Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02799509 2012-12-19
Title
RAMP ACTUATOR FOR ENGAGEMENT FLANGE ON REMOVABLE
DISPENSER CARTRIDGE
Scope of the Invention
[0001] This invention relates generally to dispensers and, more
particularly, to dispensers
with a replaceable element, more particularly to fluid dispensers and to a
piston pump for a
liquid soap dispenser which is adapted for simplified replacement of a liquid
soap reservoir
and to paper roll dispensers and paper rolls adapted for simplified
replacement.
Background of the Invention
[0002] Many dispensers of material such as fluid dispensers and paper roll
dispensers
have removable cartridges which are inserted and removed for replacement after
the material
to be dispensed carried by the cartridge has been exhausted. Many such
dispensers suffer the
disadvantage that coupling mechanisms for coupling of the removable cartridges
to the
dispensers arc complex and do no provide any keying or lock out arrangement
for limiting
use of replacement cartridges to limited configurations.
[0003] Many of today's products sold in liquid form, such as liquid hand
soap, are
contained in disposable containers or reservoirs which incorporate a pump
assembly.
Typically, the pump assembly includes a reciprocally movable element which
when moved
dispenses a quantity of liquid soap from the reservoir. The reservoirs are
generally fitted
within a permanent housing which includes a movable actuator assembly which
engages and
reciprocally moves the movable element to dispense the fluid. This has been
found to be
both a convenient and economical means of fluid supply and dispensation. Since
the fluid
reservoirs are replaced once the fluid supply is exhausted, it is desirable to
manufacture the
dispenser and reservoir so as to make replacement of the fluid reservoir as
easy and quick as
possible.
[0004] Known fluid dispensers suffer the disadvantage in ensuring the
movable element
is placed and maintained in a correct dispensing position relative the
actuator assembly to
properly dispense fluids. To achieve the proper dispensing configuration, the
pump assembly
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CA 02799509 2012-12-19
must therefore be precisely aligned in the housing to ensure it is properly
secured in or
coupled to the actuator assembly. In some fluid dispensers, a disadvantage
arises that after
initial coupling of the movable element with the actuator assembly, the
moveable element
can with use come to be displaced out of proper alignment, for example,
radially relative an
axis about which the movable element is reciprocally movable.
[0005] Known fluid dispensers suffer the disadvantage that the coupling
mechanism for
coupling of the movable element and the actuator assembly permits movable
elements having
a wide variety of physical shapes and sizes to be coupled to the actuator
assembly, and thus
do not provide a keying or lock out arrangement for limiting replacement
reservoirs which
can be coupled to the housing to those with movable elements of limited
particular shapes
and sizes.
[0006] Known fluid dispensers suffer the disadvantage that unless the
movable element
is in a correct position during insertion of a fluid dispenser to a housing,
difficulties can arise
in the movable element coupling with the actuator assembly.
[0007] Paper dispensers are known in which end plugs for a roll of material
are adapted
for removable retention in a dispenser such as a paper dispenser disclosed in
U.S. Patent
2009/0039099 to Friesen, published February 12, 2009. End plugs for rolls of
material which
permit slidable insertion of a roll of paper for coupling a roll of paper to a
dispenser are
disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent 2008/0230418. The applicant has
appreciated that end
plugs of the type disclosed by Lind et al suffer the disadvantage that
relatively substantial
structure including resilient mechanisms is provided as a permanent portion of
the housing
which are liable to lose their resiliency over time and hence render the
dispenser unusable.
Summary of the Invention
[0008] To at least partially overcome these disadvantages of known
dispensers, the
present invention provides an improved arrangement for removably coupling a
removable
cartridge carrying product to be dispensed to a dispenser with the removable
cartridge
preferably carrying a resilient member which prevents movement, preferably
radial
movement of the removable cartridge relative a catch member unless the
resilient member is
deflected from an unbiased inherent configuration.
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[0009] To at least partially overcome some of these disadvantages of known
dispensers,
the present invention further provides an improved arrangement for coupling a
removable
cartridge containing material to be dispensed to a dispenser in which the
cartridge requires an
annular shape and size within specific ranges defined by an annular cavity
within a catch
member of the dispenser and/or entrance way or exit way openings of the
cavity.
[0010] To at least partially overcome some of these disadvantages of known
fluid
dispensers, the present invention further provides an improved arrangement for
removably
coupling a movable element of a piston pump to an actuator mechanism with the
movable
element including a resilient member which prevents radial movement of the
movable
element relative a catch member of the actuator mechanism from a coupled
orientation unless
the resilient member is deflected from an unbiased inherent configuration.
[0011] To at least partially overcome some of these disadvantages of known
fluid
dispensers, the present invention further provides an improved arrangement for
removably
coupling a movable element of a piston pump to an actuator mechanism in which
the
movable element requires an annular shape and size within specific maximums
defined by an
annular cavity within a catch member of the actuator mechanism, and by
entrance way
openings and/or exitway openings therefrom.
[0012] To at least partially overcome some of these disadvantages of known
fluid
dispensers, the present invention further provides a guiding or ramp mechanism
which on
insertion of a fluid reservoir into a fluid dispenser moves the movable
element to a position
relative the actuator member which facilitates proper coupling of the movable
element with
the actuator member.
[0013] An object of the present invention is to provide a replaceable
element with a
resilient member requiring deformation for coupling and/or uncoupling.
[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a replaceable
movable
element in a pump mechanism with a resilient member requiring deformation for
coupling
and/or on coupling of the movable element with the housing.
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[0015] Another object is to provide a keying arrangement in which a catch
member of the
actuator mechanism limits the shape and size of the movable elements of a
reservoir which
can be coupled to the actuator mechanism.
[0016] Another object is to provide a guiding mechanism which moves during
insertion
of a fluid reservoir into a dispenser a movable element of a pump to a
position relative an
actuator member which facilitates proper coupling of the movable element and
the actuator
member.
[0017] In another aspect the present invention provides a dispenser for
dispensing
material comprising a housing, a replaceable cartridge containing material to
be dispensed,
the housing supporting the cartridge in a dispensing position, the cartridge
being insertable
into said housing to assume said dispensing position and removable therefrom
for
replacement, the housing including a catch member, the cartridge including an
engagement
mechanism disposed about an axis to engage the catch member and releasably
couple the
cartridge to the housing in a coupled orientation, the engagement mechanism
comprising a
resilient member extending radially outwardly from the cartridge in an
unbiased inherent
configuration, the resilient member being resiliently deflectable radially
from the inherent
configuration to deflected configurations of different radial extents than the
inherent
configuration and biased to return to the inherent configuration when
deflected from the
inherent configuration, wherein from the coupled orientation on moving the
cartridge radially
relative the catch member engagement between the catch member and the
resilient member
deflects the resilient member radially from the inherent configuration to one
of the deflected
configurations permitting the resilient member and catch member to move
radially from the
coupled orientation to a radial uncoupled orientation in which the cartridge
may be removed
from the housing, in the coupled orientation the resilient member while in the
inherent
configuration engaging with the catch member to prevent moving the cartridge
radially
relative the catch member from the coupled orientation to the radial uncoupled
orientation.
Preferably the cartridge is either a fluid containing reservoir or a roll of
sheet material.
[0018] The present invention provides in another aspect an improved fluid
dispenser
having a housing and a replaceable reservoir which incorporates as part of a
fluid dispensing
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valve, a movable element. The housing includes a movable actuator assembly for
coupling
to the movable element. When the actuator assembly and movable element are in
a coupled
orientation, the movement of the actuator assembly moves the movable element
axially on an
axis to dispense fluid from the reservoir. When coupled, a resilient member on
the movable
element while in an unbiased inherent configuration engages with a catch
member on the
actuator assembly to prevent moving the movable element radially relative the
catch
member. For uncoupling of the actuator assembly and movable element, the
movable
element is moved radially relative the actuator assembly. From the coupled
orientation on
moving the movable element radially engagement between the catch member of the
actuator
assembly and the resilient member on the movable element deflects the
resilient member
from the unbiased inherent configuration to a deflected configuration
permitting the resilient
member and catch member to move radially to become uncoupled. The resilient
member
preferably extends radially outwardly from the movable element in the unbiased
inherent
configuration and the resilient member is resiliently deflectable radially
from the inherent
configuration to deflected configurations of different radial extents than the
inherent
configuration with the resilient member biased to return to the inherent
configuration when
deflected from the inherent configuration.
[00191 The actuator assembly may be configured such that the reservoir is
not only
removable from coupling with the actuator assembly by relative movement in a
radial
direction but may also be coupled to the actuator assembly by being moved in a
radial
direction relative the actuator assembly.
[0020] The actuator assembly may be configured such that the reservoir is
removable
from coupling with the actuator assembly by relative movement in a radial
direction and may
also be coupled to the actuator assembly by being moved in an axial direction
relative the
actuator assembly. In this regard, the actuator assembly may be configured
such that if the
reservoir is inserted into the housing in a axial uncoupled orientation
relative the actuator
assembly, the first activation of the dispenser moves the actuator assembly
axially relative to
the movable element to a position where the movable element and actuator
assembly are
secured together in the coupled orientation. The dispenser may thus permit
insertion of a
CA 02799509 2012-12-19
replaceable reservoir into the housing with the movable element in various
axial positions
relative the reservoir.
[0021] The dispenser of the present invention advantageously permits easy
replacement
and removal of the reservoir. The reciprocally movable element includes a
catch assembly.
The catch assembly is configured to permit movement of the actuator assembly
radially
relative to the reciprocally movable element from a coupled orientation to an
uncoupled
orientation. Once in the coupled orientation, the catch assembly prevents
movement of the
actuator assembly relative to the movable element to return to the uncoupled
orientation
unless a resilient member on the movable member is suitably deflected.
[0022] Preferably, the reciprocally movable member is a piston element
which, on
insertion of the reservoir into the housing, is positioned coaxially aligned
with the actuator
assembly. The piston element includes a resilient member. A catch member of
the actuator
assembly is to be engaged with the resilient member of the piston element to
couple the
piston element to the actuator assembly in a coupled orientation. The
resilient member on
the piston element is deflectable on radial movement of the piston element
relative catch
member of the actuator assembly to permit uncoupling of the catch member of
the actuator
assembly with the piston element.
[0023] The resilient member on the piston element preferably extends
radially of the
piston element circumferentially about the piston element. Deflection of the
resilient
member permits the catch member of the actuator assembly to move past the
resilient
member for uncoupling. When the resilient member assumes its unbiased
condition in the
coupled orientation, it prevents removal of the piston element from catch
member of the
actuator assembly by movement in a direction radially of axis and the piston
element is
reciprocally movable with the actuator assembly to dispense fluid. The
resilient member
may comprise a set of resilient finger members disposed circumferentially
about the piston
element extending from fixed ends of the finger member coupled to the piston
element to
distal ends, and sized to be deflected radially inwardly to pass through a
radially extending
exitway opening in the catch member of the actuator member. The finger members
in their
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unbiased positions prevent passage of the finger members radially through the
exitway
opening.
[0024] Preferably, the exitway has camming surfaces about the exitway
opening which
are to be engaged by the finger members on the piston element such that on
radial movement
of the piston element from the uncoupled orientation, engagement between the
camming
surfaces and the finger members urges the finger members to adopt a deflected
configuration
permitting the finger members to pass radially through the exitway to a radial
uncoupled
orientation.
[0025] In an aspect, the present invention provides a dispenser for
dispensing fluid
comprising:
a housing,
a fluid containing reservoir having an outlet,
the housing supporting the reservoir in a dispensing position,
the reservoir being insertable into said housing to assume said dispensing
position
and removable therefrom for replacement,
a valving mechanism disposed across the outlet for dispensing fluid from the
reservoir, the valving mechanism comprising a reciprocally movable element for
reciprocal
movement along an axis relative to the housing when the reservoir is in the
dispensing
position to dispense fluid,
the housing including an actuator mechanism for actuating the reciprocally
movable element, the actuator mechanism movable relative the housing between a
first
position and a second position, the actuator mechanism including a catch
member,
the movable element including an engagement mechanism to engage the catch
member and releasably couple the movable element to the actuator mechanism in
a coupled
orientation in which movement of the actuator mechanism between the first
position and the
second position results in axial reciprocal movement of the movable element,
the engagement mechanism comprising a resilient member extending radially
axially outwardly from the movable element in an unbiased inherent
configuration, the
resilient member being resiliently deflectable radially from the inherent
configuration to
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deflected configurations of different radial extents than the inherent
configuration and biased
to return to the inherent configuration when deflected from the inherent
configuration,
wherein from the coupled orientation on moving the movable element radially
relative the catch member engagement between the catch member and the
resilient member
on the movable element deflects the resilient member radially from the
inherent
configuration to one of the deflected configuration permitting the resilient
member and catch
member to move radially from the coupled orientation to a radial uncoupled
orientation in
which the reservoir may be removed from the housing,
in the coupled orientation the resilient member while in the inherent
configuration
engaging with the catch member to prevent moving the movable element radially
relative the
catch member from the coupled orientation to the radial uncoupled orientation.
100261 In
another aspect, the present invention provides a dispenser for dispensing
fluid
comprising:
a housing,
a fluid containing reservoir having an outlet,
the housing supporting the reservoir in a dispensing position,
the reservoir being insertable into said housing to assume said dispensing
position
and removable therefrom for replacement,
a valving mechanism disposed across the outlet for dispensing fluid from the
reservoir, the valving mechanism comprising a reciprocally movable element for
reciprocal
movement along an axis relative to the housing when the reservoir is in the
dispensing
position to dispense fluid,
the housing including an actuator mechanism for actuating the reciprocally
movable element, the actuator mechanism movable relative the housing between a
first
position and a second position, the actuator mechanism including a catch
member,
the movable element including an engagement mechanism to engage the catch
member and releasably couple the movable element to the actuator mechanism in
a coupled
orientation in which movement of the actuator mechanism between the first
position and the
second position results in axial reciprocal movement of the movable element,
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the catch member having a side wall which extends axially relative the axis
and
circumferentially relative the axis to define a central cavity therein
coaxially about the axis,
a radial exitway extending radially from the cavity through the side wall,
in the coupled orientation the movable element located coaxially within the
cavity,
the engagement mechanism comprising a resilient member carried on the movable
element,
the resilient member inherently assuming an unbiased inherent configuration,
the resilient member being resiliently deflectable from the inherent
configuration
to deflected configurations and inherently biased to return to the inherent
configuration when
deflected from the inherent configuration,
in the coupled orientation the resilient member while in the inherent
configuration
engaging with the side wall of the catch member to resist moving the movable
element
radially relative the catch member from the coupled orientation through the
exitway to the
radial uncoupled orientation,
wherein from the coupled orientation on moving the movable clement radially
relative the catch member toward the exitway engagement between the catch
member and the
resilient member on the movable element deflects the resilient member from the
inherent
configuration to deflected configurations conforming to a shape of the exitway
so as to
permit the deflected resilient member to move radially from the coupled
orientation through
the exitway to a radial uncoupled orientation.
[0027] In another aspect, the present invention provides a dispenser for
dispensing
material comprising a housing, a replaceable cartridge containing material to
be dispensed,
the housing supporting the cartridge in a dispensing position, the cartridge
being insertable
into said housing to assume said dispensing position and removable therefrom
for
replacement, the housing including a catch member, the cartridge including an
engagement
mechanism disposed about an axis to engage the catch member and releasably
couple the
cartridge to the housing in a coupled orientation, the engagement mechanism
comprising a
resilient member extending radially outwardly from the cartridge in an
unbiased inherent
configuration, the resilient member being resiliently deflectable radially
from the inherent
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configuration to deflected configurations of different radial extents than the
inherent
configuration and biased to return to the inherent configuration when
deflected from the
inherent configuration,
wherein from the coupled orientation on moving the cartridge radially relative
the
catch member engagement between the catch member and the resilient member
deflects the
resilient member radially from the inherent configuration to one of the
deflected
configuration permitting the resilient member and catch member to move
radially from the
coupled orientation to a radial uncoupled orientation in which the cartridge
may be removed
from the housing, in the coupled orientation the resilient member while in the
inherent
configuration engaging with the catch member to prevent moving the cartridge
radially
relative the catch member from the coupled orientation to the radial uncoupled
orientation.
[0028] The dispenser may be a dispenser for the sheet material disposed on
a roll, the
cartridge is a roll of sheet material wound about an elongate core, a first
end plug at one end
of the core, the engagement member carried on the first end plug such that the
core is coaxial
with the axis, the housing carrying first journaling surfaces to engage
journalled surfaces on
the first end plug when the cartridge is in the coupled orientation to journal
the core to the
housing for rotation about the axis.
[00291 In another aspect, the present invention provides a dispenser for
dispensing fluid
comprising:
a housing,
a reservoir,
the housing supporting the reservoir in a dispensing position,
the reservoir being insertable into said housing to assume said dispensing
position
and removable therefrom for replacement,
the reservoir comprising:
(i) a chamber for retaining fluid having an outlet, and
(ii) a valving mechanism disposed across the outlet for dispensing fluid from
the
chamber, the valving mechanism comprising a reciprocally movable element for
reciprocal
CA 02799509 2012-12-19
movement along an axis relative to the housing when the reservoir is in the
dispensing
position to dispense fluid,
the housing including an actuator mechanism for actuating the reciprocally
movable clement, the actuator mechanism movable relative the housing between a
first
position and a second position, the actuator mechanism including a catch
member,
the reciprocally movable element including an engagement mechanism to engage
the actuator catch member and couple the reciprocally movable element to the
actuator
mechanism,
the engagement mechanism comprising a resilient member extending radially
outwardly from the reciprocally movable element in an unbiased inherent
position, the
resilient member being resiliently deflectable radially from the unbiased
inherent position to
a deflected position of a different radial extent than the unbiased inherent
position and biased
to return to the unbiased inherent position when deflected away from the
unbiased inherent
position toward the deflected position,
wherein when the reservoir is inserted into the dispensing position, the
engagement mechanism and catch member assume relative positions including:
(a) a coupled orientation in which the engagement mechanism engages the catch
member for reciprocal movement of the reciprocally movable element to dispense
fluid with
movement of the actuator mechanism between the first position and the second
position,
(b) an axial uncoupled orientation from which on a first cycling of the
actuator
mechanism between the first position and the second position, the engagement
mechanism
and catch member are moved relative to each other such that the catch member
is forced
axially into the resilient member,
wherein from the axial uncoupled orientation on relative forcing the catch
member axially into the resilient member engagement therebetween deflects the
resilient
member radially sufficiently to permit the catch member to move axially
relative the resilient
member from the axial uncoupled orientation to the coupled orientation, where
in the coupled
orientation the resilient member returns to the unbiased inherent position,
and
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(C) a radial uncoupled orientation wherein from the coupled orientation on
moving the movable element radially relative the catch member the catch member
moves
radially from the coupled orientation to the radial uncoupled orientation in
which the
reservoir may be removed from the housing,
ramp camming surfaces on an exterior surface of the actuator mechanism for
engagement with the moveable element such that on moving the movable element
radially
inwardly from the radial uncoupled orientation engagement between the opposed
ramp
camming surfaces and the engagement mechanism moves the movable element
axially
wherein with movement of the moveable element radially from the radial
uncoupled
orientation to a position in which the movable element is coaxial with the
cavity the movable
element is moved from the radial uncoupled orientation to the axial uncoupled
orientation.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0030] Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the
following
description taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:
[0031] Figure 1 is an exploded partial perspective view of a first
preferred embodiment
of a housing and reservoir of a dispenser in accordance with the invention
illustrating a
reservoir ready for insertion by relative horizontal movement;
[0032] Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional front view of the housing and
reservoir of
Figure 1 in a coupled orientation with an actuator assembly of the housing and
a reciprocally
movable piston element of the reservoir in a fully extended rest position;
[0033] Figure 3 is a front view of the housing and reservoir as in Figure
2;
[0034] Figure 4 is a front view housing and reservoir similar to Figure 3
but with the
piston element in an axial uncoupled orientation above the actuator assembly
and with the
actuator assembly moved from the fully extended rest position partially
towards the fully
retracted position to engage the piston element;
[0035] Figure 5 is a schematic, cut-away partially cross-sectioned
pictorial view of the
piston element and actuator member shown in a coupled orientation in Figure 3
with the
piston element merely below section line 3-3 in Figure 3 and merely
schematically
illustrating a central portion of the actuator plate within the dashed lines
shown on Figure 1;
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[0036] Figure 6 is a bottom pictorial view of the truncated piston element
shown in
Figure 5;
[0037] Figure 7 is a top pictorial view of the central portion of the catch
member shown
in Figure 5 but merely below section line 7-7 shown in Figure 10;
[0038] Figure 8 illustrates the assembly shown in Figure 5 with the
truncated piston
element shown twice, firstly in an axial uncoupled orientation relative to the
central portion
of the actuator plate and, secondly, in a radial uncoupled orientation;
[0039] Figure 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view along section line 9-9'
in Figure 5;
[0040] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional side view the same as that in Figure
9 along section
line 9-9' in Figure 6 but with the truncated piston element in an axial
uncoupled orientation
relative the central portion of the actuator plate;
100411 Figure 11 is a cross-sectional side view similar to Figure 10 but
along a section
line 11-11' in Figure 5;
[0042] Figure 12 is a cross-sectional top view of the assembly shown in
Figure 5 in the
coupled orientation;
[0043] Figure 13 is a top view the same as Figure 12 but with the truncated
piston
element having been moved radially forwardly from the uncoupled orientation;
[0044] Figure 14 is a schematic pictorial view of a catch member and lower
portion of a
truncated piston element in accordance with a second embodiment of the present
invention in
a coupled orientation;
[0045] Figure 15 is a diametric side-to-side cross-sectional view of the
assembly shown
in Figure 14;
[0046] Figure 16 is a perspective view of the assembly shown in Figure 15
below a
horizontal cross-section indicated as 1-1' in Figure 15;
[0047] Figure 17 is a pictorial exploded view of the assembly of Figure 14
cross-
sectioned along the same side-to-side diametric cross-section as in Figure 15;
[0048] Figure 18 is a diametric cross-sectional front-to-back side view of
the assembly
shown in Figure 14, however, including a spray nozzle attachment;
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CA 02799509 2012-12-19
[0049] Figure 19 is a pictorial view of a modified embodiment of a catch
member from
that shown in Figure 9;
[0050] Figure 20 is a cross-sectional side view similar to Figure 9 but of
the catch
member shown in Figure 19 and with a modified form of the movable element from
that
shown in Figure 9;
[0051] Figure 21 is a cross-sectional side view similar to Figure 9,
however, showing
another embodiment effectively inverted compared to the embodiment shown in
Figure 9;
[0052] Figure 22 is a cross-sectional side view similar to Figure 9 but
showing a catch
member 100 and a movable element in accordance with a further embodiment of
the present
invention;
[0053] Figure 23 is a schematic pictorial view similar to Figure 8 but
showing a further
embodiment in accordance with the present invention;
[0054] Figure 24 is a cross-sectional side view through the embodiment of
Figure 23 in a
coupled position similar to the cross-section of Figure 9;
[0055] Figure 25 is a front view of the embodiment of Figures 23 and 24
with the
movable element moved forwardly from the uncoupled orientation;
[0056] Figure 26 is a pictorial view of a further embodiment of the forward
portion of a
movable element in accordance with the present invention;
[0057] Figure 27 is a schematic side view similar to Figure 18, however,
showing
connection of the outlet to a supply tube;
[0058] Figures 28, 29, 30 and 31 are a top pictorial view, a bottom
pictorial view, a side
view and a bottom view showing yet a further embodiment of an outer portion of
a piston
element carrying the resilient member, and with the resilient member in an
inherent unbiased
position;
[0059] Figure 32 is a cross-sectional side view along section line A-N in
Figure 31;
[0060] Figure 33 is a cross-section al side view along section line B-B in
Figure 31;
[0061] Figure 34 is a top pictorial view of the outer portion of the piston
element shown
in Figure 28 but in a deflected position;
[00621 Figure 35 is a bottom pictorial view of the piston element shown in
Figure 34;
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=
[0063] Figure 36 is a front view of the piston element of Figure 34;
[0064] Figure 37 is a side view of the piston element of Figure 34;
[0065] Figure 38 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a piston pump
coupled to an
actuator showing a further embodiment of the present invention having
similarities to the
embodiment shown in Figure 2;
[0066] Figure 39 is an end view of the outer end of piston element shown in
Figure 38;
[0067] Figure 40 is a pictorial view of an end plug for a roll of material
in accordance
with a further embodiment of the present invention;
[0068] Figure 41 is a side view of the end plug shown in Figure 40;
[0069] Figure 42 is a schematic front view vertical cross-section of a
dispenser for paper
on a roll using end plugs as shown in Figures 40 to 42 in conjunction with
catch members;
[0070] Figure 43 is a cross-sectional view of one end plug and its catch
member as
shown in Figure 42;
[0071] Figure 44 is a pictorial view of the catch members shown in Figures
42 and 43;
[0072] Figure 45 illustrates a schematic pictorial view similar to that of
Figure 8 but of a
further embodiment in accordance with the present invention in which the
actuator plate
carries a ramp;
[0073] Figure 46 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the embodiment of
Figure 44 as
along a section line the same as 11-11' in Figure 5 with the truncated piston
element moved
radially from a radial uncoupled position as shown in Figure 45 to a first
position in
engagement with the ramp on the actuator plate;
[0074] Figure 47 is a vertical cross-sectional view the same as Figure 46
but showing the
truncated piston element as moved from the position of Figure 46 rearwardly
and upwardly
to a second position in engagement the ramp on the actuator plate;
[0075] Figure 48 is a vertical cross-sectional view the same as Figure 45
but showing the
truncated piston element as having been moved from the position of Figure 47
rearwardly
and upwardly to a third position above the ramp on the actuator plate;
CA 02799509 2012-12-19
[0076] Figure 49 is a vertical cross-sectional view the same as Figure 45
but showing the
truncated piston element as having been moved from the position of Figure 48
above the
ramp rearwardly to an axial uncoupled position coaxially above the actuator
plate;
100771 Figure 50 is a vertical cross-sectional view the same as Figure 45
but showing the
truncated piston element as having been moved axially from the position of
Figure 49 to a
coupled position with the actuator plate;
[0078] Figure 51 is a cross-sectional top view of the assembly shown in
Figure 46;
[0079] Figure 52 is a first perspective view of a second embodiment of a
ramped actuator plate;
[0080] Figure 53 is a second perspective view of the actuator plate of
Figure 52; and
100811 Figure 54 is a top view of the actuator plate in Figure 52.
Detailed Description of the Drawings
[0082] Reference is made first to Figure 1 which shows a dispenser 10 in
accordance
with a preferred embodiment of the invention. The dispenser 10 comprises a
replaceable
cartridge 13 and a housing 14.
[0083] The reservoir 12, only partially shown, comprises a chamber 16 for
holding fluid
18 as, for example, liquid soap which is to be dispensed. An outlet 20 is
provided through a
lowermost wall 17 of the chamber 16, across which is located a valve assembly
22 to
regulate the flow of fluid 18 outwardly therethrough. Preferably the reservoir
12 is made
entirely of plastic and is disposable once the supply of fluid 18 is
exhausted.
[0084] Figure 1 shows the housing 14 in an open configuration ready for
insertion of the
reservoir 12. The housing 14 includes a backplate 21 typically adapted for
permanent
attachment to a wall. A pair of side walls 23 extend vertically forwardly from
each side of
the backplate 21. A support flange 24 is provided extending horizontally
between the side
walls 23 so as to define a cavity 25 above the flange 24 between the side
walls 23 and
backplate 21 to receive the reservoir 12.
[0085] The flange 24 has an opening 26 vertically therethrough in the form
of a U-shaped
slot 27 closed at a rear blind end 28 and open forwardly to the front edge 29
of the flange 24.
[0086] An actuator assembly 30 is provided on the housing 14, movable
relative to the
housing. The actuator assembly 30 includes notably a pivoting lever 31 and an
actuator plate
16
CA 02799509 2012-12-19
32 mounted to the housing to be vertically slidable. Pivoting of the lever 31
moves the
vertically slidable actuator plate 32 linearly on a pair of vertically
extending guide rods 33
against the bias of springs 34 disposed about the guide rods 33. The actuator
plate 32 has a
downwardly directed lower surface 35 and an upwardly directed upper surface
36, each
extending normal to the linear path of movement of the actuator plate 32.
[0087] The actuator plate 32 has a catch opening 37 vertically therethrough
and open
forwardly to the front edge 40 of the actuator plate 32.
[0088] The two parallel spaced locating rods 33 are fixedly secured at
their upper ends 41
to flange 24 and extend downwardly to their lower ends 42 to which respective
retaining
ferrules 43 are secured. The actuator plate 32 has a pair of cylindrical bores
44 through
which the rods 33 pass. The actuator plate 32 is disposed on the rods 33 above
the ferrules
43.
[0089] Springs 34 are provided about each of the locating rods 33. The
springs 34 have
an upper end which engage the flange 24 and a lower end which engage the upper
surface 36
[0090] of actuator plate 32 to resiliently bias the actuator plate 32 away
from the flange
24 downwardly toward a fully extended position shown in Figures 1 to 3.
[0091] The actuator assembly 30 includes the lever 31 which is pivotally
connected to
the housing14 for pivoting about a horizontal axis 46. The lever 30 is U-
shaped having a pair
of side arms 47 connected at their front by a horizontal connecting bight 48.
A pair of
horizontal stub axles 49 extend laterally outwardly from the side arms 47 and
are received in
holes 50 through the side walls 23 to journal the lever 31 to the housing for
pivoting about an
axis 46.
[0092] A rear end 51 of the lever 31 engages the lower surface 35 of the
actuator plate
32. Manual urging of the bight 48 of the lever 31 rearwardly by a user moves
the actuator
plate 32 upwardly against the bias of the springs 33 from the extended
position shown in
Figure 2 to a retracted position shown in Figure 4. On release of the lever
31, the force of the
springs 33 returns the actuator plate 32 to the extended position.
[0093] The opening 26 of the flange 24 is positioned to permit the
reservoir 12 to be slid
rearwardly inward into the housing 14, in the manner illustrated in Figure 1.
The flange 24 is
17
CA 02799509 2012-12-19
=
located such that when the reservoir 12 is slid into the housing 14, the
flange 24 abuts and
supports the lowermost wall 17 of the fluid chamber 16 to assist in
maintaining the reservoir
12 in fluid dispensing position. The flange 24 is received in a slotway 52
between the
lowermost wall 17 of the fluid chamber 16 and an upwardly directed shoulder 53
on the
valve assembly 22 such that the flange 24 is sandwiched between the wall 17
and the valve
assembly 22, thereby preventing axial sliding movement of the reservoir 12 as
the dispenser
is used. The U-shape of the opening 26 of the flange 24 assists in guiding the
reservoir 12
as it is inserted into and removed horizontally from the housing 14.
[0094] Figure 2 best shows the reservoir valve assembly 22 as comprising a
piston pump
of the type described in U.S. Patent 5,165,577 to Ophardt issued November 24,
1992. The
valve assembly 22 includes piston chamber forming member 56 and a piston
element 57.
The piston chamber forming member 56 forms a dispensing chamber 58 having at
an
inwardmost end an inlet opening 59 opening into the chamber 16. A one-way
inlet valve 60
is provided across the inlet opening 59 which permits fluid 18 to flow
outwardly from the
chamber 16 into the dispensing chamber 58 but prevents flow from the
dispensing chamber
58 to the chamber 16. The reciprocally movable piston element 57 is coaxially
slidably
received within the dispensing chamber 58 for reciprocal relative sliding
about an axis 66.
The piston element 57 has an axially extending hollow stem 61 which carries a
flexible inner
flange 62 and an outer sealing flange 63 to engage the inner wall of the
dispensing chamber
58 in a manner that reciprocal movement of the piston element 57 axially along
the axis 23 in
the dispensing chamber 58 causes fluid 18 to flow from the chamber 16
outwardly past the
one-way valve 60 and out an outermost end 64 of the piston element 57 via an
internal
passageway 65 through the stem 61.
[00951 The piston element 57 has on the stem 61 proximate its outermost end
64 a catch
assembly comprising a resilient engagement member 67. The resilient engagement
member
67 comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced resilient finger members
70. As best
seen in Figures 6 and 7, each of the finger members 70 is coupled to the stem
61 at a radially
inner end 71 and extends radially outwardly and axially inwardly to a distal
end 72. Each
finger member 70 on the outer engagement flange 67 presents an axially
outwardly and
18
CA 02799509 2012-12-19
radially outwardly directed camming surface 73. Each finger member 70 has at
its distal end
72 an inwardly directed shoulder 74. Each finger member 70 has an inherent
bias to assume
an extended position as seen in Figures 1 to 8 but to be deflectable to have
its distal ends
deflected radially inwardly as shown in Figure 9.
[0096] As seen in Figures 2, 3, 5, 6, 9 and 12, the piston element 57 is to
be engaged with
the actuator plate 32 in a coupled orientation.
[0097] With the piston element 57 engaged with the actuator plate 32 in the
coupled
orientation as seen in Figure 2, reciprocal movement of the actuator plate 32
between the
extended position and the retracted position results in corresponding movement
of the piston
element 57 to dispense fluid from the reservoir.
[0098] Reference is made to Figure 5 showing in an enlarged schematic view
selected
portions of the piston element 57 and the actuator plate 32. In Figure 5, for
convenience of
illustration, merely portions of the piston element 57 and the actuator plate
32 are shown. In
Figure 5, merely a central portion of the actuator plate 32 indicated in
Figure 1 as within
dashed lines 99 is shown schematically as a catch member generally indicated
as 100.
Similarly in Figure 5, the piston element is shown merely below a horizontal
cross-section
indicated by section line 3-3' in Figure 3 so the hollow stem 61 is shown
cross-sectioned and
truncated. Each of Figures 6 to 13 also only shows the truncated piston
element 57 and the
central portion of the actuator plate 32 as in Figure 5.
[0099] The catch member 100 serves to define a cavity 102 therein which is
adapted to
receive the forward portions of the piston element 57 and, most particularly,
the engagement
member 67. This cavity 102 includes coaxially therewith a central opening 104
through the
actuator plate 32 disposed coaxially about the axis 66. A pair of upstanding
catches 106 is
provided on opposite sides of the opening 104 with each catch 106 having a
side wall 108
with an interior surface 110 facing inwardly and defining the cavity radially
therein. Each
catch 106 has an inner end wall 112 which has an axially outwardly directed
interior surface
114. The inner end wall 112 is axially spaced from the actuator plate 32 which
forms, in
effect, an outer end wall spaced axially from the inner end wall 112 and with
such actuator
19
CA 02799509 2012-12-19
plate/outer end wall 32 providing as the upper surface 36 of the actuator
plate 32 an axially
inwardly directed interior surface.
[0100] As may be seen, for example, in the cross-sectional view of Figure
10, the cavity
102 is defined radially between the interior surfaces 110 of the side walls
108 and axially
between the interior surfaces 114 of the inner end wall 112 and the upper
surface 36 of the
outer end wall/actuator plate 32. As seen, for example, in Figure 8, an
exitway 120 is
provided from the cavity 102 opening radially forwardly throughout its axially
extent relative
the axis 66 between the catches 106 through the inner end walls 112, between
the side walls
108 and through the actuator plate/outer wall 32.
[0101] As may be seen, for example, from Figures 6, 10 and 11, the stem 61
has a
radially outwardly extending annular flange 124 which carries finger members
70 at a
radially outwardly directed end of the flange 124. The flange 124 is provided
with a radially
extending axially outwardly directed shoulder surface 126 which merges into an
outer
surface of the finger members firstly as a curved surface portion 128 which
merges into a
generally frustoconically disposed camming surface 73. The camming surface 73
ends at its
inner end at the axially inwardly directed radially extending shoulders 74.
The inner surface
of the finger member 70 is shown to have a generally frustoconical portion 129
which
merges at its lower end into an inner shoulder surface 130 on the flange 124.
[01021 Outwardly from the flange 124, the stem 61 extends axially forwardly
as a
frustoconical locating section 136 tapering outwardly and merging with a
generally
cylindrical outlet section 134 carrying the discharge outlet 64 at an axially
outer end thereof.
[0103] The cavity 102 of the catch member 100 is provided to have a shape
corresponding closely to the shape of the forward portions of the piston
element 57 to be
received therein. The interior upper surface 36 of the outer end wall 32
inside the cavity 102
closely corresponds to the size of the shoulder surface 126 of the flange 124
on the piston
element 57. The interior surface 114 of the inner end wall 112 closely
conforms to the shape
and size of the shoulder 74 of the finger members 70 of the piston element.
[01041 As best seen in Figure 7, the exitway 120 extends through the side
walls 108 with
the side walls 108 ending at a laterally directed cam surface 136 having an
interior edge 138
CA 02799509 2012-12-19
and an exterior edge 140. Each of the frustoconical interior surfaces 110 of
the side walls
108 ends forwardly at the interior edge 138.
[0105] Reference is made to Figure 8 which schematically shows the catch
member 100
with the piston element 57 disposed in two different uncoupled orientations.
Firstly, the
piston element 57 is shown disposed forwardly of the catch member 100 in a
radial
uncoupled orientation from which radial uncoupled orientation the piston
member 57 may be
moved radially horizontally in the directions indicated by the arrow 142 from
the radial
uncoupled orientation into a coupled orientation and from the coupled
orientation radially to
the radial uncoupled orientation. Figure 8 also shows the piston element 57
disposed in an
axial uncoupled orientation from which by movement axially in the direction of
the arrow
144 may be moved from the axial uncoupled orientation to the coupled
orientation. The
coupled orientation is shown, for example, in each of Figures 5, 9 and 12.
[0106] Figure 12 shows a top view of Figure 5 with the piston element 57 in
the coupled
orientation with the catch member 100. As can be seen in the dashed lines in
Figure 12, two
of the finger members 70 are seen to underlie the inner end wall 112, with the
shoulder 74 of
the finger members 70 closely engaging the interior surface 114 of the upper
end wall 112, as
seen in Figure 9 in cross-section with the camming surface 73 closely engaging
the
frustoconical interior surface 110 of the side walls 108 and with the flange
124 closely
engaging the upper surface 36 of the outer end wall 32. From the coupled
orientation, the
piston element 57 may be removed from engagement with the catch member 100 by
relative
movement of the piston element 57 radially relative to the axis 66. In such
radial movement,
the camming surfaces 73 on the resilient fingers 70 engage the cam surfaces
136 and notably
their interior edge 138 and as the piston element 57 is moved radially
forwardly such
engagement causes the resilient finger members 70 on opposite sides of the
exitway 120 to
be deflected radially inwardly so as to permit the deflected resilient fingers
70 to be moved
radially through the exitway 120. Figure 13 illustrates a condition in which
the piston
element 57 has been moved from a coupled orientation radially forwardly and
two opposed
finger members 70 adjacent each of the catches 106 has been deflected radially
inwardly
21
CA 02799509 2012-12-19
sufficiently that these finger members 70 may pass radially forwardly through
the exitway
120.
[0107] In radial movement forwardly from the coupled orientation shown in
Figure 12
with the finger members 70 in an unbiased inherent configuration, the finger
members 70
come to be deflected to deflected configurations of different radial extents
than the inherent
configuration. From such deflected configurations, each of the finger members
70, due to its
inherent resiliency are biased to return to the inherent configuration. From
the coupled
configuration shown in Figure 12, on initial moving radially forwardly, the
engagement of
the forwardmost portions of the frustoconical interior surfaces 110 of the
side walls 108 will
assist in urging the finger members 70 radially inwardly at least during
initial radial
movement of the piston element 57. After initial movement, engagement between
the
camming surface 73 on the finger members 70 and the interior edges 138 of the
camming
surfaces 136 will cause additional deflection of the finger members 70 and as
the piston
member 57 moves further outwardly, the camming surface 73 of the finger
members 70 will
come to ride on the camming surface 136 and on later exiting the entranceway
120 will come
to ride and engage on the exterior edges 140 of the camming surface 136.
[0108] The exitway 120 is defined by a slotway 38 through the outer end
wall 32 from
the front edge 40 of the actuator plate 32 into the central opening 104. The
slotway 38 has
side walls 142 which are spaced sufficiently such that they do permit passage
of the
frustoconical locating section 136 and the cylindrical outlet section 134 of
the piston element
57 radially therethrough. Similarly, as shown, side wall surfaces 144 of the
exitway 120
carried on the inner end walls 112 are spaced a sufficient distance radially
that they permit
the movement of the stem 61 radially forwardly therethrough. From the radially
uncoupled
orientation shown in Figure 8, the piston element 57 may be moved radially
rearwardly to the
coupled orientation. In such radial inward movement, the cam surface 136 of
the side walls
108 on either side of the exitway 120 engage the camming surface 73 on the
finger members
70 to deflect the finger member 70 radially inwardly such that as seen in
Figure 13, opposed
finger members 70 are disposed radially inwardly sufficiently that they may
move inwardly
past the camming surfaces 136 and into the cavity 102. As the piston element
57 moves from
22
CA 02799509 2012-12-19
the position of Figure 13 towards a coaxial position within the cavity, the
finger members 70
due to their inherent resiliency assume their unbiased inherent configuration.
In one sense,
therefore, on radial movement of the piston element 57 from the uncoupled
orientation to the
coupled orientation, the finger members 70 are deflected to the deflected
configurations and
subsequently snap back to assume their inherent configuration.
[01091 The piston element 57 in a coupled orientation resists movement from
the coupled
orientation firstly, in an axial direction by reason of the shoulders 74 of
the finger members
70 engaging the interior surfaces 114 of inner end walls 112, the shoulder
surface 126 of the
flange 124 engaging the upper surface 36 of outer end wall 32, as well as the
camming
surfaces 73 of the fingers 70 engaging the interior surfaces 110 of the side
walls 108. In a
coupled orientation, movement of the piston element 57 radially relative to
the catch member
100 is resisted by the finger members 70 in the inherent configuration
engaging the interior
surfaces 110 of the side walls 108.
10110] Having regard to Figure 8, the piston element 67 may also be moved
from the
axially uncoupled orientation shown in Figure 8 to the coupled orientation by
relative axial
movement. On such axial movement, the camming surfaces 73 on the finger
members 70
come to engage the side wall surfaces 144 of the inner end wall 112 so as to
deflect the finger
members 70 from their unbiased inherent configuration to deflected
configurations of
different radial extents than the inherent configuration permitting the finger
members 70 to
pass axially past the inner end wall 112 with the cylindrical outlet section
134 and the
frustoconical locating portion 136 of the piston element to extend coaxially
downwardly into
the central opening 104 of the outer wall 32. In such axial insertion, the
piston element 57
may be considered to move downwardly through an axially extending entranceway
bordered
by the side wall surfaces 144 of the inner end wall 112. Finger members which
are deflected
to deflected configurations on movement between the side wall surfaces 144 of
the inner end
wall 112 will snap back to assume their inherent configuration once the
camming surface 73
on the finger members 70 passes axially outwardly below the axially outwardly
directed
interior surface 114 of the inner end wall 112. As seen in Figure 9 in the
coupled orientation,
the cavity 102 is formed to have interior surfaces including the entire
interior surface 114 of
23
CA 02799509 2012-12-19
the inner end wall 112, the entire interior surface 110 of the side wall 108
and portions of the
interior surface 36 of the outer end wall 32 to be coaxially about the axis
and forming, in
effect, keyway portions which lie in a first rotational surface defined by
rotation of a
corresponding first shape about the axis 66. Similarly, key portions of the
exterior surface of
the piston element 67 may be considered to lie in a second rotational surface
defined by
rotation about the axis 66, when the piston member is coaxial about the axis
66, of a second
shape substantially having the same shape as the first shape. Providing the
cavity 102 to
have keyway portions corresponding in shape to the key portions of the
exterior surfaces of
the piston element 57 is considered advantageous to limit insertion into the
chamber 102 of
piston elements which do not have a rotational shape falling within the
confines of a shape
defined by the keyway portions.
[0111] In this regard, the rotational shape of the key portions of the
exterior surface of
the piston element 57 can be considered to represent a solid of revolution
when rotated about
the axis. The cavity 100 has interior walls which sufficiently define the
cavity 100 to only
permit piston clement 57 to be received in the cavity 100 when the solid of
revolution of the
piston element is of a size, shape and configuration to be received within the
cavity, that is,
within what may be considered a solid of revolution of the cavity 100 when
rotated about its
axis. Insofar as the solid of revolution of a piston element does not fall
within the confines of
the solid of revolution of the cavity then the piston element is excluded from
use. The
relative keyway shape of the cavity 100 determines what particular rotational
shape or solid
of revolution of key portions of the piston element 57 may be received
therein. The preferred
embodiments slow the rotational shape of the key portions of the piston
element 57 being
substantially the same as the rotational shape of the cavity 100, however,
this is not necessary
and the key portions of the piston element 57 merely need to have a shape,
preferably a
rotational shape or solid of revolution which permits the key portions of the
piston element
57 to fit into the cavity 100 preferably in any rotational portion about the
axis.
[0112] The preferred embodiment illustrated shows the resilient engagement
flange 67 as
comprising a plurality of discrete circumferentially spaced finger members.
This is not
necessary. For example, rather than have separate finger members 70 with slots
82
24
CA 02799509 2012-12-19
separating the finger members, the finger members could be replaced by a
continuous
annular member, however, with such member having a resiliency which permits
radial
deflection to suitable deflected configurations.
[0113] The cavity 102 and the portions of the piston clement 57 to be
received within the
cavity 102 effectively forms a three-dimensional keyway and a complementary
key with
entrance or exit to the keyway requiring deflection of resilient portions. It
is to be
appreciated that such entrance or exit to the keywall could also be
accommodated by
deflection of the key, by deflection of the keyway or by deflection of both
the keyway and
the key. With the keyway portions of the catch member 100 and key portions of
the piston
element 57 each being defined by rotational surfaces rotated about the axis
66, the piston
element 57 may in any relative position rotated about the axis 66 be engaged
within the
cavity 102. This is preferred, however, not necessary and various arrangements
may be
provided so as to require for proper insertion of the piston element 57 into
the cavity 102 that
the piston element 57 be rotated about the axis 66 to one or more desired
rotational positions.
[0114] Figure 1 is intended to illustrate the reservoir assembly including
the reservoir 16
and the valve assembly 22 in a radial uncoupled orientation ready for coupling
to the housing
14 by merely radial rearward movement. From the position shown in Figure 1,
initial
horizontal rearward sliding of the entirety of the reservoir 12 will result in
the flange 24 of
the housing 14 to be received in the slotway 52 between the lowermost wall 17
of the fluid
chamber 16 and the upwardly directed shoulder. With the piston element 57
located in a
suitably extended position relative the piston chamber forming member 56, the
piston
element 57 and the catch member 100 will be in a radial uncoupled orientation,
from which
by continued further horizontal rearward sliding of the reservoir 12 and valve
assembly 22,
the piston element 56 may have its fingers 70 deflected and enter the cavity
102 to assume
the coupled orientation.
[0115] Reference is made to Figure 4 which illustrates a situation which
arises when the
reservoir 12 is in inserted into the housing 14 by horizontal rearward sliding
with the piston
element 57 in a fully retracted position. The flange 24 of the housing is
received in the
slotway 52 between the lowermost wall 17 and the upwardly directed shoulder 53
of the
CA 02799509 2012-12-19
valve assembly 22. However, with the piston element 57 in the retracted
position, the finger
members 70 of the engagement member 67 of the piston element 57 are disposed
in the axial
uncoupled orientation vertically above the catch member 100 carried by the
actuator plate 32.
From the position of Figure 4, in first operation of the dispenser, that is,
as by manual
movement of the lever 31, the actuator plate 32 is moved from its position
below the outer
engagement member 67 vertically upwardly as indicated by the arrow in Figure
4. The catch
member 100 engages the resilient finger members 70 of the engagement member
67, and
with such engagement, the resilient finger members 70 are deflected radially
inwardly
permitting the piston element 57 to enter and be engaged in the catch member
100 adopting
the coupled configuration.
[0116] In the actuator plate 32 moving upwardly as illustrated by the arrow
in Figure 4,
the catch member 100 on first engagement with the finger members 70 will urge
the piston
element 57 upwardly, as possible, to place the piston element 57 in a fully
retracted position
in which upward movement of the piston element 57 relative to the piston
chamber forming
member 56 is prevented as by an inner end of the piston element 57 engaging
the inner end
of the chamber 58 in the piston chamber forming member 56.
[0117] With the piston element 57 in the coupled orientation coupled to the
actuator plate
32, in a cycle of operation after manual release of the lever 31, the springs
33 will return the
actuator plate 32 and the piston element 57 together to the extended position.
[0118] Reference is made to Figure 6 which best shows the resilient finger
members 70.
In the preferred first embodiment, six finger members 70 are provided each
representing an
equal segment about the central axis 66 through the piston element 57 and each
disposed
uniformly spaced from each other by a slot 82.
[0119] The slot 82 is of a circumferential extent that the distal end 72 of
each finger
member 70 may be deflected radially a sufficient extent for the finger members
70 to pass
through the exitway 120 without circumferential side portions of the distal
ends 72 of
adjacent finger members 70 engaging. Providing the finger members 70 to extend
circumferentially about the outer end of the piston element 57 permits the
piston element 57
26
CA 02799509 2012-12-19
to have fingers 70 which will engage with the catch member 100 irrespective of
the relative
rotational position of the piston element 57 within the piston chamber forming
member 56.
[0120] In the preferred embodiments illustrated, for example, in Figure 1,
the piston
element 57 is preferably injection moulded from a plastic material as a
unitary element. The
entirety of the reservoir 12 and its pump assembly 22 is preferably disposable
as a unit after
the contents of the reservoir have been dispensed. The resilient fingers 70 of
the piston
element 57 therefore merely need to have resiliency which permits coupling
with the actuator
plate 32 once or at least not more than a few times since an individual
reservoir 22 with its
disposable pump assembly 22 is typically only expected to be coupled to the
housing a single
time. Thus, the plastic materials from which the resilient fingers 70 are
constructed need not
be capable of being deflected any significant number of times and still retain
their resiliency.
Thus, the resilient fingers 70 may be formed from a relatively inexpensive
plastic material
which, while having some inherent resiliency, need not maintain that
resiliency over repeated
cycles of deflection. The piston element 57 or at least substantial portions
thereof including
the engagement member 67 which carries the resilient fingers 70 may preferably
be formed
as a substantially unitary element from plastic material as by injection
moulding.
[0121] In the embodiment of Figure 1, the piston element 57 permits the
sliding insertion
of the reciprocally movable piston element 57 into the catch member 100 on the
actuator
plate 32 either into a coupled orientation as shown in Figure 2 or an axial
uncoupled
orientation where the piston element may move independently from the actuator
plate 32 as
shown in Figure 4.
[0122] In the coupled orientation, the pivotal movement of the lever 31
axially moves the
catch plate 32 and piston element 57 between the first rest, extended position
and the second
fully retracted position to dispense a quantity of fluid 18. If the reservoir
12 is inserted with
the piston element 57 in the axial uncoupled orientation of Figure 4, the
first movement of
the lever 31 moves the actuator plate 32 relative to the piston element 57
until the piston
element 57 engages the catch member 100 and assumes the coupled orientation of
Figure 2,
In this manner, the dispenser 10 is operative to dispense fluid 18 regardless
of whether the
27
CA 02799509 2012-12-19
piston element 57 is initially inserted into the housing 14 either coupled or
uncoupled to the
actuator plate 32.
[0123] To dispense fluid 18, the actuator assembly 30 is cycled by the
pivotal movement
of the lever 31 moving the piston element 57 from the first rest, extended
position shown in
Figure 2 to a retracted position and released with the springs 34 returning
the actuator plate
32 back to the first rest, extended position to complete the cycle.
[0124] The dispenser 10 of the present invention advantageously permits
insertion of the
reservoir 12 into the housing without the requirement of ensuring the piston
element 57 is in
a particular position relative to its piston chamber fainting member 57 or the
catch plate 32.
[0125] Reference is made to Figures 14 to 17 which show a second embodiment
of a
catch member 100 and a forward truncated portion of a piston element 57 for
engagement
therein. In Figures 14 to 17, similar reference numerals are used to refer to
equivalent
elements shown in Figures 1 to 13. In the first embodiment of Figures 1 to 13,
the piston
element 57 carried the discharge outlet 64 from which fluid may be discharged
for use onto a
user's hand. In the embodiment of Figures 14 to 17, a fluid outlet 64 from the
piston element
57 is in sealed communication with a discharge passageway 202 through the
catch member
100 with a discharge outlet 214 being carried by the catch member 100. In the
embodiment
of Figures 14 to 17, the piston element 57 similarly has an elongate hollow
tubular stem 61
with a passageway 65 therethrough which has at its distal end the outer
shoulder surface 128
on the flange 126. Axially outwardly of the flange 126, in the upper surface
36 of the outer
end wall 32 of the catch member an annular slotway 204 is provided to receive
an annular
sealing ring 206 which is adapted to be engaged and compressed by the flange
124 of the
piston member 57 forming a seal annularly thereabout when the piston element
57 is in the
coupled orientation. The catch member 100 is provided with a hollow discharge
tube 208
open at an upper end 210 which is coaxial with and in communication with the
discharge
outlet 64 from the piston member 57. The discharge tube 208 is open at an
outer end 212
forming a discharge outlet 214.
28
CA 02799509 2012-12-19
[0126] As seen in Figure 14, the inner end wall 112 of the catch member 100
extends
circumferentially about the axis 66 greater than 180 degrees and is U-shaped
opening radially
forwardly.
[0127] Figure 16 shows a pictorial view similar to Figure 14, however, with
the catch
member 100 and piston element 57 shown merely below a horizontal cross-
sectional line 1-1'
in Figure 15 slightly above the shoulder 74 of the finger members 70. As can
be seen in
Figure 16, the side wall 108 is provided as three portions including, in
addition to two
opposing side portions 216, a rear portion 218. The interior surface 110 of
the rear portion
218 of the side wall 108 is frustoconical and generally conforming to the
shape of the
exterior frustoconical camming surfaces 73 of the finger members 70. The side
portions 216
of the side wall 108 include a major sloped surface 220 shown to be generally
planar lying in
a flat plane disposed at an angle to the axis 66 and tapering downwardly and
radially
inwardly towards the axis 66. At a forward end of each such sloped surface
220, there is
provided on each side wall portion 216 a stop member 222 which projects into
the cavity 102
relative the sloped surface 220. Each stop member 222 carries the cam surface
136 directed
in opposition to a cam surface 136 on the opposite stop member. Each cam
surface 136 has
an exterior edge 140 and an interior edge 138. The interior edge 138 merges
with a bevelled
cam surface 224 directed inwardly into the cavity. As with the first
embodiment, on sliding
the piston element 57 radially forwardly from a coupled orientation,
engagement in
succession of the bevelled cam surfaces 224, the exterior edges 140 and the
cam surfaces 136
with the camming surfaces 73 on the finger members 70, deflect the finger
members 70
radially inwardly to reduce the radial width of the piston element 57 between
finger members
70 permitting the finger members 70 to pass radially forwardly through the
exitway 120. As
with the first embodiment, the piston element 57 may be moved from a coupled
orientation to
a radial uncoupled orientation or from the radial uncoupled orientation to a
coupled
orientation by movement radially. As well, the piston element 57 may move from
an axial
uncoupled orientation to a coupled orientation by movement axially.
[0128] Figures 15 and 17 illustrate components carried in the discharge
tube 208 of the
catch member 100 which provide a foam generator assembly for foaming of a
mixture of
29
CA 02799509 2012-12-19
liquid and air which may be discharged from the piston element 57 assuming the
piston
element may, for example, be of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent 6,409,050 to
Ophardt. In
this regard, the discharge tube 208 has a stepped configuration adapted to
assist in receiving
and holding at axially spaced locations a first screen member 226, a porous
plug 228 and a
second screen member 230. As seen, the first screen member 226 is to sit on a
first stepped
shoulder 232 with the cylindrical foam plug to sit on top of the first screen
member 226 and
with the second screen member 230 is to sit on a second stepped shoulder 234.
101291 Reference is made to Figure 18 which illustrates the catch member
100 of Figure
14 in cross-section along section line 3-3' in Figure 15 without showing the
piston member
57. The catch member 100 in Figure 18 is identical to the catch member 100
illustrated in
Figures 14 to 17 with the exception that below the sealing ring 206, the
discharge tube 208
has been changed with the screen members 226 and 230 and the plug 228 removed,
and a
spray nozzle assembly has been provided coupled to the discharge tube 208
including a
tubular nozzle extension 236, a restrictive nozzle insert 238 and a nozzle end
cap 240. In a
known manner, the nozzle end cap 240 is secured in a snap or threaded fit onto
the end of the
nozzle insert 238 and provides a small discharge opening therethrough. The
nozzle insert
238 provides relatively small passages for passage of fluid therethrough such
that fluid
dispensed from the discharge outlet 214 of the nozzle cap 240 will be in the
form of a fine
mist or atomized spray.
101301 In the second embodiment of Figures 14 to 18, providing the
discharge tube 208
as part of the catch member 100 assists in reducing the overall length of the
piston element
57 which needs to be carried by the assembly of the reservoir 12 and the valve
assembly 22.
Providing the discharge tube 208 on the catch member 100 assists in extending
the discharge
outlet 214 so as to be located closer to a user's hand typically disposed
below the dispensing
apparatus. In accordance with the second embodiment, when the finger members
70 of the
piston element 57 are received in the catch member 100 in the coupled
orientation, the finger
members 70 are securely held between the interior axially outwardly directed
surface 114 of
the inner end wall 112 and the annular sealing ring 206 so as to provide
sealed engagement
CA 02799509 2012-12-19
of the discharge outlet 64 of the piston element 57 with the upper end 210 of
the discharge
tube 208 on the catch member 100.
[0131] Reference is made to Figure 27 showing a side view identical to
Figure 18 but in
which below the sealing ring 206, the discharge tube 208 has been changed such
that the
discharge tube 208 is adapted to be engaged by a tube 500 which can direct
discharged fluid
to a remote location as may be advantageous in many applications including
automatic
dispensing of fluids into washing machines, for water treatment and many other
uses without
limitation. The tube 500 is preferably a flexible tube secured onto the
discharge tube 208 in a
friction fit, however, many other coupling arrangements may be used.
[0132] Reference is made to Figures 19 and 20 which show a modified form of
a catch
member 100. The catch member 100 in Figure 19 is similar to the catch member
shown in
Figure 8, however, has the side wall 108 and the inner end wall 112 extend
completely
circumferentially about the axis 66 from one side of the exitway 120 to the
other side of the
exitway 120. In addition, the surfaces 142 about the exitway 120 on the outer
end wall 32
are shown to have two facets, namely an upwardly directed facet and a
downwardly directed
facet which form, as seen in Figure 20 in side view, a triangular shape. Also
in Figure 19,
the inwardly directed surfaces 144 of the inner end wall 122 are circular
about the axis 66.
Figure 20 shows a cross-sectional side view similar to Figure 9 showing the
catch member
100 of Figure 19 together with a new configuration for a movable element 57
only shown in
Figure 20 in cross-section. Figure 20 shows that the inwardly directed
surfaces 144 of the
inner end wall 112 are frustoconical about the axis 66 converging axially
outwardly and
inwardly. The inner end wall 112 does not extend radially inwardly as far as
is the case in
the embodiment of Figure 9 to assist in having the fingers 70 snap into the
cavity 102.
[0133] The stem 61 carries above the flange 124 a second radially outwardly
extending
locating flange 280 with a bevelled outer surface 282 to engage on the
fntstoconical surface
144 of the inner end wall 112. As seen in Figure 20, with the finger members
70 having their
shoulders 74 engaged underneath the inner end wall 112 and the flange 280
engaging the
axially inwardly directed fnistoconical surface 144 of the inner end wall 112,
the movable
31
CA 02799509 2012-12-19
element 57 and the catch member 100 are secured together against relative
axial movement
when in the coupled orientation.
[0134] Figure 19 shows the inwardly directed surfaces 142 of the outer end
wall 32 on
either side of the slotway 38 extending inwardly towards each other. The
movable element
57 is shown as having its stem 61 modified outwardly of the flange 124 so as
to merely
comprise a frustoconical portion 132, however, which frustoconical portion 132
has an
annular groove 133 extending radially thereinto which annular groove has a
profile to match
the surfaces 144. From the coupled orientation shown in Figure 20 on radial
movement of
the movable element 57 to a radial uncoupled orientation, the annular groove
133 in the stem
61 of the movable element about the frustoconical portion 132 permits the
movable element
to be slid radially past the inward projections on the outer end wall 32
provided by the
surfaces 142 on either side of the slotway 38.
[0135] Reference is made to Figure 21 which shows a cross-sectional view of
a catch
member 100 and a movable element 57 substantially the same as that shown in
Figure 9,
however, with each of the cavity 102 in the catch member 100 and the resilient
fingers 57
inverted such that the movable element 57 may be moved from an axially
uncoupled
orientation below the catch member 100 upwardly axially into the catch member
100. The
embodiment in Figure 21 remains capable of moving radially between coupled and
uncoupled orientations in an analogous manner to the embodiment in Figure 9.
[0136] Reference is made Figure 22 which shows another embodiment of catch
member
100 and movable element 57 in accordance with the present invention in cross-
section
similar to that in Figure 9. In Figure 22, each of the finger members 70
extend forwardly,
that is, actually outwardly, and substantially only axially from a support
flange 124 provided
on the stem 61. Each finger member 70 has a radially outwardly directed
camming surface
73 which can assist in permitting the movable element 57 to move from above
the catch
member 100 in axially uncoupled orientation axially downwardly to a coupled
orientation.
In radial movement from the coupled orientation to the uncoupled orientation,
the axial outer
ends of the finger members 70 will be deflected by portions of the cavity
about its exit-way
radially inwardly to permit the finger members 70 to pass radially through the
exitway. Each
32
CA 02799509 2012-12-19
=
of the finger members 70 includes an annular groove 280 thereabout adapted to
receive an
annularly radially inward extension of the inner end wall 112 therein. In the
embodiment of
Figure 22, the radially open exitway forwardly through the inner end wall 112
should be
equal to the widest diameter between the surfaces 144 of the inner end wall
112 throughout
the exitway, however, the exitway will be of a reduced diameter radially of
the side walls 108
such that radial inward movement of the distal outer ends of the fingers 70
permits radial
movement out through the exitway.
[0137] Figure 23 illustrates an embodiment in accordance with the
present invention in
which the engagement member 67 comprises a disc which extends radially from
the stem 61
and is adapted to have its distal end deflected in an axial direction. The
disc 67 is shown to
have an axially outwardly and inwardly directed frustoconical camming surface
73. As best
seen in Figures 23 and 25, the exitway 120 through the side walls 108 includes
a radially
extending exit slot 220 having a lower surface 286 and an upper surface 284.
Proximate a
central portion of the exitway 120, the lower surface 286 of the slot 220 is
at the same height
as the upper surface 36 of the outer end plate 32. However, the lower surface
286 of the slot
220 gradually rises upwardly as it extends radially outwardly from the slotway
38. With the
piston element 57 in a coupled position as shown in Figure 24, on initial
radial movement of
the movable element 57 radially in the direction of the exitway 120, the
camming surfaces 73
on the resilient disc 67 will engage the lowest more forward portions of the
lower surface 286
of the exit slot 220 camming the resilient disc 67 at its forward end to be
deflected axially
upwardly. With further radial forward movement of the piston element 57, the
resilient disc
67 will come to be curved so as to have its outer distal ends curve upwardly
matching the
curvature of the exit slot 220 and thus permitting the resilient disc 67 to
slide radially
outwardly through the slot. However, insofar as the movable element 57 is
disposed in the
coupled position, the inherent resiliency of the resilient disc 67 will have
the disc 67 assume
the inherent unbiased configuration shown in Figure 24 coaxially securing the
movable
element 57 in the coupled orientation within the catch member 100. While only
shown in
Figure 24, some mechanism is preferably provided to prevent the movable
element 57 from
moving axially upwardly once it is engaged with the chamber 100 and to
accomplish this
33
CA 02799509 2012-12-19
preferred although not necessary objective, a plurality of resilient finger
members 272 are
provided which can on axial insertion come to snap past the inner end wall 112
and present
radially inwardly directed catch surfaces 273 to engage the interior surfaces
114 of the inner
end wall 112.
[0138] Figure 25 shows a front view of the embodiment shown in Figures 23
and 24 but
in a partially uncoupled configuration in which the movable element 57 has
been moved
forwardly into the exitway such that the resilient disc 67 is received in the
exit slots 220 and
has been deflected at its distal ends upwardly to assume the curved
configuration of the exit
slots 220 through the side walls 108 as, for example, when the largest
diameter portion of the
resilient disc 67 is passing through the curved slots 220 in the forward
portions of the side
wall 108.
[0139] Reference is made to Figure 26 showing catch member 100 identical to
that
shown in Figure 19, however, with the side wall 108 and inner end wall 112
shown as
resilient finger members 370 which extend from a fixed end 302 secured to the
outer end
wall 32 upwardly and radially inwardly to a distal end 304. Each of these
members 370 is
resilient and capable of deflecting radially outwardly to assist in permitting
a movable
element to move from an uncoupled orientation to a coupled orientation with
relative axial or
radial movement. The resilient members 370 on either side of the exitway 120
may be
particularly adapted for movement directly away from each other, that is, in
the direction
indicated by the arrows 372 in Figure 26 as can be of assistance towards
increasing the width
of the exitway 120 through which the movable element 57 may radially move.
While it is
preferred that any movable element 57 carry resiliently deflectable members
such as the
fingers 70, it is to be appreciated that it is within the skill of a person
skilled in the art to
adopt a catch member 100 such as shown in Figure 26 so that the catch member
carries a
resilient member which moves sufficiently to permit radial movement of the
movable
element 57 through the exitway from an uncoupled orientation.
[0140] Reference is made to Figures 28 to 37 which illustrate views of an
outermost
portion of a piston element 57 constructed with an arrangement forming a
resilient radially
extending disc 67 on the stem 41 which can be adapted for deflection axially
and/or radially.
34
CA 02799509 2012-12-19
The piston element 57 is only shown to have the resilient disc 67 with the
stem 61 extending
downwardly therethrough to the discharge outlet 64. However, as schematically
shown in
dashed lines in Figure 28, the stem 61 of the piston element 57 would not only
extend
downwardly from the disc 67 but also upwardly.
[0141] The disc 67 has a top 505 with an upper surface 506 which is smooth
and
continuous extending radially outwardly. Individual finger members 70 are
formed
circumferentially about the outer periphery spaced from each other by slots 84
and adapted to
be deflected radially inwardly and/or axially. Each finger 70 has an outer cam
surface 508 to
assist in movement axially into a suitable catch member.
[0142] In Figure 6, the slots 84 extend axially through the engagement
member 67. In
contrast as seen in Figure the slots 84 extend axially from an axially
outwardly directed
lower surface 507 of the engagement member 67 from an axially open end 512 to
an axially
closed or blind end 514, with the slots 84 being defined between two
circumferentially
spaced side walls 516 and 518. The blind end 514 also forms a lower surface of
the top 505.
The slots 84 are also seen to extend radially from a radially open end 530 on
the radially
outwardly directed outer cam surface 508 to a radially closed or blind end 522
between the
two circumferentially spaced side walls 526 and 528.
[0143] As seen for example in Figure 29, each finger 70 is also radially
separated from
portions of the engagement member 67 by an axially and circumferentially
extending annular
groove or slot 308. Slot 308 as best seen in Figure 33 extend axially from the
axially
outwardly directed lower surface 507 of the engagement member 67 from an
axially open
end 310 to an axially closed or blind end 312, with the slots 308 being
defined between two
radially spaced side walls 320 and 322. As seen in Figure 31, each slot 308
varies in its
radial width, in the sense that the radial distance between the side wall 320
and 322 is less at
circumferential end portions 324 than over a middle portion 326.
[0144] The axially extending slots 84 and 308 provided in the annular ring-
like
engagement member 67 assist in permitting the deflection of the resilient
member 67 from
the unbiased inherent configuration to the deflected configurations, for
example, within the
deflection of the resilient member from the unbiased inherent configuration to
the deflected
CA 02799509 2012-12-19
configurations the spaced side walls 526 and 528 being displaced relative to
each other and/
or the spaced side walls 320 and 322 being displaced relative to each other.
The slots 84 and
308 provide for reduced dimension bridge portions shown as bridge portions 85
in Figure 33
and thickness bridge portions 309 on Figure 38 where deformation and bending
of the
engagement member may more easily occur assisting in the engagement member
deflecting
as may be desired. The bridge portions are reduced in axial dimension compared
to other
portions of the engagement member and providing such or other reduced width
portions can
be adopted as one method for providing desired flexibility to the engagement
flange.
[0145] The disc 67 has a grid work of reinforcing ribs 510 which extend
axially
downwardly from under the top 505 and may easily be moulded by injection
moulding.
[0146] The disc 67 is adapted to be compressed radially and to also deflect
axially.
Figures 28, 29, 30 and 31 show the piston element 57 with the disc 67 in an
inherent
unbiased position.
[0147] Figure 34 to 37 show the piston element 57 with the disc 67 in the
same deflected
position, which the disc 67 would assume if compressed diametrically as
between two arrows
shown as 512 and 514 in Figures 34 and 37, and/or axially as also by arrows
516 and 518
shown in Figure 37, as with each acting on the surface 508 of the two
diametrically opposed
fingers 70. Since the resilient disc 67 is made of resilient material,
preferably an elastomer,
plastic or rubber, the disc 67 will assume the deflected position shown in
Figures 34 to 37
with two of the fingers 70 deflected axially inwardly and marginally radially
inwardly.
Figure 34 schematically shows on the upper surface 506 solid lines
illustrating boundaries
between different planes which the upper surface 506 may assume when
deflected. These
planes 520 are shown to assist in visualizing the changes to the upper surface
506 when
deflected.
[0148] Figures 36 and 37 best show the fingers 70 as deflected axially
upwardly and
marginally radially inwardly.
[0149] Each finger 70 is effectively only joined to the piston element 57
by the top 505
which bridges the slots 84 between adjacent finger members 70 as seen in
Figure 32 and
which bridges the slots 308 between generally a circumferentially extending
downwardly
36
extending rib 510 radially inwardly from the finger members 70 as seen in
Figure 33. The
relative flexibility, size and thickness of the top 505 as well as those of
the finger members
70 can be selected to develop desired abilities of the fingers 70 to deflect.
101501 Reference is made to Figure 38 showing a schematic cross-sectional
side view of
selected portions from Figure 2 including but portions of the actuator plate
32 and a valve
assembly 22 similar to that shown in Figure 2. In Figure 38 for convenience
other elements
such as the reservoir 12 and the other elements of the dispenser other than
actuator 32 are not
shown.
[0151] Figure 38 illustrates a modified form of valve assembly 22 over
that shown in
Figure 2 but otherwise the teachings of Figure 2 are applicable.
[0152] In Figure 38, as in Figure 2, the valve assembly 22 comprises a
piston pump. The
piston pump 22 illustrated is a draw back piston pump of the type described in
U.S. Patent
7,267,251 to Ophardt issued September 11,2007. In Figure 38, the piston pump
22 has a
piston chamber-forming element 56 and a piston element 57. The piston element
57 has a
hollow stem 61 that carries the inner flange 65 and the outer flange 62 to
engage the inner
wall of the dispensing chamber 58 as in the case in Figure 2 with the
difference that in Figure
38 the chamber 58 is stepped in diameter.
[0153] The piston element 57 carries on its stem 61 the resilient
engagement member 67
which removably couples to the actuator plate.
[0154] The engagement member 67 comprises an annular ring which is
supported on the
stem 61 at the axial outer end of a cylindrical flange 302 secured at an axial
inner end to the
stem 61 by a radially extending support flange 304.
[0155] The engagement member 67 in Figure 38 has an ability to be
deflected to engage
and disengage with the actuator member 32 by reason of an axially inwardly
extending
annular slot or groove 308 being provided in the engagement member 67.
[0156] Whereas in the engagement member 67 shown in Figure 2, the
engagement
member 67 has a plurality of finger members 70, the engagement member 67 in
Figure 38 is
a continuous annular member with the annular slot or groove 308 as seen in
Figure 39. For
ease of manufacture, the annular groove 308 extends axially inwardly from the
axially
37
CA 2799509 2018-08-16
CA 02799509 2012-12-19
outwardly directed lower surface 507 of the engagement member 67, however, the
annular
groove 308 could extend axially outwardly in the axially inwardly directed
upper surface
506. Merely one annual groove 308 is shown, however, a plurality of such
grooves could be
provided.
[0157] In accordance with the present invention, the engagement member 67
preferably
is made from a resilient material such as elastomeric plastic material. The
resiliency of the
material forming the engagement flange 67 can be considered by a person
skilled in the art in
selecting suitably sized and located annular axially extending grooves such as
the groove 308
illustrated so as to provide a desired ability of the engagement member 67 to
deflect in a
manner as to engage and disengage from engagement with any desired
configurations of the
actuator plate 32.
[0158] While the annular groove 308 is illustrated as being circular about
the central axis
66, this is not necessary and the annular groove 308 could have side walls
which arc not
circular about the axis 66 such as being as seen in the end view scalloped or
zig-zagged.
[0159] The annular groove 308 is configured so as to preferably provide for
both radially
and axially deflection of the engagement member 67 as can be advantageous for
engagement
and disengagement with various configurations of the actuator plate as are
disclosed in the
various embodiments in this invention.
[01601 As seen in Figure 38, the annular groove has a blind end 312 and
extends
outwardly to an open end 314 with each of the side walls 320 and 322 tapering
from the blind
end 312 outwardly to the open end 314. This is not necessary however is
generally believed
to be preferred.
[0161] The annular groove 308 is shown as being a continuous annular groove
which
extends circumferentially about the engagement member 67. This is not
necessary and one
or more discrete length annular grooves may be provided so as to provide a
desired
resiliency. It is believed however that an annular groove which extends
entirely
circumferentially about the engagement flange 67 is preferred.
[0162] More than one such annular groove 308 may be provided as may be
desired to
provide suitable compromise between resilience and ease of manufacture.
38
CA 02799509 2012-12-19
101631 Insofar as the engagement flange 67 may comprise a plurality of
finger members
70 as shown, for example, in the first embodiment of Figure 2, then it would
be possible to
provide similar such an annular groove 308 on all or selected of the finger
members 70.
101641 In Figure 38, the engagement flange 67 is shown carried on the
cylindrical flange
302 which in turn is connected to the stem 61. However, it is to be
appreciated that an
engagement member 67 with an annular groove 308 as shown in Figure 38 could be
provided
or directed supported on the stem 61 to extend radially outwardly therefrom as
a disc as in
the manner that the finger member 70 are supported on the stem 61 in Figure 2.
[0165] Reference is made to Figures 40 to 44 which illustrate the use of a
catch member
and a resilient member substantially the same as that disclosed for use with
fluid dispensers
in the earlier embodiments of Figures 1 to 39 but in the context of a
dispenser for dispensing
paper mounted on a roll. Figure 43 is a vertical cross-section through a
dispenser 10. The
dispenser 10 includes a housing generally indicated 14, a backplate 21,
typically to be
mounted vertically to a wall as in a washroom and two side walls 23 which
extend vertically
and forwardly from the back wall 21. On the inside of each of the side walls
23, there is
mounted a catch member 100 as seen in Figure 44 which is substantially the
same as the
catch member 100 shown in Figure 8. Two end plugs 600 are shown each having a
stem 61
carrying a roll engaging portion 662 and an engagement member 67. Each end
plug 600 has
its cylindrical plug portion 662 mounted in a hollow core 670 of a roll of
paper 672 carrying
rolled layers of paper sheeting 674 which is to be dispensed. The engagement
member 67 of
each end plug comprises resilient fingers 70 substantially identical to the
engagement
member illustrated in Figure 6. Each end plug 600 on an inner end carries the
cylindrical
portion 662 on its inner end. The cylindrical portion 662 has axially and
radially outwardly
extending flanges 664 which are adapted to be received in a friction fit
inside the hollow core
670. The cylindrical portion 662 also includes a stop flange 663 to limit the
extent to which
the cylindrical portion 662 may be inserted into the end of the core 670. A
fluke portion 666
is provided serving to engage the hollow core 670 and resist or prevent its
removal.
[0166] The catch member 100 in Figures 41 to 43 is substantially identical
to the catch
member illustrated in Figure 8 with the exception that the radial exitway 120
in Figure 8 is
39
CA 02799509 2012-12-19
modified firstly to have a width equal to the radius of the central opening
104 through the
actuator plate 32 and secondly to have both a frustoconical portion 700 and a
cylindrical
journaling portion 702 which are marginally larger than corresponding
frustoconical surfaces
670 and cylindrical journalled surfaces 672 on the stem 61 outwardly of the
engagement
member 67. The engagement member 67 is identical to that shown in Figure 6.
The stem 61
outwardly from the engagement member 67 is journalled in the catch member to
locate the
end plug 600 coaxially about the axis 23 relative to the catch member 100.
[0167] The roll of paper 672 with the two end plugs 600 secured thereto
form a
removable cartridge 13 which can be inserted into and removed from the
dispenser 10.
[0168] The dispenser 10 in the preferred embodiment as seen in Figure 42 is
to have the
exitway 120 of the catch member 100 preferably directed forwardly such that
the removable
cartridge 720 may be engaged from the dispenser 10 by sliding the cartridge 13
rearwardly
such that each of the end plugs 600 have their engagement members 67 slide
rearwardly into
their respective catch member 100. Removal is by sliding the cartridge 13
forwardly.
[0169] Of course, it is within the scope of the invention that the catch
members 100 can
be arranged with their exitways 120 directed in any direction as, for example,
upwardly,
upwardly and forwardly or rearwardly provided that the removable cartridge 13
with a full
roll of paper may be removably coupled and uncoupled therefrom. For example,
the
dispenser 10, while not shown, may have a removable cover to its housing 14
which may
restrict the directions from which the replaceable cartridge may be inserted
and removed.
[0170] Journalling of the hollow core 670 to the catch members 100 may be
accomplished in a number of manners. In the preferred embodiment, journaling
is
substantially provided by reason of the stem 61 outwardly from the engagement
member 67
being journalled in the central opening 104 of the catch member 100. However,
the
engagement member 67 may itself provide a journaling function with the
relative gap and
spacing between the engagement member 67 and the interior of the cavity 102 of
the catch
member 100 being selected to provide suitable journaling. Alternate journaling
surfaces such
as the cylindrical outside surface of the stem 61 between the engagement
member 67 and the
cylindrical plug portion 662 may be engaged by other bearing members not shown
to assist
CA 02799509 2012-12-19
in journaling alternatively with the stem 61 outwardly of the engagement
member 67 not
providing a journalling function or removed. Alternatively, each catch member
100 may be
mounted to the side wall 23 of the dispenser for rotation.
[0171] The hollow core 670 of the roll of paper may preferably provide for
coupling of
each end plug 600 to the hollow core 670 against removal other than when all
the paper has
been removed from the hollow core. For example, the hollow core may preferably
have slots
678 to engage the fluke portion 666 and only permit removal of end plug 660 as
by
destruction of the hollow core 670. The hollow core 670 may be provided, for
example, of
paper or other materials which merely permit destruction or disassembly of the
hollow core
670 easily when all of the paper has been removed therefrom. The core 670 can
be made
with the end plugs 600 not removable therefrom.
[01721 The embodiment illustrated in Figures 40 to 44 shows the use of the
catch
member 100 and engagement member 67 in a dispenser for exchangeable rolls of
paper
preferably paper rolls. It is to be appreciated that the invention of Figures
40 to 43 is
applicable to the dispensers of other roll material such as, for example,
paper towels, kitchen
paper, toilet paper, foil, plastic wrapping paper and other materials wound
onto a roll,
whether or not mounted with the axis horizontal or vertical or otherwise.
[01731 The preferred paper dispenser illustrated shows the replaceable
cartridge 13 being
able to be inserted merely by sliding of the end plug 600 radially relative to
the axis 23
through the individual catch members 100. However, an advantageous arrangement
of a
dispenser in accordance with the present invention is to have one of the catch
members 100
mounted to its side wall 23 for pivoting about a vertical axis. The pivotally
mounted catch
member may be pivoted such that its axis 102 is directed forwardly of the
dispenser and this
in configuration, one of the end plugs 600 may be coupled to the pivoted catch
member 100
by the engagement member 67 moving axially into the cavity 102. Thereafter,
with the
pivotable catch member 100 pivoted relative to the side wall 23 to the normal
operation, the
other end plug 60 may then become engaged in the other catch member 100 by
radial
insertion. The catch member 100 which is pivotally mounted to the side wall 23
for pivoting
41
CA 02799509 2012-12-19
may have its exitway directed vertically upwardly as contrasted, for example,
with the other
catch member 100 having its exitway directed forwardly or forwardly and
upwardly.
[0174] Insofar as the end plugs 600 are provided to the hollow core 670 so
as to be not
removable therefrom, the configuration of the engagement member 67 and the
configuration
of the interior cavity 102 can be provided to be of complementary shape so as
to prevent
insertion of a replaceable cartridge which does not have end plugs 600
carrying engagement
member 67 of desired shapes compared to the cavities 100 of the catch members.
[0175] The embodiment of Figures 40 to 44 illustrates a paper roll
dispenser using an
engagement member 67 and catch member 100 substantially as shown in Figures 1
to 13.
However, other embodiments of resilient engagement members shown in the other
Figures
may readily be adapted for use with the paper roll dispenser.
[0176] Reference is made to Figures 45 to 54 which illustrate additional
embodiments in
accordance with the present invention in which a ramp mechanism is provided on
the
actuator plate 32 such that a piston element 57 in a radial uncoupled
orientation on
movement radially is moved to the axial uncoupled orientation as a result of
engagement
with the ramp mechanism.
[0177] Reference is made first to the ramped embodiment of Figures 45 to
51. Referring
to Figure 45, Figure 45 is identical to Figure 8 with the exception that the
catch member 100
of actuator plate 32 is shown to include as a ramp mechanism, two ramp members
802. The
ramp members 802 are disposed on either side of the exitway 120 and comprise a
forward
extension of each of the upstanding catches 106. Each ramp member 802 extends
forwardly
and downwardly from the inner end wall 122 of each of the catches 106. Each
ramp member
802 has a camming surface 804 which is directed forwardly and upwardly as seen
in Figure
45, that is, relative to axis 66 radially outwardly and axially inwardly as
the terms inwardly
and outwardly are used in this disclosure. Each ramp member 804 includes an
inner wall 806
and an outer wall 808. The camming surface 804 extends on each ramp member 802
between its respective inner wall 806 and outer wall 808 and from a forward
lower end 810
rearwardly and upwardly to an upper end 812 at the inner end wall 112 of each
of the catches
106.
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[0178] Referring to Figure 45, at the bottom left of Figure 45, a truncated
piston element
57 is shown in an uncoupled radial position disposed radially forwardly of the
catch member
100. As schematically illustrated by the arrows 814, 815 and 816, the piston
element 57
comes to be moved from the radial uncoupled orientation to an axially
uncoupled orientation
similar to that shown by the truncated piston element 57 at the top right of
Figure 45.
[0179] Reference is made to Figure 46 which indicates in side view the
truncated piston
element 57 in a radially uncoupled position which it may assume as, for
example, on a user
moving a replaceable cartridge carrying the piston element 57 in a radial
direction relative to
the axis 66. Figure 46 illustrates a position in which the piston element 57
and, more
particularly, the finger members 70 of the piston element 57 have engaged the
camming
surface 804 of each ramp member 802. On a user further urging the cartridge
radially
inwardly towards the axis 66, engagement between the piston element 57 and the
camming
surfaces 804 of the ramp members 802 moves the piston element 57 axially
upwardly, as
within the preferred embodiments, the reciprocal movable piston element 57
becoming
retracted within the piston chamber-forming member 56 seen in Figure 2. Thus,
in moving
the piston element 57 radially towards the axis 66 from the position of Figure
46 to the
position of Figure 47 and then to the position of Figure 48, engagement
between the ramp
members 802 and the piston element 57 moves the piston element 57 upwardly to
a position
as shown in Figure 48 in which the finger members 70 and the annular flange
124 of the
piston element 57 are disposed at a relative location to the inner end wall
112 of each catch
106 that piston element 57 may subsequently move radially towards the axis 66
without
further interference from radial movement with the catch member 100. Such
merely radial
movement is illustrated as movement from the relative position of the
truncated piston
element 57 and the catch member in Figure 48 to the uncoupled axial position
illustrated in
Figure 49 in which the piston element 57 is coaxially disposed about the axis
66 of the catch
member 100. As is described with the other embodiments, from the axial
uncoupled position
shown in Figure 49, the piston element 57 may be moved axially relative to the
catch
member 100 so as to deflect the resilient fingers 70 and assume the coupled
orientation
shown in Figure 50. From the coupled position shown in Figure 50, radial
forward
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CA 02799509 2012-12-19
movement of the piston element 57 relative the catch member 100 permits the
piston element
57 to move from the coupled orientation shown in Figure 50 to an uncoupled
radial position,
albeit with deflection of the resilient fingers 70.
[0180] So as to permit movement of the piston element 57 from the coupled
position as
shown in Figure 50 to a radially uncoupled position as, for example, shown in
Figure 45, the
interior side walls of the ramp members 802 are spaced apart a sufficient
distance to permit
the deflected resilient fingers 70 to be moved radially through the exitway
120.
101811 Figure 51 schematically illustrates in top view the relative
positions of the piston
element 57 and the catch member 100 as seen in Figure 46 notably with the
fingers 70 of the
piston element 57 disposed above the camming surfaces of the ramp members 802.
[0182] The first ramped embodiment illustrated in Figures 45 to 51 provides
for
movement from an axial uncoupled orientation to a coupled orientation and the
movement
from the coupled orientation to a radial uncoupled orientation in the same
manner as other
embodiments disclosed, for example, in Figures 1 to 39, however, provides an
arrangement
in which for movement from an uncoupled radial orientation, the piston element
57 is
cammed by the ramp mechanism axially with radial movement to an axially
uncoupled
position from which by relative axial movement the piston element 57 may
become coupled
to the catch member 100 in a coupled orientation.
[0183] In an embodiment as illustrated, for example in Figure 8, movement
radially
rearwardly in the direction of arrow 143 from a radial uncoupled orientation
to the coupled
orientation requires the piston element 57 to be disposed at an axial location
such that it is
accurately radially aligned with the cavity in the catch member 100 such, for
example, as
seen in Figure 1, by mere horizontal rearward movement the fingers 70 would
become
deflected and permit the piston element 57 to be engaged within the catch
member 100.
However, the inventors of the present application have appreciated that on
manual radial
movement of a replaceable cartridge, it is extremely difficult for a user to
ensure that the
piston element 57 is located to enter the cavity in the catch member 100.
Thus, if a cartridge
is attempted to be inserted into a dispenser 10 with the piston element 57 in
an extended
position rather than in a suitably retracted position shown in Figure 1,
interference will occur
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CA 02799509 2012-12-19
between the piston element 57 and the catch member 100 unless the piston
element 57 is
precisely at the correct relative height. However, insertion of a cartridge
into a dispenser
with the piston element 57 sufficiently retracted as seen in Figure 1, the
positioning of the
cartridge can readily be accomplished without interference between the piston
element 57
and the catch member 100 such that the piston element 57 moved into the
uncoupled axial
orientation. The ramp mechanism in the embodiment of Figures 45 to 51 ensures
that even if
the piston element 57 may be inserted in an extended position that during the
manual
insertion process of a cartridge, the piston element 55 is cammed by the ramp
mechanism so
that with insertion of the cartridge, the piston element 57 assumes an
advantageous axial
uncoupled orientation.
[0184] In the embodiment of Figures 45 to 51, engagement between the ramp
members
802 and the piston element 57 is indicated as being between the resilient
fingers 70 and the
annular flange 124 of the piston element 57. However, various other surfaces
of the piston
element 57 may engage similar ramped surfaces carried on the catch member 100
to similarly
cam the piston element 57 axially to a location in which it may be moved
radially to the
axially uncoupled orientation.
[0185] The embodiment illustrated in Figures 45 to 51 illustrates an
arrangement in
which axial downward movement of the piston element 57 as in an extension
stroke is
required for coupling of the piston element 57 to the catch member 100.
However, in other
embodiments in accordance with the present invention, coupling of the piston
element 57 to
the catch member 100 may be accomplished by relative upward movement of the
piston
element 57 as, for example, in a retraction stroke and, in this case, a
ramping mechanism can
be provided to cam the piston element 57 to move downwardly as to an axially
uncoupled
orientation which may, for example, be below an actuator plate.
[0186] Reference is made to Figures 52 to 54 which show a second ramped
embodiment
having an actuator plate 32 with a catch member 100 with a ramp useful for
substitution for
the ramp catch member illustrated in the embodiment of Figures 45 to 51.
[0187] Figures 52 and 53 are pictorial top perspective views and Figure 54
is a top view.
In Figures 52 to 54, each of the ramp members 802 is a mirror image of the
other and the
ramp members 802 include three principal camming surfaces. The camming
surfaces
comprise a first outer ramp surface 804, a corner ramp surface 803 and an
inner ramp surface
805. Each of these ramp surfaces 803, 804 and 805 extends rearwardly as they
extend
upwardly. The outer ramp surface 804 is generally planar and tapers in side-to-
side
dimension upwardly to the rear. The inner ramp surface 805 may be considered
to be partly
frustoconical but also tapers side-to-side upwardly as it extends rearwardly.
The inner cam
surface 805 is directed laterally into the exitway 120.
[0188] The configuration of the inner ramp surface 805 when initially
engaged by the
fingers 70 on opposite sides of the piston element 57 assists in maintaining
the piston
element 57 disposed centered between the two ramp members 802 as is useful to
assist in
keeping the piston element 57 maintained centered relative the exitway 120
between the
catches 106. In the embodiment of Figures 52 to 54, two hook members 820 are
provided,
one on each side with each having a downwardly directed surface 822 which
serves to catch
the surfaces 140 on the fingers 70 and hold the piston element 57 in the
coupled orientation.
[0189] In the first ramped embodiment of Figures 45 to 51, the ramp member
802
preferably extends downwardly to below the lowest height that piston clement
57 can assume
in an extended position in a cartridge aligned for rearward radial insertion
into a dispenser as
in a manner seen in Figure 1. This ensures that if the piston element 57 is in
a fully extended
position engagement with the ramp members 802 will engage and move the piston
member
57. In accordance with both the ramped embodiments of Figures 45 to 54, to
move the
piston element 57 from the coupled orientation to the radial uncoupled
orientation requires
the resilient fingers 70 to be deformed against their bias, that is, deflected
radially. However,
similar ramp members are useful in arrangements such as disclosed in U.S.
Patent 8,002,150
issued August 23, 2011, in which the piston element 57 is radially movable
from the coupled
orientation to the radial uncoupled orientation without deformation of the
piston element 57.
[0190] While the invention has been described with reference to preferred
embodiments,
it is not so limited. Many variations and modifications will now occur to
persons skilled in
the art. For a definition of the invention, reference may be made to the
appended claims.
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