Abstract:
A child-resistant fluid delivery device, comprising a container for storing fluid to be dispensed by the fluid delivery device and a wand assembly connected to the container. The wand assembly having a nozzle at a distal end through which fluid may be dispensed and a child-resistant connector at a proximal end. A ratchet mechanism is formed on the exterior of the child-resistant connector to permit attachment of the connector to the container and thereafter prevent removal of the connector from the container. The nozzle is sealed by a removable, child-resistant cover that includes at least one member that engages the nozzle to resist removal therefrom.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO-RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/203,721, filed May 12, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to fluid delivery devices, and more particularly, to one-time use, limited use and reusable child-resistant fluid delivery devices that develop pressure by depressing or squeezing the container/device. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     There are a number of different types of fluid delivery devices available for use in a wide variety of applications, including fluid delivery devices or sprayers that dispense fluids or other liquid solutions from a reservoir, tank or container through an outlet hose, extension rod, or wand on which a discharge nozzle is mounted. In these devices, the fluid is generally discharged under pressure by, for example, depressing or squeezing the container/device, or, alternatively, pressurizing the interior of the container using an internally mounted piston/cylinder pump. 
     In many applications, the fluid or other liquid solution to be dispensed from the device may be a chemical or other concentrated solution—such as pesticides, insecticides, industrial, agricultural and garden chemicals—that may be toxic, hazardous or otherwise ecologically undesirable. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide such fluid delivery devices with protective, child-resistant features that will minimize or avoid accidental exposure of a child to the contents of the fluid delivery device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Several alternative embodiments of the child-resistant fluid delivery device of the present invention are illustrated in the drawings and described below. The child-resistant elements of the fluid delivery device include: (1) a child-resistant fill cap that may not be removed from the container without destroying the fill cap; (2) a non-child resistant shipping cap that may include a child-resistant overwrap requiring removal by the user prior to assembling the wand assembly; (3) a push/pull shut-off valve for controlling the flow of fluid from the container through the wand assembly; and (4) a child-resistant cover for sealing a nozzle at the distal end of the wand assembly, which cover may only be removed from the nozzle by physical manipulation of the cover. 
     The foregoing specific objects and advantages of the invention are illustrative of those that can be achieved by the present invention and are not intended to be exhaustive or limiting of the possible advantages which can be realized. Thus, these and other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the description herein or can be learned from practicing this invention, both as embodied herein or as modified in view of any variations which may be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the present invention resides in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing features and other aspects of the invention are explained in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view illustrating an assembled fluid delivery device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the container of the fluid delivery device illustrated in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view illustrating an assembled fluid delivery device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the container of the fluid delivery device illustrated in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevational view illustrating a shipping cap on the container of FIGS. 2 or  4 ; 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevational view illustrating a child-resistant wand assembly in accordance with the present invention connected to the container of FIGS. 2 or  4 ; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the child-resistant wand assembly of FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 is a top view of the child-resistant wand assembly of FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 9 is a front view of a child-resistant cover for use with the wand assembly of FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 10 is a partial side elevational view of the child-resistant cover in an aligned position on the wand assembly of FIG. 6 in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 11 is a top view of the child-resistant cover in an aligned position on the wand assembly of FIG. 6 in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 12 is an enlarged view illustrating the distal portion of the wand assembly of FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of the distal portion of the wand assembly of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of the child-resistant cover of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 17 is a side elevational view illustrating another embodiment of a child-resistant wand assembly in accordance with the present invention connected to the container of FIGS. 2 or  4 ; 
     FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the child-resistant wand assembly of FIG. 17; 
     FIG. 19 is a side elevational view illustrating a shipping cap on the container of FIGS. 2 or  4 ; 
     FIG. 20 is a top view of the child-resistant wand assembly of FIG. 17; 
     FIG. 21 is a front view of another embodiment of a child-resistant cover for use with the wand assembly of FIG. 17; 
     FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the child-resistant wand assembly and cover in a locked position taken across line A—A of FIG. 18; 
     FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of the child-resistant wand assembly and cover in an unlocked position taken across line A—A of FIG. 18; 
     FIG. 24 is an enlarged view illustrating the distal portion of the wand assembly of FIG. 17; 
     FIG. 25 is an enlarged view of the distal portion of the wand assembly of FIG. 18; 
     FIG. 26 is an enlarged view of the child-resistant cover of FIG. 21; 
     FIG. 27 is an enlarged view of FIG. 22; and 
     FIG. 28 is an enlarged view of FIG.  23 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a fluid delivery device is provided with child-resistant features to prevent or minimize the accidental exposure of the contents of the fluid delivery device to children. Several preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 &amp; 2, there is shown an assembled fluid delivery device in accordance with the present invention. The fluid delivery device comprises a container  1 , such as, for example, a ½ gallon capacity plastic, blow molded bottle or container shaped generally to enhance flexure properties. It is understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to any particular size or shape of the container  1 , and that other size and shapes of the container are equally applicable to the present invention. 
     Attached to the container  1  is a wand assembly  10  comprising a child-resistant, non-removable cap  2 , a valve or shut-off  3  for controlling the flow of fluid through the wand assembly, a child-resistant safety cover  4 , and a nozzle  5  that may be threaded or otherwise fixed onto a distal end of the wand assembly  10  for directing the flow of fluid from the fluid delivery device. 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the container  1  incorporating a central opening through the container to facilitate handling by the user of the fluid delivery device. The wand assembly  10 , including the child-resistant cap  2 , valve  3 , child-resistant safety cover  4 , and nozzle  5  are the same as those illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 illustrates the container  1  with a fill spout  40  having an opening into the interior of the container  1 . The container  1  may be filled with the desired fluid or solution through the opening in the fill spout  40 . The fill spout  40  is preferably externally threaded to facilitate sealing of the container  1  and/or attachment of the wand assembly  10  to the container  1  using the child-resistant cap  2 . 
     Referring to FIG. 5, the container  1  may be provided with a removable shipping cap  6  to temporarily seal or close the opening in the fill spout  40 . The view shown in FIG. 5 illustrates a non-child resistant version of a shipping cap  6 , which may be provided with a child-resistant shrink band or overwrap to prevent a child or other person from accidentally removing the shipping cap  6  and exposing herself to the contents of the container. Alternatively, a child-resistant shipping cap using concepts discussed below may be substituted for the cap  6  to prevent a child or other person from accidentally removing the cap and exposing herself to the contents of the container. 
     FIGS. 6-16 illustrate the details of the wand assembly  10  in accordance with the present invention and its connection to the container  1 . The wand assembly  10  is preferably provided as a pre-assembled unit, which includes the child-resistant cap  2 , valve  3 , child-resistant safety cover  4 , and nozzle  5 . 
     Like the shipping cap  6 , the child-resistant cap  2  is provided with internal threads for attachment to the fill spout  40  of the container  1 . As best illustrated in FIG. 8, the child-resistant cap  2  is also provided with a ratchet mechanism  20  having a plurality of teeth about its perimeter to engage one or more rigid tabs  30  formed on the container  1  in proximity to the fill spout  40 . The ramping on the teeth of the ratchet mechanism  20  prevents reverse rotation and removal of the child-resistant cap  2  once the cap is threaded onto the fill spout  40  of the container  1 . In this manner, it is intended that a child (or possibly even an adult) will have significant difficulty removing the cap  2  after the cap and wand assembly  10  have been installed on the container  1 . 
     The wand assembly  10  also includes a valve or shut-off  3  for controlling the flow of fluid from the container  1  through the wand assembly. The valve or shut off  3  is opened by pushing it slightly away from the container  1 , thereby permitting fluid contained within the container  1  to flow under pressure through the valve  3  and wand assembly  10 . The valve or shut-off  3  is closed by retracting the valve  3  back to its original position closest to the container  1 , thereby preventing fluid stored within the container  1  from flowing through the valve  3  and wand assembly  10 . It is understood that other types of valves may be substituted for the push-pull valve  3  illustrated in the preferred embodiment. 
     A nozzle  5  is located at the distal end of the wand assembly  10 —opposite the end where the child-resistant cap  2  is located—for directing the flow of pressurized fluid from the container  1  and out of the wand assembly  10 . Preferably, the nozzle  5  is a flat nozzle optimized for low pressure application. It is understood, however, that other nozzles may be used in conjunction with the wand assembly  10 . 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 6,  7  and  9 - 16 , a removable, child-resistant safety cover  4  is provided at the distal end of the wand assembly  10  near the nozzle  5 . The child-resistant safety cover  4  preferably snaps over the nozzle  4  and one or more projecting tabs formed within the interior of the cover  5  engage and are retained within a groove or recess  50  formed in the nozzle  5  or distal end of the wand assembly  10  to effect a seal and prevent removal of the child-resistant safety cover  4 . 
     To remove the child-resistant safety cover  4 , the cover must preferably be rotated about the nozzle  5  and wand assembly  10  to align the arrows or other indicia on the nozzle  5  and child-resistant safety cover  4  as indicated in FIGS. 10 and 15. When the arrows are aligned, the projecting tabs formed within the interior of the cover  4  may pass through relieved sections of the groove or recess  50  formed in the nozzle  5  or wand assembly  10  to permit removal of the child-resistant safety cover  4  from the nozzle  5 . An integral tether, strap or band formed on the child-resistant safety cover  4  attaches to the wand assembly  10  so that the cover  4  is not misplaced or otherwise discarded when removed from the nozzle  5 . 
     To use the fluid delivery device in accordance with the preferred embodiment, the user must first remove the child-resistant overwrap and shipping cap  6  (or remove the child-resistant shipping cap if so provided). The wand assembly  10  may then be attached to the container  1  by threading/screwing the child-resistant cap  2  onto the threaded fill spout  40  (or other equivalent feature provided on the container  1  for accessing the interior of the container). The wand assembly  10  cannot be readily removed after installation without damage to the container  1  and/or child-resistant cap  2  due to the engagement of the ratchet mechanism  20  with the rigid tab(s)  30  formed on the container  1 . 
     Before using the fluid delivery device, the child-resistant safety cover  4  must be removed from the nozzle  5  by aligning the arrow (or other identifier) on the nozzle  5  with the arrow (or other identifier) on the cover  4  (FIGS.  10  and  15 ), thereby permitting the projecting tab(s) formed on the interior of the cover  4  to pass through the relieved portions of the groove  50  formed in the nozzle and allow for removal of the child-resistant safety cover  4 . The cover  4  is preferably tethered to the wand assembly to minimize the chance of it being lost or inadvertently discarded. 
     To use the fluid delivery device, the container  1  should be held in either one or both hands with the nozzle  5  directed downward toward the desired point of application. The valve or shut off  3  is then opened by pushing it slightly away from the container  1  (i.e., in the direction of the nozzle  5 ). The fluid within the container  1  is then dispensed by, for example, squeezing the container  1  such that fluid under pressure flows from the container through the wand assembly  10  and out of the nozzle  5 . The flow of fluid may be stopped by retraction of the valve or shut-off  3  to its original position closest to the container (i.e., moving the valve in the direction away from the nozzle  5 ). It is understood, however, that an internally mounted piston/pump assembly may be utilized to pressurize the fluid within container  1 . 
     An alternative preferred embodiment is shown in FIGS. 17-28. In this embodiment, the container  1 , fill spout  40 , shipping cap  6  (FIG.  19 ), child-resistant, non-removable cap  2  (FIGS. 17,  18  and  20 ), ratchet mechanism  20 , rigid tab(s)  30 , and the valve or shut-off  3  (FIGS. 17-18) are the same in design and operation as those described above with respect to the preceding embodiment. 
     The predominant difference between this and the preceding embodiment concerns the relationship between the nozzle  12  and the child-resistant safety cover  7 . The wand assembly  8  of this second embodiment is provided with a nozzle  12  at the distal end of the wand assembly  8 , which nozzle is preferably, but not necessarily, integrally formed with the distal end of the wand assembly. Preferably, the nozzle  5  is a flat nozzle optimized for low pressure application. A portion of the nozzle  12  or wand assembly  8  is preferably provided with external threads  14  for engaging internal threads formed within the interior of the child-resistant safety cover  7 . An adjacent portion of the nozzle  12  or wand assembly  8  is also preferably provided with a ratchet mechanism  16  whose teeth engage one or more tabs (FIGS. 27 and  28 ) projecting from the interior of the child-resistant safety cover  7 . 
     In this manner, the child-resistant safety cover  7  may be threaded or screwed onto the nozzle  12  or distal end of the wand assembly  8  to thereby effect a seal and prevent inadvertent removal of the child-resistant safety cover  7  from the nozzle  12 . The ratchet mechanism  16  prevents reverse rotation and removal of the child-resistant safety cover  7  unless the cover  7  is squeezed or otherwise deformed to release engagement of the projecting tab(s) on the cover  7  from the ratchet mechanism  16  formed on the nozzle  12  or wand assembly  8 . The child-resistant safety cover  7  may be unscrewed or turned to remove the cover  7  from the nozzle  12  when the tab(s) on the cover  7  are released from the ratchet mechanism  16 . As illustrated in FIGS. 17 &amp; 24, the cover  7  is preferably tethered to the wand assembly  8  to minimize the chance of it being lost or inadvertently discarded. 
     With the exception of the removal of the child-resistant safety cover  7  from the nozzle  12 , this second embodiment of the invention operates in the same manner as described above with respect to the preceding embodiment. 
     Although the preferred embodiments describe the fluid delivery device as one that develops pressure by depressing or squeezing the container/device, it is understood that other types of fluid delivery devices are equally applicable to the present invention, including compressions sprayers and the like. Furthermore, it is understood that the present invention may be utilized on one-time use, limited use and reusable fluid delivery devices. 
     Although illustrative preferred embodiments have been described herein in detail, it should be noted and will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that numerous variations may be made within the scope of this invention without departing from the principle of this invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages. The terms and expressions have been used herein as terms of description and not terms of limitation. There is no intention to use the terms or expressions to exclude any equivalents of features shown and described or portions thereof and this invention should be defined in accordance with the claims that follow.