FOAM DISPENSER HAVING SELECTIVELY PRESSURIZED CONTAINER

• US 20120267396A1
• Filed: 04/22/2011
• Published: 10/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Quinlan, Robert L. Jr., Lightner, Bradley L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,651,337 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/190
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1202 dispensing dosed volume A47K5/1201 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1215 applied by a peristaltic action
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/14 Foam or lather making devices for shaving A45D27/02
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/122 responsive to presence or shape of target B05B12/124 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0025 with a compressed gas supply
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0037 including sieves, porous members or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2416 characterised by the means for producing or supplying the atomising fluid, e.g. air hoses, air pumps, gas containers, compressors, fans, ventilators, their drives
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2427 and a secondary stream of atomising fluid being brought together in the container or putting the carried liquid under pressure in the container
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/0811 comprising air supplying means actuated by the operator to pressurise or compress the container

Abstract

A dispenser is provided including a dispenser housing that receives disposable refill units that are to be replaced when empty. The dispenser housing includes an air compressor and an inflation plug. The inflation plug includes a needle having an outlet and further includes a vent valve in fluid communication with the outlet. The inflation plug is fluidly associated with the air compressor such that the air compressor selectively advances air to the vent valve and to the outlet of the needle. The disposable refill includes a container having an interior with a liquid portion and air portion therein. The container further includes a plug receipt, and the inflation plug of the dispenser housing engages the plug receipt such that the outlet of the needle communicates with the interior of the container. The air compressor injects air into the interior of the container through the outlet of the needle to increase the pressure inside the container, and the vent valve of the inflation plug opens if the pressure of the container rises above a set threshold.

Claims

1. A refill unit for a liquid product dispenser, wherein the refill unit replaces an empty refill unit in the product dispenser, when necessary, the refill unit comprising:

(a) a container holding a liquid product, said container including a plug receipt providing access to the interior of said container, said plug receipt structured to receive an inflation plug so as to mate with the inflation plug in a sealed manner;

(b) a dispensing nozzle external of said container and fluidly communicating with said liquid product, wherein pressurizing said container forces liquid out of said container and forces liquid out of said dispensing nozzle, the refill unit being devoid of means for venting pressure generated in the interior of said container other than by venting through said dispensing nozzle.

2. The refill unit of claim 1, wherein the refill unit is devoid of moving parts necessary to advance said liquid product out of said container.

3. The refill unit of claim 2, wherein the liquid product dispenser is a hand treatment product dispenser, and said liquid product is selected from hand sanitizer and soap.

4. The refill unit of claim 1, further comprising an air tube fluidly communicating with an air portion within said container, wherein pressurizing said container forces air in said air portion through said air tube.

5. The refill unit of claim 4, further comprising:

a foam generator, said dispensing nozzle and said air tube fluidly communicating with said foam-generating assembly.

6. The refill unit of claim 1, wherein said foam generator is located outside of said interior of said container, the refill unit further comprising a liquid tube fluidly communicating with said liquid product inside said container and extending exteriorly of said container to fluidly communicate with said foam generator.

7. The refill unit of claim 1, wherein said foam generator is located at least partially within said interior of said container.

8. A dispenser comprising:

(a) a dispenser housing including;

an air compressor,

an inflation needle fluidly associated with said air compressor such that operation of said air compressor advances air through said inflation needle and out an outlet of the inflation needle, and

a vent valve; and

(b) a disposable refill unit separate and distinct from said dispenser housing, to be replaced when empty, said refill unit including;

a container having an interior holding a liquid product, and

a plug receipt provided in said container, wherein said refill unit is mounted in said dispenser housing, said inflation needle of said dispenser housing communicates with said interior of said container through said plug receipt, and said vent valve fluidly communicates with the interior of said container, said air compressor injecting air into said interior of said container through said outlet of said needle to increase the pressure inside said container, said vent valve opening if the pressure of said container rises above a set threshold.

9. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein the vent valve has a set cracking pressure such that it opens on its own when the pressure of said container rises above said set threshold.

10. The dispenser of claim 8, further comprising one or more control circuits, wherein a control circuit associated with said vent valve causes said vent valve to open when the pressure of said container rises above said set threshold.

11. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein said container includes an air portion therein, and said refill unit further comprises:

a foam generator, and

an air tube fluidly communicating with the air portion of said container and extending to fluidly communicate with said foam generator.

12. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein said foam generator is positioned at least partially within said interior of said container.

13. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein said foam generator fluidly communicates with said liquid product in said container, wherein said air compressor generates a pressure head in said air portion, said pressure head separately forcing both air and said liquid product respectively through said air tube and said liquid tube to said foam generator.

14. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein said refill unit further comprises a dispensing tube extending from said foam generator to receive foam formed in the foam generator from the mixing of said air and said liquid product, and said dispenser housing includes a valve for opening and closing said dispensing tube.

15. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein said foam generator is positioned exteriorly of said container, and said air tube extends exteriorly of said container to communicate with said foam generator, said refill unit further comprising a liquid tube communicating with the liquid product in said container, said liquid tube extending exteriorly of said container to fluidly communicate with said foam generator,

16. The dispenser of claim 15, wherein said dispenser housing further comprises at least one dispensing valve for opening and closing said air tube and said liquid tube exteriorly of said container.

17. The dispenser of claim 16, wherein said dispenser housing includes two dispensing valves, one for opening and closing said air tube and one for opening and closing said liquid tube.

18. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein said dispenser housing includes a pocket into which said container is inserted to mount said refill unit to said dispenser housing, said inflation needle being positioned at said pocket such that, as said container is inserted into said pocket, said plug receipt aligns with said inflation needle, and full insertion of said container causes said inflation needle to extend through said plug receipt such that said outlet of said needle communicates with said interior of said container.

19. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein said plug receipt is in the form of a resilient grommet having a piercable wall.

20. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein said plug receipt is in the form of a self-sealing passage.