Dispensing apparatus having a pump tube

• US 5,464,125 A
• Filed: 02/06/1995
• Issued: 11/07/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Daansen USA, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Warren S. Daansen
• Inventors: Daansen, Warren S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P.
• Application Number:
  US08/384,413
• Time in Patent Office: 274 Days
• Field of Search: 222/105, 222/156, 222/157, 222/181, 222/182, 222/183, 222/207, 222/214, 222/325
• US Class Current: 222/156
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1215 applied by a peristaltic action

Abstract

A liquid dispenser for dispensing liquid from a container that includes a pump having an upper fitment connected to a pump tube and hence to a pump tip. The dispenser has upper and lower fitment recesses, structure for closing the lower recess, vertical pressure support wall, and pump lever that collectively constrain the pump tube to a precise operating envelope for improved pump performance and dispenser reliability. The three-section lower fitment recess provides a mechanism to grip or hold in the pump tip, and prevents lateral and longitudinal movement of the pump tip. The lower recess may have a hard interface with the extended shank of such pump tips. The dispenser has a hard, smooth, seamless exterior cover to resist build-up of scum and facilitate cleaning, closely-fitting mating edges and a latching mechanism between the cover and the back plate to resist infiltration of water. The dispenser has a sloping upper exterior surface on the push bar to shed water, an ergonomic depression in the push bar to accept the heel of the user'"'"'s hand for pumping action, and a bottom edge the back side of which tapers to a small radius to minimize the accumulation of scum deposits resulting from contact with the user'"'"'s wet palm and fingers.

Claims

1. An improved dispenser for dispensing liquid, for use with liquid container of the type having a pump comprised of an upper fitment connected to a pump tube and hence to a pump tip, said improved dispenser comprising:

a back plate, back side thereof being attachable to a flat vertical surface, front side thereof having means for supporting said container, an upper fitment recess within which said upper fitment may be laterally installed in a closely-fitting relationship and which is configured to restrain longitudinal movement of said upper fitment, a vertical pressure support wall against which said pump tube may be positioned, and a lower fitment recess within which said pump tip may be laterally installed in a closely-fitting relationship and which is configured to restrain longitudinal movement of said pump tip;

a full cover attachable to said front side of said back plate at corresponding mating edge contours so as to form an interior cavity and substantially conceal and protect said back plate and said interior from spraying and falling water;

a pump lever bearing on said pump tube at rest and collapsing in a downward manner said pump tube against said vertical pressure support wall when said pump lever is actuated by a user, thereby expelling a unit portion of said liquid into said user'"'"'s palm; and

means for closing said lower fitment recess;

said upper and lower fitment recesses, said means for closing said lower fitment recess, said vertical pressure support wall and said pump lever thereby collectively constraining said pump tube to a precise operating envelope.

2. The improved dispenser of claim 1, said lower fitment recess comprising three sections, an upper section having a vertically-extending wall, the opening of which section is slightly smaller than it'"'"'s interior width such that a corresponding section of said pump must be forced laterally thereinto, a middle section having keyed elements corresponding to mating elements of said pump tip such that said pump tip may be laterally received therein and be thereby restrained from upward movement, and a lower section having a slot from front to center such that the nozzle of said pump tip may be laterally received therein in a downward-pointing attitude, said nozzle and said slot being of smaller diameter than said pump tip whereby said lower section prevents downward movement of said pump tip.

3. The improved dispenser of claim 2, wherein said dispenser is used with a pump tip having an extended shank terminated by a pump tube coupling such that said pump tube does not extend into said lower fitment recess when said pump tip is installed therein.

4. The improved dispenser of claim 1, said cover being hingedly attached to said back plate such that said cover may be rotated between an opened position and a closed position, said means for closing said lower fitment recess comprising an aperture on a lower end of said cover having a leading edge which closes over said nozzle when said cover is moved to said closed position, leading edge of said aperture thereby closing said lower fitment recess and securing said pump tip therein.

5. The improved dispenser of claim 1, said pump lever having a hard, smooth finish, a concave exterior surface profile approximately conforming to the heel of a user'"'"'s palm, a sloping exterior upper surface such that liquids deposited thereon run off easily, and a bottom edge center cross-section tapering down to a small radius to inhibit any accumulation of said liquid on the back edge thereof caused by contact with said liquid on a user'"'"'s palm and fingers.

6. The improved dispenser of claim 1, said cover and said back plate equipped with corresponding components of a self-latching mechanism which secures said cover to said back plate when said cover is attached in said closed position, said mechanism being unlatched by depressing at least one button on the lower end of said dispenser.

7. The improved dispenser of claim 1, said cover having a relatively hard, smooth, seamless exterior surface, and a window through which the contents of said container may be viewed when said cover is in said closed position.

8. The improved dispenser of claim 1, said liquid being soap.

9. An improved dispenser for dispensing liquid, for use with liquid container of the type having a pump comprised of an upper fitment connected to a pump tube and hence to a pump tip, said improved dispenser comprising:

a back plate, back side thereof being attachable to a flat vertical surface, front side thereof having means for supporting said container, an upper fitment recess within which said upper fitment may be laterally installed in a closely-fitting relationship and which is configured to restrain longitudinal movement of said upper fitment, a vertical pressure support wall against which said pump tube may be positioned, and a lower fitment recess within which said pump tip may be laterally installed in a closely-fitting relationship and which is configured to restrain longitudinal movement of said pump tip;

a full cover attachable to said front side of said back plate at corresponding mating edge contours so as to form an interior cavity and substantially conceal and protect said back plate and said interior from spraying and falling water;

a pump lever bearing on said pump tube at rest and collapsing in a downward manner said pump tube against said vertical pressure support wall when said pump lever is actuated by a user, thereby expelling a unit portion of said liquid into said user'"'"'s palm; and

means for closing said lower fitment recess;

said upper and lower fitment recesses, said means for closing said lower fitment recess, said vertical pressure support wall and said pump lever thereby collectively constraining said pump tube to a precise operating envelope;

said lower fitment recess comprising three sections, an upper section having a vertically-extending wall, the opening of which section is slightly smaller than it'"'"'s interior width such that a corresponding section of said pump must be forced laterally thereinto, a middle section having keyed elements corresponding to mating elements of said pump tip such that said pump tip may be laterally received therein and be thereby restrained from upward movement, and a lower section having a slot from front to center such that the nozzle of said pump tip may be laterally received therein in a downward-pointing attitude, said nozzle and said slot being of smaller diameter than said pump tip whereby said lower section prevents downward movement of said pump tip,

said cover being hingedly attached to said back plate such that said cover may be rotated between an opened position and a closed position,

said means for closing said lower fitment recess comprising an aperture on lower end of a cover having a leading edge which closes over said nozzle when said cover is moved to said closed position, thereby closing said lower fitment recess and securing said pump tip therein.

said pump lever having a hard, smooth finish, a concave exterior surface profile approximately conforming to the heel of a user'"'"'s palm, a sloping exterior upper surface such that liquids deposited thereon run off easily, and a bottom edge center cross-section tapering down to a small radius to inhibit any accumulation of said liquid on the back edge thereof caused by contact with said liquid on a user'"'"'s palm and fingers,

said cover and said back plate equipped with corresponding components of a self-latching mechanism which secures said cover to said back plate when said cover is attached in said closed position, said mechanism being unlatched by depressing at least one button on the lower end of said dispenser,

said cover having a relatively hard, smooth, seamless exterior surface, and a window through which the contents of said container may be viewed when said cover is in said closed position,

said liquid being soap.

10. The improved dispenser of claim 9, wherein said dispenser is used with a pump tip having an extended shank terminated by a pump tube coupling such that said pump tube does not extend into said lower fitment recess when said pump tip is installed therein.