IP Library Granted Patent US 7,036,689
Granted Patent B1
US 7,036,689 · App. 10/128,195 · Granted May 2, 2006

Child-resistant trigger sprayer

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,036,689
App. No.
10/128,195
Granted
May 2, 2006
Kind
B1
Abstract

A child-resistant trigger sprayer includes a sprayer body having a barrel with an internal passage, and at least one first lug formed integrally with the barrel and extending radially outwardly from the barrel. A nozzle is rotatable on the barrel between at least one first position for dispensing liquid from the passage, and at least one second position for blocking dispensing of liquid from the passage. The nozzle has a flexible resilient skirt that is telescopically received over the barrel and the first lug on the barrel, and at least one pair of second lugs extending radially inwardly from the skirt for circumferential abutment on opposed sides of the first lug to block rotation of the nozzle in both directions from the second position toward the first position. The skirt is deflectable to distort the portion of the skirt carrying the second lugs radially outwardly so as to be rotatable past the first lug.

Claims (38)

1. A child-resistant trigger sprayer that includes:

a sprayer body having a barrel with an internal passage, and at least one first lug formed integrally with said barrel and extending radially outwardly from said barrel, and

a nozzle rotatable on said barrel between at least one first position for dispensing liquid from said passage and at least one second position for blocking dispensing of liquid from said passage,

said nozzle having a flexible resilient skirt telescopically received over said barrel and said first lug on said barrel, and at least one pair of second lugs having opposed surfaces extending radially inwardly from said skirt for circumferential abutment on opposed sides of said first lug to block rotation of said nozzle in both directions from said second position toward said first position,

said skirt being deflectable to distort the portion of said skirt carrying said second lugs radially outwardly so as to be rotatable past said first lug.

2. The sprayer set forth in claim 1 wherein said nozzle includes diametrically opposed pairs of second lugs extending radially inwardly from said skirt releasably to lock said nozzle on said barrel at positions 180° spaced from each other.

3. The sprayer set forth in claim 2 wherein said barrel has diametrically opposed first lugs on said barrel for cooperating with said diametrically opposed pairs of second lugs on said nozzle.

4. The sprayer set forth in claim 1 wherein said barrel has diametrically opposed first lugs on said barrel for cooperating with said second lugs on said skirt releasably to lock said nozzle on said barrel at positions 180° spaced from each other.

5. The sprayer set forth in claim 4 wherein said nozzle includes diametrically opposed pairs of second lugs extending radially inwardly from said skirt releasably to lock said nozzle on said barrel at positions 180° spaced from each other.

6. The sprayer set forth in claim 1 wherein said second lugs have respective outer surfaces spaced from each other and disposed at respective angles to cam said second lugs over said first lug when rotating said nozzle to said second position.

7. The sprayer set forth in claim 6 wherein said second lugs have respective inner surfaces facing each other and disposed at respective angles to resist camming said second lugs over said first lug when attempting to rotate said nozzle away from said second position absent distortion of said nozzle.

8. A child-resistant trigger sprayer that includes:

a sprayer body having a barrel with an internal passage, and at least one first lug formed integrally with said barrel and extending radially outwardly from said barrel,

a nozzle rotatable on said barrel between at least one first position for dispensing liquid from said passage and at least one second position for blocking dispensing of liquid from said passage,

said nozzle having a flexible resilient skirt telescopically received over said barrel and said first lug on said barrel, and at least one pair of second lugs extending radially inwardly from said skirt for circumferential abutment on opposed sides of said first lug to block rotation of said nozzle in both directions from said second position toward said first position,

said skirt being deflectable to distort the portion of said skirt carrying said second lugs radially outwardly so as to be rotatable past said first lug, wherein said skirt has at least one internal detent recess for cooperating with said at least one first lug for releasably holding said nozzle in said first position of said nozzle.

9. A child-resistant trigger sprayer that includes:

a sprayer body having a barrel with an internal passage and a pair of diametrically opposed external lugs spaced from an outlet end of said barrel, and

a nozzle mounted for rotation on said barrel between first and second positions 180° spaced from each other for dispensing liquid from said passage, and third and fourth positions 180° spaced from each other and spaced 90° from said first and second positions for blocking dispensing of liquid from said passage,

said nozzle having a flexible resilient skirt telescopically received over said barrel and said lugs on said barrel, said skirt having diametrically opposed spaced pairs of internal lugs for circumferential abutment on opposed sides of said lugs on said barrel to block rotation of said nozzle in both directions from said third and fourth positions toward said first and second positions,

said skirt being deflectable upon application of external pressure to said skirt to distort said skirt such that said pairs of lugs on said skirt are deflected radially outwardly sufficiently to clear said lugs on said barrel and permit rotation of said nozzle in both directions from said third and fourth positions toward said first and second positions.

10. The sprayer set forth in claim 9 wherein each said pair of lugs have respective outer edge surfaces remote from each other and disposed at respective angles to cam said lugs on said skirt over said barrel when rotating said nozzle to said third and fourth positions.

11. The sprayer set forth in claim 10 wherein each pair of said internal lugs on said skirt comprise spaced parallel ribs.

12. The sprayer set forth in claim 11 wherein said lugs on said barrel have radially outer edges, and said ribs on said nozzle have radially inner edges that are parallel to said outer edges.

13. The sprayer set forth in claim 9 wherein said skirt has diametrically opposed internal detent recesses for receiving said lugs in said first and second positions releasably to hold said nozzle in said first and second positions.

14. A child-resistant trigger sprayer liquid dispensing package that includes:

a container having an open end and a trigger sprayer secured to said open end, said trigger sprayer comprising:

a sprayer body having a barrel with an internal passage, and at least one first lug formed integrally with said barrel and extending radially outwardly from said barrel, and

a nozzle rotatable on said barrel between at least one first position for dispensing liquid from said passage and at least one second position for blocking dispensing of liquid from said passage,

said nozzle having a flexible resilient skirt telescopically received over said barrel and said first lug on said barrel, and at least on pair of second lugs having opposed surfaces extending radially inwardly from said skirt for circumferential abutment on opposed sides of said first lug to block rotation of said nozzle in both directions from said second position toward said first position,

said skirt being deflectable to distort the portion of said skirt carrying said second lugs radially outwardly so as to be rotatable past said first lug.

15. The package set forth in claim 14 wherein said nozzle includes diametrically opposed pairs of second lugs extending radially inwardly from said skirt releasably to lock said nozzle on said barrel at positions 180° spaced from each other.

16. The package set forth in claim 15 wherein said barrel has diametrically opposed first lugs on said barrel for cooperating with said diametrically opposed pairs of second lugs on said nozzle.

17. The package set forth in claim 14 wherein said barrel has diametrically opposed first lugs on said barrel for cooperating with said second lugs on said skirt releasably to lock said nozzle on said barrel at positions 180° spaced from each other.

18. The package set forth in claim 17 wherein said nozzle includes diametrically opposed pairs of second lugs extending radially inwardly from said skirt releasably to lock said nozzle on said barrel at positions 180° spaced from each other.

19. The package set forth in claim 17 wherein said second lugs have respective outer surfaces spaced from each other and disposed at respective angles to cam said lugs over said first lug when rotating said nozzle to said second position.

20. The package set forth in claim 19 wherein said second lugs have respective inner surfaces facing each other and disposed at respective angles to resist camming said second lugs over said first lug when attempting to rotate said nozzle away from said second position absent distortion of said nozzle.

21. The package set forth in claim 18 wherein said skirt has at least one internal detent recess for cooperating with said at least one first lug for releasably holding said nozzle in said first position of said nozzle.

Assignments (13)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2017
From: HARBINGER CAPITAL PARTNERS MASTER FUND I, LTD.
To: CONTINENTALAFA DISPENSING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 041518/0304 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2017
From: WACHOVIA CAPITAL FINANCE CORPORATION (CENTRAL)
To: CONTINENTALAFA DISPENSING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 041511/0463 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 29, 2016
From: CONTINENTALAFA DISPENSING COMPANY
To: MEADWESTVACO CALMAR, INC.
Reel/Frame 040710/0701 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 29, 2016
From: MEADWESTVACO CALMAR, INC.
To: WESTROCK DISPENSING SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 040710/0863 →
PATENT COLLATERAL ASSIGNMENT AND SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 15, 2007
From: CONTINENTALAFA DISPENSING COMPANY
To: HARBINGER CAPITAL PARTNERS MASTER FUND I, LTD.
Reel/Frame 019432/0235 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 8, 2007
From: CONTINENTALAFA DISPENSING COMPANY
To: WACHOVIA CAPITAL FINANCE CORPORATION (CENTRAL)
Reel/Frame 019399/0087 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AS RECORDED ON 11/2/2005 AT REEL 016722, FRAME 0012 AND ON 11/3/2005 REEL 016722, FRAME 0349 Recorded May 31, 2007
From: THE CIT GROUP/ BUSINESS CREDIT, INC
To: CONTINENTALAFA DISPENSING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 019362/0565 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 3, 2005
From: CONTINENTALAFA DISPENSING COMPANY
To: THE CIT GROUP/BUSINESS CREDIT, INC. AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 016722/0349 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 2, 2005
From: CONTINENTALAFA DISPENSING COMPANY
To: THE CIT GROUP/BUSINESS CREDIT, INC. AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 016722/0012 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY INTEREST AND RELEASE OF CO Recorded Aug 5, 2005
From: OAK HILL SECURITIES FUND, L.P.
To: CONTINENTALAFA DISPENSING COMPANY; AFA PRODUCTS, INC., DELAWARE CORPORATION; CONTINENTAL SPRAYERS INTERNATIONAL, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 019331/0617 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT PATENT APPLICATION NO. 668,480; 146,325; 128,195; 409,793 TO 09/668,480; 10/146,325; 10/128,195; 10409,793 Recorded Nov 13, 2003
From: OWENS ILLINOIS CLOSURE, INC.
To: CONTINENTALAFA DISPENSING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 015886/0892 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 25, 2003
From: LAFFEY, MARTIN S.
To: OWENS-ILLINOIS CLOSURE INC.
Reel/Frame 014521/0760 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 22, 2002
From: LAFFEY, MARTIN S.
To: OWENS-ILLINOIS, INC.
Reel/Frame 012844/0028 →