Patent ID: 7654418

Claim:
An airless dispenser pump assembly, comprising: a pump mechanism defining a pump cavity with an inlet port through which viscous fluid from a container is supplied, the pump mechanism sealing with the container and being configured to minimize air infiltration into the container, the pump mechanism including a piston slidably received in the pump cavity to pump the fluid from the pump cavity, an outlet valve member configured to permit flow of the viscous fluid out of the pump cavity during a dispensing stroke of the piston and to firm a vacuum in the pump cavity during an intake stroke of the piston, and an inlet valve member covering the inlet port, wherein the inlet valve member includes an outer support member, an inner seal member that is sized to seal the inlet port during the dispensing stroke of the piston, and two or more connection legs connecting the outer support member to the inner seal member for rapidly closing the inlet port during the dispensing stroke of the piston, wherein at least one of the connection legs includes a circumferential portion that extends in a circumferential direction around the seal member to provide a large flow aperture for the viscous fluid between the legs during the intake stroke of the piston.