WO1998058872A1

WO1998058872A1 - Child-resistant nozzle for manual pump dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO1998058872A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/012830
Authority: WO
Inventors: Donald D. Foster; Bert D. Heinzelman; Donald R. Lamond; William Fiebel
Original assignee: Continental Sprayers International, Inc.
Priority date: 1997-06-20
Filing date: 1998-06-19
Publication date: 1998-12-30
Also published as: AU7981398A

Abstract

A child resistant lock for a trigger sprayer that comprises a dispenser body (10), a nozzle (22, 50), and a nozzle closure member (34, 60, 134). The dispenser body has a fluid discharge conduit (12, 114) for discharging fluid through the nozzle. The nozzle has a fluid passage (52, 130), communicating with the fluid discharge conduit and an orifice (56, 136) for discharging the fluid. The nozzle and the nozzle closure member are configured so that when in a closed position, the nozzle closure member blocks discharge of fluid from the nozzle and when in an open position, the nozzle closure member permits discharge of fluid from the nozzle. The child resistant lock and the nozzle closure member are configured to lock against movement of the nozzle closure member from its closed position. Two separate manual movements are needed to unlock the child resistant lock and move the closure member from its closed to its open position.

Description

CHILD-RESISTANT NOZZLE FOR MANUAL PUMP DISPENSER

Background of the Invention (1) Field of the invention

The present invention relates generally to nozzles for manually-operated pump dispensers such as trigger sprayers, and more particularly to such nozzles having child-resistant features. The nozzle is child-resistant in that two distinct motions in different directions are required in order to disengage the closure member so that the fluid may be dispensed. (2) Description of Related Art

There are numerous prior art patents directed to child-resistant locking features used in fluid dispensers of the general type to which this invention relates. Generally a fluid dispenser of the type involved in the present invention is a relatively low-cost, hand-held trigger sprayer which may be manually operated by pulling a trigger to pump liquid from a container attached to the sprayer through a nozzle orifice at the front of the sprayer. Fluid dispensers of this type have a variety of features which have become well-known in the industry. For example, the dispenser may have a dedicated spray nozzle which produces a fixed spray pattern such as a narrow stream or a fine mist. Alternately, the fluid dispenser may be of the type which has a variable spray pattern. Still other fluid dispensers permit a foaming liquid to be dispensed as either a foam or a liquid spray. The child-resistant nozzle of the present invention is equally well-suited for use in each of these types of fluid dispensers, as well as, virtually any other type of fluid dispenser.

Regardless of the type of fluid dispenser used, the fluids dispensed are frequently chemicals which are harmful or fatal if swallowed. Further, the chemicals are sometimes caustic and thus are harmful to individuals if they come in contact with the skin for any appreciable length of time. These harmful effects are frequently more pronounced in children because of their relatively small size and sensitive tissues. In addition, because children may not be able to read or understand textual or graphical warnings printed on the containers, they may not be able to appreciate the danger associated with the chemicals and thus have an increased risk of coming in contact with and being injured by these chemicals ^'.

Although children may be more susceptible to being injured by chemicals dispensed from trigger sprayers, they are easier to protect from the harmful effects of the chemicals by physically locking the containers. Children may be prevented from accessing chemicals contained in a trigger sprayer by incorporating a locking closure on the trigger sprayer nozzle. Experience has shown that simply by requiring that two independent movements in different directions be performed in order to open a container, a significant number of children may be prevented from completing the tasks and others may be inhibited from completing the tasks for a sufficient length of time so that an adult may be alerted to the potentially harmful acts of the child and take appropriate action.

In the past, various types of locking closures have been developed to impede children from coming into contact with potentially harmful chemicals dispensed through fluid dispensers. Most of these locking closures require two different motions to open the closure and enable the fluid dispenser to dispense fluid. One such example is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,114,049. This reference discloses a latch which is pivotally connected to a trigger. The trigger is connected to the housing for pivoting movement in actuating a pump to dispense a liquid from the dispenser. When in the "on" position, the latch prevents the trigger from pivoting. However, the latch is flexible and may be deflected from the "on" position so that the latch does not interfere with pivoting the trigger. Thus, when the latch is deflected to the "off" position, the trigger may be actuated and the fluid may be dispensed from the fluid dispenser. Therefore, the user must use one motion to deflect the latch upward or downward and a second motion to actuate the trigger backward and forward in order to dispense liquid. However, these two motions may be accomplished with one hand. By grasping the fluid dispenser in one hand, the latch may be disengaged with the index finger while the trigger is actuated with the remaining three fingers of the hand. Therefore, with a simple grasping motion, the latch may be disengaged and the fluid may be dispensed. Still another type of child-resistant feature is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,346,821 of Wesner et al . which shows a fluid dispenser having a door with an aperture through it. The door slides relative to the nozzle orifice of the dispenser to alternately align and misalign the aperture with the nozzle orifice to alternatively permit and prevent dispensing liquid, respectfully. The door also includes a deflectable latch which engages against the housing when the door is in the closed position to prevent the door from being moved to the open position. To open the door, the user must deflect the latch forward and simultaneously slide the door upward to the open position to permit liquid to be dispensed from the fluid dispenser. However, the child- resistant feature of the Wesner reference may be easily opened with one hand by pulling the latch forward and then upward.

Thus, each of the previously described fluid dispensers includes a child-resistant locking feature which requires two motions in order to dispense fluid through the fluid dispenser. However, the motion is simple and the locking feature may be opened unintentionally or without much effort using just one hand.

Summary of the Invention

Briefly, therefore, the present invention is directed to a novel child-resistant fluid dispenser comprising a dispenser body, a nozzle assembly or nozzle, a nozzle closure member and a pair of levers. The dispenser body has a nozzle receiving end and a fluid discharge conduit configured for discharging fluid through the nozzle receiving end. The nozzle has a fluid passage extending therethrough. The fluid passage has a rearward end in fluid communication with the fluid discharge conduit of the dispenser body and a forward end for discharge of fluid from the fluid passage. The nozzle closure member and the nozzle are configured so that when the nozzle closure member is in its closed position, the nozzle closure member blocks discharge of fluid from the nozzle. The nozzle closure member and the nozzle are further configured so that when the nozzle closure member is in its open position, the nozzle closure member permits discharge of fluid from the nozzle.

The levers each have a finger portion, a locking portion and an intermediate portion. The intermediate portion of each lever is operatively connected to the nozzle generally adjacent opposite sides of the nozzle. The locking portion of each lever is configured for engaging the nozzle closure member. Each of the locking portions of the levers are moveable between an engaging position in which the locking portion engages the nozzle closure member and a nonengaging position in which the locking portion is spaced from the nozzle closure member. The levers and the nozzle closure member are configured to lock against movement of the nozzle closure member from its closed position when the locking portions are in their engaging positions. The levers and the nozzle closure member are further configured to permit movement of the nozzle closure member between its open and closed positions when the locking portions are in their nonengaging positions.

The finger portions of the levers are spaced from each other and moveable between inward and outward positions. When in their inward positions, the finger portions are closer to one another than when in their outward positions.

The levers are configured and positioned such that movement of each of the finger portions to their inward position causes movement of the locking portions to their nonengaging positions. Among the several advantages found to be achieved by the present invention, therefore, may be noted the provision of an improved child-resistant nozzle for manually-operated pump dispensers such as trigger sprayers; the provision of a child-resistant nozzle which is easily operated by an adult using two hands, but which is not easily operated by a child; the provision of a dispenser which has a minimum number of parts; and the provision of a dispenser which is relatively low in manufacturing cost . Brief Description of the Drawings Further advantages and features of the present invention are revealed in the following Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the present invention and in the drawing figures wherein:

Figure 1 shows a partial cross-section view of a prior art trigger sprayer having a pivoting closure;

Figure 2 shows a partial view in section of a prior art trigger sprayer having a rotating closure ,-

Figure 3 is an isometric view of a trigger sprayer nozzle employing a first embodiment of the closure of the invention;

Figure 4 is a partially fragmented view of the closure of Figure 3 ;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the closure of Figure 3 ; Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the closure of Figure 3 ;

Figure 7 is a front elevation view of the closure of Figure 3 ;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of a further embodiment of the closure of the invention; and

Figure 9 is a front elevation view of the closure of Figure 8. Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The child resistant closure lock of the present invention is disclosed in two embodiments, the first of which may be employed on trigger sprayers of the type having a pivoting closure such as that disclosed in the U.S. patent of Foster et al . No. 5,385,302 and the U.S. patent of Nelson No. 5,373,991, both of which are incorporated herein by reference, as well as other similar trigger sprayers employing a pivoting closure, and the second of which may be employed on a trigger sprayer having a rotating closure such as that disclosed in the U.S. patent of Foster et al . No. 5,234,166, incorporated herein by reference, as well as other similar types of trigger sprayers having rotating closures. Furthermore, both embodiments of the closure locks may be employed on other types of liquid dispensers such as lotion pumps and vertically reciprocated sprayer dispensers. Thus, for convenience and brevity, the embodiments of the closure locks will be described with reference to trigger sprayers, but it is not intended that their use be limited to trigger sprayers and it should be understood that the closure locks of the invention may be employed on various different types of liquid dispensers.

Figure 1 shows the general representation of the forward portion of a prior art trigger sprayer. The trigger sprayer is comprised of a housing 10 containing a liquid discharge passage 12. The discharge passage 12 has an outlet opening 14 at its downstream end, and usually is provided with a check valve (not shown) at its upstream end (not shown) . The typical trigger sprayer housing also contains a pump chamber (not shown) in which a pump piston (not shown) having a piston rod 16 is reciprocated between charge and discharge positions relative to the pump cylinder. Reciprocation of the pump piston 16 in the piston chamber cylinder to the charge or extended position of the pump piston relative to the cylinder will draw liquid from a container (not shown) connected to the trigger sprayer housing through a dip tube (not shown) of the trigger sprayer into the pump chamber. Subsequent movement of the pump piston from the charge or extended position to the discharge or retracted position of the pump position relative to the pump chamber cylinder will force liquid from the pump chamber through the liquid discharge passage 12 and out of the liquid discharge passage outlet opening 14. Movement of the pump piston from its discharge position to its charge position is usually affected by the bias of a spring 18. Movement of the piston from its charge position to its discharge position is done against the bias of the spring 18.

A trigger 20 is attached to the trigger sprayer housing 18 for pivoting movement relative thereto. The trigger 20 engages against an end of the piston rod 16 and, on manual manipulation of the trigger, the trigger causes the piston rod 16 and its attached piston to move between its charge and discharge positions relative to the pump chamber cylinder and the trigger sprayer housing 10. The trigger sprayer of Figure 1 has a nozzle 22 attached to the sprayer housing 10. The nozzle 22 has a cylindrical liquid passage 24 that is inserted into the cylindrical interior of the sprayer housing discharge passage 12 through the outlet opening 14. The nozzle has an orifice wall 26 at the downstream end of the liquid passage 24 and an orifice 28 passes through the orifice wall. Liquid pumped through the sprayer housing discharge passage 12 by operation of the trigger sprayer pump travels into the nozzle liquid passage 24 through an inlet opening 30 at its upstream end and exits through the orifice 28 at the liquid passage downstream end. A liquid spinner 32 is contained in the nozzle liquid passage 24 and imparts a spin to the liquid just before it passes through the nozzle orifice 28. This spin causes the liquid to be discharged from the orifice 28 in a conical spray pattern.

A closure 34 in the form of a door is attached to the nozzle 24 by a living hinge 36. The closure has a sealing projection 38 on its interior surface 40 and an opposite exterior surface 42. A handle 44 with a projecting gripping tab 46 is provided on the closure opposite the living hinge 36. When moved to its closed position relative to the nozzle, the sealing projection

38 of the closure engages against the nozzle orifice 28 and thereby seals close the orifice. Opposite side walls 48, only one of which is visible in Figure 1, are positioned on the opposite left and right sides of the door closure 34. The opposite sides of the door closure 34 engage between the opposed side walls 48 when the closure is moved to its closed position relative to the nozzle and friction engagement with the sides of the door closure and the side walls holds the door closure in its closed position.

To open the door closure, the user merely positions a finger behind the handle 44 beneath the nozzle 22 and pulls the handle forwardly. This disengages the opposite sides of the door closure 34 from their friction engagement between the nozzle side walls

48 and permits the door closure to be pivoted upwardly about the living hinge 36 to the position shown in Figure 1. In the position shown in Figure 1, the sealing projection 38 is displaced from the nozzle orifice 28 and no longer obstructs discharge of liquid from the orifice. If desired, the closure door 34 can be pivoted further about the living hinge 36 until the gripping tab 46 is inserted into a housing opening 50 provided on the top of the trigger sprayer housing 10 which holds the gripping tab in friction engagement and thereby holds the door closure 34 in its open position.

The above description of the trigger sprayer construction shown in Figure 1 is all known in the prior art. In such trigger sprayer construction, the door closure 34 is not considered to be child resistant because only one motion is necessary to open the closure, i.e., the pulling of the handle 44 forwardly with the door in its closed position to pull the door from its closed position thus opening the door. Figures 3-7 disclose the construction of a child resistant lock of the present invention that is employed on trigger sprayers of the type shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figures 3-7, the nozzle 50 includes a liquid passage 52 that is substantially identical to the nozzle liquid passage 24 of the prior art nozzle. The nozzle liquid passage 52 extends from an upstream end 54 of the passage to a downstream end that ends at an orifice 56 in the orifice wall 58 of the nozzle. The exterior surface of the liquid passage 52 is cylindrical and is dimensioned to enable it to be press-fit through the outlet opening 14 of the sprayer housing liquid discharge passage 12, just as the prior art nozzle. This puts the liquid passage 52 in liquid communication with the sprayer housing discharge passage 12 and liquid pumped through the sprayer housing discharge passage 12 will pass through the liquid passage 52 and be discharged from the nozzle orifice 56. The liquid passage 52 contains a liquid spinner when assembled to the sprayer housing 10 just as the prior art nozzle, and the liquid spinner imparts a swirl to the liquid as it passes through the spinner and just before it is discharged from the orifice 56 resulting in a conical spray pattern of the liquid. The child resistant lock provided on the nozzle 50 is provided in part by the construction of the nozzle closure 60. In the embodiment shown in Figures 3-7, the closure 60 is a door that is connected to the top edge of the nozzle orifice wall 58 by a living hinge 62, just as in prior art nozzles of this type. The door is also provided with an interior surface 64 and an opposite exterior surface 66 with a sealing projection 68 on the door interior surface. The projection 68 is positioned on the door interior surface so that it will engage against the nozzle orifice 56 when the door is moved to its closed position thereby obstructing discharge of liquid from the orifice when the door is moved to its closed position. The door also includes a handle 70 and a gripping tab 72 on the handle just as in prior art doors . The closure door of the invention differs from that of the prior art in that it is provided with portions 74, 76 that project outwardly from the doors opposite left 78 and right 80 side edges, respectively. Each of the projecting portions has a general rectangular configuration. The opposite interior 64 and exterior 66 surfaces of the door closure extend over the opposite sides of the left and right projecting portions 74, 76.

The nozzle side walls 82, 84 are similar to those of the prior art nozzle except that there are notches 86, 88 formed through intermediate portions of the side walls. As best seen in Figures 4 and 7, the notches 86, 88 are sized sufficiently large to allow the two projecting portions 74, 76 of the door to pass into the notches when the door is moved to its closed position. Above and below the notch 86 on the left side of the nozzle as viewed in Figures 3 and 4 are a pair or resilient braces 90. A second pair of resilient braces 92 are positioned above and below the notch 88 on^" the right side of the nozzle as viewed in Figures 3 and 4. The pair of braces 90 on the left side of the nozzle are a part of and support a first arm 94 at a position spaced from the nozzle left side and the pair of braces 92 on the right side of the nozzle are a part of and support a second arm 96 at a position spaced from the right side of the nozzle. The arms are molded integrally as a single unit with their braces of the same type of plastic employed to form the nozzle, thus giving the braces 90, 92 of each of the arms a resilience. The left side arm 94 has a handle 98 that projects rearwardly from the left side braces 90 in a cantilever manner. The pair of left side braces 90 position the handle 98 spaced outwardly from the left side of the nozzle and spaced outwardly from the left side of the trigger sprayer housing when the nozzle is assembled to the housing. The left side arm 94 also includes a clasp 100 that projects forwardly from the left side braces 90. The clasp 100 extends from the forward end of the arm 94 to a position in front of the left side notch 86. As can be seen in Figure 7, the clasp 100 extends partially across the left side notch 86. A forward facing surface of the clasp opposite the notch 86 has a camming surface 102 thereon. As seen in Figures 5 and 6, the camming surface 102 angles rearwardly as it extends from the forward end of the arm 94 toward the nozzle orifice 56. The right side arm 96 is constructed as a mirror image of the left side arm 94 and also includes a handle 104, clasp 106, and camming surface 108. The left side braces 90 and right side braces 92 hold their respective arms 94, 96 in positions spaced laterally from the opposite left and right sides of the nozzle 50. As stated earlier, when the nozzle is assembled to the liquid discharge passage 12 of a sprayer housing, the braces also space the arms a lateral distance from the opposite left and right sides of the sprayer housing. Furthermore, the resilience of the braces 90, 92 allow the handles 98, 104 of the two arms to be manually moved toward each other by the thumb and index finger of a user's hand resulting in the arms moving in a pivoting movement about the braces 90, 92 causing the clasps 100, 106 at the opposite ends of the arms to move laterally away from each other and away from the nozzle orifice 56. When the handles 98, 104 are released, the resilience of the braces 90, 92 moves the clasps 100, 106 back toward each other to their at rest positions relative to each other shown in Figures 5 and 6. With the construction of the door closure 60 and arms 94, 96 described above, it can be seen that when the door is moved from its open position shown in Figure 3 to its closed position shown in Figures 5-7, the opposite left and right projecting portions 74, 76 of the door will engage the camming surfaces 102, 108 of the two arms, respectively, as the door approaches the nozzle orifice 56. Further movement of the door toward its closed position causes the engagement of the left and right portions 74, 76 with the respective camming surfaces 102, 108 to displace the clasps 100, 106 outwardly from each other. When the door portions 74, 76 pass over the camming surfaces 102, 108 to the closed position of the door shown in Figures 5-7, the resilience of the braces 90, 92 moves the clasps 100, 106 to their positions over the exterior surface of the door portions 74, 76. In this position of the clasps, they function as a child resistent lock holding the door in its closed position.

To move the door from its closed position to its open position requires two separate actions of the users hands thereby constituting a child resistant lock.

First, the user positions the arm handles 98, 104 between the thumb and forefinger of one hand and pinches the handles toward each other. This results in the clasps 100, 106 of the arms moving away from each other and away from their positions over the exterior surface of the door projecting portions 74, 76. With the clasps cleared from in front of the door exterior surface, the user then takes their other hand and pulls the door forwardly from the handle 70 moving the door from its closed position to its open position shown in Figure 3. Because two movements of the user' s hands are required, the pinching of the arm handles 98, 104 with one hand with the subsequent pivoting of the door with the other hand, the child resistant lock of the invention is difficult for children to open, but is uncomplicated and easy to open for an adult who knows the two step procedure needed to open the child resistant lock.

Figures 8 and 9 show a second embodiment of the invention that incorporates a child resistant lock into the rotating nozzle of the prior art trigger sprayer type shown in Figure 2. Referring to Figure 2, trigger sprayer nozzles of this type usually include a nozzle cap 110 that is attached to a forward end of the trigger sprayer housing 112. The nozzle cap shown in Figure 2 is attached by screw threading 113 to the sprayer housing. Alternatively, a cam follower engaged in a spiraling groove in the sprayer housing may be employed in nozzles of this type. Rotation of the nozzle cap 110 in opposite directions relative to the trigger sprayer housing 112 will cause the nozzle cap to move axially relative to the housing. In the position of the nozzle cap shown in Figure 2, it is rotated to its greatest extent in a clockwise direction causing the nozzle cap 110 to be positioned in its closed position relative to the trigger sprayer housing 112 in which it inhibits the discharge of liquid from the trigger sprayer housing. As in other embodiments of trigger sprayers, the trigger sprayer shown in Figure 2 also includes a liquid discharge passage 114 having an outward opening 116. The nozzle 110 has a liquid passage 118 that passes through the nozzle and communicates with the liquid discharge passage outward opening 116 when the nozzle is attached to the sprayer housing 112. The nozzle liquid passage 118 ends at an orifice wall 120 through which an orifice 122 passes. Liquid pumped from the sprayer housing through the liquid discharge passage 114 passes through the nozzle liquid passage 118 and is discharged through the orifice 122. A liquid spinner 124 is positioned in the nozzle liquid passage 118 and the sprayer housing liquid discharge passage 114 and imparts a swirl or spin to the liquid just before it is discharged through the orifice

* 122. This creates the conical pattern in the spray discharged from the orifice.

The closure 126 provided on the nozzle cap 110 that is moveable between a closed and open position to obstruct discharge of liquid from the orifice or permit the discharge of liquid from the orifice, respectively, is provided by a hub 126 projecting from the interior surface of the orifice wall 120. As shown in the closed position in Figure 2, the cylindrical hub 126 projects from the orifice wall into the swirl chamber of the liquid spinner 124 and engages against the bottom of the swirl chamber. A tangential groove 128 in the side of the liquid spinner 124 which communicates liquid in the nozzle liquid passage 118 into the spinner swirl chamber is blocked by the hub 126. Thus, liquid is prevented from passing from the tangential groove 128 through the swirl chamber and the orifice 122. On rotation of the nozzle cap 110 relative to the sprayer housing 112, the cap moves axially to the left as viewed in Figure 2 and the hub 126 is gradually withdrawn from the swirl chamber, opening the pathway of liquid through the tangential groove 128, the swirl chamber and the orifice 122. In trigger sprayers of this type, rotation of the nozzle cap 110 will cause the closure or projecting hub 126 to be moved through the open and closed positions. Additionally, some trigger sprayers of this type will vary the spray pattern of liquid discharged from the orifice 122 from a conical spray pattern to a stream spray pattern as the cap is continued to be rotated relative to the sprayer housing and moves further to the left as viewed in Figure 2.

Figures 8 and 9 shown the improvements provided by the present invention to the trigger sprayer nozzle of the type shown in Figure 2 that provide this nozzle with a child resistant lock. The nozzle of Figures 8 and 9 is provided with a nozzle liquid passage 130 that is adapted to be press fit into the outlet opening of the trigger sprayer liquid discharge passage just as in the Figure 3- 7 embodiment of the invention, thereby attaching the nozzle to the trigger sprayer housing. The liquid passage 130 contains the liquid spinner (not shown) just as in the prior art nozzles. The nozzle also includes a base portion 132 and a nozzle cap 134. The base portion 132 has an interior through which the liquid passage 130 passes and which is dimensioned to contain the liquid spinner (not shown) . It should be understood that the base portion exterior and interior can be designed to accommodate the nozzle to any particular type of trigger sprayer. The nozzle cap 134 is mounted to the exterior of the base portion 132 to permit axial movement of the cap relative to the base portion in response to rotation of the cap just as was done in the prior art nozzle of Figure 2 described above, and in other similar types of prior art nozzles. As the nozzle cap is rotated between its open and closed positions, the character of liquid discharged from the nozzle cap orifice 136 is changed just as in prior art nozzles of this type.

A pair of arms 138, 140 are provided on the base portion 132 on opposite sides of the nozzle cap 134. Like the previously described embodiment, each of the arms 138, 140 is connected to the base portion 132 by a brace 142, 144. Each of the arms is provided with a handle 146, 148 on the rearward side of its brace and a clasp 150, 152 on the forward side of its brace. As in the previous embodiment, the arms 138, 140 are molded integrally as a single unit with the base portion 132 of the same type of plastic employed to form the base portion, thus giving the braces 142, 144 of each of the arms a resilience. This enables the arm handles 146, 148 to be manually moved toward each other thereby causing their respective clasps 150, 152 to move away from each other. Releasing the arm handles 146, 148 will cause the clasps 150, 152 to return to their at rest positions shown in Figures 8 and 9 due to the resilience of the braces 142, 144.

The exterior surface of the nozzle cap 134 is generally cylindrical and more specifically has the configuration of a truncated cone as best seen in Figure 8. A series of grooves 154 are provided around the cap on its exterior surface and the exterior surface also includes an annular rim 156. As shown in Figure 9, opposite portions of the rim 156 are provided with notches that form abutments 158, 160 on opposite sides of the rim. The notches are sufficiently large to enable the clasps 150, 152 to be received in the notches engaging against the abutments 158, 160. The engagement of the clasps 150, 152 against the abutments 158, 160 holds the nozzle cap 134 in its closed position shown in the drawing figures and prevents it from being rotated out of its closed position. Thereby, the clasps 150, 152 and their engagement with the abutments 158, 160 function as a child resistant lock holding the nozzle cap 134 in its closed position and obstructing the discharge of liquid from the dispenser housing through the nozzle cap orifice 136.

To move the nozzle cap from its closed to its open position, the user engages the handles 146, 148 of each of the arms with the thumb and forefinger of one hand and pinches the handles toward each other, thus causing the clasps 150, 152 of the respective arms to move out of the notches and out of engagement with the nozzle cap abutments 158, 160. With the handles held pressed toward each other and the clasps 150, 152 moved out of engagement with the abutments 158, 160, the nozzle cap 134 may then be freely rotated with the user's other hand out of its closed position toward its open position where the closure or projecting hub 126 of the nozzle cap no longer obstructs discharge of liquid from the dispenser housing through the nozzle cap orifice 136. Once the nozzle cap is rotated out of its closed position, the handles 146, 148 of the arms may be released resulting in the clasps 150, 152 moving toward each other and into engagement with the periphery of the nozzle cap rim 156 due to the resilience of the braces 142, 144. The resilience of the braces holds the clasps 150, 152 in engagement with the annular rim 156 while the nozzle cap is rotated. When the nozzle cap is rotated to its closed position shown in the drawing figures, the resilience of the braces 142, 144 will cause the clasps 150, 152 to snap into the notches and into engagement with the abutments 158, 160 in the position shown in Figures 8 and 9, thus again functioning as a child resistant lock holding the nozzle cap in its closed position.

While the present invention has been described by reference to a specific embodiment, it should be understood that modifications and variations of the invention may be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A child-resistant lock for use on a trigger sprayer having a dispenser housing containing a manually operated liquid pump and a discharge passage communicating with the liquid pump, the discharge passage having an outlet for discharging liquid from the dispenser housing pumped through the discharge passage from the liquid pump, the lock comprising: a closure mountable on the dispenser housing for movement of the closure between an open position and a closed position relative to the dispenser housing, in the closed position the closure obstructs discharge of liquid from the dispenser housing and in the open position the closure does not obstruct discharge of liquid from the dispenser housing; and, a pair of arms mountable on the dispenser housing at positions relative to the closure where they will engage with the closure when the closure is moved to its closed position.

2. The lock of Claim 1, wherein: the pair of arms are positioned on opposite sides of the closure.

3. The lock of Claim 1, wherein: each arm has a length with a clasp at one end and a handle at an opposite end and a brace intermediate the clasp and handle, the brace spaces the arm from the dispenser housing.

4. The lock of Claim 3, wherein: the brace of each arm has a configuration that positions the clasp of each arm against a portion of the closure when the closure is in the closed positioned preventing the closure from being moved from the closed position to the open position, and the clasp and handle of each arm is moveable relative to its brace to cause the clasp of each arm to move away from the portion of the closure permitting the closure to be moved from the closed position to the open position in response to the handle of each arm being manually moved in a direction toward the dispenser housing.

5. The lock of Claim 3, wherein: the brace of each arm is positioned on an opposite side of the closure and each brace has a configuration that positions the clasp of each arm against a portion of the closure when the closure is in the closed position preventing the closure from being moved from the closed position to the open position.

6. The lock of Claim 5, wherein: each brace has a configuration that positions the handle of each arm spaced from a side of the dispenser housing the extending in a cantilever manner from the brace .

7. The lock of Claim 6, wherein: the brace of each arm is sufficiently resilient to cause the clasp of each arm to move from its position against the portion of the closure when the closure is in the closed position in response to the handle of each arm being manually moved toward the dispenser housing.

8. The lock of Claim 7, wherein: the closure is a door mountable on the dispenser housing for pivoting movement between the open position and closed position.

9. The lock of Claim 7, wherein: the closure is a cap mountable on the dispenser housing for rotating movement between the open position and the closed position.

10. The lock of Claim 4, wherein: the closure is a door mountable on the dispenser housing for pivoting movement between the open position and closed position.

11. The lock of Claim 4, wherein: the closure is a cap mountable on the dispenser housing for rotating movement between the open position and the closed position.

12. The lock of Claim 1, comprising: a nozzle mountable on the dispenser housing, the nozzle contains a liquid passage that communicates with the liquid pump when the nozzle is mounted on the dispenser housing and the nozzle has a discharge orifice for discharging liquid from the liquid passage; the closure is a door connected to the nozzle by a hinge for pivoting movement of the door between the open and closed positions.

13. The lock of Claim 12, wherein: the door has opposite interior and exterior surfaces and the interior surface opposes the nozzle orifice when the closure is moved to its closed position, and at least portions of the arms project over the exterior surface of the door when the door is moved to the closed position.

14. The lock of Claim 13, wherein: each arm has a length with a clasp at one end and a handle at an opposite end and each arm is connected to the nozzle by a resilient brace that projects from the nozzle and attaches to the arm intermediate the clasp and the handle.

15. The lock of Claim 14, wherein: the brace of each arm has a configuration that positions the clasp of each arm over the exterior surface of the door when the door is moved to the closed position.

16. The lock of Claim 15, wherein: the brace of each arm has a configuration that positions the handle of each arm spaced from a side of the nozzle and extending in a cantilever manner from the brace .

17. The lock of Claim 16, wherein: the brace of each arm is sufficiently resilient to cause the clasp of each arm to move from its position over the exterior surface of the door when the door is in the closed position in response to .the handle of each arm being manually pressed in a direction toward the dispenser housing.

18. The lock of Claim 1, comprising: a nozzle cap mountable on the dispenser housing for rotation of the nozzle cap between first and second positions relative to the dispenser housing, the nozzle cap contains a liquid passage that communicates with the liquid pump when the nozzle cap is mounted on the dispenser housing and the nozzle cap has a discharge orifice for discharging liquid from the liquid passage; the closure is contained in the nozzle cap and rotates with the nozzle cap between the open position and the closed position in response to nozzle cap rotation between its first position and its second position relative to the dispenser housing.

19. The lock of Claim 18, wherein: the nozzle cap has a periphery with a pair of abutments on the periphery and at least portions of the arms engage against the pair of abutments when the nozzle cap is rotated to the second position.

20. The lock of Claim 19, wherein: each arm has a length with a clasp at one end and a handle at an opposite end and each arm is connected to the dispenser housing by a resilient brace that projects from the nozzle and attaches to the arm intermediate the clasp and the handle.

21. The lock of Claim 20, wherein: the brace of each arm has a configuration that positions the clasp of each arm against one of the nozzle cap abutments when the nozzle cap is rotated to the second position.

22. The lock of Claim 21, wherein: the brace of each arm has a configuration that positions the handle of each arm spaced from a side of the dispenser housing and ' extending in a cantilever manner from the brace .

23. The lock of Claim 22, wherein: the brace of each arm is sufficiently resilient to cause the clasp of each arm to move from its position against the abutment of the nozzle cap when the nozzle cap is in the second position in response to the handle of each arm being manually moved in a direction toward the dispenser housing.