초록 ▼

A foamer pump for dispensing foam has a simple construction and utilizes a single piston to reduce the volume of both a fluid chamber and an air chamber. A portion of the actuating mechanism helps to unseat a check valve at the outlet of the fluid chamber. The foamer pump has a fluid chamber, and an

A foamer pump for dispensing foam has a simple construction and utilizes a single piston to reduce the volume of both a fluid chamber and an air chamber. A portion of the actuating mechanism helps to unseat a check valve at the outlet of the fluid chamber. The foamer pump has a fluid chamber, and an outlet of the fluid chamber is connected to a mixing chamber. An air chamber has an air channel that connects the air chamber to ambient air in a first position and to the mixing chamber in a second position. A piston causes the volume of the air chamber and the liquid chamber each to be reduced, forcing air from the air chamber and foamable fluid from the liquid chamber into the mixing chamber where they blend to form an air/liquid mixture.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A foamer pump for dispensing a foam, the foamer pump having an axial direction and a radial direction, the foamer pump having a first position and a second position, the foamer pump comprising a fluid chamber containing a foamable fluid and having an inlet and an outlet, the

What is claimed is: 1. A foamer pump for dispensing a foam, the foamer pump having an axial direction and a radial direction, the foamer pump having a first position and a second position, the foamer pump comprising a fluid chamber containing a foamable fluid and having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet of the fluid chamber being connected to a mixing chamber, an air chamber having an air channel, the air channel permitting air to enter and exit the air chamber, the air channel connecting the air chamber to the mixing chamber in the second position of the foamer pump, and the air channel connecting the air chamber to ambient air in the first position of the foamer pump, the air channel comprising an air chamber passageway, the mixing chamber providing a region for combining air from the air chamber with the foamable fluid from the liquid chamber to form an air/liquid mixture, the foamer pump further comprising: (a) a fluid bottle, the fluid bottle containing an additional volume of the foamable fluid; (b) a closure, the closure being shaped and dimensioned to connect to the fluid bottle, the closure having an upper edge; (c) an accumulator, the accumulator having an upper edge, the upper edge of the accumulator being connected to the upper edge of the closure, the accumulator being generally cylindrical in shape, and having an inner surface, an outer surface, an outside diameter, and a lower end, the outside diameter being dimensioned to permit the accumulator to fit within the fluid bottle, the air chamber being within the accumulator, the accumulator further have a side vent hole between the inner surface and the outer surface, the side vent hole permitting ambient air to communicate with air inside of the fluid bottle in the second position of the foamer pump, thereby maintaining generally ambient air pressure within the fluid bottle; (d) a liquid conduit, the liquid conduit being generally cylindrical and having an outside diameter that is less than the outside diameter of the accumulator, the liquid conduit further having an inner surface and an outer surface, the lower end of the accumulator tapering between the outside diameter of the accumulator and the outside diameter of the liquid conduit to form a generally continuous surface between the lower end of the accumulator and an upper end of the liquid conduit; (e) an actuator, the actuator being slidingly engaged with the closure, the sliding engagement being such that ambient air may pass between the actuator and the closure, the actuator having an internal passage, a portion of the internal passage being generally in the axial direction and a portion being generally in the radial direction, the generally radial portion having an actuator outlet; (f) a piston, the piston being connected to the actuator, the piston having a generally cylindrical inner flange and a generally cylindrical outer flange, the inner flange and the outer flange being connected by a generally radial portion of the piston, the outer flange further having an air chamber scraper to contact the inner surface of the accumulator to form a generally airtight seal, the inner flange of the piston enclosing an axial passage, the inner flange extending to and making contact with the inner surface of the liquid conduit to form a generally airtight seal, the inner flange of the piston and the liquid conduit enclosing the liquid chamber, the generally radial portion of the piston having a generally cylindrical ridge extending toward the actuator, the air chamber passageway being in the radial portion of the piston; (g) a dip tube, the dip tube being connected to the liquid conduit, the dip tube extending into the additional volume of the foamable fluid within the fluid bottle, the dip tube providing a passage for transport of the foamable fluid from the fluid bottle to the liquid conduit; (h) an upper check valve, the upper check valve being generally spherical and being in corresponding relation to an upper valve seat, the upper valve seat being integral to the piston, the upper check valve in combination with the upper valve seat permitting the foamable fluid to flow from the liquid chamber to the mixing chamber, the upper check valve in combination with the upper valve seat generally preventing the foamable fluid from flowing from the mixing chamber to the liquid chamber; (i) a lower check valve, the lower check valve being generally spherical and being in corresponding relation to a lower valve seat, the lower valve seat being connected to the liquid conduit, the lower check valve in combination with the lower valve seat permitting the foamable fluid to flow from the dip tube to the liquid chamber, the lower check valve in combination with the lower valve seat generally preventing the foamable fluid from flowing from the liquid chamber to the dip tube; (j) a spring, the spring comprising a helical compression spring, the spring having a first end and a second end, the first end having a first coil diameter and the second end having a second coil diameter, the second coil diameter being less than the first coil diameter, the spring tapering from the first end to the second end, the spring generally extending between the lower check valve at the first end of the spring and the upper check valve at the second end of the spring; (k) a stem, the stem being connected to and moving with the actuator, the stem having a generally axial portion slidingly engaged with the piston and a generally radial portion, the generally radial portion having a generally cylindrical ridge extending toward the radial portion of the piston, the cylindrical ridge of the stem overlapping with the cylindrical ridge of the piston to form a generally airtight seal in the second position of the foamer pump, the cylindrical ridge of the stem moving away from the cylindrical ridge of the piston to permit air to pass between the cylindrical ridge of the stem and the cylindrical ridge of the piston in the first position of the foamer pump, the stem further having a central portion extending into the axial passage of the piston, the central portion contacting the upper check valve in the second position of the foamer pump, the central portion generally not contacting the upper check valve in the first position of the foamer pump, the stem having an internal axial passage and a radial passage, the radial passage connecting the internal axial passage to the mixing chamber, the mixing chamber being within the generally axial portion of the stem; and (l) an aerator to promote foaming of the air/liquid mixture, the aerator being located within the axial portion of the internal passage of the actuator between the mixing chamber and the actuator outlet, the aerator comprising a cylinder having a first end and a second end, a mesh screen on the first end and the second end, and a chamber between the first end and the second end. 2. The foamer pump of claim 1 further comprising an over-cap, the over-cap being generally cylindrical and having an open end and a closed end, the over-cap generally fitting over the actuator, the open end removably engaging the closure to form a protective cap over the actuator when the foamer pump is not in use, the over-cap being removed during use of the foamer pump. 3. A foamer pump for dispensing a foam, the foamer pump having an axial direction and a radial direction, the foamer pump having a first position and a second position, the foamer pump comprising a fluid chamber containing a foamable fluid and having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet of the fluid chamber being connected to a mixing chamber, an air chamber having an air channel, the air channel permitting air to enter and exit the air chamber, the air channel connecting the air chamber to the mixing chamber in the second position of the foamer pump, and the air channel connecting the air chamber to ambient air in the first position of the foamer pump, the air channel comprising an air chamber passageway, the mixing chamber providing a region for combining air from the air chamber with the foamable fluid from the liquid chamber to form an air/liquid mixture, the foamer pump further comprising: (a) a fluid bottle, the fluid bottle containing an additional volume of the foamable fluid; (b) a closure, the closure being shaped and dimensioned to connect to the fluid bottle, the closure having an upper edge; (c) an accumulator, the accumulator having an upper edge, the upper edge of the accumulator being connected to the upper edge of the closure, the accumulator having an inner surface, an outer surface, a circumference, and a lower end, the circumference being dimensioned to permit the accumulator to fit within the fluid bottle, the air chamber being within the accumulator; (d) a liquid conduit, the liquid conduit having a circumference that is less than the circumference of the accumulator, the liquid conduit further having an inner surface and an outer surface, the lower end of the accumulator tapering between the circumference of the accumulator and the circumference of the liquid conduit to form a generally continuous surface between the lower end of the accumulator and an upper end of the liquid conduit; (e) an actuator, the actuator being slidingly engaged with the closure, the sliding engagement being such that ambient air may pass between the actuator and the closure, the actuator having an internal passage, and an actuator outlet at an end of the internal passage; (f) a piston, the piston being connected to the actuator, the piston having an inner flange and an outer flange, the inner flange and the outer flange being connected by a generally radial portion of the piston, the outer flange contacting the inner surface of the accumulator to form a generally airtight seal, the inner flange of the piston enclosing an axial passage, the inner flange extending to and making contact with the inner surface of the liquid conduit to form a generally airtight seal, the inner flange of the piston and the liquid conduit enclosing the liquid chamber, the piston having a first sealing member, the air chamber passageway being in the radial portion of the piston; (g) an upper check valve, the upper check valve being in corresponding relation to an upper valve seat, the upper check valve in combination with the upper valve seat permitting the foamable fluid to flow from the liquid chamber to the mixing chamber while generally preventing the foamable fluid from flowing from the mixing chamber to the liquid chamber; (h) a lower check valve, the lower check valve being in corresponding relation to a lower valve seat, the lower valve seat being connected to the liquid conduit, the lower check valve in combination with the lower valve seat permitting the foamable fluid to flow from the fluid bottle to the liquid chamber while generally preventing the foamable fluid from flowing from the liquid chamber to the fluid bottle; (i) a spring, the spring generally extending between the lower check valve at a first end of the spring and the upper check valve at a second end of the spring; (j) a stem, the stem being connected to the actuator, the stem having a generally axial portion slidingly engaged with the piston and a generally radial portion, the generally radial portion having a second sealing member in corresponding relation to the first sealing member of the piston, the second sealing member of the stem cooperating with the first sealing member of the piston to form a generally airtight seal in the second position of the foamer pump, the second sealing member of the stem moving away from the first sealing member of the piston to permit air to pass between the second sealing member of the stem and the first sealing member of the piston in the first position of the foamer pump, the stem further having a central portion extending into the axial passage of the piston, the central portion contacting the upper check valve in the second position of the foamer pump, the central portion generally not contacting the upper check valve in the first position of the foamer pump, the stem having an internal axial passage and a radial passage, the radial passage connecting the internal axial passage to the mixing chamber, and the mixing chamber being within the generally axial portion of the stem; and (k) an aerator to promote foaming of the air/liquid mixture, the aerator being located within the internal passage of the actuator between the mixing chamber and the actuator outlet. 4. The foamer pump of claim 3, the accumulator and the liquid conduit each being generally cylindrical in shape. 5. The foamer pump of claim 3, the accumulator further have a side vent hole between the inner surface and the outer surface, the side vent hole permitting ambient air to communicate with air inside of the fluid bottle in the second position of the foamer pump, thereby maintaining generally ambient air pressure within the fluid bottle. 6. The foamer pump of claim 3, the internal passage of the actuator having a portion being generally in the axial direction and a portion being generally in the radial direction, the actuator outlet being in the generally radial portion, and the mixing chamber being within the axial portion of the internal passage. 7. The foamer pump of claim 4, the inner flange of the piston and the outer flange of the piston each being generally cylindrical. 8. The foamer pump of claim 3, the outer flange of the piston further having an air chamber scraper to contact the inner surface of the accumulator to form a generally airtight seal. 9. The foamer pump of claim 3, the inner flange of the piston further having a liquid chamber scraper to contact the inner surface of the liquid conduit to form a generally airtight seal. 10. The foamer pump of claim 3, the foamer pump further comprising a dip tube, the dip tube being connected to the liquid conduit, the dip tube extending into the fluid bottle, the dip tube providing a passage for transport of the foamable fluid from the fluid bottle to the liquid conduit. 11. The foamer pump of claim 3, the upper check valve being generally spherical. 12. The foamer pump of claim 3, the upper check valve being generally bottle-shaped. 13. The foamer pump of claim 3, the upper valve seat being integral to the piston. 14. The foamer pump of claim 3, the lower check valve being generally spherical. 15. The foamer pump of claim 3, the spring comprising a helical compression spring, the first end of the spring having a first coil diameter and the second end of the spring having a second coil diameter, the second coil diameter being less than the first coil diameter, the spring tapering from the first end to the second end. 16. The foamer pump of claim 3, the aerator comprising a cylinder having a first end and a second end, a mesh screen on the first end, a mesh screen on the second end, and a chamber between the first end and the second end. 17. The foamer pump of claim 3, the foamer pump further comprising an over-cap, the over-cap being generally cylindrical and having an open end and a closed end, the over-cap generally fitting over the actuator, the open end removably engaging the closure to form a protective cap over the actuator when the foamer pump is not in use, the over-cap being removed during use of the foamer pump.