Foam pumps with lost motion and adjustable output foam pumps

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9616445-B2
Application number	US-201414584444-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 29, 2014
Priority date	Oct 31, 2012
Publication date	Apr 11, 2017
Grant date	Apr 11, 2017

Abstract

Embodiments of lost motion foam pumps are disclosed herein. One exemplary embodiment includes a liquid chamber, a liquid piston movable in the liquid chamber, an air chamber and an air piston movable in the air chamber. The air piston is linked to the liquid piston. A connector is linked to the air piston or the liquid piston. The connector includes an engagement member for connecting to an actuator of a foam dispenser. Movement of the actuator in a first direction moves the liquid and air pistons to contract the liquid chamber and the air chamber. Movement of the actuator a first distance in a second direction does not move the liquid piston or the air piston; however, continued movement of the actuator a second distance in the second direction moves the liquid piston and the air piston and expands the liquid and air chambers.

First claim

We claim:

1. A dispenser having a lost motion foam pump comprising:
a dispenser housing;
an actuator for moving a liquid pump piston and an air pump piston;
an engagement member having a u-shaped opening;
the engagement member having one or more projection members that extend into the u-shaped opening to engage at least one of the-liquid pump piston and the air pump piston when a refill unit is installed in the dispenser;
wherein movement of the actuator in a first direction moves the liquid pump piston and an air pump piston to discharges foam;
wherein movement of the actuator a first distance in a second direction does not move the liquid pump piston; and
wherein further movement of the actuator in the second direction moves the liquid piston to at least partially recharge the foam pump.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the actuator includes a slot for securing the engagement member to the actuator.

3. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the engagement member is removable from the actuator.

4. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the stroke of the actuator is selected so that full movement of the actuator in the first direction completely discharges the contents of the foam pump.

5. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the engagement member comprises a plurality of projections.

6. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein the actuator contacts the liquid pump piston to move the liquid pump piston in the first direction.

7. The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a connector linking the engagement member to the liquid piston.

8. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the connector comprises a flat surface of an annular projection.

9. The dispenser of claim 8 wherein at least one of the flat surface and the one or more projection members are fingers.

10. A foam dispenser having lost motion comprising:
a dispenser housing;
an actuator;
a lost motion connector for linking the actuator to a liquid piston and an air piston of a refill unit;
wherein movement of the lost motion connector in a first direction moves the liquid and air pistons to contract the liquid chamber and the air chamber;
wherein movement of the lost motion connector a first distance in a second direction results in lost motion between the actuator and the liquid piston and the air piston; and
wherein continued movement of the lost motion connector a second distance in the second direction moves the liquid piston and the air piston and expands the liquid and air chambers.

11. The foam dispenser of claim 10 , wherein movement in the second direction partially recharges the liquid chamber and the air chamber.

12. The foam dispenser of claim 10 , wherein movement in the first direction fully discharges the liquid chamber and the air chamber.

13. The foam dispenser of claim 10 wherein the lost motion connector is cylindrical.

14. The foam dispenser of claim 10 wherein the lost motion connector is part of the refill unit.

15. The foam dispenser of claim 10 further comprising a refill unit.

16. A foam dispenser having lost motion comprising:
a dispenser housing;
an actuator;
the actuator having an opening;
a lost motion mechanism for linking the actuator to a liquid piston and the air piston of a refill unit;
wherein movement of the lost motion mechanism in a first direction moves the liquid and air pistons to contract the liquid chamber and the air chamber;
wherein movement of the lost motion mechanism a first distance in a second direction results in lost motion between the actuator and the liquid piston and the air piston; and
wherein continued movement of the lost motion mechanism a second distance in the second direction moves the liquid piston and the air piston and expands the liquid and air chambers.

17. The foam dispenser of claim 16 wherein at least a portion of the lost motion mechanism comprises a u-shaped member having one or more inwardly extending projections for linking to the liquid piston and the air piston.

18. The foam dispenser of claim 16 wherein at least a portion of the lost motion mechanism comprises a cylindrical member.

19. A method of dispensing a dose of foam soap from a foam pump having an air piston and a liquid piston that is less that is than a maximum dose of foam soap comprising:
providing a dispenser having an actuator that has a stroke length that is capable of dispensing a maximum dose of foam soap;
providing a refill unit having a container and a foam pump that has an air piston and a liquid piston;
providing a lost motion mechanism;
wherein the lost motion mechanism allows movement of the actuator in a dispense direction to cause the liquid piston and air piston to move to a substantially fully dispensed position;
wherein the lost motion mechanism allows movement of the actuator away from the dispensed position for a first distance without moving the liquid piston and the air piston; and
wherein movement of the actuator away from the dispensed position for a second distance causes movement of the liquid piston and the air piston.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the fully dispensed position occurs when the actuator moves toward the pump.

Assignees

• Gojo Ind Inc

Inventors

• Ciavarella Nick E
• Tederous Cory J
• Mcnulty John J
• Rosenkranz Mark E

Classifications

• B05B11/1015

  actuated without substantial movement of the nozzle in the direction of the pressure stroke (B05B11/1011 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B05B11/1087 Primary

  Combination of liquid and air pumps · CPC title

• B05B7/0025 Primary

  with a compressed gas supply · CPC title

• B05B11/1042

  Components or details · CPC title

• A47K5/12

  for liquid or pasty soap · CPC title