Device for dispensing soap-solution in a dispenser

• US 6,758,372 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: HTS International Trading AG
• Original Assignee: HTS International Trading AG
• Inventors: Studer, Hans-Jörg, Ehrensperger, Markus
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nicolas, Frederick C.
• Application Number:
  US10/169,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20030071058A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 222/80-83, 222/83.5, 222/87-90, 222/94, 222/105, 222/325, 222/181.1, 222/181.2, 222/506, 222/509, 222/448, 141/330
• US Class Current: 222/88
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/12 for liquid or pasty soap
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1209 with chamber in the form of a cylindrical tube

Abstract

With soap and cleansing foam dispensers, there is a risk that they may be equipped with supply containers of unsuitable liquid or that their intermediate containers may become contaminated. According to the invention, an adapter (8) that is mounted on an intermediate container (6) has a coded cylindrical jacket (10), into which coded parts (4,5) that are positioned on the neck of a suitable supply container (2) can be fitted. To prevent the contamination of the intermediate container (6), the latter has a spring-loaded internal sealing plug (50) which ensures the hygienic sealing of the container even prior to use and when the supply container is changed. To prevent interruptions in the operation, a reliable fill-level indicator (22) is provided. The device thus ensures improved, hygienic dispensing of soap-solution in dispensers (1).

Claims

1. A device for delivery of soap solution from an inverted supply container into an intermediate container of a dispenser, a bottle-neck outlet having a pierce-able diaphragm being provided on the container and an adapter having a piercing sleeve being provided on the intermediate container, characterized in that at least one keying member projects from the bottle neck, the adapter having an analogously keyed cylindrical surface to accept the keying member, and in that there is provided, in a region of the adapter below the piercing sleeve, a valve seat having a resiliently supported closing plug which is pushed through the bottle neck into a through-flow position, a tip of the piercing sleeve being supported below an upper edge of the adapter.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottle neck has a push-on member to which at least two keying members are fitted.

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the keying members are ring segments.

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the keyed cylindrical surface has a raised edge.

5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the keyed cylindrical surface has webs and recesses.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that there is a projection provided on the bottle neck and parallel therewith which extends peripherally relative to the piercing sleeve through a closing cover of the intermediate container, and a notch is provided in the closing plug against which the projection presses to hold the closing plug in a through-flow position.

7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the closing cover has edge gaps opposite an upper portion of the intermediate container, which gaps are in the form of labyrinthine air inlets to an air space in the intermediate container.

8. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that a filling-level indicator having a float is arranged in a projection in the intermediate container.

9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that an upright guide strip on which the float is guided is provided behind a projection in the intermediate container.

10. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that the float has lateral grooves through which guide strips extend.