CA1218041A - Soap dispensing system - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract A liquid soap dispensing system includes a closed soap container having a manually actuated dispensing pump carried therebeneath, the container being separated by a partition into a lower soap reservoir and an upper refill compartment, the latter adapted to enclose therein a removable refill cartridge and having a downwardly extending refill well with a pair of opposed keys extending thereinto. The cartridge has an outlet neck, the outer surface of which has a pair of opposed slots. The neck is closed by a pierceable membrane recessed therein and adapted to be received into the well so that a cartridge opening member pierces the membrane to accommodate free flow of liquid soap from the cartridge to the reservoir. The cartridge is entirely closed to define the liquid level in the reservoir at the bottom of the neck, and a drain hole in the reservoir wall above the bottom of the neck but below the tops of the keys prevents bootleg cartridges from being used in the soap dispenser. A
slot in the wall of the refill compartment prevents the accumulation of free liquid soap therein.

Description

] -This is a division of our copending Canadian Patent Application Number 419,492 filed on the 14th January 1983.
The present invention relates to apparatus for dispensing liquid soap, normally in discrete small quantities or charges.
Such dispensing apparatus is used, particularly for hygienic purposes, in public or institutional washrooms or the like or where there are a relatively large number of different users.
The present invention is an improvement on the soap dispensers and refill systems therefor disclosed and claimed in our United States Patent Nos. 4,108,363, 4,149,573 and 4,173,858.
While all of these systems and dispensers work effectively, they are all to some extent subject -to having the refill cartridges designed for use therewith bootlegged by third parties. That is, although the dispenser is designed to accept a specific cartridge, third parties often at-tempt to enter the replaceable cartridge market and bootleg inferior soap produc-ts into the dispenser.
Therefore, it is a general object of -this invention to provide a liquid soap refill cartridge which avoids -the disadvan-tages of prior art refill cartridges while affording additional structural and operating advantages.

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The invention provides a reEill cartridge comprisiny a vessel in -the shape of a polyhedron having parallel top and bot-tom walls and a plurality of planar side walls subs-tantially norrnal to said top and bottom walls, and a neck extending outwardly from said bottom wall with the outer surface of said neck having a slot therein.
Free flow of liquid soap from the refill cartridge through a refill aperture into a soap reservoir of a container can be accommodated while preventing the introduction of liquid soap into an upper refill compar-tment and the use of refill car-tridges without a specific neck design.
FIGURE 1 is a front perspec-tive view of a liquid soap dispenser useful with a refill cartridge cons-tructed in accordance with and embodying the features of the present invention;
FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view in horizontal section taken along the line 2-2 in Figure l;
FIGURE 3 is a view in vertical section illustrating the internal construction of the soap dispenser of the present inven-tion;
FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view in partial ver-tical sec-tion of -the outlet neck of -the refill cartridge of the present invention;
FIG~RE 5 is a bottom elevational view of the refill cartridge outlet neck illustrated in Figure 4;

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FIG~RE 6 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken along the line 6-6 in Figure 3, with the cover plate of the dispenser removed;
FI~URE 7 is a view in horizontal section taken along the line 7-7 in Figure 6;
FIGUR~ ~ is an enlarged view in vertical sec-tion of the refill well and cartridge opening member illustrated in the embodiment of Figure 3; and FIGURE 9 is a top plan view of the refill well and cartridge opening member illustrated in Figure 7.
Referring now to Figures 1 through 3 of the drawings, there is illustrated a soap dispenser 100, constructed in accordance with and embodying the features of the present invention. The soap dispenser 100 includes a mounting bracket, generally designated by the numeral 101, which includes a generally flat rectangular wall 102 disposed substantially vertically in use to provide a bearing surface, and having along each of the side edges thereof an integral curved side flange 103 which projec-ts forwardly from the wall lQ2.
Formed in the vertical wall 102 and projecting rearwardly therefrom in a direction away from the direction in which the side flanges 103 extend, are two substantially ver-tically aligned embossments 104, each having an opening 105 extending therethrough centrally thereof. Also formed in the wall 102 and projecting rearwardly therefrom are -two embossments (not shown) which are disposed substantially in horizontal alignment with each other along a line disposed substantially midway between the embossments 104, with the embossments (not shown) projecting the same distance as the embossments 104, and each having an opening (not shown) extending therethrough centrally thereof.
Integral with the walI 102 at the upper end thereof is an extension flange 108 which is inclined forwardly in the same general direction as the sided flange 103, and which is integral at the distal end thereof with an upwardly extending flange 109 which is substantially parallel to the wall 102. Punched from the wall 102 adjacent to the lower end thereof are two forwardly and upwardly extending support fingers 110.
Integral with the bottom end of the wall 102 and extending forwardly therefrom substan-tially normal thereto is a wall 111 which is disposed substantially horizon-tally in use and is provided around the periphery thereof with an integral upturned flange 112, which is in turn integral with the side flanges 103.
Integral with the wall 111 and projecting upwardly therefrom substantially normal thereto are two parallel and laterally spaced apart pivot brackets 113, a portion of the wall 111 between the pivot brackets 113 being cut out to deEine a generally rec-tangular opening 114 Formed in the wall 111 adjacent to the forward edge thereof and substantially rnidway between the side edges thereof is a circular soap discharge opening 115, the purpose of -the openings 114 and 115 being described more fully below. A circular retaining plate 118 is pivotally secured -to the inner surface of the upwardly extending flange 109 as by a rivet 119.
In use, the mounting bracket 101 is mounted on a wall 50, generally above and closely adjacent to a sink or washbasin or the like. The mounting bracket 101 is fixedly secured to the wall 50 by means of mounting screws 55 whlch are passed through the openings in the embossments 104 and threadedly engaged in the wall 50, the wall 102 being disposed substantially parallel to the surfaces 53 of the wall 50, and being in contact therewith only at the embossments 104 and those not shown, which serve to space the mounting bracket 101 a sli~ht distance from the surface 53 of the wall 50.
The dispenser 100 also includes a soap container or housing 120, which is preferably formed of a translucent plastic, although it will be understood that any suitable material, either opaque or light-transmitting, could be used. The container 120 is generally box-like in configuration and includes a generally rectangular front wall 121, a pair of opposed side walls 122, a rear wall 123 and a rectangular bottom wall 125, the container 120 preferably being molded so that the walls 121, 122, 123 and 125 are all formed integrally wi-th one another. The rear wall 123 is provided at the lateral side edges thereof with inturned forwardly inclined portions 124. The side walls 122 have rearwardly extending portions 127 which project rearwardly beyond the rear wall 123, whereby the rear wall 123 is recessed with respect to the side walls 122. In addition, the rear wall 123 extends downwardly below the bottom wall 125 to form a downwardly extending portion or mounting flange 128.
Similarly, the front wall 121 and the side walls 122 extend downwardly well below the bottom wall 125 and below the bottom edge of the mounting flange 128 to form a skirt 129.
Mounted be.low the bottom wall 125 of the container 120 is a pump assembly or dispensing means 130. The operation and construction of the pump assembly or dispensing means 130 is described in detail in U.S.
Patent No. 4,018,363, issued April 19, 1977 to Antonio Macchi Cassia and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, the disclosure of which patent is incorporated herein by reference. The pump assembly or dispensing means 130 includes an operating handle 131 provided with a pivot pin 132, the opposite ends of which are respectively mounted in the pivot brackets 113 on the rnounting bracket 111 for pivotal movement of the operating handle 131 about the axis of the pivo-t pin 132, which extends substantially horizontally above the bracket wall 111 substantially parallel thereto and to the bracket wall 102. The handle 131 projects in use downwardly through the opening 114 in the bracket wall 111 and terminates at the lower end thereof in an enlarged gripping portion. The handle 131 also includes a stop member 134 which projects rearwardly from the pin 132 above -the housing wall 111, and an actuating arm 135 which projects forwardly from the pin 132 above the bracket wall 111 and is substantially longer than the stop member 134.
The pump assembly or dispensing means 130 also includes a unitary pump housing 140, which is preferably of molded construction. The pump housing 140 is fixedly secured to the bo-ttom wall 125 of the container 120 by suitable fasteners. Securely sandwiched between the pump housing 140 and the bottom wall 125 of the container 120 is a flexible diaphragm 141 having a plurality of suction apertures therethrough in surrounding relationship with a suction conduit or opening 143 in the bottom wall 135 of the container 120. The diaphragm 141 also has a plurality of discharge apertures therein disposed in surrounding relationship wi~h a discharKe conduit 144 in the bottom wall 125, the suction conduit and the discharge conduit being joined by a passageway 148 normally covered in use by insert 149. A flexible resilient bowl 145 is disposed below the diaphragm 141 in the region of the suction conduit 143, the outer surface of the bowl 145 normally just touching the ac-tuating arm 135 when the handle 131 is in its normal rest position illustrated in full line in Figure 3. Disposed below the diaphragm 141 in the region of the discharge conduit 144 is a delivery conduit 146 in a spout 147 disposed imrnediately above and in alignment with the soap discharge opening 115 in the mounting bracket wall 111.
In operation, the soap container 120 is mounted on the mounting bracket 101 in a manner which is fully explained in the aforementioned Patent No. 4,149,573.
The operating handle 131 is pulled forwardly by a user thereby to compress the bowl 145 with the actuating arm 135 and expel a predetermined quantity of liquid soap from the delivery conduit 146, release of the operating handle 131 permitting re-expansion of the bowl 145 thereby to suck a fresh charge of liquid soap from the container 120 through the suction conduit in preparation for the next dispensing operation.
The soap container 120 has a partition 150 which is disposed generally horizontally in use, the ~9 partition 150 being substantially rectangular in shape with the peripheral edges thereof resting upon a ledge 151 formed in the inner surfaces of -the soap container wall 121-123 and fixedly secured thereto as by ultrasonic weldin~. The partition 150 comprises four generally triangular sectors 152, the upper surfaces 153 of which slope gently downwardly toward the center of the partition 150 at which there is formed a well generally designated by the numeral 155. The well 155 includes a cylindrical side wall 15l~ integral at the upper end thereof with the partition 150 and extending downwardly therebelow. The well 155 has an inner surface 156, with the lower end thereof being terminated by a circular bottom wall 157. Formed in the bottom wall 157 adjacent to the outer edge thereof are diametrically opposed drain apertures 158.
Extendin~ inwardly from the inner surface 156 of the well 155, are two keys 160, the keys 160 being diametrically opposed and in general alignment with the drain apertures 158. Each of the keys 160 is generally rectangular and has a top surface 161 which terminates weli below the top of the well 155 and a longitudinally extending inner end surface 162 with opposed parallel side surfaces 163. The inner end surfaces 162 may either be flat or arcuate depending on the arcuate - 1 0 ~

extent of the keys 160, the exac-t dimensions of which are not of substantial significance.
Integral with the bottom wall 157 of the well 155 and extending upwardly therefrom centrally thereof and coaxially wi-th the cylindrical side wall 154 is a hollow cartridge opening member 165 which is generally cylindrical in shape having a top surface slanting upwardly toward the front wall 121 of the soap container housing 120, the peripheral edge of the member 165 being sufficiently sharp to pierce a membrane, and a central aperture 169. The outer surface of the cartridge opening member 165 has two longitudinally extending grooves 167, 168 diametrically opposed each in registry with a respective one of the keys 160, the grooves 167, 168 being oversized with respect to the keys 160, see Figure 9, and extending downwardly from the top surface 166, see Figure 8.
It can be seen that the partition 150 cooperates with the bottom wall 125 and the walls 121-123 of the container 120 to define therebetween a liquid soap reservoir, generally designated by the numeral 175, which is adapted to be filled with a quantity of liquid soap 176 to a level 177, the position of the par-tition 150 in the soap container 120 being such that the reservoir 175 occupies slightly less than half the interior volume of the con-tainer 120. The container 120 and more particularly the rear wall 123 thereof has a drain opening 178 therein vertically spaced above the bottom 157 of the refill well 155 and below the top of the keys 160, which vertical position is critical to the operation of the invention, as will be explained.
The container 120 is also provided with a top plate7 generally designated by the numeral 180, the outer perimeter of which conforms to the perimeter of the upper ed~e of the container 120 and is adapted to be seated on a ledge 181 formed in the inner surfaces of the container walls 121-123 and fixedly secured thereto as by ultrasonic welding. The top plate 180 has a large octagonal opening formed therein so that the top plate 180 essentially comprises a relatively narrow flange projecting horizontally inwardly from the walls of the container 1~0. Formed in the upper surface of the top plate 180 adjacent to the rear edge thereof is a shallow recess 182 adapted to receive therein the retaining plate 118 fixedly to hold the container 120 in place on the mounting bracket 101.
Extending upwardly from the top plate 180 at the rear corners thereoE are two rear abutments (not shown) while two forward abutments 184 respectively extend upwardly from the top plate 180 adjacent to the front corners thereof, the forward abutments 184 each having a notch 186 formed in the front surfaces thereof.

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Integral with the top plate 180 respectively adjacent to at least some of the corner edges and extending downwardly therefrom are positioning members 185 for a purpose to be explained.
The container 120 is also provided with a cover plate 190 which includes a flat rectangular top wall 191, a front wall 192, a pair of opposed side walis 193 and a rear wall 194, all integrally connected in a unitary structure. Fixedly secured to the top wall 191 adjacent to the rear edge thereof is a key-operated latch mechanism 195. Fixedly secured to the inner surface of the front wall 192 is an elongated bearing plate 196 provided at the opposite ends thereof with rearwardly extending fingers 197, each preferably covered with a resilient cushioning material, the fingers 197 being respectively adapted to be received in the notches 186 in the forward abutments 184 of the -top plate 180. The cover plate 190 is dimensioned so as completely to cover the top wall 180 of the con-tainer 120, with the walls 192-194 having a vertical extend sufficient to accommodate the inclined flange 108 and the upwardly extending flange 109 of the mounting bracket 101. In use, the fingers 197 are inserted into the notches 186 of the forward abutments 184, and the cover plate 190 is then pivoted down into position completely covering the top of the container ~ -13~

120, as illustra-ted in Figure 3, a latch hook of the latch mechanism 195 engaging in a complementary keeper opening ~not shown) in the upwardly extending flange 109 of the ~ounting bracket 101.
Formed in the rear wall 123 of the container 120 is a vertical slot 200 which extends from just above the partition 150 to the top wall 180, for a purpose to be explained more fully below. It can be seen that the cover plate 190 cooperates with the partition 150 and the walls 121-123 of the container 120 to define a closed refill compartmen-t, generally designated by the numeral 205, communication between the refill compartment 205 and the liquid soap reservoir 175 being provided by the refill aperture 169.
The present inventlon is exemplified by a refill cartridge 210 which is semirigid and preferably formed of a translucent soft plastic material, and is adapted to hold a supply of liquid soap for refilling the liquid soap reservoir 175 of the container 120. The refill cartridge 210 is generally in the shape of a polyhedron having top and bottom walls 211 and 212 interconnected by a pair of opposed side walls 213 and a pair of opposed end walls 214, the side walls 213 and the end walls 214 being generally perpendicular to each other and to the top and bottom walls 211 and 212.
Connecting the side walls 213 to the end walls 214 and _14-inclined substan-tially at 45 angles to each are four guide or corner walls 215, each of which is also perpendicular to the top and bottom walls 211 and 212.
Formed at the junc-tions of the top wall 211 with the side walls 213 intermediate the ends thereof are two indentations or recesses 216 for receiving the fingers of a user.
Integral with the bo-ttom wall 212 and projecting outwardly therefrom centrally thereof is a cylindrical neck 220 being coupled at the upper end thereof -to the bottom wall 212. The neck 220 is in the form oE a tube 221 having opposed inwardly extending slots or grooves 225 each having a top wall 222 and a bottom or rest surface 223 thereof. The slots 225 are diametrically opposed and have longitudinally extending walls 226, the inner surfaces of which define keys extending into the passageway 228 of the neck 220 and the outer surfaces of which are in registry with the surfaces 162 of the keys 260. The neck 220 has a bottom end 227 which is closed or sealed by means of a closure member 229 recessed into the passageway 228 from the bottom 227, which closure member may be a pierceable membrane.
When it is desired to refill the liquid soap reservoir 175 of the container 120, the cover plate 190 is unlocked and removed and a new refill cartridge 210 is inserted into the reEill compartment 205. The refill cartridge 210 is shaped and dimensioned to just fit within -the octagonal opening defined by the top plate 1~0, with the guide walls 215 of the refill cartridge 210 being respectively disposed for sliding engagement with positioning members 185 which cooperate to guide the neck 220 of the refill cartridge 2l0 into the well 155. The neck 220 and particularly the tubular wall portion 221 thereof along with the slots 225 thereof are dimensioned to fi-t within the well 155 and more particularly to fit in the annular space between the upstanding cartridge opening rnember 165 and the inner surface 156 of the well. More specifically, the slots 225 in the neck 220 are positioned in registry with the keys 160 extending inwardly from the inner surface 156 of the well 155 with the longitudinally extending surface 226 of each slot 225 bein~ opposite to the adjacent longitudinally extending surface 162 of the respective key 160. As the refill cartridge 210 is moved downwardly, the upper surface 266 of the cartridge opening member 165 and more particularly the upper end thereof where the slot 167 meets the sur~ace 166 contacts the closure rnember 229 in the neck 220 and pierces same. Continued downward movement of the refill cartridge 210 causes the neck 220 to seat in the well 155. As seen particularly in Figure 5, the inner surface of the grooves or slots 225 -16~

act as keys with respect to the slots 167, 168 in the upstanding cartridge opening member 165 thereby to slidably fit the cartridge 210 within the well 155.
Because the cartridge 210 is closed, that is imperforate except at the neck 220, the liquid soap 176 in the cartridge 210 feeds into the reservoir 175 only to the level of the effective outlet of the cartridge 210 which is the bottom or end surface 227 of the cartridge neck 220, thereby to maintain the liquid level 177 in the reservoir at ~hat fixed position, until the supply of soap 176 in the cartridge 210 is exhausted, which is always below the drain hole 178 in the rear wall 123 of the soap container housing 120.
Accordingly, it is now clear how the anti-bootleg feature of the invention is accomplished. By means of the keys 160 extending inwardly from the inner surface 156 of the well 1565 and the peculiar complementary shape of the upstanding cartridge opening member 165, the cartridge 210 must have the neck 220 thereof specifically designed to sea-t all ~he way to the bottom of the well 155, as disclosed. In the event a bootlegger attempts to use a standard cylindrical neck cartridge in the soap dispenser 100, the l<eys 160 will prevent the neck from extending down to the liquid level 177 shown in Figure 3. The boo-tlegged cartridge will only seal to the top 161 of the keys 160, whereby -17~

the liquid level in the reservoir 175 will rise to that level which is specifically designed to be above the drain hole 178 thereby causing soap to run out o-~ the reservoir and the dispenser 100. Only cartridges 210 having the specific key accommoda-ting slo~s 225 therein will fully seat in the well 155 thereby to permit liquid soap 176 contained in the cartridge to drain through the central aperture 169 into the reservoir 175 to a level 177 below the drain hole 178.
When the refill cartridge 210 has thus been inserted to its refill configuration in the refill compartment 205, tha-t is with the neck 220 fully seated into the well 155, thereby to establish the liquid level 177 as illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings, the cover plate 190 is then locked in place to close the refill compartment 205 and the enclosed refill cartridge 210 therein. It will be appreciated that the entire cartridge replacement operation can be performed in a matter of seconds.
When the next service call is made9 the serviceman can immediately tell from inspection of the translucent refill cartridge 210 whether or not it is empty. If it is empty, it is removed and discarded and a new refill cartridge 210 is inserted into its place in the manner described above. If the refill cartridge 210 is not empty, then the serviceman knows that the reservoir 175 still has a substantial quantity of soap 176 therein and that no fur-ther refill is needed.
It is an important feature oE the invention that the soap dispenser 100 is usable only wi-th the refill cartridge 210 specificaily designed therefor, so that the container 120 cannot be refilled with liquid soap from an unauthorized source. This purpose is furthered by the slot 200 in the rear wall 123 of the container 120. More particularly, it will be understood that by reason of the dimensions of -the central aperture 169 which permit free flow of liquid soap therethrough by gravity under ambient pressure, there would be a temptation for unauthorized purveyors of liquid soap to simply pour free or bulk liquid soap into the refill compartment 205 and let it drain through the refill aperture 169. It this is attempted, however, the soap will ir~mediately also flow out through the slot 200, running down the back of the container 100, onto the bracket wall 111 and along the outside of the pump assembly 130 creating a messy overflow and possibly fouling the dispensing mechanism. Thus, it will be appreciated that the slot 200 effectively prevents the accumulation of free liquid soap in the reservoir 175.
The above anti-bootleg feature of the slot 200 in combination with the cooperating design of the refill well 155, the upstanding cartridge opening member 165 - 1 9- ,~

and the cartridge neck 220 fully prevents the use of unauthorized soap refill cartridges 210 in the dispenser 100 of the prevent invention. Since bootlegging refill cartridges is the single more important economic factor in the liquid soap dispensing business, this invention has attained its principal objects by the aforementioned cornbination of features.
It will be noted that the finger recesses 216 in the refill cartridge 210 serve to facilitate handling thereof during insertion into and removal from the refill compartment 20~. These recesses are particularly useful in removal of the spent re~ill cartridge 210 because of the very close fit between the walls of the cartridge 210 and the top plate 180 and because, when fully inserted into its refill configuration, the refill cartridge 210 only extends a slight distance above the top plate 180.
In storage of the refill cartridge 210 it is ~enerally preferably to dispose the top wall 211 downward, since this affords a more stable base than does the neck 220. lt will be appreciated that the upstanding ribs provide bearing surfaces for supporting the refill cartridge 210 thereon during storage.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that here has been provided an improved refill cartridge for use with a refillable liquid soap dispenserl such that there is -20~

permitted rapid servicing of the dispenser for refilling same, while at the same time effectively preventing refilling of -the container with soap from an unauthorized source.

Claims (5)

he embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property of privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A refill cartridge comprising a vessel in the shape of a polyhedron having parallel top and bottom walls and a plurality of planar side walls substantially normal to said top and bottom walls, and a neck extending outwardly from said bottom wall with the outer surface of said neck having a slot therein.

2. The refill cartridge of claim 1, wherein there are two diametrically opposed longitudinally extending slots in the outer surface of said neck.

3. A refill cartridge comprising a semirigid vessel generally in the shape of a polyhedron having parallel top and bottom walls and a plurality of planar side walls substantially normal to said top and bottom walls, a quantity of liquid soap in said vessel, an outlet neck extending from said bottom wall having at least one slot in the outer surface thereof, and a closure member in said neck retaining said liquid soap in said vessel.

4. The refill cartridge of claim 3, wherein there are two diametrically opposed longitudinally extending slots in the outer surface of said neck.

5. The refill cartridge of claim 3, wherein said closure member is a pierceable membrane.