Patent Grant
10433681
This invention relates generally to dispensers and, more particularly, to a pump assembly adapted to generate and dispense particulate solid material preferably concurrently with a liquid such as, for example, solid soap particles and a liquid cleaner.
Many of today's products sold in liquid form, such as liquid hand soap, are contained in disposable containers or reservoir cartridges which incorporate a pump assembly. Typically, the pump assembly includes a movable element which when moved dispenses a quantity of liquid soap from the container. The reservoir cartridges are generally fitted within a permanent housing which includes a movable actuator assembly which engages and moves the movable element to dispense the fluid. This has been found to be both a convenient and economical means of fluid supply and dispensation. Since the reservoir cartridges are replaced once the fluid supply is exhausted, it is desirable to manufacture the reservoir cartridges and their pump assemblies so as to make their manufacture and replacement as easy as possible.
Known pump assemblies typically suffer the disadvantage in that they are not adapted to generate or dispense solid particulate material.
To at least partially overcome these disadvantages of known fluid dispensers, the present invention provides a pump assembly in which, with movement of a pump member relative a body, a rasp moves relative a block of solid material to disengage particles of the solid material.
The present invention provides a pump assembly for generating and dispensing of particles of a solid material with or without dispensing of a fluid. The pump assembly preferably includes a fluid pump which in a cycle of operation draws the fluid through a fluid inlet and dispenses the fluid out a fluid outlet. The pump assembly carries a block of the solid material coalesced together and a rasp member, which during the cycle of operation, moves relative the rasp in engagement with the block whereby the rasp member disengages particles of the solid material from the block which particles drop under gravity downwardly adjacent the fluid outlet, for example, onto a user's hand as in the case that the fluid is a hand cleaning fluid and the solid is a solid soap.
Preferably, the pump assembly includes a pump housing body and the fluid pump includes a pump member mounted to the body for movement relative the body in the cycle of operation to draw and dispense the fluid. Preferably, the rasp member is mounted to the body for movement relative the body in the cycle of operation to disengage the particles. Preferably, the block is biased into engaging contact with the rasp member to assist in the rasp member disengaging the particles from the block.
The pump member and the rasp member may be mechanically linked such that in a cycle of operation with movement of the pump member relative the body to dispense the fluid, the rasp member moves relative the body to disengage the particles.
The pump member and the rasp member can be mechanically linked by a linkage mechanism which is selectable to be in a coupled condition in which in a cycle of operation with movement of the pump member relative the body to dispense the fluid there is movement of the rasp member relative the body to disengage the particles or an uncoupled condition in which in a cycle of operation with movement of the pump member relative the body dispense the fluid there is not movement of the rasp member relative the body to disengage the particles.
The body can carry a collar for securing the pump assembly to an opening to a container comprising a reservoir for the fluid, preferably with the fluid inlet in communication through the collar with the fluid in the reservoir.
The fluid pump may comprise many different types of pumps without limitation, however, is preferably selected from a piston pump, a diaphragm pump, and a rotary pump.
The pump member is mounted to the body for movement relative the body to draw and dispense fluid and this relative movement includes reciprocal movement parallel to an axis and rotary movement about an axis.
The rasp member and the pump member may be carried on the body for movement in unison together or for independent movement. The rasp member can be carried on the pump member for movement with the pump member relative the block with the rasp member, for example, axial movement or rotary movement with the pump member or, for example, with axial movement of the pump member moving rasping portions of the rasp member radially.
The rasp member preferably comprises a rasp surface directed radially relative the pump member with the block having a radially directed surface biased radially into engagement with the rasp surface and with the rasp member coupled to the pump member for movement of the rasp surface axially with the piston relative the block while in engagement with the radially directed surface of the block.
The block may comprise a plurality of segments arranged circumferentially spaced about the axis in a circle about the rasp member with a circumferential band of resilient material encircling the segments and biasing each segment to move radially into engaging contact with the rasp member and, preferably, with the body engaging each segment to guide each segment in sliding radially into engaging contact with the rasp member.
Preferably, the body carries a solid material cage enclosing the block separated from the fluid. The cage preferably includes a solid material discharge tube guiding the particles discharged from the block by the rasp member to a solid material discharge outlet proximate the fluid outlet while maintaining the particles separated from the fluid until exiting from the solid material discharge outlet.
In a preferred embodiment, the fluid pump is a piston pump and the body carries a piston chamber disposed coaxially about a pump axis with the chamber having a closed axially inner end and an open outer end. The pump member comprises a piston coaxially slidable received in the chamber with an outer end of the piston extending outwardly of the open outer end of the chamber to a discharge outlet at the outer end of the piston. The piston is coaxially slidable along the axis within the piston between an extended position and a retracted position and movable in the cycle of operation between the extended position and the retracted position to draw the fluid in the inlet and to discharge the fluid out the discharge outlet.
In another embodiment, the fluid pump is a diaphragm pump and the pump member comprises a plunger member reciprocally slidable along the axis in the cycle of operation. The diaphragm pump includes a resilient diaphragm member defining a variable volume diaphragm chamber. Reciprocal movement of the plunger member along the axis deflects the diaphragm to changing the volume of the diaphragm chamber thereby drawing fluid into the fluid pump and discharging the fluid from the fluid pump.
A pump assembly in accordance with the invention is advantageously provided in combination with a container containing the fluid and in which the body is secured to an opening to the container providing for communication of the fluid in the container to the fluid pump. The present invention also provides a dispenser for dispensing of a fluid and particles of a solid material. Such dispenser comprises:
Preferably, such dispenser includes:
a dispenser housing;
a pump actuator movable relative the housing in the cycle of operation to activate the pump to draw and dispense the fluid,
a rasp actuator movable relative the housing in the cycle of operation to move the rasp member relative the housing to disengage the particles,
a driven member for movement relative the housing in the cycle of operation either manually or by a motor,
with the driven member mechanically coupled to the pump actuator and the rasp actuator whereby movement of the driven member in the cycle of operation moves the pump actuator relative the housing to displace the fluid and moves the rasp actuator relative the housing to move the rasp member relative the body to disengage the particles.
Preferably, the dispenser includes an advance mechanism to urge the rasp and the block into engagement, for example, radially or axially relative the direction of movement of the pump actuator.
The advance mechanism can include a resilient spring member biasing the rasp and the block into engagement. When the pump is a piston pump with a piston member movable relative the body, the rasp may be disposed between the body and the piston member and be coupled to either the body or the piston member whereby with axial sliding movement of the rasp, the rasp is rotated about the axis.
The present invention also provides a cartridge carrying a solid material to be eroded by a rasp member. The cartridge comprises a plurality of segments of the solid material arranged circumferentially spaced about an axis in a circle. Each segment extends radially inwardly relative the axis from a radially outwardly directed outer surface to a radially inwardly directed for engagement with a rasp member centered within the segments. A guide mechanism engages each segment to guide each segment for radial movement of the segment towards the axis as the inner surface is eroded by a rasp member without interference between adjacent of the segments. A circumferential band of resilient material encircles the segments, engaging the outer surface of each and biasing each segment to move radially toward the axis. Preferably, the guide mechanism includes a guide plate with a plurality of radially extending guide tongues circumferentially spaced in a circle about the axis. Each segment has a radially extending guide slot. Each guide tongue engages one of the guide slot in respective one of the segments to guide each segment in sliding radially inwardly from a forts position in which the outer surfaces are spaced a first distance from the axis to a second position in which the outer surfaces are spaced a second distance from the axis less than the first distance. Preferably, an axially extending space is provided circumferentially between each adjacent of the segments. The space is sufficient to permit each segment to move radially toward the axis as its inner surface is abraded by the rasp without engaging adjacent segments.
The present invention also provides a diaphragm pump comprising a resilient diaphragm member defining at least a portion of the periphery of a variable volume diaphragm chamber, and a plunger member movable relative to the diaphragm member. Movement of the plunger member deflects the diaphragm changing the volume of the diaphragm chamber. The pump includes a tubular valve casing elongate along a casing axis and defining a value chamber therein. The valve chamber has an inner wall circular in cross-section along the axis, a first end and a second end. The valve chamber is closed at the first end. The valve chamber is closed at the second end. A valve member is coaxially located within the valve chamber. The valve member comprises a stem extending axially within the valve chamber. An inlet disc extends radially outwardly from the stem to a distal end in engagement with wall. The inlet disc engages the wall to prevent fluid flow axially therepast in a direction from the first end towards the second end. The inlet disc is resiliently deflectable to be deflected from engaging the wall to permit fluid flow axially therepast in a direction from the second end towards the first end. An outlet disc extends radially outwardly from the stem to a distal end in engagement with wall. The outlet disc engages the wall to prevent fluid flow axially therepast in a direction from the first end towards the second end. The outlet disc is resiliently deflectable to be deflected from engaging the wall to permit fluid flow axially therepast in a direction from the second end towards the first end. The inlet disc is spaced axially away from the first end from the outlet disc. The outlet disc is spaced axially away from the second end from the inlet disc. An inlet is provided into the valve chamber between the second end and the inlet disc. An outlet is provided from the valve chamber between the first end and the outlet disc. A fluid transfer port is provided in communication with the diaphragm chamber and open into the valve chamber in between the inlet disc and the outlet disc.
Preferably, movement of the plunger member deflects the diaphragm changing the volume of the diaphragm chamber thereby drawing the fluid into the diaphragm chamber via the transfer port from the valve chamber in an inlet stroke and discharging the fluid from the diaphragm chamber via the transfer port into the valve chamber in a discharge stroke. On drawing the fluid into the diaphragm chamber via the transfer port from the valve chamber a vacuum is created within the valve chamber between the inner disc and the outer disc which acts on the inner disc to deflect the inner disc from engaging the wall permitting the fluid to be drawn inwardly from the inlet opening past the inner disc. On discharging the fluid from the diaphragm chamber via the transfer port into the valve chamber pressure is created within the valve chamber between the inner disc and the outer disc which acts on the outer disc to deflect the outer disc from engaging the wall permitting the fluid to be discharged outwardly past the outer disc to the outlet opening.
Preferably, the valve casing is open at the first end, the valve stem carries a first sealing disc which engages the valve casing to close the first end of valve chamber. Preferably, the valve casing is open at the second end, and the valve stem carries a sealing disc which engages the valve casing to close the second end of valve chamber. The valve casing may be closed at the second end by an end wall with the valve stem having a second end which engages the end wall of the valve casing to assist in axially locating the valve stem relative the valve casing.
Preferably, the valve member is injection molded as a unitary element from resilient material. Also preferably, the valve casing is injection molded as a unitary element. The valve member and the valve casing interact to provide a one-way inlet valve and a one-way outlet valve yet may be conveniently made from but two injection molded unitary elements.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a pump assembly for dispensing of a fluid and of particles of a solid material comprising:
a fluid pump which in a cycle of operation draws the fluid through a fluid inlet and dispenses the fluid out a fluid outlet,
a block of the solid material coalesced together,
a rasp member, which during the cycle of operation, moves relative the rasp in engagement with the block whereby the rasp member disengages particles of the solid material from the block which particles drop under gravity downwardly adjacent the fluid outlet.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a dispenser for simultaneous dispensing of a fluid and particles of a solid material comprising:
a reservoir containing the fluid,
a piston pump having a piston chamber-forming body forming a chamber therein and a piston-forming element reciprocally coaxially slidable in the chamber for movement between a retracted position and an extended position relative the piston chamber-forming body,
the piston element and the piston chamber-forming element are coaxially reciprocally slidable about an axis,
wherein in a cycle of operation the pump draws the fluid from the reservoir into the chamber and dispenses the fluid out an outlet carried on the piston-forming element extending out an open end of the chamber,
a block of the solid material coalesced together,
the block carried by the piston chamber-forming body,
a rasp carried by the piston forming member,
the rasp and the piston-forming element mechanically linked whereby coaxial sliding movement of the piston-forming element relative the piston chamber-forming body moves of the rasp relative the block whereby the rasp erodes the block by disengaging the particles from the block,
a particle discharge chute receiving the particles disengaged from the block and directing the particles under gravity downwardly to a particle exitway adjacent the outlet.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a dispenser comprising:
a piston assembly having a piston chamber-forming body and a piston-forming element reciprocally coaxially slidable relative the piston chamber-forming body for movement between a retracted position and an extended position,
the piston element and the piston chamber-forming element are coaxially reciprocally slidable about an axis,
a block of the solid material coalesced together,
the block carried by the piston chamber-forming body,
a rasp carried by the piston-forming member,
the rasp and the piston-forming element mechanically linked whereby coaxial sliding movement of the piston-forming element relative the piston chamber-forming body moves of the rasp relative the block whereby the rasp erodes the block by disengaging the particles from the block,
a particle discharge chute receiving the particles disengaged from the block and directing the particles under gravity downwardly to a particle exitway.
In a 1st feature, the present invention provides a pump assembly for dispensing of a fluid and of particles of a solid material comprising:
a fluid pump which in a cycle of operation draws the fluid through a fluid inlet and dispenses the fluid out a fluid outlet,
a block of the solid material,
a pump housing body,
the fluid pump including a movable member mounted to the body for reciprocal movement relative the body parallel to an axis in the cycle of operation to draw and dispense the fluid,
the block received axially between the body and the movable member presenting a first axially directed surface directed toward the movable member,
a rasp member comprising a resilient finger member having a first end and a distal end,
the first end of the finger member coupled to the movable member to move axially relative the axis with the movable member,
the finger member extending from the first end axially away from the first end and radially outwardly from the axis to the distal end which carries an axially directed rasp surface directed axially toward the first axially directed surface of the block in opposition to the first axially directed surface of the block,
the axially directed rasp surface and the first axially directed surface of the block biased axially into engagement with each other,
in the cycle of operation, when the body and the movable member move axially toward each other, the finger member is axially compressed between the first axially directed surface of the block and the movable member and the finger member resiliently deflects between the first end and the distal end against an inherent bias of the finger member reducing the axial length between the first end and the distal end and moving the distal end radially outwardly,
in the cycle of operation, when the body and the movable member move axially away each other, under the inherent bias of the finger member, the finger member deflects between the first end and the distal end increasing the axial length between the first end and the distal end and moving the distal end radially inwardly,
wherein during the cycle of operation the rasp surface in engagement with the first axially directed surface of the block moves radially relative the first axially directed surface of the block disengaging particles of the solid material from the block at a location that the particles drop under gravity downwardly adjacent the fluid outlet.
In a 2nd feature, the present invention provides a pump assembly as in the 1st feature wherein the body carries a collar for securing the pump assembly to an opening to a container comprising a reservoir for the fluid.
In a 3rd feature, the present invention provides a pump assembly as in the 2nd feature wherein a fluid inlet of the fluid pump is in communication through the collar with the fluid in the reservoir.
In a 4th feature, the present invention provides a pump assembly as in the 3rd feature wherein the fluid pump is selected from a piston pump and a diaphragm pump.
In a 5th feature, the present invention provides a pump assembly as in the 1st feature wherein the body carrying a solid material cage enclosing the block separated from the fluid, the cage including a solid material discharge tube guiding the particles discharged from the block by the rasp member to a solid material discharge outlet proximate the fluid outlet while maintaining the particles separated from the fluid until exiting from the solid material discharge outlet.
In a 6th feature, the present invention provides a pump assembly as in the 1st feature wherein the fluid pump is a piston pump,
the body carries a chamber-forming center tube coaxially about the axis defining a fluid chamber therein,
the fluid chamber having a closed axially inner end and an open outer end,
the movable member comprising a piston coaxially slidable received in the fluid chamber with an outer end of the piston extending outwardly of the open outer end of the fluid chamber to the discharge outlet at the outer end of the piston,
the piston coaxially slidable along the axis within the fluid chamber between an extended position and a retracted position and movable in the cycle of operation between the extended position and the retracted position to draw the fluid into the fluid chamber and to discharge the fluid out the discharge outlet.
In a 7th feature, the present invention provides a pump assembly as in the 6th feature wherein:
the block is an annular member with a central opening therethrough,
the block disposed coaxially about the axis annularly and radially outwardly about the chamber-forming tube with the first axially directed surface of the block directed axially outwardly,
the first end of the finger member fixedly coupled to the piston proximate the outer end of the piston with the finger member extending from the first end axially away from the first end and radially outwardly of the chamber-forming tube to the distal end placing the axially directed rasp surface in engagement with the first axially directed surface of the block.
In an 8th feature, the present invention provides a pump assembly as in the 7th feature wherein:
the body has an annular end wall coaxial about the axis that carries a chamber-forming center tube,
the end wall extending radially outwardly from the center tube,
the block disposed axially outwardly of the end wall.
In a 9th feature, the present invention provides a pump assembly as in the 8th feature wherein:
the block having a second axially directed surface directed axially inwardly,
a spring member disposed between the end wall and the second axially directed surface of the block biasing the block axially outwardly into engagement with the axially directed rasp surface on the distal end of the finger member.
In a 10th feature, the present invention provides a pump assembly as in the 8th feature wherein:
the annular end wall extending radially outwardly from the center tube to a circumferential outer end of the annular end wall,
a chute tube extending coaxially from the circumferential outer end of the annular end wall axially outwardly to an open annular particle discharge outlet coaxially about the discharge outlet at the outer end of the piston,
an annular compartment defined radially between the chute tube and the chamber-forming center tube within which the annular block is coaxially received.
In an 11th feature, the present invention provides a pump assembly as in the 10th feature wherein:
the axially directed rasp surface is directed axially inwardly in engagement with the first axially directed surface of the block,
openings through the finger member over the distal end of the finger member sized to permit particles of the of the solid material disengaged by the rasp surface to pass through the finger member into the annular compartment radially outwardly of the finger member,
the chute tube guiding particles of the solid material in the annular compartment radially outwardly of the finger member to pass under gravity outwardly in the chute tube to the annular particle discharge outlet annularly outwardly of the finger member and the piston.
In a 12th feature, the present invention provides a pump assembly as in the 7th feature including a plurality of said finger members secured spaced from each circumferentially about the piston.
In a 13th feature, the present invention provides a pump assembly as in the 11th feature including a plurality of said finger members secured spaced from each circumferentially about the piston, each finger member providing the rasp surface over a partial circumferential segment of the first axially directed surface of the block.
In a 14th feature, the present invention provides a pump assembly as in the 1st feature in combination with a container containing the fluid, wherein the body is secured to an opening to the container providing for communication of the fluid in the container to the fluid pump.
In a 15th feature, the present invention provides a pump assembly as in the 1st feature including a particle discharge chute receiving the particles disengaged from the block and directing the particles under gravity downwardly to a particle exitway adjacent the discharge outlet.
In a 16th feature, the present invention provides a pump assembly as in the 1st feature including a biasing mechanism to urge the rasp and the block axially into engagement.
In a 17th feature, the present invention provides a pump assembly as in the 16th feature wherein the biasing mechanism comprises a resilient spring member disposed between the body and the block engaging a second axially directed surface of the block opposite to the first axially directed surface of the block to urge the block axially toward the rasp.
In an 18th feature, the present invention provides a dispenser for dispensing of a fluid and particles of a solid material comprising a pump assembly as in the 1st feature in combination with:
a reservoir containing the fluid in which the fluid pump in the cycle of operation draws the fluid from the reservoir and dispenses the fluid out the discharge outlet.
In a 19th feature, the present invention provides a dispenser as in the 18th feature including:
a dispenser housing;
a pump actuator movable relative the housing in the cycle of operation to activate the pump to draw and dispense the fluid,
a driven member for movement relative the housing in the cycle of operation either manually or by a motor,
the driven member mechanically coupled to the pump actuator whereby movement of the driven member in the cycle of operation moves the pump actuator relative the housing to displace the fluid and to move the rasp member relative the body to disengage the particles.
In a 20th feature, the present invention provides an assembly for dispensing particles of a solid material comprising:
a body,
a movable member mounted to the body for reciprocal movement relative the body parallel to an axis in a cycle of operation,
a block of the solid material coalesced together,
the block received axially between the body and the movable member presenting a first axially directed surface directed toward the movable member,
a rasp member mounted to the movable member body for movement with the movable member relative the body in the cycle of operation,
the rasp member comprising a resilient finger member having a first end and a distal end, the first end of the finger member coupled to the movable member to move axially relative the axis with the movable member,
the finger member extending from the first end axially away from the first end and radially outwardly from the axis to the distal end which carries an axially directed rasp surface directed axially toward the first axially directed surface of the block in opposition to the axially directed surface of the block,
the axially directed rasp surface and the axially directed surface of the block biased axially into engagement with each other,
in the cycle of operation, when the body and the movable member move axially toward each other, the finger member is axially compressed between the axially directed surface of the block and movable member and the finger member resiliently deflects between the first end and the distal end against an inherent bias of the finger member reducing the axial length between the first end and the distal end and moving the distal end radially outwardly,
in the cycle of operation, when the body and the movable member move axially away each other, under the inherent bias of the finger member the finger member deflects between the first end and the distal end increasing the axial length between the first end and the distal end and moving the distal end radially inwardly, wherein during the cycle of operation the rasp surface in engagement with the axially directed surface of the block moves radially relative the axially directed surface of the block disengaging particles of the solid material from the block.
In a 21st feature, the present invention provides an assembly as in the 20th feature including:
a solid material discharge tube including a solid material discharge outlet,
the solid material discharge tube located below the block to receive particles discharged from the block and guide the particles discharged from the block by the rasp member through the solid material discharge tube to the solid material discharge outlet.
In a 22nd feature, the present invention provides an assembly as in the 21st feature including:
a fluid pump which in a cycle of operation draws fluid through a fluid inlet and dispenses the fluid out a fluid outlet adjacent the solid material discharge outlet.
In a 23rd feature, the present invention provides an assembly as in the 1st feature wherein the block comprise the particles of the solid material coalesced together.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:
Reference is made first to
The reservoir cartridge 112 comprises a bottle 113 and a piston assembly 10. The bottle 113 has a chamber 116 for holding fluid 118 as, for example, liquid soap which is to be dispensed. An outlet 120 is provided through a 119 neck of the bottle 113 carried on a lowermost wall of the chamber 116, across which is located the piston assembly 10 which, amongst other things, dispenses the fluid 118 outwardly therethrough. Preferably, the reservoir cartridge 112 is disposable once the supply of fluid 118 is exhausted. The piston assembly 10 includes a piston chamber-forming member or body 12 and a piston-forming element or piston 14. The piston 14 is coupled to the body 12 for coaxially reciprocal sliding between an extended position and a retracted position to dispense material. The body 12 has an annular collar 39 for sealed engagement with the neck 119 of the bottle 113. A radially inwardly extending annular support slotway 101 is provided circumferentially about the collar 39.
The flange 124 has an opening 126 vertically therethrough in the form of a U-shaped slot 127 closed at a rear blind end 128 and open forwardly to the front edge 129 of the flange 124.
An actuator assembly 130 is provided on the housing 114 movable relative to the housing. The actuator assembly 130 includes notably a pivoting lever 131 and an actuator plate 132 mounted to the housing 114 to be vertically slidable. Pivoting of the lever 131 moves the vertically slidable actuator plate 132 linearly on a pair of vertically extending guide rods 133 against the bias of springs 134 disposed about the guide rods 133. The actuator plate 132 has a U-shaped slot opening 137 vertically therethrough closed at a rear blind end 139 and open forwardly to the front edge 140 of the actuator plate 132. A circumferentially extending catch channelway 138 is provided around a side wall of the opening 137 with the channelway 138 extending from a radially inwardly directed opening radially inwardly to a blind end. The channelway 138 is adapted to engage a radially outwardly extending engagement flange 17 on the piston 14.
The two parallel spaced locating rods 133 are fixedly secured at their upper ends 141 to flange 124 and extend downwardly to their lower ends 142 to which respective retaining ferrules 143 are secured. The actuator plate 132 has a pair of cylindrical bores through which the rods 133 pass. The actuator plate 132 is disposed on the rods 133 above the ferrules 143.
Springs 134 are provided about each of the locating rods 133. The springs 134 have an upper end which engage the flange 124 and a lower end which engage an upper surface of actuator plate 132 to resiliently bias the actuator plate 132 away from the flange 124 downwardly toward a fully extended position shown in
The actuator assembly 130 includes the lever 131 which is pivotally connected to the housing 114 for pivoting about a horizontal axis 146. The lever 130 is U-shaped having a pair of side arms 147 connected at their front by a horizontal connecting bight 148. A pair of horizontal stub axles 149 extend laterally outwardly from the side arms 147 and are received in holes 150 through the side walls 123 to journal the lever 131 to the housing 114 for pivoting about the axis 146.
A rear end 151 of the lever 131 engages a lower surface of the actuator plate 132. Manual urging of the bight 148 of the lever 131 rearwardly by a user moves the actuator plate 132 upwardly against the bias of the springs 133 from the extended position shown in
As seen in
The piston-forming element 14 has on the stem 15 proximate its outermost end the generally circular and radially outwardly extending engagement flange 17.
The opening 126 of the flange 124 is positioned to permit the reservoir cartridge 112 to be slid rearwardly inward into the housing 114 in the manner illustrated in
As seen in a coupled orientation in
As seen in
The exterior tube 35 merges radially outwardly into the collar 39. The collar 39 supports a solid material cage 40 which opens axially outwardly into a solid material discharge chute 41.
An inlet opening 42 to the liquid chamber 28 is provided in the inner end 32 of the liquid chamber 28 in communication with the bottle 113. A flange 43 extends across the inner end 32 having a central opening 44 and the inlet 42 therethrough. A one-way valve 46 is disposed across the inlet opening 42. The inlet opening 42 provides communication through the flange 43 with fluid in the bottle 113. The one-way valve 46 permits fluid flow from the bottle 113 into the liquid chamber 28 but prevents fluid flow from the liquid chamber 28 to the bottle 113. The one-way valve 46 comprises a shouldered button 47 which is secured in snap-fit relation inside the central opening 44 in the inner end 32 with a circular resilient flexing disc 48 extending radially from the button 47. The flexing disc 48 is sized to circumferentially abut the cylindrical inner chamber wall 31 substantially preventing fluid flow there past from the liquid chamber 28 to the bottle 113. The flexing disc 48 is deflectable away from the inner chamber wall 31 to permit flow from the bottle 113 through the inlet opening 45 into the liquid chamber 28.
The piston 14 is axially slidably received in the body 12 for reciprocal sliding motion inward and outwardly therein coaxially along the central axis 13. The piston 14 is generally circular in cross-section. The piston 14 has the hollow stem 15 extending along the central axis 13.
A circular resilient flexing inner disc 50 is located at an inner end 51 of the piston 14 and extends radially therefrom. The inner disc 50 extends radially outwardly on the stem 15 to circumferentially engage the chamber wall 31 of the liquid chamber 28. The inner disc 50 is sized to circumferentially abut the chamber wall 31 to substantially prevent fluid flow therebetween inwardly. The inner disc 50 has a resilient distal annular end position is biased radially outwardly, however, is adapted to be deflected radially inwardly so as to permit fluid flow past the inner disc 50 outwardly.
An outer circular outer disc 52 is located on the stem 15 spaced axially outwardly from the inner disc 50. The outer disc 52 extends radially outwardly on the stem 15 to circumferentially engage the chamber wall 31 of the liquid chamber 28. The outer disc 52 is sized to circumferentially abut the chamber wall 31 to substantially prevent fluid flow therebetween outwardly. The outer disc 52 is biased radially outwardly, however, may optionally be adapted to be deflected radially inwardly so as to permit fluid flow past the outer disc 52 inwardly. Preferably, the outer disc 52 engages the chamber wall 31 to prevent flow there past both inwardly and outwardly.
A circular air disc 54 is located on the stem 15 spaced axially outwardly from the outer disc 52. The air disc 34 extends radially outwardly on the stem 15 to circumferentially engage the chamber wall 37 of the air chamber 36. The air disc 54 is sized to circumferentially abut the chamber wall 37 to substantially prevent fluid flow therebetween outwardly. The air disc 54 is biased radially outwardly, however, may optionally be adapted to be deflected radially inwardly so as to permit air flow past the air disc 54 inwardly. Preferably, the air disc 54 engages the chamber wall 37 to prevent flow there past both inwardly and outwardly.
The piston stem 15 has a hollow central outlet passageway 56 extending along the axis 13 of the piston 14 from a closed inner end 57 to the fluid discharge outlet 16 at an outer end 58 of the piston 14. A liquid port 59 extends radially from an inlet 60 located on the side of the stem 15 between the inner disc 50 and the outer disc 52 inwardly through the stem 15 into communication with the central passageway 56. The liquid port 59 and central passageway 56 permit fluid communication through the piston 14 past the outer disc 52 between the inlet 60 and the liquid discharge outlet 16.
An air port 61 extends radially from an inlet 62 located on the side of the stem 15 between the outer disc 52 and the air disc 54 inwardly through the stem 15 into communication with the central passageway 56. The air port 61 and central passageway 56 permit fluid communication through the piston 14 between the air chamber 36 and the liquid discharge outlet 16.
Within the central passageway 56 axially outwardly of the air port 54 and between the air port 54 and the liquid discharge outlet 16, a foam generator 63 is provided which provides small openings therethrough. In a known manner on simultaneous passage of air and liquid through the foam generator, the air and liquid are mixed to produce foam. The foam generator 63 may preferably comprise a pair of screens 64 and 65 with small openings and a porous plug 66 of foamed plastic with open pores therethrough supported between the screens 64 and 65.
The piston 14 is slidably received in the body 12 for reciprocal axial inward and outward movement therein in a stroke of movement between a fully extended position shown in
The piston 14 is received in the body 12 with a liquid piston portion 67 of the stem 15 carrying the inner disc 50 and the outer disc 52 in the liquid chamber 28 of the center tube 27 forming therewith a liquid pump 68 and the air disc 54 in the air chamber 36 of the exterior tube 35 forming an air pump 70.
The liquid pump 68 provides a liquid compartment 69 defined within the liquid chamber 28 between the one way valve 46 and the outer disc 52 which liquid compartment 69 varies in volume with movement of the piston 14 relative the piston chamber-forming member 12. The air pump 70 provides an air compartment 71 defined within the air chamber 36 between the air chamber 36 and the air disc 54 which air compartment 71 varies in volume with movement of the piston 14 relative the body 12.
A cycle of operation is now described in which the piston 14 is moved from the extended position of
In the discharge stroke in moving from the extended position of
In the discharge stroke in moving from the extended position of
In the discharge stroke the liquid pump 68 and the air pump 70 operate in phase to simultaneously pass liquid and air outwardly through the foam generator 63 to produce foam.
In the charging stroke, as the piston 14 is moved from the retracted position of
In the charging stroke, as the piston 14 is moved from the retracted position of
As seen in
A cylindrical rasp member 76 is supported on the stem 15 axially outwardly of the annular inner flange portion 73 of the air disc 54. The rasp member 76 is in the form of a cylindrical rasp tube 77 with a radially outwardly directed outer surface 78 and a radially inwardly directed inner surface 79. An array of openings 80 are provided through the rasp tube 77 and a rasp prong 81 is carried by the rasp tube 77 adjacent each opening 80. The outer surface 78 is disposed in a cylindrical plane, however, with the rasp prongs 81 extending radially outwardly from the cylindrical plane. The outer surface 78 of the rasp tube 77 is preferably an axial extension of the tubular portion 74 of the air disc 54.
The body 12 carries a solid material cage 40 which has an axially inner annular roof member 82, a cylindrical side wall forming wall tube 83 and an axially outer annular floor member 84. The wall tube 83 fixedly secures the roof member 82 to the floor member 84 defining an annular cage cavity 85 therebetween coaxially about the piston 14. The roof member 82 has a central opening 86 therethrough of a diameter marginally greater than the tubular portion 74 of the air disc 54 and the rasp member 76. A tubular chute tube 86 extends downwardly from the floor member 84 with a central opening 87 through the floor member 84 opening into inside the chute tube 86. The central opening 87 through the floor member 84 has of a diameter greater than the tubular portion of the air disc 54 and the rasp member 76. An annular chute passage 88 is provided through the floor member 84 radially outwardly of the piston 14 from the annular cage cavity 85 to a lower open annular particle discharge outlet 89.
The roof member 82 carries an axially outwardly directed roof surface 90 disposed in a flat plane normal to the axis 13. The floor member 84 carries an axially inwardly directed floor surface 91 disposed in a flat plane normal to the axis 13 with six elongate radially extending floor guide tongues 92, best seen in
Each segment 201 is received in the cage cavity 85 between the roof member 82 and the floor member 84 with a floor guide tongue 92 received in the floor guide slot 210 of the floor face 204 of the segment 201. Each segment 201 is radially slidable in the cage cavity 86 guided on the floor guide tongue 92, preferably with sliding engagement between at least the floor surface 91 of the floor member 84 and the floor face 204 of the segment 201.
The band 202 extends circumferentially about the outer ends 208 of the segments 201. The band 202 is a resilient member which assumes an unbiased inherent shape of an unbiased inherent diameter. The band 202 can be stretched to expanded, biased conditions of larger diameter than its unbiased inherent diameter, and the band will under its inherent bias attempt to return to its unbiased inherent diameter. The band 202 is expanded to encircle the segments 201 circumferentially engaging the outer ends 208 of each segment 201 and biasing each segment 201 to slide radially inwardly on the floor guide tongue 92 toward the stem 15 of the piston 14 and into the rasp member 76 carried on the piston 14.
With six identical segments 201, each can have its inner end 207 extend circumferentially 60 degrees about the rasp tube 77, which sets the maximum distance that the side faces 205 and 206 may be spaced and permit the outer end 208 to become advanced into the rasp tube 77 without engagement of an adjacent segment 201.
During reciprocal axial inward and outward movement of the piston 14 is a cycle of operation the rasp member 76 is constantly radially directed into engagement with the inner end 207 of each segment 201 due to the bias to the band 202, and the rasp member 76 slides axially relative each inner end 207 of each segment 201 to abrade each inner end 207 to cut, dislodge and/or remove particles 209 of the solid material forming the segment 201. Particles 209 dislodged, schematically shown on
In a cycle of operation with a user's hand disposed below the outer end of the piston 14, foamed liquid is discharged out the liquid discharge outlet 16 while particles 209 of solid soap are dispensed out the annular particle discharge outlet 89.
The rasp member 76 may be configured to cut, remove and/or dislodge particles merely in one of the discharge stroke and the return stroke, or in both. In one arrangement, the rasp prongs 81 extend radially outwardly and axially inwardly from the outer surface 78 and cut particles from the segments 201 on the piston 14 being moved axially inwardly in the discharge stroke such that the particles are cut, dislodged and removed and drop down for discharge principally during the discharge stroke during which foamed fluid is being discharged. In another arrangement, the rasp prongs 81 extend radially inwardly and axially inwardly from the outer surface 78 and cut particles from the segments 201 on the piston 14 being moved axially inwardly in the return stroke such that the particles are cut, dislodged and removed and dropped down for discharge principally during the return stroke.
In another embodiment, the particles are discharged during both the discharge and the return stroke with, for example, the rasp prongs extending radially outwardly from the outer surface 78 including some rasp prongs which extend axially inwardly and other rasp prongs which extend axially outwardly. In one preferred manner of operation, a dose of fluid is first dispensed as onto a user's hand following which the solid materials are dispensed to drop downwardly under gravity and be caught and engaged in the fluid already on the user's hand.
The first embodiment this invention illustrates a piston pump in which there is fluid discharge from the fluid discharge outlet 16 during a discharge stroke. This is not necessary, various alternative piston pump arrangements which may be provided in which there is fluid discharge in the return stroke. The rasp member 76 may be provided to dislodge, cut and/or discharge particles during the entirety of discharge stroke or the entirety of the return stroke or merely during portions of each of the strokes by limiting the extent to which the rasp member 76 and the inner ends 207 of each segment 201 are axially located so as to overlap during either stroke.
The first embodiment illustrates a piston assembly 10 provided in a manually operated dispenser 100 in which a user provides the forces to move the piston 14. This is not necessary and other arrangements may be utilized for moving the piston 14 as, for example, through the use of motorized actuators, for example, electrically powered by motors as is known for use with, for example, touchless automated fluid dispensers such as taught by U.S. Pat. No. 7,980,421 to Ophardt et al, issued Jul. 19, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The first embodiment shows one arrangement for coupling the reservoir cartridge 112 to a dispenser housing 114. Various other arrangements for coupling the reservoir cartridge 112 and the piston assembly 10 to housing 114 and the actuator plate 132 may be provided.
Reference is made to
Regarding the solid material cage 40, the inner annular roof member 82 and the wall tube 83 are preferably formed as an integral element adapted to be secured to an outer end of the collar 39 as in a snap-fit relation. The floor member 84 is adapted to be secured onto an axially outer end of the wall tube 83 also as in a snap-fit relation.
The piston chamber-forming member 12 is shown in
The piston assembly 10 may be assembled by assembling the piston 14 to a configuration as shown in
Reference is made to
The roof member 82 includes a pair of diametrically opposed axially extending slide rods 242. The rasp member 76 is mounted on the slide rods 242 for axially sliding relative to the roof member 82, however, with the slide rods 242 preventing rotation of the rasp member 76 relative to the roof member 82. As best seen in
The outer portion 93 of the piston 14 carries a pair of outer lugs 246 which extend outwardly at diametrically opposite locations from the stem 15 to approximate the inner surface 79 of the rasp tube 77. The outer lugs 246 are shown in cross-section in
The rasp member 76 carries as protruding radially inwardly from the inner surface 79 of the rasp tube 77 a pair of inner lugs 248. The axial extent of the inner lugs 248 corresponds to the axial extent of the pocket 247.
Reference is made to
The chute tube 86 may be rotated 45 degrees relative the floor member 84 between a rasp engaged position as shown in
As can be seen in
The second embodiment illustrates a modification of the first embodiment with an additional mechanism provided for a configuration of the piston assembly 10 in which solid soap particles are dispensed while liquid foam is dispensed and in a configuration in which soap particles are not dispensed while foam liquid is dispensed.
The preferred embodiments of
Reference is made to
In the assembled piston assembly 10, as seen in
Inwardly about the center tube 252, the body 12 includes an annular dividing wall 275 which defines an inner annular liquid chamber 276 between the center tube 252 and the dividing wall 275 and an outer annular air chamber 294 between the dividing wall 275 and a radially outer wall 276 of the body 12. The outer wall 276 carries in its axially outer end, a threaded collar 39 for engagement of the body 12 onto the neck of a fluid containing bottle.
The dividing wall 275 has a radially inwardly directed surface 277 of a first diameter over an inner portion 278 of the dividing wall 275 and a radially inwardly directed surface 279 of a second larger diameter over an outer portion 280 of the dividing wall. The piston 14 has an inner tube 281 with central opening sized to dispose coaxially about the chute tube 264. The inner tube 281 carries a liquid inner disc 282, a liquid intermediate disc 283 and a liquid outer disc 284. The inner disc 281 engages the inner portion 278 of the dividing wall 275 in a manner to prevent fluid flow inwardly therepast yet to deflect to permit fluid flow outwardly therepast as in the manner of a one-way valve. The intermediate disc 283 engages the outer portion 280 of the dividing wall 275 to permit fluid flow axially outwardly therepast but to prevent fluid flow axially inwardly therepast. The outer disc 284 engages the outer portion 280 to prevent fluid flow axially inwardly therepast. A liquid port 285 is provided through the inner tube 281 into communication with a passageway 286 best seen in
A stepped liquid pump 291 is provided inside the liquid chamber 276 with an annular liquid compartment 290 defined between the dividing wall 275 and the inner tube 281 axially between the liquid inner disc 282 and the liquid outer disc 284 which liquid compartment 290 varies in volume as the piston 14 is moved axially to the body 12. The fluid chamber 276 is in communication with fluid in the bottle via an inlet opening 293 at an inner end of the liquid chamber 276. In movement of the piston 14 inwardly, the volume of the liquid compartment 290 reduces discharging fluid through the liquid port 285 to the fluid discharge outlet 298. In a withdrawal stroke, the volume of the liquid compartment 290 increases drawing liquid from the bottle into the liquid compartment 290.
Radially outwardly of the liquid pump 291, an air pump 292 is provided. The piston 14 carries an air disc 293 which engages the radially inwardly directed surface of the outer wall 276 of the body 12 within the air chamber 294 so as to form an air compartment 295 between the outer wall 276 and the dividing wall 275 and axially between a closed inner end of the air chamber 294, the air disc 293 and the liquid outer disc 284. The volume of the air compartment 295 changes as the piston 14 is moved axially relative to the body 12. An air port 296 is provided through the inner tube 281 from the air compartment 295 to the passageway 286. With movement of the piston 14 in a return stroke, the volume of the air compartment 295 reduces and air is forced through the air port 296 for discharge simultaneously with the liquid through an annular foam generator 297 to generate foam which is dispensed out the annular fluid discharge outlet 298. In a return stroke, the volume of the air compartment 295 increases and air is drawn via the discharge outlet 298 and the passageway 286 to the air port into the air compartment.
In the third embodiment, the particles of solid material drop down under gravity through the solid material discharge outlet 274 centered about the axis 13 and the foamed liquid is discharged from an annular liquid discharge outlet 298 about the solid material outlet 274. The spring 260 biases the soap rod 258 into the rotating rasp member 272 at all times. However, the force with which the soap rod 258 is biased into the rasp member 272 will increase as the spring 260 is compressed on the piston 14 being moved closer to the retracted position. As the soap rod 258 is abraded by the rotating rasp member 272, the axial length of the soap rod 258 will decrease and the spring 260 needs to provide forces biasing the rod 258 outwardly even when the rod 260 is substantially reduced in axial length due to abrasion.
Reference is made to
Reference is made to
As seen in
A soap cage 450 is coupled to the body 12. The soap cage 450 includes a U-shaped housing 413 having a front wall 414, a rear wall 415 and a top wall 416 with a rectangular opening 429. A cage lid 417 is secured to the top wall 415 to close the rectangular opening 429 and to provide a cylindrical guide tube 418 coaxially about the axis 13.
The rasp member 411 is secured at its lower end to the piston 14 and extends upwardly as a pair of parallel rasp plates 420 spaced from each other to provide a central cavity 421 joined at an upper end by a top plate 422 from which a guide tube 423 extends axially upwardly into sliding engagement within the guide tube 418 carried on the cage lid 417. The guide tube 418 on the rasp member 411 serves to guide the rasp member 411 in coaxial sliding about along the axis 13 with the piston 14. A plurality of openings 424 are provided through each of the rasp plates 420 and suitable rasping mechanisms such as prongs extend radially outwardly for engagement of solid material to abrade the same on relative movement of the rasp plates 420.
The rasp member 411 carries approximate the bottom of each of the rasp plates 420, a joining bottom plate 451 which preferably is angled inwardly towards the axis 13 to assist in directing any particles to move under gravity downwardly into the discharge tube 405.
A rectangular channelway 426 is defined within the cage 450 on either side of the rasp plates 420 as defined between the support plate 400 of the body 12, the front 414, top 416 and side 415 of the cage 450. A rectangular soap bar 430 having dimensions corresponding to the channelway 426 is received within the channelway 426 and slidable therein. A cover plate 432 is secured to the cage 450 on an outer side of the channelway 426 outwardly of the soap bar 430. The cover plate 432 includes a cylindrical tube member 433 open radially inwardly and provided with a closed outer end 435. A spring member 436 is provided within each tube member 433 biased between the outer end 435 of the tube member 433 and the soap bar 430 so as to urge the soap bar 430 into engagement with a respective rasp plate 420.
The soap bars 430 are thus biased into the rasp plates 420 at all times. With reciprocal movement of the piston 14 relative to the body 12, the rasp plates 420 move relative the soap bars 430 in engagement with the soap bars 430 to cut, abrade and/or dislodge solid particles of the soap bars 430 which particles pass through the opening 424 in the rasp plate 420 into the cavity 421 between the rasp plates 420 and fall under gravity downwardly where they are channeled into the discharge tube 405 and out the material discharge outlet 274.
The reservoir cartridge 412 of the fifth embodiment is adapted to be received within a dispenser housing 114 such as that shown in
The reservoir cartridge 412 of the fifth embodiment serves merely to dispense material from the soap bars 430 and not liquid. The reservoir cartridge 412 of the fifth embodiment may be useful, for example, in an environment where merely solid materials are to be dispensed as, for example, including environments in which, for example, the temperature might be so low that liquid soap would freeze. In accordance with the present invention, a dispenser kit is provided including a housing 114 as shown in
The relative configuration of the solid material reservoir cartridge 412 of the type shown in the fifth embodiment may be optimized so as to fit within the cavity provided in a dispenser housing 114 such as shown in
In the preferred embodiment shown in
Reference is made to
A solid material discharge tube 516 is fixedly mounted to the driven member 520 for movement therewith relative to the body 512. The discharge tube 516 carries at its inner end a rasp member 521 in the form of a cylindrical rasp tube 522 having openings 523 therethrough and rasp prongs 524 extending radially outwardly therefrom. The discharge tube 516 and its rasp tube 522 extend coaxially of a rasp axis 535 parallel the arrows 517 through a rasp opening 525 in the base 513 of the body 512. An axially inner surface 532 of the base 513 carries a cylindrical flange 526 coaxially about the rasp opening 525. A cage housing 527 is secured to the flange 526 and has a cylindrical side wall 528. The side wall 528 ends inwardly at an annular radially extending cage end shoulder 529 having a rasp guide opening 530 coaxial with the rasp opening 525. The cage housing 527 extends axially inwardly as a cylindrical rasp guide tube 531 closed at an inner end 533.
Disposed within the cage housing 527 is a soap cartridge 200 substantially the same as the soap cartridge 200 in the first embodiment and having a plurality of segments 201 of solid soap disposed about the rasp axis 535 and encircled by a circumferential elastic band 202. Each segment 201 is engaged and guided to slide radially relative the rasp axis 535 by engagement with floor guide tongues on the base 513 engaging guide slots in each of the segments 201 as the segments are directed towards the rasp axis by the circumferential elastic band 202 such that the segments 201 are biased radially inwardly into the rasp tube 522. With movement of the driven member 520 between the extended and the retracted positions, the rasp member 521 is moved coaxially along the rasp axis 535 in engagement with the soap segments 201 to abrade solid particles from the solid soap segments 201 for passage of the particles through the rasp openings 523 axially into the discharge tube 516 to fall under gravity down through the discharge tube 516 and out a solid material discharge outlet 536.
The diaphragm liquid pump 514 includes a cylindrical tubular casing 550 which is open at a first end 551 and closed at a second end 552 but for a liquid inlet opening 553. The tubular casing 550 has a liquid discharge tube 554 attached to it. The discharge tube 554 is a cylindrical tube which extends radially from an outlet opening 555 inside the tubular casing 550 proximate the first end 551 of the tubular casing 550 to a liquid discharge outlet 582.
The base 513 has a pump transfer opening 556 therethrough including a short stub transfer tube 557 which extends axially inwardly from the base 513. A circular transfer port 558 is provided through a cylindrical side wall 560 of the tubular casing 550. The transfer port 558 is sealably engaged upon the transfer tube 557. A discharge tube opening 561 is provided axially through the base 513. The tubular casing 550 is fixedly secured to the base 513 with the liquid discharge tube 554 extending outwardly from the base 513 parallel to the rasp axis 535 about a discharge tube axis 564.
An axially outer face 565 of the base 513 carries an axially outwardly extending cylindrical flange 566. A substantially semi-spherical diaphragm member 568 has an open end 569 sealably engaged within the cylindrical flange 566 axially outwardly of the base 513 so as to define a variable volume diaphragm chamber 570 open through the pump transfer opening 556 to a pump chamber 571 inside the tubular casing 550.
Within the tubular casing 550, a valve member is provided which has a central axially extending stem 572 upon which three discs are mounted. On a first end of the valve member, a sealing disc 573 is provided which is located in sealed engagement within the first end 551 of the tubular casing 550 to close the same against fluid flow inwardly to or outwardly from the pump chamber 571. A first radially outwardly extending annular outlet disc 574 is provided on the valve stem 572 axially between the sealing disc 573 and the pump transfer port 556. Axially spaced from the outlet disc 574 away from the sealing disc 573, a radially outwardly extending annular inlet disc 575 is provided on the valve stem 542 axially between the pump transfer port 556 liquid inlet opening 553 in and the second end 552 of the tubular casing 550. Each of the outlet disc 574 and the inlet disc 575 have their radial distal ends in engagement with the cylindrical side wall 560 of the tubular casing 550 biased to prevent fluid flow axially of an axis 576 of the tubular casing 550 inwardly toward the liquid inlet opening 553, that is, to the right as seen in
The driven member 520 has a central opening 578 therethrough coaxially about the liquid discharge tube 554 for axial movement of the driven member 520 relative to the base 513 and the liquid discharge tube 554 fixed to the base 513 with movement of the driven member 520 between the extended position and the retracted position.
A liquid compartment 580 is defined within the diaphragm liquid pump 514 including as its volume the volume of the diaphragm chamber 570, the transfer tube 557 and an annular chamber 581 within the tubular casing 550 about the valve stem 572 in between the outlet disc 574 and the inlet disc 575. In movement of the driven member 520 from the extended position to the retracted position, the volume of the liquid compartment 580 decreases thus creating pressure therein which acts on the inlet disc 575 to prevent liquid flow axially therepast to the inlet opening 553 and acts on the outlet disc 574 to deflect the outlet disc 574 to permit liquid flow from the liquid compartment 580 outwardly through the outlet opening 553 to the liquid discharge tube 554 and out the liquid discharge outlet 582. In a retraction stroke in moving from the retracted position of
In the cycle of operation, in a retraction stroke, liquid is discharged from the liquid compartment 580 through the discharge outlet 582 and in an extension stroke, liquid is drawn into the liquid compartment 580 through the liquid inlet opening 553. The discharge of solid material particles from the solid material discharge outlet 536 can occur in one or both of the extension stroke and the retraction stroke. The solid material discharge outlet 536 is proximate the liquid discharge outlet 582.
The combination of the tubular casing 550 and the valve member provides a preferred construction of a one-way inlet valve and a one-way outlet valve which can be manufactured easily and at low cost, preferably from two elements which are injection molded from plastic. The tubular casing 550 is shown to be a cylindrical tube with a cylindrical side wall presenting a cylindrical inner surface about the valve member inner disc 575 and the outer disc 574. The side wall need not be cylindrical or of a constant diameter but, for example, needs to have a cross-sectional shape which is circular where it is to be engaged by each of the inlet disc 575 or the outlet disc 574. The tubular casing 550 is shown as effectively closed at the second end 552 and open at the first end 551 which his advantageous to permit the valve member to be inserted axially through the first end 551 with the valve member to carry the sealing disc 573 to close the inner end 551. The tubular casing 550 may be open at the second end 552 with the valve member to carry another sealing disc to seal the second end 552. The valve member is shown as constrained within the tubular casing 550 against axial movement. The valve member preferably need only carry the inlet disc 575 and the outlet disc 574 and other arrangements can be provided for closing the ends of the tubular casing 550.
In the embodiment of
Reference is made to
Reference is made to
The pump assembly 610 also includes a pump casing 622, a drive spindle 624, a rasp member 625, a soap cartridge 200 and a soap cage 626. The soap cartridge 200 includes four soap segments 201 encircled by an elastic band 202. The pump casing 622 defines side walls 627 and an outer end wall 628 of a racetrack shaped oval pump chamber 629. A drive opening 630 extends axially outwardly through the pump casing outer end wall 628 and a driven opening 631 similarly extends spaced from the drive opening 630 through the pump casing outer end wall 628.
The drive gear 614 and the driven gear 615 are located to have the drive axle 618 extend through the drive opening 630 and the driven axle 617 extend through the driven opening 631 with the drive teeth on the two gears meshing. The body 612 has a radially extending base 632 bordered by an axially inwardly extending annular collar 39. The collar 39 carries internal threads and is adapted to be secured as to a neck of a bottle as in the first embodiment. The base 632 carries an oval protuberance 633 on its axially outer side which engages the pump casing 622 forming an inner end wall 634 of the pump chamber 629 and enclosing the pump chamber 629 between the pump casing 622 and the body 612 with the sealing ring 613 disposed therebetween forming a liquid seal. The body 612 and the pump casing 622 are drawn together compressing the sealing ring 613 therebetween by two screws 636 shown only in
A fluid inlet opening 637 extends through the base 632 of the body 612 opening into the pump chamber 629 in an inlet bight 639 between the gear teeth on a first side of the meshed gears. A fluid outlet opening 640 extends outwardly through the pump casing 622 from the pump chamber 629 at an opposite outlet bight 641 between the meshed gears. The fluid outlet opening 640 opens into a liquid discharge tube 642 which extends outwardly from the pump casing 622 to a liquid discharge outlet 643. Outwardly of the pump casing 622, the drive spindle 624 is coupled to the drive axle 618 for rotation therewith. Outwardly of the pump casing 622, the rasp member 625 is engaged on the driven axle 619 for rotation therewith. The rasp member 625 includes a cylindrical rasp tube 651 with openings 652 radially therethrough and rasp prongs extending radially outwardly. On an axially outer face 645 of the pump casing 622, a cylindrical flange 646 is provided disposed coaxially about the driven axle 619. The soap cage 626 is engaged on the cylindrical flange 646. The soap cage 626 includes a cylindrical tube 647 which opens at an axially outer end into a solid material discharge tube 648 with a downwardly directed solid material discharge outlet 650. Disposed within the cage tube 647 is the soap cartridge 200 formed by four soap segments 201 biased radially inwardly into the rasp tube 651 by reason of a resilient circumferential band 202.
In the embodiment of
While the embodiment of
Reference is made to
In the eighth embodiment, elements of the pump assembly 710 have very similar elements to elements of the first embodiment of the pump assembly illustrated in
An inlet opening 42 to the liquid chamber 28 is provided in the inner end 32 of the liquid chamber 28. A flange 43 extends across the inner end having a central opening 44 and the inlet 42 therethrough. A one-way valve 46 is disposed across the inlet opening 42. The inlet opening 42 provides communication through the flange 43 with fluid in a bottle. The one-way valve 46 permits fluid flow from the bottle into the liquid chamber 28 but prevents fluid flow from the liquid chamber 28 to the bottle. The one-way valve 46 and its interaction with the liquid chamber 28 is substantially identical to that in the first embodiment.
The piston 714 is slidably received in the body 712 for reciprocal sliding motion inwardly and outwardly therein coaxially along a central axis 13. The piston 714 has a hollow stem 15 extending along a central axis 13. The piston 714 includes a liquid piston portion 67 of the stem 15 carrying an inner disc 50 and outer disc 52 in the liquid chamber 28 of the center tube 27 forming therewith a liquid pump 68 by an interaction between the liquid piston portion 67 and the interior center tube 27 identical to that disclosed with the first embodiment, however, in which liquid discharged is passed outwardly through a liquid discharge tube 746 to a liquid discharge outlet 747 with the discharge tube 746 having a passageway 748 therethrough comprising an extension of a central passageway 56 through the liquid piston portion 67. The interaction of the liquid piston portion 67 of the stem 15 of the piston 714 and the center tube 27 forms the liquid pump 68 for drawing fluid past the one-way inlet valve 46 in a withdrawal stroke and in discharging fluid out the fluid discharge outlet 747 in a retraction stroke.
An annular tube 780 is fixed to the liquid discharge tube 746 coaxially thereabout. The annular tube 780 carries three radially outwardly extending struts 97 to couple an annular engagement flange 17 to the discharge tube 746. The chute tube 86 of the floor member 84 has three axially extending slots 98 open at an axially outer end and closed at an inner end. The discharge tube 746 and the annular tube 780 are coaxially received within the chute tube 86 with the struts 97 passing radially through the slots 98 of the chute tube 86 to permit the engagement flange 17 to be located radially outwardly of the chute tube 86 in substantially the same manner as described in
A rasp member 750 is supported on the stem 15. The rasp member 750 includes at its axially outer end an annular rasp collar 751 by which the rasp member 750 is secured to the stem 15 by engagement of an enlarged annular portion 781 at an axial inner end of the liquid discharge tube 746. The rasp collar 751 merges axially inwardly into six rasp fingers 752 spaced circumferentially with a slotway 753 between each of the adjacent rasp fingers 752. The rasp fingers 752 are spaced radially outwardly from the stem 15 sufficiently that the rasp fingers 752 are radially outwardly of the center tube 27. Each rasp finger 752 is a resilient member which extends axially inwardly and is deflected to extend radially outwardly in engagement with an axially outwardly directed surface 754 of the annular soap disc 743 as can best be seen in the pictorial views of
In a retraction stroke, in movement of the piston 714 from the extended position of
In a cycle of operation in movement of the rasp portions 757 of the rasp fingers 752 radially in engagement with the soap ring 743, solid soap particles are torn by the rasp portions 757 from the soap ring 743, pass through the rasp openings and drop under gravity down into the inside of the floor member 84 down into the chute tube 86 and out an annular particle discharge outlet 89 of the chute tube 86 coaxially about the discharge tube 746 and the liquid discharge outlet 747 of the piston 714. Thus, the embodiment shown in
In each of the embodiments, a solid material particle generator and dispenser is provided by a rasp member engaging a solid material segment, rod or bar to disengage particles of the solid material which are to drop under gravity to a solid material discharge outlet. The particular nature of the material which is to form the solid material is not limited. The material when engaged by the rasp member will provide particles which will be disengaged and drop under gravity. One preferred material is a solid soap of the type commercially sold as hand soap and is useful as a hand cleaner. Such soaps may generally be considered to be a homogeneous material. The material, however, need not be homogeneous and may, for example, comprise a matrix of pellets and/or granular material which are bonded or compressed together and which, when abraded, the pellets and/or granular material may become disassociated from each other or dislodged from a binding matrix and dropped downwardly. The material may thus, for example, comprise compressed pumice or other abrasive cleaning materials which may be held together merely by compression or with some binder which permits the pumice particles when engaged by the rasp to be removed and dropped downwardly.
The solid material can, for example, include particles comprising solid iodine or coated with iodine which, when rubbed onto the surface of a user's hands, provide a disinfecting feature and may remain on the surface of the hand for a period of time after rubbing.
Dispensers in accordance with the present invention have a preferred use for dispensing hand cleaning fluids and materials onto the hand of the user. The dispensers are, however, not so limited. The liquid foam and solid material particles dispensed by the dispensers may be for any manner of uses. For example, rather than cleaning a person's hand, the matter dispensed may be useful for other purposes such as providing conditioning creams or other treatment for application to a person including treatments in which, for example, a liquid to be dispensed must not be brought into contact with the solid particles until shortly before the desired application. The dispenser for dispensing both liquid and solid material are useful for many industrial applications, such as in dispensing foods and confectionaries as, for example, in dispensing liquid chocolate and solid peanut particles onto ice cream products, such as ice cream sundaes and the like.
A dispenser in accordance with the present application is useful in the context of automated biological growth and dispensing systems, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,206,973, issued Jun. 26, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. In the context of systems and methods for growing bacteria, the bacteria and/or nutrients are often in powder form and suffer the disadvantage that moisture can cause the powder to solidify and prevent ease of handling and dispensing. According to the present invention, the solid materials desired to be dispensed, for example, bacteria in an inactive state may be incorporated into a solid material bar in a manner to be protected from atmospheric moisture with the bacteria, for example, to only be exposed to the elements after the bacteria has been removed from the bar in particulate form and discharged. The bacteria, for example, could be encased as a pellet in a moisture resistant or moisture impermeable coating and the pellets compressed to coalesce together with or without a binder into the solid material for the bar. The particles will be dispensed into a vessel in which the coating dissolves such that the bacteria may first become active in the vessel. The active ingredient which may be protected within the solid material prior to being abraded by the rasp is not limited to bacteria and may comprise other organic or inorganic materials which need to be constrained from activation or engagement with other matter until dispensed. Nevertheless, one particular use of the dispenser according to the present invention is to provide for the delivery of bacteria or other microorganisms into environments in which they grow including those particularly in which microorganisms are grown and then discharged into drains for digesting of grease and drains as from restaurants and the like. Preferably, a dispenser in accordance with this invention would discharge not only the microorganisms in solid particles but also a liquid useful as a nutrient for growth of the microorganism.
In accordance with the present invention, each of the rasp members are illustrated as having a first surface and a second surface and openings through between the surfaces and rasp prongs on one of the surfaces to be engaged with the solid material. The provisions of the openings is not essential and a rasp member, in accordance with the present invention, can operate merely by providing an abrasive surface on one surface of the rasp member which is to engage with the solid material. Particles cut or dislodged from the solid material may be maintained between the rasp member and the solid material until, for example, the rasp member may move axially outwardly to a location below the sold material where the particles may then be free to fall downwardly from the surface of the rasp member without the need to pass through openings in the rasp member.
The particular nature of the rasp member and the mechanical manner by which the rasp member engages and abrades, cuts or and/or dislodges particles of the solid material is not limited. Many different shapes and forms of rasp members and configurations for the rasp member engaging the solid material for discharge of particles will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art. In each of the embodiments, however, the rasp member and the solid material are in engagement during at least a portion and cycle of operation of the piston assembly and the relative movement of the piston and the body provide for relative movement of the rasp member and the solid material, preferably relative sliding or rotational movement, however, without being limited to such movement.
In the first embodiment of the present invention, a number of different segments 201 of solid material are provided. It is not necessary that each of the segments 201 be of the same solid material. For example, at least one of the segments 201 may be of a different material than other of the segments 201 and all of the segments may be of different material than the materials of the other segments. Thus, for example, an arrangement is provided in which a number of different segments of different solid materials are kept separate from each other with particles of each of the solid materials to be simultaneously dispensed, for example, one of the segments 201 could comprise a compressed block or pumice, a second segment 201 may comprise a compressed block of iodine, coated or containing particles and a third segment 201 may comprise conventional solid hand soap. Similarly,
In addition, the composition of each solid material, bar or segment may vary through the segment or bar. For example, as seen in
While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, many variations and modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. For definition of the invention, reference is made to the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2861544 | Aug 2014 | CA | national |
This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/787,852 filed Oct. 19, 2017 which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/839,672 filed Aug. 28, 2015 which issued to U.S. Pat. No. 9,826,862 and claims the benefit of 35 U.S.C. 120.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3018969 | Gentry | Jan 1962 | A |
| 3777982 | Britton | Dec 1973 | A |
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| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 432758 | Mar 1967 | CH |
| 182630 | Apr 1907 | DE |
| 8512 | Apr 1902 | GB |
| 22900 | Oct 1910 | GB |
| 207269 | Nov 1923 | GB |
| 425273 | Mar 1935 | GB |
| 499119 | Jan 1939 | GB |
| 517251 | Jan 1976 | JP |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20190075978 A1 | Mar 2019 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15787852 | Oct 2017 | US |
| Child | 16188536 | US | |
| Parent | 14839672 | Aug 2015 | US |
| Child | 15787852 | US |
