Liquid soap dispenser for simplified replacement of soap reservoir
First Claim
1. A dispenser for dispensing fluid comprising,a housing,a reservoir,the housing supporting the reservoir in a dispensing position,the reservoir being insertable into said housing to assume said dispensing position and removable therefrom for replacement,the reservoir comprising,(i) a chamber for retaining fluid having an outlet, and(ii) valve means disposed across the outlet for dispensing fluid from the chamber, the valve means comprising a reciprocally movable element for reciprocal movement relative to the housing when the reservoir is in the dispensing position to dispense fluid,the reciprocally movable element including engagement means for engagement with the housing,the housing including actuator means for actuating the reciprocally movable element, the actuator means movable relative the housing between a first position and a second position,the actuator means including catch means to engage the engagement means and couple the reciprocally movable element to the actuator means,wherein when the reservoir is inserted into the dispensing position, the engagement means and catch means assume relative positions selected from;
- (a) a coupled orientation in which the catch means engages the engagement means for reciprocal movement of the element to dispense fluid with movement of the actuator means between the first position and the second position, and(b) an uncoupled orientation from which on a first cycling of the actuator means between the first position and the second position, the catch means, and engagement means are moved relative to each other, andwherein the reciprocally movable element moves in a linear path relative to the housing, and the catch means is movable by the actuator means through an arcuate path relative the housing, said arcuate path forming a chord of a circle centered on a pivot axis normal to and displaced from said linear path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A liquid soap dispenser is disclosed having a permanent housing which permits simplified insertion and replacement of disposable fluid reservoirs. The housing includes and actuator assembly which is cycled by a lever between first and second positions. The actuator assembly is configured to couple to a valve assembly on the reservoir so that when cycled, the valve assembly is actuated in sliding movement to dispense a quantity of fluid. The actuator assembly includes a pair of resiliently deformable fingers which act to secure the valve assembly to the actuator assembly for sliding movement therewith. If on insertion of a replacement reservoir, the reservoir is positioned uncoupled from the actuator assembly, on first cycling of the actuator assembly the fingers deform to permit movement of the actuator assembly relative to valve assembly and move towards a coupled orientation. In the coupled orientation, the fingers return to an undeformed configuration securing the valve assembly to the actuator assembly.
177 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A dispenser for dispensing fluid comprising,
a housing, a reservoir, the housing supporting the reservoir in a dispensing position, the reservoir being insertable into said housing to assume said dispensing position and removable therefrom for replacement, the reservoir comprising, (i) a chamber for retaining fluid having an outlet, and (ii) valve means disposed across the outlet for dispensing fluid from the chamber, the valve means comprising a reciprocally movable element for reciprocal movement relative to the housing when the reservoir is in the dispensing position to dispense fluid, the reciprocally movable element including engagement means for engagement with the housing, the housing including actuator means for actuating the reciprocally movable element, the actuator means movable relative the housing between a first position and a second position, the actuator means including catch means to engage the engagement means and couple the reciprocally movable element to the actuator means, wherein when the reservoir is inserted into the dispensing position, the engagement means and catch means assume relative positions selected from; -
(a) a coupled orientation in which the catch means engages the engagement means for reciprocal movement of the element to dispense fluid with movement of the actuator means between the first position and the second position, and (b) an uncoupled orientation from which on a first cycling of the actuator means between the first position and the second position, the catch means, and engagement means are moved relative to each other, and wherein the reciprocally movable element moves in a linear path relative to the housing, and the catch means is movable by the actuator means through an arcuate path relative the housing, said arcuate path forming a chord of a circle centered on a pivot axis normal to and displaced from said linear path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification