Abstract:
A manually operated, vertically reciprocating liquid pump dispenser is removably connectable to a bottle containing liquid and simultaneously pumps liquid from the bottle and air from the exterior environment of the dispenser and mixes the liquid with the air to produce a foam that is dispensed from the dispenser. The dispenser includes a closure connector and a rotatable collar on the connector that provides a mechanism for venting the interior of the bottle to the exterior environment of the dispenser while avoiding leakage of the liquid from the bottle, and also incorporate a mechanism for locking the dispenser to prevent unintended pumping of liquid from the bottle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    (1) Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention pertains to a manually operated reciprocating liquid pump dispenser that is removably connectable to a bottle containing a liquid. Manual operation of the dispenser simultaneously pumps the liquid from the bottle and pumps air from the exterior environment of the dispenser, mixes the liquid with the air to produce a foam, and dispenses the foam from the dispenser. More specifically, the pump dispenser of the invention includes a closure connector and a rotatable collar on the connector that provide a mechanism for venting the interior of the bottle to the exterior environment of the pump dispenser while avoiding leakage of the liquid from the bottle, and also incorporate a mechanism for locking the pump dispenser to prevent unintended pumping of the liquid from the bottle. 
         [0003]    (2) Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Manually operated, vertically reciprocated pump dispensers are those types of dispensers that are typically oriented vertically in use, and have a plunger at the top of the dispenser that is manually pressed downwardly to dispense the liquid contents of a bottle connected to the dispenser. The typical construction of such a dispenser includes an elongate pump housing and an elongate plunger that is received inside the pump housing for reciprocating movements between charge and discharge positions of the pump plunger in the pump housing. 
         [0005]    The pump housing is inserted into the bottle neck opening of the bottle. A closure connector at the top of the pump housing removably secures the pump housing to the bottle neck. A dip tube connected at the bottom of the pump housing extends downwardly into the liquid in the bottle. The pump housing contains a liquid pump chamber and a check valve. The check valve controls the flow of liquid through the dip tube and into the pump chamber, and prevents the reverse flow of liquid. 
         [0006]    The pump plunger has a tubular length with a liquid discharge passage extending through the center of the plunger. A liquid piston is mounted on the plunger and is received in the pump chamber for reciprocating movements. A dispensing head is provided at the top of the plunger. The dispensing head has a discharge outlet that communicates with the discharge passage of the plunger. A check valve in the liquid discharge passage controls the flow of liquid from the pump chamber and out through the dispensing head, and prevents the reverse flow of liquid. 
         [0007]    A spring is positioned in the pump chamber. The spring biases the plunger upwardly to a charge position of the plunger relative to the pump housing. The upward movement of the plunger moves the piston upwardly in the pump chamber, which creates a vacuum in the pump chamber that draws liquid through the dip tube and into the pump chamber. 
         [0008]    The pump plunger is manually depressed downwardly against the bias of the spring to a discharge position of the plunger relative to the pump housing. The downward movement of the plunger moves the piston downwardly in the pump chamber. The downward piston movement forces the liquid in the pump chamber through the liquid discharge passage of the plunger and out of the dispenser through the dispensing head. 
         [0009]    In addition to the basic component parts of the manually operated, vertically reciprocated pump dispenser described above, many prior art pump dispensers are provided with a venting feature. The venting feature includes a vent opening that communicates the exterior environment of the dispenser with the interior of the bottle when the pump plunger is reciprocated in the pump housing. Air from the exterior environment of the dispenser is allowed to pass through the vent opening and enter the bottle interior to fill the volume in the bottle interior left vacant by the liquid being dispensed by the operation of the pump. Without such a vent opening, as liquid is dispensed from the bottle, a vacuum would be created in the bottle interior. The vacuum would eventually overcome the vacuum created by the pump piston moving to its charge position in the pump chamber, and prevent the pump from drawing liquid into the pump chamber. The increasing vacuum in the interior of the bottle could also possibly result in the inwardly collapsing of the bottle side walls. To overcome this problem, many prior art manually operated, vertically reciprocated pump dispensers are provided with constructions that allow air to vent into the interior of the bottle connected to the dispenser, while preventing liquid in the bottle from leaking out of the dispenser through the vent feature. 
         [0010]    In addition to the above, many prior art manually operated, vertically reciprocated pump dispensers are provided with a locking feature. The locking feature would lock the plunger in its upward charge position relative to the pump housing or its downward discharge position relative to the pump housing. The locking feature would also close the liquid flow path through the pump. The locking feature thus prevents the unintended pumping of liquid from the bottle caused by unintended reciprocating movements of the pump plunger in the pump housing. 
         [0011]    All of the above-described features that are often included in the typical construction of a manually operated, vertically reciprocated pump dispenser add to the number of component parts of the dispenser and add to the complexity of the assembly of the dispenser. 
         [0012]    Manually operated, vertically reciprocated liquid pump dispensers have been developed that not only pump liquid from a bottle through the dispenser, but also pump air from the exterior environment of the dispenser through the dispenser, mixing the air with the liquid to generate a foam that is dispensed from the dispenser. These types of dispensers not only include all of the component parts of a dispenser required to draw liquid from the bottle connected to the dispenser and pump the liquid from the dispenser, but also include the additional component parts required to draw air from the exterior environment of the dispenser into the dispenser, mix the air with the liquid being pumped through the dispenser to generate the foam, and dispense the foam from the dispenser. Dispensers of this type that pump both liquid and air have even more component parts and an even more complex assembly than dispensers that pump only liquid. To provide a dispenser of this type with a venting feature and a locking feature would even further increase the number of component parts and the complexity of the assembly of the dispenser. To manufacture such a dispenser economically, it is necessary to provide a unique design of the dispenser that reduces the number of separate component parts of the dispenser and simplifies the dispenser construction. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    The manually operated, vertically reciprocating air foaming pump dispenser of the invention provides a unique dispenser construction that includes both liquid and air pumps and also provides a venting features and a locking feature while minimizing the number of component parts and the complexity of the dispenser assembly. 
         [0014]    The construction of the pump dispenser of the invention is basically comprised of a pump housing that contains a liquid pump chamber, a closure connector that incorporates the venting feature and the locking feature with an air pump chamber of the dispenser, a pump plunger that is received in the pump housing for reciprocating movements and supports both a liquid pump piston and an air pump piston, a dispenser head that is mounted on the top of the pump plunger, and a collar mounted for rotation on the connector and operatively connected to the dispenser head where rotation of the collar locks the pump dispenser and seals the venting feature. All of the component parts of the dispenser are constructed of a plastic typically used in the construction of dispensers of this type, except for a coil spring and a pair of ball valves that could be constructed of metal or plastic. In the description of the pump dispenser provided herein, terms such as “upward” and “downward” are used to describe the dispenser in a vertically upright orientation shown in the drawing figures. This is the typical orientation of the dispenser when operated, but the dispenser could be operated in other orientations. Therefore, the terms “upward” and “downward,” and related terms should not be interpreted as limiting. 
         [0015]    The pump housing of the dispenser has a tubular configuration that contains the liquid pump chamber. A top opening in the pump housing provides access to the pump chamber. A flat, annular ring is provided around a top portion of the pump housing. The ring is dimensioned to rest on the top of the neck of the bottle to which the pump dispenser is attached. A vent hole passes through the ring and forms a portion of the vent passage to the bottle interior. 
         [0016]    A dip tube extends downwardly from the bottom of the pump housing and communicates the dispenser with liquid in a bottle to which the dispenser is attached. A ball check valve is positioned in the pump housing between the dip tube and pump chamber. The ball valve controls the flow of liquid into the pump chamber, and prevents the reverse flow of liquid. 
         [0017]    The closure connector is attached to the top of the pump housing. The connector has a flat, circular base that extends over the top of the pump housing annular ring. A center hole through the base aligns with the top opening of the pump housing. A cylindrical side wall extends downwardly from the outer periphery of the base. The side wall has internal screw threading, a bayonet fitment, or other equivalent means of removably attaching the connector to the neck of the bottle, and thereby removably attaching the dispenser to the bottle. A cylindrical air pump chamber wall extends upwardly from the connector base. A vent opening passes through the connector base below the air pump chamber wall. The vent opening through the connector base communicates with the hole through the pump housing annular ring. Thus, an air venting passage is provided from the exterior environment of the pump dispenser through the vent opening in the connector base, and through the hole in the pump housing annular ring to the interior of the bottle connected to the pump dispenser. A plurality of lock columns are provided on the closure connector on the exterior of the air pump chamber wall. The plurality of columns project upwardly from the connector base and have connector lock surfaces at the upper distal ends of the columns. 
         [0018]    The pump plunger has a tubular length that extends downwardly through the center hole of the connector base and through the top opening of the pump housing. A liquid discharge passage of the pump dispenser extends through the center of the plunger. The pump plunger is received in the pump housing for reciprocating movements of the pump plunger in the pump housing. The pump plunger is moved downwardly through the pump housing to a discharge position of the pump plunger relative to the pump housing, and is moved upwardly through the pump housing to a charge position of the pump plunger relative to the pump housing. 
         [0019]    A ball check valve is positioned in the liquid discharge passage adjacent the top of the plunger. The ball valve controls the flow of liquid from the pump chamber through the plunger, and prevent the reverse flow of liquid. 
         [0020]    A liquid piston is mounted to the lower end of the plunger. The liquid piston engages in a sealed, sliding engagement in the liquid pump chamber of the pump housing. 
         [0021]    An air piston is also mounted on the plunger above the liquid piston. The air piston engages in a sealed, sliding engagement in the air pump chamber on the closure connector. 
         [0022]    A dispenser head is mounted on the top of the pump plunger. The dispenser head contains a spout having an outlet passage that communicates with the liquid discharge passage of the plunger. A cylindrical sleeve of the pump dispenser extends downwardly from the spout. The sleeve is coaxial with the pump plunger and extends around the exterior of the closure connector air pump chamber wall. The dispenser head has a plurality of pairs of posts that extend downwardly in the interior of the dispenser sleeve. Each pair of posts has an axial groove at the center of the pair of posts. The bottom distal ends of the posts have lock surfaces of the dispenser head. 
         [0023]    A cylindrical collar is mounted on the closure connector for rotation of the collar relative to the connector. The collar has an interior surface with a plurality of narrow ridges or tongues extending axially across the interior surface. The plurality of tongues are spacially arranged around the collar interior surface and engage in sliding contact in the grooves between the pairs of posts on the dispenser head. In this manner the dispenser head is operatively connected to the collar for rotation of the dispenser head together with the collar around the center axis of the pump dispenser, and for axial reciprocating movement of the dispenser head relative to the collar. The exterior dimension of the collar is slightly smaller than the interior dimension of the dispenser head sleeve, whereby the dispenser head sleeve telescopes over the collar when the dispenser head is reciprocated axially relative to the collar. The collar also has a plurality of tabs spacially arranged around the interior of the collar. Each of the tabs has a sealing surface positioned to cover over and close one of the plurality of vent openings of the closure connector. The collar is mounted on the closure connector for rotation between a closed position of the collar on the connector where the collar sealing surfaces engage over and close the connector vent openings, and an opened position of the collar on the connector where the collar sealing surfaces are displaced from the connector vent openings and the bottle interior communicates through the connector vent openings with the exterior environment of the pump dispenser. 
         [0024]    The operative connection between the collar and the dispenser head also causes the dispenser head to rotate on the pump dispenser when the collar is rotated on the pump dispenser. The dispenser head rotates with the collar between a locked position and an unlocked position of the dispenser head relative to the closure connector that correspond respectively to the closed and opened positions of the collar. In the locked position of the dispenser head and the closed position of the collar, the lock surfaces at the distal ends of the dispenser head posts are axially aligned opposite the lock surfaces at the ends of the connector columns. The axial alignment of the dispenser head lock surfaces and the connector lock surfaces prevents the dispenser head from being reciprocated relative to the collar, and thereby prevents the pump plunger from being reciprocated in the pump housing. Thus, the collar and closure connector of the invention close the air venting passageway through the pump dispenser and lock the pump plunger in the first, charge position of the pump plunger relative to the pump housing when the collar and dispenser head are rotated together to the vent closed position of the collar and the locked position of the dispenser head. 
         [0025]    Rotating the collar away from the closed position toward the opened position of the collar relative to the pump dispenser causes the collar sealing surfaces to move away from the connector vent openings, thereby opening communication between the bottle interior and the exterior environment of the pump dispenser. Simultaneously, the dispenser head rotates relative to the closure connector and the dispenser head lock surfaces move away from their axially aligned positions opposite the connector lock surfaces. With the dispenser lock surfaces axially misaligned from the connector lock surfaces, the dispenser head is free to be reciprocated relative to the collar and the closure connector, thereby allowing reciprocating movements of the pump plunger in the pump housing. 
         [0026]    Thus, the pump dispenser of the invention comprises both a liquid pump and an air pump that mix liquid and air pumped through the dispenser to create a foam dispensed by the dispenser. In addition, the novel construction of the pump dispenser provides a collar and dispenser head that are rotatable together relative to a closure connector of the pump dispenser to provide a venting feature and a lock feature of the dispenser, thereby reducing the number of component parts of the dispenser and simplifying the dispenser construction. 
     
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0027]    Further features of the air foaming pump dispenser of the invention are set forth in the following detailed description of the pump dispenser and in the drawing figures of the pump dispenser. 
           [0028]      FIG. 1  is a side-sectioned view of the air foaming pump dispenser connected to a bottle and with the pump plunger in the upward, charge position of the pump plunger relative to the pump housing. 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  is a front-sectioned view of the air foaming pump dispenser of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged partial view of the pump dispenser shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  is a top-sectioned view of the air foaming pump dispenser along the line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the closure connector removed from the pump dispenser. 
           [0033]      FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of the collar removed from the pump dispenser. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0034]    The basic component parts of the pump dispenser that comprise the novel features of the invention are the pump housing  12 , the closure connector  14 , the pump plunger  16 , the dispenser head  18  and a locking and venting collar  20 . These five basic component parts, as well as most of the other component parts of the dispenser to be described, are constructed of a plastic material typically used in the construction of pump dispensers of this type. The exceptions are the coil spring of the dispenser and a pair of ball valves of the dispenser, which could be constructed of plastic, but are usually constructed of metal. 
         [0035]    The pump housing  12  has a tubular length with a hollow center bore having a center axis  22 . The length of the pump housing  12  extends from a dip tube connector  24  at the bottom of the pump housing to an opposite top end  28  of the pump housing that surrounds a top opening into the pump housing. The dip tube connector  24  connects to a dip tube (not shown) that extends into the interior of a bottle  26 . The pump housing  12  contains a liquid pump chamber  32  having a cylindrical liquid pump chamber wall  34 . A valve seat  36  is provided at the bottom of the pump housing  12  between the dip tube connector  24  and the liquid pump chamber  32 . The valve seat  36  supports a ball valve  38 . The ball valve  38  controls the flow of liquid through the dip tube and the dip tube connector  24  into the liquid pump chamber  32 , and prevents the reverse flow of liquid. A sealing plug retainer  44  extends axially upwardly from the bottom of the liquid pump chamber  32 . The sealing plug retainer  42  retains an elongate stem  44  of a sealing plug  46  in the pump housing  12 . The engagement of the retainer  42  with the stem  44  allows for some limited axial movement of the sealing plug  46  in the pump housing  12 . A radially enlarged portion  48  of the pump housing  12  extends axially upwardly from the liquid pump chamber wall  34 . This portion  48  of the housing extends upwardly to the top end  28  of the pump housing surrounding the top opening. An annular lip  52  is formed on the exterior surface of the pump housing  12  around the top opening. Spaced below the annular lip  52  is a flat annular ring  54  that projects radially outwardly from the pump housing  12 . A vent hole  58  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) passes through the annular ring  54  and functions as a portion of the air vent path. 
         [0036]    The closure connector  14  has a general cylindrical configuration that is coaxial with the pump housing  12 . A center tubular stem  62  of the connector  14  is inserted into the opening at the pump housing top end  28 . A circular rim  64  projects inwardly from the interior of the stem  62 . An annular shoulder  66  of the connector extends over the pump housing top  28  and downwardly over the pump housing annular lip  52  securing the closure connector  14  to the pump housing  12 . A flat circular base  68  extends radially outwardly from the closure connector shoulder  66 . A cylindrical wall  72  extends upwardly from the outer peripheral edge of the connector base  68 . The wall  72  forms an air pump chamber wall that surrounds the air pump chamber of the dispenser. An axial groove  74  is formed in the exterior surface of a lower portion of the air pump chamber wall  72 . The axial groove  74  intersects an annular trough  76  formed into the bottom surface of the connector base  68 . The trough  74  extends radially inwardly from the outer peripheral edge of the connector base  68  to a position over the vent hole  58  in the pump housing annular ring  54 . Thus, the groove  74  in the air pump chamber wall  72  and the trough  76  in the bottom of the closure connector base  68  form a portion of the air venting flow path through the pump dispenser. 
         [0037]    Portions of the air pump chamber wall  72  are thicker than the remainder of the wall. These portions form lock columns  78  that extend axially upwardly over the exterior surface of the air pump chamber wall  72 .  FIG. 5  shows three lock columns  78  on the exterior surface of the air pump chamber wall. In the embodiment shown, there are three lock columns  78  spacially arranged around the air pump chamber wall  72 . Each lock column  78  extends axially upwardly to the top edge of the air pump chamber wall  72  where a lock surface  82  is provided on the top distal end of each lock column  78 . 
         [0038]    Positioned adjacent the bottom of each lock column  78  is a vent opening  84  into the air pump chamber wall  72 . Each vent opening  84  communicates with one of the axial grooves  74  formed in the exterior surface of the air pump chamber wall  72 . In the embodiment of the pump dispenser shown in the drawing figures, there are three such vent openings  84  spacially arranged around the air pump chamber wall  72 . Together the vent openings  84 , the axial grooves  74 , and the radial trough  76  form a vent air flow path from the exterior of the air pump chamber wall  72  through the pump dispenser to the interior of the bottle  26  connected to the pump dispenser. 
         [0039]    An annular flange  86  projects radially outwardly from the air pump chamber wall  72  just below the plurality of vent openings  84 . The flange  86  extends outwardly to an outer peripheral edge of the flange that joins with a cylindrical side wall  88  of the closure connector. A portion of the side wall  88  extends axially downwardly from the outer peripheral edge of the annular flange  86 . This lower portion of the side wall  88  has internal screw threading  92  that is used to removably attach the pump dispenser to the neck of the bottle  26 . Other equivalent connectors, for example a bayonet connector, could be used. A cylindrical upper portion of the side wall  88  extends axially upwardly from the outer peripheral edge of the annular flange  86 . The annular flange  86  spaces the upper portion of the side wall  88  radially outwardly from the air pump chamber wall  74  and forms an annular groove  94  between the upper portion of the connector side wall  88  and the air pump chamber wall  72 . As seen in the drawing figures and in particular in  FIG. 5 , each of the vent openings  84  open through the air pump chamber wall  72  in the annular groove  94 . Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , three stop surfaces  96  extend across the annular groove  94  adjacent the three vent openings  84 . Three tab locks  98  project into the annular groove  94  on the opposite sides of the vent openings  84  from the lock surfaces. 
         [0040]    The pump plunger  16  is mounted in the interior of the pump housing  12  for reciprocating movements between an upward, first charge position of the pump plunger  16  relative to the pump housing  12 , and a downward second discharge position of the pump plunger  16  relative to the pump housing  12 . The pump plunger  16  is also rotatable in the pump housing  12 . The pump plunger  16  has an elongate tubular length with a center bore  102  that is coaxial with the center axis  22  of the pump housing. The plunger center bore  102  forms a liquid discharge passage through the pump plunger. A liquid piston  104  is formed at the bottom end of the pump plunger  16 . The liquid piston  104  engages in a sliding sealing engagement with the liquid pump chamber wall  34 . A sealing plug seat  106  is formed on an intermediate portion of the pump plunger  16 . The sealing plug seat  106  is positioned to engage in a sealing engagement with the sealing plug  46  when the pump plunger  16  is moved to its upward, charge position relative to the pump housing  12 . An annular retainer ring  108  extends radially outwardly from the pump plunger  16  just below the sealing ring  106  and below the interior rim  64  of the closure connector  14 . The engagement of the pump plunger retainer ring  108  with the closure connector rim  64  prevents the pump plunger  16  from being removed from the pump housing  12 , and positions the pump plunger  16  in the charge position relative to the pump housing  12 . From the retainer ring  108 , the pump plunger  16  extends axially upwardly to a top end  112  of the plunger that surrounds a top opening of the plunger. 
         [0041]    A coil spring  114  is positioned over the pump plunger  16  and engages on top of the closure connector interior rim  64 . The spring  114  biases the pump plunger  16  toward its upward, first charge position relative to the pump housing  12 . 
         [0042]    A tubular spring holder  116  is inserted into the top end  112  of the pump plunger  12  and is held firmly in the plunger. The spring holder  116  has an annular ring  118  that projects radially outwardly from the spring holder  116  and engages against the top end  112  of the plunger and the top of the coil spring  114 . The coil spring  114  acts against the spring holder ring  118  in biasing the pump plunger  16  upwardly to the first, charge position of the plunger  16  relative to the pump housing  12 . An air seal ring  124  projects axially upwardly from the top of the spring holder ring  118 . Radially inside the air seal ring  124 , a plurality of air path grooves  126  are formed in the exterior surface of the spring holder  116 . The grooves  126  extend axially upwardly from the annular ring  118  to the top end of the spring holder  116 . A valve seat  128  is provided inside the tubular spring holder  116  adjacent the top end of the spring holder. A ball valve  132  is positioned on the valve seat  128 . The ball valve  132  controls the flow of fluid upwardly through the spring holder  116  as part of the liquid discharge passage  102  of the pump plunger, and prevents the reverse flow of liquid. 
         [0043]    The dispenser head  18  is mounted on the pump plunger  16  by being mounted onto the top end of the spring holder  116 . The dispenser head  18  has a center tube  134  inside the dispenser head that is press fit over the top end of the spring holder  116 . The engagement of the dispenser head center tube  134  with the spring holder  116  securely holds the dispenser head to the pump plunger  16 . The air path grooves  126  in the spring holder  116  provide an air path between the spring holder  116  and the dispenser head center tube  134 . A discharge nozzle  136  projects radially outwardly from the dispenser head center tube  134 , and an outlet passage  138  in the discharge nozzle  136  communicates with the interior of the center tube  134  and forms a portion of the discharge passage of the pump dispenser. A circular air seal rim  142  is formed in an interior surface of the dispenser head  18  and extends around the dispenser head center tube  134 . A cylindrical sleeve  144  extends axially downwardly from the dispenser head  18  and is spaced radially outwardly from the center tube  134  and the air seal rim  142 . 
         [0044]    Pairs of posts  146  extend downwardly in the interior of the dispenser head  18 . In the illustrated embodiment of the pump dispenser, there are three pairs of posts  146  spacially arranged around the pump dispenser center axis  22  inside the dispenser head  18 . Each of the pairs of posts  146  are spaced radially inwardly from the dispenser head sleeve  144 . An axial groove  148  is formed between each of the pairs of posts  146 . Each of the grooves  148  extends axially downwardly for the entire length of its associated pair of posts  146 . Each of the pairs of posts  146  also has radial lock surfaces  150  formed at the bottom ends of the posts. These lock surfaces  150  of the dispenser head  18  are positioned adjacent the top end of the air pump chamber wall  72  on the closure connector  14 . With the dispenser head  18  being rotatable with the pump plunger  16  relative to the connector closure  14  and the pump housing  12 , in a first rotated position of the dispenser head  18  relative to the connector  14 , the dispenser head lock surfaces  150  are axially aligned opposite the lock surfaces  82  at the tops of the lock columns  78  on the air pump chamber wall  72 . Rotating the dispenser head  18  and the pump plunger  16  relative to the closure connector  14  and the pump housing  12  to a second, unlocked position of the dispenser head  18  relative to the closure connector  14  axially misaligns the dispenser head lock surfaces  150  and the closure connector lock surfaces  82 . When rotated to the first, locked position, the dispenser head lock surfaces  150  are axially aligned opposite the closure connector lock surfaces  78  and the opposed lock surfaces will engage with each other when the dispenser head  18  is manually pressed downwardly. The engagement of the dispenser head lock surfaces  151 D with the closure connector lock surfaces  82  prevents the pump plunger  16  from being reciprocated relative to the pump housing  12  when the dispenser head  18  is manually pressed toward the pump housing. To unlock the pump plunger  16 , the plunger  16  and the dispenser head  18  are rotated relative to the pump housing  12  and the closure connector  14  to the second, unlocked position of the dispenser head  18  relative to the closure connector  14 . In the unlocked position the dispenser head lock surfaces  150  are misaligned with the closure connector lock surfaces  82 , and the pump plunger  16  can be manually pressed downwardly into the pump housing  12  by manually pressing the dispenser head  18  downwardly. This allows the pump plunger  16  to be reciprocated in the pump housing  12 . 
         [0045]    An air pump piston  152  is mounted on the pump plunger  16  and engages in a sliding sealing engagement in the air pump chamber wall  72 . The air piston  152  has a cylindrical center portion  156  that extends from the outer sealing portion of the air piston  152  axially upwardly and then radially inwardly toward the pump plunger  16 . A cylindrical upper end  158  of the air piston cylindrical portion  156  is dimensioned to engage in a sealing engagement in the air seal rim  142  of the dispenser head  18 . The air piston upper end  158  is joined by a plurality of radial spokes  162  to a center tubular column  164  of the air piston. The spacings between the radial spokes  162  provide air flow paths between the air piston upper end  158  and the air piston center column  164 . The air piston column  164  is mounted for limited axial sliding movement on the dispenser head center tube  134 . When the air piston column  164  moves downwardly relative to the dispenser head center tube  134 , a bottom annular edge  166  of the column engages in a sealing engagement inside the spring holder air seal ring  124 . This closes an air flow path from the interior of the air pump chamber inside the air pump chamber wall  72  through the air path grooves  126  between the spring holder  116  and the dispenser head center tube  134  to the dispenser head outlet passage  138 . The downward movement of the air piston  152  on the dispenser head center tube  134  causes the upper end  158  of the air piston to disengage from the air seal rim  142  of the dispenser head. This opens an air flow path from the exterior of the dispenser head through the spacing between the dispenser head sealing rim  142  and the air piston upper end  158  allowing air from the exterior environment of the dispenser pump to enter the air pump chamber inside the air pump chamber wall  72 . 
         [0046]    The cylindrical locking and venting collar  20  is mounted on the closure connector  14  for rotation of the collar on the connector. The collar  20  has a lower cylindrical rim portion  172  that snaps over the upper portion of the connector side wall  88  in mounting the collar  20  on the connector  14  for rotation. From the rim  172 , the collar  20  extends axially upwardly over the exterior surface of the connector air pump chamber wall  72 . A radial spacing  174  is left between the collar  20  and the air pump chamber wall  72 . This radial spacing  174  forms a portion of the air vent flow path through the pump dispenser. 
         [0047]    A plurality of sealing tabs  176  are spaced radially inwardly from the collar rim  172  and extend axially downwardly from the collar  20  into the annular groove  94  of the closure connector. A narrow tongue or ridge  178  extends axially upwardly from each sealing tab  176  across the interior surface of the collar  20 . The collar tongues  178  engage in sliding engagement in the grooves  148  between the dispenser head posts  146  in operatively connecting the collar  20  to the dispenser head  18 . The connection between the collar  20  and the dispenser head  18  provided by the sliding engagement of the collar tongues  178  in the dispenser head grooves  148  allows the dispenser head  18  to be reciprocated axially relative to the collar  20 , and connects the collar  20  to the dispenser head  18  for rotation with the dispenser head. 
         [0048]    The collar  20  is rotatable between a locked, vent closed position and an unlocked, vent opened positioned of the collar  20  relative to the closure connector  14 . In the locked, vent closed position, the collar  20  is rotated in a clockwise direction when looking at the top of the pump dispenser. The collar  20  is rotated to where each of the collar sealing tabs  176  engages against a stop surface  96  in the annular groove  94  of the closure connector  14 . This positions a surface of each sealing tab  176  over each vent opening  84  of the closure connector, closing the air vent passage through the pump dispenser. The engagement of the closure connector tab locks  98  on the opposite sides of the collar tabs  176  from the connector stop surfaces  96  securely holds the collar  20  in the locked, vent closed position relative to the connector  14 . In this position also, the operative connection between the collar  20  and the dispenser head  18  provided by the engagement of the collar tongues  178  in the dispenser head grooves  148  positions the dispenser head  18  relative to the connector air pump chamber wall  72  where the dispenser head lock surfaces  150  are aligned axially opposite the connector lock surfaces  82 . This prevents the dispenser head  18  from being reciprocated relative to the closure connector  14 , and thereby prevents reciprocating movements of the pump plunger  16  in the pump housing  12 . 
         [0049]    Rotating the locking/venting collar  20  counterclockwise relative to the closure connector  14  moves the collar  20  from the locked, vent closed position to an unlocked, vent opened position of the collar. This rotation of the collar  20  requires sufficient manual force to disengage each of the collar sealing tabs  176  form its engaging tab lock  98  of the closure connector  14 . As each sealing tab  176  is moved over its engaging tab lock  98 , the surface of the sealing tab  176  closing over the vent opening  84  of the closure connector  14  is moved away from the vent opening. This opens an air vent path from the exterior of the pump dispenser through the radial spacing  174  between the collar  20  and the closure connector air pump chamber wall  72 , through the connector vent openings  84 , through the axial grooves  74  in the air pump chamber wall  72  and the annular trough  76  on the bottom of the connector base  68  and through the vent hole  58  in the pump dispenser annular ring  54  to the interior of the bottle  26 . This rotation of the collar  20  also causes the dispenser head  18  to rotate relative to the closure connector  66  due to the operative engagement between the collar tongues  178  in the dispenser head grooves  148 . The movement of the dispenser head  18  relative to the connector closure  14  moves the dispenser head lock surfaces  150  away from axial alignment with the closure connector lock surfaces  82 . This allows the dispenser head  18  to be reciprocated over the collar  20 , and thereby allows the pump plunger  16  to be reciprocated in the pump housing  12 . 
         [0050]    As the pump plunger  16  is moved downwardly into the pump housing  12 , an air flow path is established through the spacing between the dispenser head air seal rim  142  and the air pump piston upper end  158  providing air into the air pump chamber surrounded by the air pump chamber wall  72 . This air flow path exists for the short period of time before the air piston  152  moves upwardly relative to the dispenser head center tube  134  and the air piston upper end  158  engages in a sealing engagement with the dispenser head air seal rim  142 . Simultaneously, the bottom edge  166  of the air pump piston tubular column  164  disengages from the air seal ring  124  of the spring holder  116 . This opens an air flow path from the air pump chamber through the grooves  126  in the spring holder  116  to the dispenser head outlet passage  134 . Further downward movement of the pump plunger  16  into the pump housing  12  causes downward movement of the air piston  152  in the air pump chamber surrounded by the air pump chamber wall  72 , which causes air to be forced from the air pump chamber through the spring holder grooves  126  to the dispenser head outlet passage  138 . 
         [0051]    Additionally, as the pump plunger  16  moves downward through the pump housing  12 , liquid in the liquid pump chamber  32  is pumped out of the chamber by the downward movement of the liquid piston  104  through the liquid pump chamber. The liquid is forced upwardly through the pump plunger liquid discharge passage  102  and mixes with the air pumped from the air pump chamber, generating a foam. The foam is dispensed through the dispenser head outlet passage  138  from the dispenser. 
         [0052]    After the pump plunger  16  has been moved downwardly to its second, discharge position relative to the pump housing  12 , the manual pressure on the pump plunger  16  is removed and the coil spring  114  pushes the pump plunger  16  upwardly in the pump housing  12 . The spring pushes the plunger  16  upwardly in the housing  12  to the first, charge position of the pump plunger  16  relative to the pump housing  12 . This causes the liquid piston  104  to move upwardly through the liquid pump chamber  32  drawing liquid into the liquid pump chamber, and causes the air piston  152  to first be stationary as the plunger moves upwardly and the dispenser head air seal rim  142  disengages from the air piston upper end  158 , and then moves upwardly with the plunger through the air pump chamber surrounded by the air pump chamber wall  72  drawing air into the air pump chamber. With the pump plunger  16  in its first, charge position relative to the pump housing  12 , the plunger is ready for additional manual reciprocating movements relative to the pump housing  12 , or is in position to be rotated clockwise relative to the pump housing  12  back to the lock position of the plunger  16 . 
         [0053]    As described above, the pump dispenser of the invention comprises both a liquid pump and an air pump that mix liquid and air pumped through the dispenser to create a foam dispensed by the dispenser. In addition, the novel construction of the pump dispenser incorporates a collar rotatably mounted on the closure connector with a venting feature and a lock feature of the dispenser, thereby reducing the number of component parts of the dispenser and simplifying the dispenser construction. 
         [0054]    Although the air foaming pump dispenser of the invention has been described above by reference to a specific embodiment shown in the drawing figures, it should be understood that modifications and variations could be made to the air foaming pump dispenser without departing from the intended scope of the following claims.