초록 ▼

The invention relates generally to a foam dispenser having a reservoir, a housing, and a chamber. The reservoir delivers fluid to the housing and the chamber through a dip-tube. The chamber moves within the housing in response to fluid pressure or air pressure from the reservoir, allowing air and fo

The invention relates generally to a foam dispenser having a reservoir, a housing, and a chamber. The reservoir delivers fluid to the housing and the chamber through a dip-tube. The chamber moves within the housing in response to fluid pressure or air pressure from the reservoir, allowing air and foamable liquid to enter the chamber. Foam-producing packing material inside the chamber causes the air and foamable liquid to mix and produce foam.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A foam dispensing apparatus comprising:a housing having a first inlet and a second inlet, said housing also having a plurality of openings; a chamber, having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, disposed within said housing, for sliding movement between a first position in which said chamber s

1. A foam dispensing apparatus comprising:a housing having a first inlet and a second inlet, said housing also having a plurality of openings; a chamber, having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, disposed within said housing, for sliding movement between a first position in which said chamber seals against and closes said first inlet while opening said second inlet and a second position in which said chamber opens said first inlet and seals against said housing to close said second inlet, a space between said chamber and housing forming a passage from said plurality of opening in said housing to said opening in said chamber, said first inlet also being in communication with said passage when said first inlet is open; material housed within the chamber to provide surface area for mixing a foamable liquid and air to produce foam; and an outlet from said housing in communication with said chamber outlet. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a compressible reservoir for containing the foamable liquid with an air space above the foamable liquid, passages placing the liquid in communication with said first inlet and passages placing the air space in communication with said second inlet, and with said openings in said housing.3. The apparatus of claim 2 the chamber and the housing defining a first path for communicating a foamable liquid from the reservoir to the chamber under a first pressure, the chamber and the housing defining a second path for communicating air from the reservoir to the chamber under the first pressure, the chamber and the housing defining a third path for communicating ambient air into the reservoir under a second pressure.4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second inlet is sized to provide unobstructed communication of ambient air into the reservoir.5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second inlet is sized relatively larger than each of the first path and the second path.6. A foam dispenser comprising:a chamber, a housing and a reservoir for communicating a foamable liquid and air to said chamber and said housing, a first aperture for influx of said formable liquid from the reservoir, said first aperture defined by said chamber and said housing, a second aperture for influx of air from the reservoir, said second aperture defined by said chamber and said housing, a third aperture coupled to said reservoir for influx of ambient air into said reservoir, a first mesh screen and a second mesh screen positioned within the chamber, and an outlet. 7. The foam dispenser of claim 6, wherein said third aperture is substantially larger than said first or said second aperture.8. The foam dispenser of claim 6, further comprising packing material having a plurality of tortuous paths to mix air and foamable liquid.9. The foam dispenser of claim 6, further comprising a dip tube.10. The foam dispenser of claim 6, further comprising a cap.11. A method for mixing at least two fluids comprising:sliding a chamber within a housing to a first position to form a first aperture and a second aperture between said housing and said chamber, said first aperture communicating a foamable liquid from a reservoir to said chamber and said second aperture communicating air from said reservoir to said chamber; mixing said foamable liquid and air to produce foam; dispensing said foam from the chamber; and sliding said chamber within said housing to a second position to form a third aperture between said housing and said chamber to replenish said reservoir with ambient air. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of mixing said foamable liquid and air further comprises passing said foamable liquid and air through a tortuous path to produce foam.13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of mixing said foamable liquid and air further comprises passing said foamable liquid and air through a first and a second mesh filters to produce foam.14. The method of claim 13, further comprising controlling the foam quality by adjusting the size of each of said first and said second aperture relative to each other.15. A foam producing apparatus comprising:a closure; a housing disposed within said closure, said housing having an inlet and an outlet; a chamber disposed within said housing for sliding movement from a first position in which said chamber seals against a first inlet and opens a second inlet and a second position in which said chamber opens said first inlet and seals against said second inlet; a first path between said housing and said closure when said chamber is in said first position; and a second path and a third path between said housing and said chamber when the chamber is in the second position. 16. A foam dispenser comprising:a reservoir bottle having collapsible walls; a closure coupled to said reservoir bottle; a housing disposed with said closure, said housing having an inlet and an outlet; a chamber disposed within said housing for sliding movement from a first position in which said chamber seals against a first inlet and opens a second inlet and a second position in which said chamber opens said first inlet and seals against said second inlet; a first path between said closure and said reservoir bottle when said chamber is in said first position; and a second path and a third path between the housing and the chamber when the chamber is in the second position. 17. A method for mixing air and foamable liquid to produce foam, the method comprising:sliding a chamber within a housing to a first position to define a first path and a second path between said housing and said chamber, said first path communicating a foamable liquid to said chamber and said second path communicating air to said chamber; mixing said foamable liquid and air to produce foam; dispensing said foam from the chamber; and sliding said chamber within said housing to a second position, said second position sealing first and said second path and forming a third path to replenish the air consumed during mixing. 18. A method for mixing air and foamable liquid to produce foam, the method comprising:communicating said air and said foamable liquid from a reservoir to a housing; sliding a chamber within a reservoir to a first position to form a first inlet for receiving said air and said formable liquid from said housing; mixing said air and said foamable liquid to form foam; dispensing said foam from said chamber; and sliding said chamber to a second position within said housing, said second position sealing said first inlet and forming a second inlet, the second inlet replenishing said reservoir with ambient air.