Pumps with self-adjusting volumes, refill units and dispensers having same
AssigneeGOJO Industries, Inc.
InventorNick E. Ciavarella
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Exemplary embodiments of pumps, refill units and dispenser systems are disclosed herein. An exemplary refill unit for a soap, sanitizer or lotion includes a container for holding a fluid and a pump secured to the container. The pump includes a housing, a liquid piston, a liquid pump chamber, an air piston, an air pump chamber; and a piston holder. The liquid piston is connected to the air piston. The piston holder is connected to one of the liquid piston and the air piston. The connection comprises one or more projections and one or more grooves. The volume of the liquid pump chamber and the air pump chamber both change as a function of the engagement of the one or more projections with the one or more grooves.
Claims20
A pump comprising:
- a housing;
- a liquid piston;
- a liquid pump chamber;
- an air piston;
- an air pump chamber;
- and
- a piston holder;
- the liquid piston is connected to the air piston;
- the piston holder is movably connected to one of the liquid piston and the air piston;
- wherein the movable connection comprises one or more first members and one or more second members;
- wherein the one or more first members engage with the one or more second members in at least two positions;
- and
- wherein the volume of the liquid pump chamber and the air pump chamber in a first position are less than the respective volumes of the liquid pump chamber and the air pump chamber in a second position.
A refill unit for a soap, sanitizer or lotion comprising:
- a container for holding a fluid;
- a pump secured to the container;
- the pump having
- a housing;
- a liquid piston;
- a liquid pump chamber;
- an air piston;
- an air pump chamber;
- and
- a piston holder;
- the liquid piston is connected to the air piston;
- one or more projections on one of the piston holder and the liquid piston or air piston;
- one or more grooves on one of the piston holder and the liquid piston or air piston;
- wherein the volume of the air pump chamber and the volume of the liquid pump chamber are determined by the position of the one or more projections with respect to the one or more grooves.
A dispenser system comprising;
- a dispenser;
- the dispenser having an actuator;
- the dispenser having an actuator drive stroke length that may be set at one or more drive stroke lengths to dispense one or more different volumes of fluid;
- refill unit for a soap, sanitizer or lotion;
- the refill unit including a container for holding a fluid and a pump secured to the container;
- the pump having
- a housing;
- a liquid piston;
- a liquid pump chamber;
- an air piston;
- an air pump chamber;
- and
- a piston holder;
- the liquid piston is connected to the air piston;
- one or more projections on one of the piston holder and the liquid piston or air piston;
- one or more grooves on one of the piston holder and the liquid piston or air piston;
- wherein the volume of the air pump chamber and the volume of the liquid pump chamber are determined by the position of the one or more projections with respect to the one or more grooves which is determined by the one or more drive stroke lengths of the dispenser.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.