cross-section, during opening, Figure 7 shows a detail of the dispensing head of Figure 6, in perspective, and

Figure 8 is a cross-section through the detail of Figure 7.

With reference to the drawings, a sprayer, generally indicated 10, comprises a container 12 or reservoir for the fluid to be dispensed, on the mouth of which a housing 14 of a pumping member, for example, a trigger- type pumping member is fixed. The housing 14 is, for example, a cylindrical housing with a circular or elliptical cross-section, projecting from which are a lever 18 for operating the pumping member and an opposed support bracket 20 delimiting a grip 22 at the top (Figure 1) .

On top of the housing 14 there is a dispensing head, generally indicated 16. The dispensing head 16 has a support body 24 having engagement means 26, for example, snap-engagement means, for coupling with the upper end 28 of the housing 14. On the side of the support body 24, there is a hollow extension or projector 29 at the free end of which there is a projection 35 with opposed, parallel, lateral shoulders 37. The shoulders 37 have longitudinal grooves forming seats 39 (Figure 4) .

The extension 29 advantageously has an opening or slot 30 in its upper wall. Towards the free end 48 of the extension 29, the slot 30 is delimited by a side wall constituting an abutment surface 33.

Preferably, the support body 24 has a hollow cylindrical shape and the extension 29 extends radially therefrom. The outer surface 31 of the support body 24 is rounded at the top and is connected to the outer lateral surface of the extension 29 as well as to the outer surface of the housing 14 in the manner of a half-shell or cap closing the cylindrical housing 14. The remaining outer, upper and front surface of the extension is recessed, forming a seat 41 (Figure 1) .

The support body 24 is made of material suitable for production by pressure moulding or by a similar manufacturing technique. For example, the support body 24 is made of polymer material and, preferably, is made of polypropylene. In a different embodiment of the invention, the support body 24 is made of polycarbonate and is produced with a predefined colour or, preferably, is translucent .

The support body 24, together with the housing 14, defines a dispensing chamber 32. The dispensing chamber 32 communicates, by means of a duct 34 through which the fluid can flow, with a nozzle 36 disposed in the cavity of the radial extension 29. The nozzle 36 is housed, in particular, in a cylindrical seat 38 formed in the radial extension 29. The nozzle 36 is fixed to the extension 29 of the support body 24 by snap-connection means 40 so that the orifice 42 for dispensing the fluid is disposed in the region of the slot 30. Externally and in the region of the free rim of the orifice 42, the nozzle 36 has a circular groove constituting a seat 44, preferably a conical seat (Figures 3, 5 and 6) .

The orifice 42 puts the duct 34 into communication with a cylindrical chamber or diffuser 46 disposed at the free end 48 of the extension 29. The diffuser 46 can house means for regulating the flow of fluid or means for treating the fluid. In particular, a screen 50 is disposed on the edges of the free end of the diffuser 46, in the region of the front surface of the projection 35, in order to transform the jet of fluid into a soft and creamy foam. A closure element 52 is articulated to the top of the support body 24 and is movable from a closed position in which it shuts off the flow of fluid, to an open position in which it is arranged so as to permit a free flow of fluid. The closure element 52 is advantageously connected to the support body 24 by means of at least one resiliently deformable bridge 54 and the closure element 52 is preferably connected to the support body 24 by means of two resiliently deformable bridges 54 provided at the ends of two arms 56 extending from the closure element like prongs of a fork. Between the arms 56 of the fork there is a spring which constantly urges the closure element 52 away from an unstable intermediate position (Figure 6) between the closure element-closed position (Figures 2 and 3) and the closure element-open position (Figures 4 and 5) . Advantageously, a resilient tension strip 58 is provided between the arms 56 of the fork.

The closure element 52 is advantageously constituted by an L-shaped, plate-like element. A first portion 60 of the L is articulated to the support body 24 in the manner described above. The first portion 60 has a length equal to that of the extension 29, the closure element thus being articulated to the support body 24 at a point which is set back relative to the free end of the extension 29 and, in particular, relative to the orifice 42 of the nozzle 36. A resilient bracket-like appendage 64 extends transversely on the first portion 60 of the closure element 52. The closure element 52 is advantageously articulated to the support body 24 in a manner such that, during the closure of the closure element 52, the appendage 64 is inserted in the slot 30, moving transversely relative to the nozzle 36. In particular, the extension 64 has a flat surface 65 on the side facing the nozzle 36. In the closed position of the closure element, the flat surface 65 bears on the outer front surface of the nozzle 36 which defines the fluid-outlet orifice 42 and, during the closure movement of the closure element 52, the flat surface 65 slides on this outer surface of the nozzle in the manner of a wiper, as will be described in detail below. In the vicinity of the free end of the flat surface 65, there is a protuberance or nipple 66. The protuberance 66 is snap-engaged in the seat 44 provided at the mouth of the orifice 42 to close the orifice 42 completely. The side 68 of the appendage 64 facing away from the protuberance 66 is tapered from the base to the free end. At the base of the side 68 there is an abutment surface 70 which cooperates with the abutment surface 33 of the slot when the closure element 52 is in the closed position. A second portion 72 of the L-shaped closure element 52 covers the free end of the extension 29 of the support body 24 and, in particular, forms a curved cover for the diffuser 46. The portion 72 has longitudinal reinforcing ribs 74. Preferably, there are two ribs arranged so as to grasp the shoulders 37 of the projection 35 provided at the end of the extension 29 in the manner of locators. In the opposed faces of the ribs 74 there are longitudinal projections 76 which snap-connect with the longitudinal seats 39 of the shoulders 37. A bracket-like portion 77 projects from the end of the second portion 72 of the closure element 52. One side of the bracket-like portion 77 is extended to form an operating tab 78.

The closure element 52 is formed, in particular, so as to fit in the seat 41 provided in the extension 29 of the support body 24 in the manner of a hood-shaped panel.

The closure element 52 is advantageously articulated to the support body 24 by means of a cap 80. The cap 80 has a tubular body 82 on the top of which there is a closure disk 84 with a radially projecting annular flange 86 (Figures 7 and 8) .

The cap 80 is snap-fixed to engagement means provided in the support body 24. In particular, the support body 24 has an upper annular seat 88 defining a pin 90 for the snap-connection of the tubular body 82 of the cap 80 in the manner of a press-stud. The tubular body 82 of the cap 80 is thus housed completely in the annular seat 88 so that the outer surface of the closure disk 84 is aligned with the outer surface 31 of the support body 24. The annular flange 86 has a gap or opening 92 in which the tension strip 58 which is connected to the tubular body 82 of the cap 80, is disposed. The resiliently deformable bridges 54 constituting the articulation of the closure element 52 are fixed to the edges of the annular flange 86, beside the opening 92.

The cap 80 is made of a resilient material with good resistance to deformation. The cap 80 is advantageously made of polymer material selected from crystalline polymers and is preferably made of polypropylene. In a different embodiment, the cap 80 is made of polycarbonate and is produced with a predefined colour.

The operations to close the closure element 52 of the dispensing head 16 are described below.

The closure element 52, in the open position, is disposed vertically, that is, transversely relative to the outer surface 31 of the support body 24, with the curved portion 72 well removed from the flow of fluid. The closure element 52 is acted on by the resilient tension strip 58 so as to remain in this open position in a stable manner during the operation of the sprayer 10 in order to dispense the fluid as foam (Figures 1, 4 and 5) . Upon completion of the dispensing of the fluid, in order to prevent fluid escaping from the nozzle 36, for example, because of unintentional operation of the operating lever 18 of the pumping member, and to prevent dirt accumulating on the foam-forming screen 50, the closure element 52 is brought to the closed position.

In order to close the closure element 52 , the operating tab 78 is gripped and the closure element 52 is pivoted, bringing the appendage 64 provided with the protuberance 66 towards the slot 30 (as indicated by the arrow i of Figure 5) . In order to be able to pivot the closure element 52 about the articulation which fixes it to the cap 80, it is necessary first of all to overcome the biasing action of the tension strip 58 until the unstable intermediate position, beyond which the tension strip 58 urges the closure element 52 to the closure position, is reached (Figure 6) . When the appendage 64 has been inserted in the slot 30, the lateral flat surface 65 of the appendage 64 slides on the outer surface of the nozzle 36, deforming the appendage 64 resiliently away from the nozzle 36, and closing the closure element 52. The sliding of the appendage 64 on the nozzle 36 in the manner of a wiper removes from the rims of the orifice 42 any residue of fluid produced during dispensing. The above-mentioned resilient deformation of the appendage 64 is further accentuated when the protuberance 66 bears on the outer surface of the nozzle 36 and starts to slide thereon until it is snap-engaged in the seat 44 disposed in the end rim of the orifice 42. During the last portion of the closure travel of the closure element 52, the abutment surface 70 of the appendage 64 is engaged and coupled with force against the opposed abutment surface 33 of the slot 30. This coupling is facilitated by the presence of the wedge-shaped portion of the appendage 64 defined by the tapered side 68 opposite the protuberance 66. During these last stages of the closure of the closure element 52, the longitudinal ribs 74 of the second, curved portion 72 grasp the projection 35 at the free end of the projector extension 29 until their longitudinal projections 76 snap-engage the seats 39 provided in the shoulders 37. During the closure movement, even though the closure element 52 is gripped only on one side by means of the operating tab 78, there is no twisting by virtue, in particular, of the longitudinal ribs 74.

It is stressed, in particular, that, by virtue of the snap-closure of the protuberance 66 in the seat 44 of the nozzle 36, and of the snap-coupling of the longitudinal projections 76 in the seats 39 of the shoulders 37 of the projection 35 housing the diffuser 46, and by virtue of the coupling with interference of the abutment surfaces 33, 70 of the slot 30 and of the appendage 64, it is necessary to exert a certain amount of force in order to open the closure element 52. It is thus possible to prevent accidental opening of the closure element 52 in the event of unintentional operation of the pumping member, and to prevent accidental leakage of fluid owing to residual excess pressure in the dispensing chamber 32.

It can be appreciated from the foregoing that, with the dispensing head proposed, it is possible to achieve complete closure of the orifice, even when the nozzle is disposed inside the support body and, in particular, is disposed upstream of the diffuser housing regulating or foam-forming devices.

It is a particular advantage of the invention that the closure movement of the closure element takes place along a transverse path relative to the nozzle, so that the rims of the orifice of the nozzle can be cleaned before the snap-closure of the protuberance, preventing encrustation of fluid residues in the vicinity of the nozzle which, in time, divert the flow of fluid, thus bringing about anomalous discharge which may lead to a malfunction of the flow-regulation device or of the foam- forming device. A further advantage is that the same closure element is used both to close the nozzle and to cover the projector, preventing accumulation of dirt on the foam-forming screen. The fact that a point of connection of the closure element to the support body is set back relative to the end of the projector makes it possible to have a long lever for opening the closure element and hence to apply a low opening force whilst ensuring a predefined force for releasing the protuberance and the longitudinal projections from the seats and preventing accidental opening.

The further provision of a cap as a means for connecting the closure element to the support body enables the manufacture of the dispensing head to be simplified by the use of moulds of simpler construction, whilst permitting easy assembly which is ensured by the coupling of the cover and the support body by pressure. It is advantageously possible to construct a dispensing head having a closure element of a different colour from the support body, or a dispensing head provided with a closure element made of material which is particularly resistant to the bending and deformation force applied during closure and opening and a support body of material which can easily be injected into the mould. By virtue of the provision, in the closure element, of the longitudinal ribs which grasp the end projection of the extension in the manner of locators, it is possible always to achieve perfect closure of the closure element so that its outer surface forms a continuation of the outer surface of the support body.

Naturally, in order to satisfy contingent and specific requirements, an expert in the art may apply to the dispensing head of the embodiment described with reference to the drawings many modifications and variations all of which, however, are included in the scope of protection of the invention as defined by the following claims .

Claims

1. A dispensing head (16) for a sprayer (10) for fluid, comprising a support body (24) for coupling with a housing (14) of a pumping member fixed to a mouth of a container (12) of the fluid so as to define a dispensing chamber (32) , a duct (34) in which the fluid can flow through the support body (24) from the dispensing chamber

(32) to an extension (29). of the support body (24), and a nozzle (26) which puts the duct (34) into communication with a diffuser (46) , the diffuser (46) being arranged at the free end of the extension (29) of the support body

(24) , characterized in that it comprises a closure element (52) articulated to the support body (24) and movable from a closed position to an open position, the closure element (52) having an appendage (64) which, when the closure element (52) is in the closed position, is inserted in a slot (30) in the support body (24) , to close the nozzle (36) .

2. A dispensing head (16) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the closure element (52) comprises a curved portion (72) covering the diffuser (46) .

3. A dispensing head (16) according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that the support body (24) is cylindrical and hollow, and in that the extension (29) through which the duct (34) for the passage of the fluid extends branches out radially from the support body (24) .

4. A dispensing head (16) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the closure element (52) is constituted by an L-shaped, plate-like element, in that an end of a first portion (60) of the L is articulated to the support body (24) , and in that a second portion (72) of the L forms the curved covering portion.

5. A dispensing head (16) according to Claim 4, characterized in that the appendage (64) for closing the nozzle (36) extends transversely from the first portion (60) of the L.

6. A dispensing head (16) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the closure element (52) is articulated to the support body (24) in a manner such as to move the appendage (64) transversely relative to the nozzle (36) in the manner of a wiper.

7. A dispensing head (16) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the appendage (64) has a protuberance (66) which can snap-engage the orifice (42) of the nozzle (36) for the closure thereof.

8. A dispensing head (16) according to Claim 7, characterized in that the appendage (64) has, in a position facing away from the protuberance (66) , an abutment surface (70) which can be engaged with interference by an opposed abutment surface (33) provided in the support body (24) .

9. A dispensing head (16) according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that the closure element (52) is connected to the support body (24) by means of at least one resiliently deformable bridge (54) .

10. A dispensing head (16) according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that the closure element (52) is constantly urged away from an unstable, intermediate position by a spring during opening and during closure .

11. A dispensing head (16) according to Claim 10, characterized in that a resilient tension strip (58) acts on the closure element (52) .

12. A dispensing head (16) according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that an operating tab (78) extends from the free end of the closure element (52) .

13. A dispensing head (16) according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that the closure element (52) is articulated to a flange (86) of a cap (80) which can be fixed to the support body (24) of the dispensing head (16) .

14. A dispensing head (16) according to Claim 13, characterized in that the cap (80) is snap-fixed to engagement means provided in the support body (24) .

15. A dispensing head (16) according to Claim 14, characterized in that the cap (80) is fitted on the support body (24) in the manner of a press-stud.

16. A dispensing head (16) according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that, in the closed position, the closure element (52) is fitted in the support body (24) .

17. A dispensing head (16) according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that the closure element (52) has ribs (74) forming locators for the closed position of the closure element (52) .

18. A dispensing head (16) according to Claim 17, characterized in that the ribs (74) have projections (76) which can be snap-coupled with matching seats (39) provided in the support body (24) .

19. A dispensing head (16) according to Claim 13, characterized in that the cap (80) is made of polymer material with good resistance to deformation, selected from crystalline polymers .

20. A dispensing head (16) according to Claim 19, characterized in that the cap (80) is made of polypropylene .

21. A dispensing head (16) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the support body (24) is made of polymer material and is preferably made of polypropylene.

22. A dispensing head (16) according to Claim 13, characterized in that the cap (80) and/or the support body (24) are made of polycarbonate.

23. A dispensing head (16) according to any one of Claims 18 to 20, characterized in that the support body (24) is made of translucent material.

24. A dispensing head (16) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a foam-forming screen (50) disposed at the free end of the diffuser (46) .

25. A sprayer (10) comprising a dispensing head (16) as defined by any of the preceding Claims.