Liquid Hand Cleaner Foam Dispensing As Spray and Liquid Stream

• US 20170055782A1
• Filed: 08/26/2016
• Published: 03/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OP hygiene IP Gmbh
• Original Assignee: OP hygiene IP Gmbh
• Inventors: Ophardt, Heiner, Jones, Andrew, Shi, Zhenchun
• Granted Patent: US 10,238,241 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1207 Dispensing from the bottom of the dispenser with a vertical piston
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1211 using pressure on soap, e.g. with piston A47K5/1201 takes precedence; by squeezing A47K5/122
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/14 with multiple outlet openings B05B1/02, B05B1/26 take precedence; with strainers in or outside the outlet opening
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0086 Arrangements for allowing spraying and pouring
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1001 Piston pumps B05B11/1087, B05B11/1088, B05B11/109 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1057 Triggers, i.e. actuation means consisting of a single lever having one end rotating or pivoting around an axis or a hinge fixedly attached to the container, and another end directly actuated by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1084 each liquid or other fluent material being pumped by a separate pump
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1085 the pumps being coaxial
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1087 Combination of liquid and air pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1088 the pump being a double-acting pump
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/02 for controlling time, or sequence, of delivery
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/62 Arrangements for supporting spraying apparatus, e.g. suction cups
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0025 with a compressed gas supply

Abstract

Operating a hand cleaner dispenser for dispensing a cleaning liquid from a reservoir onto a person'"'"'s hands in a cycle of operation wherein, during a first time interval during the cycle dispensing the liquid onto the hand as a spray, and during a second time interval during the cycle dispensing the liquid onto the hand as a liquid stream.

Claims

1. A method of operating a hand cleaner dispenser to dispense a cleaning liquid from a reservoir onto a person'"'"'s hands in a cycle of operation wherein:

during a first time interval during the cycle dispensing the liquid onto the hand as a spray; and

during a second time interval during the cycle dispensing the liquid onto the hand as a liquid stream.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first time interval precedes the second time interval.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first time interval overlaps the second time interval.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first time interval ends before the second time interval starts.

5. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the first time interval ends after the second time interval starts and before the second interval ends.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 including directing the spray toward fingertips of the hand and directing the liquid stream toward a palm of the hand.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 including providing a spray nozzle and a stream nozzle, pressurizing the liquid and, during the first time interval, directing the pressurized liquid to the spray nozzle and, during the second time interval, directing the pressurized liquid to the stream nozzle.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 including locating the hand with the palm of the hand directed toward the stream nozzle and the fingertips nearer to the spray nozzle than the stream nozzle.

9. A method as claimed in claim 7 including providing the spray nozzle at a first location and the stream nozzle at second location spaced from the first location such that when a hand of a user is located with the palm of the hand underneath the stream nozzle and directed upwardly toward the stream nozzle, the stream nozzle directs the liquid stream onto the palm, the spray nozzle is above the fingertips of the hand and nearer to the fingertips of the hand than the stream nozzle in a position to direct the liquid spray onto the fingertips.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1 including providing a piston pump and operating the piston pump in a cycle of operation comprising a retraction stroke and a withdrawal stroke including dispensing the liquid with the piston pump both during the first time interval during the cycle and during the second time interval during the cycle.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the first time interval is in a first stroke of the retraction stroke and the withdrawal stroke and the second interval is in a second stroke of the withdrawal stroke and the retraction stroke different from the first stroke.

13. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the first time interval is in a first stroke of the retraction stroke and the withdrawal stroke and the second interval is in a second of the withdrawal stroke and the retraction stroke different from the first stroke.

14. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein both the first time interval and the second time interval are in the same one of the retraction stroke and the withdrawal stroke, and during the first interval, the liquid is discharged from a first outlet and during the second interval, the liquid is discharged from a second outlet different than the first outlet.

15. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein during the first interval the liquid is discharged from the same outlet as the liquid is discharged in the second interval, and during the first interval, the liquid discharged is drawn from a first reservoir and during the second interval, the liquid discharged is drawn from the first reservoir.

12. A method of operating a piston pump arrangement in a hand cleaner dispenser to dispense a cleaning liquid from onto a person'"'"'s hands in a cycle of operation of the piston pump arrangement comprising a retraction stroke and a withdrawal stroke including dispensing the liquid with the piston pump arrangement both during a first time interval during the cycle;

and during a second time interval during the cycle.

16. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein during the first interval the liquid is discharged from a first outlet and during the second interval the liquid is discharged from a second outlet different than the first outlet.

17. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein during the first interval the liquid discharged is drawn from a first reservoir and during the second interval the liquid discharged is drawn from the first reservoir.

18. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein during the first interval the liquid discharged is drawn from a first reservoir and during the second interval the liquid discharged is drawn from a second reservoir.

19. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the piston pump arrangement provides a first liquid pump and a second liquid pump operating out of phase with each other in the cycle of operation.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19 wherein with the first pump draws liquid in the retraction stroke and discharges liquid to a liquid discharge outlet in the withdrawal stroke and the second pump draws liquid in the withdrawal stroke and discharges liquid to the liquid discharge outlet in the retraction stroke.