Background of the Invention
[0001] 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.
[0002] 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.
[0003] 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
[0004] 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.
[0005] 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.
[0006] 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.
[0007] 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.
[0008] It is another object of the invention to provide a liquid soap dispenser which includes
a discharge assembly of the type set forth.
[0009] 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.
[0010] 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
[0011] 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
[0012] 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.
[0013] 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.
[0014] 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.
[0015] 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.
[0016] 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.
[0017] 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.
[0018] 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.
[0019] 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.
[0020] 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.
[0021] 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.
[0022] 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.
[0023] 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.
[0024] 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.
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.