US2772116A - Soap dispensers - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 27, 1956 W, J DOBKIN 2,772,116

SOAP DISPENSERS 'Yum/111% w WIIIIA'II l 'Y INVENTQR ATTORNEY V Nov. 27, 1956 w. J. DoBKlN SOAP DISPENSERS Filed June 26, 1953 @im J/ NVENTOR M; JWM

ATTORN EY SSAP DSPENSERS Wilharn J. Doblrin, .ackson Heights, N. Y., assigner to American Dispenser Co., lne., a corporation of New Yori;

Application June 2,5, 1953, Serial No. 364,350

13 Claims. (Cl. 299-83) The present invention relates to liquid soap dispensers of the basin type, such as are used in Pullman cars and other basin installations.

Among the objects of the present invention are to provide a new and improved dispenser of the ygeneral type escribed, which is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, which is easy to maintain in efficient operation, which can be easily taken apart for cleaning and easily assembled, which is designed to prevent unauthorized tampering therewith, which when clogged by dried soap will nevertheless operate and dispense soap and will be self-cleaned by this operation, and which can be easily refilled.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved dispenser of the general type described, which can be easily converted to dispense either straight liquid or foam, as desired.

A further object is to provide a liquid soap dispenser, which is adaptable for attachment either to a basin requiring a soap reservoir separate from said basin or to a basin with a built-in soap reservoir.

Various other objects of the invention are apparent from the following particular description and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a vertical section of a form of soap dispenser embodying the present invention, this dispenser being shown converted to dispense foam and being shown installed in operative position on a conventional type of basin and in connection with a bottle or jar soap reservoir;

Fig. 2 is a section of the soap dispenser taken approximately along the lines 2-2 of Fig. l but shown without the spout tube, the spout head or the spout;

Fig. 3 is a detail section of the soap dispenser of Fig. l showing the plunger and piston assembly;

Fig. 4 is a detail section showing in exploded view the soap pump barrel and mixing chamber;

Fig. 5 is a perspective of a section of the soap pump barrel and of the pump value therein;

Fig. 5a .is a section of the spout part of the dispenser taken along the lines Sa-Sa of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 shows a vertical section of the soap dispenser shown converted to dispense straight liquid soap and shown installed .in a basin having a built-in soap reservoir; and

Fig. 7 is a section of the soap dispenser taken along the lines 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Referring to Figs. l-5 of the drawings, the dispenser is shown mounted on the top wall 1t? of an ordinary wash basin requiring a sepa-rate soap reservoir. This dispenser comprises a cylindrical housing 11 with a daring or bell-bottom ange 12 seated on the top wall 19 of the wash basin. A cup 13 has an upper cylindrical section 14 tting snugly into the cylindrical part of the housing 11 and rigidly secured thereto, as by welding, and a lower cylindrical neck section 15 of reduced diameter extending into a hole 15 in the basin wall 1% in installed position of the dispenser and defining with said upper 2,772,116 Patented NovaZr', 1955 cup section 14 an annula-r shoulder 17 for seating said cup on said basin wall. This lower neck section 15 of the cup 13 embraces the upper end of an externally threaded tube 18 serving as a shank for the dispenser and is rigidly secured to said shank, as by welding. Thus the housing l1, cup 13 and shank 1S form a permanent unit.

Between the bell flange 12 of the housing 11 and the cup 15.3 is an annular space 1% enclosing a soft washer Zit which acts as a seal and a cushion for the top surface of the basin wall 1li.

The dispenser is secured to the basin wall 1t) by inserting the shank through the hole 16 in said basin wall and by screwing a nut 22 onto said shank, backed up by a metal washer 23 and a soft washer 24. A suitable soap reservoir 25, shown in the form of a bottle or Mason jar and having a screw cap 26, is secured to the shank 1B below the basin wall t by means of a nut 27 rigidly secured to said cap, as for example, by peening and threaded to said shank. A set screw 31 is provided for locking the screw cap Z6 and nut 27 to the shank 18.

The dispenser shown in Figs. 1 5 is of the foam type, requiring a mixture of air and soap to produce the desired lather. Accordingly, there is provided a small suction piston Se' for pumping a measured quantity of soap from the soap reservoir 25 and a larger piston 36 to which said small piston 35 is connected for pumping air into a mixing chamber 37, and for pumping the soap and air 'mixture to a discharge spout lto be described.

The mixing chamber 37 is donned by a cylinder 3S extending in the housing 1l and having an external washer @itl permanently secured to the bottom thereof, as for example, by peening, and seating upon the shoulder 17 on the 13. This washer it is provided with a plurality of holes 41 permitting any residue of soap, which may seep out from the mixing chamber 37, to drain back into the soap reservoir 25.

Connected to the lower end of the cylinder 33 is the barrel 42 of a soap pump, which is molded from a suitable elastic material, such as rubber or any suitable elastomer and in which operates the soap piston 35. This pump barrel 42 has an outward ilange 44 at its upper end t-ting snugly in the bottom of the mixing chamber 37 for suspension therefrom and an external groove 45 into which the lower beaded end of the cylinder 38 snaps into locking engagement to prevent the pump barrel 4Z from moving, after it is forced in place in the lower end of said cylinder. The pump barrel 42 has a central cylindrical passage i5 and near its lower end controlling ow through said passage, is a closure gland 4.7 serving as a pressure responsive pump valve. This pump valve 47 is molded integral with the pump barrel 42 and is sho-wn having an axial cross-section in the form of an inverted Y, the stem of said valve being cut through to form a pair ot facing resilient walls deiining therebetween a slit Thus the valve i7 acts as a diaphragm and when there is suction above the valve, the slit 4 opens up, but when there `is pressure, the slit automatically closes tightly and blocks thereby ow of the soap through said valve from the passage 45 of the pump barrel t2 above said valve.

Cemented o-r .otherwise secured to the lower end of the soap pump barrel d2 below the pump valve 47 is a ilexible intake or supply tube 49, which extends downward to the bottom of the soap reservoir 25 and through which soap is delivered into the pump barrel through the suction action of the piston 35.

The piston 36 for drawing air into the mixing charnoer 7 and for pumping the soap and air mixture to the discharge spout of the dispenser is located in the mixing chamber and is reciprocable therein. This piston 36 Y has a peripheral grooveV 51 t thisps'pout is threadedV into the spout head.

rubber or similar sealing material, serving as aV piston Y ring to seal the slide contact Vbetween the piston and the walls of the Vcylinder 38. A hole 53 through the piston 36 serves to deneapassage for kadmitting air into theV .mixing chamber V37 from Athe discharge spout to be deAV scribed and for dischargingY soap and air mixture from saidrmixing chamber towards said discharge sp-trut.Y A tubular neck 54 Yextending Yfrom the upper.V sideV of the piston 36 over the passage 53 is embraced by and secured to one end of a Vspout tube 55, the other end-ot' whichV Vis laterally, spaced from the housing ltand carries a spout heard 56 and a spout 57, thus providingV ilowco'xnmunicationV between the mixing chamber'37 and the outside of the dispenser. For effecting a removable connection Vbetweentherspout headV 56 and the spout 57, To prevent unauthorized tampering with'the spout 57, this spout has a' iluted discharge passage 58 designed to receive a special Vkey orrtwrench, such as an VAllen wrench.

`Connected to theV piston 36 is the piston 35 for pumpV Y ingf'so'ap from the reservoir 25 into the mixing chamber 37V. This `piston 35 comprises a flat pistonrod6lex- Vtending at yits upper end through the centralV passage .53 of the piston 36 and carrying at itsl lower Vendat Vconical pistonv head 62. The piston rod 61 is Yattached to theY piston 36 by a cross-pin'63 which passes through Y a hole in the pistonrrod andrwhichY extends at its ends looselyinsefted, is retained in placerby the (3f-ringV 52. Mounted loosely on the piston rod el is a piston Vsleeve Y ,Y 64, which in associationV with the piston head 62 forms the Vp`isto'n'35and which is slightly shorterithan the space between the conical face of Vthe Vpiston'head 62 and the f' cross-pin This permits the sleeve 64 to' slide up and'down on/th'e'piston; rod 6l between the piston head t YY162 and the cross-pin 63, Vfor the purpose Vto beV described;

; The piston rodV iris'at Ias described and its crosssectional dimensions areisuch, that the. rod across its width extendsV from wall to wall in theYV sleeveV 6d and restricting'any'wobbling to a minimum during assembly or operation. VThe narrow dimension of thepiston'rodV 61 across its` thickness on the other hand, provides an opening in the piston 36 for the passagetof soap and air Yfiler,ethrnigli. Y

; Y The upp'entnd'of the pump barrel 42 has an inwardly extending lip 6,5V forming a restricted opening or throat into which the sleeve 64 extends with a friction sealing tit, Vso that said sleeve is constantly'under the restraining inuence of said lip. Therefore, Vduring'the'downward stroke ofthe piston rod V61, the sleeve 'frictionally held by'the lip 65 of the pump barrel Yd2V remainsstationary,A causing `the piston head?. tomove belowl said :sleeve to form an. ope'ningrbetweenV the Ylower end of said sleeveand said piston head. This separating movementbetween the sleevet64 and the piston head 62 Vcon-y tinues Yuntil/the cross-pin 63 carried byV the piston 36 comes in contact with the upper end .of said' sleeve,

whereupon'tthe piston'rod 61, piston head 62 and sleeveV receiving an O-ring'SZ of Y t 4.. Y Y through theA valve 47 'and into the section of YAthe pump barrel 42 above said valve. Y

VThe piston 36 is limitedtin its downward nlovementV Vin the eylinderlV by theftopV ofthe pump barrel 42 and V.is limited in its lupward movement .inV saidcylinder- Y Vvbyra' snap ring 63 tting in an Vinternal peripheral groove 69 near the uppertend of saidV cylinder.

For moving the piston 36 in the cylinder 38,

71 with ashole tted over thertubularpneck 54 of said position. YThe link 70'andthe piston V36 are assembled andare vpermanently secured together as a unit'by weld-V ing', or by ,peening, as for example at72.Y

t VFor operating the link 70 to movezthereby the piston Y "36 in the mixing chamber 37, there is provided a hollow hand plunger 75 in theformof an inverted cup, slidably assembled telescopically in the xed Vhousing 11 and Vintoholes, in the piston 36.Y ThisY cross-pin Y63, while A projecting thereabove.Y The portion 77 of theplunger twoy opposed sides 84 and 85 Vquadrantly arranged' with respect to said sides Sifand S2-and also depending from f t said top plate.V This saddle 8d straddles the upperendVVV ofY the link 70. The upper ends of the armsof'therlink i 70`are reducedand shaped to form semi-circular Vtabs i 6 passing through the top plate 83 of the saddle and to Y form shoulders 87 on which this Vsaddle Vtop plate seats. Y

A pin S8 above the saddle Si) ts throughV the' tabsV 86 Vto lock the saddle 80 and the link 7d together.V Y The saddle tlis secured to the Vhand plunger 75V forV VYin the pistonV neck 54thus locating the rod and the VVsleeve',concentrically with respect to theV piston 36 and 64y move downwardly together as a unit. This 'down- Q ward movementrofY Vthe piston head 62 and sleeve 6d f together'while separated, as,V described, causes theY soap to be pumped frornraboveVV a valve 47, through the sleeve 6d, overV the upper rimof said sleeve and into the mixing chamber 37.`y 'f i On the upward'stroke of the piston rod 6l, the pistonv V'sleeve 64 frictionallyY held by' the lip 65 of Vthe pump barrel 42 remains stationary, until the piston head 62 reaches the' bottom of the sleeve and seals said sleeve, whereupon both the sleeve andthe piston head move Y upwardV in unisonf During this action, the combined Vpiston head 62 Vand sleeve 64 form a suction piston for pumping'additional soap from thetsoap reservoirv V25,'

operation therewith. To `that'endthe two depending opposedfrsides 81 and 82 ofthe saddle'il have threaded Y therein screws StfrespectivelyLth'e heads "91 of which extend through'holes inthe plunger 775.V TheseV screw heads'91thave special'fluted keyways, requiring V,them to'V be Yturned with a' special'key or *wrenchv -to prevent unV authorized tampering therewith'. These keyways are preferably of the same design as that of the 'spout 57, to permit the screws 96 to be turned by the samey special .key Vor' wrench, Vsuch as the Allen wrench, employedV `to turn said spout in or out of position..V

V`To urge the plunger 75V upwardly, there, is vprovided aY recoil spring 92, encircling they cylinder .38 and ,having Vits lower endseated on the washer secured to theY bottom Y' i of the cylinder 38. The two depending opposed'sides 84 and 85 of the saddle 80 haveY lower tab sectionsV 93 of refV t duced width extending into thieppperend of thespring 9532 vto form guides for fthe Vupper V'section of theV spring and define shouldersid against which the Vspring bears The cylinder 38 forms' a guide for the lower section `ofthe- `spring 92@ Y One side of Vthe plunger Y75 has an'ioperiingV Y95 and 'rse-f cured tov this side of the plungerand Vagainst this opening', as for example, .by welding; is a spout housing 96'.V `YThe depending side 8570i the saddle 80 has an oblong or'elonf A Y gated holeV 97 Vthrough which the spout tube' 575 extends i Y Yfreely. This" tube alsoV extends throughV the plunger;

' Vopening 95Vand Vinto 'the` spout Vhousing 96,V spoutl housing Y96Y is closed 'on'all sidesrand has abottom wall y96kg with ja juncture therealong as a result of making said housing from atrsingle' metal Ysheet stamped or bent to bring i the opposite edges kofY said sheet together. Thisfbottom spout housing wall 96ahas-a hole 96bsthro'ugh'which i the spout 57 extends.`V The spout tube 55 Vis thereby re'- f. ,s Ytained in extended position'along the spout housing 96.` v To prevent th'eunauthorized' separation of-theplu'n'gerY 75 from the housingV 11 after assembly, the saddleside 84 is provided with a threaded hole'Y 98 to receive Aats'c'rcw Y Y `there ist. Y Vprovided a U-shaped link 7d having a'base cross-piece gY 99. This screw 99 has a head.. 100 passingr snugly through a hole in the plunger 75 and a shoulder 101 at the base of said screw head to limit inward and outward movement of said screw. When the screw 99 is all the way in and shoulder 1&1 bears against the saddle side 84, the head of the screw 99 clears the wall of the plunger, thereby permitting the saddle Si) to be freely inserted in or removed from within the plunger 7S. When the saddle Si? is in place in the plunger 75, and the screw 99 is moved outuntil its shoulder 191 .bears against. the wall of the plunger, the head 109 of said screw prctrudes through the side of said plunger and forms a lock stud on the outside of said plunger. A uted keyway similar to those in the heads 91 of the screws 9i) is provided in the screw head 109, requiring the same special turning key, such as the Allen wrench, as is employed for said screws 9% and the spout 57. Unauthorized tampering with the screw 99 is thereby prevented.

The housing 11 is provided with a slot 1% on one side to receive the spout housing 96 during its reciprocation up and down with the plunger 75 and on the diametrical opposite side is formed with a channel 104 closed at the top with an inward closure ange 195 serving as a stop for the head 199 of the screw 99 secured to the plunger 7S, to prevent the withdrawal of said plunger from said housing. About midway of the channel 104, the outer wall thereof has a hole 166 permitting access to the head 19t) of the screw 99, when the plunger 75 has been depressed to the bottom of its downward stroke. ln this fully depressed position of the plunger 75, the head 16d of the screw 99 will be opposite the hole 106.

Normally, the plunger '75 is raised in the housing 1l by the action of the spring 92 to the elevated position shown in Fig. l. ln this position of the plunger 75, the spout housing 95 will extend partway in the housing slot 103 and the head 160 of the screw 99 will be inaccessibly concealed in the upper end of the housing channel d. The housing slot 193 and the housing channel 19d act as guideways for the plunger 75,'serving thereby to maintain said plunger against rotation with respect to the housing 11.

To withdraw the plunger 75 from the housing l1 :for disassembly, the plunger is depressed to its full stroke to bring the head l@ of the screw 99 opposite the hole 106 in the outer wall of the housing channel ldd.' ln this fully depressed position of the plunger 75, the Vspecial key or wrench may be inserted through the channel hole and into the keyway of the screw head lil@ and turned until said screw head clears the closure or stop frange 105' in the upper end of the channel 134. With the screw 99 so set into inoperative position, the plunger 75 may be withdrawn from the housing 11.

In a soap dispenser of the foam type, in addition to forming a mixture of air and liquid soap, it is necessary, in order to form a dense lather, to break up the larger bubbles. To accomplish this, a screen 168 is provided inside the spout tube S5 consisting of a plurality of fine coil springs 109 arranged alongside of each other. These coil springs 1-59 are of such outside diameter with respect to the inside diameter of the spout tube and the nurnber of these springs is such, that they overlap and intermesh in the inside of said spout tube, as shown in Fig. 5a, thereby breaking up the inside cross-sectional area of said tube into small openings, and causing the larger soap bubbles to break up into smaller ones, as they pass through said openings. ln the form shown in Fig. 5a, the outside diameter of each coil spring 169 is larger than the inside radius of the spout tube 55 and about six of these coil springs are provided equally spaced around the longitudinal center line of the spout tube.

The assembling of the coil springs 109 as a screen unit 138 into the spout tube S5 is'easily accomplished. To that end, the coil springs 1429 are arranged side by side in a circle, and at one end they are pressed towards the center'to overlap and intermesh these. springs at this end and to make the Vspringtu1itaat:this-end small enough, in

cross-sectional dimensions, to permit its entry into the spout tube 55. These springs 169 at this end of the unit may be held together into reduced overlapping intermeshing relationship by a clamp, collar or clip. The spring unit at this reduced end is then inserted into the end of the spout tube 55' and the unit pushed endwise into Said spout tube. As the spring unit is pushed into the spout tube 55, the coil springs 109 are forced laterally progressively towards the center of the unit into overiapn i yrineshing relationship by the confining walls or" sai spout tube, until the spring unit is entirely in said spout tube and has formed the screen 108. This screen 1'58 interferes with the free passage of the air-soap mixture from the mixing chamber 37 to the spout 57 and breaks up the larger bubbles, thus forming a lather of the desired consistency.

in liquid soap dispensers, especially of the foam type, there 1s a tendency for the soap to dry up in the passage spout, when the dispenser is not used for an experiod or time. The dried soap clogs up the assage to the spout, thus rendering the dispenser useless.

accordance with the present invention, in order` to revent uch flow blockage in the spout tube 55, this tube is -rnade from resilient material, such as rubber or neopreno (chloroprene) which can be stretched and enlarged under pressure. cli ged, the pumping pressure will. force the spout tube to expand, permitting fresh soap mixture to reach the discharge spout 57. passage through the spout tube 55 will dissolve the soap which has dried and caked in said tube, thus making the dispenser self-cleaning.

assembling the dispenser, the cylinder 3S, the pump barrel and the soap supply or intake tube 49 are put together as a subassembly. Also, to the unit consisting of the piston En@ and the link 7l), are connected the piston sleeve da, the piston rod 61, the piston ring 52, the spout tube 55, the screen 1% land the spout head 56, to form another subassernbly. The two subassemblies are then connected together by inserting the piston 36vinto the cylinder 38 and securingfthem together by means of the snap ring 58. der 33 from the top, and seating said spring on the washer di), the spout tube de with the spout head 56 are insertedthrough the oblong hole 97 in thev side 35 or" the saddle Sil. The saddle Sil is then seated on top of the spring 92 and this spring is compressed until the tabs Se of the arms of the link 7i? pass through openings in the top plate S3 of the saddle 3d and protrude from said plate. At this point, the pin Sis inserted through the protruding tabs 86 to lock the saddle and the link together. ln this position, the spring 92 isirnaintained under semicompression between the saddle 8u and the washer 40 with the piston 36 bearing against the snap ring eunder the action of said spring.

When the assembly operation so far described has been accomplished, the spout tube 55, due to the location of the oblong hole 97 in the side 85 of the saddle Si), becomes deflected to one side. This assists the spout tube 55' in finding its way into the spout housing 9d, when the assembly is inserted from the bottom into the plunger l7;

When the assembly described is placed within the plunger 75, it is secured therein by the screws 99.' The spout head 56 at this stage of assembly will align with the hole 96h near the outer end of the spout housing 9d, permitting thereby the spout 57 to be screwedvinto said housing to complete the assembly of the working parts `of the dispenser.

The housing 11 with the cup i3 and `shank tube 18 permanently connected thereto to form a unit are rst secured to the basin wall 1d by mean-s of the-nut 22 threaded on to the shank tube 18. The unit made up of the working parts of the dispenser including the plunger cylinder 38 and supply tube 49 assembled as described,

Hence, if the screen lidi? should become This fresh soap mixture in its i After placing the spring 92 over the cylin 7 is then ttedwithin thehousing 11. The plunger 75 is depressed to its full stroke, until the head 109 of the screw 99, 'which at this stage is threaded all the way into the saddle 89 is lopposite the hole 166 in the wall of the housing channel'104. The screw head 10@ is turned by means of the special key or wrench, until the shoulder 101 on said head abuts the wall of the plunger 75. The screw 99 in this position locks the plunger 75 against separation from theY housing 11.

To fill or refill the soap reservoir 25, the plunger assembly is removed from the housing 11, by depressing the plunger 75 fully, so that the screw 99 is aligned with the hole 166 in the wall of the housing channel 104i, turning the screw with the special key or wrench inserted through said hole, until said screw clears the stop flange 195 on the housing 11, to unlock the plunger assembly fr said housing and lifting 4said plunger assembly from said housing. This removal of the plunger assembly leaves a wide soap passage through the housing 11 and through the shank tube 18 to the soap reservoir 25. VAfter the inserted into the housing 11 land locked thereto by means of the screw 39, following an operation reversed from that described in preparation for the filling of the soap reservoir 25.

Since the spout 57 has a fluted hole, the same special key or wrench which is used for turning the screws 99 and 99 is also used for inserting the spout in position into the spout head 56 and for removing said spout from said head.

The operation of the dispenser is as follows:

Normally, the dispenser remains as shown in Fig. l and is operated by manually depressing the plunger 75 against the action of the spring 92. Upon release of the plunger 75, it returns by the action of the spring 92 into the normal position shown.

On the initial downward stroke of the plunger 75, the valve 47 in the pump barrel 42 is closed and the air is expelled from the mixing chamber 37 and from the pump barrel above said valve and is ejected from the discharge spout 57 by the action of the pistons 36 and 35. On the next upward stroke of the plunger 75, the piston 35 moving upward in the pump barrel 42 creates a suction therein, causing the valve 47 in said barrel to open and soap to be drawn upward from the reservoir 25 through the intake tube 49 and through the valve 47 into the pump barrel 42 above said valve. At the same time, air is drawn into the mixing chamber 37 through the spout 57 On the succeeding downward stroke, soap, from the pump barrel 42 above the valve 47 is injected into the mixing chamber 37 through the open sleeve 64 of the piston 35, as a result of the downward action of said piston in said pump barrel. The mixture of soap and air in the mixing chamber 37 is forced by the continued downward stroke of the plunger 75 through the screened spout tube 55 and through the spout 57, from which the mixture is discharged as a foam.

On the next upward stroke of the plunger 75, air is drawn through the spout 57, through the spout head 56,'

throughrthe lspout tube 55 and into the mixing chamber 37, thus clearing the passage through said spout members after each discharge. At the same time, a measured amount of soap is sucked into the pump barrel d2 above the valve 47 therein.

On the next downward stroke of the plunger 75, the :action of the next previous downward stroke is repeated.

Figs. 6 and 7 show the dispenser of Figs. l-5 converted to form a dispenser of the type in which liquid soap instead of soap foam is dispensed. In this modiiied form'ot' dispenser, the piston rod 61, the cross-pin 63,

the sleeve 64, the piston ring 52 and the screen 19S of- 117 bearing against the upper end of the piston neck from the downward manipulation of Vthe plunger 75, theY soap which has been sucked into the pump barrel 42 above the valve 47 from the previous upward stroke of the plunger 35a, is forced through the check valve 115, through the hollow of said piston 35a, through the hollow screw 116, the spout tube 55 and in liquid form out through the discharge spout. Y

ri'he modified dispenser of 1Figs. 6 and 7 is shown attached to a form of wash basin having a built-in sealed soap reservoir 25a. This basin is shown with ya top slab 126 and a bottom slab 121, wit-h the soap reservoir 25a formed between said slabs. In one corner of the basin, the top basin slab 120 has a hole 16a leading iutorthe reservoir 25a and the bottom basin slab 121 has a hole 122 located directly below said hole 16a and surrounded by a boss 123 for reinforcement.

Due to the fragile nature of the basin, it is extremel dicult to install the dispenser suiiiciently tight to prevent leakage through the bottom basin hole 122, without cracking the basin. Since the dispenser cannot be'suiciently tight in this type of basin to prevent turning, the basin hole 16a is formed with a round center 124 having a pair of diametrically opposed wing or lobe extensions 125 serving as keyways.

section 15a with outward side lugs or tongues 126 fitting into lthe hole extensions 125 respectively, to prevent the dispenser from being turned by hand from the top and to prevent thereby, the dispenser from being unscrewed from the basin.

The dispenser of Figs. 6 and 7 may have a shank correspending to the shank 1S in the constmction of Figs. 1-5 inserted through the basin holes 16a and 122 and secured to the basin by a cap-nut threaded' to said shank. Suitable openings would be provided inthe shank to allow forV the passage of the soap therethrough from the shank to the soap reservoir 25a and vice versa.

In the actual construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7, a spiral shank 18a is provided made from at spring wire and atfording suitable openings 127 between the successive cols or convolutions to permit the passage therethrough of the liquid soap. The upper end of this spiral shank 18a is welded to the neck `section 15a of the cup 13a, While the lower end is welded to a cup 128 having a nut 129 welded thereto. Before welding the upper end of the shank 18a to the neck section 15a of the cup 13a, the opposite parts of said neck section are sheared and bent outwardly to form the lugs `or tongues 126, which t into the lobe keyway sections 125 of the top basin hole 16a.

To secure the dispenser of Figs. 6 and 7 to the basin, a bell-shaped 0r inverted dished metal washer 130 is provided, having a skirt with its outer edge section curved upwardly to form an annular channel 131, in which a soft 0 ring 132 is received for the purpose of sealing the bottom hole 122 of the basin. The shank 18a is made of such length Vas to afford a gap between t-he bottom of said shank and the washer 136, while the shank is unstressed and before the dispenser is attached to the basin. Y

The cup 13a corresponding toV the cup 13 in the construction of Figs. 1 5, has its neck The springV '9 tension of the shank 18a maintains constant pressure on the seal 132, even though this seal may shrini; or the basin may warp slightly due to ageing.

The means of attaching the dispenser to the basin of the type shown in Figs. 6 and 7, may be applied to the dispenser of the foam type shown in Figs. 1-5.

Except as indicated, the dispenser of Figs. 6 and 7 is the same as the dispenser of Figs. l-5.

While the invention has been ldescribed with articular reference to specific embodiments, it is `to be understood that it is not to be limited thereto but is to be construed broadly and restricted solely by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a liquid soap dispenser, the combination comprising a soap pump having a barrel of resilient material, a piston reciprocable in said barrel for pumping, said barrel having an inturned edge at one end sealably embracing said piston with a friction tit, and a valve in said barrel integral therewith and having relatively movable resilient parts defining a valve passage therebetween and relatively movable into passage closing and opening positions by the pressure effect produced thereon by the movement of said piston in said barrel, and conduit means on the inlet side of said valve adapted to feed liquid soap from a soap` reservoir to said valve.

2. In a liquid soap dispenser of the foam type, the combination comprising an air and soap mixing chamber, a piston in said chamber for pumping air into said chamber and for pumping soap and air admixture from said mixing chamber, a pump for pumping soap from a soap reservoir into said mixing chamber and comprising a pump barrel connected to one end of said mixing ,chamber and communicating therewith, a soap pumping piston connected to said air pumping piston for reciprocable movement therewith and extending into said pump barrel, and a valve for controlling flow of soap from said soap reservoir into said pump barrel, operable into open position when said soap pumping piston moves in one direction and operable into closed position when said soap pumping piston moves in the opposite direction, said soap pumping piston comprising a piston rod connected to said air pumping piston and extending into said pump barrel, a piston head at one end of said piston rod extending into said pump barrel and a sleeve around said piston rod between said air pumping piston and said piston head dening a passage along said piston rod between said pump barrel and said mixing chamber and short enough to have axial play along said piston rod, said piston head affording a seat for said sleeve, friction means yieldably restraining said sleeve against axial movement, said piston rod being moved along said sleeve, while said sleeve is frictionally held at the beginning of the stroke of said air pumping piston towards said pump barrel, whereby an opening is formed between said sleeve and said piston head, said sleeve for the remaining of said stroke being engaged by said air pumping piston and being moved thereby in unison' with said piston rod to close said valve and to cause the soap trapped in said pump barrel to flow through said opening, through said sleeve and into said mixing chamber, said piston rod upon the return stroke of said air pumping piston, being moved with respect to the frictionally held sleeve, until Said piston head seats against said sleeve, whereupon said piston head and said sleeve move together in unison to open said valve and to operate as a suction piston, whereby soap is drawn into said pump barrel from said soap reservoir.

3. In a liquid soap dispenser of the foam type, the combination as described in claim 2, wherein said piston rod is ilat and extends from opposite sides of the wall of said sleeve to center said rod in said sleeve and to prevent thereby lateral play of said sleeve in relation to said piston rod while aording a passage in said sleeve along said rod, and wherein said piston rod is connected 10 to said air pumping piston by a cross-pin extending through the latter piston, and wherein there is provided a piston ring embracing said air pumping piston and arranged in sealing contact with the wall or" said mixing chamber, said piston ring forming a stop for the ends of said cross-pin.

4. In a liquid soap dispenser, a discharge spout, a

spring-pressed hand plunger, and means responsive to the operation of said plunger for delivering measured amounts of liquid soap from a soap'reservoir to said spout, and including a chamber through which the pumped soap passes on its way to said spout, a piston in said chamber, a U-shaped link connected at its base to said piston, a saddle straddling the legs of said link and connected to said link, said saddle having depending sides connected to said plunger and a depending side with a hole therein, and a spout tube connected at one end to said chamber, passing through said saddle hole and connected at its other end to said discharge spout.

5. In a liquid dispenser, the combination as defined in claim 4, wherein the ends of said link arms are reduced to form tabs respectively passing through a top plate in said saddle and to form shoulders on which said saddle seats and wherein a pin above said saddle tits through said tabs to lock the saddle and link together.

5. In a liquid soap dispenser, a discharge spout, a hand plunger, and means responsive to the operation of said plunger for delivering measured amounts of soap from a soap reservoir to said discharge spout, and including a cylinder dening a chamber through which the pumped soap passes on its way to Said discharge spout, a piston in said chamber, a iink connected at its lower end to said piston, a saddle straddling the upper end or" said link, means removably connecting said saddle to said link, means removably connecting said saddle to said hand plunger, a seat secured to said cylinder on the outside thereof, and a coil spring encircling said cylinder and bearing at its lower end against said seat, said saddle having depending sides extending into the upper section of said spring and serving thereby as a guide for said upper spring section.

7. In a liquid soap dispenser, the combination comprising a housing, a spring-pressed plunger in the form of an inverted cup telescop-ed into said housing, a discharge spout, means responsive to the operation of said plunger for delivering measured amounts of soap from a soap reservoir to said discharge spout, and including a chamber in said housing through which the pumped soap passes on its way to said discharge spout, a piston in said chamber, and means including a keeper removably connecting said plunger to said piston, and means removably locking said plunger to said housing to prevent said plunger from being withdrawn from said housing while allowing said plunger to move in operation with respect to said housing and comprising a screw-threaded into Said keeper and having its head passing through the wall of said plunger, the wall of said housing along the course of said screw-head being spaced from the wall of said plunger to provide a clearance for Lhe screw head, Said screw head projecting into said clearance, the upper end of said housing wall in line with said clearance forming a stop for said projecting screw head, said housing wall having a hole in registry with the head of said screw in substantially completely depressed position of said plunger, to permit access of a turning tool to said screw-head through said hole and to permit thereby said screw-head to be turned inwardly in position to ciear said stop, whereby said plunger can be withdrawn from said housing, said screw-head being designed to receive a turning tool aside from a conventional screw drive, whereby chances of unauthorized tampering with said screw is reduced.

8. in a liquid soap dispenser, the combination as described in claim 7, wherein said plunger iits into said housing with a snug slide tit, but said housing along the i 11 course of said screw-head is formed with a channel detining said clearance for the screw-head, and wherein the top of said channel is closed with an inward closure ange serving Vas the stop for said screw head.

9. In a liquid soap dispenser, the combination comprising a housing, a chamber in said housing, a springpressed hand plunger in said housing in the form of an inverted cup telescoped into said housing, a discharge spout on one side of said housing, a resilient spout tube connected to said chamber and extending laterally to said discharge spout, a spout housing secured to one side of said plunger to form a hollow unit therewith and extending around said tube and means responsive to the operation of said plunger for pumping the soap from a soap reservoir through said chamber, through said spout tube and to said discharge spout.

10. In a liquid soap dispenser, the combination comprising a housing, a chamber in said housing, a spout Vhousing, a discharge spout, a spout tube in said spout housing extending from said chamber to said spout, and means including a plunger connected to said spout housing for pumping soap from a soap reservoir through said housing, through said spout tube and to said discharge spout, said spout tube being of resilient material whereby said spout tube is capable of expanding to permit the passage ot' soap through said tube, when said tube becomes clogged and is capable of bending laterally of said chamber for assembly into said spout housing.

ll. ln a soap dispenser of the foam type, the combination comprising an air and soap mixing chamber, a discharge spout, a resilient tube from said mixing chamber to said spout, a screen in said tube, and plunger means for pumping soap from a soap reservoir and air to said chamber and for pumping the mixture through said tube to said spout, said tube being of resilient material so as to be capable of expanding to permit the passage of soap through said tube When said screen is clogged.V

l2. In a liquid soap' dispenser, a chamber, Va resilient spout housing, a spout tube partially in said housing connected at one end to said chamber, a spout head in said housing having a tubular neck' section extending into the other end of said tube and secured thereto, said spout head having a soap passage communicating With the passage defined by said spout tube, said spout head having a threaded hole in communication with its soap passage, a discharge spout threaded into said hole and projecting to the outside of said housing through a hole in a wall thereof, whereby said spout tube is maintained extended in and along said spout housing, and plunger means for pumping soap from a soap reservoir through said chamber, through said spout tube and to said discharge spout.

13. In a soap dispenser of the lather type, thecombination comprising a spout tube, means for producing mixtures of soap and air and pumping them through said spout tube, and a screen in said spout tube for breaking up the larger soap bubbles as they pass through said tube for discharge and comprising a plurality of coil springs in said spout tube with their longitudinal center axes spaced radially from'the longitudinal center line of the spout tube and spaced from each other circumferentially around said center line, said coil springs being arranged side by side 'with the convolutions of said springs overlapping and intermeshing.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Y

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