IP Library Granted Patent US 7,389,947
Granted Patent B2
US 7,389,947 · App. 10/618,459 · Granted Jun 24, 2008

Pump-bottle atomizer

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,389,947
App. No.
10/618,459
Granted
Jun 24, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fluid atomizer that can include an orientable extension conduit between a pump bottle and an atomizing nozzle. A brace element between the bottle and the conduit limits movement of the nozzle during actuation of the pump mechanism. A resilient enlargement to engage the bottle may be included to permit suspending the bottle in commercially available storage racks.

Claims (40)

1. An improved atomizer of the type in which a fluid housed inside a container is ejected through a nozzle, the improvement comprising:

a bottle operable as the container to hold the fluid, the bottle comprising a generally cylindrical portion;

a resilient element structured to form a self-biased engagement with a wall of the cylindrical portion of the bottle at a plurality of locations along an axis of the bottle, the resilient element having a size larger than the cylindrical portion of the bottle so as to permit suspension of the bottle by the resilient element, in a receiving socket of a storage device; and

an extension conduit between a pump mechanism and an atomizing nozzle, said conduit being malleable and deformable to permit a user to adjust the orientation of a direction of discharge from said nozzle, wherein the improved atomizer is in combination with

a brace with a first end adapted for engagement with the bottle, and a second end carrying structure adapted to engage the conduit at a location spaced apart distally from the pump mechanism, the brace being operable to resist movement of the nozzle during actuation of the pump mechanism.

2. The improved atomizer of claim 1 , wherein:

the first end of said brace is configured and arranged to form a clip-on attachment to a portion of said bottle.

3. The improved atomizer of claim 1 , wherein:

the second end of said brace is configured and arranged to form a clip-on attachment to said conduit.

4. The improved atomizer of claim 1 , wherein:

a damping structure carried at the second end of said brace is configured and arranged to resist motion, induced by said pump-mechanism, of a portion of said conduit distal to said damping structure.

5. The improved atomizer of claim 1 , wherein:

said pump mechanism comprises a pump head displaceable by a human digit through a vertical distance between a first and a second elevation; and

said brace is configured and arranged to hold said conduit to provide a fulcrum location at a third elevation, said third elevation being approximately midway between said first and said second elevations, so as to reduce a horizontal displacement of the fulcrum during vertical actuation of said pump mechanism.

6. A stabilized pump-bottle fluid atomizer, comprising:

a pump mechanism operable to pressurize and eject fluid from confinement inside a pump-bottle, the pump mechanism comprising a pump head displaceable by a human digit through a vertical distance between a first and a second elevation;

a conduit between the pump head and a fluid atomizing nozzle; and

a brace between the pump-bottle and the conduit, the brace being configured and arranged to hold the conduit so as to resist motion of said atomizing nozzel during actuation of said pump mechanism, wherein:

a structure carried by said brace is adapted to provide a fulcrum location for localized bending of said conduit at a third elevation, said third elevation being approximately midway between said first and said second elevations so as to reduce a horizontal displacement of the fulcrum during vertical actuation of said pump mechanism.

7. A stabilized pump-bottle fluid atomizer comprising:

a pump mechanism operable to pressurize and eject fluid from confinement inside a pump-bottle, the pump mechanism comprising a pump head displaceable by a human digit through a vertical distance between a first and a second elevation;

a conduit between the pump head and a fluid atomizing nozzle;

a brace between the pump-bottle and the conduit, the brace being configured and arranged to hold the conduit so as to resist motion of the atomizing nozzle during actuation of the pump mechanism, and

a resilient element adapted to engage a wall of a cylindrical portion of the pump-bottle at a plurality of locations along an axis of the pump-bottle, the resilient element having a diameter larger than the cylindrical portion of the pump-bottle so as to permit suspension of the pump-bottle by the resilient element in a socket of a storage device wherein:

said pump head is adapted for removable attachment to said pump mechanism, so as to permit replacement of a unitary assembly comprising said pump head, the conduit, and said atomizing nozzle.

8. A pump-bottle fluid atomizer, comprising:

a bottle structured to hold a fluid;

a pump mechanism operable to pressurize and eject fluid from confinement inside the bottle, the pump mechanism comprising a pump head displaceable by a human digit through a vertical distance between a first and a second elevation;

a conduit between the pump head and a fluid atomizing nozzle, the conduit comprising a malleable and deformable portion permitting a user to adjust the orientation of a direction of discharge from the atomizing nozzle;

a brace between the bottle and the conduit, the brace being operable to reduce motion of the atomizing nozzle during actuation of the pump mechanism, wherein:

the brace comprises first and second ends;

the first end being adapted for attachment to the bottle; and

the second end being adapted for removable attachment to the conduit at a location spaced apart distally from the pump head; and

said brace is configured and arranged to produce a fulcrum about which said conduit may bend so as to allow a vertical deflection of a proximal portion of said conduit and accommodate actuation of said pump mechanism; the fulcrum being located at a third elevation approximately midway between said first and second elevations to reduce a horizontal motion induced in the fulcrum by the vertical deflection of said proximal portion of said conduit.

9. The pump-bottle fluid atomizer of claim 8 , wherein:

the second end of said brace is configured and arranged to form a clip-on attachment to a portion of said conduit between said pump head and said atomizing nozzle.

10. The pump-bottle fluid atomizer of claim 8 , wherein:

a proximal portion of said conduit, located between said pump head and structure carried at the second end of said brace, is configured and arranged to reduce a horizontal deflection of said nozzle atomizing during actuation of said pump mechanism.

11. The pump-bottle fluid atomizer of claim 8 , further comprising:

a resilient element adapted to engage a wall of said bottle at one or more locations along an axis of said bottle, a combined cross-section of said resilient element and said wall having a size to permit suspension of said bottle by said resilient element in a socket of a commercially available storage device.

Assignments (4)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 3, 2019
From: TELEFLEX MEDICAL INCORPORATED
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 050620/0904 →
MERGER Recorded May 24, 2019
From: WOLFE-TORY MEDICAL, INC.
To: TELEFLEX MEDICAL INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 049287/0870 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 21, 2017
From: WOLFE-TORY MEDICAL, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 041763/0188 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 22, 2004
From: DENTON, MARSHALL T.
To: WOLFE TORY MEDICAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 014906/0313 →