Pump with side inlet valve for improved functioning in an inverted container

A reciprocating piston pump comprising:

• a liquid chamber defined in part by a liquid chamber sidewall extending in an axial direction;
• a liquid piston in said liquid chamber, wherein said piston reciprocates in said axial direction to actuate the pump and refill said liquid chamber, the axial movement of said liquid piston in one direction resulting in the intake of liquid from a liquid source into said liquid chamber, and the axial movement of said liquid piston in an opposite direction resulting in the expulsion of liquid from said liquid chamber;
• a liquid chamber inlet extending through said liquid chamber sidewall, wherein the intake of liquid resulting from movement of said liquid piston occurs at said liquid chamber inlet, and
• an elastomeric valve positioned within said liquid chamber, wherein said liquid piston is moved to expel liquid from the liquid chamber, said elastomeric valve covers said liquid chamber inlet in a sealing engagement therewith, and, when the liquid piston is moved to intake liquid from said container into said liquid chamber, said elastomeric valve is drawn off of said liquid chamber inlet, out of sealing engagement therewith;
• wherein the elastomeric valve is generally cup-shaped, with a sleeve portion and a cap portion, said sleeve portion conforming to the inner periphery of the liquid chamber sidewall, and said cap portion defining a closed end of said liquid chamber;
• and
• wherein said pump includes an axial extension and an opening at a distal end thereof, said cap portion of said elastomeric valve closing off said opening.

A refill unit for a dispenser in which the refill unit is received in an inverted position, the refill unit comprising:

• a container holding liquid to be dispensed, the container including a ceiling and a neck, wherein, in the inverted position in which the refill unit is received in the dispenser, said ceiling is above said neck;
• a pump secured to the neck of said container, wherein, in the inverted position in which the refill unit is received in the dispenser, a portion of said pump defines a floor for the liquid, said pump including:
• a liquid chamber defined by a liquid chamber sidewall and having a closed distal end inside of the interior of the container above said floor defined by a portion of said pump,
• a liquid piston received in said liquid chamber and reciprocating in an axial direction toward and away from said ceiling to actuate said pump and refill said liquid chamber, the movement of said liquid piston away from said ceiling resulting in the intake of liquid from said container into said liquid chamber and movement of said liquid piston toward said ceiling resulting in the expulsion of liquid from said liquid chamber, wherein a length of said liquid chamber sidewall extends into the interior of the container beyond the neck of the container and above said floor defined by a portion of said pump,
• a liquid chamber inlet extending through said liquid chamber sidewall below said closed distal end, wherein the intake of liquid resulting from movement of said liquid piston occurs at said liquid chamber inlet,
• a check valve within said liquid chamber, wherein, when said the liquid piston is moved to expel liquid from the liquid chamber, said check valve covers said liquid chamber inlet in a sealing engagement therewith, and, when the liquid piston is moved to intake liquid from said container into said liquid chamber, said check valve is drawn off of said liquid chamber inlet, out of sealing engagement therewith, and
• an air pump wherein actuation of the air pump in a first direction causes air to enter into an air pump chamber through an air intake port and actuation of the air pump in a second direction causes air to exit the air pump into a mixing chamber wherein the air and the liquid from the liquid chamber are mixed together and the mixture flows through a mixing medium and is dispensed as a foam out of a dispensing outlet.

A piston pump for use in an inverted dispenser comprising:

• a liquid pump having a fluid chamber, the fluid chamber having a top portion when in the inverted position, and at least one sidewall below the top portion,
• a fluid intake port in the at least one sidewall, wherein the fluid intake port allows fluid to flow into the fluid chamber,
• a liquid piston;
• a check valve to prevent fluid from flowing out of the fluid chamber through the fluid intake port,
• wherein actuation of the liquid pump in a first direction causes fluid to enter the fluid chamber through the fluid intake port and actuation of the liquid pump in a second direction causes liquid to exit the fluid chamber through the fluid chamber outlet and out of a dispensing outlet;
• and
• further comprising an air pump portion wherein actuation of the air pump in a first direction causes air to enter into the air pump chamber through an air intake port and actuation of the air pump in a second direction causes air to exit the air pump into a mixing chamber wherein the air and the fluid are mixed together and the mixture flows through a mixing medium and is dispensed as a foam out of the dispensing outlet.

A refill unit for a foam piston pump dispenser comprising:

• a container for holding a liquid,
• a foam pump secured to the liquid container, the foam pump including
• a liquid pump section having a liquid piston,
• an air pump section,
• a mixing chamber, and
• a dispensing outlet,
• wherein the liquid pump section includes a fluid chamber having a top portion when the foam pump is placed in an inverted position, the top portion preventing fluid from entering the fluid chamber through the top,
• a fluid intake port entering the fluid chamber at a point below the top of the fluid chamber, wherein fluid can flow into the fluid chamber through the fluid intake port, but does not flow out of the fluid chamber through the fluid intake port,
• wherein actuation of the liquid pump in a first direction causes fluid to enter the fluid chamber through the fluid intake port and actuation of the liquid pump in a second direction causes liquid to exit the fluid chamber through the fluid chamber outlet and out of a dispensing outlet;
• and
• further comprising an air pump portion wherein actuation of the air pump in a first direction causes air to enter into the air pump chamber through an air intake port and actuation of the air pump in a second direction causes air to exit the air pump into a mixing chamber wherein the air and the fluid are mixed together and the mixture flows through a mixing medium and is dispensed as a foam out of the dispensing outlet.