Dispenser for liquids

Claim 2

A dispenser for liquids comprising: a supporting chassis; a supply tank mounted on said chassis for storing a quantity of a liquid; a pump mounted on said chassis and communicating with said supply tank for pumping the liquid out of the dispenser; and a nozzle mounted on said chassis and communicating with said pump for conveying the liquid out of the dispenser, said nozzle including a housing member having an internal passage extending therethrough, an insert mounted within said housing member passage, said insert having a pair of generally opposed ends and sides extending between said ends, said insert further having a passage extending from an opening in one of said ends thereof to an opening through at least one of said sides thereof, said insert end opening communicating with said pump, and a compressively elastically deformable sleeve interposed between said housing member and said insert, said sleeve being compressed radially against said insert sides including the portion of said one side having said insert side opening therethrough by generally radially inward forces exerted by said housing member upon said sleeve, the portion of said sleeve adjacent said housing member being retained against radially outward deflection by said housing member, the portion of said sleeve adjacent said insert encasing the portion of said insert having said insert side opening therethrough to normally seal said insert side opening and thereby prevent the liquid from leaking out of the nozzle, whereby when the pump is actuated, the liquid compressively elastically deforms the portion of said sleeve adjacent said insert so that the sleeve is forced away from said insert side opening and the liquid flows into said insert passage through said insert end opening, through said insert passage, out of said insert passage through said insert side opening, past said sleeve and out of said housing member passage.

Claim 3

A dispenser for liquids according to claim 1 wherein said supply tank comprises a replaceable container.

Claim 4

A dispenser for liquids according to claim 2 wherein said supporting chassis includes means for retaining said replaceable container within said dispenser.

Claim 5

A dispenser for liquids according to claim 3 wherein said retaining means comprises a member providing an interference fit between said container and said supporting chassis, whereby said container may be wedged in place within said dispenser.

Claim 6

A dispenser for liquids according to claim 2 wherein said replaceable container includes an exit orifice having a diameter correlated to the viscosity of the liquid contained therein such that gravity-induced flow therethrough will not initiate for at least three seconds after said container orientation is changed from having said orifice facing generally vertically upwardly to generally vertically downwardly.

Claim 7

A dispenser for liquids according to claim 1 further comprising a reservoir intermediate said supply tank and said pump, said reservoir including an inlet opening, and said supply tank having an exit orifice in communication with said reservoir inlet opening.

Claim 8

A dispenser for liquids according to claim 6 wherein at least part of said reservoir comprises a generally transparent material whereby the liquid level in said reservoir may be visually observed.

Claim 9

A dispenser for liquids according to claim 6 wherein said reservoir includes a member adapted to support said supply tank with said exit orifice of said supply tank in communication with said intermediate reservoir.

Claim 10

A dispenser for liquids according to claim 8 wherein said supply tank comprises a bottle insertable into said dispenser with said exit orifice comprising the outer end of the neck of said bottle and wherein said supply tank supporting member comprises a panel generally covering the top of said reservoir.

Claim 11

A dispenser for liquids according to claim 9 wherein said reservoir top panel includes an upwardly projecting collar surrounding the inlet opening of said reservoir to engage and support said bottle and into which said bottle neck projects.

Claim 12

A dispenser for liquids according to claim 10 wherein the upward projection of said collar is of a first length and said bottle neck is of a second length, said first length being less than said second length, such that said bottle neck projects only partially through said reservoir inlet opening, whereby, as long as said bottle is providing liquid to said reservoir, said reservoir will be maintained completely full of said liquid with a small amount of said liquid in said inlet opening up to the level of the outer end of said bottle neck so that air may be prevented from entering said reservoir.

Claim 13

A dispenser for liquids according to claim 11 wherein said reservoir top panel includes a vent slot communicating with said reservoir inlet opening and with said bottle neck projecting thereinto to admit air into said bottle in a predetermined manner to maintain a predetermined level of said liquid within said reservoir inlet opening.

Claim 14

A dispenser for liquids according to claim 10 wherein said collar includes a plurality of ribs projecting inwardly and downwardly to said reservoir inlet opening, whereby said ribs may serve to guide the outer end of the neck of the bottle neck into the reservoir inlet opening during the insertion of the bottle into the dispenser.

Claim 15

A dispenser for liquids according to claim 1 further comprising a cover for said dispenser, said cover having two side panels, a front panel and a top panel.

Claim 16

A dispenser for liquids according to claim 14 further comprising a protective cap overlying a substantial portion of said cover top panel.

Claim 17

A dispenser for liquids according to claim 1 wherein said pump includes an actuating handle projecting downwardly from said pump and positioned adjacent a portion of said dispenser supporting chassis adapted for mounting said dispenser to a wall, whereby said actuating handle will be toward the back of the dispenser with respect to a user thereof.

Claim 18

A dispenser for liquids according to claim 16 wherein said nozzle projects downwardly from said pump and is spaced from said actuating handle and remote from said supporting chassis mounting portion, said actuating handle and said nozzle being positioned such that the grasping of the lowermost portion of said actuating handle by the fingertips of a user with the palm of such hand of said user facing upwardly will tend to place the palm of said user's hand generally beneath said nozzle, whereby, actuation of said handle by that hand of said user will dispense said liquid from said nozzle into said upwardly facing palm of said hand.

Claim 19

A dispenser for liquids according to claim 1 wherein said pump comprises: a cylinder having axially offset inlet and outlet ports; a piston disposed within said cylinder, said piston having its central axis aligned with the cylinder axis and being mounted for reciprocating movement therealong between a first position and a second position, said piston having a liquid contacting portion positioned adjacent said inlet port when said piston is in said first position and generally adjacent said outlet port when said piston is in said second position, said piston also being adapted for rotation about said central axis to any one of a plurality of predetermined positions of rotation; means for selectively imparting reciprocating movement to said piston, whereby, when said piston is in said first position, liquid flows into said cylinder through said inlet port and, upon actuation of said movement imparting means, said piston is moved to said second position to thereby force a preselected volume of liquid out of said outlet port; means associated with said piston liquid contacting portion for selectively adjusting the maximum effective stroke length of said piston upon movement thereof from said first position to said second position, said maximum stroke length adjusting means comprising said piston liquid contacting portion being an angled and generally elliptical face on said piston, said angled and generally elliptical face being oriented such that both the major and minor elliptical axex thereof form non-perpendicular angles with said piston central axis, each said position of piston rotation providing, when said piston is in said first position, for a predetermined distance between said inlet port and the portion of said piston face spaced from said inlet port in the direction of said cylinder axis, whereby, in each said predetermined position of piston rotation, during a portion of the movement of said piston from said first position to said second position, the liquid may flow back out said inlet port until said piston covers said inlet port, each said predetermined position of piston rotation thereby corresponding to a predetermined maximum effective piston stroke length and thus to a preselected maximum volume of liquid to be forced out of the outlet port; and means operatively associated with said maximum effective stroke length adjusting means for selectively maintaining said piston in said one position of rotation.

Claim 20

A dispenser according to claim 18 wherein the portion of the piston cooperating with said selective reciprocating movement imparting means includes indexing means corresponding to said predetermined positions of piston rotation, whereby, selective indexing of said piston serves to provide, when said piston is in said first position, for different predetermined distances between said inlet port and the portion of said piston face spaced from said inlet port in the direction of said cylinder axis and thus for different maximum output volumes available from said pump.

Claim 21

A dispenser for liquids according to claim 19 wherein said selective reciprocating movement imparting means comprises: an actuating handle for urging said piston from said first position to said second position, said handle including piston rotational position maintaining tabs for selectively engaging said piston indexing means; and spring biasing means cooperating with said piston to urge said piston from said second position to said first position.

Claim 22

A dispenser for liquids according to claim 20 wherein said piston indexing means comprises a square boss on the end of said piston remote from said liquid-contact face with the flats of said square boss being engaged by said piston rotational position maintaining tabs, whereby said piston may be maintained in any one of four positions of rotation.

Claim 23

A dispenser for liquids according to claim 1 wherein said nozzle housing member is removably attachable to said pump.

Claim 24

A dispenser for liquids according to claim 1 wherein said nozzle housing member is of generally cylindrical configuration with said passage extending axially therethrough.

Claim 25

A dispenser for liquids according to claim 1 wherein said sleeve is formed of resilient cellular synthetic resin.

Claim 26

A dispenser for liquids according to claim 1 further comprising a radially elastically deformable tubular sealing member interposed between said insert and said compressively elastically deformable sleeve, whereby said sealing member may deform elastically radially conjunctively with the compressive elastic deformation of said sleeve under the pressure of the pumped liquid.

Claim 27

A nozzle for use with a pump for dispensing liquids comprising: a housing member having an internal passage extending therethrough; an insert mounted within said housing member passage, said insert having a pair of generally opposed ends and sides extending between said ends, said insert further having a passage extending from an opening in one of said ends thereof to an opening through at least one of said sides thereof, said insert end opening communicating with said pump; and a compressively elastically deformable sleeve interposed between said housing member and said insert, said sleeve being compressed radially against said insert sides including the portion of said one side having said insert side opening therethrough by generally radially inward forces exerted by said housing member upon said sleeve, the portion of said sleeve adjacent said housing member being retained against radially outward deflection by said housing member, the portion of said sleeve adjacent said insert encasing the portion of said insert having said insert side opening therethrough to normally seal said insert side opening and thereby prevent the liquid from leaking out of the nozzle, whereby when the pump is actuated, the liquid compressively elastically deforms the portion of said sleeve adjacent said insert so that the sleeve is forced away from said insert side opening and the liquid flows into said insert passage through said insert end opening, through said insert passage, out of said insert passage through said insert side opening, past said sleeve and out of said housing member passage.

Claim 28

A nozzle for use with a pump for dispensing liquids comprising: a housing member having an internal passage extending therethrough; an insert mounted within said housing member passage, said insert having a pair of generally opposed ends and sides extending between said ends, said insert further having a passage extending from an opening in one of said ends thereof to an opening through at least one of said sides thereof, said insert end opening communicating with said pump; and a compressively elastically deformable sleeve interposed between said housing member and said insert, said sleeve being compressed radially against said insert sides including the portion of said one side having said insert side opening therethrough by generally radially inward forces exerted by said housing member upon said sleeve, the portion of said sleeve adjacent said housing member being retained against radially outward deflection by said housing member, the portion of said sleeve adjacent said insert encasing the portion of said insert having said insert side opening therethrough to normally seal said insert side opening and thereby prevent the liquid from leaking out of the nozzle, whereby when the pump is actuated, the liquid compressively elastically deforms the portion of said sleeve adjacent said insert so that the sleeve is forced away from said insert side opening and the liquid flows into said insert passage through said insert end opening, through said insert passage, out of said insert passage through said insert side opening, past said sleeve and out of said housing member passage.

Claim 29

The nozzle according to claim 26 wherein said nozzle housing member is removably attachable to said pump.

Claim 30

The nozzle according to claim 26 wherein said nozzle housing member is of generally cylindrical configuration with said passage extending axially therethrough.

Claim 31

The nozzle according to claim 26 wherein said sleeve is formed of resilient cellular synthetic resin.

Claim 32

The nozzle according to claim 26 further comprising a radially elastically tubular sealing member interposed between said insert and said compressively elastically deformable sleeve, whereby said sealing member may deform radially elastically conjunctively with the compressive elastic deformation of said sleeve under the pressure of the pumped liquid.

Claim 33

A pump for metering a preselected volume of liquid comprising: a cylinder having axially offset inlet and outlet ports; a piston disposed within said cylinder, said piston having its central axis aligned with the cylinder axis and being mounted for reciprocating movement therealong between a first position and a second position, said piston having a liquid contacting portion positioned adjacent said inlet port when said piston is in said first position and adjacent said outlet port when said piston is in said second position, said piston also being adapted for rotation about said central axis to any one of a plurality of predetermined positions of rotation; means for selectively imparting reciprocating movement to said piston, whereby, when said piston is in said first position, liquid flows into said cylinder through said inlet port and, upon actuation of said movement imparting means, said piston is moved to said second position to thereby force a preselected volume of liquid out of said outlet port; means associated with said piston liquid contacting portion for selectively adjusting the maximum effective stroke length of said piston upon movement thereof from said first position to said second position, said maximum stroke length adjusting means comprising said piston liquid contacting portion being an angled and generally elliptical face on said piston, said angled and generally elliptical face being oriented such that both the major and minor elliptical axes thereof form non-perpendicular angles with said piston central axis, each said position of piston rotation providing, when said piston is in said first position, for a predetermined distance between said inlet port and the portion of said piston face spaced from said inlet port in the direction of said cylinder axis, whereby, in each said predetermined position of piston rotation, during a portion of the movement of said piston from said first position to said second position, the liquid may flow back out said inlet port until said piston covers said inlet port, each said predetermined position of piston rotation thereby corresponding to a predetermined maximum effective piston stroke length and thus to a preselected maximum volume of liquid to be forced out of the outlet port; and means operatively associated with said maximum effective stroke length adjusting means for selectively maintaining said piston in said one position of rotation.

Claim 34

A pump for metering a preselected volume of liquid comprising: a cylinder having axially offset inlet and outlet ports; a piston disposed within said cylinder, said piston having its central axis aligned with the cylinder axis and being mounted for reciprocating movement therealong between a first position and a second position, said piston having a liquid contacting portion positioned adjacent said inlet port when said piston is in said first position and adjacent said outlet port when said piston is in said second position, said piston also being adapted for rotation about said central axis to any one of a plurality of predetermined positions of rotation; means for selectively imparting reciprocating movement to said piston, whereby, when said piston is in said first position, liquid flows into said cylinder through said inlet port and, upon actuation of said movement imparting means, said piston is moved to said second position to thereby force a preselected volume of liquid out of said outlet port; means associated with said piston liquid contacting portion for selectively adjusting the maximum effective stroke length of said piston upon movement thereof from said first position to said second position, said maximum stroke length adjusting means comprising said piston liquid contacting portion being an angled and generally elliptical face on said piston, said angled and generally elliptical face being oriented such that both the major and minor elliptical axes thereof form non-perpendicular angles with said piston central axis, each said position of piston rotation providing, when said piston is in said first position, for a predetermined distance between said inlet port and the portion of said piston face spaced from said inlet port in the direction of said cylinder axis, whereby, in each said predetermined position of piston rotation, during a portion of the movement of said piston from said first position to said second position, the liquid may flow back out said inlet port until said piston covers said inlet port, each said predetermined position of piston rotation thereby corresponding to a predetermined maximum effective piston stroke length and thus to a preselected maximum volume of liquid to be forced out of the outlet port; and means operatively associated with said maximum effective stroke length adjusting means for selectively maintaining said piston in said one position of rotation.

Claim 35

A pump according to claim 31 wherein the portion of the piston cooperating with said selective reciprocating movement imparting means includes indexing means corresponding to said predetermined positions of piston rotation, whereby, selective indexing of said piston serves to provide, when said piston is in said first position, for different predetermined distances between said inlet port and the portion of said piston face spaced from said inlet port in the direction of said cylinder axis and thus for different maximum output volumes available from said pump.

Claim 36

A pump according to claim 32 wherein said selective reciprocating movement imparting means comprises: an actuating handle for urging said piston from said first position to said second position, said handle including piston rotational position maintaining tabs for selectively engaging said piston indexing means; and spring biasing means cooperating with said piston to urge said piston from said second position to said first position.

Claim 37

A pump according to claim 33 wherein said piston indexing means comprises a square boss on the end of said piston remote from said liquid-contacting face with the flats of said square boss being engaged by said piston rotational position maintaining tabs, whereby, said piston may be maintained in any one of four positions of rotation.