PUMP WITH A SPRING AND VALVE COMBINATION

1 : A fluid pump comprising:

a pump body of plastomer material, defining an axis and having a pump inlet and a pump outlet; and

a spring valve combination provided within the pump body, the spring valve combination comprising:

a spring body having a first end portion, a second end portion and a spring section therebetween, which spring section is compressible in an axial direction from an initial condition to a compressed condition and is subsequently expandable to its initial condition,

a first valve element provided at the first end portion of the spring body, and

a second valve element provided at the second end portion of the spring body,

wherein the spring body and the first and second valve elements are integrally formed, and wherein the first and second valve elements interact with an interior of the pump body to define a one-way inlet valve and a one-way outlet valve, respectively, wherein the second end portion of the spring body comprises an engaging member that interacts with the pump outlet to maintain the spring in position.

2 : The fluid pump according to claim 1 , wherein the second valve element is formed as a circumferential element projecting outwardly.

3 : The fluid pump according to claim 1 , wherein the first valve element is formed as a circumferential element projecting outwardly.

4 : The fluid pump according to claim 1 , wherein the second valve element has a relatively smaller outer diameter than the first valve element.

5 : The fluid pump according to claim 1 , wherein the spring section tapers from the first end portion towards the second end portion.

6 : The fluid pump according to claim 1 , wherein the spring body comprises two or more open spring sections joined together in series and aligned with each other in the axial direction to connect the first end portion to the second end portion.

7 : The fluid pump according to claim 1 , wherein the first end portions of the spring body comprises a further engaging member for engaging the spring valve combination to the pump inlet and retaining such engagement during compression of the pump body with the spring body.

8 : The fluid pump according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second end portions each comprise at least one flow passage for allowing fluid to flow through or around the respective portion.

9 : The fluid pump according to claim 1 , wherein the spring body, first valve element and second valve element are injection molded in a single piece from plastomer material.

10 : The fluid pump according to claim 6 , wherein each spring section comprises four flat leaves joined together along hinge lines that are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the axial direction.

11 : The fluid pump according to claim 10 , wherein the leaves are feathered from a relatively thicker mid-line to relatively thinner edges.

12 : The fluid pump according to claim 6 , wherein the spring sections are arranged to compress from an open configuration to a substantially flat configuration.

13 : The fluid pump according to claim 6 , wherein the spring body comprises at least three spring sections.

14 : The fluid pump according to claim 1 , wherein the pump outlet, the pump inlet, or both have a smaller inner diameter than an outer diameter of the respective first and second valve elements, such that the respective valve element is compressed in a radial direction and an interior of the pump body adjacent the respective valve element forms a valve seat.

15 : The fluid pump according to claim 1 , wherein the pump body comprises an elongate pump chamber surrounding the spring valve combination and extending from the pump inlet adjacent to the first end portion to the pump outlet adjacent to the second end portion, wherein the pump chamber is collapsible on compression of the spring.

16 : The fluid pump according to claim 15 , wherein the pump chamber comprises a flexible wall that inverts during collapse of the pump chamber.

17 : The fluid pump according to claim 1 , consisting of only two components, namely the pump body and the spring valve combination, wherein the spring body and the first and second valve element are integrally formed.

18 : The fluid pump according to claim 1 , wherein a length of the spring valve combination is such that, in the initial condition, the spring body is retained within the pump body in a slightly compressed state.

19 . (canceled)

20 : A pump assembly comprising:

the pump according to claim 1 ;

and a pair of sleeves, arranged to slidably interact to guide the pump during a pumping stroke, including a stationary sleeve engaged with the pump inlet and a sliding sleeve engaged with the pump outlet.

21 : A method of dispensing a fluid from the fluid pump according to claim 1 , the method comprising:

exerting an axial force on the pump body between the pump inlet and the pump outlet to cause axial compression of the spring body and a reduction in volume of the pump body;

allowing the second valve element to open, such that fluid from the pump body flows through the pump outlet, while the first valve remains closed;

releasing the axial force on the pump body to cause expansion of the spring body and an increase in volume of the pump body; and

allowing the first valve element to open, such that fluid is allowed to flow into the pump body, while the second valve remains closed.

22 : The method of claim 21 , wherein the pump comprises a pump chamber, in which the spring body is located and the axial force exerted on the pump body causes the pump chamber to collapse.

23 . (canceled)

24 : A disposable fluid dispensing package, comprising the fluid pump according to claim 1 sealingly connected to a collapsible product container.

25 . (canceled)