Foaming soap dispensers
Assigneesimplehuman, LLC
InventorsFrank Yang, David Wolbert, Kenneth Yen, Guy Cohen, Hon-Lun Chen, Nasser Pirshafiey, Joseph Sandor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various dispensing devices, such as foaming soap pumps, are disclosed. The soap pump can include a fluid storage unit and a fluid handling unit. The fluid storage unit can include a reservoir that is configured to hold a quantity of product, such as liquid soap. The fluid handling unit can include a pumping assembly and dispensing assembly. The soap pump can be configured to withdraw liquid soap from the reservoir, convert the liquid soap to foamed soap, and dispense the foamed soap from the discharge assembly.
Claims20
A cartridge configured to be operatively engaged with a fluid handling unit in a soap pump system, the cartridge comprising:
- an upper portion comprising:
- an outlet;
- a cavity configured to receive a lower portion of a motor of the fluid handling unit;
- and
- an engagement feature configured to interface with a corresponding engagement feature of the fluid handling unit to couple the cartridge to the fluid handling unit;
- a lower portion;
- a sidewall;
- and
- a reservoir configured to contain liquid soap.
A cartridge configured to be operatively engaged with a fluid handling unit in a pump system, the cartridge comprising:
- a reservoir configured to contain a liquid;
- and
- a sleeve comprising an outlet and an engagement feature, the engagement feature configured to engage with a corresponding engagement feature of the fluid handling unit to couple the cartridge to the fluid handling unit;
- the sleeve being removably connected to the reservoir, thereby enabling the cartridge to be refilled;
- and
- the cartridge being configured to removably connect to the fluid handling unit.
A soap pump system comprising:
- a fluid handling unit comprising:
- an electronic control assembly;
- a pump assembly;
- a dispensing assembly;
- and
- a coupling actuator comprising a first engagement feature, the coupling actuator configured to be activated;
- a fluid storage unit configured to selectively connect to and separate from the fluid handling unit, the fluid storage unit comprising:
- a reservoir configured to store liquid soap;
- and
- a second engagement feature configured to engage with the first engagement feature;
- the soap pump system configured such that:
- when the coupling actuator is not activated, a physical interference between the first engagement feature and the second engagement feature secures the fluid storage unit and the fluid handling unit together;
- and
- when the coupling actuator is activated, the physical interference between the first engagement feature and the second engagement feature is removed, thereby permitting the fluid storage unit to be separated from the fluid handling unit along a longitudinal axis of the soap pump system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.