Manually operated pump dispenser having child-resistant nozzle

A child-resistant liquid dispenser such as a trigger sprayer. The dispenser comprises a dispenser body, a nozzle, and a locking mechanism. The dispenser body has a nozzle receiving end and a discharge passage configured for discharging liquid through the nozzle receiving end. The-nozzle has a nozzle opening therein and is connected to the nozzle receiving end of the dispenser body. The nozzle is rotatable relative to the dispenser body about a nozzle axis X between open and closed positions. The nozzle and dispenser body are configured such that the nozzle opening is in fluid communication with the discharge passage of the dispenser body when the nozzle is in its open position to permit fluid to flow from the discharge passage and through the nozzle opening. They are further configured such that fluid communication between the nozzle opening and discharge passage is blocked when the nozzle is in its closed position to prevent fluid flow from the discharge passage and through the nozzle opening. The locking mechanism comprises a locking member adjacent the nozzle and dispenser body. The locking member is moveable along the nozzle axis X between locking and unlocking positions. The locking mechanism, dispenser body, and nozzle are configured to prevent rotational movement of the nozzle from its closed position to its open position when the locking member is in its locking position and to allow rotational movement of the nozzle between its closed and open positions when the locking member is in its unlocking position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to manually-operated pump dispensers such 
as trigger sprayers, and more particularly to such pump dispensers having 
child resistant features. 
Child-resistant nozzle assemblies for trigger sprayers are known. One 
conventional child-resistant nozzle assembly includes a nozzle cap 
rotatably connected to a dispenser body. A resilient protrusion extends 
forward from the dispenser body. The protrusion is resiliently moveable 
between an unflexed position and a flexed position. In the unflexed 
position, the protrusion engages a slot formed in a top surface of the 
nozzle cap to prevent the cap from turning. In the flexed position, the 
protrusion is flexed upward and away from the nozzle cap so that it does 
not interfere with turning of the cap. Another conventional 
child-resistant nozzle assembly includes a lug which is configured to be 
pressed radially inwardly for unlocking the cap to permit cap rotation to 
allow fluid discharge. These prior art child-resistant nozzle assemblies 
generally require significant dexterity or strength to operate, making 
them difficult to operate even by an adult. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Among the several objects of the present invention may be noted the 
provision of an improved child-resistant dispenser; the provision of such 
a dispenser having a child-resistant nozzle which is easily operated by an 
adult, but which is not easily operated by a child; the provision of such 
a dispenser which has a minimum number of parts; the provision of such a 
dispenser which is relatively low in cost; and the provision of such a 
fluid pump which is of relatively simple construction. 
Generally, a child-resistant liquid dispenser of the present invention 
comprises a dispenser body, a nozzle, and a locking mechanism. The 
dispenser body has a nozzle receiving end and a discharge passage 
configured for discharging liquid through the nozzle receiving end. The 
nozzle has a nozzle opening therein and is connected to the nozzle 
receiving end of the dispenser body. The nozzle is rotatable relative to 
the dispenser body about a nozzle axis X between open and closed 
positions. The nozzle and dispenser body are configured such that the 
nozzle opening is in fluid communication with the discharge passage of the 
dispenser body when the nozzle is in its open position to permit fluid to 
flow from the discharge passage and through the nozzle opening. The nozzle 
and dispenser body are further configured such that fluid communication 
between the nozzle opening and discharge passage is blocked when the 
nozzle is in its closed position to prevent fluid to flow from the 
discharge passage and through the nozzle opening. The locking mechanism 
comprises a locking member adjacent the nozzle and dispenser body. The 
locking member is moveable along the nozzle axis X between locking and 
unlocking positions. The locking mechanism, dispenser body, and nozzle are 
configured to prevent rotational movement of the nozzle from its closed 
position to its open position when the locking member is in its locking 
position and to allow rotational movement of the nozzle between its closed 
and open positions when the locking member is in its unlocking position. 
Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out 
hereinafter.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout 
the several views of the drawings. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawings, and first more particularly to FIG. 1, a 
child-resistant liquid dispenser of the present invention is indicated in 
its entirety by the reference numeral 20. Preferably, the liquid dispenser 
20 comprises a manually operated trigger sprayer. However, it is to be 
understood that other types of dispensers could be used without departing 
from the scope of this invention. 
The liquid dispenser 20 includes a dispenser body, generally indicated at 
22, a nozzle or nozzle cap 24, and a locking mechanism, generally 
indicated at 26. The dispenser body 22 includes a dispenser housing 30, a 
manually operated pump mechanism (not shown) within the dispenser housing 
for drawing liquid from a container 32 and dispensing it through a 
discharge conduit (not shown) formed in the dispenser housing. A dip tube 
extends from the bottom of the container interior to the dispenser housing 
30 so liquid may be drawn from the container. The pump mechanism has an 
expandable chamber which draws liquid from the container 32 as it is 
expanded and expels the liquid through the discharge conduit as it is 
contracted. Preferably, the pump mechanism is expanded and contracted by 
forward and rearward movement of a trigger 34. 
Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, the dispenser body 22 further includes a cap 
receiving member 40 having an upstream end 42 sized and shaped for a snug 
compression fit in the downstream end of the discharge conduit, and a 
threaded downstream end 46 sized for receiving the nozzle cap 24. The cap 
receiving member 40 further includes a discharge passage 48 extending 
therethrough in fluid communication with the discharge conduit. The 
dispenser body 22 further includes a spinner assembly 50 within the 
discharge conduit and having a central stem 52. The spinner assembly 50 
preferably operates in the same way and is similar to the spinner assembly 
described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,166, incorporated herein by reference. 
The nozzle cap 24 (FIGS. 5 and 6) has a nozzle opening 56 therethrough and 
an internal thread 58 sized for engaging the threaded downstream end 46 of 
the cap receiving member 40 to allow the nozzle cap to be turned (or 
rotated) on the cap receiving member about an axis X between a rearward 
closed position (FIG. 3) and a forward open position (FIG. 4). When the 
nozzle cap 24 is in its rearward closed position, the central stem 52 
seats against an inner surface of the nozzle cap all around the nozzle 
opening 56 to prevent fluid flow through the nozzle opening. When the 
nozzle cap 24 is in its forward open position, the inner surface of the 
nozzle cap is spaced forward of the central stem 52 and fluid is permitted 
to flow around the stem and through the nozzle opening. 
The locking mechanism 26 is preferably a single unitary piece and includes 
a locking member (or locking collar) 60 and two spring portions (or 
members) 62. The locking collar 60 includes a central bore 64 therethrough 
sized for a sliding fit over a cylindrical outer surface 66 of the cap 
receiving member 40. The locking collar 60 includes at least one and 
preferably at least two forwardly-extending protrusions 68. The 
protrusions 68 are sized and shaped for extending into a like number of 
slots 70 in the rearward end of the nozzle cap 24. Preferably, the 
protrusions 68 and slots 70 are shaped and arranged so that the 
protrusions align with and can extend into the slots only when the nozzle 
cap 24 is rotated to its closed position. The locking collar 60 is 
slidable on the cylindrical surface 66 along the axis X between a forward 
locking position (FIG. 9) and a rearward unlocking position (FIG. 10). The 
locking collar 60 further includes two rearwardly extending fingers 72 and 
the cap receiving member 40 includes a generally rectangular flange 74. 
The fingers 72 are closely adjacent opposite edges of the flange 74 and 
slide along these edges as the locking collar 60 is moved between its 
forward and rearward positions. Engagement of the fingers 72 with the 
flange 74 prevents the locking collar 60 from rotating relative to the cap 
receiving member. The fingers 72 serve the additional purpose of acting as 
a portion to be grasped by the user to enable the user to move the locking 
collar 60 between its forward and rearward positions. When the nozzle cap 
24 is in its closed position and when the locking collar 60 is in its 
forward locking position, the protrusions 68 of the locking collar extend 
into the slots 70 of the nozzle cap 24 to prevent rotation of the nozzle 
cap relative to the locking collar and to the cap receiving member 40. 
When the locking collar 60 is in its rearward unlocking position, the 
protrusions 68 of the locking collar are spaced rearwardly from the nozzle 
cap 24 and therefore do not interfere with rotation of the nozzle cap. 
The spring members 62 of the locking mechanism 26 extend from the locking 
collar 60 and have rear ends which press against the flange 74 of the cap 
receiving member 40. The spring members 62 bias the locking collar 60 in 
its forward position and urge the locking collar forward whenever the 
locking collar is between its forward and rearward positions. Thus, when 
the nozzle cap 24 is in its closed position, the spring members 62 urge 
the locking collar 60 forward to its locking position where the 
protrusions 68 engage the slots 70 to prevent rotation of nozzle cap 24 
out of its closed position. Because of the spring members 62, a user must 
manually move the locking collar 60 rearward to its unlocking position and 
hold it in this position before the nozzle cap 24 can be rotated to its 
open position. 
In operation, the nozzle cap 24 of the liquid dispenser 20 is initially in 
its closed position and the locking collar 60 of the locking mechanism 26 
is in its forward position so that the protrusions 68 lock the nozzle cap 
in its closed position. With the nozzle cap 24 in its closed position, 
liquid cannot be dispensed through the dispenser 20. To dispense liquid 
from the dispenser 20, the nozzle cap 24 must be rotated to its open 
position. A user accomplishes this by gripping the fingers 72 of the 
locking collar 60 and pulling the locking collar rearwardly relative to 
the cap receiving member 40 and against the bias of the spring members 62. 
The user then holds the locking collar 60 in its unlocking position and 
simultaneously turns the nozzle cap 24 about the axis X to its open 
position. The user may then release the locking collar 60 and begin 
squeezing the trigger 34 to dispense fluid forward through the discharge 
conduit, through the discharge passage of the cap receiving member 40 and 
out the nozzle opening 56. When the locking collar 60 is released, the 
spring members 62 push it forward against the rear end of the nozzle cap 
24. However, because the slots 70 of the nozzle cap 24 do not align with 
the protrusions 68 of the locking collar 60 when the nozzle cap is in its 
open position, the locking collar is not moved to its locking position and 
does not prevent cap rotation. Because the locking, collar 60 cannot be in 
its locking position unless the nozzle cap 24 is in its closed position, a 
user can easily observe whether the nozzle-cap is open or closed. Thus, 
the locking collar 60 constitutes, among other things, a visual indicator 
of whether the nozzle cap 24 is in its closed position. When the user 
turns the nozzle cap 24 to its closed position, then the slots 70 align 
with the protrusions 68 and the biasing force of the spring members 62 
pushes the locking collar 60 forward to its locking position. Although the 
user must pull the locking collar 60 rearwardly in order to move the 
nozzle cap 24 from its closed position to its open position, he/she need 
not pull the collar rearwardly in order to move the nozzle cap from its 
open position to its closed position. Thus, the nozzle cap 24 may be 
readily closed. Because a user must simultaneously hold the locking collar 
60 in its unlocking position and turn the nozzle cap 24 from its closed 
position to its open position in order to dispense liquid from the 
dispenser 20, it is difficult for a young child to operate the dispenser. 
Although the configuration of the dispenser parts makes it difficult for a 
young child to operate the dispenser, it does not take much strength or 
dexterity to open the nozzle. Thus, the dispenser is easily operated by an 
adult. 
Although the spring members 62 and locking collar 60 are preferably of a 
one piece construction, it is to be understood that the spring members 
could be separate from the locking collar without departing from the scope 
of this invention. Alternatively, the spring members could be integrally 
formed with the cap receiving member. Further, the locking collar could be 
shaped and configured to rotate with the nozzle cap and have rearwardly 
extending protrusions which releasably engage slots formed in the cap 
receiving member. With such an arrangement, it is contemplated that spring 
members would bias the locking collar rearwardly in a locking position in 
which the locking collar is locked against rotation relative to the cap 
receiving member. 
In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the 
invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained. 
As various changes could be made in the above constructions without 
departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter 
contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings 
shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.