Abstract:
A wall mounted dispenser for dispensing a mixture of water and liquid chemicals which may be used as a separate dispenser or in combination with other like dispensers. The dispenser of this invention includes several backflow preventers to ensure that the water supply will not become contaminated during backflow problems.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a wall mounted dispenser for dispensing a water and liquid chemical mixture therefrom and more particularly to wall mounted dispensers which may be fluidly connected together in a side-by-side series manner. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Many types of dispensers have been previously provided for dispensing liquid chemicals into a receptacle such as a bottle, bucket, etc. Further, many of the prior art dispensers are able to dispense a water and liquid chemical mixture into a receptacle. However, it is Applicant&#39;s belief that the prior art dispensers are not able to be connected in a series manner in a side-by-side manner. Further, it is not believed that the prior art dispensers are fully able to prevent back flow from the dispenser to the source of water which is especially dangerous when the dispenser is used to dispense a water and liquid chemical mixture therefrom. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     A wall mounted dispenser is disclosed for dispensing a mixture of water and liquid chemical therefrom. The dispenser of this invention may be used in conjunction with other dispensers so that the dispensers are positioned side-by-side in a series manner. Inasmuch as the dispenser can be used as a separate dispenser or used in conjunction with other dispensers, only a single dispenser will be described in this summary. 
     The dispenser includes a first horizontally disposed body portion having a first end, a second end, a forward side and a rearward side. A second horizontally disposed body portion extends transversely forwardly from the first body portion. A third vertically disposed body portion extends downwardly from the second body portion. A first elongated water passageway, having inlet and discharge ends, extends through the first body portion. The inlet end of the first water passageway is in fluid communication with a source of water under pressure. The discharge end of the first water passageway is selectively closable. The first body portion has a second water passageway formed therein which extends horizontally forwardly from the first water passageway. The first body portion has a forwardly presented first annular valve seat formed therein at the forward end of the second water passageway. 
     The second body portion has a bore formed therein which extends forwardly from the first valve seat. The second body portion also has a water passageway which extends downwardly from the bore thereof. The bore of the second body portion has a greater diameter than the first valve seat. 
     A cylindrical valve guide is positioned in the bore of the second body portion forwardly of the first valve seat with the rearward end of the valve guide being spaced from the first valve seat. The valve guide has a first bore which extends rearwardly into the valve guide from the forward end thereof. The valve guide has a second bore formed therein which extends rearwardly from the rearward end of the first bore thereof. The second bore of the valve guide has a greater diameter than the first bore of the valve guide. The rearward end of the valve guide has a second annular, rearwardly presented valve seat formed therein. The valve guide has a water passageway having upper and lower ends which extends downwardly from the second bore of the valve guide which fluidly communicates with the water passageway which extends downwardly from the second body portion. 
     A cap, having a central opening formed therein, is mounted on the forward end of the valve guide. An elongated, horizontally disposed, first valve stem extends rearwardly through the central opening of the cap and into the first bore of the valve guide so that the forward end of the first valve stem is positioned forwardly of the cap and so that the rearward end of the first valve stem is positioned in the rearward end of the bore of the second body portion. The first valve stem is selectively movable between a first outer position to a second inner position. An actuator lever is movably secured to the dispenser for moving the first valve stem between outer and inner positions. The first valve stem has an annular valve mounted thereon which seats upon the second valve seat to close the second valve seat when the first valve stem is in its first outer position. The first valve stem has an elongated bore formed therein which extends forwardly thereinto from the rearward end thereof. An elongated second valve stem is provided with the forward end of the second valve stem being slidably mounted, between extended and retracted positions, in the elongated bore of the first valve stem. A spring is positioned in the elongated bore in the first valve stem forwardly of the forward end of the second valve stem which yieldably urges the second valve stem towards its extended position. The rearward end of the second valve stem has a valve thereon which seats upon the first valve seat to close the first valve seat when the first valve stem is in its first outer position and the second valve stem is in its extended position. 
     The third body portion has a chamber formed therein which has upper and lower ends. The upper end of the chamber is in fluid communication with the water passageway which extends downwardly from the bore of the second body portion. A poppet means is vertically mounted in the chamber between upper and lower positions. The poppet means includes a hollow cylindrical body member having open upper and lower ends. A hollow stem extends upwardly from the open upper end of the hollow cylindrical body member with the hollow stem having an open side wall and a closed upper end. A spring is positioned in the chamber below the cylindrical body member which yieldably urges the poppet means to its upper position. The closed upper end of the hollow stem of the poppet means closes the water passageway which extends downwardly from the bore of the second body portion when the poppet means is in its upper position. 
     A discharge conduit having open upper and lower ends is provided with the open upper end of the discharge conduit being in fluid communication with the chamber in the third body portion. The open lower end of the cylindrical body member of the poppet means is in fluid communication with the open upper end of the discharge opening when the poppet means is in its lower position. The discharge end of the liquid chemical conduit is in fluid communication with the discharge conduit below the upper end of the discharge conduit. The inlet of the liquid chemical conduit is in communication with a source of liquid chemical. 
     The third body portion has a plurality of backflow prevention openings formed therein above the lower end thereof which communicates with the atmosphere. The backflow prevention openings are closed by the cylindrical body member when the poppet means is in its lower position. 
     The dispenser of this invention not only provides a convenient way of dispensing a chemical and water mixture but also has several backflow preventers which ensure that the water supply will not be contaminated during backflow occurrences. 
     It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved dispenser for dispensing a mixture of water and liquid chemicals. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of the type includes several backflow preventers which ensure that the water source will not become contaminated should backflow problems occur. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of the type described which may be used separately, or in series combinations with one or more other dispensers. 
     These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
         FIG. 1  is a front prospective view of wall mounted dispenser of this invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the wall mounted dispenser of this invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the wall mounted dispenser of this invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a left-end view of the wall mounted dispenser of this invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a back view of the wall mounted dispenser of this invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a rear prospective view of the wall mounted dispenser of this invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the wall mounted dispenser of this invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a partial exploded perspective view of the wall mounted dispenser of this invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the wall mounted dispenser of this invention; and 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view of the wall mounted dispenser of this invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
     The wall mounted dispenser assembly of this invention is referred to by the reference numeral  8 . The dispenser assembly  8  shown in the drawings includes two dispensers  10  and  10 ′ which are molded together. A single dispenser  10  may be utilized as well as the dual dispenser system which is shown in the drawings. If a separate dispenser  10  is used, any number of those separate dispensers  10  may be coupled together in a side-by-side manner with the inlet end of the first water passageway in the upstream dispenser being connected to a source of water under pressure with the discharge end of the first passageway of the upstream dispenser being fluidly connected to the inlet end of the first water passageway in the downstream dispenser. If only a single dispenser  10  is being used, the discharge end of the dispenser  10  will be closed. In this description, only a single dispenser  10  will be described in detail with a “′” indicating identical structure on dispenser  10 ′. The dual dispenser assembly  8  will be described. 
     The dispenser  10  includes a horizontally disposed first body portion  12 , a horizontally extending second body portion  14  which extends transversely forwardly from the first body portion  12  and a vertically disposed body portion  16  which extends downwardly from body portion  14 . 
     A first water passageway  18  extends horizontally through body portion  12  and has an inlet end connected to a source of water under pressure. If only a single dispenser  10  is being used, the discharge end of passageway  18  will be closed by a cap or the like. If two dispensers  10  are being used, the discharge end or side of the passageway  18  of the upstream dispenser will be fluidly connected to the inlet end of the first passageway of the downstream dispenser  10 . 
     The first body portion  12  has a second water passageway  20  formed therein which extends horizontally forwardly from the first water passageway  18  between the inlet and discharge ends thereof. For purposes of description, the second water passageway  20  will be described as having rearward and forward ends. The first body portion  12  has a forwardly presented annular valve seat  22  formed therein at the forward end of the second water passageway  20 . 
     The second body portion  14  has rearward and forward ends and has a bore  24  therein which extends forwardly from the valve seat  22 . The second body portion  14  has a water passageway  26  which extends downwardly from bore  24  as seen in  FIG. 9 . As seen in  FIG. 9 , the bore  24  in the second body portion  14  has a greater diameter than the diameter of the valve seat  22 . 
     A cylindrical valve guide  28 , having forward and rearward ends, is positioned in the bore  24  of the body portion  14  forwardly of the valve seat  22  with the rearward end of the valve guide  28  being spaced forwardly from the valve seat  22 . The valve guide  28  has a first bore  30 , having forward and rearward ends, formed therein which extends rearwardly into the valve guide  28  from the forward end thereof. The valve guide  28  has a second bore  32  formed therein which has forward and rearward ends formed therein and which extend rearwardly from the rearward end of the first bore  30  of the valve guide  28 . The second bore  32  of the valve guide  28  has a greater diameter than the first bore  30  of the valve guide  28 . The rearward end of the valve guide  28  has a rearwardly presented valve seat  34  formed therein. The valve guide  28  has a water passageway  36  which extends downwardly from the second bore  32  of the valve guide  28  which fluidly connects with the water passageway  36  in body portion  14 . A cap  38 , having a central opening  40  formed therein, is mounted on the forward end of the valve guide  28 . 
     The numeral  42  refers to an elongated, horizontally disposed first valve stem which has forward and rearward ends. The first valve stem  42  extends rearwardly through the central opening  40  of the cap  38  into the first bore  30  of the valve guide  28  so that the forward end of the first valve stem  42  is positioned forwardly of cap  38  and so that the rearward end of the first valve stem  42  is positioned in the rearward end of bore  24  of body portion  14 . A first valve stem  42  is selectively movable between a first outer position to a second inner position. The numeral  44  refers to an actuator or operating lever which is pivotally mounted with respect to the valve stem  42  and which has a socket  46  formed at the inner side thereof which engages the head of the first valve stem  42  for moving the valve stem  42  between its outer and inner positions. 
     The first valve stem  42  has an annular valve  48  mounted thereon which seats upon the valve seat  34  when the valve stem  42  is in its outer position. 
     The first valve stem  42  has an elongated bore  50  formed therein which extends forwardly thereinto from the rearward end thereof. The numeral  52  refers to an elongated second valve stem which has forward and rearward ends. The forward end of the second valve stem  52  is slidably mounted, between extended and retracted positions, in the elongated bore  50  in the first valve stem  42 . A spring  54  is positioned in the elongated bore  50  in the first valve stem  42  forwardly of the forward end of the second valve stem  52  which yieldably urges the second valve stem  52  towards its extended position. The rearward end of the second valve stem  52  has a valve  56  thereon which seats upon the first valve seat  22  to close the first valve seat  22  when the first valve stem  42  is in its outer position and the second valve stem  52  is in its extended position. 
     The third body portion  16  has a chamber  58  formed therein which has upper and lower ends. The upper end of the chamber  58  is in fluid communication with the outer passageway  26  in body portion  14 . 
     The numeral  60  refers to a poppet means which is vertically movably mounted in the chamber  58  between upper and lower positions. The poppet means  60  includes a hollow cylindrical body member  62  having open upper and lower ends. A hollow stem  64  extends upwardly from the open upper end of the hollow cylindrical body member and which is in fluid communication with the interior of the body member  62 . The hollow stem  64  has an open side wall  66  and a closed upper end  68 . A spring  70  is positioned in the chamber  58  so the body member  62  which yieldably urges the poppet means  66  towards its upper position. The closed upper end  68  of the hollow stem  64  closes the water passageway  26  when the poppet means  60  is in its upper position. 
     The numeral  72  refers to vertically disposed discharge conduit or tube which has open upper and lower ends. The open upper end of the discharge conduit  72  is in fluid communication with the chamber  58  as seen in the drawings. The lower upper end of the cylindrical body member  62  is in fluid communication with the open upper end  74  of conduit  72  when the poppet means  60  is in its lower position. 
     The numeral  76  refers to a liquid chemical conduit or tube having an intake end  78  and a discharge end  80 . A venturi  82  is created at the juncture of discharge end  80  of conduit  76  and the conduit  72 . 
     The third body portion  16  has a plurality of backflow prevention openings  84  formed therein of the lower end thereof which communicates with the atmosphere. The backflow prevention openings  84  are closed by the cylindrical body member  62  when the poppet means  60  is in its lower position. 
     The numeral  86  refers to a shroud which extends around the dispenser  8  and which includes a backing plate  88  which may be secured to a wall or the like. 
     Assuming that only a single dispenser is being used, the operation of the same is as follows. The inlet end of the first water passageway  18  is connected to a source of water under pressure. The discharge end of the water passageway  18  is closed. The water pressure in water passageway  18  is greater than the spring force of the spring  54  so that water pressure against the valve  56  will unseat valve  56  from valve seat  22 . At that time, with the first valve stem  42  in its outer position, water from the water passageway  18  cannot pass through the valve seat  34  since valve  48  is in seating engagement therewith. 
     When it is desired to dispense a mixture of water and liquid chemicals, the actuator or operating lever  44  is pushed inwardly which causes the valve stem  42  to move from the position of  FIG. 9  inwardly through the bore  30  of the valve guide  28  which unseats the valve  48  from the valve seat  34  thereby permitting water to pass through the second passageway  20 , the bore  24 , downwardly through the first bore  30  and into the water passageway  26  in body portion  14 . The water pressure in bore  30  will be greater than the spring strength of spring  70  so that the water pressure will move the poppet means  60  from an upper position as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , wherein the closed upper end  68  of the stem  64  was closing water passageway  26 , to a lower position such as illustrated in the right side of  FIG. 10  so that water may pass downwardly through the hollow stem  44 , through the body member  62  and outwardly from the lower open end of the poppet means  60  and thence downwardly into the discharge tube  72 . As the water passes the venturi  82 , liquid chemical will be drawn upwardly from the liquid chemical container to which the liquid chemical conduit  76  is attached so that chemical will be drawn into the water passing downwardly through the discharge conduit  72  and into a suitable vessel such as a pail, bucket, bottle, etc. 
     When the selected amount of water and liquid chemical has been dispensed from the dispenser, the inward pressure on the lever  44  will be released which will cause the valve stem  42  to move from its inner position to its outer position so that the valve  48  again closes the valve seat  34  to prevent further water from being passed through the dispenser. 
     Should a backflow problem arise, which could suck chemical inwardly through the dispenser into the supply of water in the passageway  18  and thence into the source of water, the dispenser has several backflow preventers. First, if suction occurs in water passageway  18 , the spring  54  will cause the valve  56  to move into seating engagement with the valve seat  22 . Second, if backflow suction should occur in bore  30 , poppet means  60  will move upwardly to its upper position so that the closed upper end  68  of the stem  64  will close the water passageway  26 . Third, valve  48  will close valve seat  34 . Fourth, the chemical within chamber  50  is drained outwardly from the backflow preventers  84 . 
     Thus it can be seen that a novel dispenser has been provided which has a plurality of backflow preventers provided therein. It can therefore be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives. 
     Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.