Apparatus for dispensing a personal hygiene liquid and use of a flexible bag therefor

Abstract: A source of liquid soap for washbasins and the like is provided by a flexible, collapsible bag (40) filled with liquid soap (44). An hollow needle (42) is penetrably inserted through the material of the bag, which penetration develops a seal (51) about the needle (42). The needle (42) is connected through a conduit (46, 47) to a dispenser for the soap. A source of vacuum (48) in communication with the conduit, the force of gravity or a force externally imposed upon the bag (40) to compress it, actuates a flow of soap from the bag (40) through the needle (42) for discharge from the dispenser. As liquid soap (44) is evacuated from the bag (40), the bag collapses. Upon depletion of the soap (44), the needle (42) is withdrawn and inserted into a replacement bag of soap.

Description: The present invention relates to apparatus for dispensing a personal hygiene liquid, in particular liquid soap, as defined in the preamble of claim 1. Dispensation of soap at a washbasin is quite common. Usually, such dispensers include a fixed container of liquid soap into which is inserted a plunger having an outlet tube. When a user depresses a knob at the end of a stem associated with the plunger, soap is hydraulically forced from the soap container and through the outlet tube. Periodically, the liquid soap in the container is replenished. The requisite touching of the structure attendant the soap dispenser tends to have the effect of spreading disease as a result of bacteria, viruses and other micro-organisms being transferred to the structure and from the structure to the hands of a subsequent user. For the handicapped or infirm, the required manipulation may be very difficult or impossible and result in a failure to use the soap available and is a potential unnecessary spread of disease. Various soap dispensers have been used that dispense soap from a flexible bag by squeezing or compacting the soap bag directly or through a lever. Such mechanisms require a certain amount of forceful manipulation that may be beyond the capability of a handicapped or infirm person. Furthermore, the resulting pressurisation of the soap bag may cause it to burst, particularly if the mechanism is manipulated with excessive force. Gravity feed soap dispensers, whether dispensing soap from a rigid or flexible container, have been used. Such devices dispense soap in response to manipulation of a valve mechanism for opening a discharge outlet/tube. An example of a gravity feed soap dispenser wherein the liquid soap is contained in a disposable flexible bag, is disclosed in EP-B-0 127 497. In this known dispenser a flexible outlet tube is sealed to the flexible container for conducting the liquid soap through valve means to the outlet of the dispenser. A drawback of such a dispenser is that sealing an outlet tube to the soap bag requires an additional operation, thus rendering the production process more complicated. The disposable soap bags will consequently be more expensive, all the more in view of the additional material required to produce the outlet tube. Further, the presence of the outlet tube results in a larger amount of waste created by the disposable bags. US-A-3 035 737 discloses a liquid container dispensing rack comprising a pump for pumping liquid out of a container formed by an outer paperboard carton and an inner plastic liner. For connecting the pump to the container, a probe device terminating at its forward end in a sharp pointed nose is fastened to the rack. The probe projects a sufficient distance forwards so that when placing the container onto the rack it penetrates over a sufficient distance into the container. In this way, a seal is formed by the gripping action of the plastic around the probe. A drawback of this liquid dispenser is that it does not enable a sufficient complete emptying of the container. An object on the present invention is therefore to provide a new apparatus for dispensing liquid contained in a container, which apparatus does not require the presence of any outlet tube fixed to the container but which still allows a sufficiently complete emptying of the container. This problem is solved by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1. To this end, the apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the container (40) is a flexible closed bag (40) which is collapsible upon withdrawal of said liquid and, in its mounted state, said hollow needle (42) is movable with respect to the support for the bag (40) upon collapsing of the bag. Since the needle can be inserted directly through the wall of the container, in particular of the flexible bag, an outlet tube or a connection element therefor has no longer to be fixed to the flexible bag. Moreover, the needle can be inserted in the bag without spilling liquid contained therein. When the liquid is withdrawn from the bag, either by a source of vacuum or by the force of gravity, the bag will collapse and, in case the bag is almost empty, the liquid will be squeezed automatically to the needle due to the atmospheric pressure acting on the outside of the bag. In this way, only a minimum amount of liquid will remain in the emptied bag. The present invention also relates to the use of a collapsible closed bag for dispensing a personal hygiene liquid, in particular liquid soap, housed therein. This use is characterized by the features of claim 6. Other particularities and advantages of the apparatus and the use according to the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description thereof proceeds. The present invention will be described with greater specificity and clarity with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a representative wash basin incorporating the present invention; Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the present invention; Figure 3 is a detail view taken within dashed circle III illustrated in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a partial detail view illustrating initial penetration by a needle of a liquid soap bag; Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional view taken within dashed circle IV illustrated in Figure 2; Figure 6 illustrates a check valve for preventing return flow of liquid soap; Figure 7 illustrates cross-section of a multi-layered sheet material for the soap bag; and Figure 8 illustrates a cross-section of an extruded multi-layered sheet material for the soap bag. Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a representative cabinet 10 supporting a wash basin 12. A spigot 14 in combination with handles 16,18 associated with hot and cold water valves are mounted upon cabinet 10 to provide hot and cold water, selectively, through the spigot. The wash basin includes a conventional drain 20. Cabinet doors 22,24 provide access to the interior of cabinet 10 for installation and repair of the plumbing fixtures as well as for storage purposes. A soap dispenser 30 is mounted on cabinet 10 adjacent wash basin 12 to permit a user to receive liquid soap discharged through outlet 32. Referring jointly to Figures 1 and 2, further details attendant the apparatus for dispensing soap will be described, A collapsible container or bag 40 for dispensing liquid soap may be mounted at any convenient location within cabinet 10 or at another location of convenience. For instance, it could be mounted upon shelf 41 above outlet 32 to permit flow of liquid soap to the outlet in response to the force of gravity. A hollow needle 42 is inserted into penetrable engagement with bag 40 to permit egress of liquid soap 44 from within the bag. The bag may include a small air pocket 45 formed during manufacture of the filled bag. A conduit 46 conveys liquid soap from needle 42 to soap dispenser 30 in response to a source of vacuum 48. Alternatively, the bag may be placed at a location permitting flow into and through conduits 46,47 in response to the force of gravity. Alternatively, a compressive force applied to bag 40 may be employed to urge flow into and through conduits 46,47. A check valve 49 precludes flow of liquid soap back into bag 40. The source of vacuum may be an apparatus of any of various configurations and modes of operation. A source of vacuum operable in response to a flow of water discharged through spigot 14 is disclosed in United States Patent No. 5,215,216, incorporated herein by reference. Herein, a flexible membrane divides a cavity into first and second chambers. A flow of water adjacent or proximate a side of the membrane through the first chamber increases the pressure within the first chamber to increase its volume and reduce the volume in the second chamber. The second chamber is disposed intermediate a source of liquid soap and an outlet. Upon cessation of water flow, the volume of the first chamber will decrease and the volume of the second chamber will increase. The resulting periodic changes in volume in the second chamber alternatively reduces the pressure within the second chamber to draw liquid soap thereinto and a subsequent increase in pressure, causes a discharge of the liquid soap from the second chamber through the outlet. Reverse flow of the liquid soap is prevented by use of one or more check valves. Such apparatus has particular utility in combination with the present invention as it requires no source of electrical power and is operated whenever a user performs a washing function at wash basin 12. A primary commercial benefit through deployment of liquid soap filled bag 40 is that of permitting periodic replacement without incurring spillage of the liquid soap. Furthermore, the liquid soap filled bags can be stored indefinitely in preparation for use at any convenient location. Finally, spillage usually resulting from the filling of prior art soap containers is avoided and spillage of replacement fixed or collapsible prior art liquid soap containers during mechanical attachment to conduits is eliminated. Referring jointly to Figures 2 through 5, details attendant the structure and installation of liquid soap filled bag 40 will be described in detail. The bag is formed of laminated sheet material that may be extruded as a lamination or developed into a laminated structure by adhering one material with another. Alternatively, when new material(s) are developed or become available and suitable for this purpose, a single layer of such material may be employed. This is also the case when the liquid contains for example no volatile components so that in particular a single layer of polyethylene may be sufficient to form a barrier for the components of the liquid. Presently, material 50 of bag 40 is formed of an outside layer of polyamide 52 backed by and laminated to an inside layer of polyethylene 54. If necessary, a polyurethane adhesive or other joining material 56 may be disposed intermediate the polyamide and polyethylene layers. Bag 40, as shown in Figure 2, is formed of two laminated sheets 58,60 joined by a circumscribing seam 62. As represented in Figures 4 and 5, the two layers of each sheet (58,60) may be formed by extrusion techniques to develop material 50. It may be noted that material 50 may be formed by an inner lamination of polyethylene which has the requisite properties of being chemically inert to the constituents of the contained liquid soap and sufficiently flexible and resilient to form a seal about a penetrating needle. Moreover, the lamination of polyethylene has heat responsive properties to form a seal along seam 62. As will be discussed hereinafter, the lamination of polyethylene may be a non-linear low density polyethylene (LDPE) that has a lower melting temperature than linear low density polyethylene (L-LDPE). Thus, this property can be used to advantage to form a seal along seam 62 by applying heat to the area defining the seam. With such heat sealing, no separate adhesive need be used to form the seal at the seam. The outer lamination of polyamide is impermeable to liquid soap, in particular to the volatile components thereof. The two laminations are adhered to one another by, for instance, a polyurethane adhesive or otherwise secured to one another. Alternatively, the material (50) may be a single sheet of material having these properties. Upon penetration of needle 42 into bag 40, it is preferable that a seal 51 therebetween be developed to prevent leakage of liquid soap under normal conditions of use. Furthermore, seal 51 is very important to obtain complete emptying of the bag. With a good seal, a below ambient pressure will be created within the bag by drawing liquid soap from within the bag by either a source of vacuum or by gravity. The below ambient pressure within the bag will cause the ambient pressure external to the bag to collapse the bag and squeeze all of the liquid soap from within the bag. In the configuration of material 50 illustrated in Figures 3, 4, and 5, outer layer of polyamide 52 serves as an impermeable barrier to the liquid soap and provides a protective function to prevent damage during normal handling and storage of the soap bag. Inner layer of polyethylene 54 serves the function of preventing tearing of layer 52 upon initial penetration by needle 42, as depicted in Figure 4. Upon further penetration of needle 42, layer of polyethylene 54 stretches, rather than tears, to exert circumscribing pressure upon the surface of the needle to develop seal 51 therebetween. As particularly depicted in Figure 5, there will be a curl over of material 50 inwardly to maintain the material in sealing engagement with the needle. Polyamide layer 52 will remain in contact with needle 42 and polyethylene layer 54 will remain in gripping and sealing contact with the needle, as depicted. A material particularly useful for use in manufacturing bag 40 has for example the following composition: 0.045 mm L-LDPE as outer layer, polyurethane adhesive, 0.015 mm polyamide, polyurethane adhesive, 0.060 mm LDPE/L-LDPE as inner layer. This material includes three layers 70,72,74 laminated with one another by interleaved films of polyurethane adhesive 76,78, as shown in Figure 7. The inner layer is a low density polyethylene (LDPE) layer 70 which is chemically inert to the constituents of the liquid soap. The middle layer is a polyamide layer 72 which is impermeable to the liquid soap. The outer layer is a layer of linear low density polyethylene (L-LDPE) 74 which serves the function of protecting the polyamide layer 72. It has a high resistivity to heat. This heat resistivity is of particular benefit during the heating process for sealing with one another the perimeters (seam 62) of the two sheets forming the bag. It should be noted that also other possibilities are known for manufacturing the bag. The bag may be formed for example from one single sheet which is first sealed in the longitudinal direction to form a cylinder after which the end of this cylinder are closed by sealing. The inner layers of polyethylene (LDPE) of each of the two sheets forming the bag are adjacent one another. Upon application of heat to the two sheets in proximity to seam 62 during sealing of the bag, the facing layers of (non-linear) low density polyethylene (LDPE) will melt and become heat welded to one another to seal the seam about the perimeter of the bag. The higher melting temperature (heat resistivity) of the outer layers of linear low density polyethylene (L-LDPE) of each of the sheets of the bag will not be affected. Similarly, the respective intermediate layers of polyamide of each of the sheets will remain unaffected. Figure 8 illustrates the three layers (70,72,74) as part of an extruded sheet not requiring an adhesive to secure the layers to one another. In a preferred embodiment of the bag according to the invention, the material of the bag is comprises three, in particular extruded layers 70,72,74 formed successively by an L-LDPE layer 70, an impermeable barrier layer 72, for example of PA, and again an L-LDPE layer 74. These layers have for example respectively a thickness of 50, 30 and 50 microns. It has been found that the use of a linear LDPE layer also at the inside of the bag is advantageous in view of the fact that upon penetration of the needle, a recess is first formed in the wall of the bag as a result of elongation of the material of the wall after which the needle penetrates through the wall. The elongated material encloses the needle over a longer distance thus providing a more effective seal. It has been found that this effect is more pronounced when use is made of L-LDPE as inner layer. Sealing of the bag can still be done by heat welding or, alternatively, by making use of a sealant. The different layers may be adhered to one another by means of an adhesive or in any other way, for example by heat. Preference is given to a so-called tie-layer which contributes in preventing the different layers from tearing and which has a thickness of for example about 5 microns. Referring jointly to Figures 2, 5, and 6, further details of the structure will be described. Needle 42 may include one or more inlets 80 to accommodate flow of soap 44 into the hollow needle and thence into conduit 46. As shown in the figures, the needle 42 has preferably also an opening 96 at its distal extremity, i.e. at its top so that upon initial insertion of the needle in the bag, the liquid contained in the bag and pressurized by the pressure exerted thereon by the needle, can flow into the needle thus reducing the risk of leakage of liquid along the needle when inserting this needle into the bag. A collar 82, or the like, may be formed upon needle 42 to limit the extent of penetration of the needle into bag 40. Check valve 49 may be a conventional one-way valve having a ball element 84 disposed within a cavity 86. The ball will close orifice 88 of passageway 90 in response to a reverse flow of liquid soap into bag 40. Gravity may be used to bias ball 84 toward orifice 88 or a spring may be used for this purpose (as is conventional). Conduit 46 is mounted upon hollow boss 92 and an extension 47 of conduit 46 is mounted upon hollow boss 94. After bag 40 becomes sufficiently evacuated to prevent further discharge of liquid soap 44, an operator withdraws needle 42 from the evacuated bag. After replacement of the evacuated bag with a filled bag, the operator inserts needle 42 into the replacement bag. Such insertion will form a sealed engagement (seal 51) with bag 40 as described above and illustrated in Figure 5. If a three layer sheet (see Figures 7 and 8) is used, both the inner and outer layers (preferably of L-LDPE) will grippingly circumscribe and sealingly engage the cylindrical surface of the needle. After withdrawal of needle 42 from bag 40, the resilient nature of material 50 will tend to essentially close the opening formed upon penetration of the needle. Thus, leakage of liquid soap from the essentially evacuated bag is of minimal, if any, concern. From this description, it will be apparent that installation and replacement of liquid soap filled bag 40 is easy to accomplish with minimal likelihood of spillage of liquid soap or of the collection of liquid soap residue at and about the location of the bag. The bag does not have to be made entirely of the above-described preferred material or layers. Indeed, it the same results can be obtained in case the wall of the bag is at least locally, in a predetermined area through which the needle will be inserted, made of these materials. In case the bag would consist of one or more layers which would tear upon insertion of the quite large hollow needle, flexible, stretchable, resilient plastic stickers may be provided, made in particular of preferably linear LDPE, which can be adhered to the bag to prevent tearing thereof and to enable to form a seal about the inserted needle.

Claims: An apparatus for dispensing a personal hygiene liquid, said apparatus comprising in combination: (a) a dispenser (30) having an outlet (32) for discharging the liquid (44); (b) a supply of the liquid (44) to be dispensed; (c) a container (40) for housing said supply of liquid (44), which container is at least locally made of a flexible material (50) and supported by a support; and (d) a conduit (46, 47) for conveying the liquid (44) from said container (40) to said outlet (32) of said dispenser (30), and (e) a hollow needle (42) for penetrably engaging, on the one hand, said container (40) through said flexible material (50) in fluid communication with the liquid (44) and for being connected, on the other hand, to said conduit (46), said flexible material (50) being arranged to form a seal (51) about the needle (42) when being penetrated thereby, characterised in that the container (40) is a flexible closed bag (40) which is collapsible upon withdrawal of said liquid and, in its mounted state, said hollow needle (42) is movable with respect to the support for the bag (40) upon collapsing of the bag. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that said needle (42) includes a shoulder (82) for limiting the extent of penetration of said bag (40) by said needle (42). An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said needle (42) includes a point for initial penetration of said material, the top of said point being formed by an opening (96). An apparatus according to any one of the claims 1 to 3, characterised in that said bag comprises sheet material (50) impermeable to the liquid and including said seal (51) disposed about said needle (42), said seal (51) being formed by said sheet material (50) upon piercing of said material (50) by said needle to achieve the penetrable engagement of said needle (42) with said bag (40). An apparatus according to any one of the claims 1 to 4, characterised in that said sheet material (50) comprises at least locally in a predetermined area a laminate of at least two layers (52, 54; 70, 72, 74), at least one of which comprises a layer (54; 70, 74) for forming said seal, said seal forming layer (54; 70, 74) being flexible and resiliently stretchable to prevent tearing of said material (50) upon penetration of said material (50) by said needle (42) and to develop a grip about said needle (42) to form said seal (51). Use of a flexible collapsible closed bag (40) for dispensing a personal hygiene liquid (44), in particular liquid soap, housed therein, wherein a hollow needle (42), which in use is connected to a conduit, is penetrably inserted in said bag (40) which is arranged to form a seal (51) about the needle (42) when being penetrated thereby, said needle and said conduit both defining an outflow path of said liquid from said bag, in which use the bag is further placed onto a support and is collapsed by withdrawing said liquid therefrom thereby moving the needle with respect to said support. Use of a collapsible closed bag according to claim 6, characterised in that use is made of a bag (40) formed, at least locally in a predetermined area, of a laminated flexible material (50) having at least a first layer (52; 72) impermeable to said liquid (44) and a second layer (54; 70) of flexible, stretchable, resilient plastic, and in that said hollow needle (42) is penetrably inserted in said predetermined area by piercing of said laminated flexible material (50), said predetermined area being arranged to develop said seal (51) about the penetrating needle (42) by said second layer (54; 70). Use of a collapsible closed bag according to claim 7, characterised in that said second layer (54; 70) is chemically inert to said liquid (44) and is disposed interior to said first layer (52; 72). Use of a collapsible closed bag according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that said first (52; 72) and second layers (54; 70) comprise polyamide, and low density polyethylene (LDPE), respectively. Use of a collapsible closed bag according to any one of the claims 7 to 9, characterised in that said material comprises an extrusion of said first (52; 72) and second layers (54; 70). Use of a collapsible closed bag according to any one of the claims 7 to 9, characterised in that said first (52; 72) and second layers (54; 70) are adhered together with a polyurethane adhesive (56; 78). Use of a collapsible closed bag according to any one of the claims 7 to 11, characterised in that said material (50) includes a third layer (74) of flexible, stretchable, resilient plastic disposed exterior of said first layer (72). Use of a collapsible closed bag according to any one of the claims 7 to 12, characterised in that said third layer (74), and preferably said second layer (70), is made of linear low density polyethylene (L-LDPE). Use of a collapsible closed bag according to claim 7, characterised in that said second layer is formed of a flexible, stretchable, resilient plastic sticker adhered to said first layer (72) in said predetermined area, in particular to the outside of the bag (40).

Inventors: VAN MARCKE KAREL CARL, VAN MARCKE, KAREL CARL
Applicants: INTERNAT SANITARY WARE MFG CY, N.V. INTERNATIONAL SANITARY WARE-MANUFACTURING CY, S.A. IN VERKORT: N.V. INTERSAN S.A.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A47K1
IPC codes: A47K5