Foaming soap dispensers
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A foaming soap pump comprising:
- a fluid storage unit comprising a reservoir configured to store a fluid; and
a fluid handling unit comprising;
a pumping assembly configured to draw the fluid from the reservoir, the pumping assembly comprising;
a pumping unit comprising a compartment having a resilient member, the resilient member being actuatable between a first state and a second state, a volume of the compartment being greater in the first state than in the second state;
a motor configured to drive an actuation member, the actuation member configured to actuate the resilient member of the pumping unit between the first state and the second state;
wherein, the pumping assembly is configured such that;
when the actuation member actuates the resilient member from the second state to the first state, the volume in the compartment increases, thereby drawing the fluid into the compartment;
when the actuation member actuates the resilient member from the first state to the second state, the volume in the compartment decreases, thereby expelling the fluid from the compartment; and
a dispensing assembly configured to receive a flow of the fluid from the pumping assembly, the dispensing assembly comprising;
a foaming unit configured to convert the fluid into a foamed soap product; and
a discharge nozzle configured to dispense the foamed soap product out of the foaming soap pump.
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Abstract
Various dispensing devices, such as foaming soap pumps, are disclosed. The soap pump can include a fluid storage unit and a fluid handling unit. The fluid storage unit can include a reservoir that is configured to hold a quantity of product, such as liquid soap. The fluid handling unit can include a pumping assembly and dispensing assembly. The soap pump can be configured to withdraw liquid soap from the reservoir, convert the liquid soap to foamed soap, and dispense the foamed soap from the discharge assembly.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A foaming soap pump comprising:
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a fluid storage unit comprising a reservoir configured to store a fluid; and a fluid handling unit comprising; a pumping assembly configured to draw the fluid from the reservoir, the pumping assembly comprising; a pumping unit comprising a compartment having a resilient member, the resilient member being actuatable between a first state and a second state, a volume of the compartment being greater in the first state than in the second state; a motor configured to drive an actuation member, the actuation member configured to actuate the resilient member of the pumping unit between the first state and the second state; wherein, the pumping assembly is configured such that; when the actuation member actuates the resilient member from the second state to the first state, the volume in the compartment increases, thereby drawing the fluid into the compartment; when the actuation member actuates the resilient member from the first state to the second state, the volume in the compartment decreases, thereby expelling the fluid from the compartment; and a dispensing assembly configured to receive a flow of the fluid from the pumping assembly, the dispensing assembly comprising; a foaming unit configured to convert the fluid into a foamed soap product; and a discharge nozzle configured to dispense the foamed soap product out of the foaming soap pump. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of dispensing foamed soap, the method comprising:
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drawing liquid soap from a reservoir; encouraging the liquid soap into and out of a pumping assembly, wherein encouraging the liquid soap into and out of the pumping assembly comprises; expanding a portion of a compartment to introduce the liquid soap into the compartment; and contracting a portion of the compartment to expel the liquid soap from the compartment; mixing the liquid soap with air to form aerated soap; converting the aerated soap into foamed soap; and dispensing the foamed soap through a nozzle. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A dispensing device comprising:
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a reservoir configured to store a liquid product; an air inlet; a pumping assembly configured to draw the liquid product from the reservoir and to draw air through the air inlet, the pumping assembly comprising; a plurality of compartments; and a plurality of resilient members, each of the resilient members being movable between a first state and a second state, each of the resilient members being associated with one of the compartments, each compartment having a volume that is greater when the associated resilient member is in the first state than in the second state; a motor configured to drive an actuation member, the actuation member configured to actuate the resilient members between the first state and the second state, thereby drawing the liquid product and air into the pumping assembly and providing a flow of the liquid product and air out of the pumping assembly; a foaming unit configured to convert the flow of the liquid product and air into a foamed product; and a discharge nozzle configured to dispense the foamed product out of the dispensing device. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification