LIQUID SOAP DISPENSING SYSTEM

Abstract: A liquid soap dispensing system (20) includes a molded plastic housing (30) adapted to receive a disposable refill cart­ ridge (90) containing liquid soap. Rails (36) on the housing engage in recesses (100) on the cartridge to guide vertical movement of the cartridge to its mounted use position, in which position it is latched by a latch member (61) pivotally carried by the housing and engageable with the outlet neck of the cartridge. The neck carries a compressible discharge nipple (110) engageable by a pump member (80) actuated by a handle (51) for discharging soap. Bias means (60) holds the latch means in its latched condition and the pump member and handle in their normal rest positions. The dispenser inclu­ des a minimal number of parts which can be assembled without the use of fasteners. A key (75) is provided for releas­ ing the latch member to permit removal of a spent cartridge.

Description: The present invention relates to apparatus for dispensing liquid soap, normally in discrete small quantities or charges. Such dispensing apparatus is used, particularly for hygienic purposes, in public or institutional washrooms or the like or wherever there are a relatively large number of different users. One prior type of soap dispenser utilizes a container or cartridge of liquid soap which is removably mounted on a dispensing apparaatus so that it can be replaced by another cartridge when it is empty. An example of such a soap dispenser is disclosed in Au-B-516,507, which discloses a dispenser which includes a mounting bracket having an attachment portion adapted to be secured to a support surface and a support portion which supports the refillable soap container. A cover encloses the refill opening of the container and the cartridge securing mechanism to prevent unauthorized access to the refill opening or unauthorized removal of the soap container. The cover is lockable to the mounting bracket by a locking mechanism container in the cover. However, this soap dispenser has a complicated mounting arrangement which requires that a mounting flange of the container rest on support fingers of the mounting bracket, that rectangular projections of the container be received in cutouts in the mounting bracket and that forwardly extending side flanges of the mounting bracket be received in rearwardly opening recesses in the container real wall. Also, a downwardly extending projecting retainer plate of the mounting bracket has a bottom edge which must be received in a transverse groove in the upper surface of the container. Moreover, the requirement for a lockable cover to protect against unauthorized access to the refill opening of the container or unauthorized removal of the container adds to the cost of the container and complicates service and/or replacement because a key is required to lock and unlock the access cover. From EP-A-0 103 675, there is known a liquid soap dispensing system including a soap container having a pair of elongated recesses formed therein which recesses slidably receive retaining rails of a mounting bracket for cooperation therewith to permit vertical movement of the soap container to and from its use position while preventing any other movement of the cartridge. However, no locking mechanism is provided to secure the soap container to the mounting bracket, an undesirable feature in applications where the dispensing system is susceptible to tampering. Also, no provision is made for concealing the mounting bracket making the soap dispensing system unattractive from an aesthetic standpoint. From FR-A-2365997, there is known a soap dispensing system including a soap cartridge mountable on a support member, the cartridge having a stepped lower peripheral edge which cooperates with the upper edge of its support member so that the front and side surfaces of the soap cartridge are flush with corresponding surfaces of the support member. However, this unit does not include any latching mechanism to prevent unintended removal of the cartridge from the support member. Bases on the foregoing, the prior art portion of Claim 1 herein is based on Au-B-516507 and the prior art portion of Claim 12 herein is based on FR-A-2365997. Summary of the Invention It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved liquid soap dispensing system which avoids the disadvantages of prior dispensing apparatus while affording additional structural and operating advantages. An important object of the invention is the provision of a liquid soap dispensing system which is of simple and economical construction, characterized by a minimal number of parts and great ease of assembly. Another object of the invention is the provision of a dispensing system of the type set forth, which utilizes a disposable refill cartridge and which is characterized by ease and simplicity of mounting and demounting of the cartridge. Another object of the invention is the provision of a disposable cartridge for use in such a dispensing system. According to a first aspect there is provided a liquid soap dispensing system comprising a dispenser adapted to be mounted on an associated support surface, the dispenser including a housing having a base and a pair of upstanding retaining rails thereon, a liquid soap cartridge removably mountable on the dispenser for cooperation therewith to control the dispensing of liquid soap therefrom the cartridge including a container having outlet means thereon said container being adapted to be seated on said base in a use position for said cartridge with said outlet means disposed downwardly, and a discharge mechanism carried by said base for movement between a normal retracted configuration and an actuating configuration to operate said outlet means for dispensing liquid soap from said cartridge, characterized by said container having a pair of elongated recesses formed therein said recesses slidably receiving said retaining rails therein for cooperation therewith to permit vertical movement of said cartridge to and from its use position while preventing any other movement of said cartridge, by said outlet means including a keeper portion, and by latch means carried by said housing for movement between a latching condition, engageable with said keeper portion for latching said cartridge in a dispensing position on the housing preventing vertical movement of said cartridge, and an unlatching condition which permits vertical movement of the cartridge from its use position. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a disposable liquid soap cartridge removably mountable on a dispenser for cooperation therewith to control the dispensing of liquid soap from the soap cartridge the cartridge including a closed container having a bottom wall portion, a rear wall portion and two opposed side wall portions outlet means in said bottom wall portion, defining an outlet opening for the container, the outlet means including a nozzle formed integrally with the bottom wall of the container and projecting downwardly therefrom defining the outlet opening and a compressible nipple secured to the nozzle, closing the outlet opening, said container being adapted to be seated on said base in a use position for said cartridge with said outlet means disposed downwardly, characterized by said container having a pair of elongated recesses formed therein said recesses slidably receiving upstanding vertical retaining rails (36) of the dispenser for cooperation therewith to permit vertical movement of said cartridge to and from its dispensing position while preventing any other movement of said cartridge, said outlet means including a keeper portion engageable with a latch means carried by said dispenser for latching said cartridge in a dispensing position on the dispenser preventing vertical movement of said cartridge. For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the invention, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a soap dispensing system, constructed in accordance with and embodying the features of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an enlarged, exploded, perspective view, with portions broken away, of the discharge assembly of the soap dispensing system of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a further enlarged, fragmentary view in vertical section taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1, and illustrating the discharge assembly in its normal rest configuration; FIG. 4 is a view in horizontal section taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a view in horizontal section taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. 3; FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view with portions removed, taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 3; FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view of the lower right-hand portion of FIG. 3, illustrating the discharge assembly in its actuating configuration; FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the relationship between the disposable cartridge and the dispenser of the dispensing system of FIG. 1; FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the disposable cartridge of FIG. 8; FIG. 10 is a rear elevational view of the disposable cartridge of FIG. 9; FIG. 11 is a view in horizontal section taken along the line 11-11 in FIG. 9; FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of the disposable cartridge of FIG. 9; and FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the lower front portion of the dispensing system of FIG. 1, partially in side elevation and partially in section, illustrating the latch member in its unlatched position. Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to FIGS. 1 and 8, there is illustrated a soap dispensing system, generally designated by the numeral 20, constructed in accordance with and embodying the features of the present invention. The soap dispensing system 20 comprises a dispenser 25 adapted to be mounted on an associated support surface 21, such as on a wall 22 and, more particularly, in a recess 23 therein (see FIGS. 3 and 4), and a disposable cartridge 90 which contains a supply of liquid soap and is removably mountable on the dispenser 25 for cooperation therewith to control the dispensing of liquid soap therefrom. Referring also to FIGS. 3 through 6, the dispenser 25 includes a housing 30, which is preferably of unitary, one-piece construction and may be formed of molded plastic. The housing 30 includes a flat rectangular base wall 31 and an upstanding rectangular mounting wall 32 integral with the base wall 31 at the rear edge thereof and disposed substantially perpendicular thereto. The mounting wall 32 may have fastener holes 33 therethrough for receiving associated fasteners (not shown), securely to mount the housing 30 on the associated support surface 21. Integral with the base wall 31 and extending upwardly therefrom along the front and side edges thereof is a continuous peripheral flange 34. Side flanges 35 are respectively integral with the side edges of the mounting wall 32 and project forwardly therefrom to join the peripheral flange 34. Respectively integral with the side flanges 35 at the forward or distal edges thereof, and projecting laterally inwardly therefrom substantially parallel to the mounting wall 32, are two retaining rails 36, each extending the entire length of the mounting wall 32 to the base wall 31. Integral with the base wall 31 and with the mounting wall 32 and substantially perpendicular to each are a pair of laterally spaced-apart, upstanding support plates 37, respectively provided with laterally aligned bearing notches 38 in the upper edges thereof (see FIG. 3). Formed in the base wall 31 is an elongated, generally rectangular opening 39 (FIGS. 3 and 4) which extends laterally between the support plates 37, the opening 39 having a rearwardly extending rectangular arm 39a and having an arcuate forward end. Integral with the housing 30 is a receptacle 40 having a peripheral wall 41 which lines the forward portion of the opening 39, the peripheral wall 41 having an arcuate front end and parallel side portions, which side portions are respectively parallel to the support plates 37 and are integral with the inner surfaces thereof at the front ends thereof. The peripheral wall 41 projects above and below the base wall 31 and is closed at its lower end by a bottom wall 42 which is disposed substantially parallel to the base wall 31. The bottom wall 42 has a circular opening 43 therein adjacent to the forward end thereof, and a generally T-shaped slot 44 therethrough (FIG. 3) just rearwardly of the circular opening 43. Respectively formed in the side portions of the peripheral wall 41 below the base wall 31 are two laterally aligned circular pivot openings 45 (see FIG. 5). Integral with the rear ends of the side portions of the peripheral wall 41 and projecting laterally inwardly therefrom are two rear flanges 46, each having a notch or recess 47 at the lower end thereof. A stop web 48 laterally spans the side portions of the peripheral wall 41, extending a slight distance above and below the base wall 31, the web 48 having a rectangular notch 48a (FIG. 6) in the lower edge thereof. A rectangular stop web 49 is disposed substantially parallel to the stop web 48 and defines a chord across the arcuate front end of the peripheral wall 41, the upper edges of the stop webs 48 and 49 lying substantially in a common horizontal plane. Referring now also to FIGS. 2, 7 and 13, the dispenser 25 also includes a discharge assembly 50 which is removably mounted in the housing 30. The discharge assembly 50 includes a handle 51 comprising a rectangular plate 52 provided at its upper end with an inclined portion 53, which is in turn provided at its distal end with laterally outwardly extending cylindrical pivot lugs 54. In use, the handle 51 is adapted to be dropped into the housing 30 between the support plates 37 and through the opening 39 in the base wall 31, the pivot lugs 54 being respectively received in the bearing notches 38 for pivotally supporting the handle 51 for movement between actuating and retracted positions. The plate 52 has a width slightly less than the width of the opening 39, so that the base wall 31 at the rear end of the opening 39 and the rear flanges 46 of the receptacle 40 provide rear and front stops to limit the pivotal movement of the handle 51. Formed in the front surface of the plate 52 is a rectangular recess 55, in the lower end of which is formed a rectangular slot 56 which extends through the thickness of the plate 52 midway between the side edges thereof and in position so as to be disposed below the base wall 31 when the handle 51 is disposed in its mounted condition in the housing 30. The discharge assembly 50 also includes a bias unit 60 which comprises a latch member 61 and a bias leaf 70. The latch member 61 is generally in the form of a clevis having a pair of parallel, spaced-apart arms 62, respectively provided with angled feet 63, at the lower ends thereof. The feet 63 are respectively provided with laterally outwardly extending circularly cylindrical pivot lugs 64, each having a substantially square key socket 65 formed in the outer end thereof, which may extend laterally completely therethrough. Each of the feet 63 is also provided on its inner surface with a bearing boss 66. The arms 62 are interconnected at their upper ends by a bight portion 67 provided with a forwardly extending latch flange 68 having a part frustoconical cam surface 69 thereon. The latch member 61 is dimensioned to fit within the receptacle 40 with the arms 62 respectively disposed along the inner surfaces of the side portions of the peripheral wall 41. For mounting, the arms 62 are resiliently deflected together to permit the pivot lugs 64 to clear the inner surfaces of the peripheral wall 41, and then the latch member 61 is lowered into the receptacle 40 until the pivot lugs 64 respectively snap out into the pivot openings 45, pivotally to mount the latch member 61. The length of the arms 62 is such that when the latch member 61 is in this mounted condition, the latch flange 68 is disposed a predetermined distance above the upper end of the receptacle 40. The bias leaf 70 comprises a thin, flat, rectangular band which is formed of a suitable flexible and resilient material, such as a suitable plastic. One end of the bias leaf 70 is fixedly secured to the rear surface of the bight portion 67 of the latch member 61 by suitable means (not shown). The bias leaf 70 is fabricated with a predetermined curvature therein, and is provided with a curved tip 72 at its distal end which has a rectangular slot 73 therethrough for a purpose to be explained more fully below. There is also provided a key 75 having a lug 76 thereon which is disposed for mating engagement in one of the key sockets 65 to effect manual rotation of the latch member 61 about the axis of the pivot lugs 64, for a purpose which will be explained below. The discharge assembly 50 also includes a pump member 80, which is generally in the shape of a rectangular, box-like, open-top frame. More particularly, the pump member 80 includes a pair of parallel rectangular side walls 81 interconnected, respectively, at the forward and rearward ends thereof by a front bearing wall 82 and a rear wall 83. The rear wall 83 has an extension portion 84 which projects upwardly above the upper edges of the side walls 81 and is provided with a forwardly extending pin 85. Integral with the outer or rear surface of the rear wall 83 is a rearwardly extending rectangular positioning lug 86. The side walls 81 are interconnected at the lower edges thereof, intermediate the front and rear ends thereof by a rectangular bottom web 87. The pump member 80 is dimensioned so that it can fit between the notches 47 of the receptacle rear flanges 46, through the notch 48a in the stop web 48 and between the bearing bosses 66 of latch member 61 for reciprocating siding movement forwardly and rearwardly along the bottom wall 42 of the receptacle 40 between pumping and release positions. It is a significant aspect of the present invention that the parts of the discharge assembly 50, viz., the handle 51, the bias unit 60 and the pump member 80, can be quickly and easily assembled with the housing 30 without the use of tools and, when thus assembled, will cooperate with each other and with the housing 30 to retain the discharge assembly 50 in the housing 30 and prevent accidental removal thereof. More specifically, during assembly, the latch member 61 is first mounted in the receptacle 40 in the manner described above. When thus mounted, the latch flange 68 will extend forwardly and the bias leaf 70 will extend rearwardly. Next, the pump member 80 is mounted in the receptacle 40. For this purpose, the front end of the pump member 80 is inserted upwardly and forwardly into the receptacle 40 between the notches 47 in the rear flanges 46, the arm 39a of the opening 39 providing clearance for the extension portion 84 of the rear wall 83. The pump member 80 is slid forwardly through the notch 48a in the stop web 48 and between the bearing bosses 66 on the latch member feet 63. The bias leaf 70 is received down into the pump member 80 and the pin 85 is inserted through the slot 73 of the bias leaf 70 so that the bias leaf 70 bears against the rear wall 83 of the pump member 80. Next, the handle 51 is mounted. For this purpose, the pump member 80 is slid forwardly against the urging of the bias leaf 70 to provide clearance so that the handle plate 52 can be dropped down through the opening 39 behind the receptacle rear flanges 46. It will be appreciated that the arms 62 of the latch member 61 bear against the rear surface of the stop web 48 to limit forward pivotal movement of the latch member 61 when the pump member 80 is slid forwardly. The handle 51 is then dropped into position with the pivot lugs 54 disposed in the bearing notches 38, as explained above. The pump member 80 is then released and it slides rearwardly under the urging of the bias leaf 70 to a normal rest position, illustrated in FIG. 3, wherein the rear wall 83 seats in the recess 55 of the handle plate 52 and bears thereagainst to hold the handle 51 in its retracted position against the rear end of the opening 39. The positioning lug 86 is received in the slot 56, effectively to prevent upward movement of the handle 51 from its mounted condition. Thus, it will be seen that the handle 51 and the pump member 80 cooperate to hold each other in their mounted conditions. In order to disassemble the discharge assembly 50, the above-described assembly procedure is simply reversed. Referring now also to FIGS. 9-12 of the drawings, the cartridge 90 includes a generally box-like container 91, which may be formed of a suitable plastic material. Preferably, the container 91 is generally in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped having a top wall 92, a bottom wall 93, a front wall 94, a rear wall 95 and a pair of opposed side walls 96. The front wall 94 and the side walls 96 are set back or recessed along their lower edges adjacent to their junction with the bottom wall 93 to define a supports shoulder 97. The top wall 92 projects rearwardly a slight distance beyond the rear wall 95 to form an overhang which defines a stop flange 98. Formed in the container 91 at the junctions of the rear wall 95, respectively, with the side walls 96, are two elongated longitudinal grooves 100 which extend from the level of the stop flange 98 downwardly to the bottom wall 93. The lower portions of the grooves 100 are cut away, as at 101, so as to define lugs 102 adjacent to the upper ends of the grooves 100. The top wall 92 of cartridge 90 has a hole 103 extending therethrough (see Figs. 1 and 8) which is closed by a suitable cover 104. In use the cover 104, which may be a sticker or label is removed to permit air to enter the cartridge 90, for a purpose to be explained. Integral with the bottom wall 93 adjacent to the forward end thereof is a cylindrical nozzle or neck 105 which projects downwardly from the bottom wall 93 and surrounds an outlet opening 106 therein (FIG. 6). The neck 105 has a radially outwardly extending circumferential rib 107 and a radially outwardly extending circumferential flange 108 which are spaced apart a slight distance longitudinally of the neck 105. The neck 105 terminates in an annular end surface 109. Secured to the neck 105 and depending therefrom is a compressible nipple 110 having an annular flange 111 at the upper end thereof which is integral with an upstanding cylindrical wall 112 adapted to surround the lower end of the neck 105 and abut against the circumferential flange 108. The nipple 110 is provided with a normally-closed discharge slit 113 at its distal end. Trapped between the flange 111 and the end surface 109 of the neck 105 is a check valve assembly 115 (FIG. 3), the parts being clamped together by a cylindrical retainer clip 116 (FIGS. 6 and 7) which securely holds the nipple 110 and the valve assembly 115 on the neck 105. The construction, assembly and operation of the neck 105, the nipple 110 and the valve assembly 115 are all described in greater detail in copending U.S. application Serial No. 680,822, filed December 12, 1984, entitled "Discharge Assembly for Liquid Soap Dispenser", and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. Preferably, the cartridge 90 is inexpensively manufactured so as to be disposable. The container 91 is filled with liquid soap by the manufacturer or supplier of the cartridge 90 and the nipple 110 is then mounted in place. It is a significant aspect of the invention that the cartridge 90 can be readily mounted and demounted with respect to the dispenser 25 without the use of tools other than the key 75. In mounting the cartridge 90, it is placed over the dispenser 25 with the neck 105 disposed downwardly. The cartridge 90 is slid down along the mounting wall 32 of the housing 30, with the retaining rails 36 being respectively received in the longitudinal grooves 100. As the cartridge 90 is lowered into its use position, the nipple 110 extends downwardly into the receptacle 40 between the stop webs 48 and 49 and in coaxial alignment with the circular opening 43 in the bottom wall 42. After the cartridge 90 is mounted, the cover 104 is removed establishing communication between the inside and the outside of the container 91 by the hole 103. In its normal rest condition, the latch flange 68 of the latch member 61 projects forwardly beyond the stop web 48 so as to obstruct the path of the neck 105. More particularly, the lower end of the retainer clip 116 engages the cam surface 69 and cams the latch member 61 into pivotal movement rearwardly to accommodate passage of the retainer clip 116. As soon as the retainer clip 116 has moved past the latch flange 68, it snaps back forwardly under the urging of the bias leaf 70 into the space between the circumferential rib 107 and the circumferential flange 108 for engagement with the latter to prevent retrograde movement of the cartridge 90. As soon as the retainer clip 116 cams past the latch flange 68, the lower end of the retainer clip 116 seats on the upper edges of the stop webs 48 and 49 to support the cartridge 90 in its normal mounted or use position, illustrated in FIGS. 3, 7 and 13, in which position the lower end of the nipple 110 projects a very slight distance below the bottom of the receptacle 40 through the circular opening 43 therein. The container 91 is dimensioned so that when the cartridge 90 is disposed in its use position on the dispenser 25, the upper edge of the peripheral flange 34 of the housing 30 is disposed for engagement with the support shoulder 97 of the container 91 and the upper edge of the mounting wall 32 is disposed for engagement with the stop flange 98. Preferably, the stop flange 98 wraps around the sides of the container 91 for engagement with the upper ends of the side flanges 35 of the housing 30. The parts are all dimensioned so that when the cartridge 90 is disposed in its use position on the dispenser 25, the outer surfaces of the front wall 94 and the side walls 96 are, respectively, substantially coplanar with the corresponding portions of the outer surface of the housing peripheral flange 34, and the outer surfaces of the side walls 96 are, respectively, substantially coplanar with the outer surfaces of the housing side flanges 35 so as to present an attractive, smooth outward appearance. It will be appreciated that when the cartridge 90 is disposed in its use position, the lugs 102 engage the upper ends of the retaining rails 36, effectively to prevent forward tilting movement of the cartridge 90 with respect to the dispenser 25. The venting of the container 91 through the vent hole 103 prevents a vacuum from being established in the container and results in dispensing consecutive doses of soap of substantially the same volume. Alternatively, the cartridge 90 may be vented through the neck 105 and the nipple 110 in the manner described in greater detail in the copending U.S. application Serial No. , filed , entitled "Vented Discharge Assembly for Liquid Soap Dispenser", and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The check valve assembly 115 normally permits liquid soap to flow downwardly through the neck 105 to fill the nipple 110 with a charge of liquid soap. In order to dispense this charge of liquid soap, a user places his palm under the nipple 110 and pulls the handle 51 forwardly to its actuating position with his fingers, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 7. This drives the pump member 80 forwardly to its pumping position and into engagement with the nipple 110, compressing it and ejecting the charge of liquid soap therefrom through the discharge slit 113, this compression also serving to close the check valve assembly 115 to prevent liquid soap from flowing back up from the nipple 110 into the neck 105. When the handle 51 is released, the pump member 80 returns to its release position and the handle 51 is returned to its retracted position under the urging of the bias leaf 70. The check valve assembly 115 reopens to permit a new charge of liquid soap to flow into the nipple 110. When the cartridge 90 is spent, it is removed by the serviceman by the use of the key 75. As indicated in FIG. 2, the lug 76 is inserted in one of the key sockets 65 and rotated to pivot the latch member 61 rearwardly to an unlatching position, illustrated in FIG. 13, out of engagement with the retainer clip 116. This permits the cartridge 90 to be removed from the dispenser 25 and replaced with a full cartridge 90. It will be appreciated that when the key 75 is removed from the key socket 65, the latch member 61 pivots back to its normal rest or latching position under the urging of the bias leaf 70. In a constructional model of the present invention, the handle 51, the latch member 61, the bias leaf 70, the pump member 80 and the key 75 are all preferably of unitary, one-piece construction. All of these parts may be molded of a suitable plastic material, although it will be appreciated that other suitable materials could be used. The container 91 may be formed of a transparent or translucent plastic material, so that a serviceman can readily determine how much liquid soap is left in the container 91. From the foregoing, it can be seen that there has been provided an improved soap dispensing system which is of simple and economical construction, utilizing a dispenser which carries a discharge assembly and a disposable liquid soap cartridge removably mountable on the dispenser, wherein the cartridge is automatically latched in position on the dispenser to prevent unauthorized removal thereof, and the parts of the discharge assembly are few can be readily assembled and disassembled without the use of tools, and retain themselves in the assembled mounted condition without any fastening means.

Claims: A liquid soap dispensing system (20) comprising a dispenser (25) adapted to be mounted on an associated support surface, the dispenser including a housing (30) having a base (31) and a pair of upstanding retaining rails (36)thereon, a liquid soap cartridge (90) removably mountable on the dispenser for cooperation therewith to control the dispensing of liquid soap therefrom the cartridge including a container (91) having outlet means (106, 110) thereon said container being adapted to be seated on said base in a use position for said cartridge with said outlet means disposed downwardly, and a discharge mechanism (50) carried by said base for movement between a normal retracted configuration and an actuating configuration to operate said outlet means for dispensing liquid soap from said cartridge, characterized by said container having a pair of elongated recesses (100) formed therein said recesses slidably receiving said retaining rails therein for cooperation therewith to permit vertical movement of said cartridge to and from its use position while preventing any other movement of said cartridge, by said outlet means including a keeper portion (116), and by latch means (61) carried by said housing for movement between a latching condition, engageable with said keeper portion for latching said cartridge in a dispensing position on the housing preventing vertical movement of said cartridge, and an unlatching condition which permits vertical movement of the cartridge from its use position. The liquid soap dispensing system of Claim 1, including bias means (70) interconnecting said latch means and the discharge mechanism for resiliently urging said latch means to its latching condition and said discharge mechanism to its retracted configuration. The liquid soap dispensing system of Claim 2, wherein said latch means (61) moves to its latching condition in response to movement of the cartridge ot its dispensing position. The liquid soap dispensing system of claim 2, and further including means (64, 65) mounting said latch means on said housing for pivotal movement between its latching and unlatching conditions. The liquid soap dispensing system of claim 4, wherein the housing (30) has a pair of spaced-apart aligned openings (45) therein, said latch means (61) including a clevis-shaped member (62) having a pair of pivot portions (64) respectively rotatably receivable in said openings. The liquid soap dispensing system of claim 2, and further including release means (75) for effecting movement of said latch means (61) to the unlatching condition thereof for permitting removal of the cartridge from the dispensing position thereof. The liquid soap dispensing system of claim 16, wherein said release means (75) includes a key engageable with said latch means. The liquid soap dispensing system of claim 1, wherein said outlet means (106, 110) includes a compressible nipple (110) carried by said container and responsive to compression thereof for discharging liquid soap therefrom, said discharge means includes pump means (80) engageable with said nipple for effecting compression thereof, and said housing (30) has a receptacle portion (40) adapted to receive the associated cartridge (90) in a use position with the nipple (110) located in said receptacle portion, said pump means including a pump member (80) freely receivable in said receptacle and movable therein between a pumping position for compressing the nipple to discharge liquid soap therefrom and a release position out of engagement with the nipple, a handle member (51) supported on said base for engagement with said pump member, said handle member being pivotally movable between an actuating position for driving said pump member to its pumping position and a retracted position for accommodating movement of said pump member to its release position, said pump member in its pumping position accommodating free movement of said handle member to and from its supported condition on said housing, said pump member and said handle member cooperating when engaged to retain said pump member in said receptacle and to retain said handle member in its supported condition, and a bias unit (60) including said latch means engageable with said housing and said pump member for resiliently urging said pump member to its release position and into engagement with said handle member, thereby to urge said handle member to its retracted position. The liquid soap dispensing system of claim 8, wherein said bias unit (60) includes an elongated flexible bias portion extending between said latch means (61) and said pump member. The liquid soap dispenser of claim 9, wherein said bias unit (60) is releasably snap-fitted into engagement with said housing. The liquid soap dispensing system of any preceding Claim, wherein said container includes stepped retaining surfaces (97, 98) at the upper end of said rear wall portion and at the lower ends of said side wall portions. A disposable liquid soap cartridge (90) removably mountable on a dispenser (25) for cooperation therewith to control the dispensing of liquid soap from the soap cartridge, the cartridge including a closed container (91) having a bottom wall portion (93), a rear wall portion (95) and two opposed side wall portions (96) outlet means (106, 110) in said bottom wall portion, defining an outlet opening for the container, the outlet means including a nozzle (106) formed integrally with the bottom wall of the container and projecting downwardly therefrom defining the outlet opening and a compressible nipple (110) secured to the nozzle, closing the outlet opening, said container being adapted to be seated on said base in a use position for said cartridge with said outlet means disposed downwardly, characterised by said container having a pair of elongated recesses (100) formed therein said recesses slidably receiving upstanding vertical retaining rails (36) of the dispenser for cooperation therewith to permit vertical movement of said cartridge to and from its dispensing position while preventing any other movement of said cartridge, said outlet means including a keeper portion (116) engageable with a latch means (61) carried by said dispenser for latching said cartridge in a dispensing position on the dispenser preventing vertical movement of said cartridge. The refill cartridge of Claim 12, wherein said compressible nipple (110) has a normally-closed discharge slit (113) at the distal end thereof. The refill cartridge of Claim 12, and further including check valve means (115) disposed between said nipple and said nozzle for permitting flow of liquid soap from said nozzle to said nipple while preventing flow of liquid soap from said nipple to said nozzle. The refill cartridge of Claim 12, and further including a vent hole (103) therein establishing communication in use between the inside and outside of said container. The refill cartridge of Claim 15, and further comprising means (104) for interrupting communication established by said vent hole.

Inventors: CASSIA, ANTONIO MACCHI
Applicants: STEINER COMPANY, INC.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: A47K5
IPC codes: B65D83, A47K5