Patent GB-658973-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to adjustable dispensing closure
IPC: B05B11/00
Filed: 1948-02-23
Abstract: 658,973. Dispensing liquids. LIMBACH, A. Feb. 23, 1948, No. 5269. Convention date, Oct. 27, 1944. [A Specification was laid open to inspection under Sect. 91 of the Acts, Feb. 23, 1948.1 [Class 116] A device for dispensing liquids in atomized condition comprises a cup-like member 18 with its bottom wall having an inlet aperture 19 covered by a thin flexible member 21 overlaid by a washer 22, said washer being so constructed and arranged that an annular fluid mixing chamber 31 is defined between the washer and the side wall of the cup-like member 18 which chamber communicates with the atmosphere through a dispensing aperture 34. the washer and flexible member being also so constructed and arranged as to define a passageway from the inlet 19 to the chamber 31 whereby liquid flows from said inlet to said chamber when an air compression and decompression bulb 23 is decompressed and is dispersed through the aperture 34 when the bulb is compressed. the apparatus functioning regardless of the orientation of the washer and flexible member with regard to the side wall of the cuplike member. The opening of the liquid container 28 is closed by a disc 10 of gasketforming material which has a central hole 12 from which a tube 13 extends into the container. Seated in a recess at the outer end of the hole 12 is a conical aperture portion 19 in the bottom of the cup member 18, the inner bottom face of which is concave except for a flat rim portion. The flexible strip 21 overlying the inner bottom surface of the cup member 18 is shaped as in Fig. 4 to form spaces between its straight edges and the circular well of the cup member. The metal washer 22, fitting into the cup member, overlies the flexible strip 21 and has a central opening 36. The rubber bulb 23 rests on the washer 22 and fits by its flange 24 into the cup member. The assembly is clamped together by an annular band 25 with inturned edges, the same band clamping the assembly to the container 28. Both edges of the washer 22 are chamfered to form two annular chambers 31 and 32, and grooves 35a and 35 are formed in its top and bottom faces to connect the opening 36 with the chambers 32, 31. When the bulb 23 is squeezed the flexible strip 21 is pressed downwards and seals the opening to the tube 13 and the contents of the bulb are forced through the grooves 35, 35a to the chambers 31, 32 and thence through the aperture 34 to the atmosphere. When the bulb 23 is released the flexible strip 21 is drawn into sealing contact with the bottom of the washer 22 and away from the surface of the cup member 18 and liquid is therefore drawn from the container through the tube 13, between the straight edges of the flexible strip 21 and the concave bottom of the cup member, into the chamber 31 and through the grooves 35 and the opening 36 into the bulb. At the same time air is drawn into the bulb by way of the aperture 34, chambers 31, 32 and grooves 35, 35a. The bulb thus contains air and liquid which can be discharged when the bulb is squeezed, as described. The grooves 35, 35a are disposed as shown in Fig. 3 so that the direction of flow of air and liquid in the chamber 31 is opposite to that in the chamber 32 whereby a thorough mixture of air and liquid is brought about. To enable liquid to be sucked out of the container it is in communication with the outside air through a passage 17, Fig. 5, through the disc 10' Which enters a circular groove 15 in the top surface of the disc, from which groove other grooves 16 radiate. Air entering the aperture 34 can pass into the grooves 16 because the top edge of the disc 10 and the bottom outside edge of the cup member 18 are chamfered, so forming an annular chamber 39. As the material of the disc 10 is soft the grooves 15, 16 are made rectangular in cross-section to avoid their blocking themselves up under pressure, as they might do if they were initially circular in cross-section. The proportions of air and liquid in the spray may be varied by varying the width of the flexible strip 21 and the size of the aperture 34.