MULTI-PURPOSE NOZZLE ASSEMBLY FOR A LIQUID DISPENSER

Abstract: A multi-purpose nozzle assembly for a liquid dispenser includes a rotatable nozzle cap (17) having an internal sleeve (21) in engagement with the end of a fixed plug (16) located within an outlet member (14) of the dispenser containing a discharge conduit (15). An end wall (23) of the cap (17) has a smooth inner surface (26) confronting the end wall (25) of the plug.. The plug (16) and sleeve (21) have two discrete passageways (27 and 32) formed between the discharge conduit (15) and the discharge orifice (24) located in the cap end wall (23). The passageways (27 and 32) are capable of being aligned so as to be open or mis-aligned so as to be closed in selected rotative positions of the cap in alternating off, stream and spray positions.

Description: This invention relates generally to a multi-purpose nozzle assembly for a liquid dispenser, and more particularly to such a nozzle assembly having improved control between off and selected discharge positions. Various types of multi-purpose nozzle assemblies have been developed for liquid dispensers, but are not without their drawbacks. For example, U.S. patent 3,843,030 has its nozzle cap containing an off-centred discharge orifice which must be shifted upon cap rotation between alignment with the spin chamber at the end of an internal probe for producing a spray, and a channel on the probe for producing a stream. The off-center location of the discharge orifice not only presents problems for the consumer in properly targeting the discharge, but gives rise to a shearing action during cap rotation in that the inner edge of the discharge orifice must traverse the plug surface containing the spin chamber and associated tangentials which could cause abrasions or snags between the rotating parts resulting in undue wear and leakage. The nozzle assembly of U.S. patent 3,967,765 has a spin chamber with associated tangential and radial grooves formed on the inner surface of the cap end wall, and transverse feed grooves at the end of an internal plug bearing against such wall. Thus, the details provided for adjustment between spray and stream positions are located on each of two rotatable parts which not only creates tooling difficulties but present ridges or corners which must pass one another during cap rotation resulting in a shearing action which could score or abrade one or both confronting parts and cause leakage. Besides, an extra slotted, internal sleeve is required in telescoping relation to a slotted cap sleeve to effect a spigot-type shut off which, however, because of the thin-walled sleeves, can create leakage. The nozzle assembly of U.S. patent 4,234,l28 likewise requires the spin chamber and associated tangential grooves to be formed on the underside of the cap end wall, and passages and slots on an internal plug arranged to produce a stream or spray discharge or shut-off. Thus, some of the details for the dispense function are on the cap end wall and some others are on the plug confronting this end wall, such that a shearing action results between these details as they pass one another upon cap rotation. Due to such abrasive and interrupted engagement between rotating parts, scoring, snags and/or undue wear occurs with consequent leakage. The nozzle assembly of U.S. patents 4,365,75l and 4,5l6,695 likewise requires cooperating dispense function details to be located on the underside of the cap end wall and the confronting end of an internal plug which thereby presents ridges or corners producing a shearing action during cap rotation and undue wear with possible leakage. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a multi-purpose nozzle assembly for a liquid dispenser of bottles or containers which may be sealed closed or selectively adjusted into spray or stream discharge open positions in a highly reliable, more economically produced, less difficult and leakproof manner. Another object of this invention is to provide such an assembly wherein a rotatable nozzle cap has an end wall containing a central discharge orifice, the end wall having a smooth inner surface and a surrounding sleeve engaging an internal plug at the discharge conduit, the plug and the sleeve having means defining two discrete passageways between the discharge passage and the discharge orifice respectively in two rotative discharge open positions of the cap for respectively producing a spray and a stream discharge. In carrying out these general objectives, the internal plug has at least two longitudinal grooves, and the end of the plug has a central depression which defines a chamber with the smooth inner surface of the cap, and the plug end wall also has at least one tangential channel and at least one radial channel respectively interconnecting the depression with the side grooves on the plug. And, at east one longitudinal passage is located in the inner peripheral wall of the sleeve, such passage communicating with one of the grooves leading to the radial channel for producing a stream discharge in one rotative position of the cap, and the passage communicating with the other groove leading to the tangential channel for producing a spray discharge in another rotative position of the cap. Other objects, advantages and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Figure l is a side view of a part of a liquid dispenser incorporating the multi-purpose assembly of the invention shown in section; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l of an enlarged cross section of the present nozzle assembly; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the internal plug element which is engaged by the nozzle cap; Figures 4, 5, and 6 are view taken substantially along the line X-X of Figure 2 showing relative rotated positions of the cap in off, stream and spray positions; and Figure 7 is a perspective end view of the nozzle cap. Turning now to the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like and corresponding parts throughout of several views, part of a liquid dispenser l0 is shown in Figure l in the form of a manually operated trigger dispenser which incorporates the multi-position nozzle assembly of the invention. However, the nozzle assembly is likewise adapted for a manually operated squeeze bottle dispenser of an aerosol pump dispenser. The dispenser comprises a pump body ll having a pump cylinder l2 containing a reciprocable pump piston (not shown) which is manually reciprocated by a trigger actuator l3 hingedly mounted on the pump body. A tubular outlet member l4 of the dispenser has a discharge conduit or passage l5 through which liquid product is adapted to pass during the pumping operation. A fixed, coaxial core or plug element l6 is formed in the outlet member, and a nozzle cap l7 is externally mounted on the end of the outlet member by a snap fit produced between an external rib l8 on member l4 and an internal groove l9 on internally cylindrical cap skirt 20. The nozzle cap may have a rectangular external configuration, as shown in Figure 7, to facilitate manual rotation of the cap on the outlet member, and to conveniently receive markings on each four side walls, such as OFF on a pair of opposed walls, STREAM on one of the other walls and SPRAY on the remaining wall. The nozzle cap has a coaxial, internal, cylindrical sleeve 2l which tightly engages peripheral wall 22 of plug l6 at its outer end. The nozzle cap has an end wall 23 containing a central discharge orifice 24 coaxial with member l4, the end wall having a smooth and uninterrupted inner surface 26 confronting an end wall 25 of the plug such that none of the details for affecting spray discharge are carried by wall 23, as will be further described hereinafter. The plug has a plurality of equally spaced longitudinal grooves 27 formed in its outer periphery 22, at least two of such grooves being required, and six of such grooves being illustrated in the drawings, although even numbers of grooves 27, other than two or six may be provided without departing from the invention. End wall 25 of the plug has a central depression 28 forming a chamber with confronting surface 26. A set of three equally spaced radial channels 29, and a set of three equally spaced tangenital channels 3l are likewise formed in end wall 25, the radial and tangential channels being alternatively disposed, as shown in Figures 3 to 6. And, the channels respectively extend between and interconnect central depression 28 with grooves 27. It should be noted that those grooves 27 which interconnect with tangential channels 3l may have the sidewalls lying at the same angle as that of the tangential channels so as to assure a smooth and uninterrupted passage of liquid product therealong. At least one, and in the example illustrated three equally spaced, passages 32 are formed in inner peripheral wall 33 of skirt 2l, the grooves being open at their inner ends as shown in Figure 2, and terminating a spaced distance from the outer ends of grooves 27. Grooves 27, passages 32 and channels 29,3l are relatively arranged such that the nozzle cap may be rotated about its central axis between off - stream, stream - off, off - spray and spray - off positions upon respective quarter turns of the cap. Thus, in both off postions, shown in Figure 4, discharge conduit l5 is sealed closed preventing any liquid product from being dispensed through the discharge orifice. In the off position, each passage 32 is out of alignment and communication with any of the grooves 27 such that the lands or uninterrupted portions of inner peripheral wall 33 of cylindrical sleeve 2l tightly seal against the lands between grooves 27. Upon a 90° rotation of the cap in a counterclockwise direction, for example, from the Figures 4, 7 position to that of the Figure 5, passages 32 of sleeve 2l are at least partially aligned and in communication with three alternate grooves 27 which interconnect with radial channels 29 such that liquid product is adapted to pass form discharge conduit l5 through passages 32, open grooves 27 and radial channels 29 into chamber 28 and out through discharge orifice 24 in a stream pattern. In the stream position of the Figure 5, chamber 28 does not function as a swirl chamber since the radial entry of liquid product proceeds through the chamber and out through the discharge orifice in a linear flow pattern so as to be ejected as a stream. Upon rotation of the nozzle cap from the Figure 5 stream position through 90° in a clockwise direction, for example, passages 32 will once again be misaligned and out of registry with any of grooves 27 to thereby seal off the discharge conduit as in the Figure 4 position. Otherwise, if the nozzle cap is rotated counterclockwise through 90° from its Figure 5 stream position, passages 32 will likewise be disposed out of communication with grooves 27 for shutting off the discharge, as viewed with Figure 4 inverted. From the off position of Figure 4, the nozzle cap may be rotated clockwise through 90° into its Figure 6 position in which passages 32 are now in at least partial alignment and communication with alternate grooves 27 which interconnect with tangential channels 3l. In this position, the liquid product is adapted to pass from discharge conduit l5, through passages 32, open grooves 27 and tangential channels 3l into swirl chamber 28 and out through the discharge orifice in a spray pattern. Since those grooves 27 connecting with radial channels 29 are blocked in this Figure 6 position, a vortex is created in the spin chamber as liquid product enters through the tangential channels, so as to be ejected as a spray as when issuing from a typical swirl chamber. From the Figure 6 position, the nozzle cap may be rotated through 90° either clockwise or counterclockwise into one of the two off positions of Figure 4 (when viewed inverted or upright, respectively). Since inner surface 26 of cap end wall 23 is smooth and uninterrupted with central discharge orifice 24 always coaxial with central depression 28, with surface 26 bearing against the surface segments of wall 25 defined by channels 29, 3l, rotation of the cap between its off, stream and spray postions avoids any shearing action or abrasion between surface 26 and the confronting surface of wall 25 at the end of the plug. All the details for the open discharge functions are formed on the plug itself, so that no corners or details acting between surface 26 and the surface of end wall 25 pass one another during cap rotation, and any shearing action causing abrasion of these surfaces of the details thereof is avoided. Leakages are consequently minimized and postively controlled. Obviously, many other modifications and variations of the present invention are made possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

Claims: 1. A multi-purpose nozzle assembly for a liquid dispenser, comprising, a tubular outlet member (14) having a discharge passage (15) through which liquid product is adapted to pass, a fixed coaxial plug element (16) located in said tubular member, a nozzle cap (17) having a central discharge orifice (24) and being mounted for relative rotation between at least one discharge closed position and two selective discharge open positions without axial displacement at the end of said tubular outlet member, said cap (17) having an inner cylindrical sleeve (21) in rotative engagement with said plug element (16), the peripheral surface (22) of said plug element having longitudinal grooves (27), said plug element having an end wall (25) with a central depression (28) coaxial with said discharge orifice (24), alternating radial and tangential channels (29, 31) in said end wall (25) extending between said depression (28) and said longitudinal grooves (27), said channels presenting spaced surface segments at said end wall (25), said cap (17) having a wall (23) containing said discharge orifice (24) and having a complete smooth and uninterrupted inner surface (26) which confronts said end wall (25) and defines a chamber with said depression (28), said inner surface (26) bearing against said surface segments and avoiding any shearing action therewith during said relative rotation, and longitudinal passages (32) in an inner peripheral surface (33) of said sleeve (21), said grooves (27) and said passages (32) being relatively arranged such that upon rotation of said cap (17) into said discharge closed position said grooves and said passages are mismatched, upon rotation of said cap (17) into a first of said discharge open positions said grooves and said passages are matched and register with said radial channels (29), and upon rotation of said cap (17) into a second of said discharge open positions said grooves and said passages are matched and register with said tangential channels (31). 2. A nozzle assembly according to claim 1, wherein said cap (17) is mounted for relative rotation between two selective discharge closed positions upon the rotation of said cap through 180°; and said passages (32) being relatively arranged such that upon rotation of said cap through 90° into either of said discharge closed positions said grooves (27) and said passages (32) are mismatched, and each of said closed positions alternates with each of said open positions. 3. A nozzle assembly according to claim 2, wherein there are provided three of said passages (32) equally spaced, six of said grooves (27) equally spaced, and three of each of said tangential (31) and radial (29) channels in alternating relationship.

Inventors: DOBBS, DOUGLAS BRENT
Applicants: CALMAR, INC.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: B05B11
IPC codes: B05B11, B05B1