Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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MODULAR COUNTER MOUNTED FLUID DISPENSING APPARATUS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to fluid dispensing
apparatus and more particularly to countertop mounted liquid soap
dispensers.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Thera are a variety of countertop mounted fluid
dispensers known in the prior art. These dispensers have typically
.included refillable soap reservoirs into which dip tubes are
inserted. The dip tubes have typically included one or two check
valves and a piston-type pump. These pump and valve arrangements
have always been permanent installations and over a period of time
the valves and/or pumps often fail or become clogged such that no
soap can be dispensed.
One such dispenser is depicted in U.S. Patent No. 1,229,556
the Watrous. Watrous teaches a dip tube extending downward into
a reservoir wherein the dip tube has a ball check valve at the base
thereof. In order to refill the reservoir, it is necessary to
disengage the reservoir from mounting bracket and pour liquid soap
into the open topped receptacle.
Another soap dispenser is shown in U.S. Patent 923,447 to
Schmidt which teach~e a relatively typical piston driven pump
arrangement. The piston rod and the piston are contiguous and
intended to be a permanent installation. In order to fill the
receptacle of Schmidt, it is necessary to remove the pumping
apparatus from the countertop and then remove the receptacle from
below the countertop. Liquid soap can then be poured into the
container and the entire assembly is reinstalled.
Nothing in the prior art teaches a bifurcated modular system
wherein there is a permanent actuator sod dispenser assembly which
engages with a disposable reservoir and piston pump module.
CA 02046481 2001-09-28
Nothing in the prior art teaches a soap reservoir the internals of
which are substantially sealed from atmospheric contamination at
all times. The prior art further fails to teach a system or
apparatus in which the permanent dispensing spout does not act as
the primary conduit for the delivery of liquid soap.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of an aspect of the present
invention to provide the countertop mounted liquid soap dispensing
apparatus which includes a permanently mounted actuator rod and
dispenser spout module adapted to be used in conjunction with the
disposal soap reservoir and piston pump module.
It is another object of an aspect of the present invention to
provide a. liquid soap reservoir, the internal soap which remains
substantially sealed from the environment at all times.
Another object of an aspect of the present invention is to
provide a soap dispensing apparatus where the actuator rod channel
and actuator rod do not come in contact with the soap.
A further object of an aspect of the present invention is to
provide a soap dispensing apparatus where liquid soap does not
come in contact with the internal service of the dispenser spout.
Still another object of an aspect of the present invention is
to provide a disposable soap reservoir cartridge containing its
own positive displacement pump and delivery tube.
It is another object of an aspect of the present invention to
provide a positive displacement pump for dispensing liquid soap
where the pump piston serves simultaneously as both the pump
piston and a check valve.
Still a further object of an aspect of the present invention
is to provide a countertop mounted soap dispensing where the
actuator is angled from the vertical toward the user in a more
ergonomic position.
Yet another object of an aspect of the present invention is
to provide a liquid soap dispensing system wherein soap cannot be
spilled from the reservoir during loading or unloading.
Briefly stated, the foregoing and numerous other objects of
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CA 02046481 2001-09-28
aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will
become readily apparent upon reading of the detailed description,
claims and drawings set forth herein. These objects of aspects,
features and advantages are accomplished through the creation of a
disposable reservoir module for liquid soap having incorporated
therein a positive displacement pump at the base thereof. This
disposable reservoir module includes a guide cylinder for
receiving an actuator rod for actuating the positive displacement
pump. The guide cylinder internals are sealed from the pump and
the soap reservoir bag such that the liquid soap is not exposed
thereto.
The disposable reservoir module is used in conjunction with a
countertop mounted dispensing module. The dispensing module
includes a delivery spout and the manually operated actuator rod
assembly mentioned above which actuates the positive displacement
pump in the disposable reservoir module.
A flexible delivery tube is further provided to the
disposable reservoir module for insertion through the delivery
spout of the countertop mounted dispenser module. Once the
disposable reservoir module is in place, it is supported within a
bayonet mounted support canister.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,
there is provided a countertop mounted soap dispensing apparatus
for use with a liquid soap reservoir module, the dispensing
apparatus comprising:
a) a frame including a nipple extending through the
countertop;
b) an actuator rod extending through the frame and nipple;
c) a sleeve about the actuator rod extending downward from
the nipple, the actuator rod extending beyond the sleeve and
having a free distal end unaffixed to a pump piston for abutting a
spring biased piston pump assembly when the free distal end is
inserted into a liquid soap reservoir module.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention, there is provided a liquid soap reservoir module
comprising:
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CA 02046481 2001-09-28
a) a container section having an enclosing top affixed
thereto;
b) a pump affixed to a bottom wall means of the container
section;
c) a cylinder extending from the enclosing top through the
container section to the pump.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention, there is provided a liquid soap reservoir module for
use with a liquid soap dispensing apparatus, the liquid soap
dispensing apparatus including a delivery spout, the liquid soap
reservoir comprises:
a) a container section having an enclosing top section
affixed thereto;
b) a pump housing affixed to the bottom of the container
section;
c) a cylinder extending from the top section to the pump
housing; and
d) a delivery tube extending from the pump housing through
the delivery spout.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention, there is provided a viscous fluid reservoir module for
use with a viscous fluid dispensing apparatus, the viscous fluid
dispensing apparatus including a delivery spout, the viscous fluid
reservoir module comprises:
a) a container section including an enclosing top section and
a lower cap affixed thereto;
b) a pump housing affixed to the container section;
c) a guide cylinder extending from the enclosing top section
into the container section and in alignment with the pump housing;
d) a flexible delivery tube extending from the pump housing
through the delivery spout, the flexible delivery tube being
slidable into and out of the delivery spout, the flexible delivery
tube having a distal end extending beyond the delivery spout
thereby preventing any viscous fluid being dispensed from
contacting the viscous fluid dispensing apparatus.
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In accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention there is provide a viscous fluid dispensing apparatus
for mounting on a supporting surface, the viscous fluid dispensing
apparatus for use with a viscous fluid reservoir module including
a pump, the viscous fluid dispensing apparatus comprises:
a) a frame including a nipple for extending through the
supporting surface;
b) an actuator rod channel in the frame for receiving an
actuator assembly, the actuator assembly extending through the
frame and the nipple and having a distal end unaffixed to a pump
piston, the distal end abutting and interactable with the pump
when the distal end is inserted into the viscous fluid reservoir
module.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is front elevation of the liquid soap dispensing
apparatus of the present invention.
Figure 2 is cross sectional view of the liquid soap
dispensing apparatus of the present invention taken along line 2-2
of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the
dispensing module of the present invention.
Figure 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the reservoir
module of the present invention.
Figure 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the
dispensing module of the present invention rotated 90° from the
view depicted in Fig. 4.
Figure 6 is an exploded front elevation of the frame.
Figure 7 is an isometric view of the pump housing with the
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suction nozzle exploded therefrom.
Figure 8 is an isometric view of the guide cylinder and
funnel-like opening with the top section shown in ghost.
Figure 9 is a side elevation of the pump piston.
Figure 10 is a cross section of the pump piston taken along
line 10-10 in Figure 9.
Figure 11 is a side elevation of the pump shaft.
Figure 12 is a cross sectional view of the pump shaft taken
along line 12-12 of Figure 11.
Figure 13 is a cross sect:tonal view of the distal end of the
delivery tube.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Turning first to Figure 1 there is shown the liquid soap
- .dispensing apparatus 10 of the present invention. The liquid soap
dispensing apparatus 10 includes a delivery spout module 12 and a
reservoir and pump module 14.. Reservoir and pump module 14 is
supported within canister 16. Delivery spout module 12 includes
a housing 18 which contains frame 20. (See Fig. 2 and Fig. 3) Frame
20 is actually made up of two adjacent pieces forwing there between
actuator rod channel 22 and delivery spout bore 24. The two pieces
of frame 20 are held together by screw and hex nut 25 as well as
by annular brass sleeve 27 and ultrasonic welding. Both actuator
rod channel 22 and delivery spout bore 24 are angulated and the
angulation of each is similarly obtuse, preferably 60° from the
horizontal.
Contained within actuator rod channel 22 are upper actuator
rod 26, link 28 and lower actuator rod 30 forming an actuator rod
assembly. The lower portion of upper actuator rod 26 terminates
in a boxed end female connector 32. Similarly, the upper end of
the lower actuator rod 30 terminates in a boxed end female
connector 34. Disposed between female connectors 32 and 34 is link
28. Link 28 includes two substantially cylindrical ends 36, the
cylindrical axes of which are substantially perpendicular to the
cylindrical axes of actuator rod channel 22. Cylindrical ends 36
reside engagingly in the substantially cylindrical channels 38 of
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female connectors 32 and 34 in such manner that, as upper actuator
rod 26 is driven downward in actuator rod channel 22, female
connectors 32 and 34 and link 28 allow for a pivoting movement
through the angulated portion of actuator rod channel 22 thereby
driving lower actuator rod 30 simultaneously downward within
actuator rod channel 22.
The upper portion of upper actuator rod 26 terminates in a
threaded receptacle 40. There is a cap 42 attached to threaded
receptacle 40 by means of screw 44. Cap 42 has an annular channel
46 for slidable engagement with the upper portion of housing 18.
Cap 42 is provided with a snap-in button 48 covering the top of
screw 44.
Disposed within delivery spout bore 24 is delivery spout 50.
.Delivery spout 50 includes outwardly flared end 52. Delivery spout
~50, is preferably made of stainless steel. Housing 18 is
preferably chrome plated acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).
Extending radially outwardly from frame 20 is support flange
54 which is adapted to reside in abutting position with a
countertop 56. A resilient washer 58 is provided to allow for
substantially sealed engagement between housing 18, support flange
54 and countertop 56 thereby preventing the intrusion of water and
soap which may collect on countertop 56 into housing 18.
The lower portion of frame 20 includes threaded nipple 60.
Threadably engaging nipple 60 is nut 62. Nut 62 engages the lower
surface of countertop 56 thereby holding the frame 20 and housing
18 securely to countertop 56.
Also threadably engaging nipple 60 is canister top 64.
Extending down from nipple 60 through canister tap 64 is actuator
rod sleeve 66. Actuator rod sleeve 66 is substantially coaxial
with lower actuator rod 30 and lower actuator rod 30 extends
through and beyond actuator rod sleeve 66. Canister top 64 is
adapted for bayonet type mounting to canister 16. Disposed within
canister 16 and canister top 64 is reservoir and pump module 14.
Reservoir and pump module 14 includes a,substantially cylindrical
container section or wall 68. Mounted to the top of container
section 68 is enclosing top section 70. Top section 70 has an
opening 71 therein. Angling downward and inward of opening ?1 are
a plurality of fingers 73. There is a guide cylinder 80 extending
down through said top section 70. Guide cylinder 80 includes a
funnel-like opening 72 which has an annular ridge 75 on the outside
thereof. The ends of fingers 73 engage ridge 75 when guide
cylinder 80 is fully inserted into top section 70. There is a
delivery tube slot 74 into funnel-like opening 72. An arcuate,
free-end finger 77 extending from top section 70 aligns with
delivery tube slot 74.
Mounted to the base of wall 68 is lower cap 76 which is
substantially cylindrical. Mounted within lower cap 76 and
extending upward therefrom is pump housing 78. Extending radially
,outward from pump housing 78 is wall 81 which circumferentially
engages annular lip 83 extending radially inward from lower cap 76.
Pump housing 78, is press fit into and ultrasonically welded to
guide cylinder 80 at annular channel 85.
Contained within reservoir and pump module 14 is a collapsible
bag 82 of liquid soap which includes a bag outlet nozzle
ultrasonically welded thereto. The bag outlet nozzle is press fit
onto pump suction nozzle 98. Bag 82 wraps around guide cylinder
80 inside of container wall 68. Residing within guide cylinder 80
is pump shaft 84 more clearly depicted in Fig. 4. The top of pump
shaft 84 resides in abutting position with the distal end 88 of the
lower actuator rod 30. The lower end of pump shaft 84 connects to
pump piston 90 which extends into pump housing 78. The cross
section of pump shaft 84 is a cross as shown clearly in Fig. 12.
There is a flange 86 radially extending from pump shaft 84. An
annular, resilient seal 92 is provided about pump piston 90
providing a seal between pump piston 90 and pump housing 78. There
is a washer 93 resting on seal 92. Spring 94 resides between
flange 86 and washer 93.
Pump piston 90 includes two hinged wing sections or members
96 extending therefrom. Pump piston 90 and hinged members 96 are
preferably molded polypropylene. The narrowness of the joinder of
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wing members 96 to the main body of pump piston 90 creates what is
often referred to as a "living" hinge. Hinged wing members 96
extend outwardly in sealing engagement with the internal walls of
Bump housing 78 on the downward pumping stroke of pump piston 90.
As pump piston 90 moves upwardly in housing 78 in an intake or non-
pumping stroke, the weight and the viscosity of liquid soap within
pump housing 78 above hinged sections 96 causes hinged sections 96
to pivot inwardly and away from the internal walls of pump housing
78 thereby allowing liquid soap to pass around and below pump
piston 90 in preparation for the next downward pumping stroke. In
such manner, pump piston 90 with hinged sections 96 function as
both a positive displacement piston and a check valve. The
preferable range of liquid soap viscosities for which the pump
.piston 90 and hinged sections 96 will adequately perform is 50 to
15,000 cps.
Extending from pump housing 78 is pump suction nozzle 98 which
is bayonet mounted and ultrasonically welded to pump housing 78 and
extends through an opening in wall 81. Pump housing 78 is provided
with discharge nozzle 100. Ultrasonically welded to discharge
nozzle 100 is ball check valve 101 which includes spring 102 and
ball 103. Depending on soap viscosity ball check valve 101 can be
replaced with a duck bill check valve. Ball check valve 101
prevents soap from backflowing into pump housing 78 and therefore
aids in promoting the downward movement of hinged sections 96
during an intake or non-pumping stroke. In operation, ball 103
unseats with each pumping stroke of pump piston 90 allowing soap
to flow through ball check valve 101. On the non-pumping or
suction stroke of piston 90, spring 102 drives ball 103 downward
to reseat within check valve 101. As ball 103 moves to reseat it
pulls or sucks back a small quantity of soap contained in delivery
tube 104. In such manner, dripping and stringing of soap from
distal end 110 is prevented. Extending from check valve 101 is
flexible delivery tube 104. Delivery tube 104 is supported along
the outside of guide cylinder 80 by brackets 105 and extends
through delivery tube slot 74. Arcuate, fres-end finger 77
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provides non-crimping support for delivery tube 104 in slot 74.
It should be noted that Figure 4 shows pump housing 78 to be
ecceiitricly mounted within reservoir and pump module 14. Although
Figure 4 shows check valve 101 to extend from pump housing 78 to
the wide side of the eccentricity, it may be more advantageous to
have suction nozzle 98 extend to the wide of the eccentricity. In
such manner, more room will be provided to attach the outlet nozzle
of collapsible bag 82 to suction nozzle 98 allowing for easier
assembly.
Delivery spout module 12 is intended to be permanently mounted
to a countertop 56 as previously described. In order to install
a reservoir and pump module 14 to thereby provide an adequate
supply of liquid soap to the dispensing apparatus 10 of the present
.invention, support canister 16 is disconnected from canister top
.64. Reservoir and pump module 14 may then be placed in support
canister 16 and positioned such that as support canister 16 is
raised to reconnect to canister top 64, delivery tube 104 inserts
into funnelled aperture 106 and through delivery spout 50.
Similarly, the distal end 88 of lower actuator rod 30 inserts
_through funnel-like opening 72 and into guide cylinder 80. As
support canister 16 is mated with canister top 64, the distal end
88 of piston rod 30 resides in abutting position with shaft 84.
Flared end 52 prevents delivery tube 104 from getting caught on
bottom edge of spout 50 during insertion. Further, the distal end
110 of delivery tube 104 is substantially hemispherical With a
center bore through which soap can pass. (See Fig. 13.) The
hemispherical shape of distal end 110 also aids in the easy
insertion of delivery tube 104 into spout 50.
In operation, the user need only press cap 42 downward on
housing 18 thereby causing actuator rod 30 to drive pump shaft 84
and pump piston 90 downward thereby pumping liquid soap from pump
housing 78 through ball check valve 101 and delivery tube 104 for
receipt by the user. As the user releases button 72, spring 94
drives pump shaft 84 upward within cylinder 80 causing pump piston
90 to move~upward within pump housing 78 in readiness for the next
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pumping stroke. Because piston rod channel 22 is obtusely
angulated, cap 42 and upper piston rod 26 are angled toward the
user in a more ergonomic position than a typical vertically
arranged piston rod.
Delivery tube 104 extends completely through the length of
delivery spout 50 such that the distal end 110 resides beyond the
end of spout 50 thus ensuring that no soap contacts the inner wall
of spout 50 where contamination and/or bacterial infestations could
occur over periods of time.
Projecting from the base of pump housing 78 is pivot point
112. Although not shown as such in Figures 4 and 5, pivot point
112 is located on .the cylindrical axis of refill or reservoir
module 14. Pivot point 112 descends to a substantially concial end
which is intended to reside in and be supported by a hub in the
,bottom of support canister 16. Such hub fncludes a mating conical
recess. Refill module 14 is thus vertically supported upon pivot
paint 112 when installed within support canister 16. Refill module
14 and support canister may therefore rotate relative to one
another, allowing the bayonet mounting of support canister 16 to
canister top 64 without the possibility of twisting or kinking
delivery tube 104.
It should be recognized that because reservoir module is
disposable, each time a reservoir module 14 is spent of liguid
soap, it is replaced with a new module 14. A new reservoir module
14 necessarily includes a new pump piston 90 and a new ball check
valve. This modular replacement feature of the present inventian
therefore obviates th~ problems of valve and pump wear failure
faced in the prior art.
Although the figures show pump housing 78 mounted within lower
cap 76, pump housing 78 may be affixed to guide tube 80 near upper
cap 70. In such an arrangement, a suction tube extending from
suction nozzle 98 to the bottom of collapsible bag 82 would be
required.
It should be understood that if the connection of container
section 68 to lower cap 76 and upper cap 70 is made liquid tight,
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collapsible bag 82 may be eliminated. This would necessitate the
inclusion of a vent through upper cap 70 to allow air to flow into
refill 14 as soap is pumped therefrom.
From the foregoing, it will seen that this invention is one
well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set
forth together with other advantages which are apparent and which
are inherent to the apparatus.
It will be understood that certain features and
subcombinations are of utility and may be employed with reference
to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and
is within the scope of the claims.
As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention
without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood
.that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying
drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting
sense.
