PEROXIDE POWERED PRODUCT DISPENSING SYSTEM

• US 20130175296A1
• Filed: 01/05/2012
• Published: 07/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Gray, Robert L., Ciavarella, Nick E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,925,766 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/135
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1202 dispensing dosed volume A47K5/1201 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1207 Dispensing from the bottom of the dispenser with a vertical piston
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1215 applied by a peristaltic action
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/14 Foam or lather making devices for shaving A45D27/02
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0037 including sieves, porous members or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/1254 the controlling means being fluid actuated
• 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 9/0844 the container being pressurised or compressed by a gas generated by a chemical reaction
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/0872 the pump being a peristaltic pump
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/663 at least a portion of the propellant being separated from the product and incrementally released by means of a pressure regulator
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 69/047 injectors with air chambers, e.g. communicating with atmosphere for aerating the nozzles F02M69/325 takes precedence

Abstract

A dispensing system includes a decomposition chamber having a catalyst for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide and a foaming soap are provided in separate first and second chambers of a product reservoir portion of a refill unit. Decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide produces oxygen gas and water, that may be used as a propellant for the creation of the foamed product, or may be used to power a pump. Additionally, the oxygen gas may be used to power a scavenger for the creation of electricity for charging a battery within the dispenser.

Claims

1. A dispensing system comprising:

(a) a decomposition chamber containing a catalyst for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide;

(b) a mixing chamber;

(c) a first pump for pumping a foaming soap concentrate into said mixing chamber;

(d) a second pump for pumping hydrogen peroxide into said decomposition chamber; and

(e) a passage extending between said decomposition chamber and said mixing chamber for providing oxygen gas and water produced from the decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide to said mixing chamber.

2. The dispensing system of claim 1, said first pump being a peristaltic pump.

3. The dispensing system of claim 1, said second pump being a peristaltic pump.

4. The dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising a one-way valve positioned in said passage and allowing fluid flow toward said mixing chamber.

5. The dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising a refill unit including a product reservoir.

6. The dispensing system of claim 5, said product reservoir having a first chamber containing a foaming soap and a second chamber containing hydrogen peroxide.

7. The dispensing system of claim 6, said first and second chambers being separate from one another.

8. The dispensing system of claim 6, said foaming soap being a concentrate having a reduced water content.

9. The dispensing system of claim 6, said hydrogen peroxide having a concentration of less than 10%.

10. The dispensing system of claim 9, said hydrogen peroxide having a concentration of greater than 3%.

11. A refill unit for a foam product dispenser comprising a product reservoir having:

(a) a first chamber containing a foaming soap concentrate; and

(b) a second chamber containing hydrogen peroxide.

12. The refill unit of claim 11, said first and second chambers being separate and not in fluid communication with one another.

13. The refill unit of claim 11, said first chamber including an outlet port for fluid communication with a first pump.

14. The refill unit of claim 11, said second chamber including an outlet port for fluid communication with a second pump.

15. The refill unit of claim 11, said foaming soap being a concentrate having a reduced water content.

16. The dispensing system of claim 11, said hydrogen peroxide having a concentration of less than 10%.

17. The dispensing system of claim 11, said hydrogen peroxide having a concentration of greater than 3%.

18. A method of dispensing a foam product comprising the steps of:

(a) introducing hydrogen peroxide into a decomposition chamber containing a catalyst to decompose the hydrogen peroxide and produce water and oxygen gas;

(b) introducing the oxygen gas and water into a mixing chamber;

(c) introducing a foaming soap concentrate into the mixing chamber to mix with the oxygen gas and water and form a foamed product; and

(d) dispensing the foamed product.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of powering a foaming soap pump using the oxygen gas produced from the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, the foaming soap pump pumping the foaming soap concentrate from a reservoir into the mixing chamber.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of decomposing the hydrogen peroxide is performed using one of the catalysts selected from the group of manganese dioxide, silver, or platinum.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of powering an energy scavenger using the oxygen gas to generate electricity.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of recharging a battery using the electricity generated by the scavenger.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of introducing hydrogen peroxide into a decomposition chamber is performed by pumping the hydrogen peroxide from a second chamber of a product reservoir, and the step of introducing the foaming soap is performed by pumping the foaming soap from a first chamber of the product reservoir, the first and second chambers being part of a single product reservoir but separate and not in fluid communication with one another.

24. A dispensing system comprising:

(a) a decomposition chamber containing a catalyst for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to produce oxygen gas and water;

(b) a foaming soap pump in fluid communication with a foaming soap reservoir;

(c) a passage extending between the decomposition chamber and the foaming soap pump;

(d) a scavenger for generating electricity;

(e) a passage extending between the decomposition chamber and the scavenger; and

(f) a rechargeable battery in communication with the scavenger.

25. The dispensing system of claim 24, said foaming soap pump including a piston movably positioned with the pump, the piston forming one surface of a gas chamber that is in fluid communication with said passage extending from the decomposition chamber.

26. The dispensing system of claim 25, wherein said foaming soap pump draws foaming soap from said foaming soap reservoir upon movement of said piston, movement of said piston being generated by the oxygen gas produced in said decomposition chamber.

27. The dispensing system of claim 24, further comprising a refill unit including a product reservoir.

28. The dispensing system of claim 27, said product reservoir having a first chamber containing a foaming soap and a second chamber containing hydrogen peroxide.

29. The dispensing system of claim 28, said first and second chambers being separate from one another.

30. The dispensing system of claim 28, said foaming soap being a concentrate having a reduced water content.

31. The dispensing system of claim 28, said hydrogen peroxide having a concentration of less than 10%.

32. The dispensing system of claim 31, said hydrogen peroxide having a concentration of greater than 3%.