Abstract:
Exemplary pumps, refill units and dispensers having angled outlets are disclosed herein. An exemplary refill unit for dispensing fluid on a hand includes a container and a pump. The pump includes an angled outlet passage. Fluid flowing out of the angled outlet passage is directed toward the palm of a hand when fluid is dispensed.
Abstract:
An exemplary embodiment of a dispensing system includes a dispenser housing and a replaceable refill unit (110). The replaceable refill unit (110) has a container (112) that has a neck portion (201) and a horizontal foam pump (130). The pump (130) has an inlet (221) orientated along an inlet axis and an outlet (222) orientated along an outlet axis. A fluid passage extends from the pump chamber (250) to the outlet. The inlet axis is offset from the outlet axis and the outlet axis is located closer to the front of the dispenser. An actuator (270) is also located within the housing. In addition, an air compressor (253) and an air passage (258) to direct air into the fluid passage to mix the air with the fluid are included. The actuator is configured to drive the horizontal pump toward the front of the dispenser to dispense a fluid in the form of a foam.
Abstract:
A dispenser includes a housing, an inverted container disposed in the housing, a outlet nozzle, a pump, a first check valve, and a second check valve. The container holds a fluid. The pump is disposed between the container and the outlet nozzle. The pump includes a pump inlet in fluid communication with the container, a pump outlet in fluid communication with the outlet nozzle, and a pump chamber in fluid communication with the pump inlet and the pump outlet. The pump chamber is movable between an expanded position and a compressed position. The first check valve is disposed between the pump and the outlet nozzle, and the first check valve has a first cracking pressure. The second check valve is disposed between the first check valve and the outlet nozzle, and the second check valve has a second cracking pressure. The second cracking pressure of the second check valve is greater than the first cracking pressure of the first check valve.
Abstract:
Exemplary embodiments of vented refill units and dispensers having vented refill units are disclosed herein. An exemplary refill unit includes a non-collapsing inverted container. The container has a neck located at the bottom of the container. A pump is secured to the neck. The pump has a housing that has a cylindrical outside surface. In addition, the housing has an attachment mechanism for attaching the pump to a venting insert. The venting insert has a cylindrical inside surface and a cylindrical outside surface. At least a portion of the venting insert is located within the neck. An air passage is located between the pump housing and the cylindrical inside surface of the venting insert. One or more apertures are located through the venting insert. A one-way air inlet valve is located proximate the one or more apertures.
Abstract:
Exemplary two chamber foam pumps, refill units and dispensers utilizing the same are disclosed herein. An exemplary refill unit includes an inverted container having a neck located at the bottom of the container and a foam pump secured neck. The foam pump includes a first air pump chamber, a liquid pump chamber and a second air pump chamber. In addition, the pump includes a piston. The piston has a hollow central portion. A first air inlet aperture is located through a wall of the piston between the first air pump chamber and the hollow central portion. A liquid inlet aperture is located below the first air inlet aperture and between the liquid pump chamber and the hollow central portion. A second air inlet aperture is located through the wall the piston located below the liquid inlet aperture and between the second air pump chamber and the hollow central portion.
Abstract:
An exemplary foam dispenser includes a housing, a container for holding foamable liquid and a foam pump in fluid communication with the container. The foam pump has a plurality of diaphragm pumping chambers wherein at least one diaphragm pumping chamber pumps liquid, and at least two diaphragm pumping chambers pump air. The foam pump includes a liquid outlet valve having a cracking pressure of at least about 5 pounds per square inch; and two or more air outlet valves having cracking pressure of less than about 5 pounds per square inch. A mixing chamber is located downstream of the plurality of diaphragm pumping chambers for mixing liquid and air to form a foamy mixture. A foam cartridge located downstream of the mixing chamber and an outlet is provided for dispensing foam.
Abstract:
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.
Abstract:
Exemplary embodiments of foam cartridges, refill units for foam dispensers, and foam dispensers are disclosed herein. An exemplary foam cartridge (400) for a foam pump that may be used in a refill unit includes a housing (402). The housing (402) includes an upper cylindrical portion (404) and a lower cylindrical portion (405). One or more air passageways (406A, 406B) are located through the upper cylindrical portion (404). The foam cartridge (400) includes an interior cylindrical member (403) having a dome (420). The interior cylindrical member (403) is located at least partially within the upper cylindrical portion (404) of the housing (402). One or more mixing passages (412) located between the interior cylindrical member (403) and the upper cylindrical portion (404) of the housing (402), and one or more mix media (416) are located at least partially within the lower cylindrical portion (405) of the housing (402).
Abstract:
Refill units for foam dispensers include a container for holding foamable liquid, a foam pump secured to the container, a foaming cartridge, an outlet and an actuation mechanism. The foam pump includes a housing, a liquid pump diaphragm, a plurality of air pump diaphragms, and a mixing chamber. An actuation mechanism releasably connects to a drive system in the dispenser. The actuation mechanism sequentially activates the liquid pump diaphragm and the air pump diaphragms when the refill unit is connected to the dispenser and the drive system. Sequential activation of the liquid pump diaphragm and air pump diaphragms causes the liquid pump diaphragm to pump at least a partial dose of liquid into the mixing chamber and the air pump diaphragms to pump at least a partial dose of air into the mixing chamber.
Abstract:
An exemplary refill unit for a dispenser includes an inverted non-collapsing container for holding a liquid. A pump housing is secured to the bottom of the inverted non-collapsing container. The pump housing includes a pump chamber for pumping fluid out of the inverted non-collapsing container. The pump housing includes an annular venting chamber. The annular venting chamber has a floor with an opening therethrough. A vent valve is located within the venting chamber. The vent valve has a first wiper seal in contact with a wall of the annular venting chamber.