# US 10,117,548 B2 · Foam producing apparatus and method

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- Number: US 10,117,548 B2
- Document ID: US10117548B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/336,587
- Filed: 2016-10-27
- Published: 2017-02-16
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2011-08-01
- Assignees: Bobrick Washroom Equipment, Inc.
- Applicants: Bobrick Washroom Equipment, Inc.
- Inventors: Dikran Babikian; Branko Bem; Epitacio Davila
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10117548B2

## CPC

- A47K 5/14: Foam or lather making devices
- A47K 5/06: Dispensers for soap
- A47K 5/16: with mechanical drive
- B01F 23/235: for making foam
- B01F 25/4523: {the components being pressed through sieves, screens or meshes which obstruct the whole diameter of the tube}
- B01F 33/811: {in two or more consecutive, i.e. successive, mixing receptacles or being consecutively arranged}
- A47K 2005/1218: {Table mounted; Dispensers integrated with the mixing tap}
- B01F 2215/0431: Numerical size values, e.g. diameter of a hole or conduit, area, volume, length, width, or ratios thereof
- A47K: SANITARY EQUIPMENT; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR, e.g. TOILET ACCESSORIES
- B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06)

## Abstract

A foam dispenser includes a dispensing outlet, a pre-mixing chamber receiving liquid from a liquid source and air from an air source, a mixing chamber downstream of the pre-mixing chamber and proximate the dispenser outlet, and a first conduit coupling the pre-mixing chamber to the mixing chamber.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A hand soap foam dispenser comprising:
a dispensing outlet for dispensing foam to a person's hand;
a pre-mixing chamber for receiving liquid from a liquid source and air from an air source;
at least one pump for simultaneously pumping liquid from the liquid source and air from the air source to the pre-mixing chamber;
a mixing chamber downstream of the pre-mixing chamber; and
a first conduit coupling the pre-mixing chamber to the mixing chamber, wherein foam leaving the mixing chamber travels a distance two inches or less to the dispensing outlet.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The dispenser as recited in claim 1, wherein the foam leaving the mixing chamber travels a distance one inch or less to the dispensing outlet.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The dispenser as recited in claim 2, wherein each of said pre-mixing chamber and mixing chamber comprises at least one screen.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The dispenser as recited in claim 3, wherein the pre-mixing chamber comprises a single 100 mesh size screen.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The dispenser as recited in claim 4, wherein the mixing chamber comprises a 200 mesh size screen and a 300 mesh size screen.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The dispenser as recited in claim 5, wherein the two screens in the mixing chamber are spaced apart by a distance not greater than ½ inch.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The dispenser as recited in claim 6, wherein the 300 mesh size screen is downstream of the 200 mesh size screen.

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

The dispenser as recited in claim 3, wherein the mixing chamber comprises a 200 mesh size screen and a 300 mesh size screen.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The dispenser as recited in claim 2, further comprising a second mixing chamber downstream of the pre-mixing chamber and upstream of the mixing chamber.

### Claim 10 (depends on 2)

The dispenser as recited in claim 2, wherein the air source is ambient air.

### Claim 11 (depends on 2)

The dispenser as recited in claim 2, wherein the first conduit has a length of at least six inches.

### Claim 12 (depends on 2)

The dispenser of claim 2, wherein said at least one pump comprises two pumps, a first pump for pumping said liquid soap and a second pump for pumping said air.