Patent Publication Number: US-2021187530-A1

Title: Spray pump

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a spray pump capable of spraying a content in a uniform manner. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     In a cosmetic container and the like, a spray pump may be coupled to the opening at the upper part of a container holding a liquid content such as a perfume, etc., to eject and spray the content to the exterior in designated amounts. When the user presses down on a nozzle corresponding to a button so as to spray the liquid content, the content that had entered the inside of the spray pump may be pressurized, move upward along the discharge passage, and be sprayed through the nozzle. When the pressure on the nozzle is released, the discharge passage may be mechanically closed by the rising of the nozzle, the pressure inside the pump may be lowered, and the content may be drawn in from the container to make up for the pressure loss. 
     A spray pump such as the above is being used not only for spraying perfumes and cosmetics but also a variety of other contents such as air fresheners, insecticides, etc. Due to the convenience of ejecting designated amounts of a content with a single pressing of the nozzle button, without having the content exposed to the exterior, use of the spray pump continues to grow. 
     A conventional spray pump may have the orifice, for spraying the content, formed with a very small diameter in order to spray the content in the form of fine particles. As a result, it may occur that the pumped liquid content is unable to easily pass through the orifice having a small diameter, and this in turn can result in an inability to eject a content in a uniform manner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     The present invention, which has been derived to resolve the problem above, aims to provide a spray pump that is capable of ejecting a content in a uniform manner. 
     Also, the present invention aims to provide a spray pump that can prevent the content from being contaminated by preventing the content from directly contacting parts made from metallic materials. 
     Other objectives of the present invention will be more clearly appreciated from the embodiments set forth below. 
     Technical Solution 
     A spray pump according to one aspect of the present invention may include: a housing that has an inflow space and is configured to be coupled to the opening of a container; a housing cover that is coupled to an upper end of the housing; a disk that is configured to open or close the housing according to the pressure of the inflow space; a valve that is movably inserted through the inside of the housing cover and includes a valve head and a valve body connecting with the valve head; a guide that has a portion inserted in the valve body and a remaining portion positioned outside the valve body and includes a guide passage corresponding to a flow path for discharging a content; a valve spring that is configured to provide an elastic force pressing the valve upward; a piston that is movably inserted onto the outer perimeter of the guide and is configured to open or close the guide passage by way of a vertical movement of the valve; a nozzle that is coupled to the valve head and includes an insert protrusion; and an insert that is inserted onto the periphery of the insert protrusion and includes an orifice, where a nozzle helical groove having a helical shape may be formed in the outer perimeter of the insert protrusion. 
     A spray pump based on the present invention can include one or more of the following features. For example, the valve spring can be inserted onto the periphery of the valve and can have one end supported by the housing cover. 
     The spray pump can include a piston spring that is positioned around the piston and is configured to press the piston downward, where the piston spring can have one end supported by the piston and the other end supported by the valve. 
     The insert can include a detent protrusion on its periphery, the nozzle can include an insert holder part in which to the insert may be inserted, and the insert holder part can have an insert groove formed therein into which the detent protrusion may be inserted. 
     The nozzle helical groove can be formed in two or more lines. 
     The insert can include an orifice, through which a content may be sprayed, and an insert helical groove, which may be formed in the inner surface where the orifice is formed and which may connect with the orifice. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     The present invention can provide a spray pump that is capable of ejecting a content in a uniform manner. 
     Also, the present invention can provide a spray pump that can protect the content from contamination by preventing direct contact between the content and parts made from metallic materials. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a spray pump according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the spray pump illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the nozzle in a spray pump according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating the inside of the insert in a spray pump according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the nozzle has moved downward from the configuration shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the entry of air in  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Below, a detailed description is provided of certain embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings. In the descriptions referencing the appended drawings, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same or corresponding elements, regardless of the figure number, and redundant descriptions are omitted. 
       FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a spray pump  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the spray pump  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the nozzle  110  in a spray pump  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating the inside of the insert  120 . 
     Incidentally,  FIG. 1  illustrates the spray pump  100  when there is no external force applied, so that the nozzle  110  is raised as much as possible. Also, in  FIG. 1 , the arrows illustrate the flow of the content that is sprayed to the exterior. 
     A spray pump  100  according to this embodiment can be coupled to the upper end of a container (not shown) to spray a liquid content, which was injected into the container, in the form of fine particles, etc. The spray pump  100  according to this embodiment is not limited by the type or material of the coupled container or by the form, quality, and type of the sprayed content. 
     A cap  130  may be coupled to the opening of the container, and a cap cover  132  may be coupled to an upper portion of the cap  130 . A packing  210  can be provided between the container and the cap  130  to prevent the content from leaking to the exterior. Also, a cover flange  162  of a housing cover  160  may be positioned between the packing  210  and an internal protrusion  134  of the cap  130 . This may prevent the housing cover  160  from moving in position with respect to the cap  130 . 
     The cap cover  132  may be coupled to an upper portion of the cap  130  to prevent the outer surface of the cap  130  from being exposed to the exterior. At the upper end of the cap cover  132 , a through-hole (no number assigned) may be formed, through which a nozzle  110  and a nozzle cap  118  can be inserted in a manner that allows vertical movement. Between the nozzle cap  118  and the cap cover  132 , a gap may be formed, through which air can enter into the inside of the housing  200  and the inside of the container. 
     The housing  200  may be positioned at the lowermost portion of the spray pump  100  and may provide an inflow space  202 , which may be positioned within the container and into which the content can enter. The housing  200  may be structured such that the upper end and the lower end are both open and may have the inflow space  202  formed inside into which the content can enter. A housing cover  160  may be coupled to an upper portion of the housing  200 . 
     The inflow space  202  of the housing  200  may correspond to a space that can receive an entry of the content through a disk  190 . When the nozzle  110 , piston  180 , and guide  170  are raised so that the pressure within the inflow space  202  is a vacuum or a near-vacuum, the content may be drawn into the inflow space  202 , as the pressure in the container is higher than in the inflow space  202 . Since the upper portion of the inflow space  202  is closed by the piston  180  and the guide  170 , the content may not flow to the exterior and may remain only in the inflow space  202 , when the nozzle  110  is not in a pressed state. 
     At the upper end of the housing  200 , an outwardly protruding housing flange  203  may be formed. The housing flange  203  may be caught on the packing  210 . Also, the cover flange  162  of the housing cover may be positioned at an upper portion of the housing flange  203 . The cover flange  162  may be pressed downward by the internal protrusion  134  of the cap  130 , and as a result, the housing  200  may also be coupled to be constricted in vertical movement with respect to the container. 
     On the inner perimeter of the housing  200 , there may be formed an inwardly protruding curb step  205 . When the nozzle  110  is moved downward, a lower end of the piston  180  may be caught on the curb step  205  (see  FIG. 5 ). As a result, the piston  180  may not move downward any further, and only the guide  170  may move downward, so that a first guide passage  172  may be exposed and connected with the inflow space  202 . 
     Below the curb step  205  on the inner perimeter of the housing  200 , a mount step  206  may be formed. The disk  190  may be mounted on the mount step  206 . The disk  190 , positioned on the mount step  206 , may open or close an inflow hole  208  according to changes in pressure in the inflow space  202  and in the container. 
     Between the curb step  205  and the mount step  206 , a disk protrusion  209  may protrude inward. The disk protrusion  209  may prevent the disk  190  from being moved vertically from the mount step  206  by a pressure difference and becoming detached from its original position. 
     The housing cover  160  may be coupled to an upper portion of the housing  200  and may have a valve  140  penetrating therethrough. The housing cover  160  may include, with respect to the cover flange  162 , a cover upper part  164  that protrudes upward and a cover lower part  166  that protrudes downward. 
     The cover lower part  166  may be inserted through an upper portion of the housing  200 . The valve  140  may be inserted into the hollow cavity of the cover lower part  166 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , a gap for forming an air passage  168  may be formed between the outer perimeter of the cover lower part  166  and the inner perimeter of the housing  200 . A gap for forming an air passage may also be formed between the inner perimeter of the cover lower part  166  and the outer perimeter of the valve  140 . Through such an air passage, air from the exterior may enter the housing  200  and subsequently enter the container. 
     The cover flange  162  may be a portion that protrudes outward in a certain length from the outer perimeter of the housing cover  160 . The diameter of the cover flange  162  can be the same or almost the same as the diameter of the housing flange  203  of the housing  200 . Thus, the cover flange  162  may be mounted on the upper portion of the housing flange  203 . Also, the cover flange  162  may be pressed downward by the internal protrusion  134  of the cap  130 . As a result, any vertical movement of the housing cover  160  may be prevented. The upper surface of the cover flange  162  may contact the lower end of the valve spring  158 . 
     The cover upper part  164  may be a hollow tube that protrudes upward from the cover flange  162  and may have the valve  140  penetrating therethrough. A valve spring  158  may be positioned around the cover upper part  164 . When the nozzle  110  is pressed downward, the end portion of the cover upper part  164  may contact the valve  140 , preventing any further downward movement of the valve  140  (see  FIG. 5 ). 
     The valve  140  may be inserted through the inside of the housing cover  160  and may move vertically with respect to the housing cover  160  so as to open or close the flow path through which the content may be discharged. The valve  140  may be structured as a hollow tube, with both the upper end and lower end open, and may include a valve head  142 , a valve flange  148 , and a valve body  150 . 
     The valve head  142  may be a hollow tube of a small diameter and may be inserted into the inside of the nozzle  110 . The valve head  142  may include a valve passage  144  that penetrates therethrough along its entire lengthwise direction. The valve passage  144  may be the part through which the content that has been transported through the guide  170  passes, and the content that passes through the valve passage  144  may be sprayed through the nozzle  110  and the insert  120  to the exterior. 
     The valve flange  148  may protrude outward at the lower end of the valve head  142  and may have a multi-stepped structure. A lower surface of the valve flange  148  may contact the valve spring  158 . Thus, the valve  140  may receive an upwardly pressing elastic force applied by the valve spring  158 . Also, the valve flange  148  can contact the upper end of the housing cover  160 . 
     The valve body  150  may be movably inserted at the center of the housing cover  160 . Also, the valve body  150  may have a guide  170  inserted therein over the entire lengthwise direction. The guide  170  may not move vertically with respect to the valve body  150 . As a result, the valve  140  and the guide  170  may move vertically as an integrated body. Also, a gap for forming an air passage may be formed between the outer perimeter of the valve body  150  and the inner perimeter of the housing cover  160 . 
     The valve spring  158  may be positioned between the housing cover  160  and the valve  140  to provide an elastic force that moves the valve  140  upward. Since the housing cover  160  and the housing  200  do not move vertically with respect to the container, only the valve  140  and the guide  170  may move vertically. That is, when an external force is applied, the valve  140  and the guide  170  may be moved downward (see  FIG. 5 ), and when the external force is removed, the valve  140  and the guide  170  may be moved upward by the elastic restoring force of the valve spring  158  and returned to their original positions (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     The valve spring  158  may not contact the content while positioned around the valve  140  and housing cover  160 . Thus, any contamination of the content by the metallic material of the valve spring  158  can be prevented, and the problem of the durability of the valve spring  158  being lowered by the content can be avoided. 
     The guide  170  may move vertically as an integrated body with the valve  140  and may provide guide passages  172 ,  174  through which the content can move. The guide  170  may be shaped as a hollow cylinder and may have a guide head  176  formed at its lower end, where the guide head  176  may have a larger diameter. Also, a portion of the guide  170  may be inserted in the valve  140 , while a remaining portion may be exposed outside the valve  140 . A piston spring  178  and a piston  180  may be positioned around the portion of the guide  170  that is exposed outside the valve  140 . 
     The guide passage may include a first guide passage  172  and a second guide passage  174 . 
     The first guide passage  172  may be formed perpendicularly to the lengthwise direction of the guide  170 , and its opening may be formed in the outer perimeter of the guide  170 . It is possible to have two or more first guide passages  172 , of which the other ends may all connect with the second guide passage  174 . The first guide passage  172  can be formed adjacent to the guide head  176  formed at the lower end of the guide  170 . 
     The first guide passage  172  can be opened or closed by the piston  180 . That is, when the nozzle  110  is raised, the first guide passage  172  may be closed by the piston  180  (see  FIG. 1 ), with the result that the content within the inflow space  202  may not be sprayed. When the nozzle  110  is lowered, the first guide passage  172  may move beyond the piston  180  and be opened (see  FIG. 5 ), with the result that the content can move through the first guide passage  172 . 
     The second guide passage  174  may be formed in a direction perpendicular to that of the first guide passage  172 , in the lengthwise direction of the guide  170 . The upper end of the second guide passage  174  may connect with the valve passage  144 . 
     The guide head  176  may be formed at the lower end of the guide  170  with a diameter somewhat larger than the diameter of the guide  170 . The guide head  176  may have an outer diameter that is larger than the inner diameter of the inner piston  182 . Thus, when the nozzle  110  is raised, the guide head  176  may be caught on the inner piston  182 , which may limit the rising of the guide  170 . Also, when the movement of the guide  170  is stopped, the movement of the valve  140 , nozzle  110 , and nozzle cap  118 , which move together as an integrated body, may be stopped as well. 
     The piston  180  may be inserted onto the periphery of the guide  170  and may move vertically along the lengthwise direction of the guide  170  to open or close the first guide passage  172 . The piston  180  may include an inner piston  182 , a piston flange  186 , and an outer piston  188 . 
     The inner piston  182  may have the shape of a hollow tube, and at the inside of the inner piston  182 , the guide  170  may be inserted in a movable manner. The inner perimeter of the inner piston  182  may tightly contact the outer perimeter of the guide  170  such that the content does not leak out. For implementing such a sealing function, the piston  180  can be formed from a flexible material such as rubber, etc. 
     The lower portion of the inner piston  182  can open or close the first guide passage  172 . That is, depending on the relative positions of the guide  170  and the piston  180 , the first guide passage  172  can be opened or closed by the inner piston  182 . 
     On the outer perimeter of the inner piston  182 , a piston flange  186  may be formed that has a certain length in the radial direction. The piston flange  186  can be formed in the middle of the inner piston  182  along the lengthwise direction. At the end portion of the piston flange  186 , an outer piston  188  may protrude downward. 
     When the nozzle  110  is raised up, the upper surface of the piston flange  186  may contact the lower end of the housing cover  160 , whereby the rising of the piston  180  may be stopped. Also, the upper surface of the piston flange  186  may contact the lower end of the piston spring  178 . Thus, the piston  180  may receive a downwardly pressing force applied by the piston spring  178 , whereby the piston  180  may be positioned to be able to close the first guide passage  172  while separated from the valve  140  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     The outer perimeter of the outer piston  188  may tightly contact the inner perimeter of the housing  200 . As a result, the content that had entered the inside of the housing  200  can be prevented from leaking out. Also, the lower end of the outer piston  188  may be caught on the curb step  205  of the housing  200 , with the result that the movement of the piston  180  may be limited. However, the guide  170  that is movably inserted through the inside of the piston  180  can undergo a further downward movement, with the result that the first guide passage  172  may move beyond the inner piston  182  and be exposed outside (see  FIG. 5 ). 
     The piston spring  178  may not be positioned in the inflow space  202  but rather may be positioned outside, i.e. around the upper portion of the piston  180 . This can prevent contamination of the content, since the piston spring  178  may not come into contact with the content. 
     The disk  190  may, while positioned on the mount step  206  within the housing  200 , open or close the inflow hole  208  according to the pressure inside the inflow space  202 . The disk  190  can be formed from a material having an elastic quality such as rubber, flexible plastic, etc. The disk  190  may include a connection member  192 , an operating plate  194 , and a disk body  196 . 
     The disk body  196  may be the portion that is placed on the mount step  206  and may form the outer body of the disk  190 . An upper end of the disk body  196  may be caught on the curb step  205 , whereby the disk  190  may be prevented from becoming detached from the mount step  206 . 
     The connection member  192  may correspond to a portion that connects the disk body  196  with the operating plate  194 . The connection member  192  can be formed from a material having an elastic quality to be capable of changing length. This allows the operating plate  194  to move upward from its original position (see  FIG. 5 ). 
     The operating plate  194  may be connected to the connection member  192  and may open or close the inflow hole  208 . The diameter of the operating plate  194  can be formed somewhat larger than the diameter of the inflow hole  208 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , when the pressure inside the inflow space  202  is lower compared to the inside of the container, the operating plate  194  may be raised due to the pressure difference, and the inflow hole  208  may be opened. As a result, the content within the container may be moved to the inflow space  202 . Also, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , when the pressure inside the inflow space  202  is higher compared to the inside of the container, the operating plate  194  may remain at its original position to close the inflow hole  208 . As a result, the content in the container cannot move to the inflow space  202 , and the content that had already entered the inflow space  202  may be sprayed through the nozzle  110  to the exterior. 
     The nozzle  110  may be coupled to the upper end of the valve  140  and may continue from the valve  140  to provide a passage through which the content may be discharged. Also, the nozzle  110  may protrude to the outside of the cap  130  to be positioned for pressing by the user. At an upper portion of the cap  130 , a space may be formed in which the nozzle  110  can move vertically. 
     In the center on the inside of the nozzle  110 , a valve holder cavity  116  may be formed into which the valve head  142  can be inserted. The valve head  142  may be inserted into the valve holder cavity  116  by way of press fitting. Thus, the nozzle  110  may be prevented from moving and rotating with respect to the valve  140 . 
     The valve holder cavity  116  may connect with the nozzle passage  117 . Thus, the content that has passed through the valve passage  144  of the valve head  142  may pass through the nozzle passage  117  and be sprayed to the exterior. The nozzle passage  117  can correspond to a cavity formed in the upper surface of the nozzle  110 . 
     The nozzle  110  can have a cylindrical shape of which only the lower side is open. Also, on the outer perimeter of the nozzle  110 , an insert holder part  112  can be formed. An insert  120  may be inserted in the insert holder part  112 . In the inner perimeter of the insert holder part  112 , an insert groove  113  may be formed. A detent protrusion  122  formed on the outer perimeter of the insert  120  may be inserted in the insert groove  113 . As a result, even as the content is sprayed, the insert  120  may not become detached from the insert holder part  112 . 
     On the inside of the insert holder part  112 , an insert protrusion  114  may be formed. The insert protrusion  114  can be a protrusion formed in a horizontal direction of the nozzle  110  and can have a cylindrical shape. The insert  120  may be inserted onto the periphery of the insert protrusion  114 . A gap may be present between the outer perimeter of the insert protrusion  114  and the inner perimeter of the insert  120 , and the content may be sprayed through this gap to the exterior of the nozzle  110 . 
     A nozzle helical groove  119  corresponding to a helically shaped groove may be formed in the outer perimeter of the insert protrusion  114 . The nozzle helical groove  119  can be formed over the entire lengthwise direction of the insert protrusion  114  and can be formed in two or more lines. The insert protrusion  114  can form a vortical flow as the content passes through to enable a uniform spraying of the content at the end portion of the insert  120 . 
     A nozzle cap  118  can be coupled to the exterior of the nozzle  110 . In the outer perimeter of the nozzle cap  118 , an insert hole  111  may be formed, which may allow the insert  120  to be exposed to the exterior. The diameter of the insert hole  111  may be formed smaller than the diameter of the insert  120 . Thus, the insert  120  may be caught on the nozzle cap  118  to be prevented from becoming detached to the exterior of the nozzle  110 . 
     The insert  120  may be shaped as a hollow cylinder having only one end open and may be inserted onto the insert holder part  112 . In the surface of the closed other end of the insert  120 , an orifice  124  may be formed. The content may be sprayed through the orifice  124  in the form of fine particles. Between the closed other end of the insert in which the orifice  124  is formed and the end of the insert protrusion  114 , a certain gap may be formed through which the content can move. 
     On the outer perimeter of the insert  120 , a detent protrusion  122  may be formed. The detent protrusion  122  may be inserted in the insert groove  113  to prevent the insert  120  from becoming detached. 
     In the inner surface of the insert  120  where the orifice  124  is formed, insert helical grooves  126  may be formed. An insert helical groove  126  may correspond to an indentation of a helical shape that extend from the edge of the inner surface in the direction of the orifice  124  formed in the center. In  FIG. 4 , there are three insert helical grooves  126  that are arranged with equal angles in-between to generally form the shape of an impeller. The three insert helical grooves  126  may all connect with the orifice  124 . 
     The content may form a vortical flow as it passes through the nozzle helical groove  119 . Afterwards, the vortical flow of the content can be further reinforced by the insert helical grooves  126 . 
     The following describes the operation of a spray pump  100  according to this embodiment, with reference to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the spray pump in  FIG. 1  when the nozzle  110  is moved downward. The arrows in  FIG. 5  illustrate the discharge path of the content. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , when there is no external force applied on the nozzle  110 , the positions of the nozzle  110 , valve  140 , and guide  170  may be raised as much as possible by the valve spring  158 . Also, the rising of the guide  170  may cause the piston  180  to be raised as well, to be raised as much as possible at a position caught on the lower end of the housing cover  160 . Here, the piston  180  may close the first guide passage  172  of the guide  170 . 
     The rising of the valve  140  and guide  170  may lower the pressure of the inflow space  202  inside the housing  200 , forming a vacuum or a near-vacuum state. The inside of the container may maintain atmospheric pressure due to the inflow of outside air described later on. Therefore, as the pressure inside the container is higher than the pressure inside the inflow space  202 , the disk body  196  may be raised by the pressure difference, and the inflow hole  208  may be opened. As the inflow hole  208  is opened, the content held in the container may be suctioned into the inflow space  202 . 
     Here, the inner piston  182  may tightly contact the outer perimeter of the guide  170  to prevent any leaking of the content and to maintain the vacuum state of the inflow space  202 . Also, the outer piston  188  may tightly contact the inner perimeter of the housing  200  to prevent any leaking of the content and to maintain the vacuum state of the inflow space  202 . 
     From the state illustrated in  FIG. 1 , when the nozzle  110  is pressed downward in order to spray the content, the valve  140  and the guide  170  may move downward together with the nozzle  110 . Also, the force moving the valve  140  downward may be transferred through the piston spring  178  to the piston  180 , causing the piston  180  to move downward as well. However, during the movement, the piston  180  may have its lower end caught on the curb step  205 , whereby the movement may be stopped. Even though the piston  180  is caught on the curb step  205  and stopped from moving, the guide  170  may be movable within the piston  180  and hence may further move downward. As a result, the gap between the piston  180  and the guide head  176  may be increased, and the first guide passage  172  may be opened. 
     As the piston  180  and the guide  170  are moved downward, the pressure inside the inflow space  202  may be increased. As a result, the content that had entered the inflow space  202  may sequentially pass through the first guide passage  172 , the second guide passage  174 , the valve passage  144 , and the nozzle passage  117 , to be sprayed through the orifice  124  to the exterior. 
     The content may form a vortical flow while passing through the nozzle helical groove  119 . Also, the vortical flow of the content may be further reinforced by the insert helical grooves  126 . Due to such vertical flow of the content, the content can be sprayed through the insert  120  in a uniform manner. 
     When the pressure inside the inflow space  202  is increased, the operating plate  194  of the disk  190  may be moved down by the pressure to close the inflow hole  208 . 
     From the state illustrated in  FIG. 5 , when the external force is removed, the nozzle  110 , valve  140 , guide  170 , piston spring  178 , and piston  180  may generally be moved upward by the elastic restoring force of the valve spring  158 . Here, as the piston spring  178  compressed as in  FIG. 5  is elastically restored, the piston spring  178  may press the piston  180  downward with respect to the valve  140 , whereby the piston  180  may quickly move down and close the first guide passage  172 . 
     The following describes the inflow of air in a spray pump  100  according to this embodiment, with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the flow of air to the inside of the container in  FIG. 5 . In  FIG. 6 , the arrows illustrate the flow of the air drawn in. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , outside air may be drawn to the inside of the container. That is, air that enters through the gap formed between the nozzle cap  118  and the cap  130  may enter the inside of the nozzle  110  and then flow through the gap between the valve  140  and the housing cover  160 , the gap between the housing cover  160  and the housing  200 , and the gap between the housing  200  and the opening of the container, to enter the inside of the container. If the outside air does not enter the inside of the container in this manner, a vacuum would form inside the container, and it would not be possible to suction the content to the inside of the housing  200  with the weak vacuum generated in the inflow space  202 . Thus, the passage for air movement may be formed to prevent the forming of a vacuum inside the container. 
     The inflow of outside air to the inside of the container and the spraying of the content that had entered the inside of the inflow space  202  can occur simultaneously. 
     While the foregoing provides a description with reference to an embodiment of the present invention, the person having ordinary skill in the relevant field of art would understand that various modifications and alterations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention set forth in the scope of claims below.