US3034687A - Dispenser for soap and other viscous materials - Google Patents

Description

D- R. WIESE May 15, 1962 DISPENSER FOR SOAP AND OTHER VISCOUS MATERIALS Filed NOV. 17, 1958 INVENTOR. QYO/VHAO .3. W55:

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 willllllilii il llillilll:

a MW

flrrazA/sy.

3,034,687 DISPENSER FOR SOAP AND OTHER VISCOUS MATERIALS Donald R. Wiese, Pacoima, Calih, assignor to K & W Products, Inc., Whittier, Calili, a corporation of Nevada Filed Nov. 17, 1958, Ser. No. 774,239 12 Claims. (Cl. 222-256) The present invention relates to a dispensing device and more particularly to a device adapted to dispense quantities of highly viscous fluids such as waterless soap or other viscous fluids approaching the viscosity or semisolid state of paste-like waterless soap.

The present invention contemplates dispensing apparatus which efliciently dispenses paste-like fluids such as waterless soap or the like in a manner such as to avoid discharge problems, cavitation of the material to be dispensed, and the like.

Among the primary objectives of the invention is to provide a dispenser device which is extremely simple to operate as well as to load and reload as the initial supply of material to be dispensed is depleted.

Waterless soap is generally viscous to the point of resisting flow and is commonly supplied to users in containers, as for example, of one gallon capacity. It is 7 common practice in the use of such soap merely to place the container in a convenient location where a user may readily dip into the paste-like waterless soap in order to obtain a quantity of the soap material. Frequently, excessive amounts of the soap are used or an insufiicient amount of soap may be employed. Moreover, removal of the cover and replacement thereof following use of the soap is an annoyance and inconvenient, and substantial quantities of the soap material are normally left in a container following normal manual removal of the soap material.

Accordingly, another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser device adapted to readily accommodate a container or the like in which waterless soap material is supplied for use, wherein the dispenser is capable of dispensing the entire contents of the container in an extremely efficient manner. Another object is to provide a dispenser for viscous fluids such as waterless soap wherein a pressure applying follower forces the flow of the viscous material from the container and wherein a valved discharge piston effects dispensing of the viscous fluid upon actuation of a manually operable dispenser valve, the valved discharge piston operating to allow the passage therethrough of the material being dispensed upon closure of the dispenser valve. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide dispenser apparatus in accordance with the foregoing general objectives which is extremely simple to manufacture, install and maintain at a minimum of cost.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter be described or will become apparent as the description progresses and the novel features thereof will be defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view showing a dispenser device made in accordance with the invention with a container for material to be dispensed disposed in the dispenser apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view as taken on the line 2.2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view as taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1, showing the follower in a position assumed when the contents of the container has been partially dispensed and showing the valved piston 3,934,687 Patented May 15, 1962 and dispenser valve in their normal non-dispensing relation;

FIG. 4 is a View corresponding to FIG. 3, "but illustrating the valved discharge piston and dispenser valve in a dispensing position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view in vertical section as taken on the line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view in transverse section as taken on the line 66 of FIG. 4 through the discharge conduit and the discharge valve support;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view in bottom plan depicting the inner end of the dispenser valve mechanism as indicated by the line 77 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary detail view in section as taken on the line 88 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary detail view in section through the discharge opening, as taken on the line 99 of FIG. 4.

Like reference characters in the several figures of the drawings and in the following description designate corresponding parts. 1

Generally speaking the present dispenser apparatus includes a cup-like body or base 1 adapted to removably receive a container 2 of material to be dispensed such as, for example, waterless soap or other highly viscous fluid. The base 1 includes a generally circumferentially extended upstanding wall 1' and a bottom 3, there being formed at one side of the base 1 a bracket 4 adapted to be connected as by screws 5 to a supporting wall. 6 or the like, at some suitable points, preferably diametrically spaced as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the wall 1 of the base 1 is provided with means 7, 7 for releasably securing the container 2 seated in the cup-like base 1 in engagement with a horizontally extended annular shoulder 8 formed within the base 1.

Each of the means 7, preferably comprises, as best illustrated in FIG. 5, a pivotally mounted latch lever 9 mounted for pivotal movement on a pin 10 extending between opposed walls 11 of a radial enlargement 12 of the base 1. Spring means such as a coiled compression spring 13 is interposed between the wall of the respective radial enlargements and the inner end of the latch levers 9 so as to normally bias the inner ends of these levers into engagement with the receptacle 2, which, as illustrated, is provided with a peripheral bead 14 engaged by the latch levers 9 so as to releasably retain the container 2 within the base 1.

It will be understood that conventionally viscous products or waterless soap to be dispensed by the dispenser apparatus of the invention would normally be supplied in cans of the type provided with a bead such as that shown at 14. Thus, the container 2 is illustrative of a shipping container in which the product to be dispensed is initially shipped to a consumer. However, if desired a special container of a more attractive appearance may be employed in lieu of a can in-which the product to be dispensed is shipped.

Centrally of the cup-like base 1 and projecting upwardly from the bottom 3 is a boss 15 having a reduced upstanding neck 16. Suitably mounted upon the neck 16 and seated upon the boss 15 is a vertically extended hollow discharge tube 17, which projects upwardly into close proximity to the upper wall 2' of the container 2.

Extending along one side of the neck 16 is an arcuate discharge passage 13 communicating at its upper end with the hollow tube 17 and at its lower end with a discharge opening 19 extending vertically through the boss 15. It will thus be noted that the discharge tube 17, the neck 16 and the boss 15 constitute jointly means providing a discharge passage for conducting fluid to be dispensed vertically downwardly from the upper end of the tube 17 to the bottom of the cup-like base 1.

Projecting radially from the boss 15 as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, is a discharge passage 20 communicating with the passage 19 in the boss 15 and extending through an enlarged radial section 20' of the bottom 3 of the cuplike base 1 to substantially the outer extremity of the base 1.

A combined slide valve support and closure plate 21 is secured to the bottom of the base 1, as by a suitable number of fasteners 22 (see FIGS. and 8) this plate forming the bottom wall of the discharge passage 20 and having a discharge port or opening 23 therethrough communicating with the discharge passage 20. Slide valve means 24 is shiftably carried by the plate 21.

In the illustrative embodiment the slide valve means 24 includes a channel section member 25 embracing the plate 21 so as to be slidable thereon and projecting radially from the base 1 to provide an operating knob 26. Adjacent the knob 26 the slide valve is provided with an elongated opening 27 therethrough, and product being dispensed through discharge passage 20 and discharge port or opening 23 is adapted to pass through the opening 27 when the slide valve 24 is shifted from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 4, where the opening 27 through the slide valve 24 is in registry with the discharge port 23. Moreover, it will be noted that upon movement of the slide valve 24 from the position shown in FIG. 4, this being a dispensing position, to the position shown in FIG. 3, this being a closed position, the edge 27 of the member 25 will effectively slice through viscous material being dispensed and cleanly cut off the discharge port 23.

Means are provided for normally biasing the dispenser or slide valve 24 to the position shown in FIG. 3, and in accordance with one of the salient features of the invention, this means is combined with means for operating a valved discharge piston which is effective to positively displace a volume of product being dispensed from the central tube 17.

In the illustrative embodiment the upstanding neck 16 referred to above is centrally bored as at 30 and slidably disposed in the bore 30 is a stem 31 having at its upper end a valve head 32 of a valved discharge piston assembly generally denoted at 33. The valve head 32 has a tapered seating surface 32' engageable with a complemental seating surface 34 on an annular piston sleeve 35 which is slidably engaged at its outer periphery in the tube 17, there being a central discharge passage 36 through the piston 35 through which the stem 31 extends.

Means is provided for limiting relative movement of the annular piston 35 on the stem 31 away from the valve head 32 and in the illustrative embodiment this means is constituted by a cross pin stop 37 which also functions as a seat with which is engaged the upper end of a coiled compression spring 38 disposed about the pin 31 and engaged at its lower end with the upper extremity of the boss 16, so as to normally bias the stem 31 upwardly. Such upward movement of the stem 31 will effect upward movement of the valve head 32 and the piston annulus 35 which will be engaged by the cross pin 37.

Moreover, such upward movement of the stem 31 under the influence of the spring 38 will shift the dispenser or slide valve 24 to the position shown in FIG. 3, by reason of the provision of means connecting the pin 31 to the inner extremity of the slide valve channel member 25.

In the illustrative embodiment the bore 30 in the upstanding neck 16 is flared rearwardly as at 40 to provide an arcuate surface on Which rides a flexible chain or other suitable flexible connector means, as indicated at 41, which interconnects the lower extremity of the stem 31 with the slide valve channel member 25. The chain 41 is preferably secured to the stem 31 as by a pin 42, while a combined slide valve stop and connector member 43 connects the other end of the chain 41 to the slide valve channel member 25.

The combined stop and connector means means 43, as best seen in FIG. 8, comprises a generally U-shaped wire element having an arched or indented central section 44 engaged by the chain 41, the opposed arms 45 of the member 43 extending upwardly through the base of the channel member 45 and through the overlying portions thereof which lie above the plate 21 previously described. Accordingly, these arms 45 of the member 43 are engageable with the extremity of the plate 21 when the slide valve 24 is in the position shown in FIG. 3, so as to limit such movement. In order to accommodate the chain 41, the end of the plate 21 is notched as at 21' so that the chain may extend therethrough for connection of the member 43.

In order that uniform quantities of product being dispensed will be ejected from the discharge port 23 upon each actuation of the dispenser or slide valve 24, the knob 26 provides means for limiting movement of the slide valve and consequently the discharge valved piston 35 in a direction for discharging such product.

In this connection it will be noted that means are provided for maintaining under pressure a supply of product to be dispensed within the tube 17. Preferably such means comprises a spring biased follower or pressure piston 46 which is composed of a disc of rubber or other suitable material slidably disposed on the central discharge tube 17 and biased upwardly by a conical coil spring 47 seating at its upper end in a cup 48 which is inverted so as to reinforce the piston rubber 46 and provide a seat for the spring 47. In addition, a washer 49, providing central reinforcement for the rubber 46, may also be provided on the upper surface of the rubber 46. The spring 47 seats at its lower extremity on a seat 50 on the boss 15 and maintains continuous pressure in an upward direction tending to force product from the container 2 through the upper end of the discharge tube 17, as indicated by the arrow.

It Will be observed that with the dispenser or slide valve 24 positioned as shown in FIG. 3, the valved piston means 33 is open so that the follower 46 is effective to force product downwardly through the gap between the seat 34 on the valved piston 35 and the valve head 32 into the discharge passage 18 through the neck 16 of boss 15 and thence through discharge passages 19 and 20 to outlet port 23. Thus the tendency of the follower is to maintain a full supply of product in the discharge passageway at all times.

As the dispenser or slide valve 24 is shifted towards the position shown in FIG. 4, the chain 41 will pull the stem 31 downwardly so that the valve head 32 will seat in the annular piston 35, as the spring 38 is compressed. Downward movement of the annular piston 35 during this initial movement of the stem 31 will be resisted by the product in the tube 17 below the piston 35, and friction with the tubing 17. Upon engagement of the valve head 32 with the piston 35, it will be noted that the valved piston means 33 is closed and further downward movement of the stem 31 will cause the ejection by the valved piston means 33, through the discharge passages and ultimately through the port 23 and the opening 27 in the slide valve member 25, of a quantity of the product being dispensed equal to the displacement of the valved discharge piston means 33, limited only by engagement of the knob 26 with the base 1, or by other appropriate stop means if desired, whereby a uniform quantity of product will be dispensed each time the dispenser or slide valve 24 is shifted in a dispensing direction.

When manual pressure on the knob 26 is released, the compression spring 38 will urge the stem 31 upwardly unseating the head 32 from the valve seat 34 of the valved piston means 33 and effecting engagement of the cross pin 37 with the lower surface of the annular piston 35,

. O whereupon the valved piston means 33 will shift from the position illustrated in FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIG. 3, causing a volume of product to pass through the valve piston means equal to the volume of product which has previously been dispensed. Such dispensing operations may be repeated until such time as the follower 46 has exhausted substantially the entire volume of product from the container 2 and forced the same downwardly through the discharge tube 17.

In order to, at this time, replace the container 2 which has been emptied, with a container filled with product to be dispensed, the releasable latch means 7 may be disengaged from the bead 14 of the receptacle and the receptacle may be stripped from the follower 46, whereupon a new container of product to be dispensed may be installed. As previously mentioned, inasmuch as the subject apparatus is illustrated in connection with the dispensing of semi-solid pasty types of product such as waterless soap of a highly viscous nature, such product will not flow from the container. Therefore, the container may be inverted and then pushed downwardly over the follower 46 until the follower 46 contacts the body of product in the container, following which the container and follower may be forced downwardly until the bead 14- at the base of the container has been securely latched in engagement with the seat 8 of the cup-like body 1 by the latch means 7.

While the present invention has been specifically shown and described in relation to the dispensing of waterless soap type material or other highly viscous or semi-solid products, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that various features of the invention have application in the dispensing of other less viscous fluids upon obvious variations in the structural configuration of the present invention as herein illustrated, or in the mode of use thereof. Wherefore such modifications or alterations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Dispenser apparatus comprising: a receptacle; means connected to said receptacle including a discharge tube having a portion extending into said receptacle; means surrounding and slidable along said portion of said tube for forcing a product from the receptacle into said tube; normally closed valve means for controlling the discharge of product from said tube; and means operable in said portion of said tube responsive to movement of said valve means to open position for forcibly discharging a quantity of product from said tube through said valve means.

2. Dispenser apparatus comprising: a receptacle; means connected to said receptacle including a discharge tube having the major portion thereof extending into said receptacle; means slidable along the exterior of said portion of said tube for forcing a product from the receptacle into said tube; shiftable normally closed valve means for controlling the discharge of product from said tube; and means including a discharge piston slidable in said portion of said tube responsive to shifting of said valve means to open position for forcibly discharging a quantity of product from said tube through said valve means.

3. Dispenser apparatus comprising: a receptacle; means connected to said receptacle including a discharge tube having a portion extending into said receptacle; means slid-able along the exterior of said portion of said tube for forcing a product from the receptacle into said tube; shiftable normally closed valve means for controlling the discharge of product from said tube; and means including a discharge piston slidable in said portion of said tube responsive to shifting of said valve means to open position for forcibly discharging a quantity of product from said tube through said valve means; said piston having valve means therein.

4. Dispenser apparatus comprising: a receptacle for containing a product to be dispensed; means on said receptacle providing a discharge passage having a first portion disposed in said receptacle and a second portion leading from said receptacle; means in said receptacle movable along said first portion for forcing the product from said receptacle into said first portion; a discharge piston movable in said first portion for forcing said product from said passage upon movement of said piston in one direction; means for enabling said product to bypass said piston upon movement of the latter in the opposite direction; shiftable normally closed valve means; and means extending into said first portion for shifting said piston in opposite directions upon shifting of said valve means to open and closed positions, respectively.

5. Dispenser apparatus comprising: a receptac e for containing a product to be dispensed; means on which said receptacle is mounted including means defining a discharge passage having a first portion in said receptacle and a second portion leading from said receptacle; means carried by said first named means and operable in said receptacle for forcing the product therefrom into said first portion; a discharge piston movable in said first portion for forcing said product from said passage upon movement of said piston in one direction; means enabling said product to by-pass said piston upon movement of the latter in the opposite direction; shiftable normally closed valve means; and means for shifting said piston in opposite directions upon shifting of said valve means to open and closed positions, respectively.

6. Dispenser apparatus comprising: a receptacle for a product to be dispensed; means on said receptacle including means defining a discharge passage having a first portion in said receptacle and a second portion leading therefrom; means movable on said first portion for forcing said product from said receptacle into said first portion; a discharge piston movable in said first portion for forcing said product from said passage upon movement of said piston in one direction; means for enabling said product to by-pass said piston upon movement of the latter in the opposite direction; shiftable normally closed valve means; means for shifting said piston in opposite directions upon shifting of said valve means to open and closed positions, respectively; and stop means for limiting shifting of said valve means to control the volumetric displacement of said piston.

7. Dispenser apparatus comprising: a base; said base having a discharge passage; a tube connected at one end with said passage and having its other end disposed to be positioned in the upper portion of a container for a product to be dispensed; means operatively connected with said tube and movable in said container for forcing said product into said other end of said tube; a normally closed valve; means slidably mounting said valve on said base so as to open and close said discharge passage; discharge means in said tube for forcing a quantity of the product therefrom into said discharge passage when said valve is open; and means operatively interconnecting said discharge means and said valve to operate said discharge means upon shifting of said valve to open position.

8. Dispenser apparatus comprising: a normally closed valve; said valve including a plate having a discharge opening therethrough; discharge means operatively connected with said plate for forcing a quantity of a product to be dispensed through said opening; a slide shiftably carried by said plate and operable for opening and closing said discharge passage; operating means connecting said slide to said discharge means for operation in unison when said slide is moved to open said discharge opening; said operating means including a connector member carried by said slide; and said connector member having a portion projecting into a position for engagement with said plate to limit movement of said slide in one direction.

9. Dispenser apparatus comprising: a base for supporting a receptacle for a product to be dispensed; a tubular member on said base adapted to be disposed Within said receptacle; said base having a discharge passage in communication with said tubular member; means operatively associated with said tubu ar member movable when said tubular member is disposed in said receptacle for forcing a quantity of the product into said tubular member; discharge means in said tubular member for forcing a quantity of said product through said passage; normally closed valve means on said base for controlling the dispensing of said product from said discharge passage; said discharge means including a piston in said tubular member; said piston having an opening for passing said product past the piston; a valve stem extending through said piston and having a head at one side of the piston engageable with the latter to close said opening; stop means at the other side of said piston for permitting relative movement of said stem and said piston for opening and closing said opening; means in said tubular member normally maintaining said stop in engagement with said piston with said head spaced from said piston; and means for shifting said stem to effect engagement of said head with said piston and for thereafter shifting said piston in response to movement of said normally closed valve means to open position.

10. Dispenser apparatus comprising: a base having a discharge passage provided with an inlet and an outlet; means on said base for supporting thereon a receptacle from which a product is to be dispensed; a tube carried by and extending from said base so as to stand within the receptacle supported on the base; one end of said tube being open to receive the product; the other end of said tube being in communication with the inlet of said discharge passage; means surrounding and slidable along said tube for forcing the product from said receptacle into said one open end of said tube; normally closed valve means shiftably mounted on said base for movement to open and close said outlet; piston means within said tube; and a connector element extending through said base into said tube and connecting said piston means with said valve means for moving said piston means for forcibly discharging a quantity of said product from said tube through said passage and said outlet in response to movement of said valve means to open said outlet.

11. Dispenser apparatus comprising: a base having a discharge passage therethrough; said base having a neck; said discharge passage having an outlet in said base spaced from said neck; means on said base for supporting thereon a receptacle for the product to be dispensed with said neck extended into said receptacle; a tube having one end portion mounted on said neck so as to stand Within the receptacle; said tube having one end open for receiving the product; a portion of the bore of the tube being open alongside said neck to communicate said bore with said discharge passage; means surrounding and movable along said tube for forcing said product into said one open end of said tube; normally closed valve means on said base movable for opening and closing said outlet; piston means operable in said tube in outwardly spaced relation to said neck; and connector means extending through said neck and connected with said valve means for operating said piston means to force a quantity of said product through said bore of said tube, said passage and said outlet upon movement of said valve means to open said outlet.

12. Dispenser apparatus comprising: a base having a discharge passage therethrough; said base having on one side thereof a neck; said discharge passage having an outlet in said base spaced from said neck; means on said base for supporting thereon a receptacle for the product to be dispensed with said neck extended into said receptacle; a tube having one end portion mounted on said neck so as to stand within the receptacle; said tube having its other end open for receiving the product; a portion of the bore of the tube being open alongside said neck to communicate said bore with said discharge passage; means surrounding and movable along said tube for forcing said product into said one open end of said tube; valve means on said base movable for opening and closing said outlet; an annular piston operable in the bore of said tube and having a valve seat thereon; a valve member movable into and from engagement with said seat; a Stern on said valve member extending through said piston; said neck having a bore ther'ethrough in which said stem is slidable; means including a spring on said stem normally holding said valve member away from said seat; and connector means extended through said base into said bore of said neck and connecting said valve means with said stem; said connector means operating to seat said valve member and move said piston for discharging a quantity of said product from said tube through said discharge passage and said outlet in response to movement of said valve means to open said outlet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,648,593 Schatz Nov. 8, 1927 1,920,867 Kirk Aug. 1, 1933 2,317,872 Zimt Apr. 27, 1943 2,373,171 Daly Apr. 10, 1945 2 ,810,496 Gray Oct. 22, 1957 2,829,804 Muench et al Apr. 8, 1958

Images