Patent ID: 9072411
Filing Date: 2015-07-07
Classification: A47K

Abstract:
1. A refill unit for a liquid dispenser, the refill unit comprising: a container for holding a liquid and comprising a neck portion; a manifold secured to the neck portion underneath the container, wherein the manifold comprises an air passage leading from an external environment of the refill unit to an air outlet from the manifold, and the manifold additionally comprises a liquid passage leading from an interior portion of the container; a gasket member located between the neck portion of the container and the manifold, wherein the gasket member comprises a flexible and resilient flap portion having a natural resilience tending to hold the flap portion in a rest position extending over and covering the manifold air outlet; an air tube which surrounds the manifold air outlet and the flexible and resilient flap portion above the manifold air outlet, and extends up into the container; wherein the natural resilience of the flexible and resilient flap portion is overcome by a minimum vacuum pressure generated in the container by liquid being dispensed from the container, such that the flexible and resilient flap portion moves from the rest position to an upright position above the manifold air outlet allowing air to enter the air tube from the external environment, until the vacuum pressure falls below the minimum pressure thus permitting the flexible and resilient flap portion to return to the rest position due to the natural resiliency of the flexible and resilient flap portion.