Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
  • A47K5/00—Holders or dispensers for soap, toothpaste, or the like
  • A47K5/14—Foam or lather making devices
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B11/00—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use
  • B05B11/01—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use characterised by the means producing the flow
  • B05B11/10—Pump arrangements for transferring the contents from the container to a pump chamber by a sucking effect and forcing the contents out through the dispensing nozzle
  • B05B11/1087—Combination of liquid and air pumps
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B11/00—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use
  • B05B11/01—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use characterised by the means producing the flow
  • B05B11/10—Pump arrangements for transferring the contents from the container to a pump chamber by a sucking effect and forcing the contents out through the dispensing nozzle
  • B05B11/1097—Pump arrangements for transferring the contents from the container to a pump chamber by a sucking effect and forcing the contents out through the dispensing nozzle with means for sucking back the liquid or other fluent material in the nozzle after a dispensing stroke
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B7/00—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas
  • B05B7/0018—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas with devices for making foam
  • B05B7/0025—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas with devices for making foam with a compressed gas supply
  • B05B7/0031—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas with devices for making foam with a compressed gas supply with disturbing means promoting mixing, e.g. balls, crowns
  • B05B7/0037—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas with devices for making foam with a compressed gas supply with disturbing means promoting mixing, e.g. balls, crowns including sieves, porous members or the like
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B7/00—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas
  • B05B7/0018—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas with devices for making foam
  • B05B7/0025—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas with devices for making foam with a compressed gas supply
  • B05B7/0031—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas with devices for making foam with a compressed gas supply with disturbing means promoting mixing, e.g. balls, crowns
  • B05B7/0043—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas with devices for making foam with a compressed gas supply with disturbing means promoting mixing, e.g. balls, crowns including a plurality of individual elements, e.g. needles, baffles, rotatable blades
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D23/00—Details of bottles or jars not otherwise provided for
  • B65D23/06—Integral drip catchers or drip-preventing means
  • B65D23/065—Loose or loosely-attached drip catchers or drip preventing means

Definitions

• This invention relates to dispensers and in particular anti-drip devices for dispensers that reduce the drip after operation.
• Liquid dispensers are almost ubiquitous, Liquid dispensers are found in many public restrooms, hospitals, restaurants and other establishments. More recently there has been a trend towards liquid dispensers which dispense foam. These dispensers have the distinct advantage of reducing the amount of liquid dispensed in each shot when compared to non-foaming dispensers. Many of these dispensers drip somewhat after use. This is particularly true for inverted dispensers, Generally the amount of drip is dependent on the type of dispenser and the viscosity of the liquid. .Accordingly, the drip problem is more of an issue with foam dispensers since the low viscosity soap that is used with foam dispensers is more prone to drip.
• the present invention relates to an anti-drip device for use in association with a liquid dispenser having a nozzle.
• the anti-drip device is adapted to fit into the nozzle.
• the device has an outer cross sectional dimension, an inner cross sectional dimension and an inner surface.
• the inner cross sectional dimension is the sum of a length of the inner surface and the inner surface is shaped such that the inner cross sectional dimension is larger than a length of the outer cross sectional dimension.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a nozzie with an anti-drip device of the present invention installed therein;
• Fig. 2 is a blown apart perspective view of the nozzle of figure 1 ;
• Fig, 3 is a perspective view of the anti-drip device as shown in figures 1 and 2;
• Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the anti-drip device of figure 3 with a porous member attached to one side thereof;
• Fig, 5 is a perspective view of a nozzle similar to that shown in figure 1 but showing an aiternate embodiment of the anti-drip device of the present invention installed therein;
• Fig, 6 is a perspective view of the anti-drip device as shown in figure 5;
• Fig. 7 is a perspective view of another aiternate view of an anti-drip device of the present invention.
• Fig. 8 is a broken away perspective view of the embodiment of the anti-drip device shown in figure 7 and a circuiar anti-drip device both positioned in a nozzle;
• Fig. 9 is a broken away perspective view of the embodiment of the anti-drip device shown in figure 6 and a circular anti-drip device positioned in a nozzle but in a different configuration than that shown in figure 8;
• Fig, 10 is a broken away perspective view of the embodime ⁇ i of the anti-drip device shown in figure 6 positioned in a nozzle;
• Fig. 11 is a broken away perspective view of the embodiment of the anti-drip device shown in figure 6 positioned in a nozzle but in a different configuration than that shown in figure 10;
• Fig. 12 is a broken away perspective view of the embodiment of the anti-drip device shown in figure 6 with a porous member attached thereto and a circular anti-drip device positioned in a nozzle in a configuration similar to that shown in figure 8
• Fig. 13 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of anti- drip device that is integrally formed in the nozzle;
• Fig, 14 is a broken away perspective view of the embodiment of the anti-drip device shown in figure 13;
• Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a soap dispenser including a nozzle and having a portion of the outer shell broken away;
• Fig, 16 is a side view of figure 15;
• FIg. 17 is a perspective view of an alternate soap dispenser
• Fig, i ⁇ is a perspective view of the nozzle portion of the dispenser of figure 17;
• Fig. 19 Is a perspective view of the nozzle portion of the dispenser of figures 17 and 18 but showing the anti-drip device separated therefrom.
• the nozzle is shown generally at 10.
• Nozzle 10 includes at least one anti-drip device 12 that may have a variety of different cross sectional configurations, some examples of which are shown hereafter.
• the common feature in all of the different configurations is that the anti-drip device includes inner walls that increase the surface area, in use, the anti-drip device provides a zone in the nozzle with an increased surface area. By increasing the surface area there is more surface for the liquid to cling to when the dispenser is not in use thereby reducing the likelihood of drips.
• Nozzie 10 includes an anti-drip device 12 that is positioned foam cone 14.
• a foam piston 20 is positioned in the foam cone 14 with a top hat valve 18 at one end thereof.
• the foam cone 14 is connected to a bottle seal 22 which is in turn connected to a collapsibie bottle 24 which is inside a dispenser 26 (shown in figures 15 and 18).
• a cap 28 is provided to seal the nozzie 10 particularly during transit.
• the anti-drip device 12 as best seen in figures 1 and 3 has an external surface 30 and inner wails which define an internal surface 32 (shown in figure 3).
• the cross sectional dimension of the external surface 30 corresponds with the internal cross sectional dimension of the exit portion 34 of the nozzie 10.
• the internal surface 32 has an increased surface area when compared to the external surface 30,
• the Inner surface includes an inner portion or ring 3 ⁇ bisected by Intersecting arms 38 forming a pattern referred to as a cruciform pattern.
• Anti-drip device 12 may have a porous member 40 attached thereto on one or both sides thereof. It, wii! be appreciated by those skilled in the art that there are a wide variety of different configurations that may be used for the internal surface in order to increase the surface area in at least one portion of the exit nozzle. Some alternate examples are shown in figures 6 and 7, However, clearly these configurations are just by way of example and many other configurations could also be used. As welt one or more anti-drip device may be used.
• FIGS 5 an ⁇ 8 show an alternate anti-drip device 50 wherein the inner surface 52 has different configuration.
• Inner surface 52 includes a central octagonally shaped ring or portion 54 with plurality of arms 58 extending between the centra! ring 54 and the outer portion of the anti-drip device.
• the arms 56 create shapes somewhat like a fat "T” 58 and a barn shape 60. However, it will be appreciated by those skiiied in the art that any suitable shapes may be used, In general the surface area created by the fat "T” 58 and the barn shape 60 are similar.
• Anti-drip device 82 has a plurality of arms 65 extending inwardly from the outer portion. As discussed above arms 62 serve to increase the surface area of the anti-drip device.
• the configuration of anti-drip device 62 is similar to anti-drip device 50 shown in figures 5 and 6 but not including the central ring 54.
• Figures 8 through 12 show different combinations of the anti-drip devices an ⁇ positions of the porous member 40 attached to the anti-drip device.
• Figure 8 shows anti-drip device 62 positioned in the foam cone 14 upstream of a plain insert 64.
• Plain insert has an outer cross sectional shape that is generally the same as its inner cross sectional shape.
• Plain insert 84 has a porous member 40 attached to the downstream side of the anti-drip device. No porous member is attached to anti-drip device 62.
• Anti-drip devices 62 and insert 64 are press fit into foam cone 14. in addition a detent 66 extends inwardiy from the inside of foam cone 14 to further hold anti-drip device 82 and plain insert 64 in place.
• Figure 9 shows a configuration wherein plain insert 64 with a porous member attached to the upstream side thereof is upstream of anti-drip device 50 which also has a porous member attached to the upstream side thereof.
• Figure 9 shows a configuration wherein plain insert 64 with a porous member
• FIG 10 shows a configuration wherein anti-drip device 50 with a porous member on the upstream end thereof is at the downstream end of foam cone 14.
• Figure 11 is similar to the configuration shown in figure 10 but anti-drip device 50 is at the upstream end of foam cone 14
• Figure 12 shows anti-drip device 50 with a porous member attached to the upstream end thereof upstream of plain insert 64 with a porous member attached to the down stream end thereof.
• the porous member 40 is gauze. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that in the configurations with more than one gauze attached to the anti-drip devices the gauze may have either the same gauge or a different gauge. Where a different gauge is used typically the upstream gauze will have a coarser gauge than the downstream gauze.
• anti-drip device 70 is integrally formed in foam cone 72.
• Anti-drip device 70 has a configuration similar to that of anti-drip device 50 shown in figures 5 and 6 but it is integrally formed as a portion of foam cone 72.
• Nozzle 10 described above is particularly of use with foam dispenser 28 shown in figures 15 and 18.
• Nozzle 10 is attached to collapsible bottle 24 housed in foam dispenser 28. It will be appreciated that this dispenser is included by way of exampie only and that the anti-drip device of the present invention could be used with a wide variety of liquid and foam dispensers. This dispenser has a self cleaning aspect that when the actuator 80 is reieased air is sucked back up through the nozzle.
• Another example of a foam dispenser that the anti-d ⁇ p device of the present may be use with is shown in figures 17 to 19.
• Anti-drip device 90 is press fit into the nozzle 92.
• Anti-drip device 90 has a honeycomb pattern 94 formed on the inside thereof to increase the surface area at the exit of the nozzle 92.
• the particular configuration of the anti-drip device or anti-drip devices and the position of the gauze will depend on the dispenser being used and the viscosity and other properties of the soap being dispensed. As well, the particular configuration chosen may depend on the method of manufacture that is chosen.
• the systems described herein are directed to anti-drip devices for use with liquid soap dispensers and in particular with foam dispensers.
• embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein.
• the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary, and it should be understood that the invention may he embodied in many various and alternative forms.
• the Figures are nol to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular elements while related elements may have been eliminated to prevent obscuring novel aspects. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
• the illustrated embodiments are directed to anti-drip devices.
• the terms “comprises” and “comprising” are to be construed as being inclusive and opened rather than exclusive. Specifically; when used in this specification including the claims, the terms “comprises”and “comprising” and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or components are included. The terms are not to he interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Nozzles (AREA)
• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
• Infusion, Injection, And Reservoir Apparatuses (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)

Priority Applications (6)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Cited By (1)

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Citations (5)

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• 2008
  • 2008-06-06 US US12/155,667 patent/US8104650B2/en active Active
• 2009
  • 2009-05-11 EP EP09757382.8A patent/EP2299885B1/en active Active
  • 2009-05-11 WO PCT/EP2009/055673 patent/WO2009146999A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2009-05-11 CA CA2726728A patent/CA2726728C/en active Active
  • 2009-05-11 JP JP2011512056A patent/JP5266382B2/ja active Active
  • 2009-05-11 PL PL09757382T patent/PL2299885T3/pl unknown
  • 2009-05-11 AU AU2009254079A patent/AU2009254079B2/en active Active

Patent Citations (5)

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