AU8612798A - A dispenser - Google Patents

Description

PATENT SPECIFICATION Australia Richard Nicolas Darley

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A Dispenser k;.

-1- A Dispenser Technical Field The present invention relates to wall mountable devices which dispense a liquid.

Background of the Invention Currently available liquid dispensers used to dispense liquids, such as liquid soap, are not well adapted for use in bathrooms. Their size and shape particularly do not lend themselves for location within a shower recess. A still further disadvantage is that they are difficult to refill.

,1 Object of the Invention e It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages.

Summary of the Invention There is disclosed herein a dispenser comprising: a container from which a liquid is to be dispensed via an aperture in the iI. container, said container including closure means for said aperture; and j a base to removably receive and support said container, said base having means to open said closure means upon insertion of the container in the base, a pump Scommunicating with said aperture, said pump including an interacting piston and cylinder enclosing a space to receive the liquid, a one way valve provided for flow of liquid from said container to said space, an outlet extending from said space, and a one way valve in said outlet providing for the flow of fluid from said space and via which S the liquid is dispensed.

.Preferably, the above mentioned dispenser has the base adapted to be received 25 within a wall cavity.

SBrief Description of the Drawings i A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: S Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a housing to be received within a wall cavity; Figure 2 isa schematic front elevation of a container to receive aliquid, which S: containeris to be removablysupprted in the housing of Figure Figure 3 is a schemati sectinedide atiof a top wall t be part of the housing of Figure 1; S^ 1

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i, r i tio "rl -2- Figure 4 is a schematic parts exploded perspective view of the bottom wall of the container of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a schematic parts exploded perspective view of a valve employed in the bottom wall of Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a schematic section side elevation of an assembly of the housing of Figure 1, the container of Figure 2 and a pump mounted within the housing.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a dispenser to be mounted within a wall cavity so as to be generally flush with respect to the walls but o1 still provide access to the dispenser. For example, the dispenser could be used to deliver liquid soap, shampoo or other liquids generally employed in a bathroom.

The dispenser includes a housing 10 which is to be mounted within the wall cavity. The housing 10 removably receives and supports a container 11 which receives the liquid. The container 11 has side walls 12 as well as a top wall 13. A bottom wall 15 14 includes a valve assembly 15 consisting of a pair of guide flanges 16 which movably support a movable valve element 17. The flanges 16 are provided with parallel slots 18 which receive projections 19 on the valve element 17 so as to retain the valve element 17 in its movement with respect to the bottom wall 14. The bottom wall 14 is provided with an aperture which is opened upon movement of the element 17.

20 oThe housing 10 includes side walls 20 fixed to a rear wall 21. The side walls 20 are also provided with flanges 22 through which fasteners 43 pass to secure the flanges 22 to the side walls 20. The upper end of the housing 10 is closed by means of a top wall 23 which has a movable panel 24 associated with an outer wall 25 by means of springs or resilient material 26. When the container 11 is located within the housing z5 10, the top wall 13 abuts the movable panel 24 so that the springs 26 are retained in a compressed coffiguration. The housing 10 is also provided with a lower, flange 27 upon which the container 11 rests when located in the housing The housing 10 would be secured to the wall by threaded fasteners 44 which pass through the rear wall 21.

The housing 10 is also provided with an arcuate bottom wall 28 which provides a cavity within which a users hand enters to operate the dispenser.

The housing 10 also receives a pump-assembly 29 which in combination with the housing 10 provides a base 30 The pump assembly 29 includes a mounting plate 42 which supports the cylinder 31. The cylinderi31 cooperates with a piston 32 to define a variable volume working space 33. The mounting plate 42 is also provided with an aperture 34 which coperates with a valve 4 4 I

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;1 i j-l;- -3- Leading from the space 33 is an outlet tube 36 provided with a valve 37. The valves 35 and 37 are both "one-way" valves so that liquid flows in the direction of the arrows 38.

Associated with the piston 32 is a sleeve 39 which would be gripped by a user of the dispenser and pushed upwardly to reduce the volume of the space 33. Liquid contained in the space 33 would then be forced out through the outlet 36. A spring or springs would then urge the piston 32 downward. In the drawings these springs are not illustrated however they could also act to retain the piston 32 and sleeve 39 attached, when they are both in the rest position.

1 o Attached to the mounting plate 30 is a pair of flanges 40 which engage the movable valve element 17 to move the element 17 to a position spaced from the aperture 41 formed in the container 11 so as to provide for communication between the interior of the container 1 and the space 33. When the container 11 is being inserted I in the housing 10, the flanges 41 engage the element 17 so as to cause movement thereof away from the aperture 41.

To aid in removing the container 11 from within the housing 10, there is provided "leaf" springs 5 which extend through slots 46 in the plate 42 so as to have upper portions 47 which abut the rear of the container 11 to urge the container 11 from within the housing I 7

Claims (8)

1. A Dispenser comprses a) a disposable container to dispense a liquid, such as liquid soap, shampoo, conditioner, washing up liquid or creamy substances from the container via an aperture in the container b) a base to removably receive and support aforementioned container, said base having means to open closure upon insertion of the container in the base, c) a pump communicating with an aperture including an interacting piston and cylinder enclosing a space to receive the liquid, d) a one way velve provided for flow of liquid from a container to said space, e) an outlet extending from said space, f) a one way valve in an outlet providing for the flow of liquid from said space via which the fluid is dispensed.

2. ADispenser as described includes: removably receives an supports a container, which receives the liquid.

3. The said housing preferably has the base adapted to be received within a wall cavity.

4. In removing the disposable container from within the housing there are provided "leaf' springs which extend through slots in the plate to have upper portions which abut the rear of the container to urge-the container form within the housing.

5. ADispenser is made of plastic

6. The housing is made of either plastic or stainless steel (water-resistant material) or combinations of both.

7. ADispenser can be made in single, double or triple finish

8. A Dispenser as described th reference to the accompanying drawings and the detailed description fthe preferred embodiment. SW..itten Res chReport by D WashingtonDCis avilable at request. i