Dispenser for antimicrobial liquids

A dispenser for dispensing products such as liquid antimicrobials is described. The dispenser includes a bracket/actuator assembly and a container assembly. The dispenser includes a novel mechanism for attaching the container assembly to the bracket/actuator assembly and also includes a novel valve assembly.

 

What is claimed is:

1. A container assembly attachable to a bracket/actuator assembly having a movable actuator and a pair of mounting flanges; said container assembly comprising:

a reservoir for holding product to be dispensed,

an outlet sized and shaped to afford passage of product to be dispensed;

a pump, operatively associated with the actuator, for pumping the product through the outlet, the pump including a driven surface for receiving the actuator;

a pair of channels which are sized and shaped to cooperatively receive the mounting flanges of the bracket/actuator assembly to attach the container assembly to the bracket/actuator assembly and to align the driven surface of the pump with the actuator when the container assembly is attached to the bracket/actuator assembly;

wherein the container assembly is attachable to the bracket/actuator assembly in a vertically downward direction; and

the channels are elongate and situated so that they taper toward each other in the direction of attachment so that the driven surface of the pump is guided into a predetermined orientation relative to the actuator substantially simultaneously with attachment of the container assembly to the bracket/actuator assembly in the vertically downward direction.

2. A container assembly according to claim 1 wherein the container assembly includes a substantially planar rear wall adapted to abut the bracket/actuator assembly when the container assembly is attached to the bracket/actuator assembly.

3. A container assembly according to claim 1 wherein the container assembly includes top, front, and side walls with surfaces which are substantially free of sudden discontinuities to afford ease of cleaning.

4. A container assembly according to claim 1 wherein the container assembly includes a valve assembly that includes said outlet, and

wherein said valve assembly is movable relative to the reservoir between a first position which seals the product within said reservoir and a second position which affords dispensing of product through the outlet.

5. A container assembly according to claim 4 wherein said valve assembly is adapted to rotate between said first and second positions.

6. A container assembly according to claim 4 wherein said reservoir has a vertical axis, said valve assembly is elongate along an axis which is perpendicular to the vertical axis of the reservoir.

7. A container assembly according to claim 6 wherein said valve assembly is adapted to rotate approximately one hundred twenty degrees between said first and second positions; and wherein, in said second position, said outlet opens downwardly.

8. A container assembly according to claim 1 wherein the container assembly is disposable and includes a product path between the reservoir and the outlet, and said product path is located entirely within said container assembly so that the entire product path is disposed of upon disposal of the container assembly.

9. A container assembly according to claim 1 wherein said container assembly includes a pair of side walls which taper toward each other in the direction of attachment, and said side walls each include one of said channels.

10. A container assembly according to claim 9 wherein said side walls have bottom, rear portions and said channels are located in the bottom, rear portions of said side walls.

11. A container assembly according to claim 9 wherein the container assembly includes a bottom wall, and

said channels have a first end opening onto the bottom wall and a second end defined by a shoulder surface which is adapted to engage a stop surface of the bracket/actuator assembly.

12. A method of using a disposable container assembly which is attachable to a bracket/actuator assembly having a movable actuator and a pair of mounting flanges; the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a container assembly including: a reservoir for holding product to be dispensed, an outlet sized and shaped to afford passage of product to be dispensed;

a pump, operatively associated with the actuator, for pumping the product through the outlet, the pump including a driven surface for receiving the actuator; a pair of channels which taper toward each other and which are sized and shaped to cooperatively receive the mounting flanges of the bracket/actuator assembly; and

b) attaching the container assembly to the bracket/actuator assembly and substantially simultaneously aligning the driven surface of the pump with the actuator by moving the container assembly in a substantially vertically downward direction relative to the bracket/actuator assembly until the channels engage the mounting flanges.

13. A method of using a disposable container assembly according to claim 12 wherein the step of providing a container assembly includes the step of providing a valve assembly that includes said outlet, and the valve assembly is adapted to move relative to the reservoir between a first position which seals the product within said reservoir and a second position which affords dispensing of product through the outlet; and

the method further comprises the step of moving the valve assembly from said first position to said second position.

14. A method of using a disposable container assembly according to claim 13 wherein the step of moving the valve assembly includes the step of rotating the valve assembly from said first to said second position.

15. A method of using a disposable container assembly according to claim 14 wherein the step of rotating the valve assembly includes the step of rotating the valve assembly approximately one hundred and twenty degrees between said first and second positions, such that, in the second position, the outlet opens downwardly.

16. A method of using a disposable container assembly according to claim 12 wherein the step of providing a container assembly comprises the step of providing a disposable container assembly with a product path between the reservoir and the outlet which is located entirely within the container assembly; and

the method further includes the step of disposing of the entire product path upon depletion of the container assembly.

17. A dispenser for product comprising:

a bracket/actuator assembly having a movable actuator and a pair of mounting flanges;

a container assembly comprising:

a reservoir for holding the product to be dispensed,

an outlet sized and shaped to afford passage of product to be dispensed;

a pump, operatively associated with the actuator, for pumping the product through the outlet, the pump including a driven surface for receiving the actuator;

attachment and alignment means for attaching the container assembly to the bracket/actuator assembly and for automatically aligning the driven surface of the pump with the actuator during attachment of the container assembly to the bracket/actuator assembly; wherein said attachment and alignment means comprises a pair of inwardly directed flanges on one of said bracket/actuator and container assemblies and surfaces for engaging said flanges on the other of said assemblies; and

wherein the attachment and alignment means affords attachment of said container assembly to the bracket/actuator assembly, and alignment of the driven surface of the pump with the actuator, in a vertically downward direction.

18. A dispenser according to claim 17 wherein the dispenser includes top, front, and side walls with surfaces which are substantially free of sudden discontinuities to afford ease of cleaning.

19. A dispenser according to claim 17 wherein the container assembly is disposable and includes a product path between the reservoir and the outlet, and said product path is located entirely within said container assembly so that the entire product path is disposed of upon disposal of the container assembly.

20. A dispenser according to claim 17 wherein said container assembly includes a pair of side walls which taper toward each other in the direction of attachment, and said side walls each include one of said surfaces for engaging said flanges.

21. A dispenser according to claim 20 wherein the flanges of the bracket/actuator assembly include a stop surface;

the container assembly has a bottom wall, and the surfaces for engaging said flanges have a first end opening onto the bottom wall and a second end defined by a shoulder surface which is adapted to engage said stop surfaces of the bracket/actuator assembly when the container assembly is attached to the bracket/actuator assembly.

22. A disposable container assembly attachable to a bracket/actuator assembly having an actuator movable between a retracted position which affords attachment of the disposable container assembly to the bracket/actuator assembly and an extended position spaced from the retracted position; said disposable container assembly comprising:

a substantially closed reservoir for holding product to be dispensed,

a pump for pumping the product, the pump including a driven surface for receiving the actuator and being driven by the actuator when the actuator moves from the retracted to the extended position;

a valve assembly having inner surfaces adapted to receive the pump and to define a pump chamber, outer surfaces including sealing surfaces for sealing the reservoir, the outer surfaces of the valve assembly also including grasping surfaces that are sized and shaped to be manually grasped,

an outlet sized and shaped to afford passage of product to be dispensed; and surfaces extending between said inner and outer surfaces to define a fill hole;

the disposable container assembly including a product path that is located entirely within the container assembly so that the entire product path is disposed of upon disposal of the container assembly; and

wherein the grasping surfaces are located on external surfaces of the disposable container assembly so that the valve assembly is manually movable between a sealed position with the sealing surfaces sealing the pump chamber from the reservoir, and a dispense position with the fill hole affording passage of the product from the reservoir to the pump chamber.

23. A container assembly according to claim 22 wherein said grasping surfaces are rotatable from said sealed toward said dispense positions.

24. A container assembly according to claim 23 wherein said product reservoir is constructed to be suitable for holding sterilizing or disinfecting or antimicrobial product.

25. A container assembly according to claim 22 wherein said grasping surfaces comprise a knob having an outlet tube therein, said outlet tube having said outlet.

26. A container assembly attachable to a bracket/actuator assembly having an actuator movable between a retracted position which affords attachment of the container assembly to the bracket/actuator assembly and an extended position spaced from the retracted position; said container assembly comprising:

a reservoir for holding product to be dispensed,

a pump for pumping the product, the pump including a driven surface for receiving the actuator and being driven by the actuator when the actuator moves from the retracted to the extended position;

a valve assembly having inner surfaces adapted to receive the pump and to define a pump chamber, outer surfaces including sealing surfaces for sealing the reservoir, grasping surfaces that are sized and shaped to be manually grasped, an outlet sized and shaped to afford passage of product to be dispensed; and surfaces extending between said inner and outer surfaces to define a fill hole;

a cover adapted to receive the reservoir, and having surfaces defining a passageway;

said valve assembly comprises a spool element adapted to be received in the passageway of the cover;

wherein the valve assembly is movable between a sealed position with the sealing surfaces sealing the pump chamber from the reservoir, and a dispense position with the fill hole affording passage of the product from the reservoir to the pump chamber, and

the spool element rotates between said sealed and dispense positions.

27. A container assembly according to claim 26 wherein said spool element includes a vent hole affording passage of replacement air into the reservoir;

said reservoir includes a plug having first and second passageways; said first passageway affording passage of product from said reservoir to said pump chamber, and said second passageway affording passage of replacement air into the reservoir; and

wherein, in the sealed position, said sealing surfaces seal said first and second passageways, and in said dispense position, said fill hole is aligned with said first passageway and said vent hole is aligned with said second passageway.

28. A container assembly according to claim 27 wherein said first passageway includes a one-way valve for preventing flow of product from said pump chamber to said reservoir.

29. A container assembly according to claim 27 wherein the one-way valve comprises a ball valve having a ball, said ball being movable between an open position which affords passage of product from the reservoir to said pump chamber, and a closed position which prevents flow of product from the pump chamber to said reservoir; and

wherein, gravity biases said ball toward said closed position.

30. A container according to claim 27 wherein said pump means comprises a piston mounted within the inner surfaces of said valve assembly for movement between a return position and an actuated position, said driven surface comprises driven surfaces on said piston which are sized and shaped to receive the actuator;

wherein movement of said actuator from said retracted to said extended position causes said actuator to engage the driven surfaces of said piston and drive said piston from said return position to said actuated position; and

said piston includes first and second piston seals situated to seal said vent hole when said piston is in said return position, and to afford passage of ambient through said vent hole, said second passageway and into the reservoir when said piston is in said actuated position.

31. A method of using a container assembly that is attachable to a bracket/actuator assembly having an actuator movable between a retracted position which affords attachment of the container assembly to the bracket/actuator assembly and an extended position spaced from the retracted position; the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing the container assembly including a reservoir for holding product to be dispensed, a pump for pumping the product, the pump including a driven surface for receiving the actuator and being driven by the actuator when the actuator moves from the retracted to the extended position; a valve assembly having inner surfaces adapted to receive the pump and to define a pump chamber, outer surfaces including sealing surfaces for sealing the reservoir, grasping surfaces that are sized and shaped to be manually grasped, an outlet sized and shaped to afford passage of product to be dispensed; and

surfaces extending between said inner and outer surfaces to define a fill hole;

b) mounting the valve assembly for movement between a sealed position that avoids unintended dispensing of product, and a dispense position that is spaced from the sealed position so that product may be dispensed;

c) placing product to be dispensed within the reservoir,

d) storing the valve assembly in the sealed position, and

e) moving the valve assembly from the sealed position to the dispense position prior to dispensing product.

32. A method according to claim 31 wherein the step of moving the valve assembly from the sealed position to the dispense position includes the step of rotating the valve assembly from the sealed position to the dispense position.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to product dispensers, and more particularly to liquid or fluid dispensers specially adapted to dispense cleansing, disinfecting or sterilizing products such as antiseptic soaps, hydroalcoholic solutions, disinfecting lotions, cleaning solutions and other antimicrobial liquids.

BACKGROUND

In food processing establishments, surgical centers, physician and dental offices, hospitals and other healthcare facilities, contamination of objects (e.g. hands) with infectious or other deleterious materials is a significant problem. The use of a contaminated object (e.g. a surgeon's hand) in such environments can be a serious problem.

To address the problems associated with the spread of bacteria and microorganisms, the art has developed a variety of dispensers adapted to provide products for cleaning, disinfecting and potentially even sterilizing objects. For example, antiseptic preparation of a surgeon's hands conventionally includes a prolonged hand and lower arm scrubbing with an antimicrobial soap. The antimicrobial soap is typically dispensed from a liquid soap dispenser mounted near a scrub sink. To resist contamination, antimicrobial soap dispensers are designed to be operated without hand contact by mechanical, pneumatic or electromechanical means.

The contamination problem extends not just to the objects to be cleaned but to the external and internal portions of dispensers themselves. Contamination accumulation over time is a problem to be addressed for each object left in a room over time. U.S. Pat. No. 3,203,597 discloses a surgical soap dispenser which includes a complex bracket/actuator assembly and a bottle/pump assembly. The entire fluid (soap) path is provided in the bottle/pump assembly. The bottle/pump assembly is disposable in order to resist contamination build up in the fluid path. However, the bracket/actuator assembly is intended to be reusable and must itself be cleaned and disinfected. The bracket/actuator assembly comprises a complex structure including keyways and cam surfaces. This complex structure may tend to collect debris and make it very difficult to clean.

Set up and maintenance of a dispenser are also affected by the contamination problem. Dispensers which require excessive handling during set up or maintenance increase the risk of contamination by the person preparing or maintaining the dispenser. For example, refillable bottles of soap with a threaded cap structure require personnel to rotate the cap relative to the rest of the dispenser for several revolutions. U.S. Pat. No.'s 4,667,854; 4,921,131; 4,946,070; 4,946,0721 and 5,156,300 disclose various dispensers which appear more difficult to set up and maintain than the present invention. Those patents disclose dispensers which include doors, flaps or covers which are opened and closed. Some of those dispensers include refill elements which are carefully placed in position to avoid dispenser malfunction. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,203,597, the entire refill bottle must be rotated ninety degrees so that a flange on a piston may be received in a slot in an actuator assembly. Dispensers which are complicated to set up or maintain increase the risk of improper set up due to operator error with the attendant risk of unsatisfactory dispenser performance or malfunction.

Problems are also associated with the storage, transportation, handling and shipping of prior art dispensers which include valve and pump means. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,203,597, a pump mechanism projects from the end of a soap container. Care needs to be taken that the pump mechanism is not inadvertently actuated during storage, transportation, handling and shipping of the soap container. The art has developed articles such as caps and removable inserts which are designed to prevent inadvertent actuation of the dispenser prior to use by the intended user. However, these additional articles tend to complicate set up of the dispenser and may also add cost to the dispenser.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a container assembly for a product dispenser which (1) affords quick, convenient set up, refill and maintenance without requiring excessive user handling, (2) is easily cleaned, (3) reduces opportunities for contamination build up in its product path, (4) may optionally provide precise, repeatable metered amounts of product, regardless of the volume of product in a reservoir, (5) has a low profile, (6) optionally includes a novel nozzle for reducing dripping, waste, drying and clogging, (7) may be actuated without hand contact to avoid contamination due to actuation, and (8) includes container and bracket/actuator assemblies and an attachment mechanism which automatically aligns elements of the container and bracket/actuator assemblies without the need for excessive handling.

According to the present invention, there is provided a container assembly that is attachable to a bracket/actuator assembly. The bracket/actuator assembly has a movable actuator and a pair of mounting flanges. The actuator is movable between a retracted position which affords attachment of the container assembly to the bracket/actuator assembly and an extended position that is spaced from the retracted position. The container assembly comprises a reservoir for holding product to be dispensed, an outlet sized and shaped to afford passage of product to be dispensed, and a pump that is operatively associated with the actuator. The pump includes a driven surface for receiving the actuator. The driven surface is adapted to be driven by the actuator when the actuator moves from the retracted to the extended position.

The container assembly also includes a pair of channels which are sized and shaped to cooperatively receive the mounting flanges of the bracket/actuator assembly to attach the container assembly to the bracket/actuator assembly and to align the driven surface of the pump with the actuator when the container assembly is attached to the bracket/actuator assembly. The container assembly is attachable to the bracket/actuator assembly in a vertically downward direction. The channels of the bracket/actuator assembly are elongate and situated so that they taper toward each other in the direction of attachment so that the driven surface of the pump is guided into a predetermined orientation relative to the actuator upon attachment of the container assembly to the bracket/actuator assembly.

The container assembly includes a valve assembly having inner surfaces. The inner surfaces receive the pump and define a pump chamber. The valve assembly also has outer surfaces including sealing surfaces for sealing the reservoir, and grasping surfaces that are sized and shaped to be manually grasped. The valve assembly also includes the outlet. Surfaces extend between the inner and outer surfaces to define a fill hole for the pump chamber. The valve assembly is adapted to move between a sealed position with the sealing surfaces sealing the pump chamber from the reservoir, and a dispense position with the fill hole affording passage of the product from the reservoir to the pump chamber.

Alternatively, the present invention may be viewed as a unique method of dispensing product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts in the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container assembly attached to a bracket/actuator assembly, with a foot actuated pneumatic bladder pump shown in phantom lines;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the container and bracket/actuator assemblies of FIG. 1 with the foot actuated pneumatic bladder pump omitted and with a valve assembly shown in a sealed position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the container assembly separated from the bracket/actuator assembly which illustrates the direction of attachment of the container assembly onto the bracket assembly;

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the container and bracket/actuator assemblies shown in FIG. 2, with the valve assembly shown in a dispense position;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the container assembly;

FIG. 6 is a right side view of FIG. 2, with the bracket/actuator assembly omitted to illustrate details of the container assembly;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the container assembly;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the container assembly;

FIG. 9 is a rear view of the container assembly;

FIG. 10 is a front view of a reservoir for holding product to be dispensed which forms a portion of the container assembly;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the reservoir of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a top view of a cover which forms a portion of the container assembly;

FIG. 13 is a cross-section view of the cover taken substantially along section lines 13--13 in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a cross-section view of the cover taken substantially along section lines 14--14 in FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a plug which forms a portion of the container assembly;

FIG. 16 is a cross-section view of the plug of FIG. 15 taken substantially along section lines 16--16 in FIG. 15, with an insert removed to illustrate other details of the plug;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a spool element for use in the container assembly;

FIG. 18 is a cross-section view of the spool element of FIG. 17 taken substantially along section lines 18--18 in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a side view of a piston for use in a pump in the container assembly;

FIG. 20 is a cross-section view of the piston of FIG. 19 taken substantially along section lines 20--20 in FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a side view of a optional flexible, resilient member for use in the container assembly;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a retaining element for use in the container assembly;

FIG. 23 is a cross-section view of the retaining element of FIG. 22 taken along section lines 23--23 in FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is a front view of the bracket/actuator assembly of FIG. 1 with the container assembly and foot actuated pneumatic bladder pump omitted;

FIG. 25 is a side view of the bracket/actuator assembly of FIG. 24 with portions broken away to schematically illustrate internal elements of the bracket/actuator assembly, and with an actuator shown in a retracted position with solid lines and in an extended position with phantom lines;

FIGS. 26 through 30 are cross-section views of portions of the container assembly which sequentially illustrate the operation of the container assembly, wherein:

FIG. 26 illustrates a piston in a return position and the optional flexible, resilient member in a relaxed position;

FIG. 27 illustrates the position of the piston just after the actuator moves the piston toward an actuated position (with the actuator omitted to emphasize other details) and a displaced sealing position of the flexible, resilient member, with the direction of the piston movement illustrated with an arrow;

FIG. 28 illustrates piston as it moves further toward the actuated position, and the flexible resilient member in a deflected, dispense position which affords dispensing of the product to be dispensed through an outlet in the valve assembly, with the direction of the piston movement illustrated with an arrow;

FIG. 29 illustrates the piston in the actuated position, and the flexible, resilient member returned to the displaced sealing position, with the flow of air into the reservoir illustrated with arrows; and

FIG. 30 illustrates the piston on a return stroke from the actuated position toward the return position, the flexible, resilient member returned to the relaxed position, and the ball of a ball valve displaced to afford flow of product from the reservoir into a pump chamber, with the flow of the product from the reservoir into pump chamber illustrated with arrows, and with the direction of the piston movement illustrated with an arrow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention is directed to a dispenser 30 (or components thereof) for dispensing product. The dispenser 30 comprises a container assembly 32 (FIG. 3) which is removably attachable to a bracket/actuator assembly 34. The bracket/actuator assembly 34 includes an actuator 196 that is movable between a retracted position (see FIG. 3, FIG. 25, solid lines) which affords attachment of the container assembly 32 to the bracket/actuator assembly 34 and an extended position (FIG. 25, dashed lines). The bracket/actuator assembly 34 also includes a pair of inwardly directed mounting flanges 200 and 202 which will be described in greater detail below.

The container assembly 32 includes a reservoir for holding product to be dispensed. The dispenser 30 is particularly suitable for dispensing cleansing, disinfecting or sterilizing liquids, fluids, compositions or solutions, such as antiseptic soaps, hydroalcoholic solutions, disinfecting lotions, cleaning solutions and other antimicrobial liquids. For example, the product may comprise the compositions described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.'s 08/493,714 (filed Jun. 22, 1995 entitled, "Stable Hydroalcoholic Compositions") and 08/493,695 (filed Jun. 22, 1995 entitled, "Stable Hydroalcoholic Compositions"), the entire contents of each of which are herein incorporated by reference. While the dispenser 30 is particularly suitable for dispensing antimicrobial liquids that include volatile active ingredients, many other compositions may be dispensed from the dispenser 30. Preferably, the reservoir is provided by bottle 36 which is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

The actuator 196 of the bracket/actuator assembly 34 is preferably controlled without hand or arm contact with the dispenser 30 to reduce the risk of contamination due to actuation of the dispenser 30. For example, FIG. 1 illustrates a foot actuated pneumatic bladder pump 220 with an air hose 221 adapted to be connected to port 214. The bladder pump 220 may optionally be used to move the actuator 196 from the retracted position to the extended position by delivering pneumatic pressure to the bracket/actuator assembly 34 when depressed by the operator. Alternatively, a wide variety of structures may be used to operate the bracket/actuator assembly 34 without hand contact. To activate the dispenser 30, a wide variety of devices may be used which are designed to engage a user's foot, knee, elbow or even the user's hand. Optionally, an electronic eye may be used to activate the dispenser 30. Additionally, a wide variety of devices may be used to propel the actuator 196 between the retracted and extended position. For example, the actuator 196 may be propelled by a fluid (e.g. pneumatic or hydraulic), a mechanical device, an electromechanical device or an electro/fluid device. Examples of fluid driven devices include molded bulbs, bladders, bellows and cylinders. Examples of mechanical devices include linkages, cables and foot pedals. Electromechanical devices include motors and solenoids with and without mechanical linkages. An example of an electrofluid device includes an electric compressor.

The container assembly 32 includes a valve assembly (described in greater detail below) which includes an outlet 42 that is sized and shaped to afford passage of product to be dispensed (e.g. a circular opening with a diameter of about 0.094 inches), and a pump that is operatively associated with the actuator 196 to dispense product through the outlet 42.

Preferably, the pump for the dispenser 30 comprises a constant volume pump adapted to deliver reproducible, metered amounts of the product regardless of the product volume (e.g. fluid level) in the reservoir. The pump comprises a piston 98 which includes a driven means in the form of driven surfaces 164 for receiving the actuator 196. More preferably, the pump is capable of delivering a precise volume with each actuation. This feature is particularly preferred if the dispenser 30 is utilized to deliver a product whose efficacy, performance or effectiveness is dependent upon the volume delivered to the user. Controlling the volume of product delivered by the dispenser 30 also helps ensure that product is not wasted. Alternatively, the dispenser may function with a pump that varies the volume of product delivered.

The container assembly 32 includes a pair of channels 138 and 140 which are sized and shaped to cooperatively receive the mounting flanges 200 and 202 of the bracket/actuator assembly 34 to attach the container assembly 32 to the bracket/actuator assembly 34 and to align the driven surfaces 164 of the piston 98 with the actuator 196 when the container assembly 32 is attached to the bracket/actuator assembly 34. Engagement between the mounting flanges 200 and 202 and the channels 138 and 140 not only attaches the container assembly 32 to the bracket/actuator assembly 34, but also properly orients the actuator 196 and piston 98 to afford proper operation of the dispenser 30.

The container assembly 32 is quickly attachable to the bracket/actuator assembly 34 in a vertically downward direction (see arrows 10 in FIG. 3). Conveniently, to assembly the dispenser 30, the operator may simply drop the container assembly 32 into the bracket/actuator assembly so that the flanges 200 and 202 engage the channels 138 and 140. This relatively simple task does not require excessive handling with the attendant contamination risks. Set up, maintenance and refilling of the dispenser 30 may be rapidly accomplished without the need for complicated steps or excessive handling.

Preferably, the channels 138 and 140 are elongate and situated to taper toward each other in the direction of attachment 10 (FIG. 3) so that the driven surfaces 164 of the piston 98 are automatically guided into a predetermined orientation relative to the actuator 196 upon attachment of the container assembly 32 to the bracket/actuator assembly 34. Automatic orientation of the driven surfaces 164 and actuator 196 eliminates the need to carefully manipulate those elements into a proper orientation. As an example not intended to be limiting, the channels 138 and 140 may be situated to form an acute angle of about forty (40) degrees therebetween, and a vertical height of about 2.1 inches.

The container assembly 32 preferably includes a substantially planar rear wall 39 which is adapted to abut a substantially planar front housing 192 of the bracket/actuator assembly 34 when the dispenser 30 is assembled. Should the operator so desire, to assemble the dispenser 30, the rear wall 39 may be placed against the housing 192, and the container assembly 32 slid downwardly until the flanges 200 and 202 engage the channels 138 and 140.

The container assembly 32 includes a top wall 51, a front wall 53, a pair of side walls 45 and 47 which taper toward each other in the direction of attachment, and a bottom wall 49. Each of the side walls 45 and 47 include one of the channels 138 and 140. Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown a bottom, rear portion of the side wall 47. The channels (e.g. 140) are preferably located in the bottom, rear portion of a side wall (e.g. 47).

The dispenser 30 preferably has surfaces which are substantially free of sudden discontinuities to afford ease of cleaning and to reduce the potential for accumulation of contaminants on the dispenser 30. The top 51, front 53, side 45 and 47 and bottom 49 walls of the container assembly 32 have surfaces which are substantially free of sudden discontinuities to afford ease of cleaning. Further, the top, side and bottom walls of the bracket/actuator assembly 34 form a shape that is substantially identical to the shape of the container assembly 32 to provide a dispenser 30 which is substantially free of discontinuities. The shape of the dispenser 30 is not a complex geometry which contributes to the ease with which the dispenser 30 may be cleaned.

Preferably, the top 51 and front 53 walls have outer surfaces that are slightly curved while the side walls 45 and 47 are substantially flat. As an example not intended to be limiting, the front wall may have a radius of about six inches and the top wall 51 may have a radius of about six inches.

The dispenser 30 is preferably relatively flat so that it presents a low profile which reduces the chances of it being inadvertently bumped, dislodged, or knocked over. To this end, the container assembly 32 is preferably relatively flat. As an example not intended to be limiting, the thickness of the container assembly 32 (the distance between the rear wall 39 and the front wall 53) should be less than about two inches.

Also preferably, the flanges 200 and 202 project inwardly from support arms 201 and 203. The container assembly 32 includes recessed ledges 139 and 141 adjacent the channels 138 and 140. The ledges 139 and 141 are recessed from the rest of the side walls 45 and 47 by an amount that is substantially the thickness of the support arms 201 and 203 so that there is a substantially flush interface or junction between the container assembly 32 and the bracket actuator assembly 34 to reduce the surfaces which may collect contaminants or which may be difficult to keep clean.

The channels 138 and 140 each have first ends opening onto the bottom wall 49 and second ends defined by shoulder surfaces 143 and 145 which are adapted to engage stop surfaces S of the mounting flanges 200 and 202 and support arms 201 and 203. Engagement between the stop surfaces S and the shoulder surfaces 143 and 145 terminates the insertion of the container assembly 32 into the bracket/actuator assembly at the point where actuator 196 is properly oriented with the driven surfaces 164 of the piston 98.

The container assembly 32 has a product path between the reservoir and the outlet 42. Preferably, the container assembly 32 is disposable and the product path is located entirely within the container assembly 32 so that the entire product path is disposed of upon disposal of the container assembly 32. In this manner, the dispenser 30 avoids accumulation of contaminants within the product path. Alternatively, however, the container assembly 32 or portions thereof may be reusable.

Within the product path and between the outlet 42 and the reservoir, the container assembly 32 includes a valve assembly with inner surfaces which receive the piston 98 and define a pump chamber 90. The valve assembly includes outer surfaces 83 including sealing surfaces 84 for sealing the reservoir, grasping surfaces 40 (e.g. a knob) that are sized and shaped to be manually grasped, the outlet 42, and surfaces extending between the inner and outer surfaces 83 to define a fill hole 94. As described in greater detail below, the knob 40 can be turned to permit or prohibit flow of product (e.g. liquid) from the bottle 36 out through nozzle 42.

The valve assembly is mounted within the dispenser 30 for movement between a sealed position (FIG. 2) with the sealing surfaces 84 sealing reservoir from the pump chamber 90, and a dispense position (FIGS. 5 and 26-30) with the fill hole 94 affording passage of the product from the reservoir to the pump chamber 90. In the sealed position, the valve assembly provides a positive seal for the reservoir which is particularly convenient for shipping, handling or storage of the container assembly 32.

In the preferred embodiment of dispenser 30 shown in FIGS. 26-30, the pump is a constant volume pump. The piston 98 is mounted within the inner surfaces of the valve assembly for movement between a return position (FIG. 26) and an actuated position (FIG. 29). Movement of the actuator 196 from the retracted to the extended position causes the actuator 196 to engage the surfaces 164 of the piston 98 and drive the piston 98 from the return position to the actuated position. Preferably, a spring 100 is mounted within the inner surfaces of the valve assembly to bias the piston 98 toward the return position. The spring 100 also biases the actuator 196 toward the retracted position through the piston 98.

The container assembly 32 includes a cover 38 that is adapted to receive the reservoir. The cover 38 has surfaces defining a passageway 46. Preferably, the valve assembly comprises a spool element 52 (FIGS. 17 and 18) adapted to be received in the passageway 46 of the cover 38. The spool element 52 is mounted to rotate within the passageway 46 between the sealed and dispense positions.

The cover 38 includes a main opening 44 adapted to receive the bottle 36. The passageway 46 has a first end 48 and a second end 50 on opposite faces which receive the spool element 52. The axis of the passageway 46 in the cover 38 is conveniently oriented perpendicular to the main axis of the disposable container assembly 32. First 54 and second 56 hollow coaxial bosses project perpendicularly from the wall of the passageway 46 in the cover 38. The first hollow boss 54 includes a first opening 58 at the top and a second opening 60 into the passageway 46. The second hollow boss 56 includes an opening 62 at the top that is adapted to be connected to the bottle 36. The cover 38 may be constructed from any suitable material, such as, but not limited to high density polyethylene.

In addition to the product fill hole 94, the spool element 52 preferably includes a vent hole 96 which affords passage of replacement air into the reservoir. The vent hole 96 in the spool element 52 is a port for the aspiration of replacemen