FLUID PRODUCT DISPENSER

• US 20110079614A1
• Filed: 09/30/2010
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GAB Engineering & Development B.V
• Original Assignee: G.A.B. Development & Engineering B.V.
• Inventors: GANZEBOOM, Wilhelmus Everhardus, BUNNIK, Eduard Johannes Hendricus, TOETENEL, Oscar, GERBRANDA, Tjeerd Jan Pieter
• Granted Patent: US 8,733,591 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/181.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1208 by means of a flexible dispensing chamber
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1211 using pressure on soap, e.g. with piston A47K5/1201 takes precedence; by squeezing A47K5/122
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1087 Combination of liquid and air pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0018 with devices for making foam
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 6/00 Restoring or reconditioning objects straightening or restoring form of sheet metal, metal rods, metal tubes, metal profiles, or specific articles made therefrom B21D1/00, B21D3/00; repairing defective or damaged objects by casting techniques B22D19/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49238 Repairing, converting, servicing or salvaging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4973 Replacing of defective part

Abstract

A dispenser includes a housing holding an assembly, including a liquid reservoir, a pump for dispensing the fluid product, and an outlet nozzle. The pump includes a liquid chamber for containing a dose of the liquid product and a pressurizing device which allows liquid product to be drawn into or expelled from the liquid chamber. The dispenser further includes a shunting chamber including a first aperture allowing flow access to the reservoir, a second aperture allowing flow access to the outlet nozzle, and a third aperture allowing flow access to the liquid chamber. The third aperture is disposed off-axis with respect to the first and second apertures. The shunting chamber further includes a mechanically actuated governing device that has two states, one defining a flow path between the first and third apertures and one defining a flow path between the third and second apertures.

Claims

1. A dispenser for dispensing a fluid product, comprising a housing for accommodating an assembly, the assembly comprising:

a liquid reservoir, for containing a liquid product;

a pump, connectable to the reservoir, for dispensing the fluid product using the liquid product as an input;

an outlet nozzle, serving to convey and dispense the fluid product from the pump;

whereby the pump comprises;

a liquid chamber, for containing a dose of the liquid product, obtainable from the liquid reservoir;

a pressurizing device, which allows liquid product to be drawn into or expelled from the liquid chamber,

wherein the dispenser is further provided with a shunting chamber comprising;

a first aperture allowing flow access to the liquid reservoir;

a second aperture allowing flow access to the outlet nozzle;

a third aperture allowing flow access to the liquid chamber,

the third aperture being disposed off-axis with respect to the first and second apertures,

the shunting chamber further comprising a governing device that has two states, such that;

in a first state, a first flow path is created between the first and third apertures;

in a second state, a second flow path is created between the third and second apertures; and

wherein

the governing device is transitioned between said two states by external mechanical action.

2. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the governing device comprises a single moving structure that can be slid between said two states, said single moving structure serving to alternately open and close said first and second flow paths.

3. A dispenser according to claim 2, wherein:

the shunting chamber comprises a cylindrical portion;

the governing device comprises a plug that is slideably mounted within the cylindrical portion, said plug being at least partially hollow;

in the first state, the plug is in a position distal from the first aperture, and the first flow path is along an external surface of the plug;

in the second state, the plug is in a position proximal to the first aperture, and the second flow path is through an interior space of the plug via an entrance in a wall of the plug and an exit in flow communication with the second aperture.

4. A dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising an actuating organ that can be caused to actuate by an operator and that is mechanically connected to said governing device so as to effect its transition between said two states.

5. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein:

the liquid chamber and pressurizing device are mounted as fixtures in the housing, and;

the liquid reservoir and outlet nozzle are removably mountable as disposable components in the housing.

6. A dispenser according to claim 5, wherein:

the third aperture can be removably mated with the liquid chamber;

the liquid reservoir, shunting chamber and outlet nozzle are fixed to one another and are disposable as a whole.

7. A dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising:

an air chamber, for containing a dose of air, obtainable from a space outside the assembly;

an ancillary pressurizing device, which allows air to be drawn into or expelled from the air chamber,

such that;

both the liquid chamber and the air chamber are connectable to the outlet nozzle;

the outlet nozzle comprises a member for generating turbulence in fluid passing therethrough; and

the fluid dispensed from the outlet nozzle is a foam.

8. A dispenser according to claim 7, wherein:

air is drawn into the air chamber via an air inlet that is not the outlet nozzle;

said air inlet is provided with a filter, such as a HEPA filter.

9. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein:

the dispenser comprises an ancillary chamber in addition to the liquid chamber;

the ancillary chamber and liquid chamber are arranged side-by-side.

10. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein:

the outlet nozzle comprises a constriction arranged in a flow path of the fluid; and

the fluid dispensed from the outlet nozzle is a spray.

11. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the pressurizing device is chosen from the group comprising a bellows, a piston and a membrane.

12. A dispenser according to claim 11, wherein:

the pressurizing device comprises a bellows;

the bellows is biased in an extended state using an external spring device.

13. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an actuating arrangement that comprises an actuating element selected from the group consisting of:

(i) a manual actuating organ movably connected to the housing and serving to operate at least said pressurizing device;

(ii) a detector, for detecting that a member onto which fluid is to be dispensed has been offered to the outlet nozzle; and

an electric actuator, for operating at least the pressurizing device in response to a signal output from the detector.

17. A method of adjusting the structure and operation of a dispenser as recited in claim 7, comprising the following steps:

disconnecting at least one of said pressurizing device and ancillary pressurizing device, which is to be replaced;

substituting said disconnected device by a replacement pressurizing device or ancillary pressurizing device, respectively, wherein the replacement device has a different pressurizing volume to the replaced device.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein:

the ancillary pressurizing device is an air bellows; and

the internal volume of the replacement air bellows is different to the internal volume of the replaced air bellows, whereby the air-to-liquid ratio of the foam dispensed by the dispenser is altered.

14. A dispenser for dispensing a fluid product, comprising a housing for accommodating an assembly, the assembly comprising:

a liquid reservoir, for containing a liquid product;

a pump, connectable to the reservoir, for dispensing the fluid product using the liquid product as an input;

an outlet nozzle, serving to convey and dispense the fluid product from the pump;

wherein the pump comprises;

a liquid chamber, for containing a dose of the liquid product, obtainable from the liquid reservoir;

a pressurizing device, which allows liquid product to be drawn into or expelled from the liquid chamber,

wherein;

the liquid chamber and pressurizing device are mounted as fixtures in the housing, and

the liquid reservoir and outlet nozzle are removably mountable as disposable components in the housing.

15. A method of conducting a maintenance operation on a dispenser for dispensing a fluid product, the dispenser comprising a housing for accommodating an assembly, the assembly comprising:

a liquid reservoir, for containing a liquid product;

a pump, connectable to the reservoir, for dispensing the fluid product using the liquid product as an input;

an outlet nozzle, serving to convey and dispense the fluid product from the pump;

wherein the pump comprises;

a liquid chamber, for containing a dose of the liquid product, obtainable from the liquid reservoir; and

a pressurizing device, which allows liquid product to be drawn into or expelled from the liquid chamber,

the method comprising;

opening the housing;

removing used parts comprising at least the liquid reservoir and outlet nozzle, whilst leaving the liquid chamber and pressurizing device in place in the housing;

placing new parts comprising at least a new liquid reservoir and a new outlet nozzle in the housing; and

closing the housing.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein:

the liquid reservoir and outlet nozzle are respectively fixed to first and second apertures of an interposed shunting chamber;

the shunting chamber has a third aperture which can be connected to and disconnected from the liquid chamber;

the used parts additionally comprise the shunting chamber, which is disconnected from the liquid chamber in order to remove it; and

the new parts additionally comprise a new shunting chamber, which is connected to the liquid chamber in order to place it.