Pump having a flexible mechanism for engagement with a dispenser

A product dispensing system comprising:

• a dispenser housing defining an internal cavity and having an actuating device pivotally connected thereto;
• an actuating carriage disposed within said internal cavity of said housing and movingly engaged with said actuating device;
• a refill unit including a product reservoir and a pump, said pump being in fluid communication with said product reservoir;
• and
• a flexible connecting member secured to and extending from said pump, said flexible connecting member being received by said actuating carriage,
• wherein movement of said actuating carriage caused by movement of said actuating device is transferred to said pump by said flexible connecting member.

A method of connecting a pump to an actuating carriage of a product dispenser comprising:

• providing an actuating carriage having a pair of concentric circular ribs defining a channel;
• providing a pump having a flexible connecting member extending therefrom;
• providing a lock ring within the product dispenser, the lock ring having an
• opening in a bottom surface, the bottom surface being sloped inward toward the opening;
• inserting the pump into the dispenser so that said flexible connecting member is forced to deform as it passes through said opening in said bottom surface;
• and
• allowing the flexible connecting member to return to its original shape and be received in the actuating carriage after passing through the opening in the lock ring.