Child resistant indexing nozzle for a trigger sprayer
View Patent ↗An indexing nozzle assembly for a trigger sprayer has a manually rotatable cap mounted for rotation on a base of the nozzle assembly. Rotation of the cap relative to the base changes the nozzle assembly between an off condition where the nozzle assembly prevents liquid discharge from the trigger sprayer, and a combination of a spray condition, a stream condition, and/or a foam condition. The indexing nozzle assembly is provided with a child resistant feature in the form of a lock mechanism that prevents rotation of the nozzle cap relative to the nozzle base from the cap off condition position. The lock mechanism can be manually manipulated with one hand to disengage the lock mechanism, thereby permitting rotation of the nozzle cap from its off condition position relative to the base.
1. A trigger sprayer comprising:
a nozzle base having a liquid passage extending through the nozzle base;
a nozzle cap mounted on the nozzle base for rotation of the nozzle cap around an axis of rotation relative to the nozzle base; and,
a lock mechanism mounted on the nozzle base for axially reciprocating movement between first and second positions of the lock mechanism relative to the nozzle base, where in the first position the lock mechanism prevents rotation of the nozzle cap relative to the nozzle base and in the second position the lock mechanism permits rotation of the nozzle cap relative to the nozzle base.
2. The trigger sprayer of claim 1 , further comprising:
a spring biasing the lock mechanism toward the first position.
3. The trigger sprayer of claim 2 , further comprising:
the spring being an integral part of the lock mechanism.
4. The trigger sprayer of claim 2 , further comprising:
the spring being positioned between the lock mechanism and the nozzle base.
5. The trigger sprayer of claim 2 , further comprising:
the spring being a leaf spring.
6. The trigger sprayer of claim 2 , further comprising:
the spring being a pair of leaf springs that crisscross each other.
7. The trigger sprayer of claim 2 , further comprising:
a slot in the nozzle base; and,
the lock mechanism and the spring being positioned in the slot for sliding movement of the lock mechanism in the slot between the first and second positions of the lock mechanism relative to the nozzle base.
8. The trigger sprayer of claim 7 , further comprising:
a shroud on the trigger sprayer, the shroud having an edge portion that extends over the slot and holds the lock mechanism and the spring in the slot.
9. The trigger sprayer of claim 2 , further comprising:
the nozzle cap having an end wall with a liquid discharge orifice passing through the end wall and communicating with the nozzle base liquid passage, the liquid discharge orifice having a center axis that is coaxial with the nozzle cap axis of rotation.
10. The trigger sprayer of claim 2 , further comprising:
a sprayer housing having a liquid discharge passage extending through the sprayer housing;
a trigger mounted on the sprayer housing for pivoting movement of the trigger on the sprayer housing; and,
the nozzle base being attached to the sprayer housing with the nozzle base liquid passage communicating with the sprayer housing liquid discharge passage.
11. The trigger sprayer of claim 10 , further comprising:
a shroud on the sprayer housing, the shroud having a portion extending over the nozzle base and the lock mechanism that holds the lock mechanism on the nozzle base.
12. The trigger sprayer of claim 2 , further comprising:
the nozzle base having a liquid spinner with a swirl chamber.
13. The trigger sprayer of claim 1 , further comprising:
a notch in the nozzle cap; and,
a lock tab on the lock mechanism that engages in the notch when the lock mechanism is in the first position relative to the nozzle base, the lock tab engaging in the notch preventing the nozzle cap from rotating relative to the nozzle base.
14. The trigger sprayer of claim 13 , further comprising:
the nozzle cap having an end wall with a liquid discharge orifice passing through the end wall and communicating with the nozzle base liquid passage, the discharge orifice having a center axis that is coaxial with the nozzle cap axis of rotation.
15. The trigger sprayer of claim 14 , further comprising:
the nozzle cap having at least one sidewall that is rotatable with the nozzle cap around the nozzle cap axis of rotation, and the notch being in the nozzle cap sidewall.
16. The trigger sprayer of claim 14 , further comprising:
the nozzle cap having four sidewalls that are positioned around the end wall and are oriented at an angle relative to the end wall, and the notch is positioned in one of the four sidewalls.
17. The trigger sprayer of claim 13 , further comprising:
a slot in the nozzle base; and,
the lock mechanism being positioned in the slot for sliding movement of the lock mechanism in the slot between the first and second positions of the lock mechanism relative to the nozzle base.
18. The trigger sprayer of claim 17 , further comprising:
a shroud on the trigger sprayer, the shroud having an edge portion that extends over the slot and holds the lock mechanism in the slot.
19. The trigger sprayer of claim 13 , further comprising:
a sprayer housing with a liquid discharge passage extending through the sprayer housing;
a trigger mounted on the sprayer housing for pivoting movement of the trigger on the sprayer housing; and,
the nozzle base being attached to the sprayer housing with the nozzle base liquid passage communicating with the sprayer housing liquid discharge passage.
20. The trigger sprayer of claim 19 , further comprising:
a shroud on the sprayer housing covering over an exterior of the sprayer housing, the shroud having a portion that extends over the nozzle base and the lock mechanism and holds the lock mechanism on the nozzle base.