United States Patent [19]
`Bartimes et a1.
`
`[54] PUMP REPLACEMENT ASSEMBLY
`
`[75] Inventors: George F. Bartimes, Chicago, 111.;
`Leonard A. Blomquist, Williamsburg,
`Va.
`
`[73] Assignee: Continental Plastic Containers, Inc.,
`Norwalk, Conn.
`
`[21] App], No‘: 622,014
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Dec. 4, 1990
`
`[51] Int. Cl.5 ............................................. .. B67D 5/40
`[52] U5. Cl. ............................... .. 222/382; 222/383;
`222/ 464
`
`lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllIllllIllllllllllllllllllllIIIIIIIIIIII
`USOO5246 1 46A
`[11] Patent Number:
`5,246,146
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Sep. 21, 1993
`
`[58] Field of Search ............. .. 222/129, 383, 211, 382,
`222/372, 479, 464, 478, 481, 481.5, 542, 568;
`239/329, 333
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,257,539 3/1981 Cary et al. ........................ .. 222/383
`4,527,741 7/1985 Gameau
`.... .. 222/383
`
`4,728,009 3/1988 Schmidt . . . . .
`
`. . . .. 222/382
`
`222/383
`4,863,071 9/1989 Guss et al. .
`4,958,754 9/1990 Dennis .............................. .. 222/382
`Primary Examiner-Michael S. Huppert
`Assistant Examiner-Philippe Derakshani
`Allvmey, Agent, or Firm-Eugene F. Friedman
`
`20 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`PETITIONER - THE CLOROX COMPANY - EXHIBIT 1004 - Page 1
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`

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`US. Patent
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`Sep. 21, 1993
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`‘
`
`Sheet 1 of4
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`5,246,146
`
`FIG!
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`PETITIONER - THE CLOROX COMPANY - EXHIBIT 1004 - Page 2
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`

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`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 21, 1993
`
`Sheet 2 0f 4
`
`5,246,146
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`PETITIONER - THE CLOROX COMPANY - EXHIBIT 1004 - Page 3
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`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 21, 1993
`
`Sheet 3 of 4
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`5,246,146
`
`F/GB
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`F/6.9
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`PETITIONER - THE CLOROX COMPANY - EXHIBIT 1004 - Page 4
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`

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`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 21, 1993
`
`Sheet 4 of 4
`
`5,246,146
`
`I02
`FIG. /3 “WV
`
`I02
`L1?“
`
`[98
`
`I22
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`\188
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`PETITIONER - THE CLOROX COMPANY - EXHIBIT 1004 - Page 5
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`

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`1
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`5,246,146
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`PUMP REPLACEMENT ASSEMBLY
`
`This invention in particular relates to a pump replace
`ment assembly particularly constructed for converting
`an existing pump for use in conjunction with the appli»
`cation of household cleaners and the like to utilize a
`container wherein the customary pickup tube is molded
`as an integral part of the container.
`
`5
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`There has been on the market for years container and
`pump assemblies for products which are to be sprayed,
`such as household cleaners, which include a conven
`tional container having a threaded neck ?nish and a
`pump which is threaded thereon and which has an elon
`gated pickup tube which extends down into the con
`tainer for picking up the liquid product stored within
`the container. These prior units have a de?ciency in
`that the pickup tube is carried by the pump and is of a
`length so that it reaches the bottom of the container. As
`a result, when the pump is to be assembled with the
`container, it must be ?rst placed in an elevated position
`where the lower end of the pickup tube will enter into
`the container mouth, after which the pump assembly
`must then be lowered and applied to the container. This
`makes assembly of the pump with the container rela
`tively slow.
`
`45
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`Work has been done to commercialize a blow molded
`plastic container having an integral pickup tube. The
`net result has been a neck ?nish on a container to which
`a conventional type of pump may be readily adapted
`utilizing a replacement assembly for the pickup portion
`of the pump. The replacement assembly eliminates the
`centrally located opening for the pickup tube and
`moves the same to a radially offset position while pro
`viding a vent passage which will be aligned with the
`40
`mouth of the container. More particularly, the pump
`replacement assembly includes a combined pickup and
`vent unit which is to be snapped into a conventional
`pump housing for cooperation with the pump mecha
`nism of the pump together with a backup disc which is
`constructed to interlock with the container and main
`tain a seal with both the container mouth and the con
`tainer pickup tube. Further, in accordance with the
`invention, the backup disc is interlocked with the body
`of the replacement combined pickup and vent member
`so as to orient the pump with respect to the container.
`The connection between the body of the replacement
`member and the backup disc permits the pump to be
`oriented in several selected positions relative to the
`container.
`With the above and other objects in view that will
`hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be
`more clearly understood by reference to the following
`detailed description, the appended claims, and the sev
`eral views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
`FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a container and pump
`assembly in accordance with this invention.
`FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of an upper part of a
`container formed in accordance with this invention and
`shows the arrangement of the mouth and the top of the
`pickup tube of the container.
`FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the pump
`replacement assembly shown separate from the pump
`
`55
`
`65
`
`2
`and the container and within an associated nut, which
`nut is shown in section.
`FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the combined vent
`and pickup member.
`FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the member of FIG. 4.
`FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the member of FIG.
`4 and shows most speci?cally the arrangement of a
`pickup passage and a vent passage opening through the
`bottom of a body thereof.
`FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the backup disc and
`shows the projections carried thereby.
`FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the backup disc.
`. FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of a gasket which en
`gages the container end of the backup disc.
`FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of a gasket to be dis
`posed between the backup disc and the body.
`FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of a modi?ed form of
`body which permits numerous orientations of the
`backup disc.
`FIG. 12 is a top plan view of a modi?ed form of
`backup disc carrying detents which are engageable in
`detent pockets and the modi?ed body.
`FIG. 13 is a fragmentary elevational view of the
`modi?ed backup disc of FIG. 12 showing further the
`details of the detents. .
`
`DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
`Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be
`seen that there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a pump unit gen
`erally identi?ed by the numeral 20 which has been
`adapted to be threadly engaged with the neck ?nish of
`a special container 22.
`Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be seen that there is
`illustrated the top part only of the special container 22
`which is of a blow molded plastic construction and
`which has a body 24 of a generally rectangular cross
`section and which body is provided along one end
`thereof with an integral pickup tube 26 that opens into
`the container body 24 at the bottom thereof in a manner
`not shown. The container 22 is provided with a speci?c
`neck ?nish generally identi?ed by the numeral 28 which
`includes a mouth de?ning portion 30 having external
`partial threads 32 and terminating in an end ?nish 34. In
`a similar manner, the pickup tube 26 terminates at its
`upper end in a mouth de?ning portion 36 which is pro
`vided with interrupted threads 38 which are continua
`tions of the threads 32. The mouth de?ning portion 36
`terminates in an end sealing surface 39 which is copla
`nar with the end sealing surface 34.
`The mouth de?ning portions 30, 36 of the container
`neck ?nish 28 have opposed angularly disposed walls
`40, 42 connected together by a joining strip 44. The
`walls 40, 42 de?ne a V-shaped cross sectional vertically
`extending space 46 on each side of the strip 44. The
`V-shaped cross sectional spaces 46 serve a de?nite pur
`pose in the orientation of the pump 20 relative to the
`container 22 as will be described hereinafter.
`It is to be understood that the pump 20 is of a conven
`tional construction except for a pump replacement as
`sembly which is a principal feature of this invention and
`which is generally identi?ed by the numeral 50. As is
`best shown in FIG. 3, the pump replacement assembly
`50 includes a replacement combined vent and pickup
`member generally identi?ed by the numeral 52 which is
`constructed to snap into the housing 53 of the pump 20
`in the same manner as an original combined vent and
`pickup member (not shown).
`
`PETITIONER - THE CLOROX COMPANY - EXHIBIT 1004 - Page 6
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`

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`5
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`4
`V-shaped spaces 46 of the container 22 so as to align the
`backup disc 88 with the container neck ?nish 28 and
`thus, in turn, align the pump 20 with respect to the
`container 22.
`In order that a good seal may be effected between the
`underside of the backup disc 88 and the top sealing
`surfaces 34, 39 of the container neck ?nish 28, there is
`provided a thin gasket generally identi?ed by the nu
`meral 104 and illustrated in FIG. 9. The gasket 104 is of
`a slightly larger circular outline than the disc 88 and is
`provided with openings 106, 108 which align with the
`passages 90, 92. Further, the gasket 104 is provided with
`suitable notches 110 to receive the legs 102.
`A second gasket, generally identi?ed by the numeral
`112, is provided for sealing the backup disc 88 relative
`to the face 70 of the ?ange portion 64 of the body 54.
`The gasket 112 is provided with openings 114, 116
`which align with the passages 90, 92 and cutouts 119 for
`receiving the lugs 98. It is to be understood that the
`cutouts 119 are dimensioned to tightly ?t on the lugs 98.
`Returning once again to FIG. 3, it will be seen that
`the uppermost one of the threads 68 de?nes an undercut
`120 which serves to underlie the outer periphery of the
`gasket 104 and thus retain the gaskets 104, 112 and the
`backup disc 88 within the nut 66.
`The backup disc 88 will be oriented with respect to
`the body 54 for the contents of the container 22 to be
`dispensed. The vent passages 84 and 92 will be aligned
`for freedom of air ?ow into the container 22 as the
`liquid contained therein is dispensed by being pumped
`thereout of.
`
`10
`
`5,246,146
`3
`The member 52, with reference to FIG. 4, includes a
`body 54 which has extending upwardly therefrom an
`upwardly projecting pickup tube 56 de?ning a pickup
`passage 58. At the upper end of the pickup tube 56 there,
`is a ball check valve assembly 60 including a ball 62.
`At this time it is pointed out that the body 54 and a
`lower part of the pickup tube 56 are constructed for ~
`snap interlocking engagement within the pump housing
`53. Inasmuch as this interlocking is conventional, it will
`not be described in detail here.
`It is also to be noted that the body 54 terminates at its
`lower end in a ?anged portion 64 which is circular in
`outline and shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. As shown in FIG.
`3, the ?anged portion 64 serves to retain as part of the
`pump 20 a nut 66. The nut 66 is provided with internal
`threads 68 which are engageable with the partial
`threads 32, 38 of the container neck ?nish 28 so as to
`?xedly secure the pump 20 on to the container 22.
`For descriptive purposes, it may be said that the
`?anged portion 64 of the body 54 has a container oppos
`ing face 70. The face 70 is best illustrated in FIG. 6.
`It will be seen that the face 70 includes an outermost
`annular sealing surface 72 which is de?ned by a gener
`ally annular recess 74. The recess 74 also de?nes a cen
`tral part 76 having a sealing surface 78 which is copla
`nar with the sealing surface 72. If desired, the sealing
`surfaces 72, 78 may be enhanced by a plurality of ?ne
`circular grooves 80.
`As is best shown in FIG. 6, the pickup passage 58
`opens through the face 70 within the recess 74 in radi
`ally offset relation to an axial center 82 of the member
`52. The body 52 is also provided with a through vent
`passage 84 which extends from the top of the body 54 as
`shown in FIG. 5 through the body and out through the
`face 70 as shown in FIG. 6. It will be seen that the vent
`passage 84 is centered on the center 82.
`In one embodiment of the invention, as is most specif
`ically shown in FIG. 6, the central portion 76 is pro
`vided with ?at sides 86 which are arranged in diametri
`cally remotely facing relation and which are parallel to
`the radial line extending through centers of the vent
`passage 84 and the pickup passage 58. The ?at sides 86
`are utilized to align a backup disc, generally identi?ed
`by the numeral 88, and best illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8
`with the body 54. The backup disc 88 has formed there
`45
`through a pickup passage 90 and a vent passage 92. The
`passages 90, 92 are disposed along a radial line 94 which
`extends through a center 96 of the disc 88. It is to be
`understood that the center 96 aligns with the center 82
`of the body 54. It is to be noted, that the vent passage 92
`in the backup disc 88 is centered on the center 96.
`In order to effect alignment of the backup disc 88
`selectively with the body 54, there is projecting up
`wardly from the backup disc 88 a pair of projections or
`lugs 98 which are generally rectangular in outline and
`have ?at opposed sides 100 which will engage the sur
`faces 86 so as to prevent relative rotation between the
`backup disc 88 and the body 54.
`It will be apparent that the backup disc 88 has two
`possible positions with respect to the body 54. The vent
`passages 84, 92 will be aligned in both positions and the
`pickup passage 90 will either be aligned with the pickup
`passage 58 or in communication with the pickup pas
`sage 58 by way of the annular recess 74.
`The backup disc 88 is also provided with down
`wardly extending projections or legs 102 which are of a
`tapered cross section as is best shown in FIG. 8. The
`legs 102 are speci?cally positioned to ?t within the
`
`DESCRIPTION OF MODIFIED FORM OF
`INVENTION
`Reference is now made to FIGS. 11-13 wherein there
`is illustrated a slightly modi?ed form of the invention.
`Most particularly, there is provided a replacement
`member 152 having a modi?ed form of ?anged portion
`164. The ?anged portion 164 is provided with an annu
`lar recess 174 which corresponds to the recess 74. The
`annular recess 174 de?nes a central part 176 which
`corresponds generally to the part 76.
`While the pickup passage 58 remains in the same
`position, it will be seen that the vent passage 184 is now
`centrally located. Further, it will be seen that in lieu of
`the central portion 176 having diametrically opposite
`?at sides, it is provided with a plurality of detent pock
`ets 120. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention,
`.the detent pockets 120 are four in number and are
`evenly oircumferentially spaced. The number of detent
`pockets 120 may vary.
`Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 13, it will be seen that
`to be utilized in association with the replacement mem~
`her 152 there is provided a modi?ed form of backup
`disc generally identi?ed by the numeral 188. The
`backup disc 188 differs from the backup disc 88 in that
`the vent opening therethrough is centrally located and
`is identi?ed by the numeral 192. Further, the lugs are of
`a slightly'modi?ed con?guration and identi?ed by the
`numeral 198. Finally, each lug carries on an opposed
`face thereof a small detent 122. The detents 122 are of a
`con?guration and size to ?t in the detent pockets 120.
`As is best shown in FIG. 13, the lower portions of the
`detents 122 are tapered to facilitate the assembling of
`the backup disc 188 with the replacement member 152.
`It is to be understood that the lugs 198 are slightly
`resilient or bendable relative to the remainder of the
`backup disc 188. Thus with the pump 20 assembled with
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`5,246,146
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`6
`the container 22, it is merely necessary to loosen the nut
`thread de?ning a shoulder for retaining said backup disc
`66, after which the pump 20 including the member 152
`in cooperative relation to said body.
`may be rotated relative to the container 22 and the
`10. A pump replacement assembly according to claim
`backup disc 188. Thus the pump 20 may be placed in as
`2 together with a container having a neck ?nish includ
`many selected positions relative to the container 22 as
`ing a ?lling mouth and a pickup tube mouth separated
`there are detent pockets. Inasmuch as there are pairs of
`by spaces de?ned by walls of said mouths, and said
`detents 122, it will be apparent that the detent pockets
`projecting means being in the form of elongated projec
`120 should also be provided in pairs.
`tions positioned within said spaces.
`Although only two preferred embodiments of the
`11. A container for use with a spray pump, said con
`pump replacement assembly have been speci?cally il
`tainer including an integral pickup tube, said container
`lustrated and described herein, it is to be understood
`having a neck ?nish including a ?lling mouth and a
`that minor variations may be made in the pump replace
`pickup tube mouth separated by spaces de?ned by walls
`ment assemblies without departing from the spirit and
`of said mouths, said spaces forming means for receiving
`scope of the invention as de?ned by the appended
`pump orienting means.
`claims.
`12. A container according to claim 11 wherein said
`We claim:
`walls are arranged in diverging relation with said spaces
`being tapered.
`1. A pump replacement assembly particularly adapt
`ing a pump of the type having a projecting pickup tube
`13. A pump replacement assembly particularly adapt
`for use with a container having an integral pickup tube,
`ing a pump of the type having a projecting pickup tube
`said replacement assembly comprising a combined
`for use with a container having an integral pickup tube,
`pickup and vent member, said combined member in
`said replacement assembly comprising a combined
`cluding a body for insertion in a pump housing, said
`pickup and vent member, said combined member in
`body having a pump end and a container end, a ?rst
`cluding a body for insertion in a pump housing, said
`vent passage extending generally axially through said
`body having a pump end and a container end, a ?rst
`body, a combined pickup tube and check valve unit
`vent passage extending generally axially through said
`projecting from said pump end of said body, said body
`body, a combined pickup tube and check valve unit
`having a ?rst pickup passage extending through said
`projecting from said pump end of said body, said body
`body and in communication with said combined pickup
`having a ?rst pickup passage extending through said
`tube and check valve unit, said ?rst vent and pickup
`body and in communication with said combined pickup
`passages opening through said body container end in
`tube and check valve unit, said ?rst vent and pickup
`spaced generally radially offset relation, a backup disc
`passages opening through said body container end in
`sealed relative to said body and having a second vent
`spaced generally radially offset relation, a backup disc
`passage and a second pickup passage in selected com
`sealed relative to said body and having a second vent
`munication with respective ones of said ?rst vent and
`passage and a second pickup passage in selected com
`pickup passages and being located for alignment with a
`munication with respective ones of said ?rst vent and
`container mouth and a container pickup tube.
`pickup passages and being located for alignment with a
`2. A pump replacement assembly according to claim
`container mouth and a container pickup tube, and inter
`1 together with projecting means on a container side of
`locking means on said backup disc and said body for
`said backup disc for ?xedly orienting said backup disc
`maintaining a ?xed rotational relationship between said
`4-0
`body and said backup disc, said interlocking means
`relative to a container.
`3. A pump relacement assembly according to claim 1
`including said body container end having a recess
`together with interlocking means on said backup disc
`therein, and said backup disc having a projection seated
`and said body for maintaining a ?xed rotational relation
`in said recess.
`ship between said body and said backup disc.
`14. A pump replacement assembly according to claim
`4. A pump replacement assembly according to claim
`13 wherein said recess is a generally annular recess
`2 together with interlocking means on said backup disc
`de?ning a central projection through which said ?rst
`and said body for maintaining a ?xed rotational relation
`vent passage opens.
`ship between said body and said backup disc.
`15. A pump relacement assembly according to claim
`5. A pump replacement assembly according to claim
`13 wherein said recess is a generally annular recess
`2 wherein said projecting means are in the form of ta
`de?ning a central projection through which said ?rst
`pered ?at pins.
`vent passage opens, and said ?rst pickup passage open
`6. A pump replacement assembly according to claim
`ing into said recess.
`1 wherein said, body container end has an inner sealing
`16. A pump relacement assembly according to claim
`surface surrounding said ?rst vent passage and a cir
`14 wherein said central projection has an orienting sur
`cumferential outer sealing surface.
`face facing into said annular recess and engaging said
`backup disc projection.
`7. A pump replacement assembly according to claim
`1 wherein said body container end has an inner sealing
`17. A pump replacement assembly according to claim
`surface surrounding said ?rst vent passage and a cir
`14 wherein said central projection has two diametri
`cally opposite remotely facing surfaces facing into said
`cumferential outer sealing surface, said sealing surfaces
`being in the form of annular grooves.
`annular recess and said backup disc has two of said
`8. Apump replacement assembly according to claim
`projections each having a ?at surface engaging one of
`said diametrically opposite remotely facing surfaces.
`3 wherein said interlocking means maintain said second
`18. A pump replacement assembly according to claim
`passages in communication with said ?rst passages.
`9. A pump replacement assembly according to claim
`17 wherein said two diametrically opposite remotely
`1 wherein said body carries a nut for attaching said
`facing surfaces and said flat surfaces are centrally lo
`cated whereby said backup disc has two diametrically
`assembly to a container threaded neck ?nish, and said
`opposite selected positions relative to said body.
`nut has internal threads including an axially innermost
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`5,246,146
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`19. A pump replacement assembly particularly adapt
`facing into said annular recess, and said backup disc
`ing a pump of the type having a projecting pickup tube
`projection selectively engaging one of said orienting
`for use with a container having an integral pickup tube,
`surfaces to selectively rotationally orient an associated
`said replacement assembly comprising a combined
`pump with respect to a container.
`pickup and vent member, said combined member in
`20. A pump replacement assembly particularly adapt
`cluding a body for insertion in a pump housing, said
`ing a pump of the type having a projecting pickup tube
`body having a pump end and a container end, a ?rst
`for use with a container having an integral pickup tube,
`vent passage extending generally axially through said
`said replacement assembly comprising a combined
`body, a combined pickup tube and check valve unit
`pickup and vent member, said combined member in
`projecting from said pump end of said body, said body
`cluding a body for insertion in a pump housing, said
`having a ?rst pickup passage extending through said
`body having a pump end and a container end, a ?rst
`body and in communication with said combined pickup
`vent passage extending generally axially through said
`tube and check valve unit, said ?rst vent and pickup
`body, a combined pickup tube and check valve unit
`passages opening through said body container end in
`projecting from said pump end of said body, said body
`spaced generally radially offset relation, a backup disc
`having a ?rst pickup passage extending through said
`sealed relative to said body and having a second vent
`body and in communication with said combined pickup
`passage and a second pickup passage in selected com
`tube and check valve unit, said ?rst vent and pickup
`munication with respective ones of said ?rst vent and
`passages opening through said body container end in
`pickup passages and being located for alignment with a
`spaced generally radially offset relation, a backup disc
`container mouth and a container pickup tube, and inter
`sealed relative to said body and having a second vent
`locking means on said backup disc and said body for
`maintaining a ?xed rotational relationship between said
`passage and a second pickup passage in selected com
`body and said backup disc, said interlocking means
`munication with respective ones of said ?rst vent and
`pickup passages and being located for alignment with a
`including said body container end having a recess
`therein, and said backup disc having a projection seated
`container mouth and a container pickup tube, and a ?rst
`gasket disposed between said body and said backup
`in said recess, said recess being generally annular and
`de?ning a central projection through which said ?rst
`disc, and a second gasket carried by said backup disc for
`vent passage opens, said central projection having a
`forming a seal with a container.
`plurality of circumferentially spaced orienting surfaces
`i
`*
`it
`* *
`
`20
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
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`PETITIONER - THE CLOROX COMPANY - EXHIBIT 1004 - Page 9