Fluid dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016263604-A1
Application number	US-201514656766-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 13, 2015
Priority date	Mar 13, 2015
Publication date	Sep 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A dispensing system includes a pump mechanism that has a liquid chamber, a liquid piston for delivering fluid to a mixing chamber, and a valve component biased to close the outlet from the liquid chamber. The pump mechanism also has an air chamber, and an air piston for delivering air to the mixing chamber. A bore allows passage of a mixture of the air and the liquid from the mixing chamber to a dispensing tube. A pump actuator moves the air piston and the liquid piston to propel a dose of the mixture of the air and the liquid through the bore and into the dispensing tube and to collapse a draw-back chamber. The draw-back chamber expands to draw the mixture of the air and the liquid from the dispensing tube into the draw-back chamber. The valve component is biased to close the first outlet before the draw-back chamber expands.

First claim

1 . A dispensing system comprising:
a pump mechanism comprising a first inlet for delivering liquid from a container to the pump mechanism, the pump mechanism comprising a liquid chamber receiving liquid from the first inlet, a liquid piston for delivering fluid from the liquid chamber to a mixing chamber through a first outlet; a valve component biased to close the first outlet, and a second inlet for delivering air to the pump mechanism, the pump mechanism comprising an air chamber receiving air from the second inlet, an air piston for delivering air from the air chamber to the mixing chamber through a second outlet; a bore configured to allow passage of a mixture of the air and the liquid from the mixing chamber to a dispensing tube; a draw-back chamber; a passageway between the bore and the drawback chamber; a pump actuator movable between a first position and a second position to move the air piston and the liquid piston to propel a dose of the mixture of the air and the liquid through the bore and into the dispensing tube and to collapse the draw-back chamber, the draw-back chamber expanding to draw the mixture of the air and the liquid from the dispensing tube into the draw-back chamber; the valve component being biased to close the first outlet before the draw-back chamber expands.

2 . The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein the dispensing tube is located in a spout.

3 . The dispensing system of claim 2 wherein the inlet is connected to a suction tube configured to be disposed in a container of liquid.

4 . The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein a bayonette guide is mounted for movement with the pump actuator and defines the bore extending through the bayonette guide.

5 . The dispensing system of claim 4 wherein the drawback chamber is formed between the pump actuator and the bayonette guide.

6 . The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein the draw-back chamber surrounds the bore.

7 . The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein a pump motor moves the pump actuator to the first position.

8 . The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein a spring biases the pump actuator to the second position.

9 . The dispensing system of claim 8 wherein when the draw-back chamber collapses the spring is compressed.

10 . The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein the pump mechanism includes a nozzle insert that receives the mixture of the air and the liquid from the mixing chamber.

11 . The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein a spring biases the valve component to close the first outlet.

12 . The dispensing system of claim 10 wherein the pump mechanism includes a nozzle insert that receives the mixture of the air and the liquid from the mixing chamber.

13 . The dispensing system of claim 12 wherein the spring is disposed between the valve component and the nozzle insert.

14 . The dispensing system of claim 13 wherein the nozzle insert is removable from the pump mechanism to allow the spring to be inserted into engagement with the valve component.

15 . The dispensing system of claim 12 wherein the spring is compressed against the nozzle insert.

16 . The dispensing system of claim 11 wherein the spring is compressed when the air piston moves.

17 . The dispensing system of claim 11 wherein the spring comprises an elongated stem that extends from the mixing chamber to the valve component.

18 . The dispensing system of claim 17 wherein the stem is one of a coil, a linear member and a serpentine member.

19 . The dispensing system of claim 17 wherein the spring comprises a head that is disposed between the mixing chamber and the dispensing tube.

20 . A method of dispensing a liquid air mixture comprising:
creating a vacuum in a pump mechanism to draw liquid through a first inlet and air from a second inlet; creating a high pressure in the pump mechanism to force liquid through a first outlet and air through a second outlet into a mixing chamber and through a dispensing tube; creating a second vacuum in a draw-back mechanism to draw the mixture of the air and the liquid from the dispensing tube into the draw-back chamber; closing the first outlet before the second vacuum is created.

Assignees

• Rubbermaid Commercial Prod Llc

Inventors

• Ramdhiansing Shivan
• Govers Jeroen

Classifications

• B05B11/1047

  the pump being preassembled as an independent unit before being mounted on the container · CPC title

• B05B11/105

  Sealing arrangements around pump actuating stem · CPC title

• A47K5/1217 Primary

  Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism · CPC title

• B05B11/1023

  having an outlet valve opened by deformation or displacement of the piston relative to its actuating stem · CPC title

• B05B11/1087 Primary

  Combination of liquid and air pumps · CPC title