VENTED REFILL UNITS AND DISPENSERS HAVING VENTED REFILL UNITS
First Claim
1. A refill unit for a soap, sanitizer or lotion comprising:
- a non-collapsing inverted container;
the non-collapsing inverted container having a neck located at the bottom of the container;
a pump secured to the neck;
the pump having a housing;
the housing having a cylindrical outside surface;
the housing having an attachment mechanism for attaching the pump to a venting insert;
the venting insert having a cylindrical inside surface and a cylindrical outside surface;
at least a portion of the venting insert is located within the neck;
air passage is located between the pump housing and the cylindrical inside surface of the venting insert;
the venting insert includes one or more apertures therethrough;
a one-way air inlet valve is located proximate the one or more apertures;
the one-way air inlet valve opens when the vacuum pressure in the container exceeds the cracking pressure of the one-way air inlet valve to allow air to vent the container.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Exemplary embodiments of vented refill units and dispensers having vented refill units are disclosed herein. An exemplary refill unit includes a non-collapsing inverted container. The container has a neck located at the bottom of the container. A pump is secured to the neck. The pump has a housing that has a cylindrical outside surface. In addition, the housing has an attachment mechanism for attaching the pump to a venting insert. The venting insert has a cylindrical inside surface and a cylindrical outside surface. At least a portion of the venting insert is located within the neck. An air passage is located between the pump housing and the cylindrical inside surface of the venting insert. One or more apertures are located through the venting insert. A one-way air inlet valve is located proximate the one or more apertures.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A refill unit for a soap, sanitizer or lotion comprising:
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a non-collapsing inverted container; the non-collapsing inverted container having a neck located at the bottom of the container; a pump secured to the neck; the pump having a housing; the housing having a cylindrical outside surface; the housing having an attachment mechanism for attaching the pump to a venting insert; the venting insert having a cylindrical inside surface and a cylindrical outside surface; at least a portion of the venting insert is located within the neck; air passage is located between the pump housing and the cylindrical inside surface of the venting insert; the venting insert includes one or more apertures therethrough; a one-way air inlet valve is located proximate the one or more apertures; the one-way air inlet valve opens when the vacuum pressure in the container exceeds the cracking pressure of the one-way air inlet valve to allow air to vent the container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A refill unit for a soap, sanitizer or lotion comprising:
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a non-collapsing container; the non-collapsing having a neck located at the bottom of the container; a foam pump secured to the neck; the foam pump having a housing; the housing having a cylindrical inside surface and a cylindrical outside surface; an air piston movable back and forth within in the housing; a sealing member of the air piston in contact with the cylindrical inside surface; a venting insert having an inside cylindrical surface and an outside cylindrical surface; the outside cylindrical surface of the venting insert located at least partially within the neck; at least a portion of the outside cylindrical surface of the housing extending along at least a portion of the cylindrical inside surface of the venting insert; an air passage located between the cylindrical outside surface of the housing and the cylindrical inside surface of the venting insert; an aperture located through the venting insert to allow air to pass from a first side of the venting insert to the inside of the non-collapsing container; and a one-way valve located proximate the aperture. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A refill unit for a soap, sanitizer or lotion comprising:
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a non-collapsing container; the non-collapsing container having a neck located at the bottom of the container; a pump having a liquid pump chamber and an air pump chamber; the air pump chamber having an outside cylindrical surface; a venting insert; the venting insert located at least partially within the neck of the container; an air passage located between the outside cylindrical surface of the housing and an inside surface of the venting insert; an air vent chamber located above the air pump chamber and in fluid communication with the air passage; an aperture located at least partially above the air vent chamber extending through the venting insert placing the air vent chamber in fluid communication with the inside of the non-collapsing container; and a one-way valve located proximate the aperture for allowing air into the container and preventing liquid from flowing out of the container. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A venting insert comprising:
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a cylindrical housing; a closure for connecting the venting insert to a neck of a container; the cylindrical housing having an upper side; a first cylindrical projection extending downward from the upper side; an aperture through the upper side and located within the first cylindrical housing; a second aperture located in the upper side; and a one-way air inlet valve located proximate the second aperture.
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Specification