Patent ID: 8668116
Filing Date: 2014-03-11
Classification: A47K,B05B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A refill unit for use in a product dispensing system including a dispenser housing having an actuating device that engages an actuating carriage, the refill unit comprising: a product reservoir; and a pump in fluid communication with said product reservoir, said pump including a flexible connecting member that is received by and engaged by the actuating carriage; wherein the flexible connecting member is a flared tip and comprises an elastomeric material, the flared tip is substantially conical in shape and the substantially conical portion of the flared tip is continuous; wherein the tip flares outward in the downward direction; and the flared tip deflects from its original conical shape to conform to an oval shape that allows the flared tip to pass through a funnel shaped lock ring having an oval-shaped opening and once past the oval-shaped opening, the flared tip returns to its original conical shape; and the flared tip is configured to engage the actuator carriage having an opening therethrough without expanding from its original substantially conical shape and the flared tip remains above the actuator carriage.