GB1562359A

GB1562359A - Push button type sprayer

Info

Publication number: GB1562359A
Application number: GB49900/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1977-01-20
Filing date: 1977-11-30
Publication date: 1980-03-12
Also published as: ES239882U; FR2377846A1; NL169451B; FR2377846B1; NL169451C; DE7736623U1; NL7712986A; ES239882Y; IT1090992B

Description

(54) PUSH BUTTON TYPE SPRAYER (71) 1, TETSUYA TADA, a citizen of Japan, residing at 6-3, 2-chome, Kakinokizaka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The present invention is concerned with spraying heads of the press-button type.

Spraying heads of the types operated by a trigger-like handle or by a press-button are known, an example of the latter type being disclosed in my British Specification 1508292.

When spraying heads of the press-button type are mounted on containers of liquid, the resulting spraying devices should be so packed as to prevent the press-button from being accidentally depressed when not in use and carried with care. It is also desirable that such spraying heads should be provided with means for preventing accidental depression of the press-button.

I have now developed a press-button type spraying head provided with such means.

According to the invention, there is provided a spraying head for mounting on a container of liquid, which spraying head comprises: (a) a housing adapted to be mounted on the container; (b) discharge means for dispensing liquid from the container; (c) a press-button which is slidably mounted in the housing and is operable to cooperate with the discharge means to dispense liquid from the container. the press-button having a top surface and side faces: and (d) a virgin seal which is formed integrally with the housing and is manually tearably removable therefrom, the virgin seal comprising a horizontal top portion covering at least a portion of said top surface of the press-button and a pair of upright side portions arranged to cover respective side faces of the press-button, said upright side portions extending in a direction substantially parallel to the slide direction of said press-button and functioning as a spring to resist lowering of the virgin seal if a pushing force is applied to a horizontal portion thereof.

Preferred features of spraying heads according to the invention will now be described with reference to the embodiments shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective upper front side view of a spraying head according to the invention mounted on container to form a spraying device; Figure 2 is a partly perspective upper rear side view of the spraying head shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a top plan view of part of the spraying head shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a right side view of part of the spraying head shown in Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a right side view of part of a modified spraying head according to another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a spraying head 10 comprising a housing 14 mounted on a container 12 for liquid to be sprayed. The internal parts of the spraying head are preferably as described and illustrated in my above-mentioned British Specification 1508292, but in order to simplify the drawings, these internal parts have been omitted therefrom.

On the read side of the housing 14 is formed a longitudinally extending recess 16 within which a press-button 18 is slidably arranged. An upward pushing force is always applied to the push button 18 by a bias means (not shown) through the free end of a lever. Between a front wall 20 and a rear wall 22 of the housing 14 is formed an intermediate wall 24 which is parallel to the rear wall. The press-button 18 is in contact with four respective faces of the intermediate wall 24, the rear wall 22, and a pair of side walls 26. A flange piece 28 is formed on the upper edge of the - intermediate wall 24 at the rear wall side.

On the top face of the press-button 18 is formed a partly concave recess 30 which is engageable with the finger of a user. The recess 30 has a corrugated surface 32 to prevent slipping of the finger of the user.

Further, a plurality of reinforcing ribs 34 extend downward from the under face of the press-button 18.

Thus, the verticaçl sliding action of the press-button 18 is completely guided from the four quarters by the four faces of rear wall 22, intermediate wall 24, and the pair of side walls 26, thereby securing play-free sliding of the press-button and completely preventing the press-button from coming off upward by means of the flange piece 28.

Such a construction is simpler than that described in the above-mentioned British Specification, in which the press-button is provided with a projection, and a slot for guiding the button is bored in the housing.

The components can be made in a rapid forming process.

In order to avoid accidental pushing of the button 18 a virgin seal 36, which covers the top and rear faces of the button 18, is formed integrally with the housing 14. Here the liquid is sprayed in use in the direction as indicated by the arrow A.

As shown in Figs. 2 to 4, the virgin seal 36 is tearably connected to the housing 14 by means of two pairs of webs 38 and 40. An upright rear portion 42 of the virgin seal 36 connected to the housing 14 by means of the webs 38 is substantially in alignment with the direction of pushing the button 18, so that there is produced a resisting force to act so that the pushing action is prevented by the spring force of the upright rear portion 42 itself. Thus, if the button 18 is accidentally pressed through the virgin seal 36, the virgin seal 36 will resist lowering of the button, preventing inadvertent ejection of the liquid.

At a horizontal top portion 44 of the virgin seal 36 are formed a pair of notches 46, through which the concave recess 30 on the top face of the button 18 is partially exposed. Accordingly, gaps are defined between the horizontal portion 44 and the concave recess 30 at the notches 46.

In use, the webs 38 and 40 may be broken by pulling the horizontal portion 44 of the virgin seal 36 with the fingers of the user hooked thereto taking advantage of the gaps. Thus, the virgin seal 36 may easily be torn from the housing 14.

Instead of the upright rear portion 42 of the virgin seal 36 to produce the resisting force against the pushing force, the virgin seal 36 may be provided with a pair of upright side portions 50 tearably connected to the side face of the housing 14 by means of webs 48, as shown in Fig. 5. Also in such modified embodiment, the upright side portions 50 can produce a resisting force agains the pushing force. Since a top rear edge 1 8a of the push button 18 is rounded as clearly shown in Fig. 5, a gap is defined between the rounded rear edge 18a and the horizontal top portion 44 of the virgin seal 36. Thus, no notches are required to be formed on the top face of the virgin seal 36.

Further, the virgin seal 36 may be composed of all of the upright rear portion 42, horizontal top portion 44, and the pair of upright side portions 50.

In the embodiments of the invention described above, the top face, both side faces and/or rear face of the button are covered with the virgin seal which is formed integrally with the housing and tearably removable therefrom, so that the upright side and/or rear portions of the virgin seal act so as to prevent the push button from being lowered, whereby accidental depression of the press-button may be avoided. Since the virgin seal is formed integrally with the housing through the webs, it may easily be torn from the housing in use. This virgin seal has the effect of improving the appearance and commercial value of the spraying head as well as its usefulness.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A press-button type spraying head for mounting on a container of liquid, which spraying head comprises: (a) a housing adapted to be mounted on the container; (b) discharge means for dispensing liquid from the container; (c) a press-button which is slidably mounted in the housing and is operable to cooperate with the discharge means to dispense liquid from the container, the press-button having a top surface and side faces; and (d) a virgin seal which is formed integrally with the housing and is manually tearably removable therefrom, the virgin seal comprising a horizontal top portion covering at least a portion of said top surface of the press-button and a pair of upright side portions arranged to cover respective side faces of the press button, said upright side portions extending in a direction substantially parallel to the slide direction of said press-button and functioning as a spring to resist lowering of the virgin seal if a pushing force is applied to a horizontal portion thereof.

2. A spraying head according to claim 1, in which the virgin seal is integrally connected to said housing by tearable webs.

3. A spraying head according to claim 2, wherein said virgin seal has a rear side portion which functions as a spring to resist

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. - intermediate wall 24 at the rear wall side. On the top face of the press-button 18 is formed a partly concave recess 30 which is engageable with the finger of a user. The recess 30 has a corrugated surface 32 to prevent slipping of the finger of the user. Further, a plurality of reinforcing ribs 34 extend downward from the under face of the press-button 18. Thus, the verticaçl sliding action of the press-button 18 is completely guided from the four quarters by the four faces of rear wall 22, intermediate wall 24, and the pair of side walls 26, thereby securing play-free sliding of the press-button and completely preventing the press-button from coming off upward by means of the flange piece 28. Such a construction is simpler than that described in the above-mentioned British Specification, in which the press-button is provided with a projection, and a slot for guiding the button is bored in the housing. The components can be made in a rapid forming process. In order to avoid accidental pushing of the button 18 a virgin seal 36, which covers the top and rear faces of the button 18, is formed integrally with the housing 14. Here the liquid is sprayed in use in the direction as indicated by the arrow A. As shown in Figs. 2 to 4, the virgin seal 36 is tearably connected to the housing 14 by means of two pairs of webs 38 and 40. An upright rear portion 42 of the virgin seal 36 connected to the housing 14 by means of the webs 38 is substantially in alignment with the direction of pushing the button 18, so that there is produced a resisting force to act so that the pushing action is prevented by the spring force of the upright rear portion 42 itself. Thus, if the button 18 is accidentally pressed through the virgin seal 36, the virgin seal 36 will resist lowering of the button, preventing inadvertent ejection of the liquid. At a horizontal top portion 44 of the virgin seal 36 are formed a pair of notches 46, through which the concave recess 30 on the top face of the button 18 is partially exposed. Accordingly, gaps are defined between the horizontal portion 44 and the concave recess 30 at the notches 46. In use, the webs 38 and 40 may be broken by pulling the horizontal portion 44 of the virgin seal 36 with the fingers of the user hooked thereto taking advantage of the gaps. Thus, the virgin seal 36 may easily be torn from the housing 14. Instead of the upright rear portion 42 of the virgin seal 36 to produce the resisting force against the pushing force, the virgin seal 36 may be provided with a pair of upright side portions 50 tearably connected to the side face of the housing 14 by means of webs 48, as shown in Fig. 5. Also in such modified embodiment, the upright side portions 50 can produce a resisting force agains the pushing force. Since a top rear edge 1 8a of the push button 18 is rounded as clearly shown in Fig. 5, a gap is defined between the rounded rear edge 18a and the horizontal top portion 44 of the virgin seal 36. Thus, no notches are required to be formed on the top face of the virgin seal 36. Further, the virgin seal 36 may be composed of all of the upright rear portion 42, horizontal top portion 44, and the pair of upright side portions 50. In the embodiments of the invention described above, the top face, both side faces and/or rear face of the button are covered with the virgin seal which is formed integrally with the housing and tearably removable therefrom, so that the upright side and/or rear portions of the virgin seal act so as to prevent the push button from being lowered, whereby accidental depression of the press-button may be avoided. Since the virgin seal is formed integrally with the housing through the webs, it may easily be torn from the housing in use. This virgin seal has the effect of improving the appearance and commercial value of the spraying head as well as its usefulness. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A press-button type spraying head for mounting on a container of liquid, which spraying head comprises: (a) a housing adapted to be mounted on the container; (b) discharge means for dispensing liquid from the container; (c) a press-button which is slidably mounted in the housing and is operable to cooperate with the discharge means to dispense liquid from the container, the press-button having a top surface and side faces; and (d) a virgin seal which is formed integrally with the housing and is manually tearably removable therefrom, the virgin seal comprising a horizontal top portion covering at least a portion of said top surface of the press-button and a pair of upright side portions arranged to cover respective side faces of the press button, said upright side portions extending in a direction substantially parallel to the slide direction of said press-button and functioning as a spring to resist lowering of the virgin seal if a pushing force is applied to a horizontal portion thereof.

lowering of said virgin seal if a pushing force is applied to a horizontal portion thereof

4. A spraying head according to claim 3.

in which said press-button is provided in the top face thereof with a concave recess with which the finger of the user is engageable, and said horizontal top portion of said virgin seal has a pair of notches therein through which said concave recess is partially exposed.

5. A spraying head according to any of claims I to 4, in which the housing is adapted to form a cover for the container.

6. A spraying head according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the housing includes means for guiding the sliding action of the press-button, said guiding means comprising a rear wall, a pair of side walls, and an intermediate wall formed between a front wall of the housing and said rear wall, said intermediate wall being substantially parallel to said rear wall, and a flange member provided on the upper edge of said intermediate wall preventing said pressbutton from coming off upward.

7. A spraying head substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, or Figures 1 to 4 as modified by Figure 5.

8. A spraying device, which comprises a container of liquid having mounted thereon a spraying head according to any of claims 1 to 7.