PUMPS WITH CONTAINER VENTS

• US 20140203047A1
• Filed: 01/23/2013
• Published: 07/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: McNulty, John J., Ciavarella, Nick E., Quinlan, Robert L., Tederous, Cory J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,038,862 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/190
• 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 11/0044 compensating underpressure by ingress of atmospheric air into the container, i.e. with venting means venting means for deformable containers B05B11/047
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/00442 the means being actuated by the difference between the atmospheric pressure and the pressure inside the container
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1015 actuated without substantial movement of the nozzle in the direction of the pressure stroke B05B11/1011 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1087 Combination of liquid and air pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0025 with a compressed gas supply
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/38 Details of the container body pressure relief devices B65D83/70

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of pumps, refill units and dispensers are disclosed herein. Some embodiments include a container for holding a fluid and a pump housing secured to the container. The pump housing includes an annular collar for securing the pump housing to the container. The pump housing includes an air chamber and a vent valve located at least partially within the air chamber. One or more air passageways are provided in the collar for providing air to the air chamber. A compressible liquid pump chamber is also located in the housing. The exemplary embodiment includes a liquid inlet valve for allowing liquid to flow from the container into the compressible pump chamber; and a liquid outlet valve located downstream of the pump chamber.

Claims

1. A refill unit comprising:

an inverted container for holding a fluid;

the inverted container having a neck portion located on the bottom of the inverted container;

a pump housing secured to the neck of the inverted container to pump liquid;

the pump housing having an annular collar for securing to the neck of the inverted container;

an air chamber located within the pump housing;

a vent valve located at least partially within the air chamber;

one or more air passageways in the collar for providing air to the air chamber;

a compressible liquid pump chamber located in the housing;

a liquid inlet valve for allowing liquid to flow from the container into the compressible pump chamber; and

a liquid outlet valve located downstream of the pump chamber.

2. The refill unit of claim 1 wherein the vent valve is located adjacent the liquid inlet valve.

3. The refill unit of claim 1 further comprising a seat member, wherein the seat member comprises an air passage and a liquid passage, and the vent valve is located proximate the air passage and the liquid inlet valve is located proximate the liquid passage.

4. The refill unit of claim 3 wherein the neck of the inverted container is in contact with the seat member.

5. The refill unit of claim 3 wherein the seat member further comprises a deflector member for deflecting air entering the container away from the liquid passage in the seat member.

6. The refill unit of claim 1 further comprising a compressible air chamber and a mixing chamber, wherein the mixing chamber has an air inlet in fluid communication with the compressible air chamber and a liquid inlet downstream of the liquid outlet valve and in fluid communication with the liquid pump chamber.

7. The refill unit of claim 1 further comprising a liquid contained in the inverted container.

8. The refill unit of claim 1 wherein the air passage is located between a wall of the collar and a wall of the inverted container.

9. A refill unit comprising:

a container for holding a fluid;

a pump housing secured to the container;

the pump housing having an annular collar for securing the pump to the container;

a seat member located at least partially within the annular collar;

an air chamber located within the pump housing below the seat member;

one or more air passageways in the collar for providing air to the air chamber;

a vent valve secured to the seat member for controlling the flow of air from the air chamber into the container;

a compressible liquid pump chamber located in the housing;

a liquid inlet valve secured to the seat member for allowing liquid to flow from the container into the compressible pump chamber; and

a liquid outlet valve located downstream of the pump chamber.

10. The refill unit of claim 9 wherein the air passage is located between a wall of the collar and a wall of the container.

11. The refill unit of claim 9 wherein the container is in contact with the seat member.

12. The refill unit of claim 9 wherein the seat member further comprises a deflector member for deflecting air entering the container away from the liquid passage in the seat member.

13. The refill unit of claim 9 wherein the seat member is a single unitary piece.

14. A refill unit for a dispenser comprising:

a container for holding a liquid;

a housing secured to the container;

the housing having a opening;

a sleeve inserted in the opening;

a piston movable within the sleeve;

the piston including a sealing member;

a first aperture through a wall of the opening;

the first aperture placing an area between the sleeve and the opening in fluid communication with the interior of the container;

a second aperture through a wall of the sleeve, the aperture located so that the second aperture is closed off by the sealing member when the piston is in a first position; and

wherein when the piston is in a second position, the second aperture is in fluid communication with the atmosphere.

15. The refill unit of claim 14 further comprising a one-way valve located proximate the first aperture to allow air to enter the container.

16. The refill unit of claim 15 further comprising a vent tube in fluid communication with the first aperture and extending up into the container to a position that is above the top of a fluid fill level.

17. The refill unit of claim 14 further comprising one or more sealing members that create an air passage between the sleeve and the opening.

18. The refill unit of claim 15 further comprising a third aperture, the third aperture located in the housing between a liquid inlet valve and a liquid outlet valve, the third aperture placing a liquid chamber located at least partially within the sleeve in fluid communication with the interior of the container.

19. The refill unit of claim 18 wherein the inlet valve and the outlet valve are stacked on top of each another.

20. The refill unit of claim 19 further comprising an outlet nozzle, wherein the outlet nozzle is secured in a fourth aperture of the housing and the outlet nozzle includes a projecting member that retains the stacked inlet valve and the outlet valve.

21. The refill unit of claim 14 wherein the sleeve is located in a substantially horizontal orientation and the piston reciprocates back and forth in a substantially horizontal direction.

22. A refill unit comprising:

a container for holding a liquid;

a pump housing secured to the container;

the pump housing having a substantially cylindrical valve cavity and a substantially cylindrical pump cavity;

a sleeve located at least partially within the pump cavity;

an aperture between the valve cavity and the pump cavity;

a piston movable horizontally within the sleeve; and

an inlet valve and an outlet valve stacked on each another,

wherein the inlet and outlet valve are offset from the neck of the container.