US2055556A - Soap lather dispenser - Google Patents

Description

swf@ 29, im, M. C. RAY 2,055,556

SOAP LATHER DISPENSER Filed Sept. 26, 1954 Y Y 8 4\ /10 a 'A A QQ@ f@ INVENTOR.

lly pointed out in the claims.

Patented Sept. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SOAP LATI-IER DISPENSER corporation of Ohio Application September 26, 1934, Serial No. 745,577

5 Claims.

This invention relates, as indicated, to soap lather dispensing devices.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is adapted in use to produce and deliver an intimate mixture of air and liquid soap in the form of a foamy, smooth, evenly mixed lather.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which is of simple and extremely rugged construction, and

adapted to withstand severe usage.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particular- The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the soap lather dispenser showing the various parts in fully assembled relation; Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 are views showing the Various parts of the mixing unit; and Fig. 6 is a View showing the parts of the mixing unit as they appear when assembled or superimposed upon each other.

The lather dispensing device illustrated in Fig. 1 is designed particularly for connection to a liquid soap supply line which receives its supply under pressure or gravity from a central tank, but it will be understood that the principles of the invention may be embodied in dispensing devices designed to receive liquid soap from other sources of supply.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, it will be seen that the dispensing device comprises a housing I, which may be of circular or polygonal cross-section and which is interiorly threaded at one end to receive a nut 2 which, in turn, is interiorly threaded as at 3 for connection to a liquid soap supply line (not shown) such line usually receiving its supply under pressure or gravity from a central tank.

Mounted for longitudinal sliding movement within the housing I is a plunger 4 in the form of a cup-like member within which is secured a pair of U-shaped washers 5 which provide a mounting for a piston 6. The washers 5 are rigidly secured in position adjacent one end of the plunger as by means of a sleeve 1 which is maintained in position as by means of a nut 'la threadedly secured to the opposite end of the plunger.

A cup of packing material 8 secured between the button 4 and the sleeve I forms an air seal between the button and the housing.

The piston 6 has an enlarged head 9 which has a sliding t in a cylinder Il). Cylinder I!) has an 5 inwardly extending annular flange I l at one end which forms a stop to limit the outward movement of the piston. A leakproof seal between the piston head 9 and the cylinder is provided by a suitable ring of packing material I2 secured to 10 the piston head by means of a screw I3.

The cylinder I0 has slidably mounted therein adjacent its inner end a valve I4 having an apertured seat I5 against which a valve ball I6 is normally maintained as by means of a spring I'I. l5 The valve I4 is maintained in its normal position within the cylinder as by means of a spring I8, one end of which is in engagement with the valve and the other end of which is in engagement with a valve cap I9 which is threadedly secured to 20 the cylinder. A stop ring ISa is provided for limiting the outward travel of the Valve I4. The valve cap I9 is provided with an aperture 20 for ingress of the liquid soap to the dispenser.

A mixing unit is also provided consisting of a 25 series of annular discs 2|, 22, 23, and 24. These discs are concentric with and are mounted on the cylinder l0, being rigidly secured in position on the cylinder andrwithin the housing as by means of the nut 2 and cap I9. The plunger and piston 30 are maintained in their normal outermost position by means of a spring 25 interposed between the washers 5 and disc ZI.

'I'he device is further provided with a discharge spout 26 having a passageway 2l extending there- 35 through.

The disk 2l is provided with an aperture 28 which functions as an air inlet. The disc 22 is provided with a central opening 29 and with a series of circumferentially spaced openings 30, 40 one of which communicates with a passage or slot 5I which serves as a soap inlet. Another one of the openings 35, preferably one disposed adjacent the passage 3| is in communication with a passage or slot 32, which serves as a lather out- 45 let or discharge port. The disc 23 is likewise provided with a series of circumferential openings 33 spaced similarly to the openings 3D, but arranged in staggered relation with the latter when the various discs are assembled, as clearly 50 shown in Figs. l and 6.

It will be noted that the passage or slot 3l communicates with an aperture 34 in the wall of the cylinder Il), and that the discharge port 32 communicates with the passageway 21 of the dis- 55 charge spout 26. It will be further noted that the valve i4 may be pushed inwardly to such an extent as to uncover the opening 34 which it normally closes.

The operation of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing description, but may be briefly described as follows:

The cap i9 is normally lled With liquid soap from the supply line to which the device is connected.

On movement of the plunger 4 to its normal position after operation of the device, a small quantity of soap is drawn past the ball I1 of the valve I4, so that the cylinder or liquid soap compartment i is normally filled with liquid soap. At the same time, air is drawn into the air compartment, i. e., the space between the cylinder IIJ and housing I, this air being drawn through passageway 2T, slot 32, openings 3i) and 33 and opening 28.

When it is desired to operate the device, the plunger l is pushed inwardly, with one hand, while the palm of the other hand is held under the discharge spout 26. The inward movement of the plunger 4 also causes the piston 6 to move inwardly, thus causing the soap within the cylinder l@ to slide the valve i4 against the tension of spring Il sufficiently to uncover the aperture 34 in the cylinder wall. The soap will thus flow into slot 3|, through the passageway provided by the openings 3i) and 33 and out through the slot 32 and discharge passageway 21. At the same time, the air within the air compartment is forced out through the opening 28 into one of the openings 3l), as indicated in Fig. 6, and thence through the same passageway through which the liquid soap is forced.

The openings 35i and 33 overlap to a slight extent, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, thereby providing a single continuous passageway for the discharge of the air and liquid soap. It will be noted that this continuous passageway varies constantly in cross-sectional area from a maximum at those points which lie in planes extending radially through the disks and intersecting the centers of the openings to a minimum at those points which lie in planes extending radially through the disks and intersecting the points of intersection of the openings. It will also be noted that the air and liquid soap in passing from the openings 30 to 33 and vice versa are constantly changing their course or direction of flow, due to the sinuous character of the passageway formed by these openings.

By thus constricting the passageway at a multiplicity of points and constantly changing the direction of flow of the air and soap at these points, a high degree of turbulence or frictional interaction between the particles of air and soap is secured. This turbulence results in an intimate mixing of the air and soap, with the result that a foamy, smooth lather of highly desirable properties is formed. By forming the lather in this manner, a considerable saving in the amount of soap used is effected.

The use of annular discs as elements of the mixing unit permits these units to be made in the form of stampings and thus reduces the cost of manufacture to a minimum. At the same time, it provides an extremely rugged construction, free from movable parts, and adapted to withstand severe usage without breakage.

While the device has been described as a soap lather dispenser, it will be understood that it is not intended to thereby limit the scope of. the

application of the invention to that particular eld, as the principles of the invention would be useful in connection with the production of a froth, or the like, in many diiferent liquids or combinations thereof.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A soap lather dispenser comprising a liquid soap compartment, an air compartment, and means for mixing the air and soap discharged from said compartments, said means comprising a pair of annular discs in engagement With each other and each having a series of circumferentially spaced openings, each of the openings of one disc partially overlapping two adjacent openings in the other disc to thereby provide a continuous single passageway through all of the openings.

2. A lather dispensing device comprising a tubular member leading to a source of liquid soap supply, a small cylindrical liquid soap dispensing compartment attached to said tubular member and having a valve adjacent said liquid supply tube, an air compartment concentric with said liquid soap compartment, the base of said air compartment being formed by a plurality of discs provided with a discharge passageway leading from a point of connection with said air and soap compartments to a point of discharge, said passageway being of extended length and of constantly varying alternately large and small cross-sectional area, and plungers associated with each of said compartments and adapted to force a mixture of air and liquid soap into said passageway.

3. A soap lather dispensing device comprising a source of liquid soap supply, an auxiliary liquid soap compartment connected therewith, a valved inlet port and an outlet port for said auxiliary compartment, a plunger within said auxiliary compartment, means for actuating said plunger, an air compartment adjacent said auxiliary compartment, a plunger within said air compartment, a passageway of long and narrow dimensions and of constantly varying alternately large and small cross-sectional area having entrances connected with said auxiliary compartment and air compartment and adapted to simultaneously receive a predetermined mixture of liquid soap and air upon the operation of said plungers.

4. A soap lather dispensing device having in combination a liquid soap supply compartment, a long narrow outlet passageway connected with said compartment, said passageway being of constantly varying alternately large and small crosssectional area, an air compartment adjacent said liquid soap supply compartment and connected with said outlet passageway near the inlet end of said passageway, and means for applying pressure simultaneously to the contents of said liquid soap supply and air compartments so as to force separately measured quantities of soap and air therefrom to said passageway.

5. A soap lather dispenser comprising a cylindrical liquid soap dispensing compartment having an outlet port, an air compartment concentric with said liquid soap compartment and provided with a discharge spout, the base of said air compartment being formed by a plurality of three contiguously arranged discs, the first of which is provided with an opening communicating with said air chamber, the second of which is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings, a slot connecting one of the openings with said outlet port and a slot connecting an adjacent opening with said discharge spout, and the third of which is provided with openings spaced similarly to those in the second disc and each of which openings overlaps two adjacent openings of said second-named disc to thereby provide a continu- 10 ous single passageway through all of the openings in both discs, which passageway extends from said outlet port to said discharge spout, said opening in said first-named disc communicating with one of the openings in said second disc which forms the first portion of said passageway, and plungers associated with each of said compartments and adapted upon actuation to simultaneously force soap and air from said' compartments and through said passageway.

MERLIN C. RAY.

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