Dispenser with draw-back mechanism

• US 7,681,765 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2008
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rubbermaid Commercial Products LLC (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Technical Concepts LLC (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Muderlak, Kenneth J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicolas; Frederick C.
• Application Number:
  US12/256,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20090101679A1
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 222/375, 222/571, 222/383.1, 222/108, 222/333, 222/1, 222/321.7, 222/464.3, 239/333, 239/119
• US Class Current: 222/571
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2005/1218 Table mounted; Dispensers integrated with the mixing tap
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/16 with mechanical drive food mixers A47J43/04
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1087 Combination of liquid and air pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1097 with means for sucking back the liquid or other fluent material in the nozzle after a dispensing stroke
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0025 with a compressed gas supply

Abstract

This patent discloses tools, methods and systems for dispensing soap. The tools, methods and systems include a draw-back chamber constructed around and in line with the fluid path between a spout assembly for delivering soap to a user and a pump mechanism for supplying the soap. The draw-back chamber contains port openings into the fluid path. When the pump mechanism is actuated to dispense soap, the draw back chamber is collapsed and soap within it is dispensed with the main dose of soap supplied by the pump mechanism. When the pump mechanism is allowed to return to its extended rest state, the draw-back chamber expands, drawing soap into it through the port opening to prevent soap from hanging and dripping at the end of the dispensing tube.

Claims

1. A dispensing system for dispensing a fluid comprising:

a dispensing tube;

a pump mechanism for delivering a fluid from a container;

a pump actuator connected to the container for movement between a first position and a second position;

a bayonette guide mounted for movement with said pump actuator and defining a bore extending through said bayonette guide to allow passage of the fluid from the pump mechanism to said dispensing tube;

a draw back chamber formed between the pump actuator and the bayonette guide for holding a residual fluid;

a fluid passageway between the bore and the draw back chamber;

a pump motor for moving the pump actuator to said first position to actuate the pump mechanism and propel a dose of the fluid through said bore and into said dispensing tube and to collapse the draw back chamber to propel the residual fluid through said fluid passageway into said bore;

said pump actuator moving to said second position to expand said draw back chamber and draw the fluid from the dispensing tube into the draw back chamber.

2. The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said dispensing tube is located in a spout.

3. The dispensing system of claim 2 wherein said dispensing tube, said spout and said container are coaxial.

4. The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein the dispensing tube, pump mechanism and draw back chamber are coaxial.

5. The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said dispensing tube is connected to said pump actuator for movement with said pump actuator.

6. The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein the draw back chamber surrounds said bore.

7. The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said draw back chamber is defined in part by a seal.

8. The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein a spring biases said pump actuator to said second position.

9. The dispensing system of claim 8 wherein said spring is located in said draw back chamber.

10. The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said draw back chamber is defined in part by a seal and a spring located in said draw back chamber exerts a force against said seal to bias said pump actuator to said second position.

11. The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein the pump mechanism includes a nozzle insert that is received in said bore.

12. The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said pump motor moves a pump hammer that engages the pump actuator to drive the pump actuator to said first position and said pump mechanism includes a nozzle insert that is received in said bore, said pump actuator drives the bayonette guide to push the nozzle insert.

13. The dispensing system of claim 8 wherein when said draw back chamber collapses said spring is compressed.

14. The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein fluid propelled through said fluid passageway into said bore is dispensed with said dose of fluid through the dispensing tube.

15. The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein a spring in the pump mechanism biases the bayonette guide to follow said pump actuator as it moves to said second position.

16. The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein as the draw back chamber expands a vacuum effect is created in the dispensing tube to prevent fluid from dripping from the dispensing tube.

17. The dispensing system of claim 16 wherein the vacuum effect is created through said fluid passageway.

18. The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said fluid is a soap.

19. A method of dispensing a fluid comprising:

providing a dispensing tube for receiving a fluid from a container, a pump actuator connected to the container and having a bore extending through said pump actuator in fluid communication with said dispensing tube and a draw back chamber in fluid communication with said bore for holding a residual fluid;

moving the pump actuator to a first position to propel a dose of the fluid from said container through said bore and into said dispensing tube and to simultaneously collapse the draw back chamber;

moving the pump actuator to a second position allowing said draw back chamber to expand and draw the fluid from the dispensing tube into the draw back chamber.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein as said draw back chamber collapses fluid in said draw back chamber is dispensed with said dose of fluid.

21. A dispensing system for dispensing a fluid comprising:

a dispensing tube;

a pump mechanism for delivering a fluid from a container;

a body defining an interior cavity connected to the container for movement between a first position and a second position and defining an opening for receiving the dispensing tube;

a guide mounted for movement with said body and defining a bore extending through said guide to allow passage of the fluid from the pump mechanism to said dispensing tube, said guide located in said interior cavity to define a draw back chamber between the body and the guide for holding a residual fluid, and a seal located between the body and the guide to close the draw back chamber;

a fluid passageway between the bore and the draw back chamber;

a pump motor for moving the body to said first position to actuate the pump mechanism and propel a dose of the fluid through said bore and into said dispensing tube and to move the body and guide relative to the seal to collapse the draw back chamber to propel the residual fluid through said fluid passageway into said bore;

said body and guide moving to said second position to expand said draw back chamber and draw the fluid from the dispensing tube into the draw back chamber.

22. A dispensing system for dispensing a fluid comprising:

a dispensing tube;

a pump mechanism for delivering a fluid from a container;

a pump actuator having a body defining an interior cavity connected to the container for movement between a first position and a second position and defining an opening for receiving the dispensing tube such that the dispensing tube moves with said pump actuator;

a guide mounted for movement with said body and defining a bore extending through said guide between the container and the opening to allow passage of the fluid from the pump mechanism to said dispensing tube, said guide located in said interior cavity to define a draw back chamber between the body and the guide for holding a residual fluid, and a seal extending between the body and the guide to close the draw back chamber;

a fluid passageway between the bore and the draw back chamber;

a pump motor for moving the body and guide to said first position to actuate the pump mechanism and propel a dose of the fluid through said bore and into said dispensing tube and to simultaneously move the body and guide relative to the seal to collapse the draw back chamber to propel the residual fluid through said fluid passageway into said bore;

said body and guide moving to said second position to expand said draw back chamber and draw the fluid from the dispensing tube, though the guide and into the draw back chamber.