US3490647A - Dispenser assembly and method of dispensing - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 20, 1970 R. E. PORTYRATA 3,490,647

DISPENSER ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF DISPENSING Filed Aug. 9, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 //V Vf/VTM. PAYM 0ND E. PORTY KATA BY /M A TTOENEY 1970 R. E. PORTYRATA 3,490,647

DISPENSER ASSEMBLY AND METHOD-OF DISPENSING Filed Aug. 9, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M/V5/W'0/L. RAYMoND E. RJETYRATA A 770 ENE Y Jan. 20, 1970 R. E. PORTYRATA 3,490,547

DISPENSER ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF DISPENSING Filed Aug. 9, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. & w 256 gi 2% EQ E \/z3Z z z lNVE/VTOR.

RAYMOND E. PDRTYRATA ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,490,647 DISPENSER ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF DISPENSING Raymond E. Portyrata, North Haven, Conn., assignor to LaBranche Industries, Inc., New Bedford, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 564,989, July 13, 1966. This application Aug. 9, 1967, Ser. No. 659,848

Int. Cl. B65d 35/08, 35/14; B67b 7/00 US. Cl. 222-1 24 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE There is disclosed a dispenser assembly for liquids utilizing a cavitation pump and providing means for atmospheric pressure to act upon the liquid in the container. The cavitation pump has a tube extending into the liquid and providing a cylinder portion in which a piston having an internal passage reciprocates to pump liquid entering into the tube against the lower end thereof to a discharge orifice. The piston is reciprocated at a rate sufficient to cause cavitation in the cylinder portion of the tube to draw liquid thereinto from the liquid reservoir thereabout.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Ser. No. 564,989, filed July 13, 1966, now abandoned.

Although many portable dispensers have been devised for manual pumping of liquid from disposable containers, any of these devices are inconvenient to use because it is necessary to continuously impart manual reciprocal motion to the pump in order to discharge the liquid from the container at an even rate. The manual pumping method is cumbersome and tiring and tends to distract the user, such as a person using hair spray, from applying the liquid effectively and results in an uneven and discontinuous application because the user must devote his attention to operating the pump and cannot give undivided attention to the application of the liquid. Other methods, such as pressuring a container to discharge the liquid, are relatively expensive because the container is usually not refillable so that the entire apparatus cannot be used after the original charge of liquid has been dispensed. On occasion, the gas used in the pressurized container may have deleterious effects on the liquid. Other electrically operated devices for automatically dispensing a liquid, such as a hair spray, have generally required a relatively permanent, often large installation that is not readily movable for convenient use in any desired location.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel portable dispenser assembly that automatically discharges the liquid therefrom at a relatively steady rate.

Another object is to provide such a dispenser assembly that has a disposable container for the liquid which may be readily replaced when all the liquid has been expended so that the pumping and power assembly may be utilized for extended periods of time.

It is also an object to provide such a dispenser assembly that has a rechargeable electrical power source for operating a pump to discharge liquid from the dispenser assembly and a housing for receiving and recharging the power source.

A further object is to provide such a dispenser assembly which is relatively economical to manufacture, which is simple to operate and adjust, and which may be easily stored and recharged when not in use.

Still another object is to provide a novel and highly effective method for rapidly and steadily dispensing a liquid from a container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has now been found that the foregoing objects and other advantages can readily be attained in a dispenser assembly for liquids having a container providing an enclosure for the liquid to be discharged from the dispenser assembly and the dispenser assembly is constructed to allow atmospheric pressure to act on the liquid within the container in accordance with several different embodiments. A cavitation pump is provided on the container for discharging the liquid therefrom which includes a tube with one end extending into the container enclosure to dispense the liquid therefrom. The tube has a cylinder portion at the lower end thereof and an inlet port communicating with the interior of the cylinder portion to allow the liquid to pass from the enclosure into the interior of the cylinder portion of the tube. Reciprocably mounted within the tube and its cylinder portion and extending outwardly from the other end of the tube is an elongated piston which has an internal passage with an inlet orifice at one end communicating with the interior of the cylinder portion and a discharge orifice at the other end for pumping liquid from the container and dispensing it from the discharge orifice.

Power means are operably connected to the piston for imparting reciprocal motion thereto at sufiicient velocity to cause cavitation of the liquid in the cylinder portion and to draw the liquid through the inlet port into the interior of the cylinder portion for discharge through the internal passage and the discharge orifice of the piston. The movement of the piston within the cylinder must be of suflicient velocity so that during the first part of the intake stroke, before the inlet port has opened, cavitation occurs within the interior of the cylinder portion. Thus, when the inlet port is opened, the vacuum created within the cylinder portion causes a rapid flow of liquid into the interior of the cylinder. Because of the rapid filling of the interior of the cylinder due to the low pressure or relative vacuum created therein and the relatively rapid rate of reciprocation of the piston, it is possible to pump the liquid from the container at a relatively steady rate. This steady rate of discharge of the liquid is particularly advantageous when it is desirable to apply an even coating such as in the application of hair spray.

In order to impart the high speed reciprocal motion to the piston, the power means most conveniently is engaged therewith by an eccentrically rotating member mounted on the shaft of an electrical motor and engaged with a shoulder on the piston to effect cyclic movement thereof toward the cylinder portion as it rotates and a spring is engaged With the opposite side of the same shoulder or another shoulder or collar to bias the piston away from the cylinder portion and into engagement with the eccentrically rotating member. Thus, as the eccentrically rotating member revolves, it moves the piston downwardly during the first one-half revolution, and as it begins to move upwardly, the spring simultaneously causes the piston to move upwardly and remain in engagement with it, thereby imparting the desired high speed reciprocal motion to the piston upon rotation of the shaft of the motor.

In the preferred embodiment, the inlet port on the cylinder portion is positioned to be closed by the piston during a portion of the downward stroke for pumping the liquid from the cylinder and again during a portion of the lpward stroke of the piston so as to cause cavitation within he cylinder portion. By so positioning the inlet port, the lump has only one moving part since it is only necessary reciprocate the piston in the cylinder portion to dis- :harge liquid from the outlet orifice.

Other means for causing cavitation within the cylinder )ortion may be utilized such as the provision of a port in he bottom of the cylinder which has a spring-loaded ball heck valve automatically closing on the discharge stroke ,nd automatically opening on the intake stroke after a redetermined vacuum has been created within the cylinler. An additional means for causing cavitation within the :ylinder portion may be provided by having an inlet port [1 the cylinder portion that is covered by the piston during he first part of the inlet stroke and by having a springoaded check valve that opens on the discharge stroke and emains closed during the entire intake stroke. In this emlodiment, a separate discharge tube leads the liquid from he outlet of the spring-loaded check valve to a discharge rifice. However, it can be seen that the first described .rrangement affords substantial advantages in cost and :ase of construction as well as trouble-free operation.

To transmit the force of atmospheric pressure to the iquid within the container while preventing the liquid from pilling therefrom through the atmospheric opening, sevrral different techniques may be employed. In one emaodiment, the container itself is of readily deformable maerial and directly exposed to the atmosphere; i.e., it is rot surrounded by a housing or any other structure, and he air pressure quickly collapses the container wall like L diaphragm as the liquid is dispensed to reduce the inernal volume. In another embodiment, the dispenser asembly is constructed so as to allow air to pass into the :ontainer for the liquid from the atmosphere, conveniently hrough minor clearances between the piston and tube or hrough the piston passage itself and thence through the val] of the tube. Such a passage may originate at the dis- :harge orifice when the piston passage provides the air pas- ;age or at the seat or bearing of the tube in the dispenser rousing when spacing about the piston provides the pas- :age. In the former passage, the tube inlet port provides he outlet to the container, and, in the latter passage, the ;ube has an outlet opening above the cylinder portion.

In still another embodiment, a deformable member is n an enclosure providing a relatively rigid container body 1nd the deformable member provided has one surface :ommunicating with an opening in the container or en- :losure to allow atmospheric pressure to act thereon and ts surface in contact with the liquid in the container in )rder to transmit the force of the atmospheric pressure hereto and to prevent the liquid from spilling from the :ontainer. In the preferred arrangement of this latter em- )odiment the deformable member actually contains the iquid so that the opening in the container allows atmos- Jheric pressure to communicate with its outside surface and it collapses to conform to the volume of liquid renaining therein due to the force of atmospheric pressure is the liquid is dispensed therefrom. However, the liquid nay also be retained by the container with the deformable nember disposed therein so that the atmosphere is in con- :act with its inner surface and it expands due to the force )f atmospheric pressure as the liquid is discharged from ;he container.

The container and deformable member desirably may Je made of relatively inexpensive materials such as plastic so that they may be disposed of after the liquid contained herein has been dispensed. Desirably, they are fabricated from a transparent material so that the quantity and color )f the liquid therein may be readily viewed by the user. lhe container should be readily detachable from the hous- Ing supporting the pump and the power means by any conlenient means so that an empty container may be easily lisengaged from the pump housing and a new container attached thereto with relative ease.

In order to make the dispenser assembly portable, a

rechargeable battery is provided in the pump housing for energizing the electric motor. A simple but highly effective switching arrangement for energizing the electric motor is provided between the battery and the motor by means of a brush mounted on a resiliently deflectable conductor normally biasing the brush into contact with the commutator of the electric motor and a spring biasing the brush and a switch connected thereto away from the commutator. When the switch button is depressed, the spring action is overcome and the resiliently deflectable conductor biases the brush into contact with the commutator to complete the circuit with the battery and commence operation of the motor. A support member is desirably included which disengageably receives the pump and power assembly and which is electrically connected to a power line so that it supplies current to the rechargeable battery during periods when the dispenser assembly is not in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser assembly embodying the present invention disposed within a storage rack adapted to recharge the battery thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional side elevational view to an enlarged scale of the operating mechanism of the dispenser assembly of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the dispenser assembly of FIGURE 1 partially exploded to illustrate the mode of attaching the pump to the disposable container for the liquid;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view to an enlarged scale of the cavitation pump of the dispenser assembly of FIGURE 1 with portions broken away to illustrate the operating parts;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2 with the housing removed and illustrating the operating parts of the switch for energizing the motor;

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view in elevation to an enlarged scale of the lower portion of the pump of the dispenser assembly;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary elevational view to an enlarged scale of another embodiment of piston and tube construction for admitting air to act directly on the liquid with portions thereof in section to reveal internal construction; and

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of another embodiment of piston collar construction.

Referring now in detail to the attached drawings, therein illustrated is a dispenser assembly having a disposable cylindrical container 12 with a disc-shaped cover plate 14 enclosing the upper end thereof, and a generally cylindrically shaped pump housing which is generally designated by the numeral 16 and releasably engaged with the container 12.

Turning first to the embodiment of FIGURES 2 through 7, a generally cylindrically shaped deformable member of diaphragm 18 is disposed in the container 12 and is sealingly engaged about its upper edge with the cover plate 14 to form a sealed enclosure for a volume of liquid 20 contained therein to be discharged by the dispensing assembly. A vent hole 15 is formed in the container 12 to allow atmospheric pressure to act on the outside surface of the diaphragm 18 which is adapted to collapse about the liquid 20 as it is dispensed so that it conforms substantially to the volume of the remaining liquid 20. When all the liquid 20 has been dispensed from the sealed enclosure, the pump housing 16 may be disengaged from the disposable container 12 which then may be discarded with the diaphragm 18 so that a new container 12 of similar construction and having its diaphragm 18 full of liquid 20 may be engaged therewith.

The housing 16 supports a cavitation pump, generally designated by the numeral 22, having a tube 24 rigidly mounted on and extending through a disc-shaped base plate 26 enclosing the underside of the housing 16. The upper portion of the tube 24 extends upwardly into the housing 16 and the lower portion extends through an aperture 30 in the cover plate 14 and into the lower portion of the container 12 so that it will discharge the liquid 20 retained within the diaphragm 18. Fixedly mounted on the lower end of the tube 24 is a cylinder 32 which has an internal bore 34 and two inlet ports 36 on opposite sides of the cylinder 32 to provide a passage for the liquid 20 from the interior of the diaphragm 18 to the bore 34. A plug 38 is threadably engaged at the lower end of the cylinder 32 so that the liquid 20 may enter the bore 34 only through the inlet ports 36. The upper portion of the tube 24 is held in a fixed position by a support plate 40 mounted on the housing 16 in order to prevent the lower portion of the tube 24 with the cylinder 32 from displacing and rupturing the diaphragm 18 when immersed in the liquid 20.

The cavitation pump 22 has a piston, generally designated by the numeral 50, mounted for reciprocal movement within the pump housing 16 by an upper bearing 52 and a lower bearing 54 on the housing 16. The upper portion of the piston 50 extends outwardly of the housing 16 so as to project thereabove and the lower end thereof extends downwardly into the tube 24 and is snugly disposed within the bore 34 of the cylinder 32. An internal passage or bore 56 extends through the entire length of the piston 50 and provides an inlet orifice in the lower end thereof which communicates with the liquid 20 in the bore 34 and an outlet 60 extends perpendicular to the main portion of the passage 56 and communicates with the atmosphere so that liquid 20 may flow from the bore 34 through the inlet orifice into the internal passage 56 for dispensing through the outlet 60.

A hemispherically shaped recess 62, allowing unobstructed dispensing of the liquid 20, is provided in the housing 16 to expose the outlet 60 and the surrounding portion of the piston 50 and a notched portion 64 is provided in the piston 50 centrally about the outlet 60 to reduce the length of travel of the liquid 20 therethrough thus enabling the liquid 20 to be discharged freely and rapidly to the atmosphere. The size of the outlet 60 may be varied by adjusting the position of an orifice pin 66 which is threadedly mounted in the upper end of the passage 56 and has a knob 68 which may be readily rotated manually by the user. In this manner, the spray of liquid 20 dispensed from the outlet 60 may be controlled easily since when the size of outlet 60 is maximum, the liquid is discharged in a steady stream and when the size of the outlet 60 is reduced by the pin 66, a fine spray is discharged.

In order to reciprocate the piston 50 within the tube 24 and cylinder 32 to pump the liquid 20 from the container 12, the ring 72 surrounds the tube 24 and is rigidly connected to the piston 50 by means of three threaded members 74 extending through the three axially extending slots 70 in the upper portion of the tube 24. A conpression spring 76 is mounted so that it encircles the tube 24 between the ring 72 and the base plate 26 thereby biasing the ring 72 and the piston 50 upwardly relative to the base plate 26 of the pump housing 16. An electric motor, generally designated by the numeral 80 is mounted on the base plate 26 of the housing 16 and reciprocates the piston 50 in the bore 34 to pump the liquid 20 from the diaphragm 18 and outwardly through the outlet 62. The shaft 82 of the motor 80 rotates a disc 84 having an off-center or eccentric pin 86 mounted thereon and engaged with the ring 72.

When the motor 80 is energized, the shaft 82 and disc 84 are rotated so that the pin 86, which is engaged with the ring 72 by the pressure of the spring 76, cyclically bears down upon the spring 76 through the ring 72 so as to move the piston 50 downwardly against the bias of spring 76. After the pin 86 has reached the bottom of its rotational path, it then begins to move upwardly and the piston'50 is simultaneously moved upwardly by the force of the spring 76 acting against the ring 72. The piston 50 is thereby continuously reciprocated for pumping liquid 20 from the dispenser 10 due to the downward movement of the ring 72 caused by the force of the pin 86 on the disc 84, and the upward movement of the ring 72 due to the force of the compression spring 76. Thus, if the piston 50 should become stuck in the bearings 52 and 54 or cylinder 32 due to the hardening of the liquid 20, it may be readily freed by manually moving the knob 68.

In order to energize the electric motor 80, a switch button 90 is mounted for reciprocal movement within a bore 92 in the top wall portion 94 of the housing 16. Biasing the button 90 upwardly is a compression spring 96 which is mounted in a bore 92 of greater diameter extending downwardly from the bore 92 and operates between the button 90 and the support frame 98 of the electric motor 80. The button 90 has a collar portion 100 at its lower end which abuts against and operates the shoulder 102 between the enlarged bore portion 92a and the smaller bore 92, thus limiting upward movement thereof in response to the biasing pressure of the spring 96. Attached to the lower end to the button 90 is a flexible member 104 which has its opposite end secured to the upper member of a pair of resiliently deflectable metal conductors 106a, 106b mounted at one end on the motor 80 with their free ends supporting a pair of commutator brushes 108a, 1081;. The spring 96 acting on the flexible member 104 through the button 90 normally biases the upper conductor 106a with its commutator brush 108a away from engagement with the commutator 110 of the electric motor 80. When it is desired to operate the dispenser 10, the button 90 is manually depressed so that the resiliently deflectable conductor 106a, which is normally biased toward the commutator 110, then moves the commutator brush 108a into engagement with the commutator 110 and thereby energizes the electrical motor 80.

The power for the electric motor 80 is supplied by a rechargeable battery 112, such as a conventional nickelcadmium cell, which is supported within the cavity 114 of the pump housing 16 and a pair of conductors 116a, 116b extend therefrom to the resiliently deflectable conductors 106a, 1061: to supply electrical energy to the motor 80 through the commutator brushes 108a, 1081) and commutator 110. A second pair of conductors 118 ex tend from the battery 112 to a pair of terminals 119 in the top wall portion 94 of the housing 16. The dispenser assembly is conveniently mounted for storage and re charging in a rack, generally designated by the numeral 120, which has a platform portion 122 for supporting the underside of the container 12 and a top portion 124 carrying a pair of resiliently deflectable conductors 126 positioned for resilient engagement with the contacts 119 for recharging the battery 112 and for retaining the dispenser 10 in the rack 120. An electrical cord 128 is provided for plugging into an electrical circuit to supply current to a battery charger (not shown) within the rack and provide a suitable potential across the conductors 126 for charging the battery 112 while the dispenser as sembly is stored in the rack 120.

As best seen in FIGURE 4, the pump housing 16 is rapidly and easily secured to the container 12 by a pair of depending pins 130 on the base plate 26 which snugly fit into cooperating apertures 131 in the top wall or cover plate 14 of the container 12. Since frictional engagement is used in this particular mounting, the pins 130 desirably are fabricated from resiliently deformable material and have a portion (not shown) of slightly larger diameter than the apertures 131 so as to produce a locking deformation thereof upon seating to provide sufiicient frictional engagement to avoid inadvertent disassembly. To attach the pump housing 16 to the container 12, the tube 24 is inserted into the aperture 30 of the cover plate l4 and pierces a membrane (not shown) sealing the aperzure 30 to prevent liquid 22 in the diaphragm 18 from ;pilling. Thereafter, the two members are moved to seat :he pins 130 in the apertures 131.

In operation of the dispenser assembly of FIGURES 2 vhrough 7, the housing 16 may be manually grasped in )ne hand with one of the fingers of the user in contact with the button 90. When the dispenser assembly is in )osition for discharging the liquid 20 onto the desired trea, the button 90 is pressed downwardly allowing the lpper resilient conductor 106a to position its commutator rush 108a in contact with the commutator 110, thereby :nergizing the electric motor 80 causing shaft 82 and :ccentric pin 86 to rotate. Rotation of the eccentric pin 36 forces the ring 72 and piston 50 in a downward direc- .iOn until one half of a revolution has been completed lI'ld the pin 86 starts to move upwardly whereupon the :pring 76 simultaneously moves the ring 72 and piston 50 upwardly following the movement of the pin 86. Thus, 'eciprocal motion of the ring 72 imparts the same motion the piston 50 within the cylinder 32 in order to pump he liquid 20 from the container 12. On the downward ;troke of the piston 50, the inlet ports 36 are closed causing he liquid in the interior of the cylinder 32 to be pumped hrough the internal passage 56 of the piston 50 for dis- :harge through the outlet 60. It can be seen that the re- :iprocal motion of the outlet 60 relative to the housing [6 causes the liquid 20 to be discharged in a spray along 1 line equal to the length of the reciprocal movement of he piston 50.

The velocity of the piston 50 reciprocating within the :ylinder 32 is sufficiently high so that, during the upward )r intake stroke and before the inlet ports 36 have been )pened, cavitation occurs within the cylinder 32 and,

vhen the inlet ports 36 are opened as the piston 50 noves upwardly, the liquid 20 is rapidly drawn through he inlet ports 36 into the interior of the cylinder 32 y the vacuum created therein. Upon subsequent downvard movement of the piston 50, the interior of the cylinler 32 will be full of the liquid 20 for pumping from the lispenser assembly since the liquid 20 in the diaphragm i8 is under atmospheric pressure and readily flows into he cylinder 32 where a vacuum has been created by :avitation. The liquid 20 in the internal passage 56 of he piston 50 does not flow back into the cylinder 32 at L fast enough rate to prevent cavitation due to the narrowless of the internal passage 56, the larger cross-sectional trea of the inlet ports 36 and the speed of reciprocation. &s the liquid 20 is withdrawn from within the diaphragm t8, the atmospheric pressure acting on the outside surface f the diaphragm 18 through the vent hole causes he diaphragm 18 to be deformed or collapsed so that t conform substantially to the volume of liquid remaining therein. After use, the dispenser assembly may )e stored in the rack 120 where the battery 112 is re- :harged during the inoperative period.

Turning now to FIGURES 8 and 9, a different means or allowing atmospheric pressure to act upon the liquid n the container is illustrated. In this embodiment, the con ainer (not shown) has the liquid in direct contact with ts inner surface (no collapsible bag is employed) and he numerals generally correspond to those in the embodinent of FIGURES 17 but in the 200 sequence. The conainer is fabricated from relatively deformable material 0 that a differential in pressure between the atmosphere .nd the interior of the container will produce at least ome inward deformation thereof as the liquid is withlrawn from the interior. As in the prior embodiment, a tiston generally designated by the numeral 250 reciproates in the tube 224 and is maintained in substantially :oaxial alignment therein by the bearing 258 at the up- 781' end of the tube 224 and the guide bushing 259 at its ower end. The difference in diameter of the piston 250 .nd inner surface of the tube 224, and accordingly, the

o 0 thickness of the bushing 258, have been exaggerated for purpose of illustration.

Air can pass from the atmosphere into the interior of the container through either of two passages so as to equalize pressure between the atmosphere and the interior of the container, primarily during periods of nonuse. The first route is from the outlet 260 through the internal bore 256 of the piston 250 to the interior of the cylinder portion 232 of the tube and thence outwardly through the inlet ports 236 into the liquid 220. Generally, the piston 250 will end its stroke in the upper position so that the inlet ports 236 are open although it is here illustrated in its lower position. The second route is through a clearance of about 0.001 inch between the piston 250 and the bearing 258 and thence in the space between the piston 250 and interior wall. of the tube 224 to the outlet 225 where it exits into the interior of the container. Both routes may be used individually although they are preferably used jointly as illustrated herein.

Since the dispenser is stored and handled in a generally upright position, leakage of liquid is relatively minimal. The bushing 259 seals the inlet ports 236 in the downward position of the piston and during most of the length of its stroke which is of sufiicient length to open the ports 236 and draw liquid therein.

As seen in FIGURE 9, the ring 272 is mounted directly upon the piston 250 by the set screws or threaded fasteners 274 so as to be acted upon by the spring 276 which is held between it and the base plate 226 of the pump housing (not shown) as in the prior embodiment of FIGURES 1 through 7. However, rotation of the ring 272 is prevented by the secantally extending fiat surface of the 273 thereon which slides against the flat surface of the upwardly extending arm 275' on the plate 278 which is mounted on the support boss 279 and which in turn supports the motor and other components (not shown) in spaced relationship from the base plate 226.

Accordingly, the novel portable dispenser assembly of the present invention automatically discharges the liquid therefrom at a steady rate which is particularly advantageous where it is desirable to apply an even coating of the liquid. The power driven cavitation pump may utilize the piston as its only moving part so that the assembly may be readily and economically constructed and easily operated, cleaned and adjusted. A rechargeable battery may be provided for operating the electric motor actuating the pump so that the portable dispenser may be conveniently carried to any location without electrical cords and recharged when not in use. Moreover, since the container and the diaphragm therein for the liquid may be disposable, the pump housing is adapted for ready disengagement from the used container and attachment to a refill container.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A dispenser assembly for liquids comprising: a container providing an enclosure for liquids to be discharged from said dispenser assembly; a cavitation pump on said container for discharging the liquid therefrom and having a tube with one end extending into said enclosure to dispense the liquid therefrom, said tube having a cylinder portion at the lower end thereof and an inlet port communicating with the interior of said cylinder portion for passage of liquid from said container into said tube, said cavitation pump having an elongated piston reciprocably mounted within said tube and said cylinder portion thereof and extending outwardly from the other end of said tube, said piston having an internal passage with an inlet orifice at one end communicating with the interior of said cylinder portion and a discharge orifice of relatively small size at the other end for pumping liquid from said container and dispensing the liquid from said container and dispensing the liquid from said discharge orifice, said inlet port in said tube being closed during the initial portion of the upward stroke of said piston and open during at least a portion of the remainder of said upward stroke; and power means operably connected to said piston for imparting rapid reciprocal motion thereto at sufficient velocity to cause cavitation in said cylinder portion and to draw liquid through said inlet port into the interior of said cylinder portion during the upward stroke of said piston for discharge through said internal passage and said discharge orifice during the downward stroke of said piston, said dispenser assembly permitting action of atmospheric pressure upon the liquid in said container.

2. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein said power means includes an electric motor operably connected to said piston by an eccentrically rotating member on said electrical motor, said eccentrically rotating member being engaged with a shoulder on said piston to effect cyclic movement thereof toward said cylinder portion and wherein said power means also includes a spring biasing said piston away from said cylinder portion and into continuing engagement with said eccentrically rotating member for imparting reciprocal motion to said piston upon rotation of said eccentrically rotating member.

3. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein said inlet port of said cylinder portion is positioned to be closed by said piston during a portion of the downward stroke of said piston for pumping the liquid from said cylinder portion and during a portion of the upward stroke of said piston for causing cavitation in said cylinder portion.

4. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein said cavitation pump and power means are supported by a housing and wherein said container is disposable and readily detachable from said housing to permit substitution of a refill container.

5. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein said discharge orifice is adjustable in size to vary the form of the liquid stream dispensed therefrom on each stroke of said piston.

-6. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein said power means includes a rechargeable battery and an electrical motor driven thereby.

7. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein said container has an opening therein and includes a deformable member therewithin having one surface in communication with said opening and exposed to atmospheric pressure thereby and its other surface in contact with a volume of liquid to be dispensed from said container so as to transmit the atmospheric pressure to said liquid and prevent said liquid from spilling through said opening in said container.

8. The dispenser of claim 7 wherein said surface of said deformable member communicating with said opening is the inner surface and the outer surface is in contact with the liquid in said container to transmit the force of the atmospheric pressure thereto so that said deformable member expands within said container due to the force of atmospheric pressure acting thereon as said liquid is dispensed from said container.

9. The dispenser assembly of claim -6 wherein said cavitation pump has electrical contacts in the exterior thereof, electrically connected to said rechargeably battery, and wherein said assembly includes a support member disengageably receiving said cavitation pump and having electrical contacts thereon electrically connected to a power source and to said contacts on said cavitation pump and thereby said rechargeable battery.

10. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein said dispenser assembly has a passage therein permitting passage of air from the atmosphere into direct contact with the liquid in said container.

11. The dispenser assembly of claim 10 wherein said passage includes said passage in said piston and said inlet port in said cylinder portion.

12. The dispenser assembly of claim 10 wherein said passage is provided between said piston and the upper portion of said tube and said tube has an opening therein to said passage in said container above said cylinder portion.

13. The dispenser assembly of claim 10 wherein said passage includes the passages of both claims 11 and 12 and wherein said container is of relatively deformable material.

14. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein said power means includes an electrical motor with a commutator and a brush normally biased into contact with said commutator, and wherein said power means also includes an electrical power source connected to said motor and said brush, a switch operatively connected to said brush, and resiliently deflectable means biasing said brush and switch away from said commutator, said switch having an operating portion extending to the exterior of said cavitation pump for manual actuation and movement of said switch toward said commutator to overcome the resiliently deflectable biasing means for movement of the brush into contact with said commutator and thereby to effect operation of said motor.

15. A portable dispenser for liquids comprising: container providing an enclosure for liquids to be discharged from said dispenser and of relatively deformable material to permit atmospheric pressure to produce deformation thereof during operation of the dispenser, container having a volume of liquid therein; a housing removably mounted on said container; a cavitation pump mounted on said housing and having a tube with one end extending into said container to dispense said liquid therefrom, said tube having a cylinder portion at the lower end thereof and an inlet port communicating with the interior of said cylinder portion for passage of said liquid thereinto, said cavitation pump having an elongated piston reciprocably mounted within said tube and said cylinder portion thereof and extending outwardly from the other end of said tube, said piston having an internal passage with an inlet orifice of relatively small size at one end communicating with the interior of said cylinder portion and a discharge orifice at the other end for pumping liquid from said container and dispensing said liquid from said discharge orifice, said piston being of sufficiently smaller diameter than said tube above said cylinder portion to provide a passage therebetween and said tube above said cylinder portion having a port between said passage and the interior of said container to permit passage of air therefrom into the interior of said container to act upon said liquid as the volume thereof is decreased by operation of the dispenser; said inlet port in said tube being closed during the initial portion of the upward stroke of said piston and open during at least a portion of the remainder of said upward stroke; and power means on said housing operably connected to said piston for imparting rapid reciprocal motion at sufiicient velocity to cause a cavitation in said cylinder portion to draw liquid through said inlet port into the interior of said cylinder portion during the upward stroke of said piston for discharge through said internal passage and said discharge orifice during the downward stroke of said piston, said internal passage in said piston and inlet port in said cylinder portion also providing a passage for air from the atmosphere to enter said container and the volume of liquid remaining in said container as said liquid is dispensed therefrom.

16. The portable dispenser of claim 15 wherein said power means includes an electric motor operably connected to said piston by an eccentrically rotating member on said electrical motor, said eccentrically rotating member being engaged with a shoulder on said piston to effect cyclic movement thereof toward said cylinder portion and wherein said power means also includes a spring biasing said piston away from said cylinder portion and into continuing engagement with said eccentrically rotating member for imparting reciprocal motion to said piston upon rotation of said eccentrically rotating member.

17. The portable dispenser of claim wherein said inlet port of said cylinder portion is positioned to be closed by said piston during a portion of the downward stroke of said piston for pumping the liquid from said cylinder portion and during a portion of the upward stroke of said piston for causing cavitation in said cylinder portion.

18. The portable dispenser of claim 15 wherein said discharge orifice is adjustable in size to vary the form of the liquid stream dispensed therefrom on each stroke of said piston.

19. A portable dispenser for liquids comprising: a container providing an enclosure; a liquid to be discharged from said dispenser; a housing removably mounted on said container; a cavitation pump mounted on said housing and having a tube with one end extending into said container to dispense said liquid therefrom, said tube having a cylinder portion at the lower end thereof and an inlet port communicating with the interior of said cylinder portion for passage of said liquid thereinto, said cavitation pump having an elongated piston reciprocably mounted within said tube and said cylinder portion thereof and extending outwardly from the other end of said tube, said piston having an internal passage with an inlet orifice at one end communicating with the interior of said cylinder portion and a discharge orifice at the other end for pumping liquid from said deformable member and dispensing said liquid from said discharge orifice, said inlet port of said cylinder portion being closed by said piston during a portion of the downward stroke thereof for pumping said liquid from said container and during a portion of the upward stroke for causing cavitation of said liquid in said deformable member, said dispenser permitting action of atmospheric pressure upon said liquid and in said container; and an electrical motor in said housing operably connected to said piston for imparting rapid reciprocal motion thereto and having a commutator and a pair of commutator brushes engageable therewith, one of said commutator brushes being supported on a resilient conductor adapted to bias said one of said commutator brushes into engagement with said commutator; an electrical power source in said housing connected to said motor and said power source motor operably connected to said resilient conductor for engaging and disengaging said commutator brush from said commutator; and resiliently deflectable means in said housing biasing said conductor and switch away from said commutator, said switch being movable toward said commutator to permit contact between said brush and commutator to efiiect operation of said motor.

20. The portable dispenser of claim 19 wherein said power means includes an electric motor operably connected to said piston by an eccentrically rotating member on said electrical motor, said eccentrically rotating member being engaged with a shoulder on said piston to effect cyclic movement thereof toward said cylinder portion and wherein said power means also includes a spring biasing said piston away from said cylinder portion and into continuing engagement with said eccentrically rotating member for imparting reciprocal motion to said piston upon rotation of said eccentrically rotating member.

21. The dispenser assembly of claim 19 wherein there is included a support member disengageably receiving said housing and wherein said power source is a rechargeable battery and said support member has contacts electrically connected to a power source and to said rechargeable battery.

22. In a method of dispensing liquids, the steps comprising: providing a volume of liquid open to the atmosphere for action thereon by atmospheric pressure and a tube having one end immersed in said liquid with a chamber in communication with said liquid through an inlet port therein; and reciprocating a piston with said inlet port being closed during the initial portion of the upward stroke of said piston and thereafter opened, said flow passage having a discharge orifice of relatively small size to limit the flow of air therethrough during said upward stroke and said reciprocation being at a rapid speed sufficient to cause a vacuum within said chamber and to draw liquid rapidly through said inlet port rather than backwardly through said flow passage and to propel said liquid from said chamber through said flow passage during the downward stroke, air within said chamber and piston being expelled with said liquid during said downward stroke.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said speed of reciprocation is sufficient to produce a substantially steady flow of liquid through said flow passage.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein said volume of liquid is provided within a resiliently deflectable member and said deflectable member is collapsed by atmospheric pressure during dispensing of said liquid.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6,560 6/1875 Overend 103153 2,086,467 7/ 1937 Bryan 222-82 2,355,550 8/1944 Nusbaurn 239237 2,362,080 11/ 1944 Martin 222321 2,410,692 11/1946 Stobell 239-332 2,627,814 2/1953 Davis 10337 3,063,930 11/1963 De Pava 103-153 3,173,584 3/1965 Giavasis 222333 3,255,972 6/1966 Hultgren et al 239373 3,288,334 11/1966 Corsette 222107 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner US Cl. X.R. 222-107

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