Output device and replaceable element

The present invention relates to a dispensing device for dispensing a liquid soap or the like.

Dispenser has a base unit, in which a removable element containing material dispensing installed in an inverted position, i.e. its outlet located at the lower end. The present invention has been specifically designed for freestanding soap dispenser suitable for use in the home environment. However, it can also be applied to a device mounted on the wall and can be used in larger devices, such as public toilets. The device may be manually operated pump for dispensing a liquid, but is preferably provided with a proximity sensor which detects the presence of the user's hands and has a pump for automatic dispensing of the liquid.

Since the device is mainly intended for the domestic market, it is important that the consumer could replace the replaceable element in a manner that is very simple, is protected against unauthorized operation and does not create confusion, which, at best, irritating the consumer and in the worst case could destroy the mechanism of extradition.

According to the present invention, the dispenser comprises a base unit with a drive mechanism for dispensing a liquid, and a removable member inserted into the base unit in an inverted position with its outlet located in the bottom of the liquid supply base, the removable element comprises an annular wall protruding in a removable element and defining an outlet from the removable element, wherein the annular wall is formed so as to cover at its most inner end of the valve member displaced by an annular wall, wherein the base comprises a hollow spigot and an annular seal surrounding and spaced from the upper part of the sleeve, whereby attaching the removable member into the base causes the introduction of the sleeve into the annular wall and lifting the valve element from the annular wall to form a flow path from the removable element, through at least one recess formed in the upper part of the sleeve and / or bottom of the valve element and down the hollow sleeve, and an annular seal for sealing between the sleeve and the annular wall.

This arrangement provides a mechanism by which the removable element can be easily lowered to the sleeve. This causes opening of the flow passage. During the opening process, the annular seal forms a seal with the annular wall, thereby preventing leakage even during the opening process.

Consequently, the present invention provides a simple and does not create confusion method of replacing a removable element, even when the interchangeable element is completely emptied.

The cutout may be formed in the bottom of the valve member. However, it may also require the performance of a valve seat coincident in shape with a cutout on the valve member. Consequently, finding a recess preferably on the upper part of the sleeve. Preferably, there are more than one cut to provide a plurality of flow channels. In a preferred embodiment the recesses effectively take the form of teeth on the upper part of the sleeve.

Valve element may be biased by a spring, which is located on the opposite side of the valve member with respect to the annular wall. Preferably, however, the valve element is biased by at least one elastic element, which is preferably connected at one end to the valve member and at the other end with a place radially outwardly of and below the innermost end of the annular wall, the or each resilient member is thus that when the valve element is lifted from the annular wall, a flow path is present between the valve member and the annular wall.

Through the use of at least one elastic member mounted outside the annular wall, the apparatus structure can be simplified since the elastic elements themselves and the means by which they are attached, may be incorporated into an existing design of a replaceable item. If the valve element is elastically supported at its opposite side, the need to save the additional structures, thereby complicating the structure.

This forms an independent aspect of the present invention, which can be defined in its broadest sense, as a replacement element for the issuing device, the element comprising an opening at one end which in use is the lower end, the opening comprising an annular wall projecting into the element, and is configured to cover at its most inner end of the valve member displaced by an annular wall, wherein the valve element is deflected, at least one elastic member connected at one end with a valve member and at the other end to the location radially outward from and below the most the inner end of the annular wall, the or each resilient element is configured such that when the valve element is lifted from the annular wall, a flow path is present between the valve member and the annular wall.

If only one biasing element is used, it may not be a continuous annular component, but will have to have openings or may be a spiral structure or the like so that the flow path may be present. Preferably, there are a plurality of resilient elements with gaps therebetween to provide the flow path.

The or each resilient member may be formed separately from the valve member and mounted together with it. Preferably, however, the valve element is manufactured integrally with the or each elastic member.

The or each resilient member preferably extends into the surrounding valve plate which is attached to the removable cap member.

The valve disc may simply be glued, bonded or otherwise secured within the cap. However, preferably the valve plate is interposed between the cap and a fixing plate which can be snapped into place. Preferably, one or more mounting racks provided in one of the elements - the cap, valve plate or fixing plate in order to locate the various elements with respect to each other.

The opening in the removable element can be an outlet for liquid or air vent hole. The construction of the annular wall, the valve member and the elastic member is equally applicable to any of them.

Dispenser and a removable element according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

1 - cross section of the dispenser;

Figure 2 - a partial perspective view a removable element introduced into the dispenser but not yet the engaged;

Figure 3 - a view similar to Figure 2 showing the removable device in the intermediate position;

Figure 4 - a view similar to Figures 3 and 4, showing the removable element in the fully engaged position;

5 - is a perspective view of the cap assembly prior to assembly;

6 - a perspective view of the cap assembly after assembly;

7 - a sectional view showing the engagement between the bottle neck and cap assembly;

Figure 8 - perspective view of the intact cap with safety elements;

9 - a view similar to Figure 7, after the bottle has been removed from the cap;

Figure 10 - a view similar to Figure 8, after the protective elements have been separated;

11 - exploded perspective view of the cap of the second shift element;

12 - a view similar to Figure 11 showing the assembled cap;

13 - a sectional view of the pressure relief valve of the second example;

14 - view similar to Figure 13 showing the pressure relief valve being opened to allow the flow of air;

15 - a view similar to Figure 4 showing a third shift element on the dispenser;

16 - a view similar to Figure 5, the removable cap of the third element;

17 - a view similar to Figure 6 showing the cap collected third shift element; and

18 - a view similar to Figure 7, the third shift element.

Dispensing device is a dispensing device, hands-free, which is generally suitable for domestic use. Dispenser primarily intended for dispensing liquid soap, but may also be used to dispense other liquid or semi-liquid products (ideally with a higher viscosity than water), such as hand cream, body lotion, moisturizer, face cream, shampoo, shower gel, foaming cleanser, shaving cream, liquid cleanser, toothpaste, acne cream, cleaner surface or disinfectant, for example, an alcohol gel.

Dispenser comprises two main parts, namely a replaceable element 1 and the base unit 2. Replacement element 1 provides a container issued by the fluid and set the base unit 2, below.

The base has a border 3, in which the liquid is dispensed from the removable element. The boundary 3 is in fluid communication with the dispensing tube 4. Pump 5 is configured to selectively inject a metered dose of fluid through tube 4 and out of dispensing head 6 of issue.

The base has an infrared transmitter 7A, which emits an infrared beam through a window 8 to a receiver 7B, to recognize the presence of the user's hand near the dispenser. The control circuit responds to the signal from the proximity sensor to activate the pump. The illustrated sensor is a sensor interrupts the beam, but may also be a reflection sensor. Although an infrared sensor is shown, any known proximity sensor such as a capacitance sensor may Life s used. The unit can be powered from the mains or battery powered. Alternatively, it may be a device with a manually operated pump in which a user pushes a lever to displace the product.

The boundary between the replaceable element 1 and base unit 2 will now be described in more detail with reference to 2-10.

2 base unit includes a housing 10, which forms a cup-shaped body surrounding a significant portion of the removable element to protect and maintain it. The sleeve 11 protrudes through the bottom of the housing 10 and is sealed to the housing 10 and sealing ring 12. The sleeve has a plurality of teeth 13 on its upper surface. The second sealing ring 14 surrounds the sleeve 11 by teeth 13.

Removable element 1 comprises a bottle 20, which is attached to the cap 21. The vial 20 has a neck 22 which is on and planted a sealed annular flange 23 inside the cap 21. The cap 21 has a skirt 24 extending upward (in the inverted position shown in the figures), which forms the outer surface of the cap. Moving inward of the skirt 24, the next element of the cap is an outer annular wall 25 which is generally coaxial with the skirt 24.

This is shown in detail in fig.5-10.

The outer annular wall 25 consists of a pair of retaining members 26 and a pair of support members 27 which alternate with each other and each lasts approximately a quarter circle, as shown in Figures 5, 6, 8 and 10. The cross section of the supporting members 27 shown in FIG. 2. These elements extend directly up from the bottom wall of the cap have parallel sides and an inclined upper surface 28. The cross section of the retaining members 26 shown in Figures 7 and 9. Unlike the support members 27, they are not attached to the wall of the cap. Instead, they are attached at the other end to the support members 27 with safety elements 29, how best shown in Figures 6 and 8. The retaining members 26 have parallel sides and have an inclined upper surface 35 as shown in Figures 7 and 9.

As shown in Figures 7 and 9, the vial neck 22 has a tapered outer surface 36 which is complementary to the inclined surfaces 28 and 35 of the annular wall 25. Behind the inclined outer surface 36 is a protrusion 37 which faces the main body of the bottle 20. This inclined outer surface 36 and the protrusion 37 are only near the holding members 26 and support members are absent near 27. Adjacent to the support members 27, the neck 22 has parallel walls as shown in Figure 2.

In order to insert the bottle 20 into the cap 21, vial 20 is pushed down, and its neck is inserted into the annular flange 23. The inclined outer surface 36 of the bottle engages with the inclined surfaces 28, 35 to displace the retaining members 26 radially outwardly until the projection is 37 clicks into place at the retaining elements 26, as shown in Figure 7. When bottle 20 is removed from the cap 21, the projections 37 abut against the retaining members 26, thereby destroying the protective elements 29 so that retaining elements 26 separated from the cap 21, as shown in Figures 9 and 10. Once this has occurred, no longer possible hold the cap on the bottle, thereby preventing reuse of the replaceable element 1.

Note that there is no need for the complete separation of the two holding members 26 from the cap. It is possible that only one of them will separate or that one or both are displaced in a position in which they can no longer engage with the neck of the vial.

Returning now to Figures 2-4, the liquid outlet and associated valve will now be described.

A liquid outlet from the reservoir is provided by an annular wall 30 surrounding the central aperture 31. At the top of the annular wall 30 is an inclined surface 32 (see FIG. 4) which provides a valve seat for the valve element 33 outlet. This is shown in the form of a U-shaped cup-shaped member, but may equally be a solid member or a hollow ball-shaped element. The element 33 of valve outlet rejected in its closed position by a plurality of deflector elements 34.

They are attached at their upper end to the upper part of the valve member 33 and attached at their lower end to a place radially outwardly from the annular wall 30 and below the top of the annular wall 30. They are preferably formed integrally with the valve element 33.

As shown in Figures 2-4, when the interchangeable element 1 is lowered into the base unit 2, the sleeve 11 engages the bottom surface of the valve member 33, as shown in Figure 3. Further downward movement causes raising of the removable element 33 of the valve member with its seat, and also brings the O-ring 14 in sealing engagement with the annular wall 30. The valve element 33 is raised to the position shown in Figure 4. In this position, liquid in the bottle 20 can flow around the deflector 34 and enters into the sleeve through the tine 13, thereby flowing into the base unit 2. Leakage of fluid between the sleeve 11 and the annular wall 30 prevents the sealing ring 14. This design is simple and does not create confusion for the consumer a way to insert a removable element, regardless of the fill level of the removable element.

In order to remove the removable element, the user removes it from the ground, after which the deflecting elements 34 cause the return of the valve member 33 on the seat 32. During this movement, the seal between the sleeve 11 and the annular wall 30 is provided by a sealing ring 14. The use interchangeable element then replaced Following the above scheme.

The cap 40 is provided with a pair of pressure relief valves. Each is formed by an annular protrusion 41 formed integrally with cap member 21. The pressure relief valve 42 rests on top of annular flange 41 and is bent at a place a pair of deflection elements 43 (as shown for example in Figure 5). The deflection power is such that under normal conditions the valve member 42 forms a discharge pressure tight seal on the ledge 41. However, when the pressure within the bottle 20 drops below a certain level, the pressure difference across the valve member 42 is pressure-relief is sufficient to overcome the force exerted on the deflection elements 43, and admit air into the bottle 20. This reduces the pressure differential thereby restoring the tight seal without leakage of fluid.

Each pressure relief valve 40 is surrounded by an annular insulator 44, which extends axially to a level above the top of the annular wall 30 along the axis. Thus, when the valve member 33 is open, any air entering the pressure relief valve 40 will not be carried away by the effluent flow of liquid. In practice this means that the pressure relief valve can be placed closer to the outlet, thereby resulting in a more compact cap. Although two pressure relief valves are shown, a single valve or more than two valves could be provided if necessary.

The way in which the cap is assembled is shown in Figures 5 and 6.

The node is a three-part structure consisting of the cap 21, the valve plates 45 and the fixing plate 46. The cap has a number of molded elements, which include an annular flange 23, annular wall 25 and annular projections 41. Furthermore, the cap 21 has a plurality of mounting racks 47.

Plate valve 45 is an elastomeric material and is formed integrally with the valve element 33, biasing member 34, member 42, and relief valve biasing member 43. The valve has a plurality of mounting holes 48 which correspond to mounting post 47.

Mounting plate 46 is made of hard plastic and is formed integrally with an annular insulator 44. As the valve plate 45, the fastening plate 46 is also provided with a plurality of mounting holes 49 which correspond to mounting post 47.

To assemble the three components of the cap are placed above one another, as shown in Figure 6, wherein the fixing stand includes a mounting hole to ensure that the components are correctly aligned. Heating or adhesive is then applied to the top of the mounting rack 47 to attach the mounting pillar to the mounting plate 46. The elastomeric valve plate 45 is thus positioned between the cap 21 and fixing plate 46 which holds the elements 33 and 42 of the valve in place.

A second example of the cap for the replacement element will now be described with reference to 11-14.

The construction element 33 of the valve outlet in the second example, substantially the same as in the first example, and will not be described again in relation to the second example.

As can be seen from Figure 11, the cap 21 is integrally molded with a number of elements such as the annular wall 25 and 30 and the conical portion 50 of the pressure relief valve, which will be described below. The elastic region 53 (described in more detail below) for the pressure relief valve is provided integrally molded with the valve plate 45. The mounting plate 46 is also provided with a screen 57 for the pressure relief valve. It is equivalent to the insulator 44 in Figure 2, but only extends around the side of the pressure relief valve facing the outlet valve element 33 opening. The insulator 44 and the screen 57 can be used interchangeably in the two examples.

Cap assembly is going to the same manner as in the first example.

Pressure relief valve 60 shown in Figures 13 and 14.

The valve has a conical portion 50 which is part of the cap 21 as mentioned above. At the top of the conical portion 50 is cylindrical rack 61. Resilient region 53 is in fact a hollow extension in the form of a truncated cone 52 of the valve tray of resilient material which extends along the conical part 50 from which it diverges slightly and tightly mounted on the rack 61. At least one inlet for air 62 (also shown in Figure 11) passes through the wall of the conical portion 50 and, as a rule, closed elastic edge 53, as shown in Figure 11. When the pressure in the bottle 20 falls as liquid is discharged, the pressure differential across the elastic region 53 will eventually be enough to shift the edge 53 a sufficient amount to let the air A into the bottle 20 as shown by the arrows in Figure 8. Note that the amount by which the elastic region 53 up from the conical element 50 has been exaggerated in Figure 8 and that in practice it would be almost imperceptible.

Instead of sealing the front elastic region 53 may condense on the conical portion 50. In this case, the edge will not depart from the conical portion as shown. Instead, it would actually have an angle less than the angle of the conical portion 50, in order to naturally rest on the conical part.

An example of the third shift element will now be described with reference to 15-18. It is in most respects similar to the first example, and only the significant differences are described herein.

As can be seen in Figure 15, the element 33 'of the valve outlet otherwise decorated. In this case, there is a reduced diameter portion 60, which is mounted inside the annular wall 30 when the valve is closed, to facilitate sealing to the annular wall.

A pair of pressure relief valve 40 has been replaced with a conventional valve 61 fungal.

The retaining elements 26 with their safety elements 29 have been replaced by a plurality of periodic protuberances 62 which, as shown in Figure 18, are engaged with the complementary projections 63 on the neck of the vial neck 20. The deflection is prevented inside the vial flange 64. In the position of Figure 18 with the engagement between projections firmly enough to prevent removal of the cap from the bottle for all practical purposes. This design is facilitated by the keyway 64 on the cap as shown in Figures 16 and 17, which engages with a complementary protrusion on the bottle (not shown) to prevent relative rotation between the cap 21 and vial 20.