Manual dispensers requiring lower force to operate

Exemplary embodiments of manual dispensers and actuating mechanisms are disclosed herein. An exemplary dispenser includes a housing, a receptacle for receiving a container of fluid and an actuating mechanism for causing fluid to be dispensed from the container. The actuation mechanism has a first pivot arm having a pivot point on a first end and a cam on a second end and a second pivot arm having a pivot point a first end and a curved contact surface on a second end. The actuating mechanism includes a pushbar. One of the first and second pivot members is connected to the pushbar. When the pushbar is pushed inward, the cam is configured to travel along the curved contact surface. Movement of the cam along the curved contact surface moves the engagement mechanism upward and downward in a substantially linear motion when the engagement mechanism is connected to a pump to cause the pump to prime with fluid and dispense the fluid.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to manual dispensers and more particularly to manual dispensers with improved actuating mechanisms that require a low force to operate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Liquid dispenser systems, such as liquid soap and sanitizer dispensers, provide a user with a predetermined amount of liquid upon actuation of the dispenser. In addition, it is sometimes desirable to dispense the liquid in the form of foam by, for example, injecting air into the liquid to create a foamy mixture of liquid and air bubbles. Often times the dispenser systems are hung on a wall and, accordingly, it is preferable to reduce the space taken up by the pumping and foaming apparatus as well as the overall footprint of the dispenser system. Unfortunately reducing the size of the dispenser creates a problem with pushbar actuated manual dispensers because a shorter pushbar results in less leverage, which results in higher forces to operate the dispenser. It is desirable to have a dispenser with a small footprint that requires less energy to operate.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments of manual dispensers and actuating mechanisms are disclosed herein. An exemplary dispenser includes a housing, a receptacle for receiving a container of fluid and an actuating mechanism for causing fluid to be dispensed from the container. The actuating mechanism has a first pivot arm having a pivot point on a first end and a cam on a second end and a second pivot arm having a pivot point a first end and a curved contact surface on a second end. The actuating mechanism includes a pushbar. One of the first and second pivot members is connected to the pushbar. When the pushbar is pushed inward, the cam is configured to travel along the curved contact surface. Movement of the cam along the curved contact surface moves the engagement mechanism upward and downward in a substantially linear motion when the engagement mechanism is connected to a pump to cause the pump to prime with fluid and dispense the fluid.

Another exemplary manual dispenser includes a housing, a receptacle for receiving a container of fluid and an actuating mechanism for causing fluid to be dispensed from the container. The actuation mechanism includes a first pivot arm having a pivot point on a first end and a cam on a second end. The first pivot arm is connected to one of the front portion and rear portion of the dispenser. The actuating mechanism also includes a second pivot arm having a pivot point on a first end and a curved contact surface on a second end. The second pivot arm is connected to the other of the front portion and rear portion of the dispenser. The actuating mechanism also includes a pushbar. One of the first and second pivot members is connected to the pushbar. An engagement mechanism having a connector for connecting to one of the first pivot member and the second pivot member is also included. The engagement member has an receptacle for receiving a pump. When the pushbar is pushed inward, the cam is configured to travel along the curved contact surface. Movement of cam along the curved contact surface moves the engagement mechanism upward and downward to dispense fluid and to prime the pump.

Another exemplary manual dispenser includes a housing, a receptacle for receiving a container of fluid and an actuating mechanism for causing fluid to be dispensed from the container. The actuation mechanism includes a first pivot arm having a pivot point on a first end and a cam on a second end. A second pivot arm is included and it has a pivot point a first end and a curved contact surface on a second end. The actuator includes a pushbar formed as a part of one of the first pivot arm and the second pivot arm. The pushbar rotates about the same pivot point as one of the first pivot arm and the second pivot arm. When the pushbar moves the cam is configured to travel along the curved contact surface to dispense fluid or prime the pump.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1is a partial cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a dispenser100having a pushbar110and a novel actuation mechanism103with a portion of the housing102has been removed. Dispenser100includes a refill unit104. Refill unit104includes a container106having a pump208(FIG. 2) for dispensing fluid. Dispenser100includes a housing102. The housing102of the exemplary dispenser100slides downward to facilitate inserting and removal of a refill unit106by first pushing in pushbutton(s)124. For additional detail on an exemplary housing dispenser, see U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 15/281,832 titled SLIDE OPEN REFILLABLE DISPENSER, which was filed on Sep. 31, 2016 and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Housing102includes a cover plate120which also forms part of opening520that receives the foam pump208of refill unit104. Plate120connects to member122. Dispenser100includes a pushbar110that has a pivot point111. Pivot point111is secured to the front portion of the dispenser, such as for example, member122and allows for pivotal motion of pushbar110. In some embodiments, pivot point111is secured to from portion of housing102. Pushbar110includes a first pivot arm114. First pivot arm114includes a curved contact surface116, which will be described in more detail below.

Dispenser102also includes a second pivot arm120that is attached to the rear portion of the dispenser housing102, such as for example, at pivot point122. Second pivot arm120includes a cam126that rides on curved contact surface116. Cam126is shown as a cylindrical projection, however, cam126may have any configuration provided that rides along the curved contact surface116. As pushbar110moves inward, the curved contact surface116of first pivot arm114moves upward. The upward movement of curved contact surface116causes cam126to move upward and travel along the curved contact surface116causing second pivot arm120to move upward.

FIG. 2is a cross-sectional view of dispenser100showing pump208connected container106forming refill unit104. Pump208includes a nozzle210and flange212. Connected to the second pivot arm120is an engagement mechanism220, which is better shown inFIGS. 5 and 6. Engagement mechanism220includes an annular groove222that releasably engages with flanged212when refill unit104is installed in dispenser housing102. Accordingly upward and downward movement of engagement mechanism220causes upward and downward movement of flange222, which operates pump208. In this exemplary embodiment, upward movement of flange222dispenses fluid out of outlet210and downward movement of flange222primes pump208. In some exemplary embodiments, cam126is on the first pivot arm114and the curved contact surface116is on second pivot arm120.

FIG. 3is a partial cross-sectional view of a similar exemplary embodiment of a dispenser300having a pushbar310and a novel actuation mechanism303with a portion of the housing302removed. Novel actuating mechanism303is shown in the rest position. The housing302of the exemplary dispenser300slides downward to facilitate inserting and removal of a refill unit by first pushing in one or more pushbuttons (not shown).

Housing302includes a cover plate320which also forms part of opening520(FIG. 5) that receives the foam pump208of a refill unit (not shown). Plate320connects to member322. Dispenser300includes a pushbar310that has a pivot point311on the front portion of the dispenser300. In some embodiments, pivot point311is secured to member322and allows for pivotal motion of pushbar310. In some embodiments, pivot point311is secured to a front portion of housing302. Pushbar310includes a first pivot arm314. First pivot arm314includes a curved contact surface316, which will be described in more detail below.

Dispenser302includes a second pivot arm320that is attached to dispenser housing302at pivot point322. Second pivot arm320includes a cam326that travels along curved contact surface316. In some exemplary embodiments, cam326is on the first pivot arm314and the curved contact surface316is on second pivot arm320. Cam326is shown as a cylindrical projection, however, cam326may have any configuration provided that rides along the curved contact surface316.

As pushbar310moves inward (illustrated inFIG. 4), the curved contact surface316of first pivot arm314moves upward. The upward movement of curved contact surface316causes cam326to move upward and travel along the curved contact surface316causing second pivot arm320to move upward.

FIGS. 5 and 6are partial cross-sections of dispenser300. As can be seen inFIG. 5, there is an opening520for receiving portion of refill unit. In this exemplary embodiment, engagement mechanism502includes slots504. Slots504fit over annular projections396which are located on the end of second pivot320. As second pivot arm320moves upward, engagement mechanism502moves upward as well and because engagement mechanism502is connected to the end of the pump (not shown) which moves in linear directions (upward and downward), engagement mechanism502moves in a linear direction upward and downward. Other types of connections may be used provided that they allow movement of the engagement mechanism502in a linear direction even though second pivot arm320and cam396do not move in a linear direction.

FIG. 7illustrates an exemplary pivot arm700. Pivot arm700includes a curved contact surface704. Curved contact surface704has a first portion706and the second portion708. First portion706is gradually curved upward, and second portion708has a steeper upward curve. In some exemplary embodiments, curved contact surface704has more than two portions. In some exemplary embodiments, curved contact surface704has less than two portions.

FIG. 8illustrates an exemplary pivot arm800. Pivot arm800includes a curved contact surface804. Curved contact surface804gradually curves upward. In this exemplary embodiment, the entire curved contact surface804is a continual curve.

FIG. 9illustrates another exemplary pivot arm900. Pivot arm900includes a curved contact surface904. Curved contact surface904has a first portion906and the second portion908. First portion906has a flat or mild curve upward, and second portion708has a steeper upward curve. In some exemplary embodiments, curved contact surface904has more than two portions. In some exemplary embodiments, curved contact surface904has less than two portions.

FIG. 10illustrates an exemplary pivot arm1000. Pivot arm1000includes a curved contact surface1004. Curved contact surface1004has a first portion1006and the second portion1008. First portion1006is gradually curved upward, and second portion1008is linear. In some exemplary embodiments, curved contact surface1004has more than two portions. In some exemplary embodiments, curved contact surface1004has less than two portions.

In some embodiments, when the pivot members initially start moving upward, the cam travels along the gradual curve and once the pivot members start moving the curve gets steeper and moves it engagement mechanism at a quicker rate. In some exemplary embodiments, this allows for a lower force initially to start the movement of the pivot arms, while still generating enough travel to dispense a full dose of fluid. The type of curve can be a compound curve, a complex curve a straight line, it may have multiple curved portions. In some embodiments the first curved portion has a different slope then the second curved portion. In some embodiments, the curved surface may be a combination of two or more differently sloped surfaces.

In the exemplary embodiments, preferably the load required to push the pushbar is 5 pounds or less. In some embodiments, the initial force required to push the pushbar is about 5 pounds and then the force required to move the pushbar decreases. In some embodiments, the initial force required to push the pushbar is less than 5 pounds and increases to about 5 pounds. In some embodiments, the force required to push the pushbar remains at about 5 pounds throughout the travel pushbar in some embodiments, and in some embodiments, the force needed to push the pushbar is less than 5 pounds through a selected portion of the pushbar travel. In some embodiments, the selected portion of the pushbar travel that requires 5 pounds or less, is about 75% of the total pushbar travel. In some embodiments, the selected portion of the pushbar travel that requires 5 pounds or less, is about 60% of the total pushbar travel. In some embodiments, the selected portion of the pushbar travel that requires 5 pounds or less, is about 50% of the total pushbar travel.4

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 applicants 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. Moreover, elements described with one embodiment may be readily adapted for use with other embodiments. 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 applicants' general inventive concept.