Variable output pump for foam dispensing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10010224-B2
Application number	US-201615005053-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 25, 2016
Priority date	Jan 26, 2015
Publication date	Jul 3, 2018
Grant date	Jul 3, 2018

Abstract

An exemplary refill unit for a foam dispenser includes a container for holding foamable liquid and a liquid pump. The liquid pump includes a pump housing and an outlet nozzle with an elongated central axis. The pump housing has an arcuate shaped liquid pump chamber formed by a backing plate. The backing plate includes a liquid inlet and a flexible membrane. At least a portion of the elongated central axis of the nozzle extends through a central area defined, at least in part, by the arcuate shaped pump chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A refill unit for a foam dispenser comprising:
a container for holding a foamable liquid;
a liquid pump having a pump housing and an outlet nozzle;
the pump housing having an arcuate shaped liquid pump chamber at least partially formed by a backing plate with a liquid inlet and a flexible membrane;

wherein the outlet nozzle has an elongated central axis; and
wherein at least a portion of the elongated central axis extends through an area located within the arc defined by the arcuate shaped pump chamber; and
wherein the arcuate shaped liquid pump chamber is located in a plane that is perpendicular to the elongated central axis and the arcuate shaped liquid pump chamber at least partially surrounds the elongated central axis.

2. A refill unit for a foam dispenser comprising:
a container for holding a foamable liquid;
a liquid pump having a pump housing and an outlet nozzle;
the pump housing having an arcuate shaped liquid pump chamber at least partially formed by a backing plate with a liquid inlet and a flexible membrane;

wherein the outlet nozzle has an elongated central axis; and
wherein at least a portion of the elongated central axis extends through area located within the arc defined by the arcuate shaped pump chamber;
wherein the backing plate comprises a horseshoe shaped arcuate recess, and wherein the liquid inlet is located proximate a first end of the arcuate recess.

3. The refill unit of claim 2 wherein the liquid passage is located at the end of the arcuate pump chamber.

4. The refill unit of claim 2 wherein the outlet nozzle extends downward from the interior portion of the pump housing.

5. The refill unit of claim 2 further comprising a liquid outlet valve located on an interior portion of the pump housing between the horseshoe shaped arcuate pump chamber and the outlet nozzle.

6. The refill unit of claim 2 wherein the horseshoe shaped arcuate pumping chamber moves fluid along a path that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of fluid that flows out of the outlet nozzle.

7. The refill unit of claim 2 wherein the outlet nozzle comprises one or more air inlet openings.

8. The refill unit of claim 2 wherein the outlet nozzle comprises one or more sealing members for sealing against a dispenser housing to create an air passage.

9. A refill unit for a foam dispenser comprising:
a container for holding a foamable liquid;
a pump housing connected to the container;
the pump housing having a base, a backing plate, a flexible membrane and an outlet nozzle;
an arcuate shaped pump chamber formed at least in part by the base, the backing plate and the flexible membrane;
a liquid inlet in the first end of the arcuate shaped pump chamber and a liquid outlet located in the second end of the arcuate shaped pump chamber;
a liquid outlet passage extending into an area that is at least partially surrounded by the arcuate shaped pump chamber;
the outlet nozzle extending from the liquid outlet passage to the outlet of the pump housing;
a foaming media located at least partially in the outlet nozzle; and
one or more air inlet apertures located downstream of the liquid outlet passage and upstream of the foaming media.

10. The refill unit of claim 9 wherein fluid flowing through the arcuate shaped pump chamber flows in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to a direction of fluid flow in the outlet nozzle.

11. The refill unit of claim 9 wherein the arcuate shaped pump chamber is along a substantially horizontal axis and the outlet nozzle extends along a substantially vertical axis.

12. A refill unit for a foam dispenser comprising:
a container for holding a foamable liquid;
a liquid pump having a pump chamber and an outlet nozzle;
the pump chamber having an arcuate shape;
the pump chamber formed at least in part by a backing plate and a flexible membrane;
the pump chamber having a liquid inlet;

wherein the flexible membrane is compressed against the backing plate to pump fluid; and
wherein a central axis extends through the outlet nozzle in the direction of fluid flow; and wherein the arcuate shaped pump chamber extends at least partially along a plane perpendicular to the central axis and along a selected radius extending from the central axis.

13. A refill unit for a foam dispenser comprising:
a container for holding a foamable liquid;
a liquid pump having a pump chamber and an outlet nozzle;
the pump chamber having an arcuate shape;
the pump chamber formed at least in part by a backing plate and a flexible membrane;
the pump chamber having a liquid inlet;

wherein the flexible membrane is compressed against the backing plate to pump fluid;
wherein the backing plate comprises a horseshoe shaped arcuate recess, and

wherein the liquid inlet is located near a first end of the arcuate recess.

14. The refill unit of claim 13 further comprising a liquid passage between the pump chamber and an interior portion of a pump housing.

Assignees

• Gojo Ind Inc

Inventors

• Pelfrey Keith A

Classifications

• B05B7/005

  wherein ambient air is aspirated by a liquid flow · CPC title

• A47K5/1208

  by means of a flexible dispensing chamber · CPC title

• A47K5/1215

  applied by a peristaltic action · CPC title

• A47K5/1209

  with chamber in the form of a cylindrical tube · CPC title

• B05B7/0416

  with arrangements for mixing one gas and one liquid · CPC title