Collapsible soap dispenser

• US 5,556,005 A
• Filed: 01/09/1995
• Issued: 09/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DEB IP Limited (SC Johnson & Son Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Sprintvest Corporation NV
• Inventors: Banks, Stewart
• Primary Examiner(s): KAUFMAN, JOSEPH A
• Application Number:
  US08/370,035
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 222/95, 222/96, 222/105, 222/153.01, 222/181.1, 222/181.2, 222/181.3, 222/185.1, 222/321.8, 222/325, 222/340, 222/383.1, 222/523, 251/149.1, 251/149.2
• US Class Current: 222/96
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1204 by means of a rigid dispensing chamber and pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1207 Dispensing from the bottom of the dispenser with a vertical piston

Abstract

A dispenser comprises a collapsible bottle and a valve assembly for placement in the throat of the bottle which includes a first hollow valve member sealed in the throat of the bottle and a hollow second valve member having apertures in the side wall. The second valve member telescopes in the first valve member between a closed position in which the apertures are located within the channel of the first valve member to close the bottle and an open position in which the apertures are in flow communication with the interior of the bottle. The first and second valve members are dimensioned to receive a probe forming part of a dispenser pump mechanism. The bottle is provided with crease lines located on the front, back and sides so that the bottle collapses as liquid is pumped out of the bottle to prevent exposure of the liquid contents to air.

Claims

1. A bottle and valve assembly for dispensing liquids when a dispensing probe is inserted within the valve assembly, comprising:

a) a bottle having a throat portion and an interior; and

b) a valve assembly including a first valve member being sealingly engagable in said throat portion and defining a channel extending therethrough, a second valve member having a channel and at least one aperture communicating with said channel therein, said second valve member being constrained to slide within said channel of said first valve member between a closed position wherein said at least one aperture is located within said channel of said first valve member and said throat portion is sealed closed, and an open position wherein a portion of said second valve member is located within said channel of said first valve member and said at least one aperture is at least partially free of said first valve member and in communication with said interior of said bottle, said channel of said second valve member being dimensioned to receive the dispensing probe and said valve assembly including means to seal said valve assembly to the probe when the probe is received within said channel of said second valve member.

2. The bottle and valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein said bottle is a collapsible plastic bottle.

3. The bottle and valve assembly according to claim 2 wherein said collapsible plastic bottle is substantially rectangular shaped and comprises a front and back and opposed sides, and substantially vertical crease lines on each of said opposed sides and substantially horizontal crease lines on said front and back.

4. The bottle and valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first valve member and said second valve member include means for locking said second valve member with respect to said first valve member in the closed position.

5. The bottle and valve assembly according to claim 1 including a closure member adapted to fit into said channel of said second valve member to thereby seal said throat portion of said bottle.

6. The bottle and valve assembly of claim 1 in which said first valve member includes an outwardly extending flange, said throat of said bottle having a rim, and said outwardly extending flange being sealed to said rim.

7. The bottle and valve assembly of claim 6 in which said first valve member includes an in-turned flange extending partially into said channel therethrough, and said second valve member includes a recess into which said in-turned flange is seated when said second valve member is in said closed position.

8. The bottle and valve assembly of claim 7 in which said second valve member includes a closed end having a flange portion, said flange portion being engageable with said in-turned flange of said first valve member when in said closed position.

9. The bottle and valve assembly of claim 8 in which said second valve member includes an outwardly extending rib spaced from said flange portion thereof, said in-turned flange being snap-fitted over said rib and into said recess when said second valve member is in said closed position.

10. The bottle and valve assembly of claim 9 in which said second valve member includes an outwardly projecting shoulder spaced from said closed end and said shoulder being engageable with said in-turned flange of said first valve member when said second valve member is in said open position.

11. The bottle and valve assembly of claim 10 in which said means to seal said valve assembly to the probe includes an inwardly directed lip extending into said channel of said second valve member.

12. A dispenser for dispensing liquid soap, comprising:

a) a dispenser housing and a hand actuated dispenser mechanism mountable in said dispenser housing, said hand actuated dispenser mechanism including a probe defining a fluid flow channel in communication with a discharge outlet and means for pumping liquid from said fluid flow channel to said discharge outlet; and

b) a bottle having an interior and a throat portion, a valve assembly mounted within said throat portion, said valve assembly including a first valve member being sealingly engageable in said throat portion and having a channel therethrough, a second valve member having at least one aperture in a side wall thereof and having a channel, said second valve member being slidably movable within said channel of said first valve member, said second valve member including means for constraining the sliding movement within said channel of said first valve member between a closed position wherein said at least one aperture is located within said channel of said first valve member and said throat is sealed closed, and an open position wherein a portion of said valve second member is located within said channel of said first valve member and said at least one aperture is at least partially free of said first valve member and in communication with said interior of said bottle, said channels of said first and second valve members being dimensioned to receive said probe so that said fluid flow channel of said probe is in flow communication with said at least one aperture, and means for sealing said probe in said channels of said first and second valve members.

13. The dispenser according to claim 12 wherein said bottle is a collapsible plastic bottle which collapses as liquid is pumped therefrom.

14. The dispenser according to claim 13 wherein said collapsible bottle is substantially rectangular shaped and comprises front and back surfaces and opposed sides, substantially horizontal crease lines in said front and back surfaces, and substantially vertical crease lines in said opposed sides.

15. The dispenser according to claim 12 wherein said hand actuated dispenser mechanism includes a cylinder and piston means receivable in said cylinder, said cylinder being in flow communication with said fluid flow channel of said probe, said piston means including said discharge outlet, and a lever operably coupled to said piston means for pumping liquid from said bottle through said probe and cylinder to said discharge outlet.

16. The dispenser according to claim 12 wherein said first valve member and second valve member include engaging means for locking said second valve member with respect to said first valve member in the closed position.

17. The dispenser according to claim 12 including a closure member adapted to fit into said channel of the second valve member to thereby seal said throat of said bottle.

18. The dispenser according to claim 12 wherein said second valve member and said probe include cooperating lock means for locking said second valve member with respect to said probe when said second valve member is in the closed position.

19. The dispenser according to claim 18 in which said probe has a first cylindrical portion of a first diameter and a second cylindrical portion of a second lesser diameter, said fluid flow channel of said probe extending through said first cylindrical portion and into said second cylindrical portion, said second cylindrical portion having a closed end, and at least one aperture in said second cylindrical portion.

20. The dispenser according to claim 19 in which said cooperating locking means includes a groove in said second cylindrical portion of said probe, and said second valve member includes an inwardly extending lip engageable within said groove.

21. The dispenser of claim 20 in which said first valve member includes an in-turned flange extending partially into said channel therethrough, and said second valve member includes a recess into which said in-turned flange is seated when said second valve member is in said closed position.

22. The dispenser of claim 21 in which said second valve member includes a closed end having a flange portion, said flange portion being engageable with said in-turned flange of said first valve member when in said closed position.

23. The dispenser of claim 22 in which said second valve member includes an outwardly extending rib spaced from said flange portion thereof, said in-turned flange being snap-fitted over said rib and into said recess when said second valve member is in said closed position.

24. The dispenser of claim 23 in which said second valve member includes an outwardly projecting shoulder spaced from said closed end, and said shoulder being engageable with said in-turned flange of said first valve member when said second valve member is in said open position.

25. A bottle and valve assembly for dispensing liquids when a dispensing probe is inserted within the valve assembly, comprising:

a) a bottle including a throat portion and an interior; and

b) a valve assembly including a first valve member being sealingly engagable in said throat portion and defining a first channel extending therethrough, a second valve member defining a second channel and at least one aperture communicating with said said second channel, said second valve member being constrained to slide within said first channel between a closed position in which said at least one aperture is located within said first channel and said throat portion is sealed closed, and an open position in which said at least one aperture is at least partially free of said first valve member and in communication with said interior of said bottle, said first valve member includes an in-turned flange extending partially into said first channel, said second valve member includes a closed end and an outwardly projecting shoulder spaced from said closed end, said shoulder being engageable with said in-turned flange when said second valve member is in said open position, and said second channel being dimensioned to receive the dispensing probe and said valve assembly including means to seal said valve assembly to the probe when the probe is received within said second channel.