GRIT AND FOAM DISPENSER

• US 20130341356A1
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Published: 12/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Buell, Shelby J., Corney, Richard E., Richards, Chin P., Khamphilapanyo, Touby
• Granted Patent: US 9,066,636 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/135
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/14 Foam or lather making devices for shaving A45D27/02
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1087 Combination of liquid and air pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0018 with devices for making foam

Abstract

One embodiment discloses a dispenser having a liquid container for holding a liquid, a liquid pump for moving the liquid from the liquid container to a first outlet, a grit container for holding grit, and an air pump for moving the grit from the container to a second outlet. The dispenser includes an actuator for actuating the liquid pump and the air pump. During operation, the liquid pump dispenses a liquid and the air pump causes air to flow through a first passageway into the grit container causing at least some grit to flow through a second passageway, out of the second outlet and into the liquid.

Claims

1. A dispenser comprising:

a liquid container for holding a liquid;

a liquid pump for moving the liquid from the first container to a first outlet;

a grit container for holding grit;

an air pump;

a first passageway extending from the air pump to the grit container;

a second passageway extending from the grit container to a second outlet; and

an actuator for actuating the liquid pump and the air pump;

wherein the air pump causes air to flow through the first passageway into the grit container and causes at least some grit to flow through the second passageway and out of the second outlet.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a mixing chamber located downstream of the liquid pump and upstream of the first outlet, wherein the mixing chamber receives a liquid from the liquid pump and air from an air source and mixes the liquid and air to form a mixture that is dispensed at the first outlet in the form of a foam.

3. The dispenser of claim 2 wherein the second outlet is directed toward the first outlet so that the grit contacts the foam when the grit and foam are dispensed.

4. The dispenser of claim 2 wherein the air source is a second air pump.

5. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein at least one of the first and second air pumps is attached to the container and remains attached to the container when at least one of the liquid and grit containers is removed from the dispenser.

6. The dispenser of claim 2 wherein the liquid container, the liquid pump, the mixing chamber and the air source form a replaceable refill unit.

7. The dispenser of claim 2 further comprising a first snorkel in fluid communication with the first passageway and a second snorkel in fluid communication with the second passageway, and where the first and second snorkels are located at least partially within the grit container.

8. The dispenser of claim 2 wherein the grit container is a container for dry grit.

9. The dispenser of claim 2 wherein the grit container is refillable.

10. A grit refill unit for a dispenser comprising:

a container for holding grit;

an air pump;

a first passageway between the air pump and the grit container; and

a second passageway between the grit container and an outlet;

wherein the container, the air pump, the first passageway and second passageway form a single unit that may be inserted in a dispenser such that actuation of the dispenser causes grit to move from the container to the outlet by air pressure.

11. A grit and foam dispenser comprising:

a receptacle for receiving a liquid refill unit that comprises;

a) a container for holding a foamable liquid,

b) a liquid pump for moving the liquid, and

c) a mixing chamber, wherein the mixing chamber includes an air inlet for receiving air to mix with the liquid to form a mixture that is dispensed as a foam;

a receptacle for receiving a dry grit container;

an air pump;

a first passageway between the air pump and the receptacle for receiving a dry grit container;

the first passageway having an end configured to extend into the grit container;

a second passageway having a first end configured to extend into the grit container and a second end at least partially forming an outlet for grit; and

an actuator for actuating the liquid pump and the air pump and dispensing foam and grit.

12. The grit and foam dispenser of claim 11 further comprising a third passageway, wherein the third passageway extends from the air pump to a connector for connecting to the mixing chamber when a liquid refill unit is installed in the dispenser.

13. The grit and foam dispenser of claim 11 further comprising a snorkel located on the end of the first passageway and a snorkel located on the end of the second passageway.

14. The grit and foam dispenser of claim 11 further comprising a refill unit and a grit container.

15. A method for providing a user with a source for a foam and grit cleanser:

providing a foamable liquid refill unit for a dispenser, the refill unit comprising a container and a liquid pump for moving the foamable liquid to a mixing chamber to be mixed with air and dispensed at a foam outlet as a foam;

providing a grit container for the dispenser wherein the grit container is configured to receive air from an air source to move grit from the grit container to a grit outlet;

wherein the grit outlet is directed toward the foam outlet so that during operation grit dispensed from the grit outlet is directed into a side of the foam being dispensed from the foam outlet.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein providing the foamable liquid refill unit comprises:

providing a container for holding a foamable liquid;

providing a liquid pump;

providing a mixing chamber; and

providing an air pump in fluid communication with the mixing chamber as a single unit.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising providing a dispenser for holding the foamable liquid refill unit and the grit container.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising providing an actuator to actuate the liquid pump and the air pump.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising providing instructions for a user to actuate the actuator to dispense a foam and grit cleanser.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising an electronic sensor that senses the presence of a user'"'"'s hand and actuates the actuator to dispense a foam and grit cleanser.