초록 ▼

A liquid dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a liquid storage container operably associated with the liquid dispenser. Preferably, the liquid dispenser includes a main housing having a dispensing location at which liquid from a liquid storage container is dispensed and a storage location for stor

A liquid dispenser for dispensing a liquid from a liquid storage container operably associated with the liquid dispenser. Preferably, the liquid dispenser includes a main housing having a dispensing location at which liquid from a liquid storage container is dispensed and a storage location for storing a liquid storage container. Preferably, the liquid dispenser includes a removable liquid transport assembly removable from the main housing having a substantially rigid liquid manifold, a valve assembly, a riser tube, a reservoir, a reservoir dip tube, a pump head, a pinch tube and a dispensing nozzle that are removable as a single unit from the main housing. Preferably, the liquid dispenser includes a single self-priming pump. Preferably, the valve assembly includes a non-return valve and a pressure relief valve that act in concert to control the flow of liquid between the liquid storage container and the reservoir.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for dispensing a liquid from a liquid storage container operably associated with the apparatus for dispensing a liquid, said apparatus comprising: (a) a main housing having a dispensing location at which liquid from a liquid storage container is dispensed and a storage location for s

1. An apparatus for dispensing a liquid from a liquid storage container operably associated with the apparatus for dispensing a liquid, said apparatus comprising: (a) a main housing having a dispensing location at which liquid from a liquid storage container is dispensed and a storage location for storing said liquid storage container, said dispensing location being disposed above at least a portion of said storage location;(b) a reservoir disposed in said housing, said reservoir being configured to receive a liquid from said liquid storage container prior to said liquid being dispensed from said main housing; and,(c) a removable manifold operably connected to said reservoir and said liquid storage container for conveying liquid between said reservoir and said liquid storage container, said removable manifold being further operably connected to said dispensing location to convey a liquid from said reservoir towards said dispensing location, said removable manifold having an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said upper chamber and said lower chamber share a common wall portion, said upper chamber being configured to direct a liquid from said reservoir towards said dispensing location in a substantially horizontal path, said lower chamber being configured to convey liquid between said liquid storage container and said reservoir in a substantially horizontal path, said upper chamber being disposed above said lower chamber. 2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: (a) said common wall portion forms a lowermost portion of said upper chamber. 3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: (a) said removable manifold includes a vent hole for connecting said lower chamber to said upper chamber to allow air to pass from said lower chamber to said upper chamber so that air can exit said main housing at said dispensing location, said vent hole being sized such that little or no liquid can pass through said vent hole. 4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further including: (a) a pump head operably associated with a pump motor, at least a portion of said pump head is disposed in one of said upper chamber and said lower chamber of said removable manifold. 5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein: (a) at least a portion of said pump head is disposed in said lower chamber of said removable manifold. 6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further including: (a) a valve assembly operably associated with said removable manifold, said valve assembly including at least one of a non-return valve and a pressure relief valve. 7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein: (a) at least a portion of said valve assembly is disposed in one of said upper chamber and said lower chamber of said removable manifold. 8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein: (a) said valve assembly includes a non-return valve and a pressure relief valve. 9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein: (a) said non-return valve is located upstream of said pressure relief valve in a liquid path traveling from said liquid storage container to said reservoir. 10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein: (a) said valve assembly includes a pressure relief valve configured to permit liquid upstream of said pressure relief valve to return to said liquid storage container should the volume of liquid upstream of said pressure relief valve exceed a predetermined capacity. 11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein: (a) said valve assembly includes a valve housing for housing said non-return valve and said pressure relief valve. 12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein: (a) said non-return valve is disposed above said pressure relief valve, said valve assembly further being configured such that liquid passing from said liquid storage container to said reservoir does not pass through said pressure relief valve. 13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein: (a) said non-return valve and said pressure relief valve have an open position and a closed position, when said non-return valve is in said open position and said pressure relief valve is in said closed position, liquid can travel from said storage container to said reservoir through only said non-return valve, when said non-return valve is in said closed position and said pressure relief valve is in said open position, liquid upstream of said valve assembly can flow back into said liquid storage container through said non-return valve and said pressure relief valve. 14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: (a) said removable manifold is substantially rigid. 15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further including: (a) a conduit housing for housing a pinch tube and dispensing nozzle, said conduit housing being operably associated with said removable manifold such that said conduit housing is removable from said main housing upon removal of said removable manifold. 16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein: (a) said conduit housing is substantially rigid. 17. An apparatus for dispensing a liquid from a liquid storage container operably associated with the apparatus for dispensing a liquid, said apparatus comprising: (a) a main housing having a dispensing location at which liquid from a liquid storage container is dispensed and a storage location for storing a liquid storage container, said dispensing location being disposed above at least a portion of said liquid storage location; and,(b) a removable liquid transport assembly including a substantially rigid liquid manifold, a valve assembly, a reservoir and a pump head, said removable liquid transport assembly being configured such that said substantially rigid liquid manifold, said valve assembly, said reservoir and said pump head are removable from said main housing as a single unit, said removable manifold having an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said upper chamber and said lower chamber share a common wall portion, said upper chamber being configured to direct a liquid from said reservoir towards said dispensing location in a substantially horizontal path, said lower chamber being configured to convey liquid between said liquid storage container and said reservoir in a substantially horizontal path, said upper chamber being disposed above said lower chamber, at least a portion of said pump head being disposed in said lower chamber, at least a portion of said valve assembly being disposed in said lower chamber said being configured to connect said lower chamber valve assembly to said pump head without using any flexible tubing, said reservoir being connected to said lower chamber of said substantially rigid manifold, said valve assembly including at least one of a pressure relief valve and a non-return valve. 18. An apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein: (a) said valve assembly includes a non-return valve and a pressure relief valve, said valve assembly includes a valve housing for housing said non-return valve and said pressure relief valve to permit said non-return valve and said pressure relief valve to operate in a cooperative manner. 19. An apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein: (a) said substantially rigid liquid manifold includes a secondary dispensing port. 20. A liquid transport assembly for a liquid dispenser to convey a liquid between a liquid storage container and a dispensing location of the liquid dispenser, said liquid transport assembly comprising: (a) removable liquid transport assembly configured to be readily installed in and removed from a liquid dispenser to permit the liquid dispenser to be readily sanitized, said removable liquid transport assembly including a substantially rigid liquid manifold, a valve assembly, a reservoir and a pump head, said removable liquid transport assembly being configured such that said substantially rigid liquid manifold, said valve assembly, said reservoir and said pump head are removable from the liquid dispenser as a single unit, said removable manifold having an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said upper chamber and said lower chamber share a common wall portion, said upper chamber being configured to direct a liquid from said reservoir towards said dispensing location in a substantially horizontal path, said lower chamber being configured to convey liquid between said liquid storage container and said reservoir in a substantially horizontal path, said upper chamber being disposed above said lower chamber, at least a portion of said pump head being disposed in said lower chamber, at least a portion of said valve assembly being disposed in said lower chamber, said lower chamber being configured to connect said valve assembly to said pump head without using any flexible tubing, said reservoir being connected to said lower chamber, said valve assembly including at least one of a pressure relief valve and a non-return valve. 21. A liquid transport assembly for a liquid dispenser to convey a liquid between a liquid storage container and a dispensing location of the liquid dispenser, said liquid transport assembly comprising: (a) a removable liquid transport assembly configured to be readily installed in and removed from a liquid dispenser to permit the liquid dispenser to be readily sanitized, said removable liquid transport assembly including a liquid manifold, a valve assembly, a reservoir and a pump head, said reservoir extending downwardly below a lowermost surface of said liquid manifold and said removable liquid transport assembly being configured such that said liquid manifold, said valve assembly, said reservoir and said pump head are removable from the liquid dispenser as a single unit, said valve assembly including a pressure relief valve, said removable manifold having an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said upper chamber and said lower chamber share a common wall portion, said upper chamber being configured to direct a liquid from said reservoir towards said dispensing location in a substantially horizontal path, said lower chamber being configured to convey liquid between said liquid storage container and said reservoir in a substantially horizontal path, said upper chamber being disposed above said lower chamber. 22. An apparatus for dispensing a liquid from a liquid storage container operably associated with the apparatus for dispensing a liquid, said apparatus comprising: (a) a main housing having a dispensing location at which liquid from a liquid storage container is dispensed and a storage location for storing said liquid storage container;(b) a reservoir disposed in said housing, said reservoir being configured to receive a liquid from said liquid storage container prior to said liquid being dispensed from said main housing; and,(c) a removable manifold operably connected to said reservoir and said liquid storage container for conveying liquid between said reservoir and said liquid storage container, said removable manifold being further operably connected to said dispensing location to convey a liquid from said reservoir towards said dispensing location, said removable manifold having an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said upper chamber and said lower chamber share a common wall portion, said upper chamber being configured to direct a liquid from said reservoir towards said dispensing location in a substantially horizontal path, said lower chamber being configured to convey liquid between said liquid storage container and said reservoir in a substantially horizontal path, said upper chamber being disposed above said lower chamber. 23. An apparatus for dispensing a liquid from a liquid storage container operably associated with the apparatus for dispensing a liquid, said apparatus comprising: (a) a main housing having a dispensing location at which liquid from a liquid storage container is dispensed and a storage location for storing a liquid storage container, said dispensing location being disposed above at least a portion of said liquid storage location; and,(b) a removable liquid transport assembly including a substantially rigid liquid manifold, a valve assembly, a reservoir and a pump head, said removable liquid transport assembly being configured such that said substantially rigid liquid manifold, said valve assembly, said reservoir and said pump head are removable from said main housing as a single unit, said removable manifold having an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said upper chamber and said lower chamber share a common wall portion, said upper chamber being configured to direct a liquid from said reservoir towards said dispensing location in a substantially horizontal path, said lower chamber being configured to convey liquid between said liquid storage container and said reservoir in a substantially horizontal path, said upper chamber being disposed above said lower chamber, said reservoir extending downwardly below a lowermost surface of said substantially rigid liquid manifold, at least a portion of said pump head being disposed in said lower chamber, at least a portion of said valve assembly being disposed in said lower chamber, said lower chamber being configured to connect said valve assembly to said pump head without using any flexible tubing, said reservoir being connected to said lower chamber, said valve assembly including at least one of a pressure relief valve and a non-return valve. 24. A liquid transport assembly for a liquid dispenser to convey a liquid between a liquid storage container and a dispensing location of the liquid dispenser, said liquid transport assembly comprising: (a) removable liquid transport assembly configured to be readily installed in and removed from a liquid dispenser to permit the liquid dispenser to be readily sanitized, said removable liquid transport assembly including a substantially rigid liquid manifold, a valve assembly, a reservoir and a pump head, said removable liquid transport assembly being configured such that said substantially rigid liquid manifold, said valve assembly, said reservoir and said pump head are removable from the liquid dispenser as a single unit, said removable manifold having an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said upper chamber and said lower chamber share a common wall portion, said upper chamber being configured to direct a liquid from said reservoir towards said dispensing location in a substantially horizontal path, said lower chamber being configured to convey liquid between said liquid storage container and said reservoir in a substantially horizontal path, said upper chamber being disposed above said lower chamber, said reservoir extending downwardly below a lowermost surface of said substantially rigid liquid manifold, at least a portion of said pump head being disposed in said lower chamber, at least a portion of said valve assembly being disposed in said lower chamber, said lower chamber being configured to connect said valve assembly to said pump head without using any flexible tubing, said reservoir being connected to said lower chamber, said valve assembly including at least one of a pressure relief valve and a non-return valve.