U.S. patent application number 14/327975 was filed with the patent office on 2015-01-15 for air-vented liquid dispensers and refill units therefor.
This patent application is currently assigned to GOJO INDUSTRIES, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is Shelby Jay Buell, Kaitlin Anne Wolf. Invention is credited to Shelby Jay Buell, Kaitlin Anne Wolf.
Application Number | 20150014363 14/327975 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52276330 |
Filed Date | 2015-01-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150014363 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Buell; Shelby Jay ; et
al. |
January 15, 2015 |
AIR-VENTED LIQUID DISPENSERS AND REFILL UNITS THEREFOR
Abstract
Air-vented liquid dispensers are disclosed herein, including
refill units for use in connection with such dispensers. A cap is
attached to the rigid container. A manifold of the refill unit is
secured to the neck portion, and includes an air passage for air to
enter into the container and a liquid passage for liquid to exit
the container. In some embodiments, one of the cap and the
container comprises a protrusion, and the other of the cap and the
container comprises a seat for the protrusion, such that an
interface between the protrusion and the seat forms an air vent
pathway for the refill unit. In other embodiments, one of the cap
and the container comprises a flexible and resilient valve member
which in a rest position extends to contact the other of the cap
and the container.
Inventors: |
Buell; Shelby Jay; (Medina,
OH) ; Wolf; Kaitlin Anne; (Kent, OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Buell; Shelby Jay
Wolf; Kaitlin Anne |
Medina
Kent |
OH
OH |
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
GOJO INDUSTRIES, INC.
Akron
OH
|
Family ID: |
52276330 |
Appl. No.: |
14/327975 |
Filed: |
July 10, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61845650 |
Jul 12, 2013 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/478 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B05B 11/0044 20180801;
A47K 5/1202 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/383.1 ;
215/309 |
International
Class: |
A47K 5/12 20060101
A47K005/12; B65D 47/32 20060101 B65D047/32 |
Claims
1. A refill unit for a liquid dispenser, the refill unit
comprising: a rigid container comprising a neck portion and an
interior portion for holding a liquid; a cap attached to the rigid
container so that the neck portion of the container extends into
the cap; and a manifold secured to the neck portion with the cap,
wherein the manifold comprises an air passage leading from a space
between the container and the cap to the interior portion of the
container, and a liquid passage leading from the interior portion
of the container to a liquid outlet of the manifold; wherein one of
the cap and the container comprises a protrusion, and the other of
the cap and the container comprises a seat for the protrusion, such
that an interface between the protrusion and the seat forms an air
vent pathway for the refill unit.
2. The refill unit of claim 1, wherein the cap is attached to the
rigid container by a threaded connection or a snap-fit connection
between the cap and the rigid container.
3. The refill unit of claim 2, wherein: the cap comprises an inward
flange portion and the container comprises an outward flange
portion, such that when the cap is attached to the container, the
inward flange portion engages the outward flange portion; and the
protrusion is formed on one of the inward flange portion and the
outward flange portion, and the seat is formed on the other of the
inward flange portion and the outward flange portion.
4. The refill unit of claim 1, wherein the cap comprises an inward
flange portion and the manifold comprises an outward flange
portion, such that when the cap is attached to the container, the
inward flange portion presses the outward flange portion against an
outer lip of the container neck.
5. The refill unit of claim 4, further comprising a gasket disposed
between the inward flange portion and the outward flange
portion.
6. The refill unit of claim 1, wherein the liquid comprises at
least one of a soap, a sanitizer, a cleanser or a disinfectant.
7. The refill unit of claim 1, further comprising a liquid pump
connected to the liquid outlet of the manifold, such that operation
of the liquid pump draws liquid from the container into and then
out of the liquid pump in order to dispense liquid from the refill
unit.
8. The refill unit of claim 7, wherein the liquid pump comprises an
elastomeric dome pump.
9. The refill unit of claim 7, wherein the liquid pump comprises a
pump housing, and the manifold is part of the pump housing.
10. The refill unit of claim 1, wherein one of the cap and the
container comprises an orientation lug, and the other of the cap
and the container comprises an orientation recess, such that the
orientation lug is received within the orientation recess when the
protrusion is fitted with the seat.
11. The refill unit of claim 1, wherein the seat further comprises
angled side members to receive the protrusion.
12. A dispensing device comprising: a rigid container, a cap and a
manifold, wherein: the container comprises a neck portion and an
interior portion for holding a liquid; the cap is attached to the
container so that the neck of the container extends into the cap;
and the manifold is secured to the neck portion by the cap, and
comprises an air passage leading from a space between the container
and the cap to the interior portion of the container, and a liquid
passage leading from the interior portion of the container to a
liquid outlet of the manifold; and wherein one of the cap and the
container comprises a protrusion, and the other of the cap and the
container comprises a seat for the protrusion, such that an
interface between the protrusion and the seat forms an air vent
pathway for the refill unit.
13. The dispensing device of claim 12, wherein the manifold
comprises a one-way outlet valve.
14. The dispensing device of claim 12, wherein the air vent pathway
is between about 0.015 and 0.040 inches.
15. A dispensing device comprising: a rigid container comprising a
neck portion and an interior portion for holding a liquid; a cap
attached to the rigid container so that the neck portion of the
container extends into the cap; and a manifold secured to the neck
portion underneath the container, wherein the manifold comprises an
air passage leading from a space between the container and the cap
to the interior portion of the container, and a liquid passage
leading from the interior portion of the container to a liquid
outlet of the manifold; wherein one of the cap and the container
comprises a flexible and resilient valve member which in a rest
position extends to contact the other of the cap and the container;
and wherein the resilience of the valve member may be overcome by a
minimum vacuum pressure generated in the container by liquid being
dispensed from the container, to move the valve member from the
rest position to an open position separated from the other of the
cap and the container, thereby allowing air to enter the container
until the vacuum pressure falls below the minimum pressure thus
permitting the valve member to return to the rest position due to
its resiliency.
16. The dispensing device of claim 15, wherein the cap is attached
to the rigid container by a threaded connection or a snap-fit
connection between the cap and the rigid container.
17. The dispensing device of claim 16, wherein the cap comprises an
inward flange portion and the container comprises an outward flange
portion, such that when the cap is attached to the container, the
inward flange portion engages the outward flange portion.
18. The dispensing device of claim 15, wherein the cap comprises an
inward flange portion and the manifold comprises an outward flange
portion, such that when the cap is attached to the container, the
inward flange portion presses the outward flange portion against an
outer lip of the container neck.
19. The dispensing device of claim 15, further comprising a liquid
pump connected to the liquid outlet of the manifold, such that
operation of the liquid pump draws liquid from the container into
and then out of the liquid pump in order to dispense liquid from
the refill unit.
20. The dispensing device of claim 19, wherein the liquid pump
comprises an elastomeric dome pump.
21. The dispensing device of claim 20, wherein the liquid pump
comprises a pump housing, and the manifold is part of the pump
housing.
22. The dispensing device of claim 15, wherein the flexible and
resilient valve member is directed towards the air passage of the
manifold in the rest position.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefits of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/845,650 filed on Jul.
12, 2013 and entitled "AIR-VENTED LIQUID DISPENSERS AND REFILL
UNITS THEREFOR," which is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates generally to liquid dispenser
systems and more particularly to air-vented liquid dispensers, as
well as refill units for use with such dispensers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Liquid dispenser systems, such as liquid soap and sanitizer
dispensers, provide a user with an amount of liquid upon actuation
of the dispenser. It is desirable to provide such a dispenser
having a rigid container that is vented with air so that the pump
may re-prime itself after a dispensing action. It is also desirable
to provide such a dispenser that is easily recharged once the
container runs out of liquid to dispense, and that is inexpensive
to produce.
SUMMARY
[0004] Air-vented liquid dispensers are disclosed herein. In one
embodiment, a refill unit for a liquid dispenser includes a rigid
container holding a liquid and having a neck portion. A cap is
attached to the rigid container so that the neck portion of the
container extends into the cap. A manifold of the refill unit
includes an air passage for air to enter into the container and a
liquid passage for liquid to exit the container. One of the cap and
the container comprises a protrusion, and the other of the cap and
the container comprises a seat for the protrusion, such that an
interface between the protrusion and the seat forms an air vent
pathway for the refill unit.
[0005] In another embodiment, a refill unit for an air-vented
liquid dispenser system includes a rigid container holding a liquid
and having a neck portion. A cap is attached to the rigid container
so that the neck portion of the container extends into the cap. A
manifold of the refill unit includes an air passage for air to
enter into the container and a liquid passage for liquid to exit
the container. One of the cap and the container comprises a
flexible and resilient valve member which in a rest position
extends to contact the other of the cap and the container. The
resilience of the valve member may be overcome by a minimum vacuum
pressure generated in the container by liquid being dispensed from
the container, to move the valve member from the rest position to
an open position separated from the other of the cap and the
container, thereby allowing air to enter the container until the
vacuum pressure falls below the minimum pressure thus permitting
the valve member to return to the rest position due to its
resiliency.
[0006] In this way, a simple and economical air-vented liquid
dispenser system including a refill unit is provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] These and other features and advantages of the present
invention will become better understood with regard to the
following description and accompanying drawings in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a rigid liquid
container 110 used in a first exemplary air-vented liquid dispenser
refill unit 100;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a cap 120 used in the
first refill unit 100;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of an assembled
first refill unit 100, including the container 110, the cap 120, a
pump manifold 130, and a liquid pump 140;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a close-up bottom partial view of the container
110 and the cap 120 in an assembled state, focusing on a protrusion
124 and a seat 116;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a close-up side partial view of the container and
the cap 120 in an assembled state, focusing on the protrusion 124
and the seat 116;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a partial side view of a rigid liquid container
110' which may be used in connection with the cap 120 and the pump
manifold 130 of the first refill unit 100; and
[0014] FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of a second
exemplary air-vented liquid dispenser refill unit 200, in an
assembled state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] FIGS. 1 to 5 illustrate a first exemplary embodiment of an
air-vented liquid dispenser refill unit 100. The first refill unit
100 includes a rigid liquid container 110 (only partially shown in
the Figures), a cap or closure 120, a pump manifold 130, and a
liquid pump 140. The first refill unit 100 is configured to be
placed within or connected to a receptacle (not shown) formed by
other components of an overall liquid dispenser system (not shown)
to form an operable liquid dispenser. An exemplary dispenser
includes a housing that extends up to at least the lower portion
111 of the container 110 to support the first refill unit 100. In
addition, the dispenser includes an opening from which fluid may be
dispensed. Some exemplary dispensers include a lever or actuator to
engage the pump 140. Optionally, the housing has an opening through
which the pump 140 is visible for a user to operate the pump 140.
In some embodiments, the dispenser housing also includes a base to
support the refill unit 100 and an open area below an outlet (not
shown) of the pump 140. In some embodiments, the base catches any
drips that drip out of the pump 140 outlet. In some embodiments,
the outlet of the pump 140 may be fluidically connected to the
outlet of the housing in order for liquid to be dispensed by the
system. When the container 110 of an installed refill unit 100 runs
out of liquid for the dispenser system to dispense, it may quickly
and easily be replaced by an identical refill unit 100 filled with
liquid.
[0016] The rigid liquid container 110 stores a supply of liquid
within an interior portion 112 of the container 110. The term
"rigid", as defined herein, means that the container 110 retains
its shape regardless of whether or how much liquid is stored within
the container 110, and does not collapse as liquid is dispensed
from the container 110. In some instances the walls of the rigid
container 110 may bend and flex when placed under even small
external pressures. In various embodiments, the contained liquid
could be for example a soap, a sanitizer, a cleanser, a
disinfectant or some other dispensable liquid.
[0017] The container 110 includes a neck 113 which, when the refill
unit 100 is in normal use, is disposed at the bottom of the
container 110. That is, during normal use, the container 110 is in
an inverted position within a liquid dispenser system holding the
refill unit 100. The liquid container 110 may advantageously be
refillable, replaceable, or both refillable and replaceable within
the refill unit 100. In other embodiments the liquid container 110
may be neither refillable nor replaceable within the refill unit
100.
[0018] Although the descriptions of the embodiments herein describe
the container in an inverted position, the innovative features may
be used in an upright container to vent a container. In addition,
although the term refill unit is used herein, in some embodiments,
the refill unit may be a container and pump that is a standalone
dispensing system and thus, exemplary embodiments of refill units
may be used to dispense fluids without the need for a separate
dispenser.
[0019] The wall portion of the liquid container 110 may include one
or more transparent portions (not shown) so that users of the
refill unit 100 may easily determine how much liquid is left within
the container 110. The wall portion may also include one or more
face portions (not shown) on which product information, advertising
information, instructions, or the like are provided.
[0020] When the first refill unit 100 is assembled, the cap 120 is
attached to the liquid container 110 so that the neck 113 of the
container 110 extends into the cap 120, as shown in FIG. 3. Any
means of attachment between the liquid container 110 and the cap
120 may be employed. In the illustrated example, the attachment
means comprises a snap fit arrangement between an outwardly
extending flange 114 disposed on the exterior of the neck 113 and
an inwardly extending flange 121 disposed on the interior of the
cap 120. Alternative attachment means include threaded fit
arrangements, adhesives, mechanical fasteners and the like.
[0021] The cap 120 has an inward flange portion 122 surrounding an
aperture 123. The pump manifold 130 of the first refill unit 100
has an outward flange portion 131. When the cap 120 is securely
attached to the container 110 as shown in FIG. 3, the inward flange
portion 122 of the cap 120 presses against the outward flange
portion 131 of the pump manifold 130 to secure the pump manifold
130 against a lip 115 of the container 110. In some embodiments, a
gasket member (not shown) may be disposed between the inward flange
122 of the cap 120 and the outward flange 131 of the pump manifold
130 to help form a liquid seal at that interface. The illustrated
pump manifold 130 is a generic manifold and may be replaced by any
component, such as for example, a liquid pump 140 that is desirable
to connect directly to a container 110.
[0022] In addition, in some embodiments cap 120 and manifold 130
are a single integrated piece. In some embodiments, manifold 130 is
part of a pump housing. In some embodiments, manifold 130 contains
a one-way outlet valve (not shown) and the container is used to
dispense fluids by holding the container in an inverted position
and squeezing the container with sufficient force to overcome the
cracking pressure of the one-way outlet valve (not shown). Thus,
the innovative features of the present invention do not require
multiple components or a pump. Indeed, in some embodiments cap 120
does not include an opening at one end and is simply used to seal a
container and allow air to vent the container without allowing
liquid to flow out of the container.
[0023] The pump manifold 130 has a liquid passage 132 into which
liquid stored within the interior 112 of the container 110 may flow
under the force of gravity and/or the action of the liquid pump
140, or any other one way outlet. The liquid passage 132 leads to a
liquid outlet 133 and then to the liquid pump 140. The liquid pump
140 may be operated by a user of the overall liquid dispensing
system (not shown) holding the refill unit 100 to dispense a
portion of the liquid from the container 110 to the user, supplied
via the liquid passage 132. The liquid pump 140 has an outlet (not
shown) which upon actuation of the pump 140 dispenses a dose of
liquid directly to the user or to other components of the overall
dispenser system.
[0024] Any suitable liquid pumping mechanism may be employed as the
liquid pump 140. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,806,301 to Ciavarella
et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0149666 to
LaFlamme et al., and U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
2011/0031278 to Han de Man each disclose suitable elastomeric dome
pump structures for use as a liquid pump 140 in a liquid dispensing
system. Those three references are each hereby incorporated by
reference into the present disclosure for their respective
teachings regarding elastomeric dome pump assemblies. Other
exemplary pumps 140 include piston pumps, bellows pumps, diaphragm
pumps, peristaltic pumps or the like.
[0025] When the liquid pump 140 dispenses a liquid dose from the
container 110, a vacuum pressure is created within the interior 112
of the container 110. If that vacuum pressure is not relieved,
eventually it will prevent the liquid pump 140 from priming, and
the liquid dispensing system holding the refill unit 100 will cease
operating, or the container 112 will collapse due to the vacuum
pressure. To prevent such a situation from arising, the first
refill unit 100 has an air vent pathway formed therein, as best
illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. That is, when the container 110 and
the cap 120 are properly assembled, a protrusion 124 on the flange
121 of the cap 120 is received within a seat 116 formed on an upper
surface 118 of the flange 114 of the container neck 113. These
structures form an air vent pathway 117 in the first refill unit
100 so that air may enter into the interior 112 of the liquid
container 110 to relieve the vacuum pressure created therein when a
liquid dose is dispensed from the interior 112 of the container
110.
[0026] More specifically, the protrusion 124 is received within the
seat 116 such that liquid is prevented from passing through that
interface under substantially all conditions, but air is free to
pass through that interface under at least some conditions. With
each actuation of the liquid pump 140, more liquid is dispensed,
and the vacuum pressure within the interior 112 of the container
110 increases. Eventually the vacuum pressure will exceed a minimum
pressure which is sufficient to pull air into the interior 112 of
the container 110 through the air vent pathway 117. The air travels
from the outside environment surrounding the first refill unit 100,
downwardly into the upper space 151 between the container 110 and
the cap 120 shown in FIG. 3, until it reaches the air vent pathway
117. The air then passes through the interface between the
protrusion 124 and the seat 116 to enter the pathway 117, and
continues on to the lower space 152 between the container 110 and
the cap 120. The air thusly reaches an air passage 134 formed in
the pump manifold 130, which leads to the interior 112 of the
container 110. In that way, the vacuum pressure within the
container interior 112 is relieved by the introduction of air from
the air vent opening 117. Liquid held within the container interior
112 is free to pass downwardly into the air passage 134 and into
the lower space 152, but such liquid is prevented from passing
through the air vent pathway 117 due to the fitting of the
protrusion 124 in the seat 116.
[0027] The vacuum pressure within the interior 112 will resultantly
decrease until it once again falls below the minimum pressure
needed to pull air through the interface between the protrusion 124
and the seat 116. At that point the air venting cycle begins anew.
Depending on the amount of liquid dispensed by each actuation of
the liquid pump of the first refill unit 100, it may require just
one actuation to activate the venting cycle or more than one
actuation to activate the venting cycle. In an exemplary
embodiment, the size of the gap formed between the protrusion 124
and the seat 116 may be between about 0.015 and about 0.040
inch.
[0028] The neck 113 of the liquid container 110 may further have
one or more orientation lugs 119 and the cap 120 may further have
one or more orientation recess(es) 125, or vice versa. When the cap
120 is properly arranged on the neck 113 of the liquid container
110, the orientation lug 119 fits into the orientation recess 125,
so that the seat 116 on the neck 113 receives the protrusion 124 of
the cap 120. A user of the refill unit 100 is notified if there is
no proper alignment by warping created in the open end of the cap
120 by the orientation lug 119. Once the orientation lug 119 has
properly been received in the orientation recess 125, an audible
snap may notify the user and the warping of the open end will
cease.
[0029] As briefly mentioned above, at some point the liquid stored
within the liquid container 110 of the refill unit 100 will run
out. At that time the empty refill unit 100 may be separated from
the other components of the dispensing system (not shown) and
replaced with a new refill unit 100 containing a full supply of
liquid.
[0030] In other embodiments, however, an air-vented liquid
dispensing system may be refilled with liquid in additional and
alternative ways. In a first such embodiment, a sealable opening
(not shown) may be provided in or near a top portion of the liquid
container 110 to pour more liquid into the container 110. In a
second such embodiment, an empty liquid container 110 may be
detached from the cap 120 and replaced with a liquid-filled
container 110. The replacement container 110 may either be the same
depleted container as before after having been re-filled with
liquid via the accessible neck 113, or an entirely new
liquid-filled container 110 may take the place of the removed
container 110. In the latter event, the new container 110 may
include a removable closure (not shown) disposed over the outer lip
115 of the neck 113 to help ensure liquid does not escape from the
container 110 during shipment and storage before use.
[0031] In one embodiment, the various components of the second
refill unit 100 may be assembled into a completed refill unit 100
as follows. First, all the individual parts are manufactured. For
example, they may be formed by a plastic extrusion or blow molding
process using PET, PP, HDPE, LDPE or the like. Then, the cap 120
and the pump manifold 130 are assembled together as those parts are
shown in FIG. 3, to form a sub-assembly. And, the container 110 is
placed in an upright position and filled with a liquid to be
dispensed. The sub-assembly is then inserted on to the container
110, and the cap 120 is snapped into place on the neck 113 of the
container 110, to form the completed final assembly of FIGS. 3 to
5. The completed refill unit 100 may then be installed within a
liquid dispenser system (not shown), or shipped to end users for
use as a refill unit in pre-existing liquid dispensing systems. In
the latter case, a closure mechanism may be placed around or on the
outlet (not shown) of the liquid pump 140 to help prevent liquid
from being accidentally dispensed during transport.
[0032] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, the cap 120, the pump
manifold 130 and the liquid pump 140 are separable components which
are connected together when the first refill unit 100 is fully
assembled. In alternative embodiments, any two or more of these
components may comprise one integral component within the first
refill unit 100. Various other combinations of different components
which combine to form the first refill unit 100 are of course also
possible. Thus, for example, in some embodiments, the pump manifold
130 may be incorporated in the housing of the liquid pump 140.
[0033] FIG. 6 shows a side view of a rigid liquid container 110'
used in a slight modification of the second exemplary refill unit
100, identified in this written description as 100'. The modified
container 110' is substantially similar to the container 110,
except for the configuration of the seat 116'. The seat 116'
includes two angled side members 116a' to receive the protrusion
124 of the cap 120, to form a better liquid seal at the interface.
This may help to prevent liquid from escaping the modified refill
unit 100' through the air vent pathway 117. The side members 116a'
may also perform the orientation function, so that the separate
orientation lug(s) 119 and recess(es) 125 are not needed in the
modified refill unit 100'.
[0034] FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a second exemplary
embodiment of an air-vented liquid dispenser refill unit 200, in an
assembled condition. The second refill unit 200 is configured to be
placed within or connected to a receptacle formed by other
components of an overall liquid dispenser system to form an
operable dispenser, as discussed above. The rigid liquid container
110, the pump manifold 130 and the liquid pump 140 of the second
refill unit 200 are identical to the corresponding components
described above in connection with the first refill unit 100, so
they are not described further here.
[0035] The cap 220 of the second refill unit 200, by contrast, is
different from the cap 120 of the first refill unit 200. The cap
220 has one or more locking members 226 in place of the flange 121
of the first refill unit 100. The one or more locking members 226
may not extend around the entire inner circumference of the cap
220. That is, there are gaps in or between the locking members 226
to allow air to pass by the locking members 226 easily. The one or
more locking members 226 form a snap fit arrangement with the
flange 114 of the container neck 113 to hold the assembly 200
together. Alternate attachment means include threaded fit
connections, adhesives, mechanical fasteners, and the like.
[0036] The cap 220 additionally has one or more inwardly projecting
valve members 227, each of which extend around the entire inner
circumference of the cap 220. Each valve member 227 extends from
the inner wall surface of the cap 220 to come into contact with the
neck 113 or flange 114 of the container 110 in a closed position.
The valve members 227 are directed downwardly so that they resist
the flow of liquid upwardly through the space between the cap 220
and the container 110.
[0037] The one or more valve members 227 form an air vent pathway
in the second refill unit 200 so that air may enter into the
interior 112 of the liquid container 110 to relieve the vacuum
pressure created therein when a liquid dose is dispensed from the
interior 112 of the container 110. More specifically, with each
actuation of the liquid pump 140, more liquid is dispensed and the
vacuum pressure within the interior 112 of the container 110
increases. Eventually the vacuum pressure will exceed a minimum
pressure which is sufficient to overcome the natural resilience of
the valve members 227 being received against the neck 113 or flange
114 of the liquid container 110. When that occurs, the valve
members 227 will briefly separate from the neck 113 or flange 114
of the liquid container 110, to an open position. Air is then free
to travel downwardly between the exterior wall of the neck 113 and
the valve member 227, to reach the air passage 134 formed in the
pump manifold 130. The passage 134 leads to the interior 112 of the
container 110. In that way, the vacuum pressure within the
container interior 112 is relieved by the introduction of air.
Liquid held within the interior 112 is free to pass downwardly into
the air passage 133 and into the space between the container 110
and the cap 210, but is prevented from escaping the second refill
unit 200 by the valve member(s) 227.
[0038] The vacuum pressure within the interior 112 will resultantly
decrease until it once again falls below the minimum pressure
needed to overcome the natural resilience of the valve members 227
lying against the neck 113 or flange 114 of the container 110. At
that point their natural resiliency will cause the valve members
227 to return to their closed position resting against the neck 113
or flange 114, and the air venting cycle begins anew. Depending on
the amount of liquid dispensed by each actuation of the liquid pump
140 of the second unit 200, it may require just one actuation to
activate the valve members 227 or more than one actuation to
activate the valve members 227.
[0039] In one embodiment, the various components of the second
refill unit 200 may be assembled into a completed refill unit 200
as follows. First, all the individual parts are manufactured. For
example, they may be formed by a plastic extrusion or blow molding
process using PET, PP, HDPE, LDPE or the like. Then, the cap 220
and the pump manifold 130 are assembled together as those parts are
shown in FIG. 7, to form a sub-assembly. And, the container 110 is
placed in an upright position and filled with a liquid to be
dispensed. The sub-assembly is then inserted on to the container
110, and the cap 220 is snapped into place on the neck 113 of the
container 110, to form the completed final assembly of FIG. 7. The
completed refill unit 200 may then be installed within a liquid
dispenser system (not shown), or shipped to end users for use as a
refill unit in pre-existing liquid dispensing systems. In the
latter case, a closure mechanism may be placed around or on the
outlet of the liquid pump 140 (not shown) to help prevent liquid
from being accidentally dispensed during transport.
[0040] As illustrated in FIG. 7, the cap 220, the pump manifold
130, and the liquid pump 140 are separable components which are
connected together when the second refill unit 200 is fully
assembled. In alternative embodiments, any two or more of these
components may comprise one integral component within the second
refill unit 200. Various other combinations of different components
which combine to form the second refill unit 200 are of course also
possible. As described above, the manifold 130 may be integral with
cap 220, manifold 130 may be integral with the liquid pump 140,
manifold 130 may contain a one-way outlet valve and the container
112 may be squeezed to dispense liquid through the one-way outlet
valve and vent as described above.
[0041] While the present invention has been illustrated by the
description of embodiments thereof and while the embodiments have
been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of
the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the
appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and
modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art.
Therefore, the invention, in its broader aspects, is not limited to
the specific details, the representative apparatus and illustrative
examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made
from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the
applicant's general inventive concept.
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