SOAP DISPENSER WITH AN INTERCHANGEABLE CARTRIDGE

Abstract

The invention relates to a soap dispenser with an interchangeable cartridge which includes a base (1) and a casing (2) hinged relative to the base (1) having a push button (4) associated with a dispensing assembly (10), and a soap cartridge (6), which is housed in the casing (2), which includes a cap (20) having a hole having a membrane (22), in which the dispensing assembly (10) includes a dosing pump (12), an elbow (13) connected to the pump, a tube (13a), a fitting (11) coupled to the tube (13a), and in which the tube (13a) is inserted into the hole of the cap (20) and breaks the membrane (22) in order to enter the inside of the cartridge (6); in which the fitting (11) is coupled in the cap (20); so that the cartridge (6) supplies soap to the outside with the dosing pump (12).

Description

Title of the invention: SOAP DISPENSER WITH AN INTERCHANGEABLE CARTRIDGE OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a soap dispenser, specifically a wall-mounted soap dispenser with a consumable and interchangeable cartridge, and which includes a reusable pump for a plurality of soap cartridges in the form of gel or foam. CONTEXT OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Wall-mounted soap dispensers use an interchangeable soap cartridge to provide a hygienic and convenient solution for dispensing soap, particularly in public places such as restrooms, kitchens, and hospitals, among others. Generally, the dispenser is made of durable materials such as plastic or metal and is fixed to the wall using screws or strong adhesives. This keeps the dispenser securely in place, preventing accidental detachment and facilitating its use.

[0003] The soap inside the dispenser is stored in a cartridge, which is a replaceable sealed receptacle. These cartridges are pre-filled with soap in gel form (which is dispensed directly) or soap in foam form (which requires a suitable dispensing pump to generate foam) and are designed to be easily interchangeable to maintain hygiene, thus preventing contamination that can occur if the soap is refilled directly in the dispenser.

[0004] When a lever or button on the dispenser is pressed, a mechanism that presses on the cartridge is activated, releasing a measured amount of soap via a dispensing pump attached to the cartridge. In some models, this mechanism may be manual, operated by hand pressure, or automatic, where a sensor detects the presence of hands and releases soap without requiring physical contact.

[0005] By using interchangeable cartridges or pouches, the dispenser minimizes the risk of cross-contamination since the user does not come into direct contact with undispensed soap. Furthermore, changing the cartridges is quick and easy, simplifying maintenance and ensuring that soap is always available. When the cartridge is empty, it is removed from the dispenser and replaced with a new one. The empty cartridge can be recycled or disposed of in accordance with local regulations and the manufacturer's sustainability policies.

[0006] This type of dispenser is popular in commercial and public areas due to its ease of use, enhanced hygiene, and maintenance efficiency. Furthermore, the variety of soaps available allows for adaptation to different needs and preferences, such as antibacterial or perfumed soap.

[0007] An example of such devices is described in WO2017015566, which describes a soap dispenser including a rigid cartridge, a reverse dispensing pump, a collar carrying a lever for actuation of the pump, and a venting system for equalizing the air pressure in the rigid cartridge, wherein the rigid cartridge and the collar cooperate to removably connect the soap dispenser to a support mounted on a wall, and wherein furthermore at least the rigid cartridge is disposable and may be made of a recyclable and / or biodegradable material. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] As explained above, soap dispensers in the current state of the art include a soap cartridge that incorporates a dosing pump. Consequently, each time the cartridge needs to be changed, the pump must be discarded, making its replacement more expensive and its manufacture more complicated.

[0009] According to the claims accompanying this document, the object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing assembly comprising a pump, an elbow, a rotary fitting, and optionally, an O-ring. The dispensing assembly can be detached from the cartridge and, consequently, reused, instead of having to be discarded with each cartridge. For example, contrary to what is described in the prior art, a single pump can be marketed for a set of consumables, such as six cartridges.

[0010] Throughout the description and claims, the word "include" and its variants are not intended to exclude other technical features, additions, components, or steps. For those skilled in the art, other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be deduced from both the description and the practical use of the invention. The examples and drawings that follow are provided by way of illustration and are not intended to limit the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention covers all possible combinations of particular and preferred embodiments indicated herein.

[0011] The invention therefore relates to a soap dispenser with an interchangeable cartridge, comprising a base that can be coupled to a wall by means of the corresponding fixing and a casing that can be detached or hinged in relation to at the base. The casing includes at least one push button associated with a dispensing assembly by means of which soap is supplied to the outside.

[0012] The soap dispenser also includes a cartridge containing soap, intended to be housed inside the casing. The cartridge includes a cap with a central hole where an internal membrane preventing soap from escaping is located. Furthermore, the cartridge is intended to be connected to the dispensing assembly. In this way, when the dispenser is in operation, the cartridge is connected to the dispensing assembly.

[0013] In turn, the distribution assembly comprises the following components:

[0014] a dosing pump,

[0015] an elbow, hydraulically connected to the dosing pump,

[0016] a tube, as an extension of the elbow, having a protrusion,

[0017] a fitting, coupled to the tube, having a rotational capacity.

[0018] The tube includes a protrusion intended to be inserted into the central hole of the to open the cap and break the internal membrane in order to penetrate the cartridge.

[0019] The distribution assembly may also include an O-ring configured to seal the coupling between the cartridge cap and the tube and thus ensure that the soap is moved from the cartridge to the elbow without leakage.

[0020] Moreover, the fitting is configured to be coupled in the cap, so that the cartridge is in hydraulic communication with the dosing pump to supply soap to the outside.

[0021] Preferably, the device has a configuration where, on the one hand, the plug comprises four peripherally distributed tabs located at 90° intervals and, on the other hand, the fitting comprises four ramps distributed at 90° intervals, corresponding to the tabs. In this way, each ramp coincides with a tab and, during rotation of the fitting, the tabs are displaced, guided by the ramps.

[0022] However, the device has two different types of ramps: lower ramps which, in the operational position, are in contact with the tabs in the lower area, and upper ramps which, similarly, are in contact with the tabs in the upper area. The two types of ramps are in pairs, with the ramps of each pair facing each other. This arrangement includes diametrically opposed ramps of the same type, so that the stresses are balanced.

[0023] In this way, the upper ramps press on the tabs upwards during the coupling process of the fitting and the lower ramps press on the tabs downwards during the uncoupling process of the fitting.

[0024] In addition, each of the upper ramps incorporates a notch at one end intended to house the corresponding tab during the coupling movement of the fitting to stopper. The functionality of this notch is important in that the coupling emits a sound and a sensation that the end of the stroke has been reached, giving the user the certainty that the coupling has been carried out correctly.

[0025] In terms of the cartridge, it can be a plastic bag, although preferably it is a semi-rigid container. In the latter case, the base includes at least one clamp and the elbow includes at least one flange designed to fit into the corresponding clamp, so that the entire dispensing assembly is securely fitted into the device.

[0026] To further facilitate assembly, the cartridge includes recesses, as a guide, to be inserted into a complementary configuration arranged in the base. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The following is a very brief description of a series of drawings which help to better understand the invention and which are expressly related to an embodiment of said invention which is presented by way of non-limiting example thereof.

[0028] [Fig. 1] represents a front view of the soap dispenser according to the present invention.

[0029] [Fig.2] represents a profile section of the distributor of [Fig. 1].

[0030] [Fig.3] represents a view of the distributor of Figures 1 and 2 but with the casing withdrawn.

[0031] [Fig.4] represents the view of the distributor of [Fig.3] without the pump-cartridge assembly.

[0032] [Fig.5] represents an embodiment of the cartridge with the cap incorporated before its use.

[0033] [Fig.6] represents a section of the cartridge with the cap incorporated as illustrated in [Fig.5].

[0034] [Fig.7] represents a front view (image on the left side) and a side view (image on the right side) of the cartridge of Figures 5 and 6 with the distribution assembly incorporated.

[0035] [Fig.8] represents two perspective views of the rotary fitting of the distribution assembly in order to be able to visualize it internally and externally, and a third diametrical cross-sectional view.

[0036] [Fig.9] represents three views of the stopper incorporated in the cartridge.

[0037] [Fig. 10] represents a cross-sectional view of the distribution assembly in a position operational.

[0038] [Fig. 11] represents a section of the distribution assembly assembled in the fixing clamp.

[0039] The reference figures used in the preceding Figures are as follows:

[0040] 1 base

[0041] 2 casing

[0042] 3 viewing window

[0043] 4 pushbuttons

[0044] 5 anchoring elements

[0045] 6 cartridge

[0046] 7 lock

[0047] 8 fixing clamp

[0048] 9 recesses in the cartridge

[0049] 10 distributor set

[0050] 11 rotary joint

[0051] lia ramps of the rotary fitting

[0052] 11b notch

[0053] 12 dosing pump

[0054] 13 elbow

[0055] 13a elbow tube

[0056] 13b elbow straps

[0057] 13c protuberance

[0058] 14 O-ring

[0059] 20 caps

[0060] 21 legs of the cap

[0061] 22 internal membrane of the stopper PREFERRED METHOD OF EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0062] As shown in the Figures in the appendix, the soap dispenser is formed by a base 1, which can be fixed to a wall by means of anchoring elements 5, and a casing 2, which can be detached or articulated relative to the base 1 and comprising at least one push button 4 in its front part and a viewing window 3 to know the level of soap present in the consumable housed within it.

[0063] The consumable is a cartridge 6 which can be either semi-rigid or in the form of a flexible pouch.

[0064] The casing 2 can be opened by means of a lock 7 located in a hole in the upper part of the casing 2 and is configured as a tab which is inserted into a hole, so that, by releasing the tab from the hole, the casing 2 can be opened and the spent cartridge 6 can be removed and replaced with a new cartridge 6.

[0065] It is important to specify that, during the replacement operation, the cartridge 6 is inserted with the distribution assembly 10 already assembled in the position operational, so that a clamp 8 fixes the distribution assembly 10 by pressure in the appropriate position, which facilitates error-free assembly of the assembly formed by the cartridge 6 and the distribution assembly 10. To this end, the elbow 13 incorporates a flange 13b which fits into the clamp 8. Normally, as illustrated in [Fig. 11], the clamp 8 is an element with two fixing arms and the flange 13b is an element with two projections where each projection is fixed by one of the arms, the projections and the arms being in correspondence.

[0066] This error-free assembly is further facilitated when the cartridge 6 is semi-rigid, since it incorporates recesses 9 which serve as a guide for inserting the cartridge 6 into the soap dispenser, which further facilitates the operation of replacing a used cartridge 6.

[0067] It has already been indicated with reference to the semi-rigid cartridge 6 shown in Figures 5 and 6 that the body is essentially made of a plastic material, such as PET, and includes a cap 20, also made of plastic material, for example polypropylene, assembled in the cartridge 6 under pressure and having a specific geometry which includes four tabs 21 separated each at 90°, defining the axes of the cap placed at positions at 0°, 90°, 180° and 270°.

[0068] In addition, the cap 20 incorporates a central hole where an internal membrane 22 is placed which is configured to close the passage of the soap contained in the cartridge 6 until the dispensing assembly 10 is mounted for operation.

[0069] With reference to the distribution assembly 10, it consists of a rotary fitting 11, a dosing pump 12 and an elbow 13. The operation of assembling the distribution assembly 10 in the cap 20 of the cartridge 6 is as follows.

[0070] Initially, the operation begins with a cartridge 6 closed by a cap 20 which includes a central hole where an internal membrane 22 is located and having a distribution assembly 10 which includes an elbow 13 having a tube 13a as an extension.

[0071] First, the O-ring 14 is introduced around the protrusion 13c of the tube 13a, although this step is optional because the distributor may not incorporate an O-ring 14.

[0072] Next, the protrusion 13c of the tube 13a is inserted into the central hole of the cap 20, which breaks the internal membrane 22 to be inserted into the cartridge 6. Soap falls by gravity towards the body of the elbow 13 through the inside of the protrusion 13c. The O-ring 14 placed in the tube 13a presses on the cap 20, making it watertight to prevent the soap from escaping towards the fitting 11.

[0073] For coupling and decoupling the fitting 11 with respect to the plug 20, the fitting 11 comprises four ramps which, when assembled in the The plug 20 coincides with the tabs 21, so that when the rotary coupling 11 is rotated a quarter turn, the tabs 21 are moved, guided by the ramps 1a.

[0074] There are two types of ramps. There is a pair of upper ramps that are in contact with the tabs 21 in the upper area and are important for the coupling movement. There is also a pair of lower ramps that are in contact with the tabs 21 in the lower area and are important during the uncoupling process. Furthermore, each upper ramp includes a notch 11b, located at one end, designed to receive the corresponding tab 21, a "click" being produced at this point, which assures the user that the distribution assembly 10 is correctly assembled in the plug 20 of the cartridge 6.This maneuver is faster and more ergonomic than with a simple threaded plug (which would require one or more turns and would suffer wear associated with use, without providing a fixed final position with a click) as a consequence of the geometry of the rotary fitting 11 in conjunction with the geometry of the plug 20.

[0075] At this stage, it is necessary to emphasize that changing the cartridge 6 is very simple, since when the cartridge 6 is empty, it is only necessary to turn the fitting 11 a quarter turn in the opposite direction and remove the distribution assembly 10, in order to insert it into a new cartridge 6, as described. Finally, the dosing pump 12 is a known prior art component and can be supplied in a version for gel or foam.

[0076] A soap dispensing device which allows the reuse of the dispensing assembly 10 in a plurality of cartridges 6 is thus obtained, which reduces the costs of the final product and facilitates the individual recycling of the cartridge 6.

Claims

Demands

1. A soap dispenser with an interchangeable cartridge comprising: a base (1) that can be fixed to a wall and a casing (2) that can be detached or hinged relative to the base (1) and comprising at least one push button (4) associated with a dispensing assembly (10), and a cartridge (6) containing soap, intended to be housed inside the casing (2), which includes a cap (20) having a central hole in which an internal membrane (22) is placed, the cartridge (6) being connected to the dispensing assembly (10), characterized in that the dispensing assembly (10) comprises: a dosing pump (12), an elbow (13) hydraulically connected to the dosing pump (12), a tube (13a) configured as an extension of the elbow (13), a fitting (11), coupled to the tube (13a) with a rotational capacity,wherein the tube (13a) is configured to be inserted into the central hole of the cap (20) and to rupture the internal membrane (22) in order to penetrate the inside of the cartridge (6); the fitting (11) is configured to be coupled in the cap (20); so that the cartridge (6) is in hydraulic communication with the dosing pump (12) to supply soap to the outside.

2. Distributor according to claim 1, which includes an O-ring (14) configured to seal the coupling between the cap (20) and the tube (13a).

3. Distributor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: the stopper comprises four peripherally distributed lugs located at 90°, and the fitting (11) comprises four ramps (lia) distributed at 90°, such that, when coupling the fitting (11) into the stopper (20), each ramp coincides with a lug (21) and, when rotating the fitting (11), the lugs (21) are moved, guided by the ramps (Ha).

4. Distributor according to claim 3, wherein the four ramps (1a) are divided into two pairs, a pair of upper ramps, intended to press on the lugs (21) for coupling, and a pair of lower ramps, intended to press on the lugs (21) during decoupling, the ramps of each pair being opposite each other, wherein each upper ramp includes a notch (11b) intended to house a lug (21).

5. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge (6) is a plastic pouch.

6. Dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge (6) is a semi-rigid container.

7. Distributor according to claim 6, wherein the base (1) comprises at least one clamp (8) and the elbow (13) comprises at least one flange (13b) intended to fit into the at least one clamp (8).

8. Dispenser according to claim 6, wherein the cartridge (6) includes recesses (9), as a guide, to be inserted into the base (1).

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