Airless dispensing pump

1. A method, comprising:

providing an airless dispensing pump with an inlet valve member sealing an inlet port of the pump to define a pump cavity in the pump, wherein the inlet valve member includes an outer support member, an inner seal member that seals the inlet port and at least two connection legs that connect the outer support member to the inner seal member;

wherein a container has a bottom with a support member;

filling the container with fluid through a top opening of the container;

pushing a follower piston to the bottom of the container against the support member prior to said filling;

wherein said filling includes retracting a diving nozzle that dispenses the fluid in a progressive manner from the bottom of the container to the top opening of the container;

diving the diving nozzle to the bottom of the container immediately above the follower piston before said retracting the diving nozzle; and

priming the airless dispensing pump by securing the airless dispensing pump to the top opening of the container so that pressure of the fluid inside the container opens the inlet valve member to at least partially fill the pump cavity with the fluid, wherein during said priming the airless dispensing pump seals with the container to pressurize the container.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

wherein the container has a bottom; and

dispensing the fluid in a progressive manner by retracting a diving nozzle from the bottom of the container to the top opening of the container as the diving nozzle dispenses the fluid.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising diving the diving nozzle to the bottom of the container before said retracting the diving nozzle.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said priming includes snap-fitting the pump to the container.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising actuating the pump to dispense the fluid after said priming.

6. A method, comprising:

providing a pump with an outlet valve member sealing an outlet port of the pump to define a pump cavity in the pump, wherein the outlet valve member includes an outer support member, an inner seal member that seals the outlet port and at least two connection legs that connect the outer support member to the inner seal member;

filling a container with fluid through a top opening of the container;

priming the pump by securing the pump to the top opening of the container so that pressure of the fluid inside the container opens the outlet valve member to at least partially fill the pump cavity with the fluid; and

plugging an outlet opening of the pump with a plug that has a vent channel that vents air from the pump cavity during said priming.

7. A method, comprising:

providing an airless dispensing pump with an inlet valve member sealing an inlet port of the pump to define a pump cavity in the pump, wherein the inlet valve member includes an outer support member, an inner seal member that seals the inlet port and at least two connection legs that connect the outer support member to the inner seal member;

filling a container with fluid through a top opening of the container;

priming the airless dispensing pump by securing the airless dispensing pump to the top opening of the container so that pressure of the fluid inside the container opens the inlet valve member to at least partially fill the pump cavity with the fluid, wherein during said priming the airless dispensing pump seals with the container to pressurize the container; and

wherein each of the connection legs includes a circumferential portion that extends in a circumferential direction around the inner seal member to provide a large flow aperture for the fluid between the legs during said priming.

8. A method comprising:

providing an airless dispensing pump with an inlet valve member sealing an inlet port of the pump to define a pump cavity in the pump, wherein the inlet valve member includes an outer support member, an inner seal member that seals the inlet port and at least two connection legs that connect the outer support member to the inner seal member;

wherein a container has a bottom with a support member;

filling the container with fluid through a top opening of the container;

pushing a follower piston to the bottom of the container against the support member prior to said filling;

wherein said filling includes retracting a diving nozzle that dispenses the fluid in a progressive manner from the bottom of the container to the top opening of the container;

diving the diving nozzle to the bottom of the container immediately above the follower piston before said retracting the diving nozzle;

priming the airless dispensing pump by securing the airless dispensing pump to the top opening of the container so that pressure of the fluid inside the container opens the inlet valve member to at least partially fill the pump cavity with the fluid, wherein during said priming the airless dispensing pump seals with the container to pressurize the container;

snap-fitting the pump to the container, wherein each of the connection legs includes a circumferential portion that extends in a circumferential direction around the inner seal member to provide a large flow aperture for the fluid between the legs during said priming;

wherein the container has a bottom with a support member;

pushing a follower piston to the bottom of the container against the support member prior to said filling;

diving a diving nozzle to the bottom of the container immediately above the follower piston;

retracting the diving nozzle that dispenses the fluid in a progressive manner from the bottom of the container to the top opening of the container to reduce air entrapment;

plugging an outlet opening of the pump with a plug that has a vent channel; and

venting air from the pump cavity through the vent channel of the plug during said priming.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising actuating the pump to dispense the fluid after said priming.