Pump-action nozzle devices

Abstract

A pump-action nozzle is described. The nozzle includes an internal chamber and an outlet through which fluid is dispensed and ejected from the device. The outlet has an outlet valve configured to open and permit fluid to be dispensed from the chamber only when the pressure therein exceeds a predetermined minimum threshold pressure. The nozzle also includes an inlet through which fluid can be drawn into the chamber. The inlet has a valve configured to open and permit fluid to be drawn into the chamber only when the pressure within the chamber falls below the external pressure. The body of the device includes a base portion and a housing portion, together defining the internal chamber of the device and being slidably mounted to one another such that said housing portion can be slid towards the base portion to reduce the internal volume of the chamber.

1 . A pump-action nozzle device adapted to be fitted to a container and to enable fluid stored in the interior of the container to be dispensed during use, the device having a body comprising: 
 an internal chamber;    an outlet through which fluid dispensed from the internal chamber is ejected from the device, the outlet further comprising an outlet valve configured to open and permit fluid to be dispensed from the chamber only when pressure therein exceeds a predetermined minimum threshold pressure;    an inlet through which fluid can be drawn into the chamber, the inlet further comprising a valve configured to open and permit fluid to be drawn into the chamber only when the pressure within the chamber falls below an external pressure; and    a base portion and a housing portion, the base portion and housing portions together defining the internal chamber of the device and being slidably mounted to one another such that the housing portion can be slid towards the base portion to reduce the internal volume of the internal chamber during a first stage of operation, thereby causing the pressure within the internal chamber to increase and any fluid stored therein to be dispensed through the outlet if the pressure therein exceeds the predetermined minimum threshold pressure required to open the outlet valve, and then slid away from the base to increase the volume of the chamber during a second stage of operation, thereby causing the pressure within the internal chamber to reduce and fluid to be drawn into the internal chamber through the inlet;    wherein fluid present within the internal chamber is contained within a resiliently deformable insert, which is resiliently biased to urge the housing portion and the base portion apart and is configured to be compressed when the volume of the internal chamber is reduced by sliding the housing portion towards the base portion.    
   
   
       2 . A pump-action nozzle device adapted to be fitted to a container and to enable fluid stored in the interior of the container to be dispensed during use, the device having a body comprising: 
 an internal chamber;    an outlet through which fluid dispensed from the chamber is ejected from the device, the outlet further comprising an outlet valve configured to open and permit fluid to be dispensed from the chamber only when pressure therein exceeds a predetermined minimum threshold pressure;    an inlet through which fluid can be drawn into the chamber, the inlet further comprising a valve configured to open and permit fluid to be drawn into the internal chamber only when the pressure within the internal chamber falls below an external pressure; and    a base portion and a housing portion, the base portion and housing portion together defining the internal chamber of the device and being slidably mounted to one another such that the housing portion can be slid towards the base portion to reduce the internal volume of the chamber during the first stage of operation, thereby causing the pressure within the chamber to increase and any fluid stored therein to be dispensed through said outlet if the pressure therein exceeds the predetermined minimum threshold pressure required to pen the outlet valve, and then slid away from the base to increase the volume of the chamber during a second stage of operation, thereby causing the pressure within the chamber to reduce and fluid to be drawn into the chamber through the inlet;    wherein the device is adapted to generate a spray of the fluid dispensed.    
   
   
       3 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the base portion is configured to be fitted to a container.  
   
   
       4 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the base portion defines the inlet.  
   
   
       5 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein an under surface of the base portion is configured to be fitted to a container and the upper surface of the base portion forms an internal surface of the internal chamber.  
   
   
       6 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the housing portion forms one or more internal walls of the internal chamber.  
   
   
       7 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the housing portion defines a side wall and an end wall of the internal chamber and the base portion defines an opposing end wall.  
   
   
       8 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the housing portion is slidably mounted within a recess formed in an upper surface of the base portion.  
   
   
       9 . A pump-action according to  claim 2 , wherein the internal chamber further comprises a plunger.  
   
   
       10 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 9 , wherein the plunger remains stationary while the housing portion is moved relative to the base portion.  
   
   
       11 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 9  or  claim 10 , wherein the plunger forms two seals with side walls of the internal chamber, a first seal being configured to prevent fluid leaking past the plunger during the first stage of operation, and a second seal being configured to prevent air leaking into the fluid being drawn into the internal chamber during the second stage of operation of the device.  
   
   
       12 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 9 , wherein the plunger is seated on the base portion.  
   
   
       13 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 12 , wherein the plunger additionally comprises a valve member which is received by a valve seat formed by the base portion to form the inlet valve.  
   
   
       14 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 2 , further comprising a resilient means which is resiliently biased to urge the base portion and the housing portion apart.  
   
   
       15 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 14 , wherein the resilient means is a spring disposed within the internal chamber.  
   
   
       16 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 2 , wherein fluid present within the internal chamber is contained within a resiliently deformable insert, which is resiliently biased to urge the housing portion and the base portion apart and is configured to be compressed when the volume of the internal chamber is reduced by sliding the housing portion towards the base portion.  
   
   
       17 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein cooperating detents provided on the base portion and the housing portion abut one another to limit the extent by which the housing portion may move away from the base portion.  
   
   
       18 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the outlet comprises an outlet orifice and an internal passageway which connects the internal chamber to the outlet orifice.  
   
   
       19 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 18 , wherein the outlet valve is defined by the body and is disposed within the internal passageway.  
   
   
       20 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of the internal passageway is defined between the abutment surfaces of two or more component parts of the body.  
   
   
       21 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 20 , wherein a portion of the internal passageway is also defined by just one of the component parts.  
   
   
       22 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 21 , wherein the outlet valve is formed on the one of the component parts and is disposed within the portion of the internal passageway.  
   
   
       23 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 20 , wherein the outlet valve is disposed in the at least a portion of the internal passageway that is defined between the abutment surfaces of the two or more component parts of the body.  
   
   
       24 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 23 , wherein a valve member of the outlet valve is formed on one of the two or more component parts, the valve member being resiliently biased to assume a position in which the internal passageway is closed and being further configured to be displaced from the resiliently biased position to define an open channel through which fluid can flow only when the pressure within the internal chamber exceeds a predetermined minimum threshold pressure.  
   
   
       25 . A pump-action nozzle device according  claim 20 , wherein each of the two or more component parts has an abutment surface which contacts the abutment surfaces of the other component parts when the component parts are in contact, at least one of said abutment surfaces having one or more grooves and/or recesses formed thereon which define the internal passageway between the abutment surfaces when the parts are in contact.  
   
   
       26 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the outlet is defined by the housing portion of the body.  
   
   
       27 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the housing portion further comprises two component parts.  
   
   
       28 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of the internal passageway is defined between two component parts of the housing portion.  
   
   
       29 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 18 , wherein the housing portion comprises a first component part that defines the internal chamber together with the base portion and a second component part which is fitted to the first component part such that abutment surfaces of the first and second component parts are in contact to define at least a portion of the internal passageway.  
   
   
       30 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 29 , wherein the outlet orifice is formed at an edge of the abutment surfaces of the first and second component parts.  
   
   
       31 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 18 , wherein the pump-action nozzle device is adapted to generate a spray of the fluid dispensed.  
   
   
       32 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 31 , wherein the internal passageway further comprises one or more internal spray-modifying features prior to a final spray orifice or swirl chamber and orifice.  
   
   
       33 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , further comprising a nozzle arrangement adapted to generate a spray of the fluid dispensed and which is configured to receive an insert comprising one or more spray modifying features, the insert being configured such that fluid exiting the outlet orifice flows into the insert, through the one or more spray modifying features, and is ejected through an outlet of the insert.  
   
   
       34 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 33 , wherein the spray-modifying features include one or more features selected from the group consisting of: an expansion chamber, a swirl chamber, an internal orifice, multiple passageway branches, a dog-leg arrangement, a venturi chamber, an outlet orifice in the form of a slit, and multiple outlet orifices.  
   
   
       35 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , further comprising an air leak valve configured to enable air from an external environment to access the interior of the container to which the pump-action nozzle device is fitted, to equalize any pressure differential that exists between the interior of the container and the external environment.  
   
   
       36 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the internal chamber is divided into, a first compartment comprising the inlet valve and the outlet valve and being configured to dispense fluid drawn in through the inlet during the first and second stages of operation, and a second compartment being a separate air compartment configured to eject a stream of air through the outlet during the first stage of operation and draw air in during a second stage or operation.  
   
   
       37 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 36 , wherein the air compartment is provided with an outlet valve configured to open and permit a stream of air to flow through the outlet only when the pressure within the air compartment exceeds a predetermined minimum pressure.  
   
   
       38 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 36 , wherein the outlet comprises an outlet orifice and an internal passageway which connects the internal chamber to the outlet orifice, and wherein an air stream is introduced into the internal passageway at any position along its length through an outlet channel of an air compartment.  
   
   
       39 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 36 , wherein the air compartment further comprises an air inlet valve.  
   
   
       40 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , further comprising a trigger actuator configured such that when the trigger is pulled, the housing portion slides towards the base portion in the first stage of operation.  
   
   
       41 . A trigger actuator adapted to be fitted to a pump-action nozzle device as defined in  claim 1  or  claim 2 , said trigger actuator comprising a trigger and means by which the trigger actuator may be connected to the base portion and the housing portion, wherein the trigger actuator is configured so that when the trigger is pulled, the housing portion moves relative to the base portion and compresses the internal chamber during the first stage of operation, and when the trigger is released, the housing portion can be moved relative to the base portion to expand the internal chamber during the first stage of operation.  
   
   
       42 . A trigger actuator according to  claim 41 , wherein the trigger actuator is connected to the base portion by a first attachment element and the housing portion by a second attachment element, the first and second attachment elements being moveable towards each other when the trigger is pulled and moveable apart from each other when the trigger released.  
   
   
       43 . A pump-action nozzle device adapted to be fitted to an opening of a container and enable a liquid to be dispensed from an interior of the container, the nozzle device comprising: 
 a body which defines an internal chamber;    an inlet having a one-way valve through which fluid can be drawn into the internal chamber;    an outlet orifice;    an internal passageway that connects the internal chamber to the outlet orifice;    a one-way outlet valve disposed in the internal passageway and adapted to open and permit fluid to flow along the internal passageway only when pressure within the internal chamber exceeds a predetermined minimum pressure; and    an actuator;    the body being configured such that an internal volume of the internal chamber is reduced when the actuator is operated, thereby causing fluid stored in the internal chamber to be ejected through the outlet valve and along the internal passageway to the outlet orifice, and increased when the actuator is released, thereby causing fluid to be drawn into the chamber through the inlet;    the body further defining an air chamber configured to dispense a stream of air into the internal passageway or the outlet orifice when the actuator is operated through an outlet channel which connects the air chamber to a position along the internal passageway or the outlet, the body being configured such that an internal volume of the air chamber is reduced when the actuator is operated, thereby causing air present in the air chamber to be ejected through the outlet channel and into the internal passageway or the outlet orifice, and increased when the actuator is released, thereby causing air to be drawn into the air chamber;    wherein one of the internal chamber and the air chamber at least partially surrounds the other of the internal chamber and the air chamber.    
   
   
       44 . A pump-action nozzle device adapted to be fitted to an opening of a container and enable a liquid to be dispensed from an interior of the container, the nozzle device having comprising: 
 a body a base portion and a housing portion, which together define an internal chamber;    an inlet having a one-way valve through which fluid can be drawn into the internal chamber;    an outlet orifice;    an internal passageway that connects the internal chamber to the outlet orifice;    a one-way outlet valve disposed in the internal passageway and adapted to open and permit fluid to flow along the internal passageway only when pressure within the internal chamber exceeds a predetermined minimum pressure; and    an actuator;    the body being configured such that an internal volume of the internal chamber is reduced when the actuator is operated, thereby causing fluid stored in the internal chamber to be ejected through the outlet valve and along the internal passageway to the outlet orifice, and increased when the actuator is released, thereby causing fluid to be drawn into the internal chamber through the inlet;    the body further defining an air chamber configured to dispense a stream of air into the internal passageway or the outlet orifice when the actuator is operated through an outlet channel which connects the air chamber to a position along the internal passageway or the outlet orifice, the body being configured such that an internal volume of the air chamber is reduced when the actuator is operated, thereby causing air present in the air chamber to be ejected through the outlet channel and into the internal passageway or the outlet orifice, and increased when the actuator is released, thereby causing air to be drawn into the air chamber;    wherein fluid present within the internal chamber is contained with a resiliently deformable insert, which is resiliently biased to increase the internal volume of the internal chamber and is configured to be compressed when the internal volume of the internal chamber is reduced.    
   
   
       45 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 44 , wherein the air present within the air chamber is contained within another resiliently deformable insert, which is resiliently biased to increase the internal volume of the internal chamber and is configured to be compressed when the internal volume of the air chamber is reduced.  
   
   
       46 . A pump-action nozzle device adapted to be fitted to an opening of a container and enable a liquid to be dispensed from an interior of the container, the nozzle device comprising: 
 a body which defines an internal chamber;    an inlet having a one-way valve through which fluid can be drawn into the internal chamber;    an outlet orifice;    an internal passageway that connects the internal chamber to the outlet orifice;    a one-way outlet valve disposed in the internal passageway and adapted to open and permit fluid to flow along the internal passageway only when pressure within the internal chamber exceeds a predetermined minimum pressure; and    an actuator;    the body being configured such that an internal volume of the internal chamber is reduced when the actuator is operated, thereby causing fluid stored in the internal chamber to be ejected through the outlet valve and along the internal passageway to the outlet orifice, and increased when the actuator is released, thereby causing fluid to be drawn into the internal chamber through the inlet;    the body further defining an air chamber configured to dispense a stream of air into the internal passageway or the outlet orifice when the actuator is operated through an outlet channel which connects the air chamber to a position along the internal passageway or the outlet orifice, the body being configured such that an internal volume of the air chamber is reduced when the actuator is operated, thereby causing air present in the air chamber to be ejected through the outlet channel and into the internal passageway or the outlet orifice, and increased when the actuator is released, thereby causing air to be drawn into the air chamber;    wherein the device is adapted to dispense a bolus of liquid from the outlet orifice.    
   
   
       47 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 43 ,  claim 44  or  claim 46 , further comprising a resilient means configured to cause the internal volume of the internal chamber to increase once the actuator is released.  
   
   
       48 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 43 ,  claim 44  or  claim 46 , wherein the body further comprises two component parts that can be moved towards one another to compress both the internal chamber and the air chamber and away from one another to cause both the internal chamber and the air chamber to expand.  
   
   
       49 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 48 , wherein the resilient means is biased against both of the two component parts to urge the two component parts away from one another and the internal chamber is compressed by applying a pressure against the bias of the resilient means.  
   
   
       50 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 49 , wherein the resilient means is a spring or a resiliently deformable insert provided in one or both the internal chamber and the air chamber.  
   
   
       51 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 43 ,  claim 44  or  claim 46 , wherein air is drawn into the air chamber through the outlet orifice, the internal passageway and the outlet channel when the actuator is released and the volume of the air chamber is caused to increase.  
   
   
       52 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 43 ,  claim 44  or  claim 46 , further comprising an air inlet through which air is drawn into the air chamber from outside the device.  
   
   
       53 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 52 , wherein the air inlet comprises an air inlet valve configured to open and permit air to be drawn into the air chamber only when the pressure therein falls below an external pressure.  
   
   
       54 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 43 ,  claim 44  or  claim 46 , wherein air is introduced into the internal passageway at a position which is downstream from the outlet valve.  
   
   
       55 . A pump-action nozzle device according to claims  43 ,  claim 44  or  claim 46 , wherein the outlet channel includes one or more fine holes or pores which permit air to flow through but prevent liquid within the internal chamber from accessing the air chamber.  
   
   
       56 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 43 ,  claim 44  or  claim 46 , wherein the outlet channel comprises an air release valve adapted to open and permit fluid to flow along the internal passageway only when the pressure within the air chamber exceeds a predetermined minimum threshold pressure.  
   
   
       57 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 56 , wherein the air release valve is a two-way valve configured to permit air to flow (i) out of the air chamber when the pressure within the air chamber exceeds a predetermined minimum pressure, and (ii) into the air chamber when the pressure therein is below an external pressure.  
   
   
       58 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 56 , wherein the air release valve is a one way valve configured to open and permit air to flow out of the air chamber when the pressure therein exceeds a predetermined minimum and prevent flow in the opposite direction.  
   
   
       59 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 56 , wherein the outlet valve and the air release valve are configured to open at substantially the same minimum threshold pressure.  
   
   
       60 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 43 ,  claim 44  or  claim 46 , wherein the internal passageway is separated from said air chamber by a wall of the body and the outlet channel is formed in the wall at any desired position so that air can be ejected into the internal passageway to any desired position along the length of the internal passageway.  
   
   
       61 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 60 , wherein the air chamber is positioned either above or below the internal passageway and the outlet channel is formed in an upper or lower wall of the air chambers, respectively.  
   
   
       62 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 43 ,  claim 44  or  claim 46 , wherein at least a portion of the internal passageway of the outlet is defined between abutting surfaces of two or more component parts of the nozzle device.  
   
   
       63 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 62 , wherein a portion of the internal passageway may be defined by just one of the two or more component parts.  
   
   
       64 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 62 , wherein each of the component parts has an abutment surface which contacts the abutment surfaces of the other parts when the respective component parts are in contact and at least one of the abutment surfaces has one or more grooves and/or recesses formed thereon which define the internal passageway between the abutment surfaces when the component parts are in contact.  
   
   
       65 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 64 , wherein at least a portion of the internal passageway is defined between two of the component parts of the body.  
   
   
       66 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 65 , wherein the at least a portion of the internal passageway is defined between opposing abutment surfaces of the two component parts and at least one of the abutment surfaces has one or more grooves and/or recesses formed thereon which define the internal passageway when the abutment surfaces of the two component parts are in contact.  
   
   
       67 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 43 ,  claim 44  or  claim 46 , wherein the outlet valve is formed by the body.  
   
   
       68 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 67 , wherein at least a portion of the internal passageway is defined between the abutment surfaces of two or more parts of the nozzle device and the outlet valve is formed within the portion of the internal passageway.  
   
   
       69 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 68 , wherein the outlet valve comprises a valve member that is formed on one of the component parts, the valve member being resiliently biased against the opposing surface of the other component part or parts, thereby closing the internal passageway formed there between, and being configured to be displaced so as to define an open channel through which fluid can flow when the pressure within the chamber exceeds a predetermined minimum threshold pressure.  
   
   
       70 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 43  or  claim 44 , wherein the internal passageway further comprises one or more internal spray-modifying features prior to a final spray orifice or swirl chamber and orifice.  
   
   
       71 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 43  or  claim 44 , further comprising an insert comprising one or more spray-modifying features, the insert being configured such that fluid exiting the outlet orifice flows into the insert, through the one or more spray-modifying features, and is ejected through an outlet of the insert.  
   
   
       72 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 71 , wherein the spray-modifying features include one or more features selected from the group consisting of: an expansion chamber, a swirl chamber, an internal orifice, multiple passageway branches, a dog-leg arrangement, a venturi chamber, an outlet orifice in the form of a slit, and multiple outlet orifices.  
   
   
       73 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 70 , wherein the outlet channel is arranged so that air from the air chamber is introduced into a chamber formed in the internal passageway.  
   
   
       74 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 43 ,  claim 44  or  claim 46 , further comprising an air leak valve configured to enable air from an external environment to access the interior of the container to equalise equalize any pressure differential that exists between them.  
   
   
       75 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 1 ,  claim 2 ,  claim 43 ,  claim 44  or  claim 46 , wherein at least one component of the device is formed by a bi-injection molding process.  
   
   
       76 . A pump-nozzle device according to  claim 75 , wherein the at least one component is formed from two different materials using the bi-injection molding process.  
   
   
       77 . A container comprising a pump-action nozzle arrangement as defined in  claim 1  or  claim 2  fitted thereto.  
   
   
       78 . A container comprising a pump-action nozzle arrangement as defined in  claim 43 ,  claim 44  or  claim 46  fitted thereto.  
   
   
       79 . A pump-action nozzle device according to  claim 70 , wherein the spray-modifying features include one or more features selected from the group consisting of: an expansion chamber, a swirl chamber, an internal orifice, multiple passageway branches, a dog-leg arrangement, a venturi chamber, an outlet orifice in the form of a slit, and multiple outlet orifices.