Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02899911 2015-08-07
Title
DUAL PUMP HAND CLEANER FOAM DISPENSER
Scope of the Invention
[0001] This invention relates to a method of dispensing multiple liquid
streams to
produce a mixed product preferably as a foam including air and more
particularly to a hand
cleaner dispenser utilizing two or more pump arrangements to dispense liquids
mixed with
air through foam inducing members as for discharge onto a person's hand as a
resultant
foamed product.
Background of the Invention
[0002] Various hand cleaner foam dispensers are known with pump
arrangements for
simultaneously passing a liquid and air through a foam inducing member to
produce a
foamed product and discharge the foamed product onto a user's hand. Such foam
dispensers
for dispensing liquid from a single reservoir are well known and as for
example are taught in
U.S. Patent No. 7,303,099 to Ophardt issued December 4, 2007 and U.S. Patent
No.
8,272,539 to Ophardt et al. issued September 25, 2012.
[0003] Hand cleaner foam dispensers are known in which a pump arrangement
in which
liquid from a single reservoir is mixed with air and discharged as foam onto a
user's hand.
The present inventor has appreciated that previously known devices do not
provide hand
cleaner foam dispensers in which two liquid streams, for example from two
different
reservoirs may be mixed and delivered to a person's hand as a foam.
[0004] Proprietary hand cleaner compositions are known which are adapted
when
dispensed through a foam generating pump arrangement to produce a foamed
product. Such
cleaning compositions include alcohol and water compositions and liquid soap
compositions.
The present inventor has appreciated that with many known cleaning
compositions,
difficulties arise in creating foam with optimized characteristics for hand
cleaning.
Difficultly in producing advantageous foam for hand cleaning particularly
arises in respect of
cleaning compositions including alcohol. Cleaning compositions containing
alcohol have
enhanced cleaning as the amount of alcohol is increased for example to above
40% by
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volume alcohol or more preferably above 60% by volume alcohol to provide for
enhanced
cleaning, however difficulties in producing advantageous foam for hand
cleaning
compositions containing alcohol increases as the concentration of alcohol is
increased,
particularly when the concentration of alcohol is increased above 40% by
volume or above
60% volume.
[0005]
Proprietary hand cleaning compositions may require particular additives
such as
foaming agents, surfactants and foam stabilizers. The present inventor has
appreciated that
difficulties arise in developing cleaning composition with suitable components
to provide an
advantageous foam for cleaning since legal protection on proprietary cleaning
compositions
can restrict the use of particular compositions.
[0006]
The present inventor has also appreciated that known pump arrangements to
produce foam that draw liquid from a single reservoir and/or having a single
pump
arrangement limit the extent to which advantageous foam may be developed
and/or different
cleaning compositions and additives may be utilized.
Summary of the Invention
[0007]
To at least partially overcome these disadvantages of previously known
devices,
the present invention provides a hand cleaner foam dispenser with a first pump
arrangement
that discharges a first liquid and first air from the atmosphere through a
first foam inducing
member into a mixing chamber and a second pump arrangement that discharges a
second
liquid into the mixing chamber, and in which there is a simultaneous discharge
of the first
liquid , first air and the second liquid from the mixing chamber through an
outlet foam
inducing member to produce a foamed product delivered onto a person's hand.
Preferably
the second pump arrangement may discharge not only the second liquid , but
also second air
drawn from the atmosphere and discharge the second liquid and the second air
through a
second foam inducing member into the mixing chamber.
[0008]
To overcome the disadvantages of previously known devices the present
invention also provides a method of creating foam, preferably in a hand clean
foam
dispenser, comprising discharging a first liquid and a first air
simultaneously through a first
foam inducing member into a mixing chamber; discharging a second liquid into
the mixing
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chamber; and simultaneously discharging the first liquid, first air and second
liquid from the
mixing chamber through an outlet foam inducing member. Preferably, the method
includes
discharging the second liquid and second air from the atmosphere
simultaneously through the
second foam inducing member into the mixing chamber and subsequently
simultaneously
discharging the first liquid , first air, second liquid and the second air
from the mixing
chamber through the foam inducing member.
100091
In one aspect the present invention provides a hand cleaner foam dispenser
comprising: a first reservoir containing a first fluid; a first pump
arrangement operative to
draw the first fluid from the first reservoir and to draw first air from the
atmosphere and to
simultaneously discharge the first fluid and the first air through a first
foam inducing member
into a mixing chamber; a second reservoir containing a second fluid; a second
pump
arrangement operative to draw the second fluid from the second reservoir and
to discharge
the second fluid into the mixing chamber; the mixing chamber open to a
discharge outlet via
an outlet passageway; an outlet foam inducing member across the outlet
passageway, the first
pump arrangement and the second pump arrangement operative to simultaneously
discharge
the first fluid and first air through the first foam inducing member into the
mixing chamber
and the second fluid into the mixing chamber, forcing the flow of the first
fluid, the first air,
and the second fluid simultaneously from the mixing chamber through the outlet
foam
inducing member and out the discharge outlet onto a person's hand. Preferably
the second
pump arrangement is operative to draw the second fluid from the second
reservoir and to
draw second air from the atmosphere and to simultaneously discharge the second
fluid and
the second air through a second foam inducing member into the mixing chamber,
through a
second foam inducing member; the first pump arrangement and the second pump
arrangement operative to simultaneously discharge the first fluid and first
air through the first
foam inducing member into the mixing chamber and the second fluid and the
second air
through the second foam inducing member into the mixing chamber, forcing the
flow of the
first fluid, the first air, the second fluid and the second air simultaneously
from the mixing
chamber through the outlet foam inducing member and out the discharge outlet
onto a
person's hand.
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[00010] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of
operation of a hand
cleaner foam dispenser,
1000111 the hand cleaner foam dispenser comprising:
[00012] a first reservoir containing a first fluid;
[00013] a first pump arrangement operative to draw the first fluid from the
first reservoir
and to draw first air from the atmosphere and to simultaneously discharge the
first fluid and
the first air through a first foam inducing member into a mixing chamber;
[00014] a second reservoir containing a second fluid;
[00015] a second pump arrangement operative to draw the second fluid from the
second
reservoir and to discharge the second fluid into the mixing chamber;
[00016] the mixing chamber open to a discharge outlet via an outlet
passageway;
[00017] an outlet foam inducing member across the outlet passageway,
[00018] the method comprising operating the first pump arrangement and the
second
pump arrangement to simultaneously discharge into the mixing chamber both (a)
the first
fluid and first air through the first foam inducing member and (b) the second
fluid into the
mixing chamber, thereby forcing the flow simultaneously from the mixing
chamber through
the outlet foam inducing member and out the discharge outlet onto a person's
hand of the
first fluid, the first air, and the second fluid. Preferably the second pump
arrangement is
operative to draw the second fluid from the second reservoir and to draw
second air from the
atmosphere and to simultaneously discharge the second fluid and the second air
through a
second foam inducing member into the mixing chamber; and the method comprises
operating
the first pump arrangement and the second pump arrangement to simultaneously
discharge
into the mixing chamber both (a) the first fluid and first air through the
first foam inducing
member and (b) the second fluid and the second air through the second foam
inducing
member into the mixing chamber, thereby forcing the flow simultaneously from
the mixing
chamber through the outlet foam inducing member and out the discharge outlet
onto a
person's hand of the first fluid, the first air, the second fluid and the
second air.
Detailed Description of the Drawings
[00019] Further aspects and advantages will occur from the following
description taking
together with the accompanying drawings in which:
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[00020] Figure 1 is a partially cutaway schematic side view of a first
embodiment of a
hand cleaner dispenser including a removable and replaceable cartridge
comprising a
reservoir assembly and a pump assembly in accordance with the present
invention;
[00021] Figure 2 is a pictorial view of the cartridge shown in Figure 1;
[00022]
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional pictorial front view of the cartridge of Figure
2 in a
vertical cross-section side-to-side along section line 3-3' in Figure 2
centrally through the
pump assembly;
[00023] Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional pictorial front view the same
as Figure 3,
but merely showing the reservoir assembly;
[00024] Figure 5 is an exploded cross-section pictorial front view the same as
Figure 3 but
merely showing a piston forming member and a piston chamber forming body of
the pump
assembly;
[00025] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional front view of the pump assembly of
Figure 3 but with
the piston forming member in an extended position relative to the piston
chamber forming
body;
[00026] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional front view the same as Figure 6 but
showing the
piston forming member in a retracted condition relative to the piston chamber
forming body;
[00027] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional front view of a second embodiment of a
pump
assembly in accordance with the present invention showing the piston forming
member in an
extended condition relative the piston chamber forming body similar to Figure
6;
[00028] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional front pictorial view of the pump
assembly of Figure 8
showing the piston forming member in a retracted condition relative to the
piston chamber
forming body, similar to Figure 3;
[00029] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional front view of a third embodiment of a
pump
assembly in accordance with the present invention showing the piston forming
element in
an extended condition relative to the piston chamber forming body similar to
Figure 8;
[00030] Figure 11 is a pictorial view of a fourth embodiment of a pump
assembly in
accordance with the present invention showing the piston forming element in a
retracted
condition relative to the piston chamber forming body;
[00031] Figure 12 is a pictorial exploded view of a pump assembly of Figure
11;
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[00032] Figure 13 is a cross-sectional front view of the pump assembly of
Figure 11 along
section 4-4 in Figure 11 with the piston forming member in a retracted
position relative to
the piston chamber forming body;
[00033] Figure 14 is a pictorial cross-sectional front view of the pump
assembly of Figure
11 along section 4-4 in Figure 11 but showing the piston forming member in an
extended
condition relative to the piston chamber forming body; and
[00034] Figure 15 is a pictorial cross-sectional side view of the piston
forming element of
the pump assembly of Figure 11 along section 5-5' in Figure 11 normal to
section line 4-
4'.
Detailed Description of the Drawings
[00035] Reference is made to Figure 1 which schematically shows in side view a
manually
operated hand cleaner foam dispenser 600 in accordance with the present
invention. The
dispenser 600 is adapted to removably receive a cartridge 10. In Figure 1, the
dispenser 600
is shown in side cross-section other than an activating lever 610 which is
schematically
shown in side view and not cross-sectioned. In Figure 1, a user's hand 620 and
the cartridge
are also shown in side view and not cross-sectioned.
[00036] In Figure 1 the dispenser 600 includes a back plate 602 as for
mounting of the
dispenser 600 to a building wall 604. A support plate 606 extends forwardly
from the back
plate 604 to support and receive the cartridge 10. The support plate 606 has a
rear portion
607, two side arms 608 (only one of which is seen) and a forward portion 609.
The side arms
608 extend forwardly from the rear portion 607 to support the forward portion
609 forming a
lower front wall of the dispenser 600. The support plate 606 has an opening
612 extending
downwardly there through defined between the side arms 608 and between the
forward
portion 609 and the rear portion 607 via which opening 612 the cartridge 10
may be inserted
downwardly and then slid rearwardly for secure engagement of a piston chamber
forming
body 15 of a pump assembly 12 of the cartridge 10 on the support plate 606.
The activating
lever 610 is journalled to the forward portion 609 for pivoting about a
horizontal axis 614.
An upper end of the lever 610 carries a hook 616 to engage an engagement
flange 17 on a
piston forming member 14 of the pump assembly 12 and couple the lever 610 to
the piston
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A
forming member 14 such that by movement of a lower handle end of the lever 610
in the
direction indicated by the arrow 619 manually by the hand 620 of a user slides
the piston
forming member 14 relative the body 15 upwardly and inwardly in a retraction
stroke to the
retracted position shown in Figure 1 thereby dispensing a final foamed product
39
downwardly onto the user's hand 620. On release of the lower handle end of the
lever 610,
a spring 622 biases the upper end of the lever 610 downwardly so that the
lever 610 moves
the piston forming element 14 relative the body 15 outwardly in an extension
stroke to an
extended position not shown in Figure 1. A cover member 624 is hinged at 625
to an upper
forward extension 626 of the back plate 604 so as to permit manual removal and
replacement
of the cartridge 10.
[00037] Reference is made to Figure 2 which shows a pictorial front view of
the cartridge
which comprises the pump assembly 12 and a reservoir assembly 13. The pump
assembly
12 comprises the piston forming member 14 and the piston chamber forming body
15.
[00038] Reference is made to Figures 3 and 4, showing the reservoir assembly
13 as
comprises a first reservoir 16 and second reservoir 116. The first reservoir
16 has an
enclosed first reservoir chamber 18 and the second reservoir 116 has an
enclosed second
reservoir chamber 118. The first reservoir chamber 18 and the second reservoir
chamber 118
are separated from each other by reason of an intermediate wall 21. The first
reservoir 16 has
a cylindrical first outlet neck 22 and the second reservoir 116 has a
cylindrical second outlet
neck 122.
[00039]
The first reservoir 16 contains a first liquid 24 and the second reservoir 116
contains a second liquid 124.
[00040] The pump assembly 12 is described with reference to Figures 2, 3, 5, 6
and 7. As
can be seen in the exploded view of Figure 5, the pump assembly 12 comprises
the piston
forming member 14 and the piston chamber forming body 15. The piston forming
member
14 is reciprocally slidable relative to the piston chamber forming body 15 for
reciprocal
movement in a cycle of operation between an extended position as shown in
Figure 6 and a
retracted position as shown in Figure 7 as well as in each of Figures 1, 2 and
3. The cycle of
operation comprises a retraction stroke in moving from the extended position
to the retracted
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position and an extension stroke in moving from the retracted position to the
extended
position.
[00041] Reference is made to Figure 6 which shows that the pump assembly 12
comprising the piston forming member 14 and the piston chamber forming body 15
provide
as schematically identified within the encircling dashed lines:
[00042] a foaming discharge arrangement 30;
[00043] a first foaming pump arrangement 40; and
[00044] a second foaming pump assembly 140.
[00045] The foaming discharge arrangement 30 comprises a mixing chamber 33
with a
mixing inlet passageway 31 leading to an inner end 32 of the mixing chamber 33
and a
discharge passageway 36 leading from an outer end 35 of the mixing chamber 33
to a
discharge outlet 37. Proximate the outer end 35 of the mixing chamber 33 there
is provided
an outlet foam inducing member 34 comprising a screen with a plurality of
small openings
through the screen.
[00046] The first foaming pump arrangement 40 has a configuration functionally
equivalent to that disclosed in Figures 2 to 4 of U.S. Patent No. 8,272,539 to
Ophardt issued
September 25, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by
reference. The second
foaming pump assembly 140 is identical to the first foaming pump assembly 40.
[00047] The first foaming pump arrangement 40 comprises a first liquid pump 41
and a
first air pump 42 which cooperate in a cycle of operation of reciprocal
movement of the
piston forming element 14 and the piston chamber forming body 15:
[00048] (a) to draw in first air from the atmosphere;
[00049] (b) to draw the first liquid 24 from the first reservoir 16;
and
[00050] (c) to simultaneously discharge the first liquid 24 and the
first air through a first
foam inducing member 43, forming a first intermediate product 44 shown on
Figure 7 that
passes into a first discharge passageway 45 and into the mixing inlet
passageway 31.
In particular in a retraction stroke in movement of the piston forming element
14 relative the
piston chamber forming body 15 from the extended position of Figure 6 to the
retracted
position of Figure 7, the first foaming pump arrangement 40 simultaneously
discharges the
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}
first liquid 24 and the first air through the first foam inducing member 43
and via the first
discharge passageway 45 into the mixing inlet passageway 31.
[00051] The second foaming pump arrangement 140 comprises a second liquid pump
141
and a second air pump 142 which cooperate in a cycle of operation of
reciprocal movement
of the piston forming element 14 and the piston chamber forming body 15:
[00052] (a) to draw in second air from the atmosphere;
[00053] (b) to draw the second liquid 124 from the second reservoir 116; and
[00054] (c) to simultaneously discharge the second liquid 124 and the second
air through a
second foam inducing member 143, forming a second intermediate product 144 as
shown on
Figure 7 that passes into a second discharge passageway 145 and into the
mixing inlet
passageway 31.
[00055] In particular in a retraction stroke in movement of the piston forming
element 14
relative the piston chamber forming body 15 from the extended position of
Figure 6 to the
retracted position of Figure 7, the second foaming pump arrangement 140
simultaneously
discharges the second liquid 124 and the second air through the second foam
inducing
member 143 and via the second discharge passageway 145 into the mixing inlet
passageway
31.
[00056] As a result of the simultaneous operation of the first foaming pump
arrangement
40 and the second foaming pump arrangement 140 in a retraction stroke, the
first liquid 24
and first air (as the first intermediate product 44) and the second liquid 25
and the second air
(as the second intermediate product 144) are simultaneously passed into the
outlet mixing
chamber 33 and forced through the outlet foam inducing member 34 to be
discharged out the
discharge outlet 37 as a final product 39.
[00057]
The first foaming pump arrangement 40 includes a first discharge outlet 51
through which the first liquid 24 and the first air are directed into an inner
end 52 of a first
mixing chamber 53. At an outer end 54, the first mixing chamber 53 carries the
first foam
inducing member 43 as a screen. The first liquid 24 and the first air are
passed through the
foam inducing member 43 into a funnelling entrance 55 to the first discharge
passageway 45.
The first discharge outlet 51 has a reduced cross-sectional area compared to
the cross-
sectional area of the first mixing chamber 53 as is believed advantageous
towards mixing of
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the first liquid 24 and the first air prior to passing through the first foam
inducing member 43.
In the embodiment of Figure 6, the second foaming pump arrangement 140
similarly has
similar second discharge outlet 151 and a second mixing chamber 153. As seen
in Figure 6,
each of the outlet mixing chamber 33, the first mixing chamber 53 and the
second mixing
chamber 153 are similar in their physical configuration. However, providing
each mixing
chamber to have an enlarged cross-sectional area compared to the outlet or
passageway
leading into that mixing chamber is not necessary and a mixing chamber may be
considered
to be formed at any place where the respective discharged liquids and/or air
are mixed.
[00058] The first liquid pump 41 comprises a stepped first liquid chamber 62
including a
larger diameter inner liquid chamber 63 and a smaller diameter outer liquid
chamber 64. A
first liquid piston 65 is coaxially slidable within the first liquid chamber
62. The first liquid
piston 65 notably has an inner disc 66 engaged within the inner liquid chamber
63 and
permitting only one way flow of liquid outwardly. The first liquid piston 65
has an outer disc
67 engaged with the outer liquid chamber 64 and permitting only one way liquid
flow
outwardly. A first liquid compartment 68 is defined radially between the first
liquid chamber
62 and the first liquid piston 65 and axially between the inner liquid disc 66
and the outer
liquid disc 67. With the axial movement of the first liquid piston 65 relative
to the first liquid
chamber 62, the volume of the first liquid compartment 68 changes. The volume
of the first
liquid compartment 68 increases in a retraction stroke and decreases in an
extension stroke.
[00059] An outer end of the outer liquid chamber 64 opens into an air
compartment 69 of
the first air pump 42. In a retraction stroke the first liquid pump 41 draws
the first liquid 24
into the first liquid compartment 68. In a withdrawal stroke the first liquid
pump 41
discharges the first liquid 24 from the first liquid compartment 68 into a
lower portion of the
air compartment 69.
[00060] The first air pump 42 is coaxially disposed annularly about the first
liquid pump
41. The air pump 42 has a first air piston 71 carrying an inner disc 72 at an
inner end therein
which sealably engages with an outer air chamber wall 61 of an air chamber 74
formed
annularly about first the liquid chamber 62. The first air piston 61 includes
a hollow center
stem 75 with a central passageway 76 coaxially there through leading to the
first discharge
outlet 51. The first air compartment 69 is defined between the first air
piston 71 and the air
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chamber 74 which varies in volume with coaxial sliding of the first air piston
71. Angled
passageways 78 are provided from a lower portion of the first air compartment
69 into the
central passageway 76 of the stem 75. In a retraction stroke, the first air
within the first air
compartment 69 and the first liquid 24 within the first air compartment 69 are
discharged via
the angled passageways 78, the central passageway 76 through the first
discharge outlet 51
and hence into the first mixing chamber 33. In a retraction stroke, the volume
of the first air
compartment 69 increases and draws atmospheric air into the first air
compartment 69 from
the discharge outlet 37 through the foam discharge arrangement 30 and inwardly
through the
first discharge passageway 45, through the first foam inducing member 43,
through the first
mixing chamber 53, the first discharge outlet 51 the central passageway 76 and
the angled
passageways 78 into the first air compartment 69.
[00061] As best seen in Figure 5, the first liquid chamber 62 and the first
air chamber 74
are formed as a unitary member indicated as the first chamber body 79. The
first liquid
piston 65 and the first air piston 71 are also fixably coupled together
forming a first piston
member 80 including the first mixing chamber 53 and the first discharge
passageway 45. As
seen in Figure 6, with the first foaming pump arrangement 40 identical to the
second foaming
pump arrangement 140, the second foaming pump arrangement 140 similarly
comprises a
second liquid pump 141 and a second air pump 142. A second chamber body 179 is
integrally formed as a unitary member with the first chamber body 79. As seen
in Figure 5,
the first piston element 80 and a second piston element 180 are mechanically
coupled to the
foaming discharge arrangement 30. Each of the first piston element 80 and the
second piston
element 180 have their respective first discharge passageway 45 and second
discharge
passageway 145 discharge into the inlet passageway 31 to the outlet mixing
chamber 33. The
foaming discharge arrangement 30 provides in effect a discharge manifold 81
for discharge
from the first piston element 80 and the second piston element 180 into the
outlet mixing
chamber 33. This notional discharge manifold carries the first discharge
passageway 45, the
second discharge passageway 145, the inlet passageway 31, the outlet mixing
chamber 33,
and the discharge passageway 36.
[00062] The first foaming pump arrangement 40 comprises the first liquid pump
41 and
the first air pump 42 utilizing in the embodiment of Figure 6 as the first
liquid pump 41 a
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stepped chamber displacement piston pump. In the first liquid pump 41 the
volume of the
first liquid 24 discharged in a stroke of operation is determined as the
difference in cross-
sectional area between the larger inner liquid chamber 63 and the smaller
outer liquid
chamber 64 multiplied by the length of the stroke. In the first air pump 42,
the volume of the
first air (at atmospheric pressure) discharged in a stroke of operation is
determined as the
cross-sectional area of the annular space between an outer air chamber wall 61
and an inner
air chamber wall 60 multiplied by the length of the stroke of operation.
[00063]
Preferably, in accordance with the present invention the first fluid 24 is a
liquid
which when discharge with the first air through the first foam inducing member
43 produces
the first intermediate product 44 as a first foam. Preferably the second fluid
is a liquid
which when discharged through with the second air through the second foam
inducing
member 143 produces the second intermediate product 145 as a second foam.
However, in
accordance with the present invention the first fluid 24 may be a liquid which
when
discharged with the first air through the first foam inducing member 43
produces the first
intermediate product as a first foam and the second fluid 124 is a liquid
which when
discharged with the second air through the second foam inducing member 143
provides the
second intermediate product 144 as a mixture of liquid and air which is not a
foam, is a foam
having poor foam characteristics for cleaning, or is a partial foam.
[00064] As one example, first fluid 124 comprises a first alcohol and water
solution
including a first foaming agent and not greater than 40% by volume alcohol and
the second
fluid 124 comprises a second alcohol and water solution with sufficiently
greater than 40%
volume by alcohol such that in the final product 39 discharged the volume
ratio of alcohol to
water is greater than 50%, more preferably 60%, more preferably 70% and more
preferably
80%. In this example, preferably in the first liquid 24 the first foaming
agent is provided in
the first fluid 124 as comprising a base amount plus an additional excess
amount. The base
amount is the amount of the first foaming agent required to foam the first
liquid 24 that
passes through the first foam inducing member 43. The excess amount of the
first foaming
agent is preferably selected to be sufficient to foam the second fluid 124 as
discharged in the
cycle of operation if the second fluid 124 included the excess amount with the
first foaming
agent when the second fluid 24 is passed through the second foam inducing
member 143.
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[00065] Additionally, the first foaming agent 24 optionally includes a first
foam
stabilizing agent provided in the first fluid 24 to comprise a base amount
plus an additional
excess amount. The base amount is an amount of the first foam stabilizing
agent required to
stabilize the first intermediate product 43. The excess amount of the first
foam stabilizing
agent is at least sufficient to stabilize a second intermediate foam product
that would be
produced from the second liquid 124 if the second liquid 124 included the
excess amount of
the first foam stabilizing agent and the second fluid 124 is passed through
the second foam
inducing member 143 together with the excess amount.
[00066] Second Embodiment
[00067] Reference is made to Figures 8 and 9 which illustrate a second
embodiment of a
pump assembly 12 for use in accordance with the present invention. In Figure 8
the foam
discharge arrangement 30 and the first foaming pump arrangement 40 are
identical to that
shown in the first embodiment of Figure 6 with the exception of the
modification of the foam
inducing members 43 and 34. In Figures 8 and 9 there is substituted for the
second foaming
pump arrangement 140 of Figure 6 a second liquid pump arrangement 240 having
functional
equivalence to a liquid pump as taught in in U.S. Patent No. 5,676,277 to
Ophardt issued
October 14, 1997, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
[00068] As seen in Figures 8 and 9, the second liquid pump arrangement 240
operates
such that in a withdrawal stroke on moving the piston forming element 14
relative the piston
chamber forming body 15 from the retracted position of Figure 9 to the
extended position of
Figure 8, the second liquid 124 is drawn from the second reservoir 116 and in
a retraction
stroke from the extended position of Figure 8 to the retracted position of
Figure 9, the
second liquid 124 is discharged through a first discharge passageway 245 and
into the
mixing inlet passageway 31.
[00069] As
a result of the simultaneous operation of the first foaming pump arrangement
40 and the second liquid pump arrangement 240 in a retraction stroke, the
first liquid 24 and
first air (as the first intermediate product 44) and the second liquid 124 are
simultaneously
passed into the mixing chamber 33 and forced through the outlet foam inducing
member 34
to be discharge out the discharge outlet 37 as a final foamed product 239.
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[00070] In the second embodiment of Figures 8 and 9 the second liquid pump
arrangement
240 comprises a second liquid pump 241 with a second liquid piston 265
coaxially slidable
within a cylindrical second liquid chamber 262. At an inner end, the second
liquid chamber
262 has an opening, open to the reservoir 216. Across the opening a one way
valve 201 is
provided permitting flow merely outwardly is from the reservoir 216 into the
second liquid
chamber 262. The second liquid piston 265 is coaxially reciprocally slidable
within the
second liquid chamber 262. The piston 265 has a hollow stem 275 with a central
passageway
276 there through leading to the second discharge passageway 245. The second
liquid piston
265 carries an inner disc 266 which engages the second liquid chamber 262 to
permit merely
second liquid 124 to flow outwardly there past. The second liquid piston 265
carries an outer
disc 267 which prevents fluid flow outwardly there past. A radially extending
port 202
through the stem 275 between the inner disc 265 and the outer disc 266 permits
fluid flow
from an annular space between the inner disc 265 and the outer disc 266
radially through the
stem 275 and to the central passageway 276. A second liquid compartment 268 is
defined
within the second liquid pump 241 between the one way inlet valve 201 and the
inner disc
265. The volume of the liquid compartment 260 varies with axial movement of
the second
liquid piston 265 relative to the second liquid chamber 262. In retraction
stroke, the second
liquid 124 is forced passed the inner disc 265 through the port 202 and into
the central
passageway 276. In a withdrawal stroke, the volume of the second liquid
compartment 268
increases and the second liquid 124 is drawn from the reservoir 116 into
second the liquid
chamber 262 past the one way valve 201.
[00071] In the second embodiment of Figures 8 and 9, coaxially about the
second liquid
piston 265 there is provided a guide piston 204 with two cylindrical guide web
206 and 268
for engagement with a cylindrical wall 264 to assist in coaxial location of
the second liquid
piston 265 within the second liquid chamber 262 with the guide rings 206 and
208 having
axially extending openings to permit air to freely pass axially there past.
[00072]
In Figures 8 and 9 the outlet foam inducing member 34 comprises: an outer
screen 934 proximate the outer end 35 of the outlet mixing chamber 33, an
inner screen 734
closer to the inlet of inner end 32 the outlet mixing chamber 33 spaced
inwardly from the
outer screen 134 and a porous foam plug 834 between the outer screen 934 and
the inner
14
CA 02899911 2015-08-07
screen 734. In Figures 8 and 9 the first foam inducing member 43 comprises: an
outer screen
943 proximate the outer end 35 of the first mixing chamber 53 and an inner
screen 743 closer
to the inlet of inner end of the first mixing chamber 53.
[00073] In a preferred method of operating the second embodiment of Figures 8
and 9, the
first liquid 24 when passed through the first foam inducing member 43 with the
first air
provides the first intermediate product 44 as a foamed product. The second
liquid 124 is
delivered as a liquid to the foaming discharge arrangement 30. The foamed
first intermediate
product 44 is mixed with the unfoamed second liquid 124 in the outlet mixing
chamber 33
and passed through the outlet foam inducing member 34 to provide the resultant
final product
39. Having the second liquid 124 not pass through a foam inducing member
before it is
mixed with the first intermediate product 44 can be advantageous. The first
embodiment as
shown in Figures 2 to 7 may be operated in a not dissimilar manner to
operation of the
second embodiment with the first liquid 24 comprising a liquid which when
passed through
the first foaming pump arrangement 40 provides a first intermediate product 44
which is a
foamed product, and the second fluid 124 comprising a liquid which does not
produce foam
when passed through the second foam generating member 140. However,
nevertheless when
the first intermediate product 44 and the second intermediate product 144 or
merely the
second liquid 124 are passed through the foamed discharge arrangement 30, an
advantageous
final product 39 can be obtained as a foamed product having useful
characteristics. As
contrasted with the second embodiment of Figures 8 and 9, in the use of the
first embodiment
of Figure 2 to 7, even if the second liquid 124 may not foam when passed
through the second
foam inducing member 143, in the first embodiment there is provided to the
foam
discharging arrangement 30 the additional second air as is advantageous for
product of the
final product 39 as a foamed product. In the first embodiment in the situation
that the second
liquid 124 does not foam, the second foam inducing member 143 may be
eliminated or
modified so as to merely provide some reasonable mixing of the second liquid
124 and the
second air.
[00074] Third Embodiment
1000751 Reference is made to Figure 10 which is a cross-sectional front view
of a third
embodiment of a pump assembly 12 in accordance with the present invention
showing the
CA 02899911 2015-08-07
,
r r
piston forming element 14 in an extended condition relative to the piston
chamber forming
body 15 similar to Figure 8. In Figure 10, the pump assembly 12 is identical
to the pump
assembly 12 in Figure 8 with the notable exception that a second air pump 241
is provided by
reason of the replacement of the guide piston 204 of Figure 8 with a second
air piston 271
having an inner disc 172 to engage the second air chamber wall 264 so as to
provide an air
compartment 169 whose volume varies with relative movement of the second air
piston 271.
The second air pump 241 is provided with a air discharge passageway 210 that
delivers the
second air to the outlet mixing chamber 33 independently of the second
discharge
passageway 245 that delivers the second liquid 124.
[00076] Fourth Embodiment
[00077] Reference is made to Figures 11 to 15 which illustrate a fourth
embodiment of a
pump assembly 12 in accordance with the present invention comprising a piston
forming
element 14 reciprocally slidable relative to a piston chamber forming body 15.
In Figures 11
to 15 similar reference numbers are used as in the other embodiments to
indicate similar
elements.
[00078] As seen in Figure 13 schematically designated by the broken lines, the
pump
assembly 12 include the first foaming discharge arrangement 30, a first
foaming pump
arrangement 340 and a second foam pumping arrangement 440. The foaming
discharge
arrangement 30 comprises a mixing chamber 33 have an inner end 32 and a
discharge
passageway 36 leading from an outer end 35 to a discharge outlet 37. Proximate
the outer
end 35 of the mixing chamber 33 there is provided an outlet foam inducing
member 34
shown as a screen.
[00079] The first foaming pump arrangement 340 and the second foaming pump
arrangement 440 are identical mirror images of each other. The first foaming
pump
arrangement 340 includes a first liquid pump 341. The second foaming pump
arrangement
440 includes a second liquid pump 441 the same as the first liquid pump 341.
The first liquid
pump 341 and the second liquid pump 441 are each substantially the same as the
second
liquid pump 241 shown on the second liquid pump arrangement 240 of Figures 8
and 9.
Each of the first liquid pump 341 and the second liquid pump 441 have a
functional
16
CA 02899911 2015-08-07
,
,
,
equivalence to a liquid pump as taught by U.S. Patent No. 5,676,277 to Ophardt
issued
October 14, 1997.
1000801
The first liquid pump 341 has a first liquid piston 365 coaxially slidable
within a
cylindrical first liquid chamber 362 formed on the piston chamber forming body
15. An
inner end first liquid chamber 362 is open to a reservoir containing a first
fluid 24 and a one
way valve 301 is provided permitting flow merely outwardly from the reservoir
into the first
liquid chamber 362. The first liquid piston 365 has a hollow stem 375 with a
central
passageway 376 therethrough leading to a first discharge outlet 351 into a
first mixing
chamber 352 with a first foam inducing member 343 across the lower end of the
first mixing
chamber 352. The first liquid piston 365 carries an inner disc 366 which
engages the first
liquid chamber 362 to merely permit the first fluid 24 to flow outwardly
therepast. The first
liquid piston 365 carries an outer disc 367 which prevents fluid flow
outwardly therepast. A
radially extending port 302 extends through the stem 375 between the inner
disc 365 and the
outer disc 366. In a retraction stroke the first fluid 24 is forced passed the
inner disc 366
through the port 302 and into the central passageway 376. In a withdrawal
stroke, the first
liquid 24 is drawn from the reservoir past the one way valve 301. The
construction and
operation of the second liquid pump 441 is the same as the first liquid pump
341 and
elements of the second liquid pump 441 are referred to by similar reference
numerals
however identified as being 400 series rather than 300 series.
1000811 The piston chamber forming body 15 and the piston forming element 14
form an
air pump 542 therebetween. The piston chamber forming body 15 has an end wall
504 which
carries the first liquid chamber 362 and the second liquid chamber 462 each
disposed about
parallel axes. The piston chamber forming body 15 has a cylindrical outer air
chamber wall
561 disposed about an axis parallel to the axes of the first liquid chamber
362 and the second
liquid chamber 462. The piston forming element 14 carries an air piston 571
radially
outwardly from the first liquid piston 365 and the second liquid piston 465.
The air piston
571 carries an inner disc 572 at an inner end which sealably engages with the
outer air
chamber wall 561 forming an air compartment 569 between the air piston 571 and
the piston
chamber forming body 15. The air compartment 569 varies in volume with coaxial
sliding of
the piston forming element 14 relative to the piston chamber forming body 15.
The air pump
17
CA 02899911 2015-08-07
,
,
,
542 carries a one way air inlet valve 505 which permits air flow from the
atmosphere into the
air compartment 569 but prevents fluid flow outwardly from the air compartment
569. In
this regard, the air piston 571 has an axially inwardly directed shoulder 506
with spaced air
inlet openings 507 through the shoulder 506 providing for communication of the
air from the
atmosphere into the air compartment 569. As can best be seen in Figure 14, the
one way air
inlet valve 505 comprise a radially outwardly extending annular disc 508
supported at a
radial inner end 509 and presenting an axially outwardly directed sealing
surface 510 which
engages the inwardly directed shoulder 506 to form a seal therewith to prevent
air flow from
the air chamber 569 through the air inlet openings 507. The disc 508 deflects
axially
inwardly to permit atmospheric air to flow through the air inlet opening 207
into the air
compartment 569 as when a vacuum condition is created within the air
compartment 569.
The air compartment 569 includes a pair of one way air outlet valves, namely,
a first one way
air outlet valve 380 providing for air flow from the air compartment 369 into
the first mixing
chamber 352 and a second one way air outlet valve 480 permitting air flow form
the air
compartment 569 into the second mixing chamber 452.
[00082] The first liquid piston 365 includes axially inwardly of the first
mixing chamber
353 a radially outwardly extending annular flange 381 with an axially
outwardly directed
seat shoulder 382. A resilient annular disc 383 is provided coaxially about
the stem 375
immediately axially outwardly from the flange 381 with a central opening 384
of the disc
383 coaxially about the stem 375. The disc 383 carries a radially outer edge
385 that is
secured against movement and sealed to prevent flow therepast. The disc 383
carries an
axially inwardly directed sealing surface for engagement with the seat
shoulder 382 of the
flange 381 to prevent flow of air and/or liquid axially inwardly therepast.
The disc 383 is
resiliently deflectable axially outwardly away from the seat shoulder 382 to
permit air flow
axially outwardly from the air compartment 569 into the first mixing chamber
352. The
second one way air outlet valve 480 is an identical mirror image of the first
one way air
outlet valve 380.
[00083] In a retraction stroke of the piston forming element 14, the air pump
542
pressurizes the air compartment 569 closing the one way air inlet valve 505
and opening both
the first one way outlet valve 380 and the second one way outlet valve 480
forcing air into
18
CA 02899911 2015-08-07
,
,
,
the first mixing chamber 352 and the second mixing chamber 452 simultaneously
with the
first liquid pump 341 discharging liquid via the discharge outlet 351 into the
first mixing
chamber 352 and the second liquid pump 441 discharging liquid via the
discharge outlet 451
into the second mixing chamber 452. The first liquid 24 and the first air pass
through the
first foam inducing member 343 providing a first intermediate product to the
final mixing
chamber 33. The second liquid 124 and the second air through the second foam
inducing
member 443 providing a second intermediate product to the mixing chamber 33.
The first
intermediate product and the second intermediate product are then
simultaneously passed
through the outlet mixing chamber 33, the outlet foam inducing member 35 and
discharged
as a final product out the discharge outlet 37.
[00084] In the fourth embodiment, in effect a single air pump 542 is provided
comprising
the single air compartment 569 from which the two one way air outlet valves
383 and 483
provide separate flows of air to each of the first mixing chamber 352 and the
second mixing
chamber 452.
[00085] In the fourth embodiment, in one preferred method of operation, an
inlet 388 to
the first liquid chamber 362 is connected to a first reservoir containing the
first fluid 24 and
an inlet 488 of the second liquid pump 441 is connected to a second reservoir
containing the
second liquid 124. This is not necessary and both inlets 388 and 488 may be
connected to
the same reservoir as for example in the situation that the same fluid may be
desired to be
passed through both the first pump 341 and the second pump 441.
[00086] Reference is made to Figure 12 which illustrates an exploded view of
the
components of the pump assembly 12. The piston chamber forming body 15 is
shown as a
unitary member as preferably injection molded from plastic into which the two
one way
valves 301 and 401 each preferably a resilient member are to be secured as in
a snap fit. The
piston forming element 14 is shown as comprising four parts namely a nose
portion 520, a
bell portion 521, a valving member 522, a first piston element 389 and a
second piston
element 489. As can be seen from Figures 12 to 15, the valving member 522 has
a
cylindrical annular outer tube 523 which sealably engages in a snap fit in an
annular slot 524
in a base of the bell portion 521 and with a pair of inner cylindrical tubes
390 and 490
supported by the outer tube 523.
19
CA 02899911 2015-08-07
,
,
,
I
[00087] An upper portion of the first mixing chamber 352 opens
upwardly and is formed
within an axially inwardly extending first inner cylindrical wall ending at an
inner distal end.
A plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending and radially
inwardly extending
holding vanes 391 extend from the inside of the first inner cylindrical wall
towards the
center of the first inner cylindrical wall and define a central recess within
which an outer end
of the first piston element 389 is fixedly engaged as in a snap fit coaxially.
The inner
cylindrical tube 390 is sealably engaged coaxially about the first inner
cylindrical wall. The
disc 383 has its outer edge 385 secured to an axially inner end of first inner
cylindrical wall
and the disc 383 extends radially inwardly from axially inner end of first
inner cylindrical
wall to its central opening 384 coaxial about the stem 375 of the first liquid
piston 365,
axially outwardly of the seat shoulder 382 of the flange 381 on the stem 375.
The upper
portion of the first mixing chamber 352 within the first inner cylindrical
wall is supported on
a radially extending end wall which also supports a first outer cylindrical
tube opening
outwardly and forming an outer portion of the first mixing chamber 352 within
which the
first foam inducing member 343 is supported. An axially extending first port
is provided
through the end wall into the first outer cylindrical tube to provide
communication between
the upper portion of the first mixing chamber 352 and the lower portion of the
first mixing
chamber 352.
[00088] Similarly, an upper portion of the second mixing chamber 452
opens upwardly
and is formed within an axially inwardly extending second inner cylindrical
wall ending at an
inner distal end. A plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending
and radially
inwardly extending holding vanes 491 extend from the inside of the second
inner cylindrical
wall towards the center of the second inner cylindrical wall and define a
central recess
within which an outer end of the second piston element 489 is fixedly engaged
as in a snap
fit coaxially. The inner cylindrical tube 490 is sealably engaged coaxially
about the second
inner cylindrical wall. The disc 483 has its outer edge 485 secured to an
axially inner end of
second inner cylindrical wall and the disc 483 extends radially inwardly from
axially inner
end of second inner cylindrical wall to its central opening 484 coaxial about
the stem 475 of
the first liquid piston 465, axially outwardly of the seat shoulder 482 of the
flange 481 on the
stem 475. The upper portion of the second mixing chamber 452 within the second
inner
CA 02899911 2015-08-07
,
cylindrical wall is supported on a radially extending end wall which also
supports a second
outer cylindrical tube opening outwardly and forming an outer portion of the
second mixing
chamber 452 within which the second foam inducing member 443 is supported. An
second
axially extending port is provided through the end wall into the second outer
cylindrical tube
to provide communication between the upper portion of the second mixing
chamber 452 and
the lower portion of the second mixing chamber 452.
[00089]
The provision of the resilient components of each of the one way air inlet
valve
505 and the two one way air outlet valves 380 and 480 on the same valving
member 522
reduces the number of elements required for the pump assembly 12.
[00090] The fourth embodiment illustrates an arrangement in which two liquid
pumps 341
and 441 are operative with separate mixing chambers. Separate air outlets
deliver air from
the air pump 542 to the separate mixing chambers for each of the two liquid
pumps to which
the liquid from each pump is also delivered. In the fourth embodiment the two
liquid pumps
341 and 441 are located centrally of an air piston 571 of the air pump 542
within an air
chamber for the air pump 542 as is convenient for delivery of air to each of
the separate
mixing chambers for each of the two liquid pumps. The fourth embodiment
illustrates an
arrangement in which two liquid pumps 341 and 441 are operative with separate
mixing
chambers and with two separate air outlets delivering air from the air pump
542 to the
separate mixing chambers for each of the two liquid pumps to which the liquid
from each
pump is also delivered. The fourth embodiment may be modified such that the
second pump
441 may have its mixing chamber and the air delivery outlet for the second
pump eliminated
such that the second pump delivers merely the second liquid and not air.
[00091]
While the fourth embodiment illustrates an arrangement with two liquid pumps,
three or more such pumps may similarly be provided within air piston 571 of
the air pump
542. The air from the single air pump 542 may be delivered to but one or more
of the
mixing chambers of the liquid pumps.
[00092] Foam Inducing Member
[00093] The preferred embodiments illustrate the use as a foam inducing member
of a
screen. The particular nature of the foam inducing member is not limited.
Preferred foam
inducing members have relatively small opening through which a liquid and air
are forced to
21
CA 02899911 2015-08-07
produce foam. The foam inducing member may comprise for example a screen of
plastic or
metal; a mesh; a batting a bonded fibres, a porous body formed as by
sintering; and a porous
form of plastic material, for example, open celled foamed plastics. The foam
inducing
member preferably generates turbulence in the fluid passing there through to
generate foam
when air and a liquid are simultaneously passed through the porous member.
[00094] In the first embodiment of Figure 6, the outlet foam inducing member
34 is a
single screen. However, the outlet foam inducing member 34 may comprise a
number of
foam inducing elements. For example, as in Figure 8 in addition to the outlet
foam inducing
member 34 comprising two spaced screens 934 and 734 with a porous plug 834
between
them. One or more of the screen 934, the plug 734 and the screen 734 may be
eliminated.
[00095] Similarly, the first embodiment of Figure 6 the first foam inducing
member 43 is
a single screen. However, the first foam inducing member 43 may comprise one
or more
foam inducing elements such as described above in respect of the outlet foam
inducing
member 34, for example as a pair of spaced screens as one or more screens, and
as including
one or more porous plugs.
[00096] The
second foam inducing member 143 of the second foaming pump
arrangement 140 may be identical to the first foam inducing member 43 however
may also
be different. The first foam inducing member 43, the second foam inducing
member 143 and
the outlet foam inducing member 34 may each be the same or similar or
different. Each
should be suitably selected having regard for example up to a number of
features including
the desired characteristics of the resultant final product 39 and achieving
such desired
characteristics having regard to the nature of the first liquid 24and the
second liquid, the first
intermediate product 39, and the second intermediate product 139.
[00097] Feature Selection
[00098] The configuration of the pump assembly 12 permits a number of features
of the
pump assembly to be selected. The present invention and the preferred
embodiment of the
pump assembly 12 disclosed advantageously provide opportunities for adjusting
parameters
of the dispenser 10 and its method operation so as by simple experimentation
to determine
advantageous configurations to produce a final product with advantageous foam
characteristics for cleaning. Variables which can be selected include amongst
others:
22
CA 02899911 2015-08-07
,
,
,
[00099] A. The nature of each of the foam inducing members 33, 43 and 143;
[000100] B. The ratio of the volume of the first liquid 24 to the second
liquid 124;
[000101] C. (i) The ratio of the volume of the first liquid 24 to the first
air; and (ii) the ratio
of the volume of the second liquid 124 to the second air;
[000102] D. (i) The nature of the first liquid 24 and its additives; and (ii)
the nature of the
second liquid 124 and its additives.
[000103] A. Foam inducing members
[000104] The configuration of the pump assembly 12 permits the selection of
the foam
inducing members including the first foam inducing member 43, the second foam
inducing
member 143 and the outlet foam inducing member 34 to be selected to develop
advantageous foaming for each of the first intermediate product 44, the second
intermediate
product 144 the foam product 39.
[000105] B. Liquid/liquid ratio
[000106] The configuration of the pump assembly 12 permits the selection as to
the relative
volume of the first liquid 24 that is dispensed in each cycle compared to the
volume of
second liquid 124 that is dispensed in each cycle.
[000107] In the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figure 6 with the first
foaming pump
arrangement 40 and the second foaming pump arrangement 140 indicated as being
identical,
in each cycle of operation the volume of the first liquid 24 discharged and
the volume of the
second liquid 124 dispensed will be equal. This is not necessary and in many
applications it
will be advantageous to have the volume of the first liquid 24 discharged in a
cycle different
than the volume of the second liquid 124 discharged in a cycle having regard
to the nature of
the liquids being used. For example in the case that the first liquid is the
same as the second
liquid the second foaming pump arrangement 140 may liquid discharge a
different volume
of the second liquid 124 than the volume of the first liquid 24 discharged.
Preferably the
volume of the first fluid 24 discharged in a stroke is in a range of 1/4 to 4
time the volume of
the second fluid 124 discharged.
[000108] C. Liquid/Air ratio
[000109] The configuration of the pump assembly 12 permits the selection as to
the relative
volume of the first liquid 24 that is dispensed in each cycle compared to the
relative volume
23
CA 02899911 2015-08-07
,
,
,
,
of the first air that is dispensed in each cycle. The configuration of the
pump assembly 12
permits the selection as to the relative volume of the second liquid 124 that
is dispensed in
each cycle compared to the relative volume of the second t air that is
dispensed in each cycle.
[000110] The ratio of the volume of the first liquid 24 to the first air (at
atmospheric
pressure) is preferably selected having regard to the nature of the first
liquid 24 so as to
provide an advantageous ratio for the first intermediate product 44 to have a
desired foam
consistency. The ratio of volumes of the first liquid 24 to the first air may
vary widely.
Preferably the volume of the first air (said atmospheric pressure) is in the
range of 5 to 25
times volume of the first liquid 24; for example preferably in the range of
about 10 to 25
times, more preferably in the range of about 10 to 15 times, advantageously 15
times,
particularly when the first liquid comprises an alcohol and water composition
containing at
least 40% volume of alcohol by volume.
[000111] Preferably the volume of the second air (said atmospheric pressure)
is in the range
of 5 to 25 times volume of the second liquid 124; for example preferably in
the range of
about 10 to 25 times, more preferably in the range of about 10 to 15 times,
advantageously
15 times, particularly when the second liquid comprises an alcohol and water
composition
containing at least 40% volume of alcohol by volume.
[000112] In the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figure 6 with the first
foaming pump
arrangement 40 and the second foaming pump arrangement 140 indicated as being
identical,
in each cycle of operation the volume of the first air discharged and the
volume of the air
dispensed will be equal. This is not necessary and in many applications it
will be
advantageous to have the volume of the first air discharged in a cycle
different than the
volume of the second air discharged in a cycle. As well, the second foaming
pump
arrangement 140 may discharge the second liquid 124 in a different relative
volume to the
second air than the relative volume of the first liquid 140 to the first air.
[000113] D. Nature of the two Liquids
[000114] The dispenser in accordance with the present invention permits the
selection of
the first liquid 24 and the second liquid 124. The first liquid 24 may be the
same as the
second liquid 124 or the first liquid 24 may be different than the second
liquid.124.
[000115] i: Same Liquids
24
CA 02899911 2015-08-07
,
[000116] The first liquid can be selected to be the same as the second liquid.
Operation of
the first embodiment of the dispenser 10 with the first fluid 24 identical to
the second fluid
124 identical has a number of advantages.
[000117] Towards developing comparison test data, a dual dispenser in
accordance with
this invention having a configuration similar to that of the first preferred
embodiment shown
and including a first foaming pump arrangement, a second foaming arrangement
and a
foaming discharge arrangement is used to produce from a first liquid and a
second liquid, a
final dual product. For comparison, a test dispenser is configured to be
identical to the dual
dispenser but with the second foaming pump arrangement eliminated by being
disabled, such
that the test dispenser comprises merely the first foam pump arrangement and
the foaming
discharge arrangement. In a first test procedure, a test liquid is passed
through the test
dispenser to dispense a final test product from the discharge outlet. The
final test product is
compared to the final dual product.
[000118] As a first example and method of operation in accordance with the
present
invention, the first liquid 24 and the second fluid 124 are selected to both
be the same
commercially available water and alcohol first test mixture which normally
produces foam
when passed through a typical foam generator, and these two liquids are passed
through the
dual dispenser to produce the final dual product. The same water and alcohol
first test
mixture was passed through the first test dispenser to produce a test final
product. The test
product was a foamed products with reasonable foam characteristics for hand
cleaning. The
final dual product also was a foamed product with reasonable foam
characteristics for hand
cleaning, however, the dual product had different foam characteristics than
the foam
characteristics of the test product. The dual product has superior foam
characteristics for
hand cleaning than the test product, for example by including smaller foam
bubbles, more
consistent foam, and more stable foam. The foam of the test product foam did
not have as
advantageous properties as the foam of the dual product. It is believed that
in the dual
dispenser in accordance with the present invention the mixing of the foamed
intermediate
products, that is, the first intermediate product 44 and the second
intermediate product 144 in
the mixing chamber 33 and their subsequent passage through the outlet foam
inducing
CA 02899911 2015-08-07
,
,
,
,
member 37 enhances dispersion of air within the liquids and results in smaller
air bubbles a
more consistent foam characteristics of the dual foam product.
[000119] As a second example and method of operation in accordance with the
present
invention, the first liquid and the second fluid are selected to both be the
same commercially
available liquid soap and water second test mixture which normally produces
foam when
passed through a typical foam generator, and these two liquids are passed
through the dual
dispenser to produce the final dual product. The same liquid soap and water
second test
mixture was also passed through the first test dispenser to produce a test
final product. The
test product was a foamed products with reasonable foam characteristics for
hand cleaning.
The final dual product also was a foamed product with reasonable foam
characteristics for
hand cleaning, however, the dual product had different foam characteristics
than the foam
characteristics of the test product. The dual product has superior foam
characteristics for
hand cleaning than the test product, for example by including smaller foam
bubbles, more
consistent foam, and more stable foam. The foam of the test product foam did
not have as
advantageous properties as the foam of the dual product. It is believed that
in the dual
dispenser in accordance with the present invention the mixing of the foamed
intermediate
products, that is, the first intermediate product 44 and the second
intermediate product 144 in
the mixing chamber 33 and their subsequent passage through the outlet foam
inducing
member 37 enhances dispersion of air within the liquids and results in smaller
air bubbles a
more consistent foam characteristics of the dual foam product.
[000120] ii: Different Liquids
[000121] The first liquid 24 may be selected to be different than the second
liquid 124.
Operation of the first embodiment of the dispenser 10 with the first fluid 24
different than the
second fluid 124 has a number of advantages.
[000122] As a third example and method of operation in accordance with the
present
invention, the first liquid 24 is a commercially available mixture of alcohol
and water which
foams when passed through the first foaming pump arrangement 40 of the dual
dispenser to
produce the first intermediate product 44 as a foam. The second liquid 125 is
a commercially
available mixture of liquid soap and water which produces foam when passed
through the
second foaming pump arrangement 140 of the dual dispenser to produce the
second
26
CA 02899911 2015-08-07
,
,
,
,
intermediate product 145 as a foam. Surprisingly, when such first intermediate
product 44
comprising a foamed alcohol and water mixture and the second intermediate
product 144
comprising the foam liquid soap and water mixture are passed through the
foaming discharge
arrangement 30 of the dual dispenser in accordance with the present invention
a resultant
dual product is provided which is a foamed product having foam with
characteristics suitable
for hand cleaning however not as good foam characteristics as the best of
either first
intermediate product 44 or the first intermediate product 44. The dual product
however has
advantageous cleaning properties in comprising a mixture of alcohol, soap and
water. In one
aspect the present invention provides such a foamed dual product including
air, alcohol,
liquid soap and water, and a method of producing the same with a dual
dispenser in
accordance with the present invention.
[000123] As fourth example and method of operation in accordance with the
present
invention, the first liquid 24 is selected as a first mixture of soap and
water and the second
liquid 124 is a second mixture of soap and water different than the first
mixture of soap and
water. The second mixture differs from the first mixture as to any manner of
features,
including the nature of the soap(s), the relative weight/volume of the
soap(s), and the nature
and/or relative amounts of different additives including for example foaming
agents, foam
stabilizing agents, surfactants, skin moisturizers, fragrances and the like.
[000124] As a fifth example and method of operation in accordance with the
present
invention, the first liquid 24 is a first alcohol and water composition and
the second liquid
124 is a second alcohol and water composition different than the first alcohol
and water
composition. The second alcohol and water composition differs from the first
alcohol and
water composition as to any manner of features, including the nature of the
alcohol(s), the
relative volume of the alcohol(s), and the nature and/or relative amounts of
different
additives including for example foaming agents, foam stabilizing agents,
surfactants, skin
moisturizers, fragrances and the like.
[000125] As a sixth example and method of operation in accordance with the
present
invention, as the first fluid a commercially available cleaning composition is
selected that
comprises alcohol and water and includes additives that ensure that when the
cleaning
composition is passed through the test dispenser a test product is dispensed
that is a foam
27
CA 02899911 2015-08-07
,
,
,
product with advantageous cleaning properties.. The second liquid is selected
to be this same
commercially available cleaning composition but modified to decrease the
additives to an
amount such that when the second fluid is passed through the test dispenser a
test product is
dispensed that has but marginal foaming. Such first fluid and second fluid are
passed through
the dual dispenser in accordance with the present invention and the dual
product obtained is a
foam product with improved quality compared to the test product.
[000126] In a the seventh example and method of operation in accordance with
the present
invention, a commercially available base cleaning composition is selected that
comprises
water and alcohol, for example 30% to 40% by volume of the volume of the
composition,
and includes a foaming agent in a base amount that ensures that when such
cleaning
composition the is passed through the test dispenser a test product is
dispensed as a foam
product with advantageous cleaning properties. The first liquid 24 is selected
to be the base
cleaning composition however modified to increase the amount of foaming agent
from the
base amount by an excess amount. The excess amount is selected to be an amount
which
assists when the first intermediate product 44 and the second intermediate
product liquid 144
are passed through the foaming discharge arrangement 30, in producing the dual
product as a
foam product. The second liquid is selected to be an alcohol and water
composition that
comprises alcohol in a greater % than the first liquid, for example 40% to 90%
by volume of
the volume of the composition, and no foaming agent, or small amounts of a
foaming agent
such that when the second liquid is passed through the test dispenser the test
product is a
product that is not a foam product or a partially or poorly foamed product.
When the first
liquid and the second liquid are passed through the dual dispenser a dual
product is
discharges as a foam product with advantageous cleaning proper-ties.
[000127] In the seventh example , the excess amount of the foaming agent can
be selected
for example as amount of the foaming agent required to dispense from the test
dispenser a
test product that is a foam product by mixing the first liquid and the second
liquid as liquids
in a volume ratio that they are dispensed through the dual dispenser. The
sixth example can
be used to avoid proprietary compositions which restrict proportions of
ingredients based on
volume % of the total composition by selecting the first liquid and the second
liquid to
avoid the proprietary compositions and ensuring that with the addition of the
first air and any
28
CA 02899911 2015-08-07
the second air that any compositions in the foaming discharge arrangement 30
are different
than the proportions of ingredients in proprietary compositions.
[000128] The use of the first liquid 24 with higher than normal as for example
double the
foaming agents can produce a highly foamed first intermediate product 44 which
when
mixed with the second intermediate product 144 will provide an advantageous
foam
characteristics to the dual product even when the second intermediate product
144 may not
be a foam, or if a foam does not have advantageous characteristics for hand
cleaning. In this
seventh example as one preferred scenario the first liquid 24 is a mixture of
35% by volume
alcohol to the total composition with the balance being water and a foaming
agents in an
amount of the base amount plus an excess amount of 1 to 3 times base amount,
and the
second liquid 124 in a volume equal to that of the first liquid, and
comprising 70 to 90 % by
volume alcohol with a balance being water and no foaming agent. The first
liquid 24 in
passing through the first foaming pump arrangement 40 provides the first
intermediate
product as a foam while the second liquid provides the second intermediate
product 144 as a
product that is not foam or only partially foamed. However when such first
intermediate
product 44 and the second intermediate product 144 are passed through the
foaming
discharge arrangement 30 of the dual dispenser the dual product has
advantageous foam
characteristics for hand cleaning.
[000129] An eighth example and method of operation in accordance with the
present
invention is the same as the seventh example however in which the base
composition
includes a stabilizing agent and or other additives in a base amount in the
range if 1 to 3
times the base amount. The second liquid is to not include the stabilizer or
other additives or
not to include the stabilizer or other additives up to the base amount. The
excess amount of
the stabilizer is selected such when the first intermediate product 44 and the
second
intermediate product liquid 144 are passed through the foaming discharge
arrangement 30,
the dual product to stabilize the dual product. The excess amount of the
stabilizing agent
can be selected for example as amount of the stabilizing agent required to
produce by passing
through the test dispenser a test product that is a stabilized foam by mixing
the first liquid
and the second liquid as liquids in a volume ratio that they are dispensed
through the dual.
[000130] General
29
CA 02899911 2015-08-07
,
,
,
,
[000131] The preferred dispenser 10 in Figure 1 illustrated the preferred
pumping assembly
12 to dispense the final product 39 downwardly from the dispenser onto the
user's hand 620.
However, many other pump assemblies may be utilized, for example, to discharge
product
upwardly from a reservoir such as for example utilizing as both the first
foaming pump
arrangement 40 and the second foaming pump arrangement 140 two foam dispensing
pumps
as taught by U.S. Patent No. 5,271,530 to Eurira et al.
[000132] The preferred embodiments illustrative the pump assembly 12 in which
both the
first foaming pump arrangement 40 and the second foaming pump arrangement 140
as well
as the second liquid pump arrangement 240 comprise piston pumps. This is not
necessary
and various other forms of pumps may be used without limitation to discharge
the liquids
and/or the liquids and air in substitution of each of the pump arrangements
disclosed in the
preferred embodiments.
[000133] The preferred first embodiment as shown in the Figures 2 to 7
illustrates the use
of a first foaming pump arrangement 40 having a configuration as disclosed in
the above-
noted U.S. Patent No. 8,272,539. Such an arrangement provides the first liquid
pump 41 to
be out of phase with the first air pump 42 such that in a withdrawal stroke,
air is drawn by the
air pump 42 into a variable volume air compartment from the atmosphere through
the
discharge outlet 37; and, the first liquid 24 is discharged by the liquid pump
41 into the air
compartment; and in a retraction stroke, the first liquid 24 is drawn by the
liquid pump 41
into a variable volume liquid compartment and the first air and the first
liquid 24 within the
air compartment are discharged through the first discharge passageway 45. The
use of out of
phase pumps is not necessary and piston pumps may be used as in the fourth
embodiment of
Figures 11 to 15 in which each air pump and a liquid pump are in phase.
[000134] The first reservoir 16 and the second reservoir 116 are each
preferably
collapsible, however, need not be collapsible and may be vented or otherwise a
mechanism
may be provided to permit air to enter each chambers 18 and 118 to prevent a
build of
vacuum in either chamber which could prevent the dispensing of liquid from the
chamber. In
the preferred embodiment, the reservoir assembly 13 is shown as an integral
member which
can be made as by molding as one piece as can assist in handling of the
cartridge 10 however
this is not necessary. Each of the first reservoir 16 and second reservoir 116
may comprise
CA 02899911 2015-08-07
separate elements. In the preferred embodiment, the reservoirs are shown to be
mirror images
of each other and to have the same volume. This is not necessary and for
example the
reservoirs may have different volumes.
[000135] In both the first preferred embodiment and the second preferred
embodiment,
piston pumps are utilized and a single piston 14 is provided which
incorporates the two
pistons for the two pump arrangements, plus their discharge outlets, their
mixing chambers,
their foam inducing members, and discharge passageways as well as the foaming
discharge
arrangement 30 including the outlet mixing chamber 33, the outlet foam
inducing member
37 and the discharge outlet 36. The single piston 14 in effect forming with
the outlet
passageways 44 and 144 and the mixing inlet passageway 34 an outlet manifold
for the two
piston pump arrangements. Having the piston 12 mechanically couples the
pistons for the
first foaming pump assembly 30, the second foaming pump assembly 31 and/or the
second
liquid pump assembly provides a convenient arrangement for manufacture and
permits a
single activator such as the lever 88 in Figure 1 to engage the piston 14 and
reciprocally
move it relative to the piston chamber forming body 15 driving the two pump
arrangements
simultaneously.
[000136] The hand cleaner foam dispenser 600 illustrated in Figure 1 shows an
arrangement in which the cartridge 10 is adapted for use in a manually
operated dispenser. A
cartridge 10 as disclosed in accordance with the present invention is readily
adapted for use
with automatic soap dispensers such as the motor driven touchless dispensers
shown in U.S.
Patent No. 8,622,243 to Ophardt et al. issued January 7, 2014 and U.S. Patent
No. 8,733,596
to Ophardt et al. issued May 27, 2004, the disclosures of which are
incorporated herein by
reference.
[000137] The present invention has disclosed first, second and third
embodiments each of
which have two pump arrangements, 40 and 140, discharging two respective
liquids 24 and
124 into the foam discharging arrangement 30. It is within the scope of the
present invention
to provide a third, fourth or more such pump arrangements. While not
necessary, the pump
arrangements may all be mechanically coupled to the foam discharge arrangement
30 with
the arrangement 30 providing an effective discharge manifold for the pump
arrangements. In
the case that the pump assembly comprises a piston pump assembly 12 as in the
preferred
31
CA 02899911 2015-08-07
embodiments, each of the first pump arrangement, second pump arrangement ,
third pump
arrangement and any additional pump arrangements can be disposed side by side
with each
disposed for sliding about parallel axes.
[000138] In accordance with the present invention there is delivered to the
foaming
discharge arrangement 30 the first intermediate product 44 preferably as a
foamed product
and one or more of: (a) the second intermediate product 144 as a foam product,
(b) the
second liquid 124 as a liquid, and (c) the second air as a separate air
stream. In the preferred
embodiments, all these input streams to the foam discharge arrangement 30 are
shown as
passing through and being mixed in the mixing passageway 32. It is within the
scope of this
invention to deliver these different inputs to the foam discharge arrangement
30 at different
locations as for example at different radial or axial locations in the mixing
chamber 33 and to
discharge axially or radially or tangentially about an axis of the mixing
chamber 33 into the
mixing chamber 33.
[000139] While the invention has been described with reference to preferred
embodiments,
many variations and modifications will occur to these skilled in the art and
for a definition of
the invention reference is made to the claims.
32
