Split engagement flange for soap dispenser pump piston
First Claim
1. A dispenser for dispensing fluid comprising:
- a housing,a reservoir,the housing supporting the reservoir in a dispensing position,the reservoir being insertable into said housing to assume said dispensing position and removable therefrom for replacement,the reservoir comprising;
(i) a chamber for retaining fluid having an outlet, and(ii) a valving mechanism disposed across the outlet for dispensing fluid from the chamber, the valving mechanism comprising a reciprocally movable element for reciprocal movement along an axis relative to the housing when the reservoir is in the dispensing position to dispense fluid,the housing including an actuator mechanism for actuating the reciprocally movable element, the actuator mechanism movable relative the housing between a first position and a second position, the actuator mechanism including a catch member,the reciprocally movable element including an engagement mechanism to engage the actuator catch member and couple the reciprocally movable element to the actuator mechanism,the engagement mechanism comprising a resilient member extending radially outwardly from the reciprocally movable element in an unbiased inherent position, the resilient member being resiliently deflectable radially from the inherent position to a deflected position of a different radial extent than the inherent position and biased to return to the inherent position when deflected away from the inherent position toward the deflected position,wherein when the reservoir is inserted into the dispensing position, the engagement mechanism and catch member assume relative positions selected from;
(a) a coupled orientation in which the engagement mechanism engages the catch member for reciprocal movement of the reciprocally movable element to dispense fluid with movement of the actuator mechanism between the first position and the second position, and(b) an uncoupled orientation from which on a first cycling of the actuator mechanism between the first position and the second position, the engagement mechanism and catch member are moved relative to each other such that the catch member is forced axially into the resilient member,wherein from the uncoupled orientation on relative forcing the catch member axially into the resilient member engagement therebetween deflects the resilient member radially permitting the catch member and resilient member to move axially from the uncoupled orientation to the coupled orientation with the resilient member to return to their inherent position.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A liquid soap dispenser is disclosed having a permanent housing which permits simplified insertion and replacement of disposable fluid reservoirs. The housing includes an actuator assembly which is cycled by a lever between first and second positions. The actuator assembly is configured to couple to a piston element of a piston pump carried on the reservoir so that when cycled, the piston element is actuated in sliding movement to dispense a quantity of fluid. The piston element includes resiliently deformable fingers which act to secure the piston element to the actuator assembly for sliding movement therewith. If, on insertion of a replacement reservoir, the reservoir is positioned uncoupled from the actuator assembly, on first cycling of the actuator assembly the fingers deform to permit movement of the actuator assembly relative to the piston element and move towards a coupled orientation. In the coupled orientation, the fingers return to an undeformed configuration securing the piston element to the actuator assembly.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A dispenser for dispensing fluid comprising:
-
a housing, a reservoir, the housing supporting the reservoir in a dispensing position, the reservoir being insertable into said housing to assume said dispensing position and removable therefrom for replacement, the reservoir comprising; (i) a chamber for retaining fluid having an outlet, and (ii) a valving mechanism disposed across the outlet for dispensing fluid from the chamber, the valving mechanism comprising a reciprocally movable element for reciprocal movement along an axis relative to the housing when the reservoir is in the dispensing position to dispense fluid, the housing including an actuator mechanism for actuating the reciprocally movable element, the actuator mechanism movable relative the housing between a first position and a second position, the actuator mechanism including a catch member, the reciprocally movable element including an engagement mechanism to engage the actuator catch member and couple the reciprocally movable element to the actuator mechanism, the engagement mechanism comprising a resilient member extending radially outwardly from the reciprocally movable element in an unbiased inherent position, the resilient member being resiliently deflectable radially from the inherent position to a deflected position of a different radial extent than the inherent position and biased to return to the inherent position when deflected away from the inherent position toward the deflected position, wherein when the reservoir is inserted into the dispensing position, the engagement mechanism and catch member assume relative positions selected from; (a) a coupled orientation in which the engagement mechanism engages the catch member for reciprocal movement of the reciprocally movable element to dispense fluid with movement of the actuator mechanism between the first position and the second position, and (b) an uncoupled orientation from which on a first cycling of the actuator mechanism between the first position and the second position, the engagement mechanism and catch member are moved relative to each other such that the catch member is forced axially into the resilient member, wherein from the uncoupled orientation on relative forcing the catch member axially into the resilient member engagement therebetween deflects the resilient member radially permitting the catch member and resilient member to move axially from the uncoupled orientation to the coupled orientation with the resilient member to return to their inherent position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification