Bifurcated foam pump, dispensers and refill units

• US 9,089,860 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2014
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Quinlan, Robert L., Rosenkranz, Mark E., Reynolds, Aaron R.
• Primary Examiner(s): LONG, DONNELL ALAN
• Application Number:
  US14/297,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20140332563A1
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• Field of Search: 222/190, 222/401, 222/321.7, 222/321.9, 222/136, 222/145.5, 222/145.1, 222/145.6
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/14 Foam or lather making devices for shaving A45D27/02
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0064 Lift valves B05B11/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1074 located outside pump chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1077 characterised by a particular shape or material B05B11/1076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1087 Combination of liquid and air pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0037 including sieves, porous members or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0475 with means for deflecting the peripheral gas flow towards the central liquid flow B05B7/0458 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2491 characterised by the means for producing or supplying the atomising fluid, e.g. air hoses, air pumps, gas containers, compressors, fans, ventilators, their drives

Abstract

Embodiments of foam dispensers including a housing, an air compressor connected to the housing and an actuator for actuating the air compressor are disclosed herein. The air compressor releasably mates with a refill unit. The dispenser has an “empty state” and a “refilled state.” The empty state occurs when there is not a refill unit positioned in the dispenser, and the refilled state occurs when the refill unit is positioned in the dispenser. The air compressor remains connected to the housing during the refilled state and remains connected to the housing during the empty state. One refill unit for a foam pump dispenser includes a container for containing a foamable liquid and liquid pump housing connected to the container. The liquid pump housing is configured to releasably mate with an air compressor that is not part of the refill unit but is secured to a foam pump dispenser housing, and the refill unit is configured to be removed from the foam dispenser without removing the air compressor from the foam dispenser. The air inlet passage is in fluid communication with the atmosphere prior to being installed in a foam dispenser and the air inlet passage is in fluid communication with an air compressor when the refill unit is placed in the foam dispenser.

Claims

1. A disposable refill unit for a dispenser having a permanent air compressor residing therein, the disposable refill unit comprising:

a container containing a foamable liquid;

a liquid pump secured to the container;

a chamber in the liquid pump for receiving liquid and compressed air;

a liquid passage from the container to the chamber;

a one-way air inlet member for allowing air into the chamber and preventing liquid from exiting the chamber past the one-way air inlet member;

an air passage located upstream of the one-way air inlet member;

wherein at least a portion of the air passage has an annular shape;

the air passage in fluid communication with an air compressor and configured to pass compressed air from an air compressor to the chamber when the refill unit is installed in a dispenser and the air passage is not in fluid communication with an air compressor when the refill unit is not installed in the dispenser; and

one or more sealing members forming a seal between an air compressor and the air passage when the refill unit is installed in a dispenser.

2. The disposable refill unit of claim 1 wherein the one-way air inlet member is a check valve.

3. The disposable refill unit of claim 1 wherein the one-way air inlet member is a seal.

4. The disposable refill unit of claim 1 wherein liquid pump comprises a liquid chamber and the liquid chamber is compressible.

5. The disposable refill unit of claim 4 wherein the liquid pump comprises a piston.

6. The disposable refill unit of claim 1 further comprising a dispenser.

7. The disposable refill unit of claim 6 further comprising an air compressor.

8. The disposable refill unit of claim 7 wherein the air compressor is cylindrical.

9. The disposable refill unit of claim 6 wherein the refill unit is removed from the dispenser by moving the refill unit in an upward direction.

10. A disposable refill unit for a dispenser having a permanent air compressor residing therein, the disposable refill unit comprising:

a container;

foamable liquid in the container;

a liquid pump housing secured to the container;

a liquid piston movable in a reciprocating motion in the pump housing for pumping the foamable liquid;

a chamber in the liquid pump housing for receiving foamable liquid and compressed air;

a one-way air inlet valve for allowing air into the chamber and preventing foamable liquid from exiting the chamber past the one-way air inlet valve; and

an air passage located upstream of the one-way air inlet valve;

wherein at least a portion of the air passage has an annular shape;

wherein the air passage in fluid communication with an air compressor and is configured to pass compressed air from an air compressor to the chamber when the refill unit is installed in a dispenser and the air passage is not in fluid communication with an air compressor when the refill unit is not installed in the dispenser.

11. The disposable refill unit of claim 10 wherein the one-way air inlet member is a check valve.

12. The disposable refill unit of claim 10 wherein the one-way air inlet member is a seal.

13. The disposable refill unit of claim 10 wherein the piston moves vertically.

14. The disposable refill unit of claim 10 further comprising a dispenser.

15. The disposable refill unit of claim 14 further comprising an air compressor.

16. The disposable refill unit of claim 14 wherein the refill unit is removed from the dispenser by moving the refill unit in an upward direction.

17. A disposable refill unit for a dispenser having a permanent air compressor residing therein, the disposable refill unit comprising:

a container;

foamable liquid in the container;

a pump housing secured to the container;

a compressible pump chamber for pumping the foamable liquid;

a second chamber in the pump housing for receiving foamable liquid from the compressible pump chamber and compressed air from an air compressor;

a one-way air inlet valve for allowing air into the second chamber and preventing liquid from exiting the chamber past the one-way air inlet member; and

an air passage located upstream of the one-way air inlet valve;

wherein at least a portion of the air passage has an annular shape;

wherein the air passage in fluid communication with an air compressor and configured to pass compressed air from an air compressor to the chamber when the refill unit is installed in a dispenser and the air passage is not in fluid communication with an air compressor when the refill unit is not installed in the dispenser.

18. The disposable refill unit of claim 17 further comprising a piston for compressing the compressible pump chamber.

19. The disposable refill unit of claim 17 further comprising a dispenser.

20. The disposable refill unit of claim 19 further comprising an air compressor.