EP0232571A1 - Liquid soap dispenser - Google Patents

Liquid soap dispenser Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0232571A1
EP0232571A1 EP86300742A EP86300742A EP0232571A1 EP 0232571 A1 EP0232571 A1 EP 0232571A1 EP 86300742 A EP86300742 A EP 86300742A EP 86300742 A EP86300742 A EP 86300742A EP 0232571 A1 EP0232571 A1 EP 0232571A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
nipple
discharge
liquid soap
slit
container
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP86300742A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0232571B1 (en
Inventor
Antonio Macchi Cassia
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Steiner Co Inc
Original Assignee
Steiner Co Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Steiner Co Inc filed Critical Steiner Co Inc
Priority to DE8686300742T priority Critical patent/DE3682392D1/en
Priority to AT86300742T priority patent/ATE69146T1/en
Priority to EP86300742A priority patent/EP0232571B1/en
Publication of EP0232571A1 publication Critical patent/EP0232571A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0232571B1 publication Critical patent/EP0232571B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47KSANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
    • A47K5/00Holders or dispensers for soap, toothpaste, or the like
    • A47K5/06Dispensers for soap
    • A47K5/12Dispensers for soap for liquid or pasty soap
    • A47K5/1202Dispensers for soap for liquid or pasty soap dispensing dosed volume
    • A47K5/1208Dispensers for soap for liquid or pasty soap dispensing dosed volume by means of a flexible dispensing chamber
    • A47K5/1209Dispensers for soap for liquid or pasty soap dispensing dosed volume by means of a flexible dispensing chamber with chamber in the form of a cylindrical tube

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to apparatus for dis­pensing liquid soap, normally in discrete small quanti­ties or charges.
  • the invention has particular application to the dispensing of liquid soap containing grit for scouring purposes.
  • One type of soap dispenser is disclosed in my U.S. Patent No. 4,018,363 and includes a flexible pump bowl which receives soap from a container through a diaphragm-type check valve. When the bowl is compressed it closes the check valve and forces the soap in the bowl out through a passageway to a discharge outlet.
  • This structure is relatively complex and is not well suited to the dispensing of soap containing grit, since the grit tends to clog the passageways in the device.
  • U.S. Patent No. 1,326,880 the dispenser ejecting soap directly from a slit in the pump nipple.
  • This dispenser utilizes a cus­tom-made check valve stopper in the soap container out­let, and depends on distortion of the slit in the nipple for dispensing of soap therefrom.
  • the nip­ple is compressed in the direction of the slit. This has the disadvantage that the slit can be opened permit­ting soap to drip therefrom before pressure in the nip­ple has been raised sufficiently to close the check valve.
  • An important object of the invention is the provi­sion of a discharge assembly for a liquid soap dispens­er which is suitable for dispensing liquid soap containing grit.
  • Another object of the invention is the provision of a discharge assembly of the type set forth, which is of simple and economical construction, and is character­ized by ease of assembly.
  • Still another object of the invention is the provi­sion of a discharge assembly of the type set forth, which is dependent upon an increase in pressure within a discharge nipple for operation of the discharge assembly.
  • a discharge assembly for a liquid soap dispenser including a liquid soap container having an outlet opening
  • the discharge assembly comprising: an elongated flexible resilient nipple having a normal expanded condition defining a discharge chamber for ac­commodating a charge of liquid soap and having a longi­tudinal axis, the nipple having an inlet opening at one end thereof and being provided at the other end thereof with a normally closed discharge slit extending generally perpendicular to the axis, means mounting the nipple on the container with the inlet opening disposed in registry with the container outlet opening, and check valve means disposed between the inlet opening and the container outlet opening, the nipple being lat­erally compressible in a direction substantially perpen­dicular to the axis and to the discharge slit to a compressed condition, movement of the nipple to the com­pressed condition thereof raising the pressure in the discharge chamber for closing the check valve and eject
  • a liquid soap dispenser generally designated by the nu­meral 10, including a discharge assembly 30, construct­ed in accordance with and embodying the features of the present invention.
  • the dispenser 10 includes a housing 11, which may be mounted by suitable means (not shown) on a wall or other support surface, and in which is dis­posed a container 12 of liquid soap.
  • the container 12 may be in the form of a bottle or the like which is replaceably mounted in the housing 11, so that when it is empty it can be replaced with a full container.
  • the container 12 has a cylindrical neck 13 at its lower end provided with an annular flange 14 extending radially outwardly therefrom around the circumference thereof.
  • the neck 13 has a flat annular end surface 15 at its distal end and defines a cylindrical outlet opening 16 of the container 12.
  • the housing 11 includes a general­ly cylindrical retainer 17 which is disposed for sub­stantially enclosing the neck 13 and the associated discharge assembly 30, the retainer 17 having an open­ing 18 in the side thereof for a purpose to be ex­plained more fully below.
  • the container 12 contains liquid soap 20, which is preferably of the type container particles 21 of grit suspended therein, the grit particles 21 being of a suitable material for providing an abrasive or scouring function, in a known manner.
  • the discharge assembly 30 includes an elongat­ ed, generally circularly cylindrical nipple 31 formed of a suitable flexible, resilient material, such as rub­ber.
  • the nipple 31 has a cylindrical side wall 32 pro­vided at one end thereof with a radially outwardly extending annular flange 33, integral at the outer pe­riphery thereof with an upstanding cylindrical wall 34 which defines an inlet opening into the nipple 31.
  • the cylindrical wall 34 has an annular groove 35 formed on the inner surface thereof adjacent to the flange 33, the wall 34 also being provided with two diametrically opposed and axially extending part-cylindrical notches 35a communicating with the groove 35.
  • the nipple 31 de­fines a discharge chamber 36 therein, and is provided at its distal end with a pair of radially inwardly slop­ing concave walls 37 which cooperate to form a flat, narrow duckbill-shaped tip 38 at the distal end of the nipple 31 closing the discharge chamber 36.
  • a valve assembly 40 Seated in the upper end of the nipple 31 is a valve assembly 40, which includes a circular backing disk 41 which is disposed in the groove 35 and has a circular opening 42 formed therethrough centrally thereof. Also disposed in the groove 35 and seated on the annular flange 33 beneath the backing disk 41 is a circular membrane 45 formed of a suitable flexible re­silient material impermeable to liquid soap.
  • the mem­brane 45 has a straight-line slit 46 formed therein extending substantially diametrically thereof in regis­try with the opening 42 in the backing disk 41. It will be appreciated that the notches 35a in the nipple wall 34 facilitate flexure thereof to permit insertion of the backing disk 41 and the membrane 45 in the groove 35.
  • the discharge assembly 30 In use, when the discharge assembly 30 has been as­sembled as described above, it is mounted on the con­tainer 12. More specifically, the cylindrical wall 34 is fitted over the distal end of the neck 13 in sur­rounding relationship therewith, until the wall 34 abuts the flange 14, and the end surface 15 of the neck 13 engages the upper surface of the backing disk 41, as illustrated in FIG. 5.
  • the check valve assembly 40 is disposed for controlling the flow of liquid soap between the outlet opening of the container 12 and the inlet opening of the nipple 31.
  • a generally cylindrical retaining clip 47 is then applied to hold the discharge assembly 30 in place on the neck 13, the clip 47 having parallel, spaced-apart, annular upper and lower flanges 48 and 49, respectively engaging the outer surfaces of the flanges 14 and 33, securely to clamp the cylindrical wall 34 of the nipple 31 against the flange 14 of the neck 13.
  • the retainer 17 is detachable from the housing 11 to facilitate mounting of the discharge assembly 30.
  • an actuator 50 which is carried by the housing 11 by suitable means (not shown). The actuator 50 projecting through the opening 18 in the re­ tainer 17 for engagement with the outer surface of the nipple 31, as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 5.
  • the discharge assembly 30 is as­sembled on the container 12 when the neck 13 is dis­posed upwardly. Then, after assembly, the container 12 is inverted and mounted in the housing 11, as indicated in FIG. 1, with the nipple 31 projecting downwardly through and from the bottom of the retainer 17.
  • the nipple 31 is oriented so that the discharge slit 39 is substantially parallel to the opening 18 in the retain­er 17, so that the actuator 50 engages the nipple 31 to­ward one side of the slit 39, rather than at an end thereof.
  • the container 12 may be vented, so that atmospher­ic pressure plus the weight of the liquid soap 20 on the membrane 45 will force the slit 46 open, allowing liquid soap to flow through the opening 42 in the back­ing disk 41 and through the slit 46 into the discharge chamber 36 in the nipple 31. This flow will continue until the discharge chamber 36 is filled, at which point the pressure on the opposite sides of the mem­brane 45 will be equalized, thereby allowing the slit 46 to close in an equilibrium condition, illustrated in FIG. 5.
  • the nipple 31 is so constructed that in this normal equilibrium condition, the natural resilient bias of the nipple 31 will hold the discharge slit 39 closed against the weight of the charge of liquid soap 20 contained in the discharge chamber 36.
  • a user When it is desired to dispense a charge of liquid soap, a user operates the actuator 50 for compressing the side of the nipple 31 in the direction of the ar­rows in FIGS. 6, 8 and 9.
  • This compression of the cy­lindrical wall 32 of the nipple 31 raises the pressure in the discharge chamber 36, so that it holds the slit 46 of the valve assembly 40 closed, and forces the ejec­tion of a charge 55 of liquid soap from the discharge slit 39, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 9.
  • the liquid soap 20 is discharged directly from the nipple 31, there are no narrow passages to be clogged by the grit particles 21. Furthermore, the pumping action of the nipple 31 during the discharge op­eration serves to flush accumulated grit particles 21 from the discharge chamber 36 during each dispensing operation.
  • the nipple 31 is of unitary, one-piece construction, and may be formed by molding.
  • the container 12 may be formed of a suitable plastic, and the housing 11, the retainer 17 and the actuator 50 may be formed of plastic or metal. It will be appreciated that the discharge assembly 30 can readily be assembled and mounted on the container 12 without the use of tools.

Abstract

A dispenser (10) for liquid soap containing grit includes a cylindrical, flexible, resilient nipple (31) mountable on a soap container (12) in communication with the outlet opening (16) thereof, and clamping therebetween a check valve assembly (40) including a slitted flexible membrane (45). The nipple has a duckbill-shaped tip (38) with a discharge slit (39) therein. Soap (20) fills the nipple. For dispensing soap, an actuator (50) laterally compresses the nipple in directions perpendicular to its longitudinal axis and to the discharge slit. The increased pressure in the nipple holds the check valve closed and ejects soap from the discharge slit. When the actuator is released the nipple expands to its normal position, closing the discharge slit and opening the check valve to draw a new charge of soap into the nipple.

Description

    Background of the Invention
  • The present invention relates to apparatus for dis­pensing liquid soap, normally in discrete small quanti­ties or charges. The invention has particular application to the dispensing of liquid soap containing grit for scouring purposes.
  • One type of soap dispenser is disclosed in my U.S. Patent No. 4,018,363 and includes a flexible pump bowl which receives soap from a container through a diaphragm-type check valve. When the bowl is compressed it closes the check valve and forces the soap in the bowl out through a passageway to a discharge outlet. This structure is relatively complex and is not well suited to the dispensing of soap containing grit, since the grit tends to clog the passageways in the device.
  • A similar type of dispenser using a compressible pump bowl or nipple is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 1,326,880, the dispenser ejecting soap directly from a slit in the pump nipple. This dispenser utilizes a cus­tom-made check valve stopper in the soap container out­let, and depends on distortion of the slit in the nipple for dispensing of soap therefrom. Thus, the nip­ple is compressed in the direction of the slit. This has the disadvantage that the slit can be opened permit­ting soap to drip therefrom before pressure in the nip­ple has been raised sufficiently to close the check valve.
  • Summary of the Invention
  • It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved discharge assembly for a liquid soap dis­penser which avoids the disadvantages of prior devices while affording additional structural and operating advantages.
  • An important object of the invention is the provi­sion of a discharge assembly for a liquid soap dispens­er which is suitable for dispensing liquid soap containing grit.
  • Another object of the invention is the provision of a discharge assembly of the type set forth, which is of simple and economical construction, and is character­ized by ease of assembly.
  • Still another object of the invention is the provi­sion of a discharge assembly of the type set forth, which is dependent upon an increase in pressure within a discharge nipple for operation of the discharge assembly.
  • It is another object of the invention to provide a liquid soap dispenser which includes a discharge assem­bly of the type set forth.
  • These and other objects of the invention are at­tained by providing a discharge assembly for a liquid soap dispenser including a liquid soap container having an outlet opening, the discharge assembly comprising: an elongated flexible resilient nipple having a normal expanded condition defining a discharge chamber for ac­commodating a charge of liquid soap and having a longi­tudinal axis, the nipple having an inlet opening at one end thereof and being provided at the other end thereof with a normally closed discharge slit extending generally perpendicular to the axis, means mounting the nipple on the container with the inlet opening disposed in registry with the container outlet opening, and check valve means disposed between the inlet opening and the container outlet opening, the nipple being lat­erally compressible in a direction substantially perpen­dicular to the axis and to the discharge slit to a compressed condition, movement of the nipple to the com­pressed condition thereof raising the pressure in the discharge chamber for closing the check valve and eject­ing liquid soap from the discharge slit, movement of the nipple back to the expanded condition thereof lower­ing the pressure in the discharge chamber for closing the discharge slit and opening the check valve to draw a new charge of liquid soap into the discharge chamber.
  • The invention consists of certain novel features and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and partic­ularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being un­derstood that various changes in the details may be made without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.
  • Brief Description of the Drawings
  • For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention, there is illustrated in the accompany­ing drawings a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the invention, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.
    • FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, sectional view of a liq­uid soap dispenser including a discharge assembly con­structed in accordance with and embodying the features of the present invention;
    • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the discharge as­sembly of FIG. 1;
    • FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the dis­charge assembly of FIG. 2, rotated 180 degrees;
    • FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the dis­charge assembly of FIG. 2, taken along the line 4-4 therein;
    • FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. 1, and illus­trating the discharge assembly in its normal rest position;
    • FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, illustrating the discharge assembly in its compressed discharge position;
    • FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIGS. 5 and 6, illus­trating the discharge assembly in its recharging condition;
    • FIG. 8 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the dis­charge assembly in FIG. 5; and
    • FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, illustrating the discharge assembly in its compressed condition of FIG. 6.
    Description of the Preferred Embodiment
  • Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, there is illustrated a liquid soap dispenser, generally designated by the nu­meral 10, including a discharge assembly 30, construct­ed in accordance with and embodying the features of the present invention. The dispenser 10 includes a housing 11, which may be mounted by suitable means (not shown) on a wall or other support surface, and in which is dis­posed a container 12 of liquid soap. The container 12 may be in the form of a bottle or the like which is replaceably mounted in the housing 11, so that when it is empty it can be replaced with a full container. The container 12 has a cylindrical neck 13 at its lower end provided with an annular flange 14 extending radially outwardly therefrom around the circumference thereof. The neck 13 has a flat annular end surface 15 at its distal end and defines a cylindrical outlet opening 16 of the container 12. The housing 11 includes a general­ly cylindrical retainer 17 which is disposed for sub­stantially enclosing the neck 13 and the associated discharge assembly 30, the retainer 17 having an open­ing 18 in the side thereof for a purpose to be ex­plained more fully below.
  • The container 12 contains liquid soap 20, which is preferably of the type container particles 21 of grit suspended therein, the grit particles 21 being of a suitable material for providing an abrasive or scouring function, in a known manner.
  • Referring now also to FIGS. 2 through 4 of the drawings, the discharge assembly 30 includes an elongat­ ed, generally circularly cylindrical nipple 31 formed of a suitable flexible, resilient material, such as rub­ber. The nipple 31 has a cylindrical side wall 32 pro­vided at one end thereof with a radially outwardly extending annular flange 33, integral at the outer pe­riphery thereof with an upstanding cylindrical wall 34 which defines an inlet opening into the nipple 31. The cylindrical wall 34 has an annular groove 35 formed on the inner surface thereof adjacent to the flange 33, the wall 34 also being provided with two diametrically opposed and axially extending part-cylindrical notches 35a communicating with the groove 35. The nipple 31 de­fines a discharge chamber 36 therein, and is provided at its distal end with a pair of radially inwardly slop­ing concave walls 37 which cooperate to form a flat, narrow duckbill-shaped tip 38 at the distal end of the nipple 31 closing the discharge chamber 36. Formed in the tip 38 and extending longitudinally thereof, sub­stantially diametrically of the nipple 31, is an elon­gated discharge slit 39, which is normally held closed by the resilient bias of the nipple 31.
  • Seated in the upper end of the nipple 31 is a valve assembly 40, which includes a circular backing disk 41 which is disposed in the groove 35 and has a circular opening 42 formed therethrough centrally thereof. Also disposed in the groove 35 and seated on the annular flange 33 beneath the backing disk 41 is a circular membrane 45 formed of a suitable flexible re­silient material impermeable to liquid soap. The mem­brane 45 has a straight-line slit 46 formed therein extending substantially diametrically thereof in regis­try with the opening 42 in the backing disk 41. It will be appreciated that the notches 35a in the nipple wall 34 facilitate flexure thereof to permit insertion of the backing disk 41 and the membrane 45 in the groove 35.
  • In use, when the discharge assembly 30 has been as­sembled as described above, it is mounted on the con­tainer 12. More specifically, the cylindrical wall 34 is fitted over the distal end of the neck 13 in sur­rounding relationship therewith, until the wall 34 abuts the flange 14, and the end surface 15 of the neck 13 engages the upper surface of the backing disk 41, as illustrated in FIG. 5. In this mounted configuration, the check valve assembly 40 is disposed for controlling the flow of liquid soap between the outlet opening of the container 12 and the inlet opening of the nipple 31. A generally cylindrical retaining clip 47 is then applied to hold the discharge assembly 30 in place on the neck 13, the clip 47 having parallel, spaced-apart, annular upper and lower flanges 48 and 49, respectively engaging the outer surfaces of the flanges 14 and 33, securely to clamp the cylindrical wall 34 of the nipple 31 against the flange 14 of the neck 13. Preferably, the retainer 17 is detachable from the housing 11 to facilitate mounting of the discharge assembly 30. There is also provided an actuator 50 which is carried by the housing 11 by suitable means (not shown). The actuator 50 projecting through the opening 18 in the re­ tainer 17 for engagement with the outer surface of the nipple 31, as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 5.
  • Referring now also to FIGS. 6-9, the operation of the dispenser 10 and the discharge assembly 30 will be explained. Preferably, the discharge assembly 30 is as­sembled on the container 12 when the neck 13 is dis­posed upwardly. Then, after assembly, the container 12 is inverted and mounted in the housing 11, as indicated in FIG. 1, with the nipple 31 projecting downwardly through and from the bottom of the retainer 17. The nipple 31 is oriented so that the discharge slit 39 is substantially parallel to the opening 18 in the retain­er 17, so that the actuator 50 engages the nipple 31 to­ward one side of the slit 39, rather than at an end thereof.
  • The container 12 may be vented, so that atmospher­ic pressure plus the weight of the liquid soap 20 on the membrane 45 will force the slit 46 open, allowing liquid soap to flow through the opening 42 in the back­ing disk 41 and through the slit 46 into the discharge chamber 36 in the nipple 31. This flow will continue until the discharge chamber 36 is filled, at which point the pressure on the opposite sides of the mem­brane 45 will be equalized, thereby allowing the slit 46 to close in an equilibrium condition, illustrated in FIG. 5. The nipple 31 is so constructed that in this normal equilibrium condition, the natural resilient bias of the nipple 31 will hold the discharge slit 39 closed against the weight of the charge of liquid soap 20 contained in the discharge chamber 36.
  • When it is desired to dispense a charge of liquid soap, a user operates the actuator 50 for compressing the side of the nipple 31 in the direction of the ar­rows in FIGS. 6, 8 and 9. This compression of the cy­lindrical wall 32 of the nipple 31 raises the pressure in the discharge chamber 36, so that it holds the slit 46 of the valve assembly 40 closed, and forces the ejec­tion of a charge 55 of liquid soap from the discharge slit 39, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 9.
  • When the actuator 50 is released, it will return to its normal rest position under the urging of suit­able bias means (not shown), and the compressed wall of the nipple 31 will tend to return to is normal expanded condition, illustrated in FIG. 7, as a result of the natural resilience of the nipple 31. This reexpansion of the nipple 31 will lower the pressure therein to a pressure below that in the container 12, so as to allow the discharge slit 39 to reclose and to open the valve assembly slit 46 and draw in a new charge of liquid soap from the neck 13, as indicated in FIG. 7. When the discharge chamber 36 is filled, the discharge assem­bly 30 returns to its equilibrium position, illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 8.
  • It will be appreciated that, because the actuator 50 engages the nipple 31 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof and perpendicular to the direction of the slit 39, the initial compression of the nipple 31 will not cause the discharge slit 39 to be directly distorted into an open condition, as would be the case if the nipple 31 were to be com­ pressed from an end of the slit 39. Thus, liquid soap cannot be discharged from the discharge slit 39 until the pressure within the discharge chamber 36 has been raised sufficiently to force the ejection of liquid soap through the discharge slit 39, at which pressure the valve slit 46 will be held closed.
  • Because the liquid soap 20 is discharged directly from the nipple 31, there are no narrow passages to be clogged by the grit particles 21. Furthermore, the pumping action of the nipple 31 during the discharge op­eration serves to flush accumulated grit particles 21 from the discharge chamber 36 during each dispensing operation.
  • In a model of the present invention, the nipple 31 is of unitary, one-piece construction, and may be formed by molding. The container 12 may be formed of a suitable plastic, and the housing 11, the retainer 17 and the actuator 50 may be formed of plastic or metal. It will be appreciated that the discharge assembly 30 can readily be assembled and mounted on the container 12 without the use of tools.
  • From the foregoing it can be seen that there has been provided an improved liquid soap dispenser and dis­charge assembly therefor, which is of simple and econom­ical construction, and is uniquely suited for the discharge of liquid soap containing grit particles with­out clogging, and without leakage of soap from the dis­charge apparatus until the check valve thereof has been closed.

Claims (19)

1. A discharge assembly for a liquid soap dispens­er including a liquid soap container having an outlet opening, said discharge assembly comprising: an elongat­ed flexible resilient nipple having a normal expanded condition defining a discharge chamber for accommodat­ing a charge of liquid soap and having a longitudinal axis, said nipple having an inlet opening at one end thereof and being provided at the other end thereof with a normally closed discharge slit extending general­ly perpendicular to said axis, means mounting said nip­ple on the container with said inlet opening disposed in registry with the container outlet opening, and check valve means disposed between said inlet opening and the container outlet opening, said nipple being lat­erally compressible in a direction substantially perpen­dicular to said axis and to said discharge slit to a compressed condition, movement of said nipple to the compressed condition thereof raising the pressure in said discharge chamber for closing said check valve and ejecting liquid soap from said discharge slit, movement of said nipple back to the expanded condition thereof lowering the pressure in said discharge chamber for closing said discharge slit and opening said check valve to draw a new charge of liquid soap into said dis­charge chamber.
2. The discharge assembly of claim 1, wherein said nipple is substantially circularly cylindrical in shape.
3. The discharge assembly of claim 2, wherein said discharge slit extends diametrically of said nipple.
4. The discharge assembly of claim 3, wherein the distal end of said nipple is generally duckbill-shaped, including sloping wall portions which converge to a thin flat rectangular tip, said discharge slit being formed in said tip.
5. The discharge assembly of claim 1, wherein said check valve means includes a diaphragm extending across said inlet opening and having a valve slit formed therein centrally thereof.
6. The discharge assembly of claim 5, wherein said check valve means further includes a flat backing disk overlying said membrane and having an opening therein centrally thereof disposed in registry with said valve slit.
7. The discharge assembly of claim 1, wherein said nipple includes a mounting portion extending there­from adjacent to one end thereof for coupling to the soap container in surrounding relationship with the out­let opening.
8. The discharge assembly of claim 7, and further including attachment means for securing said mounting portion to the container.
9. A liquid soap dispenser comprising a liquid soap container having an outlet opening, an elongated flexible resilient nipple having a normal expanded con­dition defining a discharge chamber for accommodating a charge of liquid soap and having a longitudinal axis, said nipple having an inlet opening at one end thereof and being provided at the other end thereof with a nor­mally closed discharge slit extending generally perpen­dicular to said axis, means mounting said nipple on said container with said inlet opening disposed in reg­istry with said container outlet opening, check valve means disposed between said inlet opening and said con­tainer outlet opening, and actuating means engageable with said nipple for effecting lateral compression thereof in a direction substantially perpendicular to said axis and to said slit to a compressed condition, movement of said nipple to the compressed condition thereof raising the pressure in said discharge chamber for closing said check valve and ejecting liquid soap from said discharge slit, movement of said nipple back to the expanded condition thereof lowering the pressure in said discharge chamber for closing said discharge slit and opening said check valve to draw a new charge of liquid soap into said discharge chamber.
10. The liquid soap dispenser of claim 9, and fur­ther including a housing accommodating said soap con­tainer therein.
11. The liquid soap dispenser of claim 10, where­in said housing includes an outlet portion accommodat­ing said nipple therein.
12. The liquid soap dispenser of claim 11, where­in said outlet portion has an opening therein accommo­dating said actuating means.
13. The liquid soap dispenser of claim 9, wherein said nipple is substantially circularly cylindrical in shape.
14. The liquid soap dispenser of claim 13, where­in said discharge slit extends diametrically of said nipple.
15. The liquid soap dispenser of claim 14, where­in the distal end of said nipple is generally duckbill-­shaped, including sloping wall portions which converge to a thin flat rectangular tip, said discharge slit be­ing formed in said tip.
16. The liquid soap dispenser of claim 9, wherein said check valve means includes a diaphragm extending across said inlet opening and having a valve slit formed therein centrally thereof.
17. The liquid soap dispenser of claim 16, where­in said check valve means further includes a flat back­ing disk overlying said membrane and having an opening therein centrally thereof disposed in registry with said valve slit.
18. The liquid soap dispenser of claim 9, wherein said nipple includes a mounting portion extending therefrom adjacent to one end thereof for coupling to the soap container in surrounding relationship with the outlet opening.
19. The liquid soap dispenser of claim 18, and further including attachment means for securing said mounting portion to the container.
EP86300742A 1986-02-04 1986-02-04 Liquid soap dispenser Expired EP0232571B1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE8686300742T DE3682392D1 (en) 1986-02-04 1986-02-04 LIQUID SOAP DISPENSER.
AT86300742T ATE69146T1 (en) 1986-02-04 1986-02-04 LIQUID SOAP DISPENSER.
EP86300742A EP0232571B1 (en) 1986-02-04 1986-02-04 Liquid soap dispenser

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP86300742A EP0232571B1 (en) 1986-02-04 1986-02-04 Liquid soap dispenser

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0232571A1 true EP0232571A1 (en) 1987-08-19
EP0232571B1 EP0232571B1 (en) 1991-11-06

Family

ID=8195872

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP86300742A Expired EP0232571B1 (en) 1986-02-04 1986-02-04 Liquid soap dispenser

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0232571B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE69146T1 (en)
DE (1) DE3682392D1 (en)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0380204A1 (en) * 1989-01-23 1990-08-01 Steiner Company, Inc. Breathing device for soap dispenser
EP0455431A1 (en) * 1990-05-01 1991-11-06 Steiner Company, Inc. Liquid dispensing system including a discharge assembly providing a positive air flow condition
EP0459943A1 (en) * 1990-05-23 1991-12-04 Steiner Company International S.A. Dispenser for viscous products, such as liquid soap or soap paste
USRE37016E1 (en) 1995-07-17 2001-01-16 Playtex Products, Inc. Flow control element and covered drinking cup
US6673295B1 (en) 1996-11-12 2004-01-06 Owens-Illinois Closure Inc. Method of making a dispensing closure
US7543684B2 (en) * 2005-11-01 2009-06-09 Hiwin Technologies Corp. Oil-conducting apparatus for a linear motion system
US9199834B2 (en) 2011-12-09 2015-12-01 Aspet International Ab Dispensing device

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE9318312U1 (en) * 1993-12-02 1994-01-27 Reidel Hermann Closure
US6050445A (en) 1998-02-06 2000-04-18 Playtex Products, Inc. Leak-proof cup assembly with flow control element
US7066356B2 (en) 2002-08-15 2006-06-27 Ecolab Inc. Foam soap dispenser for push operation

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1206034A (en) * 1957-05-08 1960-02-05 Newton Device for dispensing paste soap or other fluids
FR1399087A (en) * 1964-06-17 1965-05-14 Roma Ind Pty Ltd Fluid products distributor
US4560093A (en) * 1982-09-02 1985-12-24 Steiner Company, Inc. Type of dispenser in particular for liquid soap

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1206034A (en) * 1957-05-08 1960-02-05 Newton Device for dispensing paste soap or other fluids
FR1399087A (en) * 1964-06-17 1965-05-14 Roma Ind Pty Ltd Fluid products distributor
US4560093A (en) * 1982-09-02 1985-12-24 Steiner Company, Inc. Type of dispenser in particular for liquid soap

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0380204A1 (en) * 1989-01-23 1990-08-01 Steiner Company, Inc. Breathing device for soap dispenser
EP0455431A1 (en) * 1990-05-01 1991-11-06 Steiner Company, Inc. Liquid dispensing system including a discharge assembly providing a positive air flow condition
EP0459943A1 (en) * 1990-05-23 1991-12-04 Steiner Company International S.A. Dispenser for viscous products, such as liquid soap or soap paste
CH683064A5 (en) * 1990-05-23 1994-01-14 Steiner Co Int Sa Dispenser of viscous products, such as liquid or pasty soap.
USRE37016E1 (en) 1995-07-17 2001-01-16 Playtex Products, Inc. Flow control element and covered drinking cup
US6673295B1 (en) 1996-11-12 2004-01-06 Owens-Illinois Closure Inc. Method of making a dispensing closure
US7041246B2 (en) 1996-11-12 2006-05-09 Owens-Illinois Closure Inc. Method of making a dispensing closure
US7543684B2 (en) * 2005-11-01 2009-06-09 Hiwin Technologies Corp. Oil-conducting apparatus for a linear motion system
US9199834B2 (en) 2011-12-09 2015-12-01 Aspet International Ab Dispensing device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3682392D1 (en) 1991-12-12
ATE69146T1 (en) 1991-11-15
EP0232571B1 (en) 1991-11-06

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4646945A (en) Vented discharge assembly for liquid soap dispenser
US4930667A (en) Breathing device for soap dispenser
US5082150A (en) Liquid dispensing system including a discharge assembly providing a positive air flow condition
AU768226B2 (en) Compact fluid pump
US7748578B2 (en) Pressure control device for maintaining a constant predetermined pressure in a container
US5655687A (en) Base end dispensing container with travel cap
US4440323A (en) Device for dispensing metered quantities of fluid from a container
US20050035157A1 (en) Pump for dispensing flowable material
US6053370A (en) Fluid dispensing valve assembly
EP0232571A1 (en) Liquid soap dispenser
JP2006096423A (en) Dispensing assembly by which air intake is controlled and carried out
US4792064A (en) Liquid soap dispenser
US4905873A (en) Liquid soap dispenser
JPS6091273U (en) pump type dispenser
BR0307258B1 (en) PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR A PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION VASE AND METHODS FOR ASSEMBLING AND INSTALLATION
US2849163A (en) Dispensing valve having dip-tube suspension means
GB2329222A (en) Pump dispenser
CA1114555A (en) Liquid dispensing device
JPH02229564A (en) Check valve
JPS62182056A (en) Discharger for liquid soap dispenser
KR200416438Y1 (en) Pump Dispenser Machine using for the instrument of liquids
US3675823A (en) Tilt action mixing dispenser valve
US20070048069A1 (en) Toilet cleaning apparatus
EP0517683A1 (en) Dispensing arrangement for a liquid soap dispensing apparatus
US20060278668A1 (en) Liquid dispenser

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FR GB LI LU NL SE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19880204

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19890901

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FR GB LI LU NL SE

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69146

Country of ref document: AT

Date of ref document: 19911115

Kind code of ref document: T

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3682392

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19911212

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Payment date: 19940131

Year of fee payment: 9

EPTA Lu: last paid annual fee
EAL Se: european patent in force in sweden

Ref document number: 86300742.3

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19950204

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Payment date: 19960119

Year of fee payment: 11

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: AT

Payment date: 19960123

Year of fee payment: 11

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Payment date: 19960208

Year of fee payment: 11

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: AT

Effective date: 19970204

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Effective date: 19970205

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Effective date: 19970228

BERE Be: lapsed

Owner name: STEINER CY INC.

Effective date: 19970228

EUG Se: european patent has lapsed

Ref document number: 86300742.3

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 19990119

Year of fee payment: 14

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 19990121

Year of fee payment: 14

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 19990122

Year of fee payment: 14

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 19990126

Year of fee payment: 14

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 19990129

Year of fee payment: 14

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20000204

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20000229

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20000229

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20000901

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20000204

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20001031

NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee

Effective date: 20000901

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20001201

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST