Abstract:
Exemplary dispensers and refill units having collapsible outlet tubes are disclosed herein. An exemplary refill unit includes a container, a pump having an outlet that is movable in a reciprocating motion and a flexible tube. A first end of the flexible tube is in fluid communication with the outlet of the pump and a second end connectable to a dispenser. When the second end is connected to a dispenser, the second end is stationary and movement of the pump outlet away from the second end causes the pump to dispense fluid and movement of the pump outlet toward the second end causes the flexible tube to collapse.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to and the benefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/931,998 filed on Jan. 27, 2014 and entitled “DISPENSERS AND REFILL UNITS HAVING COLLAPSIBLE OUTLET TUBES,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to liquid dispenser systems and more particularly to dispensers and refill units that have collapsible outlet tubes. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Liquid dispenser systems, such as liquid soap and sanitizer dispensers, provide a user with an amount of liquid upon actuation of the dispenser. Often times after a dispenser dispenses a dose of fluid, and in particular, fluid in the form of foam, and the user moves her hands away from the outlet, residual liquid or foam drips from the outlet nozzle. In addition, fluid often dries in the outlet of dispensers and refill units that are not used frequently due to air contacting the residual fluid in the outlet. Embodiments of the present invention provide an economical solution that prevents or minimizes dripping and drying out of residual fluid in the outlet. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Exemplary dispensers and refill units having collapsible outlet tubes are disclosed herein. An exemplary refill unit includes a container, a pump having an outlet that is movable in a reciprocating motion and a flexible tube. A first end of the flexible tube is in fluid communication with the outlet of the pump and a second end connectable to a dispenser. When the second end is connected to a dispenser, the second end is stationary and movement of the pump outlet away from the second end causes the pump to dispense fluid and movement of the pump outlet toward the second end causes the flexible tube to collapse. 
         [0005]    Another exemplary refill unit includes a container, a pump having an outlet that moves in an upward motion to dispense fluid and moves to a downward position during a resting state. The exemplary refill unit includes a flexible tube. A first end of the flexible tube connected to the outlet of the pump and a second end connectable to a dispenser. When the second end is connected to a dispenser, the second end is stationary movement of the pump outlet away from the second end opens a path through the flexible tube to dispense fluid and movement of the pump outlet toward the second end causes the flexible tube to close. 
         [0006]    An exemplary dispenser includes a housing, an actuator, a container, a pump and a flexible tube. The pump has an outlet that is movable in an upward motion to dispense fluid and moves to a downward position during a resting state. A first end of the flexible tube connected to the outlet of the pump and a second end connectable to a stationary portion of the housing. Movement of the pump outlet away from the second end opens a path through the flexible tube to dispense fluid and movement of the pump outlet toward the second end causes the flexible tube to pinch itself closed in one or more locations. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description and accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary liquid dispenser having a refill unit with a flexible outlet tube collapsed in a resting state; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary liquid dispenser having a refill unit with the flexible outlet tube expanded in a dispensing state. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a dispenser  100 . The cross-section of  FIG. 1  is taken through the housing  102  to show the pump  120  and container  116 . Dispenser  100  includes a disposable refill unit  110 . The disposable refill unit  110  includes a container  116  connected to pump  120  and a flexible outlet tube  150 . The dispenser  100  may be a wall-mounted system, a counter-mounted system, an un-mounted portable system movable from place to place or any other kind of liquid dispenser system. In some embodiments, dispenser  100  is a foam dispenser and pump  120  is a foam pump. Exemplary foam pumps are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,272,539 filed on Dec. 3, 2008 and entitled Angled Slot Foam Dispenser, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In some embodiments, pump  120  is a liquid pump. An exemplary liquid pump is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,002,150 filed on Jul. 30, 2007 and entitled Split Engagement Flange For Soap Dispenser Pump Piston, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Although the pumps shown and disclosed herein have an outlet the moves vertically, pumps having outlets that move horizontally may also be used with the inventive concepts disclosed herein. 
         [0011]    The container  116  forms a liquid reservoir that contains a supply of foamable liquid within the disposable refill unit  110 . In various embodiments, the contained liquid could be, for example, a soap, a sanitizer, a cleanser, a disinfectant. In the exemplary disposable refill unit  110 , the container  116  is a non-collapsible container and can be made of thin plastic or like material. The container  116  may advantageously be refillable, replaceable or both refillable and replaceable. 
         [0012]    In the event the liquid stored in the container  116  of the installed disposable refill unit  110  runs out, or the installed refill unit  110  otherwise has a failure, the installed refill unit  110  may be removed from the foam dispenser  100 . The empty or failed disposable refill unit  110  may then be replaced with a new disposable refill unit  110 . 
         [0013]    The housing  102  of the dispenser  100  contains one or more actuating members  104  to activate the pump  120 . As used herein, actuator or actuating members or mechanisms include one or more parts that cause the dispenser  100  to move liquid, air or foam. Actuator  104  is generically illustrated because there are many different kinds of pump actuators which may be employed in the foam dispenser  100 . The actuator  104  of the foam dispenser  100  may be any type of actuator such as, for example, a manual lever, a manual pull bar, a manual push bar, a manual rotatable crank, an electrically activated actuator or other means for actuating the pump  120 . Electronic actuators may additionally include a sensor  132  for detecting the presence of an object and to provide for a hands-free dispenser system with touchless operation. Various intermediate linkages, such as for example linkage  105 , connect the actuator member  104  to the pump  120  within the system housing  102 . An aperture  115  is located in bottom plate  103  of housing  102  and allows liquid dispensed from the nozzle  125  of pump  120  to be dispensed to a user. 
         [0014]    Dispenser housing  102  includes a tube retention member  162 . Tube retention member  162  may be any type of retention member that provides for a releasable connection to flexible outlet tube  150 . In the exemplary embodiment, tube retention member  162  is a c-shaped spring clip. 
         [0015]    Flexible tube  150  may be made of a flexible material, such as, for example, polypropylene, styrene, vinyl, cellophane, water resistant paper, polyethylene, latex, santoprene, thermoplastic rubber, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, silicone, and the like. In some embodiments, flexible tube  150  is made of material that is similar to the material used to make drinking straws. In some embodiments, flexible tube  150  is made of an elastomer. Flexible tube  150  has a thin wall. In some embodiments the thin wall has a thickness of between about 0.0005 and about 0.090 inches. 
         [0016]    Flexible tube  150  includes a first end  152  that is connected to, and in fluid communication with, the outlet  122  of pump  120 . Flexible tube  150  may be connected to outlet  122  by any means, such as, for example, a friction fit, and adhesive, welding, and the like. In addition, an intermediary part (not shown) may be used to connect end  152  to outlet  122 . In addition, flexible tube  150  has a second end  154  that is connectable to retention member  162  of housing  102 . In this exemplary embodiment, fitting  160  is secured to second end  154  of flexible tube  150 . Fitting  160  is a rigid plastic fitting that releasably snaps into and out of the spring clip. In some embodiments, fitting  160  has a barb (not shown) for connecting to second end  154  of flexible outlet tube  150 . In addition, in some embodiments, fitting  160  includes one or more ridges (not shown) that are located on a side of the retention member  162  to prevent fitting  160  from pulling up out of retention member  162  or down through retention member  162 . 
         [0017]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , actuator  1054  is in its downward most position, or in its rest state. When actuator  104  is in is downward most position, flexible tube  150  is in a collapsed state. In the collapsed state of this exemplary embodiment, flexible tube  150  has two pinch points  156 ,  158  where the flexible tube  150  is collapsed. The two pinch points  156 ,  158  define a reservoir  159  there between in which residual fluid in the flexible tube  150  is trapped. The two pinch points  156 ,  158  seal off the outlet  122  of pump  120  from the atmosphere and prevent or limit drying of residual fluid in the outlet. In some embodiments, more than two pinch points are created. In some embodiments, only one pinch point is created in the rest state. In some embodiments, the one or more pinch points occur at a predetermined flex point(s). 
         [0018]      FIGS. 2  illustrate pump  120  in a dispensing or dispensed state with actuator  104  in its upward most position. In this position, flexible tube  150  is substantially straight. 
         [0019]    In addition to preventing drying of residual fluid and dripping, in some embodiments, flexible tube  150  is at an angle when it is extended. Accordingly, flexible tube  150  allows fluid that is dispensed out of the second end  154  of flexible tube  150  to be offset from the outlet  122  of pump  120 . The offset outlet of second end  154  allows for better positioning of the fluid on a user&#39;s hand. For example, the outlet of second end  154  may be further away from the back of dispenser  100  than would be possible if the fluid was simply dispensed out of outlet  122 . 
         [0020]    During operation, actuator  104  drives linkage  105  which engages engagement member  125  and moves the piston  127  upward. Outlet  122  of pump  120  also moves upward straightening out flexible tube  150 . Fluid in pump  120  is forced out of outlet  122  and through flexible tube  150  and is dispensed out of second end  154 . When actuator  104  moves downward, flexible tube  150  bends or creases at pinch points  156 ,  158  sealing off reservoir  159  and outlet  122 . Because flexible tube  150  is part of refill unit  110 , the flexible tube  150  need only flex and pinch enough times to dispense the contents of the refill unit  110  and then it is replaced. Thus, material fatigue and cracking of flexible tube  150  avoided. In some embodiments, the flexible tube stretches during movement of the pump outlet away from the second end  160  of the flexible tub  150 . 
         [0021]    While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of embodiments thereof and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention, in its broader aspects, is not limited to the specific details, the representative apparatus and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant&#39;s general inventive concept. 
         [0022]    While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of embodiments thereof and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention, in its broader aspects, is not limited to the specific details, the representative apparatus and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant&#39;s general inventive concept.