US 8,708,200 B2 · Disposable pump with suck-back mechanism

Abstract

A disposable pump for liquid dispensing includes a chamber in which pressure may be varied for pumping liquid from a compressible container to the chamber to a dispensing opening. The chamber encloses an inner valve that regulates liquid flow between the container and the chamber, and an outer valve regulates flow of liquid between the chamber and the dispensing opening. The pump has a closed position where liquid is drawn from the container to the chamber by negative pressure in the chamber. To dispense, a volume of liquid is drawn from the chamber to the dispensing opening. The inner valve is a one-way valve openable to flow liquid in the dispensing direction when inner valve opening pressure acts in the dispensing direction, and closes for pressure acting in the opposite direction. The outer two-way valve opens to flow liquid in the dispensing or opposite direction.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims21

Dependent claims

A disposable pump for a liquid dispensing system comprising a compressible container, the pump comprising:

a housing forming a chamber and a dispensing opening, wherein the pressure in the chamber is varied for pumping liquid from the compressible container to the chamber, and further from the compressible chamber to the dispensing opening;
an inner valve enclosed by the housing, the inner valve being configured for regulating a flow of liquid between the container and the chamber;
and
an outer valve enclosed by the housing, the outer valve being configured for regulating a flow of liquid between the chamber and the dispensing opening,
wherein the pump assumes a closed position, in which a volume of liquid is drawn from the container to the chamber by a negative pressure created in the chamber and the outer valve, and a dispensing position, in which a volume of liquid is drawn from the chamber to the dispensing opening,
wherein the inner valve opens for a flow of liquid in the dispensing direction at an inner valve opening pressure acting in the dispensing direction and closes for any pressure acting in a direction opposite to the dispensing direction,
the outer valve opens for a flow of liquid in the dispensing direction at an outer valve opening pressure,
said inner valve and said outer valve being arranged on a regulator which is fixedly arranged in the housing, wherein the regulator comprises a stem extending in a straight, single longitudinal extension between the inner valve and the outer valve such that, as the pump transfers from the dispensing position to the closed position, and a negative pressure is created in the chamber,
a pressure difference between the container and the chamber will cause the inner valve to open so as to allow liquid to pass from the container to the chamber, and a pressure difference between the dispensing opening and the chamber will cause the outer valve to remain open to allow liquid to be sucked back in the direction opposite the dispensing direction from the dispensing opening to the chamber, and
wherein when the pump is in the dispensing position, the outer valve assumes a tilted position in the chamber, and when the pump is in the closed position, the outer valve assumes a symmetrical position in the chamber, a center of the outer valve being closer to a wall of the chamber when the outer valve is in the tilted position relative to when the outer valve is in the symmetrical position.

7 more elements

A disposable pump for a liquid dispensing system comprising a compressible container, the pump comprising:

a housing forming a chamber and a dispensing opening, wherein the pressure in the chamber is varied for pumping liquid from the compressible container to the chamber, and further from the compressible chamber to the dispensing opening;
an inner valve enclosed by the housing, the inner valve being configured for regulating a flow of liquid between the container and the chamber;
an outer valve enclosed by the housing, the outer valve being configured for regulating a flow of liquid between the chamber and the dispensing opening;
and
a stem defined by a straight, single longitudinal extension between the inner valve and the outer valve, the stem being resilient and bendable sideways during pumping so as to resume an original shape of the stem after bending,
wherein the pump assumes a closed position, in which a volume of liquid is drawn from the container to the chamber by a negative pressure created in the chamber, and a dispensing position, in which a volume of liquid is drawn from the chamber to the dispensing opening,
wherein the inner valve opens for a flow of liquid in the dispensing direction at an inner valve opening pressure acting in the dispensing direction and closes for any pressure acting in a direction opposite to the dispensing direction,
the outer valve opens for a flow of liquid in the dispensing direction at an outer valve opening pressure,
said inner valve and said outer valve being arranged on a regulator which is fixedly arranged in the housing, such that, as the pump transfers from the dispensing position to the closed position, and a negative pressure is created in the chamber,
a pressure difference between the container and the chamber will cause the inner valve to open so as to allow liquid to pass from the container to the chamber, and a pressure difference between the dispensing opening and the chamber will cause the outer valve to remain open to allow liquid to be sucked hack in the direction opposite the dispensing direction from the dispensing opening to the chamber.

7 more elements

A disposable pump for a liquid dispensing system comprising a compressible container, the pump comprising:

a housing forming a chamber and a dispensing opening, wherein the pressure in the chamber is varied for pumping liquid from the compressible container to the chamber, and further from the compressible chamber to the dispensing opening;
an inner valve enclosed by the housing, the inner valve being configured for regulating a flow of liquid between the container and the chamber;
an outer valve enclosed by the housing, the outer valve being configured for regulating a flow of liquid between the chamber and the dispensing opening;
and
a stem extending between the inner valve and the outer valve, the stem being resilient and bendable sideways so as to resume an original shape of the stem after bending,
wherein the pump assumes a closed position where the stem is straight, in which a volume of liquid is drawn from the container to the chamber by a negative pressure created in the chamber, and a dispensing position in which the stem is deformed sideways, in which a volume of liquid is drawn from the chamber to the dispensing opening,
wherein the inner valve opens for a flow of liquid in the dispensing direction at an inner valve opening pressure acting in the dispensing direction and closes for any pressure acting in a direction opposite to the dispensing direction,
the outer valve opens for a flow of liquid in the dispensing direction at an outer valve opening pressure,
said inner valve and said outer valve being arranged on a regulator which is fixedly arranged in the housing, such that, as the pump transfers from the dispensing position to the closed position, and a negative pressure is created in the chamber,
a pressure difference between the container and the chamber will cause the inner valve to open so as to allow liquid to pass from the container to the chamber, and
a pressure difference between the dispensing opening and the chamber will cause the outer valve to remain open to allow liquid to be sucked back in the direction opposite the dispensing direction from the dispensing opening to the chamber.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description15,398 words

Summary5,555 words

#The present invention relates to a disposable pump for a dispensing system for liquids, in particular for a dispensing system which comprises a compressible container.

#This invention relates to the field of disposable suction pumps for dispensing a liquid material, such as soap or alcohol detergent out of a container such as a bottle or the like. A vast number of different suction pumps have been proposed in the past. Generally, many suction pumps include a pressure chamber, from which a volume of liquid may be dispensed. The liquid leaving the chamber creates a negative pressure in the fluid chamber, which negative pressure functions to draw new liquid from the container into the pressure chamber, which thereby is filled and ready to dispense a new volume of liquid.

#In use, the container is interconnected to the pump, and introduced in a dispenser, which is typically fixedly arranged on a wall in a bathroom or the like. Certain dispensers include a non-disposable pump which is integrated with the dispenser, and to which disposable containers may be coupled. In contrast, this invention relates to a disposable pump, which may be connected to a disposable container for attachment to a fixed (multiple use) dispenser.

Brief description of the drawings6 figures

#The invention will be further described by way of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

#FIGS. 1a to 1d illustrate schematically a dispensing/refill cycle of an embodiment of a pump in accordance with the invention.

#FIGS. 2a to 2c illustrate a regulator of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

Detailed description9,710 words

#The same reference numbers are used to denote the same features in all of the drawings.

#FIGS. 1a to 1d schematically illustrate one dispensing-refill cycle of an embodiment of a pump 1 in accordance with the invention. For simplicity, FIGS. 1a to 1d have been stripped from some of the features being dispensable when explaining the general functions of the pump. Instead, detailed features of the illustrated embodiment are explained in relation to the other figures and in connection with additional advantages of the invention.

#When in use, the pump 1 is to be sealingly connected to a container containing liquid material such as liquid soap or alcohol detergent. The container is schematically denoted 400 in FIGS. 1a to 1d. The pump 1 comprises a housing 100 and a regulator 200 being fixedly arranged in the housing 100. The housing 100 forms a chamber 110 in which, as will be described later, the pressure may be varied for dispensing liquid from the pump 1 or refilling liquid from the compressible container 400. Moreover, the housing 100 forms a dispensing opening 120 through which said liquid may be dispensed.

Facts

Application

12/918,063Filed 18 Feb 2008

Published

US 2010/0327019 A130 Dec 2010

Granted

29 Apr 2014

Term ends

16 Jun 2028

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 119 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification2 codes

A47K 5/1209
By means of a flexible dispensing chamber: with chamber in the form of a cylindrical tube
A47K
Sanitary equipment

Timeline

18 Feb 2008Application filedUS 12/918,063
20 Aug 2010Assigned to Sca Hygiene Products ABassignment of assignor's interest
30 Dec 2010PublishedUS 2010/0327019 A1
29 Apr 2014GrantedUS 8,708,200 B2
18 May 2018Assigned to Essity Hygiene and Health Aktiebolagchange of name
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
16 Jun 2028Term endsEstimated, includes 119 days of adjustment

Disposable pump with suck-back mechanism

Life of this patent

Disposable pump with suck-back mechanism

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims21

Description15,398 words

Drawings

Classification2 codes

Description15,398 words