CLOSED SYSTEM FOR VENTING A DISPENSER RESERVOIR

• US 20150266657A1
• Filed: 03/16/2015
• Published: 09/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Corney, Richard E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,850,059 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1207 Dispensing from the bottom of the dispenser with a vertical piston
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/28 with integral means for shielding the discharged liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to limit area of spray; with integral means for catching drips or collecting surplus liquid or other fluent material means for any of these purposes, per se, B05B12/16, B05B12/32, B05B14/00
• 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 11/026 Membranes separating the content remaining in the container from the atmospheric air to compensate underpressure inside the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/06 with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages with slidable spouts B65D47/26
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/245 provided with decoration, information or contents indicating devices, labels B65D81/366 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/245 Internal membrane, floating cover or the like isolating the contents from the ambient atmosphere loosely-attached linings B65D25/16; dispensing pistons B65D83/0005; flexible bags for expelling the contents B65D83/0055
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/28 Nozzles, nozzle fittings or accessories specially adapted therefor

Abstract

A fluid product reservoir, for a dispensing system, is made of a container having walls that include an aperture formed at one end thereof. A reservoir cap seals the aperture from exposure to the atmosphere. A pump integrated into the reservoir cap allows fluid product to be dispensed from the dispensing system. A closed venting mechanism is included and incorporates one or more air channels that direct ambient air into a bladder positioned internal to the fluid product reservoir. The expansion of the bladder functions to displace fluid pumped from the reservoir thereby equalizing pressure while maintaining a sanitary seal of the fluid reservoir.

Claims

1. A refill unit for an associated dispensing system dispensing an associated liquid product, comprising:

a reservoir defining an internal region for storing an associated liquid product, wherein the internal region is sealed from exposure to ambient air, wherein the reservoir includes an aperture through which the associated liquid product is operatively dispensed without exposing the internal region to ambient air;

an air-tight variable volume bladder disposed within the internal region of the reservoir, the air-tight variable volume bladder defining an expandable bladder volume region that is sealed with respect to the internal region of the reservoir, wherein the air-tight variable volume bladder includes an inlet; and

,

wherein the reservoir includes an orifice open to ambient air and wherein the inlet of the air-tight variable volume bladder is connected to the orifice in a sealed manner to prevent exposure of the internal region of the reservoir to ambient air, and

wherein the air-tight variable volume bladder expands when associated liquid product is operatively dispensed from the reservoir.

2. The refill unit as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a check valve operatively connected to the aperture for allowing associated liquid product to flow from the reservoir, wherein the check valve inhibits ambient air from entering into the reservoir through the aperture.

3. The refill unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the air-tight variable volume bladder is comprised of one or more walls constructed from pliable material.

4. The refill unit as defined in claim 3, wherein the air-tight variable volume bladder is comprised of one or more walls constructed from elastically deformable material.

5. The refill unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the air-tight variable volume bladder is comprised of one or more walls constructed from semi-rigid material separated by pleats that allow the one or more walls to fold and unfold thereby creating the expandable bladder volume region.

6. The refill unit as defined in claim 5, wherein vacuum pressure is generated within the internal region when associated liquid product is dispensed from the reservoir, and

wherein the air-tight variable volume bladder expands proportionally to the magnitude of vacuum pressure generated within the internal region.

7. A refill unit for an associated dispensing system dispensing an associated liquid product, comprising:

a reservoir defining a volumetric region for storing an associated liquid product, the reservoir including an aperture through which the associated liquid product is operatively dispensed;

an expandable bladder constructed from pliable material, the expandable bladder being positioned within the volumetric region, wherein the expandable bladder is sealed in an air tight manner from the volumetric region of the reservoir, and wherein the expandable bladder includes a bladder inlet;

a pump having a pump housing attached to the aperture of the reservoir in a sealed manner thereby preventing the volumetric region from exposure to ambient air, wherein the pump includes a pump inlet fluidly connected to the volumetric region for dispensing associated liquid product without exposing the volumetric region to ambient air; and

wherein the pump housing includes an orifice having an orifice inlet exposed to ambient air and an orifice outlet connected in an air-tight manner to the bladder inlet.

8. The refill unit as defined in claim 7, wherein the pump includes a check valve that allows associated fluid product into the pump and that prevents ambient air from entering the volumetric region.

9. The refill unit as defined in claim 7, wherein the expandable bladder is constructed from elastically deformable material and wherein the expandable bladder is expandable from a first volume to a larger second volume when associated fluid product is pump from the reservoir;

and further comprising;

a locking ring fixedly attaching the expandable bladder to the pump housing.

10. The refill unit as defined in claim 9, wherein the pump housing includes an annular groove;

and,

wherein the locking ring compresses the material of the expandable bladder against the groove thereby creating an air tight seal.

11. The refill unit as defined in claim 10, wherein the expandable bladder is comprised of a plurality of walls constructed from semi rigid material, wherein the plurality of walls are separated by pleats that allow the plurality of walls to fold together in a first volume and that allow the plurality of walls unfold in a substantially larger second volume.

12. The refill unit as defined in claim 7, wherein the reservoir is constructed from semi-rigid material.

13. A refill unit for an associated dispensing system dispensing an associated product, comprising:

a reservoir defining a volumetric region for storing an associated product, wherein the reservoir includes an aperture and an orifice;

a pump attached to the aperture of the reservoir in a sealed manner, wherein the pump includes a pump inlet fluidly connected to the volumetric region;

a variable volume bladder disposed within the volumetric region of the reservoir, wherein the variable volume bladder is sealed with respect to the volumetric region of the reservoir, wherein the variable volume bladder includes an inlet; and

,

wherein the orifice is open to ambient air and wherein the inlet of the variable volume bladder is connected to the orifice of the reservoir in a sealed manner to prevent exposure of the internal region of the reservoir to ambient air.

14. The refill unit as defined in claim 13, wherein the pump is a piston pump.

15. The refill unit as defined in claim 13, wherein the pump includes a check valve for allowing associated liquid product to dispense from the reservoir, and wherein the check valve prevents ambient air from entering the volumetric region.

16. The refill unit as defined in claim 13, wherein the reservoir is constructed from semi-rigid material.

17. The refill unit as defined in claim 13, wherein the variable volume bladder is comprised of one or more walls constructed from pliable material.

18. The refill unit as defined in claim 17, wherein the variable volume bladder is comprised of one or more walls constructed from elastically deformable material.

19. The refill unit as defined in claim 13, wherein the variable volume bladder is comprised of one or more walls constructed from semi-rigid material separated by pleats that allow the one or more walls to fold and unfold thereby allowing the bladder to have a variable volume.

20. The refill unit as defined in claim 13, further comprising:

a locking ring for affixing the variable volume bladder to the reservoir.