Patent Publication Number: US-10758094-B2

Title: Soap pump

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a Section 371 National Stage Application of International Application PCT/EP2012/067874 filed Sep. 12, 2012 and published as WO 2013/037851 A1 in English. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The discussion below is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     Aspects of the present invention relate to a hand pump for attachment to a working surface near a sink, comprising a pump housing and an outlet extending substantially laterally from the pump housing in order to reach above a receptacle. 
     Such pumps are known, in particular as soap pump for application in kitchens and/or sanitary facilities wherein the receptacle may be a sink or wash basin and the working surface may be a part of the sink or wash basin. 
     Such known soap pumps comprise an operating button that usually needs to be pushed substantially vertically with respect to a substantially horizontal working surface. The button and the outlet are usually integrated. The outlet of such pumps is relatively long, in order to be able to bridge a sufficiently long distance on the one hand to fix the pump sufficiently firm to the working surface, in particular extending through the working surface, and on the other hand to allow the outlet to extend above the sink, to make it possible to collect liquid flowing out of the outlet when this is not being collected in another manner, such as for instance in the palm of a hand. 
     As a result of this length, the operation of the pump requires using two hands: one hand for the operation of the button and the other hand for the collection of the soap. In case of an attempt to use only one hand, it is possible to operate the operating button but impossible to collect the dispensed soap, or, when the outlet itself is pressed upon, it is impossible to exert a pushing force on the pump mechanism effectively, it is possible that parts of the mechanism wedge and/or is it possible that the outlet is bent or even broken. 
     SUMMARY 
     This Summary and the Abstract herein are provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary and the Abstract are not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor are they intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the Background 
     It is therefore desired to have an improved pump of the aforementioned type. 
     For this purpose such a pump is provided, which is operable by substantially straight-lined movement of the outlet along the pump housing, wherein the outlet and the pump housing are coupled by a guide, in particular comprising guidance means in the pump housing, against tilting of the outlet with respect to the pump housing. 
     This guide facilitates the straight-lined movement of the outlet with respect to the pump housing, as a result of which wedging and/or slanting of parts of the pump operation mechanism are prevented and it becomes possible to effectively exert an operational force. Thus the operation is possible by pushing on or near the outflow end of the outlet and by that single handed operation of the pump. 
     The pump housing may be fixed substantially perpendicular on the working surface and thus be oriented substantially vertical. In such a case the operating direction is also substantially vertical. The outlet may extend substantially horizontal. The outlet may be substantially straight or comprise one or more bends. 
     In an embodiment the guide is provided with one or more bearings. As a result, friction between moving parts is avoided or at least reduced, and thus the operation is facilitated and the risk of damage is reduced. 
     In an embodiment the outlet is fixed to a plunger arranged inside the pump housing, wherein the plunger and the pump housing are mutually connected through the guide. 
     The plunger may extend substantially in the operating direction of the pump and have guidance means at or near either side in the operating direction, that cooperate with guiding means of the pump housing for establishing the guide. 
     A part of such cooperating guiding means may comprise one or more of the aforementioned bearings, and a part of the cooperating guiding means may comprise surfaces of guiding grooves and/or ribs that serve as treads for the bearings. 
     The pump housing may partly comprise the outlet, wherein the pump housing may be provided with an opening through which the outlet extends and wherein the outlet is movable. The opening may have the shape of an elongated hole or groove, and this may prevent a rotational movement of the outlet with respect to the pump housing and the direction of movement, at a substantially vertical orientation of the pump housing and the direction of movement a substantially horizontal turning movement may thus be prevented. Further moving parts may thus be enclosed and covered by such a pump housing, which may yield a robust pump and allows for a relatively free design of the pump. Further, the pump may rest directly on the working surface and no ridges or sealings are needed at the outside of the pump, whereby also a hygienic, installation is obtained. 
     The pump may be provided by a coupling, that may for instance be provided with a screw thread, for mounting to the working surface, for example thereon and/or there through. The coupling may for example comprise a mounting tube extending through the working surface and optionally provided with a screw thread or another provision for mounting to the working surface. 
     The pump may be provided with a coupling, for example a screw coupling, for coupling to a liquid reservoir, for instance of a refill package. 
     The pump may be provided with a pressure container for building up pressure, which pressure container may be separate from a possible liquid reservoir. The pressure container may be arranged for metering of a dispensing amount and/or a predetermined dispensing amount. 
     A part of the pump may be arranged for the accommodation of a pump unit that may be exchangeable, for example for maintenance or replacement. 
     The pump may be arranged such that the pump housing with the outlet can be separated from the working surface, in particular may be drawn out of the mounting tube that may be mounted in the working surface. This allows for the refilling of the liquid reservoir and/or if necessary the replacement of the pump unit accommodated in the pump housing, from the user side of the working surface, in this case from above. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other aspects will hereafter be explained in more detail, referring to the accompanying drawings that show an embodiment by means of illustration only, not necessarily on scale and wherein parts not necessary for an understanding of the invention may have been removed. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  shows a view in perspective of an improved hand pump; 
         FIG. 2  shows a cross sectional view of an improved hand pump as indicated by II-II in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows a cross sectional view of an improved hand pump as indicated by III-III in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows a cross sectional view of a plunger in a pump housing at a hypothetical hand pump without a guide; 
         FIG. 5  shows the slanting of the plunger in the pump housing at (an attempt to operate) the hand pump of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows schematically an improved hand pump with a guide as in  FIGS. 1-3 ; 
         FIG. 7  shows operation of the pump of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  shows schematically a drawing in perspective of the improved hand pump according to  FIGS. 1-3, 6-7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The Figures show a hand pump formed as a soap pump  1  for use in domestic kitchens. The hand pump  1  is fixed to a working surface  3  near a receptacle  5  formed as a sink  6  and comprises a pump housing  7  and an outlet  9  extending substantially laterally with respect to the pump housing  7  in order to extend above the receptacle  5 . The pump housing  7  is in this case substantially cylindrical in an axial direction A. 
     The pump  1  can be operated by a substantially straight-lined operating movement of the outlet  9  along the pump housing  7  in the axial direction A. The outlet  9  and the pump housing  7  are coupled with a guide for preventing tilting of the outlet  9  with respect to the pump housing  7 , as is explained into more detail below. 
     The pump  1  is distinguished from the existing pumps by the operation of the pump via the outlet  9 . This takes away the need for a push button on top of the pump housing  7 . The pump  1  allows—in contrast to the known soap pumps—for operation by one hand, by grasping the outlet  9 , pushing this downward and catching the soap in the same hand. The direction of movement of the outlet  9  with respect to the pump housing  7  is also determined by an elongated hole  11  through which the outlet  9  extends and in which the latter is movable. 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  show the pump into more detail and in cross sections along the axis A in substantially mutually perpendicular directions. 
     The Figures show the pump housing  7  and the outlet  9  with exit  9 A, that is attached to a plunger  13  which is movable in a lumen  15  of the pump housing  7  in an axial direction A. The pump further comprises a lock-up bush  17  and a mounting tube  19 . A lock-up nut  21  with adjusting screws  22  is mounted to the mounting tube  19 . Further a coupling  23  is fixed to the mounting tube  19 , to which a soap reservoir  25  for liquid hand soap, for example cream soap, is fixed (shown only partially). 
     The pump  1  comprises a pump unit  27  known per se that comprises a suction tube  29 , a pressure tube  31  and a pump chamber  33  with valves (not shown) and springs (not shown). The pressure tube  31  is connected via the plunger  13  to (the exit  9   a  of) the outlet  9  such that an uninterrupted channel  24  is formed. The pressure tube  31  extends partially in the pump chamber  33  and is provided there with a piston (not shown). By pushing down the pressure tube  31  and the piston, in the provided pump  1  by movement of the outlet  9  and the plunger  13 , a valve to the suction tube  29  is closed in the pump chamber with as a result that pressure is built up on the liquid present in the pump chamber  33 . As a result a valve to the pressure tube  31  is opened and the liquid is allowed to flow through the pressure tube  31  and the channel  24  and be delivered from the outlet. After the movement has ended the piston of the press tube  31 , and as a result the plunger  13  and the outlet  9 , is pushed upward again by means of a pressure spring, resulting in the closing of the valve to the pressure tube  31  and the opening of the valve to the suction tube by the under pressure created in the pump chamber and a new amount of liquid is sucked into the pump chamber  33  and the original situation is restored. An impulse against the pump housing  7  of the plunger  13  at the end of the return movement may be caught by a buffer, in this case an elastic plug  35 , for example made of (artificial) rubber. 
     The pump chamber  33  is accommodated fixedly in the pump  1  by clamping it between shoulders  36 ,  37  of the pump house  7  and the lock up bush  17 . By pushing down the outlet  9  with respect to the pump house  7 , the pump unit  27  is operated via the plunger  13 . 
     By means of the lock up bush  17  provided with an O-ring  39 , or by any other suitable fastener, the entire operating part of the pump  1  (pump housing  7 , outlet  9 , plunger  13 , lock up bush  17 , pump unit  27 , etc) is slid accurately fitting into the opening of the mounting tube  19  until it is on the working surface  3 . Here the outer edge of the pump housing  7  covers the ring of the mounting tube  19 , as a result of which the latter is invisible. In this manner, a stable positioning of the pump  1  on the working surface  3  is obtained without a screwed joint or another kind of fixed connection between pump  1  and working surface. A fixing system and/or a further coupling between the operational part of the pump  1  and the mounting bush  19  and/or the working surface  3  may nevertheless be provided, if desired. 
     In the shown embodiment, the outlet  9  is fixed to the plunger  13  in a releasable manner, here provided with an O-ring  41  and fixed by a setting screw  42  in the plunger that extends into a tapered groove  45  in the outlet  9 . For the realization of a stable pumping operation in a pump  1 , it thus is necessary to exert a vertical force Fp (indicated by an arrow in  FIG. 2 ) on the pump unit  27  known per se from the (end of) the outlet  9 . 
     Because the downwardly directed force does not operate on the axis of the pump unit  27  (in this case coinciding with the axis A), a moment M arises, indicated by the dotted arrow in  FIG. 2 , causing lateral reaction forces between plunger  13  and pump housing  7 . These reaction forces cause the plunger  13  to slant within the lumen  15  of the pump housing  7 , which causes additional friction, see  FIGS. 4-5 . 
     The friction caused by the slanting thus needs to be taken away, in order to obtain appropriate operation. This is realized in the provided pump  1  by providing the pump housing  7  with guiding means preventing tilting of the outlet  9  and the plunger  13  with respect to the pump housing  7 . The guiding means comprise bearings  47  arranged at either side of the plunger  13  and at either side in the direction of operation along A of the plunger  13 , in other words at the top and at the bottom sides thereof. The bearings  47  are arranged as rollers on guiding surfaces  49  provided in the pump housing  7 , for example by milling away two guiding tracks  51 , opposing each other in a plane substantially perpendicular to the reaction forces that cause the slanting, thus in this case substantially perpendicular to the extension direction of the outlet  9  (shown schematically in  FIG. 8 ). 
     In the preferred embodiment, the plunger  13  is provided with two pairs of ball bearings  47 , one pair at the top of the plunger  13  and one pair at the bottom side ( FIGS. 3, 6-7 ). The upper pair of ball bearings  47  will, at the exertion of a pressing force Fp on the outlet  9  for pressing the pump run against a wall  53 A of guiding track  51  on the side of the outlet, and the lower bearings will run against the opposing wall  53 B of the guiding track  51 , preventing further tilting and slanting, as a result of which the plunger is further held from slanting contact with the (inner wall of) the pump housing  7 . By preventing contact of one bearing  47  with both walls  53 A,  53 B simultaneously, friction is avoided and an easy rolling movement is made possible, requiring only a minimal amount of play between bearings and guiding walls, which contributes to a stable pumping operation without an additional force being necessary to overcome friction. 
     The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but may also be realized in various other manners within the scope of the attached claims. There may for instance be provided more and/or differently shaped guides, such as more rollers, or sliding surface made of a slippery material such as polytetrafluoretheen (PTFE, “Teflon®”). Instead of the plunger, the pump housing may be provided with bearings. 
     The pump housing may have a substantially rectangular cross section, and contain one or more grooves. 
     It is possible to provide more than one outlet and/or plunger in the pump housing. The outlet may be fixed to a carriage that is movably coupled to the pump housing in a guide, instead of a plunger. 
     It is further noted that, within the scope of the claims, elements and aspects of one or more different embodiments may be left away and/or combined, unless explicitly stated otherwise.