Elastomeric dispensing pump that can be made with as few as two components

Abstract

A fluid dispensing pump that can be manufactured from as few as two parts: a stationary pump base ( 200 ) provided with an inlet passageway ( 201 ), and an integral pump top ( 300 ) provided with a fluid-tight attachment to the pump base and including a generally rigid core ( 310 ) and a self-restoring elastomeric layer ( 320 ). The generally rigid core ( 310 ) has a base attachment portion ( 311 ) and a dispensing valve core ( 315 ). The elastomeric layer ( 320 ) includes a resilient self-restoring pump wall ( 323 ) and a dispensing valve membrane ( 325 ). Upon assembly of the pump base and the pump top, a fully functional dispensing pump ( 100 ) is created with an inlet passageway ( 101 ), a one-way inlet valve ( 102 ), a self-restoring resilient pump cavity of variable volume ( 103 ) and a one-way dispensing valve ( 105 ). The one-way dispensing valve is preferably self-closing. The integral pump top ( 300 ) may have a rigid or semi-rigid actuator portion ( 314 ) bound to or imbedded into the resilient self-restoring pump wall ( 323 ). The dispensing pump of the present invention may have a valved venting passage for those applications that require it and may have a secure lock-in mechanism for leakage prevention during storage or transportation.

1 . A fluid dispensing pump comprising:
 a stationary pump base ( 200 ) provided with an inlet passageway ( 201 ), an upper inlet orifice ( 201   a ), an upper surface ( 202 ) that may be planar or generally concave and a top attachment portion ( 211 );   an integral pump top ( 300 ) provided with means for fluid-tight attachment to the pump base including a generally rigid core ( 310 ) and an elastomeric layer ( 320 ), said integral pump top ( 300 ) being a multi-material integrally molded part that is one continuous piece, wherein the generally rigid core ( 310 ) is made of a rigid material and the elastomeric layer ( 320 ) is made of an elastomeric material;   said generally rigid core ( 310 ) having a base attachment portion ( 311 ) with a periphery circumferentially corresponding to said top attachment portion ( 211 ) of said stationary pump base ( 200 ), either alone, or in conjunction with said elastomeric layer ( 320 ) forming a fluid-tight attachment to said pump base ( 200 ), and a dispensing valve core ( 315 ) optionally extending outwardly from said base attachment portion ( 311 );   said elastomeric layer ( 320 ) including:   a resilient self-restoring pump wall ( 323 ) defining a top portion of the pump chamber ( 103 );   a dispensing valve membrane ( 325 ) cooperating with said dispensing valve core ( 315 ) permitting a one-way controlled exit of a flowable substance through a one-way dispensing valve ( 105 ) formed by said dispensing valve core ( 315 ) and said dispensing valve membrane ( 325 );   Said elastomeric layer ( 320 ) being joined to said rigid core ( 310 ) thereby forming a pump chamber ( 103 ) wherein said upper surface ( 202 ) is the base of said pump chamber ( 103 ),   whereby upon assembly of the pump base and the pump top, a fully functional dispensing pump ( 100 ) is created with an inlet passageway ( 101 ), a one-way inlet valve ( 102 ), a self-restoring resilient pump cavity of variable volume ( 103 ), and a one-way dispensing valve ( 105 ).   
   
   
       2 . The dispensing pump of  claim 1 , wherein said elastomeric layer ( 320 ) comprises a plurality of portions attached to corresponding edges of said generally rigid core ( 310 ), preferably through interface solidification of melted portions of said rigid material and said elastomeric material, said elastomeric layer ( 320 ) and said generally rigid core ( 310 ) forming a continuous surface. 
   
   
       3 . The dispensing pump of  claim 1 , wherein said one-way inlet valve is shut-off when the pump is in a quiet position. 
   
   
       4 . The dispensing pump of  claim 1 , wherein said integral pump top ( 300 ) further comprises a rigid or semi-rigid actuator portion ( 314 ) bonded to or imbedded into the resilient self-restoring pump wall ( 323 ) and preferably connected to said base attachment portion of the rigid core ( 311 ). 
   
   
       5 . The dispensing pump of  claim 1 , wherein said stationary pump base ( 200 ) and said integral pump top ( 300 ) are molded together and attached by at least one flexible attachment ( 109 ). 
   
   
       6 . The dispensing pump of  claim 5 , wherein said flexible attachment ( 109 ) is used as a tamper-proof feature, wherein the pump is inoperable and securedly locked-in on assembly, and wherein said flexible attachments need to be broken on first use for said dispensing pump to be operable. 
   
   
       7 . The dispensing pump of  claim 1  further comprising means for secure lock-in and leakage prevention during storage and transportation. 
   
   
       8 . The dispensing pump of  claim 1  further comprising a valved venting passage. 
   
   
       9 . The dispensing pump of  claim 1 , wherein said inlet passageway of said stationary pump base further comprises a one-way inlet valve 
   
   
       10 . The dispensing pump of  claim 1 , wherein said elastomeric layer ( 320 ) comprises a lower elastomeric membrane ( 322 ) with a chamber inlet aperture ( 322   a ), and an inlet membrane valve portion ( 322   b ) that covers entirely the upper inlet orifice ( 201   a ), forming a one-way inlet valve ( 102 ) over said upper inlet orifice ( 201   a ), and wherein said inlet membrane valve portion ( 322   b ) is liftable from said upper surface ( 202 ) of said stationary pump base ( 200 ) when a negative pressure differential is applied from within said pump chamber ( 103 ) causing inflow of fluid through said inlet passageway ( 201 ) into said pump chamber ( 103 ), and said inlet membrane valve portion ( 322   b ) seals off said upper inlet orifice ( 201   a ) when a positive pressure differential is applied from within said pump chamber ( 103 ). 
   
   
       11 . The dispensing pump of  claim 10 , wherein said integral pump top ( 300 ) is movable relative to said stationary pump base ( 200 ) and said upper inlet orifice ( 201   a ) and said inlet membrane valve portion ( 322   b ) define an open and a closed position wherein, 1) when said integral pump top ( 300 ) is positioned in the open position, said inlet membrane valve portion ( 322   b ) covers entirely said upper inlet orifice ( 201   a ), forming a one-way inlet valve ( 102 ) over said upper inlet orifice ( 201   a ) and 2) when said integral pump top ( 300 ) is positioned in the closed position, said inlet membrane valve portion ( 322   b ) releases the upper inlet orifice ( 201   a ) and the one-way inlet valve ( 102 ) is disabled so that a positive pressure differential applied from within said pump chamber ( 103 ) causes outflow of fluid back through said inlet passageway ( 201 ). 
   
   
       12 . The dispensing pump of  claim 1 , wherein said dispensing valve membrane ( 325 ) has a dispensing slit or orifice ( 326 ) and a liftable portion ( 325   a ) liftable away from said dispensing valve core ( 315 ) wherein a positive pressure differential in said pump chamber ( 103 ) lifts said liftable portion ( 325   a ) of said dispensing valve membrane ( 325 ) and opens an outlet passageway ( 106 ) permitting the exit of a flowable substance from said pump chamber ( 103 ) through said dispensing slit or orifice ( 326 ); said liftable portion ( 325   a ) retracts against said dispensing valve core ( 315 ) upon pressure release or when a negative pressure differential is applied from said pump chamber ( 103 ), closing-off said outlet passageway ( 106 ). 
   
   
       13 . The dispensing pump of  claim 12 , wherein said integral pump top is movable from a secured locked-in position where said liftable portion ( 325   a ) is prevented from lifting away from said dispensing valve core ( 315 ), sealing off said outlet passageway ( 106 ), to an operable position where said liftable portion ( 325 - a ) may be lifted away from said dispensing valve core ( 315 ). 
   
   
       14 . The dispensing pump of  claim 12 , wherein said pump base ( 200 ) has a base valve recess ( 215 ) and said generally rigid core ( 310 ) has a rigid core valve aperture ( 315   a ) located underneath said dispensing valve core ( 315 ), the dispensing pump having an operative position and a locked-in position whereas 1) in the operative position said rigid core valve aperture ( 315   a ) is aligned with said base valve recess ( 215 ) and said liftable portion ( 325   a ) of said dispensing valve membrane ( 325 ) can move away from said dispensing valve core ( 315 ) when a positive pressure differential is applied within said pump chamber ( 103 ) and 2) in the locked-in position said liftable portion ( 325   a ) of said dispensing valve membrane ( 325 ) is prevented from moving away from said dispensing valve core ( 315 ) shutting off the one-way dispensing valve ( 105 ). 
   
   
       15 . A dispensing pump comprising:
 a stationary pump base including an inlet passageway, an upper inlet aperture, an upper surface and a top attachment portion;   an integral pump top attached to said pump base, said integral pump top including a generally rigid core and an elastomeric layer   said generally rigid core having an attachment portion circumferentially corresponding to said top attachment portion of said pump base and forming a fluid-tight seal with said pump base, said generally rigid core also having an dispensing valve core extending outwardly from said attachment portion of said core;   said elastomeric layer being joined to said rigid core, said rigid core and said elastomeric layer forming:   a pump chamber with a self-restoring top portion;   a one-way dispensing valve membrane cooperating with said dispensing valve core to form an dispensing valve and allow outflow of a fluid through said dispensing valve when said self-restoring top portion is depressed;   a one-way inlet valve cooperating with said upper inlet orifice to allow inflow of said fluid through said inlet passageway when said self-restoring top portion is released.   
   
   
       16 . The dispensing pump of  claim 15 , wherein said integral pump top is a multi-material integrally molded part that is one continuous piece, said rigid core being made of a rigid material and said elastomeric layer being made of an elastomeric material and molded together in a multi-shots molding process. 
   
   
       17 . The dispensing pump of  claim 15 , wherein said integral pump top contains a rigid or semi-rigid actuator. 
   
   
       18 . The dispensing pump of  claim 15 , wherein said stationary pump base and said integral pump top are attached by a flexible attachment member. 
   
   
       19 . The dispensing pump of  claim 15 , wherein said integral pump top is movable from an open position to a locked-in position, whereby in said open position said pump can operate to dispense said fluid and in said locked-in position said pump is sealed. 
   
   
       20 . A fluid dispensing pump comprising:
 a stationary pump base ( 200 ) provided with an inlet passageway ( 201 ), an upper inlet orifice ( 201   a ), an upper surface ( 202 ) that may be planar or generally concave and a top attachment portion ( 211 );   an integral pump top ( 300 ) provided with means for fluid-tight attachment to the pump base including a generally rigid core ( 310 ) and an elastomeric layer ( 320 )   said generally rigid core ( 310 ) having a base attachment portion ( 311 ) with a periphery circumferentially corresponding to said top attachment portion ( 211 ) of said stationary pump base ( 200 ), either alone, or in conjunction with said elastomeric layer ( 320 ) forming a fluid-tight attachment to said pump base ( 200 ), and a dispensing valve core ( 315 ) optionally extending outwardly from said base attachment portion ( 311 );   said elastomeric layer ( 320 ) including:   a resilient self-restoring pump wall ( 323 ) defining a top portion of the pump chamber ( 103 );   a dispensing valve membrane ( 325 ) cooperating with said dispensing valve core ( 315 ) permitting a one-way controlled exit of a flowable substance through a one-way dispensing valve ( 105 ) formed by said dispensing valve core ( 315 ) and said dispensing valve membrane ( 325 );   Said elastomeric layer ( 320 ) being joined to said rigid core ( 310 ) thereby forming a pump chamber ( 103 ) wherein said upper surface ( 202 ) is the base of said pump chamber ( 103 ),   whereby upon assembly of the pump base and the pump top, a fully functional dispensing pump ( 100 ) is created with an inlet passageway ( 101 ), a one-way inlet valve ( 102 ), a self-restoring resilient pump cavity of variable volume ( 103 ), and a one-way dispensing valve ( 105 ).   
   
   
       21 . The dispensing pump of  claim 20 , wherein the integral pump top ( 300 ) is made of an elastomeric material of varying thickness with a greater thickness semi-rigid portion forming said generally rigid core ( 310 ) and a lesser thickness flexible portion forming said elastomeric layer ( 320 ). 
   
   
       22 . The dispensing pump of  claim 20 , wherein the integral pump top ( 300 ) is a multi-material integrally molded part that is one continuous piece, and wherein the generally rigid core ( 310 ) is made of a rigid material and the elastomeric layer ( 320 ) is made of an elastomeric material. 
   
   
       23 . The dispensing pump of  claim 20 , wherein said integral pump top ( 300 ) further comprises a rigid or semi-rigid actuator portion ( 314 ) bonded to or imbedded into the resilient self-restoring pump wall ( 323 ) and preferably connected to said base attachment portion of the rigid core ( 311 ). 
   
   
       24 . The dispensing pump of  claim 20 , wherein said stationary pump base ( 200 ) and said integral pump top ( 300 ) are molded together and attached by at least one flexible attachment ( 109 ). 
   
   
       25 . The dispensing pump of  claim 20  further comprising means for secure lock-in and leakage prevention during storage and transportation. 
   
   
       26 . The dispensing pump of  claim 20 , wherein said one-way inlet valve is shut-off when the pump is in a quiet position.