Fluid dispenser and fluid refill system for fluid dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10034584-B2
Application number	US-201514638918-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 4, 2015
Priority date	Mar 4, 2014
Publication date	Jul 31, 2018
Grant date	Jul 31, 2018

Abstract

A fluid dispenser includes a dispensation conduit and a refill conduit. A refill system includes a refill reservoir and a refill distribution conduit. The refill distribution conduit is configured for selective fluid coupling with the refill conduit to facilitate refilling of the fluid dispenser.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid dispenser comprising:
a faucet-shaped housing;
a storage reservoir coupled with the housing for storing fluid, the storage reservoir comprising an upper end and a lower end;
a dispensation conduit routed through the faucet-shaped housing and comprising a first end and a second end, the first end being configured for dispensation of fluid therefrom, the second end being in fluid communication with the storage reservoir;
a refill conduit in fluid communication with the storage reservoir for receiving soap, sanitizer, or lotion, wherein the refill conduit comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the refill conduit comprises a refill port that is located within the faucet-shaped housing;
a storage vent conduit comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the storage vent conduit being accessible to a fluid refill system, and the second end of the storage vent conduit being in fluid communication with the storage reservoir; and
wherein, when fluid is transferred from the fluid refill system to the storage reservoir, air is transferred from the storage reservoir to the fluid refill system.

2. The fluid dispenser of claim 1 wherein:
the second end of the storage vent conduit is more proximate the upper end of the storage reservoir than the lower end of the storage reservoir; and
the second end of the refill conduit is more proximate the lower end of the storage reservoir than the upper end of the storage reservoir.

3. The fluid dispenser of claim 1 wherein:
the faucet-shaped housing defines an opening;
the first end of the refill conduit extends to the opening such that the first end of the refill conduit is accessible through the opening; and
the first end of the storage vent conduit extends to the opening such that the first end of the storage vent conduit is accessible through the opening.

4. The fluid dispenser of claim 3 wherein the first end of the refill conduit and the first end of the storage vent conduit are spaced circumferentially from each other.

5. The fluid dispenser of claim 3 further comprising a lid that selectively overlies the opening to substantially conceal the respective first ends of the refill conduit and the storage vent conduit.

6. The fluid dispenser of claim 3 wherein the opening is disposed at a rear end of the faucet housing.

7. The fluid dispenser of claim 3 in combination with a fluid refill system that is selectively installable onto the fluid dispenser, the fluid refill system comprising:
a refill reservoir for storing refill fluid, the refill reservoir comprising an upper end and a lower end;
a refill distribution conduit comprising a first end and a second end, the second end being in fluid communication with the lower end of the refill reservoir;
a refill vent conduit comprising a first end and a second end, the second end being in fluid communication with the upper end of the refill reservoir;
wherein, when the fluid refill system is installed on the fluid dispenser, the refill distribution conduit is in fluid communication with the refill conduit of the fluid dispenser to facilitate filling of the storage reservoir with the refill fluid from the refill reservoir, and the first end of the refill vent conduit is in fluid communication with the storage vent conduit of the fluid dispenser to facilitate exchange of air between the storage reservoir and the refill reservoir during refilling of the storage reservoir with fluid from the refill reservoir.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein:
the second end of the refill distribution conduit is more proximate to the lower end of the refill reservoir than the upper end of the refill reservoir; and
the second end of the refill vent conduit is more proximate the upper end of the storage reservoir than the lower end of the refill reservoir.

9. The fluid dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a one-way valve in fluid communication with the storage vent conduit, wherein the one-way valve is configured to prevent air flow from the fluid refill system and into the storage reservoir when the storage vent conduit is in fluid communication with the fluid refill system.

10. A fluid dispenser comprising:
a faucet-shaped housing;
a lid movably coupled with the faucet-shaped housing, wherein the lid is movable between a closed position and an open position;
a dispensation conduit routed through at least a portion of the faucet-shaped housing and configured for dispensing of fluid therethrough;
a refill conduit comprising a refill port, the refill port being located within the faucet-shaped housing, and the refill port having a refill valve that is movable between an open position and a closed position; wherein:
fluid is prevented from entering the refill conduit when the refill valve is in the closed position, and fluid is allowed to enter the refill conduit when the refill valve is in the open position;
the refill port is configured to be attached to a fluid refill system such that, when the fluid refill system is attached to the refill port, the refill valve is in the open position, and the refill conduit is in fluid communication with the fluid refill system;
the refill port is concealed when the lid is in the closed position; and
movement of the lid from the closed position to the open position exposes the refill port to facilitate refilling of a fluid reservoir through the refill port.

11. The fluid dispenser of claim 10 wherein the lid is slidably coupled to the faucet-shaped housing and is slidable between the closed position and the open position.

12. The fluid dispenser of claim 11 wherein the lid is slidable along a substantially horizontal axis and is slidable away from a base of the fluid dispenser into the open position.

13. The fluid dispenser of claim 10 wherein the lid is pivotably coupled to the faucet-shaped housing and is pivotable between the closed position and the open position.

14. The fluid dispenser of claim 10 wherein the faucet-shaped housing comprises a front end and a rear end, wherein the dispensation conduit comprises a first end and a second end, the fluid dispenser further comprising:
a storage reservoir coupled with the faucet-shaped housing for storing fluid, the storage reservoir comprising an upper end and a lower end;
wherein the first end of the dispensation conduit is configured for dispensation of fluid therefrom, and the second end of the dispensation conduit is in fluid communication with the storage reservoir;
wherein the refill conduit is in fluid communication with the storage reservoir;

and wherein the faucet-shaped housing is configured to be above a counter top and the storage reservoir is configured to be below the countertop when the fluid dispenser is installed.

15. The fluid dispenser of claim 14 further comprising a storage reservoir vent conduit having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the storage reservoir vent conduit is accessible to a fluid refill system, and wherein the second end of the storage reservoir vent conduit is in fluid communication with the storage reservoir.

16. The fluid dispenser of claim 15 wherein:
the second end of the storage reservoir vent conduit is more proximate the upper end of the storage reservoir than the lower end of the storage reservoir; and
the second end of the refill conduit is more proximate the lower end of the storage reservoir than the upper end of the storage reservoir.

17. The fluid dispenser of claim 16 wherein:
the faucet-shaped housing defines an opening;
the first end of the refil

Assignees

• Gojo Ind Inc

Inventors

• Ciavarella Nick Ermanno
• Proper Scott Theodore
• Richards Chin
• Chalko Eric M
• Marshall Aaron Daniel
• Urban Scott E
• Welsh Christopher S
• Metcalfe Paul R

Classifications

• A47K2005/1218

  Table mounted; Dispensers integrated with the mixing tap · CPC title

• A47K5/1204 Primary

  by means of a rigid dispensing chamber and pistons · CPC title