GB2516913A

GB2516913A - Device for improvement in soap flow

Info

Publication number: GB2516913A
Application number: GB1314060.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan Beattie
Original assignee: BELL CHEM PRODUCTS Co
Current assignee: BELL CHEM PRODUCTS Co
Priority date: 2013-08-06
Filing date: 2013-08-06
Publication date: 2015-02-11
Anticipated expiration: 2033-08-06
Also published as: GB2516913B; GB201314060D0; WO2015019082A1

Abstract

A liquid soap dispensing apparatus comprising a reservoir 101, a liquid discharge means 301 in fluid communication 102 with the reservoir and an air venting means 305 in fluid communication 302 with the liquid discharge means. The apparatus is configured as such that the air venting means 305 is locatable above the discharge means 301. The air venting means may be located above the maximum liquid level 307 stored by the apparatus, and furthermore may have a vent comprised of an open ended pipe or a valve (501 fig 5).

Description

Device for improvement in soap flow

Field of the invention

The field of the invention is washroom dispensers and more particularly soap dispensers.

Background

Dispenser units for dispensing soap, water and hot air for washing and drying hands have become very much more sophisticated over the last couple of decades. It is now commonplace for them to be controlled by an infrared sensor and to automatically dispense water, soap and hot air in response to the detected presence of human hands.

In spite of this sophistication, problems remain with distribution, in particular, of soap.

A problem with currently available soap multi-feed systems is that air gets trapped in the pipcs. This requires many cycles of thc pump bcfore soap is available at the nozzle.

Although this may be considered to be a minor irritant, it causes additional work for an attendant refilling soap reservoirs or fitting new ones, or alternatively, if left to the user, may result in the user believing that there is no soap left in the dispenser. This may have a detrimental effect on hygiene if hands remain unwashed, and/or leave a poor impression of customer service in the mind of the user if the washroom is located in a restaurant, hotel or the like.

Summary of the invention

Accordingly, the present invention provides a liquid soap dispensing apparatus comprising; a reservoir; a liquid discharge means in fluid communication with the reservoir; and an air venting means in fluid communication with the liquid discharge means, the apparatus configured such that the air venting means is locatable above the discharge means.

Preferably, the reservoir has a maximum liquid level distal the liquid discharge means, the apparatus being configured such that the air venting means is locatable above the maximum liquid level.

Preferably the venting means comprises an open ended pipe.

Optionally, the venting means comprises a valve.

Brief description of the figures

The above and other aspects of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspcctive view of a soap dispensing system according to the prior art; Figure 2 is a side schematic view of a soap dispenser located in a counter top,

according to the prior art

Figure 3 is a front schematic view of a soap dispensing system according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is a front schematic view of the soap dispensing system of Figure 3, located within a washroom dispensing system; Figure 5 is a front schematic view of a soap dispensing system according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a soap dispensing apparatus 100 according to the prior art. There is provided a reservoir 101 for holding liquid soap, feeder pipes 102 for transferring the soap, pumps 103 and discharging means 104, typically a valve or tap. Figure 2 shows such a device as typically located in countertop 201.

A problem with such a system is that when a new soap reservoir is fitted, air becomes trapped in the feeder pipes 102. This results in the necessity of multiple pumping cycles in order to prime the apparatus and make soap available at the nozzle of the discharging tap or valve. The present invention seeks to overcome these problems by providing a self-bleeding soap dispensing apparatus.

Figure 3 is a front schematic view of a soap dispensing system according to an embodiment of the invention. The soap dispensing system comprises a reservoir for liquid soap 101, a soap discharging means 301 for the release of soap to the user, tubing or pipe 102 linking reservoir 101 to discharging means 301 and venting pipe 302. In a preferred embodiment, venting pipe 302 comprises a substantially horizontal scetion 303, a substantially vertical scction 304 and a vcnt 305, typically an opcn pipe end. This is the most convenient arrangement for fitting into a multi-feed system providing soap, water, hot air etc. for hand washing and drying. The person skilled in the art will appreciate that alternative arrangements are possible, such as an upwardly curved venting pipe or a straight vertical one directly emanating from above discharging means 301. In an embodiment discharging means 301 comprises a soap pump. In a preferred embodiment, there is provided a pump which mixes liquid soap with air to produce a foam soap. In alternative embodiments, the soap discharging means may comprise a tap or valve. The person skilled in the art will appreciate that there are many alternative arrangements which would serve the purpose of dispensing liquid soap and the invention is not limited to any one type of discharging means.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, venting pipe 302 extends to level 306, which is at least as high and preferably higher than a maximum liquid level in reservoir 101. Typically, this maximum liquid level is the top 307 of reservoir 101, but the person skilled in the art will appreciate that a lower level within the reservoir may be desirable. Venting pipe 302 being at least as high as the maximum liquid level ensures that there will be no spillages from venting pipe 302 caused by a head of pressure from liquid soap contained within reservoir 101.

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Figure 4 is a front schematic view of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 3, when the soap dispensing system is located within an integrated washroom dispensing system 400 according to the prior art. The embodiment of Figure 3 and Figure 4 is intended for use with foam soap, which has a low viscosity in comparison with regular liquid soap. Liquid soap may be placed into reservoir 101 by means of an aperture 401 in the top of reservoir 101, normally closed by means of filling cap 402.

Self-bleeding of the system occurs by means of venting pipe 302 and vent 305. In the preferred embodiment, intended for use with low viscosity soap, there is no need for a valve at vent 305. Soap will be drawn from the reservoir by gravity and there is no risk of air being selectively drawn into dispensing means 104 from the vent side whilst soap remains in the system. In an alternative embodiment, a valve may be provided on venting pipe 302.

In use, the system is typically installed into a multi-feed washroom unit, which provides water, soap and hot air for washing and drying hands. The unit is refilled by filling the reservoir with appropriate liquid soap through an aperture typically in the top of the reservoir. The soap moves down through the pipes by gravity and fills the feed pipe to the discharge means and the venting pipe up to the level where pressure is balanced with the head of pressure from the reservoir. By this means, air is forced out of the pipes, in particular around the discharge means. This enables a user of the system to obtain soap by pressing a buttou or turning a tap to release soap from the discharge means. The venting arrangement ensures that soap will be present at the discharge means so long as there is soap available in the reservoir.

In an alternative embodiment, a valve is provided at vent 305. This embodiment is intended for use with standard liquid soap of higher viscosity than foam soap. With

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higher viscosity liquid in the pipes, there is a danger that air will be drawn into the pipes from the vent instead of soap from reservoir 101. Typically, wider pipes are used to enable the flow of higher viscosity liquids. This alternative embodiment is illustrated in Figure 5. A valve 501 is located at upper end of venting pipe 302. Valve 501 may serve the purpose of preventing air being pulled into the pipes when soap is released from discharging means 301.

The invention is not limited to the details of the embodiments herein described.

Claims

Claims 1. A liquid soap dispensing apparatus comprising; a reservoir; a liquid discharge means in fluid communication with said reservoir; and an air venting means in fluid communication with said liquid discharge means, said apparatus configured such that said air venting means is locatable above said discharge means.
2. A liquid soap dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reservoir has a maximum liquid level distal said liquid discharge means, said apparatus being configured such that said air venting means is locatable above said maximum liquid level.
3. A liquid soap dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said venting means comprises an open ended pipe.
4. A liquid soap discharge apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said venting means comprises a valve.
5. A liquid soap dispensing apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 3 and 4.