The present invention relates generally to liquid dispenser systems and more particularly to air-vented liquid dispensers, as well as refill units for use with such dispensers.
Liquid dispenser systems, such as liquid soap and sanitizer dispensers, provide a user with an amount of liquid upon actuation of the dispenser. It is desirable to provide such a dispenser having a rigid container that is vented with air so that the pump may re-prime itself after a dispensing action. It is also desirable to provide such a dispenser that is easily recharged once the container runs out of liquid to dispense, and that is inexpensive to produce.
Exemplary embodiments of refill units having foam pumps and non-collapsing containers are disclosed herein. In some exemplary embodiments, the refill unit includes a non-collapsing container and a foam pump. The foam pump includes a compressible air chamber. The foam pump includes a passage between the interior of the compressible air chamber and the interior of the container. A regulating valve regulates flow of air from the interior of the compressible air chamber to the interior of the container.
Another exemplary embodiment of a refill unit includes a non-collapsing container and a foam pump. The foam pump includes a compressible air chamber and an air passage between the interior of the compressible air chamber and an interior of the container. A moveable valve secured to the passage. The movable valve has a first position that prevents pressurized air from flowing from the air chamber into the interior of the container and a second position that allows vacuum pressure in the interior of the container to draw air from the interior of the compressible air chamber to the interior of the container.
Another exemplary refill unit includes a non-collapsing container and a foam pump. The foam pump has a compressible air chamber and a passage between the interior of the compressible air chamber and an interior of the container. The foam pump includes a valve secured to the passage. The valve has a wiper seal located within the interior of the container and a second seal located at least partially within the compressible air chamber.
In this way, a simple and economical refill unit with a container vent located between the air pump chamber and the container are provided.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description and accompanying drawings in which:
The container 116 forms a liquid reservoir that contains a supply of foamable liquid within the disposable refill unit 110. In various embodiments, the contained liquid could be, for example, a soap, a sanitizer, a cleanser, a disinfectant. In the exemplary disposable refill unit 110, the container 116 is a non-collapsible container and can be made of thin plastic or like material. The container 116 may advantageously be refillable, replaceable or both refillable and replaceable.
In the event the liquid stored in the container 116 of the installed disposable refill unit 110 runs out, or the installed refill unit 110 otherwise has a failure, the installed refill unit 110 may be removed from the foam dispenser 100. The empty or failed disposable refill unit 110 may then be replaced with a new disposable refill unit 110.
The housing 102 of the dispenser 100 contains one or more actuating members 104 to activate the pump 120. As used herein, actuator or actuating members or mechanisms include one or more parts that cause the dispenser 100 to move liquid, air or foam. Actuator 104 is generically illustrated because there are many different kinds of pump actuators which may be employed in the foam dispenser 100. The actuator 104 of the foam dispenser 100 may be any type of actuator such as, for example, a manual lever, a manual pull bar, a manual push bar, a manual rotatable crank, an electrically activated actuator or other means for actuating the pump 120. Electronic actuators may additionally include a sensor 132 for detecting the presence of an object and to provide for a hands-free dispenser system with touchless operation. Various intermediate linkages, such as for example linkage 105, connect the actuator member 104 to the pump 120 within the system housing 102. An aperture 115 is located in bottom plate 103 of housing 102 and allows liquid dispensed from the nozzle 125 of pump 120 to be dispensed to a user.
Foam pump 120 includes a housing 202 that fits at least partially within neck 117. Foam pump 120 includes an inner cylindrical housing 204. In addition, housing 202 includes an first annular projection 206 and an aperture 209. Aperture 209 extends from inside the container 116 into liquid pump chamber 306. A liquid inlet valve 208 is located within aperture 209. Liquid inlet valve 208 is a one-way valve that allows liquid to flow from the container 116 into liquid pump chamber 306. Liquid inlet valve 208 may be any type of one-way valve, such as for example, a wiper valve, ball and spring valve, an umbrella valve, a flapper valve or the like.
Cylindrical pump housing 202 includes a second annular projection 210. Located within annular projection 210 is an aperture 211. Aperture 211 extends between the inside of the container 116 and air pump chamber 320 of foam pump 120. A venting valve 240 or regulating valve is located at least partially within aperture 211. As can be more clearly seen in
Foam pump 120 includes a piston 212. Piston 212 has a first engagement member 213 and a second engagement member 214. First engagement member 213 and second engagement member 214 engages an actuator 104 (
During operation, as piston 212 moves downward from the position shown in
When foam pump 120 moves from the position shown in
While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of embodiments thereof and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention, in its broader aspects, is not limited to the specific details, the representative apparatus and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant's general inventive concept.
This application claims priority to and the benefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/918,504 filed on Dec. 19, 2013 and entitled “PUMPS WITH VENTS TO VENT INVERTED CONTAINERS AND REFILL UNITS HAVING NON-COLLAPSING CONTAINERS,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
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