Dispenser for flowable substances

Claim 2

A fluid dispenser comprising the combination of: a container body and cover therefor including a fluid passageway communicating the exterior thereof to a valve member supported within said container body; an expansible member having an open end and a closed end, the diameter proximate said open end being larger than the diameter of said closed end, said expansible member being adapted to be retained within said container body and store fluid therein; a valve seating member disposed in axially shiftable relationship within said valve member and adapted to open and close the communication between said fluid passageway and the interior of said expansible member; and means to impart longitudinal and radial stress to the walls of said expansible member prior to storing fluid therein, said expansible member being longitudinally elongated at least 100 percent over its normal length.

Claim 3

The dispenser in accordance with claim 1 wherein said expansible member is adaptable to have an elongate portion extend substantially the entire interior length of said container body and said means to impart longitudinal and radial stress retains said expansible member in the extended position.

Claim 4

The dispenser in accordance with claim 2 wherein said valve member includes a valve body member having a valve seat and said valve seating member acts thereagainst to close said communication between said fluid passageway and the interior of said expansible member and said elongate portion thereof is of larger diameter than said means to impart longitudinal and radial stress.

Claim 5

The dispenser in accordance with claim 3 wherein said valve seating member is normally spring biased into the closed position.

Claim 6

The dispenser in accordance with claim 4 wherein said means to impart longitudinal and radial stress comprises an elongate mandrel.

Claim 7

The dispenser in accordance with claim 5 wherein said mandrel has a plurality of spaced grooves extending substantially the length thereof and the upper portion is adapted to form fluid paths for the fluid stored in said expansible member to said fluid passageway.

Claim 8

The dispenser in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means to impart longitudinal and radial stress comprises an elongate mandrel having an upper end adapted to form fluid paths thereabout, for the stored fluid, to said fluid passageway.

Claim 9

The dispenser in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means to impart longitudinal and radial stress comprises a retaining member within said expansible member and retained at the interior, bottom wall of said container body.

Claim 10

A fluid dispenser comprising the combination of: a container body and cover therefor including a fluid passageway communicating the exterior thereof to a valve member supported within said container body, said valve member comprising a valve body member having a valve seat and a valve seating member disposed in axially shiftable relationship within said valve member and which is normally spring biased into the closed position against said valve seat to close the communication between said fluid passageway and the interior of an expansIble member hereinafter defined; an expansible member having an open end and a closed end, the diameter proximate said open end being larger than the diameter of said closed end and having an elongate portion adapted to extend substantially the entire interior length of said container body and being larger in diameter than means hereinafter defined to impart longitudinal and radial stress to the walls of said expansible member, said expansible member being adapted to be retained within said container body and store fluid therein, said means to impart longitudinal and radial stress comprising an elongate mandrel retaining said expansible member in the extended position and having a plurality of spaced grooves extending substantially the length thereof and the upper portion thereof being adapted to form fluid paths for the fluid stored in said expansible member, to said fluid passageway.

Claim 11

A fluid dispenser comprising the combination of: a container body and cover therefor including a fluid passageway communicating the exterior thereof to a valve member supported within said container body, said valve member comprising a valve body member having a valve seat and a valve seating member disposed in axially shiftable relationship within said valve member and which is normally spring biased into the closed position against said valve seat to close the communication between said fluid passageway and the interior of an expansIble member hereinafter defined; an expansible member having an open end and a closed end, the diameter proximate said open end being larger than the diameter of said closed end and having an elongate portion adapted to extend substantially the entire interior length of said container body and being larger in diameter than means hereinafter defined to impart longitudinal and radial stress to the walls of said expansible member, said expansible member being adapted to be retained within said container body and store fluid therein, said means to impart longitudinal and radial stress comprising an elongate mandrel retaining said expansible member in the extended position and having a plurality of spaced grooves extending substantially the length thereof and the upper portion thereof being adapted to form fluid paths for the fluid stored in said expansible member, to said fluid passageway.

Claim 12

The dispenser in accordance with claim 9 wherein said valve seating member comprises an annular head with spaced peripheral protuberances thereabout, and a depending spring centering portion which limits the downward movement thereof by abutting an upper surface of said mandrel.

Claim 13

the dispenser in accordance with claim 10 wherein said spring is coil-shaped and is positioned to react against the under surface of said annular head and the upper surface of said mandrel.

Claim 14

The dispenser in accordance with claim 11 wherein the upper surface of said head forms a sealing lip to engage the undersurface of said valve seat in fluid-tight relationship.

Claim 15

The dispenser in accordance with claim 12 wherein said valve seat and valve body member are received in nestled relationship by a ferrule member of deformable character and said valve seat is a disc of conformable material having an annular passageway of the same size as said fluid passageway and communicating thereto.

Claim 16

The dispenser in accordance with claim 13 wherein said disc is retained in position with said valve body member by said overlying ferrule member and said ferrule member has an aligned aperture accommodating said fluid passageway and said annular passageway.

Claim 17

The dispenser in accordance with claim 14 wherein the open end of said expansible member is retained in fluid-tight relationship in the assembly and a snap-ring member adapted to engage the interior wall of said container body positions the assembly within the neck of said container body and the length of said elongate portion is about one-half to one-third the length of said mandrel, and additionally includes a fluid impermeable barrier.

Claim 18

A fluid dispenser comprising the combination of: a container body and cover therefor including a fluid passageway communicating the exterior thereof to a valve member supported within said container body; an expansible member having an open end and a closed end, the diameter proximate said open end being larger than the diameter of said closed end, said expansible member being adapted to be retained within said container body and store fluid therein; a valve seating member disposed in axially shiftable relationship within said valve member and adapted to open and close the communication between said fluid passageway and the interior of said expansible member and means to impart longitudinal and radial stress to the walls of said expansible member prior to storing fluid therein, said expansible member being adaptable to have an elongate portion extend substantially the entire interior length of said container body and said means to impart longitudinal and radial stress retains said expansible member in the extended position, said valve member including a valve body member having a valve seat and said valve seating member acts thereagainst to close said communication between said fluid passageway and the interior of said expansible member and said elongate portion thereof is of larger diameter than said means to impart longitudinal and radial stress, and said last named means comprises an elongate mandrel having aN upper end adapted to form fluid paths thereabout, for the stored fluid, to start fluid passageway.

Claim 19

A fluid dispenser comprising the combination of: a container body and cover therefor including a fluid passageway communicating the exterior thereof to a valve member supported within said container body; an expansible member having an open end and a closed end, the diameter proximate said open end being larger than the diameter of said closed end, said expansible member being adapted to be retained within said container body and store fluid therein; a valve seating member disposed in axially shiftable relationship within said valve member and adapted to open and close the communication between said fluid passageway and the interior of said expansible member and means to impart longitudinal and radial stress to the walls of said expansible member prior to storing fluid therein, said expansible member being adaptable to have an elongate portion extend substantially the entire interior length of said container body and said means to impart longitudinal and radial stress retains said expansible member in the extended position, said valve member including a valve body member having a valve seat and said valve seating member acts thereagainst to close said communication between said fluid passageway and the interior of said expansible member and said elongate portion thereof is of larger diameter than said means to impart longitudinal and radial stress, and said last named means comprises an elongate mandrel having aN upper end adapted to form fluid paths thereabout, for the stored fluid, to start fluid passageway.

Claim 20

The dispenser in accordance with claim 16 wherein the interior, bottom wall of said container body is adapted to receive the terminus of said mandrel opposite said upper end in friction fit engagement.

Claim 21

The dispenser in accordance with claim 17 wherein a collet configuration is provided on the interior and bottom of said container body and said terminus of said mandrel is bulbous shaped to be received by said collet in snap-fitting engagement.

Claim 22

The dispenser in accordance with claim 18 wherein the open end of said expansible member is received by the lower portion of said valve body member and said valve seat and valve body member are received in nestled relationship by a ferrule member of deformable character to form an assembly and said valve seat is a disc of conformable material having an annular passageway of the same size as said fluid passageway and communicating thereto and the neck of said container body is adapted to support said assembly and expansible member in retained, fluid-tight relationship.

Claim 23

A fluid dispenser comprising the combination of: a container body and cover therefor including a fluid passageway communicating the exterior thereof to a valve member supported within said container body; an expansible member having an open end and a closed end, the diameter proximate said open end being larger than the diameter of said closed end, said expansible member being adapted to be retained within said container body and store fluid therein; a valve seating member disposed in axially shiftable relationship within said valve member and adapted to open and close the communication between said fluid passageway and the interior of said expansible member and means to impart longitudinal and radial stress to the walls of said expansible member prior to storing fluid therein, said expansible member being adaptable to have an elongate portion extend substantially the entire interior length of said container body and said means to impart longitudinal and radial stress retains said expansible member in the extended position, said valve member including a valve body member having a valve seat and said valve seating member acts thereagainst to close said communication between said fluid passageway and the interior of said expansible member and said elongate portion thereof is of larger diameter than said means to impart longitudinal and radial stress, and said last named means comprises a retaining member within said expansible member and retained at the interior, bottom wall of said container body.

Claim 24

A fluid dispenser comprising the combination of: a container body and cover therefor including a fluid passageway communicating the exterior thereof to a valve member supported within said container body; an expansible member having an open end and a closed end, the diameter proximate said open end being larger than the diameter of said closed end, said expansible member being adapted to be retained within said container body and store fluid therein; a valve seating member disposed in axially shiftable relationship within said valve member and adapted to open and close the communication between said fluid passageway and the interior of said expansible member and means to impart longitudinal and radial stress to the walls of said expansible member prior to storing fluid therein, said expansible member being adaptable to have an elongate portion extend substantially the entire interior length of said container body and said means to impart longitudinal and radial stress retains said expansible member in the extended position, said valve member including a valve body member having a valve seat and said valve seating member acts thereagainst to close said communication between said fluid passageway and the interior of said expansible member and said elongate portion thereof is of larger diameter than said means to impart longitudinal and radial stress, and said last named means comprises a retaining member within said expansible member and retained at the interior, bottom wall of said container body.

Claim 25

The dispenser in accordance with claim 20 wherein said interior, bottom wall of said container body is adapted to receive said retaining member in friction-fit engagement.

Claim 26

The dispenser in accordance with claim 21 wherein said retaining member is spherical and the wall of said expansible member above said retaining member is twisted off to thereby form an upper fluid storage cavity and a lower retaining member cavity.

Claim 27

The dispenser in accordance with claim 22 wherein a collet configuration is provided on the interior and bottom of said container body, and said spherical retaining member and the wall of said expansible member forming said lower retaining member cavity are received by said collet in snap-fitting, frictional engagement.

Claim 28

A fluid dispenser comprising the combination of: a container body and cover therefor including a fluid passageway communicating the exterior thereof to a valve member supported within said container body; an expansible member having an open end and a closed end, the diameter proximate said open end being larger than the diameter of said closed end, said expansible member being adapted to be retained within said container body and store fluid therein; a valve seating member disposed in axially shiftable relationship within said valve member and adapted to open and close the communication betWeen said fluid passageway and the interior of said expansible member; and means to impart longitudinal and radial stress to the walls of said expansible member prior to storing fluid therein, said expansible member being longitudinally elongated over its normal length by an amount in excess of the amount of permanent set of said expansible member to exert an expelling force on residual fluid contained within said expansible member.

Claim 29

A fluid dispenser comprising the combination of: a container body and cover therefor including a fluid passageway communicating the exterior thereof to a valve member supported within said container body; an expansible member having an open end and a closed end, the diameter proximate said open end being larger than the diameter of said closed end, said expansible member being adapted to be retained within said container body and store fluid therein; a valve seating member disposed in axially shiftable relationship within said valve member and adapted to open and close the communication betWeen said fluid passageway and the interior of said expansible member; and means to impart longitudinal and radial stress to the walls of said expansible member prior to storing fluid therein, said expansible member being longitudinally elongated over its normal length by an amount in excess of the amount of permanent set of said expansible member to exert an expelling force on residual fluid contained within said expansible member.

Claim 30

A fluid dispenser in accordance with claim 24 wherein said expansible member is longitudinally elongated about 50-250 percent over its normal length.

Claim 31

A fluid dispenser in accordance with claim 25 wherein said expansible member is longitudinally elongated about 80 percent over its normal length.