SEQUENTIALLY ACTIVATED MULTI-DIAPHRAGM FOAM PUMPS, REFILL UNITS AND DISPENSER SYSTEMS

• US 20170156550A1
• Filed: 12/05/2016
• Published: 06/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Harris, Donald R., McNulty, John J., Ciavarella, Nick E., Jenkins, Dennis K.
• Granted Patent: US 10,080,468 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/14 Foam or lather making devices for shaving A45D27/02
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0018 with devices for making foam
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0416 with arrangements for mixing one gas and one liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2402 Apparatus to be carried on or by a person, e.g. by hand; Apparatus comprising containers fixed to the discharge device B05B7/0012 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 13/02 of two or more fluids at the same time
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 19/06 Pumps for delivery of both liquid and elastic fluids at the same time wet gas pumps F04B37/20
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 23/02 having reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 23/06 the pumps being all of reciprocating positive-displacement type
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/026 each plate-like pumping flexible member working in its own pumping chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/04 Pumps having electric drive
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 45/043 two or more plate-like pumping flexible members in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 45/047 Pumps having electric drive
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/06 Control using electricity regulating by means of floats actuating electric switches F04B49/04

Abstract

An exemplary foam dispenser includes a housing, a container for holding foamable liquid and a foam pump in fluid communication with the container. The foam pump has a plurality of diaphragm pumping chambers wherein at least one diaphragm pumping chamber pumps liquid, and at least two diaphragm pumping chambers pump air. The foam pump includes a liquid outlet valve having a cracking pressure of at least about 5 pounds per square inch; and two or more air outlet valves having cracking pressure of less than about 5 pounds per square inch. A mixing chamber is located downstream of the plurality of diaphragm pumping chambers for mixing liquid and air to form a foamy mixture. A foam cartridge located downstream of the mixing chamber and an outlet is provided for dispensing foam.

Claims

1. A foam dispenser comprising:

a housing;

a container for holding foamable liquid;

a foam pump in fluid communication with the container wherein the foam pump includes;

a pump housing;

a diaphragm assembly;

the diaphragm assembly having

a liquid pump diaphragm in fluid communication with the container;

a plurality of air pump diaphragms; and

an outlet valve;

a mixing chamber for mixing foamable liquid from the liquid pump diaphragm with air from the plurality of air pump diaphragms;

a foam cartridge in fluid communication with the mixing chamber;

an outlet for dispensing foam wherein the outlet is in fluid communication with the foam cartridge; and

an actuation mechanism to sequentially activate the liquid pump diaphragm and the plurality of air pump diaphragms.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 comprising two or more air pump diaphragms.

3. The dispenser of claim 1 comprising at least three air pump diaphragms

4. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the outlet valve is located is located about a central axis and the liquid pump diaphragm and air pump diaphragms are located concentrically about the central axis.

5. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the outlet valve is cylindrical.

6. The dispenser of claim 5 wherein the outlet valve is surrounded by a cylindrical valve seat.

7. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the diaphragm assembly is a unitary part.

8. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the pump housing is connected to the container and is removed from the dispenser when the container is removed from the dispenser.

9. A foam dispenser comprising:

a housing;

a container for holding foamable liquid;

a foam pump in fluid communication with the container;

the foam pump having a plurality of diaphragm pumping chambers wherein at least one diaphragm pumping chamber pumps liquid, and at least two diaphragm pumping chambers pump air;

a liquid outlet valve having a cracking pressure of at least about 5 pounds per square inch;

two or more air outlet valves having cracking pressure of less than about 5 pounds per square inch;

a mixing chamber located downstream of the plurality of diaphragm pumping chambers for mixing liquid and air to form a foamy mixture;

a foam cartridge located downstream of the mixing chamber; and

an outlet for dispensing foam.

10. The dispenser of claim 9 wherein the air outlet valves are dynamic check valves.

11. The dispenser of claim 9 wherein at least a portion of the foam pump is connected to the container and is removed and replaced when the container is removed and replaced.

12. The dispenser of claim 11 wherein the at least a portion of the foam pump comprises the liquid pump diaphragm.

13. A foam dispenser comprising:

a housing;

a container for holding foamable liquid;

a foam pump in fluid communication with the container wherein the foam pump includes;

a pump housing;

a diaphragm assembly;

the diaphragm assembly having

a liquid pump diaphragm in fluid communication with the container;

a plurality of air pump diaphragms; and

a cylindrical outlet valve;

wherein the cylindrical outlet valve is in fluid communication with the liquid pump diaphragm and the plurality of air pump diaphragms;

a mixing chamber for mixing foamable liquid from the liquid pump diaphragm with air from the plurality of air pump diaphragms;

a foam cartridge in fluid communication with the mixing chamber; and

an outlet for dispensing foam wherein the outlet is in fluid communication with the foam cartridge.

14. The foam dispenser of claim 13 further comprising a cylindrical valve seat for engaging the cylindrical outlet valve.

15. The foam dispenser of claim 13 wherein the volume of the liquid pump diaphragm is different than the volume of each of the air pump diaphragms.

16. The foam dispenser of claim 13 wherein at least a portion of the foam pump is connected to the container and is removable with the container.

17. The foam dispenser of claim 13 wherein the cylindrical outlet valve is located centrally between the liquid pump diaphragm and the plurality of air pump diaphragms.

18. The foam dispenser of claim 13 wherein the dispenser comprises two air pump diaphragms.

19. The foam dispenser of claim 13 wherein the dispenser comprises three air pump diaphragms.

20. The foam dispenser of claim 13 wherein the diaphragm assembly is a unitary member.