Sink side touchless foam dispenser nozzle assembly

• US 20080121660A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gotohti.Com Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gotohti.Com Inc.
• Inventors: Ophardt, Heiner
• Granted Patent: US 7,455,197 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/190
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2005/1218 Table mounted; Dispensers integrated with the mixing tap
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/16 with mechanical drive food mixers A47J43/04
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/9464 Faucets and spouts

Abstract

A soap dispenser, preferably a sink side counter mounted dispenser, to dispense foamed liquid soap by mixing in an outlet of a soap spout liquid, soap and air preferably provided from a liquid soap pump and a air pump located remote from the faucet.

Claims

1. A convertible dispenser spout for dispensing either liquid or a foamed mixture of air and liquid, the spout comprising:

a chamber forming member defining a chamber therein having an interior, an exit port, an air inlet port adapted to be connected to a source of air above atmospheric pressure, and a liquid inlet port adapted to be connected to a source of liquid above atmospheric pressure,

the chamber forming member comprising an inner portion and an outer portion, the outer portion removably coupled to the inner portion for removal to access the interior of the chamber,

the exit port carried on the outer portion,

the air inlet port and the liquid inlet port carried on the inner portion,

a foam producing member adapted to be removably received in the interior of the chamber across the exit port by being sandwiched between the inner portion and the outer portion when they are coupled together,

the foam producing member being insertable into and removable from the chamber when the inner portion and an outer portion are uncoupled from each other,

the foam producing member adapted when liquid and air are simultaneously passed therethrough to produce foam,

a valve mechanism disposed across the air inlet port adapted to assume either a closed configuration in which the valve mechanism blocks flow through the air inlet port and an open configuration in which the valve mechanism permits flow through the air inlet port,

the valve mechanism selected from;

(a) a one way valve resiliently biased to assume the closed configuration and which assumes the open configuration when air at a pressure above the pressure in the chamber is applied to the air inlet port, and (b) a stop member adapted to be removably received in the interior of the chamber across the air inlet port wherein in the closed configuration the stop member is retained in the chamber across the air inlet port by being sandwiched between the inner portion and the outer portion when they are coupled together and in the open configuration the stop member is not present in the chamber, the stop member being insertable into and removable from the chamber when the inner portion and an outer portion are uncoupled from each other.

2. A convertible dispenser spout as claimed in claim 1 wherein

the chamber is generally annular about the liquid inlet port which is centrally of the inner portion and the exit port which is centrally of the outer portion,

the air inlet port is on the inner portion radially outwardly of the liquid inlet port.

3. A convertible dispenser spout as claimed in claim 2 wherein valve member comprises the stop member,

the stop member comprises an annular seal member radially outwardly of the liquid inlet port.

4. A convertible dispenser spout as claimed in claim 3 wherein

a central exit tube extending from the exit port inwardly into the interior of the chamber toward the inner portion to a distal end,

the foam producing member received inside the central exit tube.

5. A convertible dispenser spout as claimed in claim 4 wherein

a central inlet tube extending from the liquid inlet port inwardly into the interior of the chamber toward the outer portion to a distal end.

6. A convertible dispenser spout as claimed in claim 5 wherein the distal end of the inlet tube engages the foam producing member urging the foam producing member into the outer portion.

7. A convertible dispenser spout as claimed in claim 3 wherein

the annular seal member having a central opening therethrough,

when received in the interior of the chamber sandwiched between the inner portion and the outer portion the annular seal member urged into the air inlet port to prevent flow therethrough yet permitting flow through the interior of the chamber from the liquid inlet port to the exit port via the central opening.

8. A convertible dispenser spout as claimed in claim 7 wherein

a central inlet tube extending from the liquid inlet port inwardly into the interior of the chamber toward the outer portion to a distal end,

the central inlet tube extending through the central opening of the annular seal member.

9. A convertible dispenser spout as claimed in claim 8 wherein the distal end of the outlet tube engages the annular seal member urging the annular seal member into the inner portion.

10. A convertible dispenser spout as claimed in claim 8 wherein

a central exit tube extending from the exit port inwardly into the interior of the chamber toward the inner portion to a distal end,

the foam producing member received inside the central exit tube.

11. A convertible dispenser spout as claimed in claim 2 wherein

a central exit tube extending from the exit port inwardly into the interior of the chamber toward the inner portion to a distal end,

the foam producing member received inside the central exit tube.

12. A convertible dispenser spout as claimed in claim 11 wherein

a central inlet tube extending from the liquid inlet port inwardly into the interior of the chamber toward the outer portion to a distal end.

13. A convertible dispenser spout as claimed in claim 12 wherein the distal end of the inlet tube engages the foam producing member urging the foam producing member into the outer portion.

14. A convertible dispenser spout as claimed in claim 1 wherein the spout includes a tubular member having at a threaded distal dispensing end a threaded ring removably threadably received thereon, with the inner portion and the outer portion mounted on the distal dispensing end of the tubular member by the threaded ring with the threaded ring urging the outer portion into the inner portion.

15. A convertible dispenser spout as claimed in claim 14 wherein the tubular member having a passageway therethrough via which an air conduit may pass for connection to the air inlet port and via which a liquid conduit passes for connection to the liquid inlet port.