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A manual pump action dispenser for dispensing at least one liquid from a container, the dispenser comprising a base and a cap (114) having an outlet (144) for the liquid, the base being mountable to or forming part of a container and the cap (114) being mountable to the base for movement relative to

A manual pump action dispenser for dispensing at least one liquid from a container, the dispenser comprising a base and a cap (114) having an outlet (144) for the liquid, the base being mountable to or forming part of a container and the cap (114) being mountable to the base for movement relative to the base between a rest position and an actuated position, the dispenser further comprising a flexible insert (116) locatable between the base and the cap (114) to define a first pump chamber (122) for dispensing said at least one liquid, the insert being adapted to engage with the base to define an inlet through which said at least one liquid to be dispensed can enter the first pump chamber, the dispenser further comprising an inlet valve operable to enable liquid to enter the first pump chamber (122) through the inlet and an outlet valve arrangement operable to control the release of liquid from the first pump chamber through the outlet, in which the insert also defines a second pump chamber (123) for dispensing a second fluid.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A manual pump action dispenser for dispensing at least one liquid from a container, the dispenser comprising a base and a cap having an outlet for the liquid, the base being mountable to or forming part of a container and the cap being mountable to the base for movement relative to the base betwe

1. A manual pump action dispenser for dispensing at least one liquid from a container, the dispenser comprising a base and a cap having an outlet for the liquid, the base being mountable to or forming part of a container and the cap being mountable to the base for movement relative to the base between a rest position and an actuated position, the dispenser further comprising a flexible insert locatable between the base and the cap to define a first pump chamber for dispensing said at least one liquid, the insert being a single unitary element adapted to engage with the base to define an inlet through which said at least one liquid to be dispensed can enter the first pump chamber, the dispenser further comprising an inlet valve operable to enable liquid to enter the first pump chamber through the inlet and an outlet valve arrangement operable to control the release of liquid from the first pump chamber through the outlet, the insert also defining a second pump chamber for dispensing a second fluid, the insert comprising a main body portion, a first flexible diaphragm member which extends generally radially outwardly from the main body for contact with an inner surface of the cap to define one of the first and second pump chambers between itself and a closed end of the cap, the insert having a second flexible diaphragm member extending generally radially outwardly from the main body for contact with an inner surface of the cap, the other of the first and second pump chambers being defined inside the cap between the first and second diaphragm members. 2. A manual pump dispenser as claimed in claim 1, in which an integral portion of the insert forms a flexible valve member of the first pump chamber inlet valve. 3. A manual pump dispenser as claimed in claim 1, in which a portion of the flexible insert forms a flexible valve member of the first pump chamber outlet valve. 4. A manual pump dispenser as claimed in claim 1, in which an integral portion of the insert forms a flexible valve member of an inlet valve for the second pump chamber. 5. A manual pump dispenser as claimed in claim 1, in which an integral portion of the insert forms a flexible valve member of an outlet valve for the second pump chamber. 6. A manual pump dispenser as claimed in claim 4, in which the second pump chamber is configured to dispense air and the inlet valve for the second pump chamber is configured to open so as to admit ambient air into the second pump chamber when the pressure in the second pump chamber is lower than the ambient air pressure by a predetermined amount. 7. A manual pump chamber as claimed in claim 1, in which the second pump chamber is configured to dispense a second liquid, the insert defining a second inlet through which the second liquid may be drawn into the second pump chamber. 8. A manual pump dispenser as claimed in claim 1, in which the main body portion defines a bore forming part of the inlet to the first pump chamber, the insert being mountable to a dip tube so that the dip tube is in fluid connection with the bore. 9. A manual pump dispenser as claimed in claim 8, in which the second pump chamber is configured to dispense a second liquid, the main body portion defining a second bore forming part of an inlet through which the second liquid may be drawn into the second pump chamber, the insert being mountable to a second dip tube so that the second dip tube is in fluid connection with the second bore. 10. A manual pump dispenser as claimed in claim 1, in which the base has an annular wall or neck, the cap having an annular side wall extending from the closed end which locates about the outside of the neck, at least part of the insert being received within the neck. 11. A manual pump dispenser as claimed in claim 10, in which the main body is at least partially received within the neck, the second diaphragm member extending from the main body to contact and form a seal with an inner surface of the neck, the second diaphragm member bell carrying a seal member which contacts the side wall of the cap in spaced relation from the first diaphragm member. 12. A manual pump dispenser as claimed in claim 11, in which the main body portion defines a bore forming part of the inlet to the first pump chamber, the insert being mountable to a dip tube so that the dip tube is in fluid connection with the bore, and in which the insert has one or more flexible valve members configured to allow a first liquid to flow through the bore into the first pump chamber but not in the reverse direction. 13. A manual pump dispenser as claimed in claim 12, in which the second pump chamber is configured to dispense a second liquid, the main body portion defining a second bore which opens into the second pump chamber and which forms part of an inlet to the second pump chamber through which the second liquid may be drawn into the second pump chamber, the insert being mountable to a second dip tube so that the second dip tube is in fluid connection with the second bore, the insert having one or more flexible valve members configured to allow a second liquid to flow through the second bore into the second pump chamber but not in the reverse direction. 14. A manual pump dispenser as claimed in claim 1, in which the base is adapted to be mounted to an outlet of a container for the at least one liquid. 15. A manual pump dispenser as defined in claim 1, in which the first diaphragm member comprises a generally frusto-conical portion that extends away from the body portion and a seal region of enlarged thickness which engages with the cap. 16. A manual pump dispenser as claimed in claim 1, in which the first diaphragm member comprises a portion that engages with a surface of the cap to define a pump chamber outlet valve member, the outlet valve member being resiliently biased into contact with the surface to close an outlet passage connecting the pump chamber and the liquid outlet in the cap. 17. A manual pump dispenser as claimed in claim 16, in which the cap comprises inner and outer annular wall members which define between themselves an outlet channel for the pump chamber, the outlet valve member being resiliently biased to contact one of the wall members to close the outlet of the pump chamber. 18. A manual pump dispenser as claimed in claim 10, in which the second diaphragm member has a shoulder region which rests on a flange formed at an outer end of the neck. 19. A manual pump dispenser as claimed in claim 18, in which the second diaphragm member extends into the neck beyond the flange for contact with an inner surface of the neck and is resiliently biased into contact with the inner surface of the neck the second diaphragm member forming an inlet valve member for controlling the admission of air into the container during use. 20. A manual pump dispenser as claimed in claim 1, in which the second pump chamber is configured to dispense air for mixture with the liquid, the second diaphragm member having a seal member for contact with an inner surface of the cap, the seal member being configured to act as an inlet valve member to control the admission of ambient air into the second pump chamber during use. 21. A manual pump dispenser as claimed in claim 20, in which a fluid passage connects the second pump chamber with the outlet in the cap, a portion of the flexible insert being configured to act in use as an outlet valve member for controlling the release of fluid from the second pump chamber into the outlet. 22. A manual pump dispenser as claimed in claim 1, in which the dispenser further comprises a trigger type actuation surface adapted to be gripped by a user's fingers and pulled towards the container to actuate the dispenser. 23. A manual pump dispenser as claimed in claim 22, in which the cap is mounted to the base or container for pivotal movement between the rest and actuated positions, the trigger type actuation surface being formed integrally with the cap. 24. A manual pump action dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a container, the dispenser comprising a base and a cap having an outlet for the liquid, the base being mountable to or forming part of the container and the cap being mountable to the base for movement between a rest position and an actuated position, the dispenser further comprising a flexible insert locatable between the base and the cap to define a pump chamber for the liquid, the insert being adapted to engage with the base to define an inlet through which the liquid to be dispensed can enter the pump chamber, the dispenser further comprising a one way inlet valve operable to enable liquid to enter the pump chamber through the inlet and a one way outlet valve arrangement operable to control the release of liquid from the pump chamber into the outlet, the dispenser having a trigger type actuation surface adapted to be gripped by a users fingers and pulled towards the container to actuate the dispenser. 25. A manual pump dispenser as claimed claim 6, in which the dispenser is a foam dispenser. 26. A manual pump dispenser as claimed in claim 25, in which outlet passageways are provided in the cap to connect the first and second pump chambers with the outlet, the outlet passageways from the first and second converging such that, in use when the dispenser is actuated, air from the second pump chamber is mixed with the at least one liquid from the first pump chamber in an outlet passage. 27. A manual pump chamber as claimed in claim 25, in which the dispenser comprises an outlet passage through which the mixture of air and the at least one liquid passes before being dispensed, at least one foam refining filter being located in the outlet passage. 28. A manual pump dispenser as claimed in claim 27, in which the filter comprises at least one filter screen. 29. A manual pump dispenser as claimed in claim 25, in which the dispenser outlet includes a fluid flow passageway from the first pump chamber having a spray orifice which opens into an outlet passageway of increased diameter, the outlet from the second pump chamber comprising a fluid flow passageway which enters the increased diameter outlet passage. 30. A manual pump dispenser for dispensing a fluid, the dispenser comprising a base and a dispensing cap having an outlet mounted to the base, the dispenser further comprising a single unitary insert mountable between the base and the cap to define at least one pump chamber between itself and the cap, the insert being adapted to engage with the base to define an inlet through which a fluid can be drawn into the pump chamber from a fluid source, in which the insert comprises a central core and a resiliently flexible diaphragm member projecting upwardly and generally radially outwardly from the core for contact with the cap to at least partially define the at least one pump chamber within the cap, the insert being movable between an initial resiliently biased configuration in which the volume of the at least one pump chamber is at a maximum and a deformed configuration in which the volume of the at least one pump chamber is at a minimum, in the deformed configuration, the upper diaphragm being at least partially folded down about itself and/or the core. 31. The manual pump dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second flexible diaphragm member comprises a seal adapted for sliding contact with an inner surface of the cap to permit relative movement between the second flexible diaphragm and the cap. 32. The manual pump dispenser as claimed in claim 30, wherein said insert is configured such that said central core does not compress during normal use.