WO2024173140A2

WO2024173140A2 - Table-top bottle electronic soap or sanitizer dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO2024173140A2
Application number: PCT/US2024/014967
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jeffrey S. Louis; Nick E. Ciavarella
Original assignee: Gojo Industries, Inc.
Priority date: 2023-02-14
Filing date: 2024-02-08
Publication date: 2024-08-22
Also published as: WO2024173140A3

Abstract

Exemplary tabletop soap or sanitizer dispensers are shown and described herein. The dispensers may dispense fluid in the form of a foam or in the form of a liquid. An exemplary tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser includes a bottle having a reservoir for containing soap or sanitizer fluid. The bottle has a neck with an upper surface. The neck has an inner diameter. A nozzle, a sensor for detecting an object positioned below the nozzle and a pump are included. The pump has a diaphragm housing and a diaphragm body. The diaphragm body has one or more liquid pump chambers and one or more air pump chambers. The one or more liquid pump chambers and the one or more air pump chambers are operated sequentially. The pump also has a diaphragm cover a liquid pump inlet, one or more air pump inlets and a fluid outlet. The fluid outlet is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The diaphragm housing has an outside diameter. The outside diameter of the diaphragm housing has a diameter that is greater than the inner diameter of the neck. A drive housing extends into the reservoir of the bottle. A motor and a battery are located in the drive housing. Control circuitry is also included. When the sensor senses an object, the control circuitry causes the motor to rotate the pump to dispenses a foam product from the nozzle.

Description

TABLE-TOP BOTTLE ELECTRONIC SOAP OR SANITIZER DISPENSER

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates generally to soap or sanitizer dispensers and more particularly to table-top bottle electronic soap or sanitizer dispensers having an integrated pump.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Table-top bottle soap or sanitizer dispensers are small and convenient and due to their size, they may be located practically anywhere. Table-top bottle soap or sanitizer dispensers are typically manual activated dispensers. This is because the size of the table-top bottles are very small. In addition, the touch-free dispensers available on the market are expensive and bulky. Accordingly, there is a need for a touch-free, and/or electronic bottle soap or sanitizer dispenser that has a small footprint that is substantially the same size as the prior art manual table top bottle soap or sanitizer dispenser.

SUMMARY

[0003] Exemplary embodiments of touch-free table-top bottle soap or sanitizer dispensers having integral pumps are disclosed herein.

[0004] Exemplary tabletop soap or sanitizer dispensers are shown and described herein. The dispensers may dispense fluid in the form of a foam or in the form of a liquid. An exemplary tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser includes a bottle having a reservoir for containing soap or sanitizer fluid. The bottle has a neck with an upper surface. The neck has an inner diameter. A nozzle, a sensor for detecting an object positioned below the nozzle and a pump are included. The pump has a diaphragm housing and a diaphragm body. The diaphragm body has one or more liquid pump chambers and one or more air pump chambers. The one or more liquid pump chambers and the one or more air pump chambers are operated sequentially. The pump also has a diaphragm cover, a liquid pump inlet, one or more air pump inlets and a fluid outlet. The fluid outlet is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The diaphragm housing has an outside diameter. The outside diameter of the diaphragm housing has a diameter that is greater than the inner diameter of the neck. A drive housing extends into the reservoir of the bottle. A motor and a battery are located in the drive housing. Control circuitry is also included. When the sensor senses an object, the control circuitry causes the motor to rotate the pump to dispenses a foam product from the nozzle.

[0005] Another exemplary tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser includes a bottle comprising a reservoir for containing soap or sanitizer fluid, a nozzle and a pump assembly. The pump assembly includes a housing extending into the reservoir of the bottle. A pump that includes one or more liquid pump chambers and optionally one or more air pump chambers is included. The one or more liquid pump chambers and the optional one or more air pump chambers are formed in a flexible diaphragm. A moveable outlet nozzle is included and is in fluid communication with the pump. The pump includes a pump inlet in fluid communication with the pump and the reservoir. A drive assembly is also included, the drive assembly includes a switch for detecting movement of the moveable pump nozzle, a motor for driving the pump, and a battery for providing power to the pump. Moving the movable pump nozzle downward causes the tabletop foam dispenser soap or sanitizer.

[0006] Another exemplary tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser includes a bottle comprising a reservoir for containing soap or sanitizer fluid. The bottle has a neck with an upper surface. The neck has an inner diameter. A nozzle, a sensor for activating the tabletop dispenser and a pump are included. The pump has a diaphragm housing and a diaphragm body. The diaphragm body having one or more liquid pump chambers and optionally one or more air pump chambers. The one or more liquid pump chambers and the optional one or more air pump chambers are operated sequentially a plurality of times for each dispense of fluid. A diaphragm cover, a liquid pump inlet and a fluid outlet are also included. The fluid outlet is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The diaphragm housing has an outside diameter. The outside diameter of the diaphragm housing has a diameter that is greater than the inner diameter of the neck. A drive housing extends into the reservoir of the bottle. A motor and a battery are located in the drive housing. The dispenser also includes control circuitry. When the sensor provides a signal to the control circuitry to dispense a dose of fluid, the control circuitry causes the motor to rotate the pump to dispenses a dose of fluid from the nozzle.

[0007] A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention are set forth in the following description and claims, particularly when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts bear like reference numerals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] To further clarify various aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure, a more particular description of the certain embodiments will be made by reference to various aspects of the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the present disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of the scope of the disclosure. Moreover, while the figures can be drawn to scale for some embodiments, the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale for all embodiments. Embodiments and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

[0009] Figure 1 is a top perspective view of an example of a first table-top bottle soap or sanitizer dispenser;

[0010] Figure 2 is a bottom perspective view thereof;

[0011] Figure 3 is an exploded view of the table-top bottle dispenser of Figure 1;

[0012] Figure 4 is a top perspective exploded view of a pump assembly of the table-top bottle dispenser of Figure 1;

[0013] Figure 5 is a bottom perspective view thereof;

[0014] Figure 6 is a top perspective exploded view of a pump of the table-top bottle dispenser of Figure 1;

[0015] Figure 7 is a bottom perspective view thereof;

[0016] Figure 8 is a top view of the pump of Figure 6 in an assembled condition;

[0017] Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the pump of Figure 8 taken along the line A- A; [0018] Figure 10 shows a cross-sectional view of the pump of Figure 8 taken along the line B- B;

[0019] Figure 11 is a top perspective view of an example of a second table-top bottle soap or sanitizer dispenser;

[0020] Figure 12 is a bottom perspective view thereof;

[0021] Figure 13 is an exploded view of the dispenser of Figure 11;

[0022] Figure 14 is a top perspective exploded view of a pump assembly of the dispenser of Figure 11;

[0023] Figure 15 is a bottom perspective view thereof;

[0024] Figure 16 is a front view of a pump assembly of the dispenser of Figure 11;

[0025] Figure 17 is an enlarged view of area C thereof;

[0026] Figure 18 is a top perspective exploded view of a pump of the dispenser of Figure 11;

[0027] Figure 19 is a bottom perspective view thereof;

[0028] Figure 20 is a top view of the pump of Figure 15 in an assembled condition;

[0029] Figure 21 shows a cross-sectional view of the pump of Figure 20 taken along the line D-D; and

[0030] Figure 22 shows a cross-sectional view of the pump of Figure 20 taken along the line E-E.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The following description refers to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific embodiments of the present disclosure. Other embodiments having different structures and operation do not depart from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0032] As described herein, when one or more components are described as being connected, joined, affixed, coupled, attached, or otherwise interconnected, such interconnection may be direct as between the components or may be indirect such as through the use of one or more intermediary components. Also as described herein, reference to a "member," “component,” or “portion” shall not be limited to a single structural member, component, or element but can include an assembly of components, members, or elements. Also as described herein, the terms “substantially” and “about” are defined as at least close to (and includes) a given value or state (preferably within 10% of, more preferably within 1% of, and most preferably within 0.1% of).

[0033] The term “tabletop dispenser” as used herein means a dispenser that has a container that rests on a surface, a pump and a dispensing nozzle that is supported by the container. The pump, motor, battery and dispensing nozzle are all supported by the container.

[0034] Referring now to Figures 1-10, illustrations of an exemplary table-top bottle soap or sanitizer dispenser 100 are shown. The table-top bottle dispenser 100 includes a nozzle 102 having a nozzle outlet 104 for dispensing hand soap or sanitizer fluid when a user’s hand is detected by a sensor (not shown) or other actuation mechanism. Hand soap or sanitizer fluid is supplied to the nozzle 102 from a bottle 110 via a pump assembly 120.

[0035] The bottle 110 is a table-top bottle. The table-top bottle 110 is designed to sit on a surface such as, for example, a counter, a table-top or the like. The table-top bottle 110 has a small footprint and is a typical table-top bottle. The use of the term table-top bottle herein is a bottle that contains less than about 24 ounces. Preferably, the table- top bottle contains about 12 ounces of sanitizer. An advantage of table-top bottle dispensers is that they can be conveniently placed in many locations and do not require a large footprint.

[0036] The pump assembly 120 is attached to the bottle 110 via a closure 108. The closure 108 attaches to a neck 112 of the bottle 110 after the bottle is filled with hand soap or sanitizer fluid. The connection between the closure 108 and the neck 112 can take on a wide variety of forms, such as, for example, a threaded connection (as shown), a quarter-turn connection, a snap connection, a barbed connection, a press fit connection, an adhesive connection, a welded connection, or any other suitable repeatable or permanent connection. [0037] The neck 112 of the bottle 110 has a smaller diameter than the rest of the bottle 110 and includes a mouth or opening 114 that facilitates filling the bottle 110 with hand soap or sanitizer fluid. The bottle 110 encloses a reservoir 116 for holding the hand soap or sanitizer fluid and has a bottom 118. The bottom 118 of the bottle 110 is shaped to provide stability when the bottle 110 is placed on a tabletop or other approximately horizontal surface. For example, stability can be provided to the bottom via an indentation or concavity in the center of the bottom so that the surface area of the bottle that is in contact with the tabletop is arranged towards the outer perimeter of the bottle 110.

[0038] The neck 112 includes a top surface 113. Top surface 113 may be a sealing surface and seal against the bottom surface of the diaphragm housing 147 of the pumps disclosed herein. In the exemplary embodiments, the pump (including the diaphragm housing 147) is located above the top of the neck 112 and is located within closure 108. Optionally, a gasket (not shown) or sealing member may be located between the diaphragm housing 147 and the top surface 113.

[0039] After the bottle 110 has been filled with hand soap or sanitizer fluid, the pump assembly 120 is inserted into the bottle 110 through the mouth 114 of the neck 112 and is secured to the neck 112 of the bottle 110 with the closure 108. The pump assembly 120 includes a drive assembly 122 at least partially enclosed by a drive housing 124 that includes one or more optional seals 126 that seal against the interior of the mouth 114 of the bottle 110 to prohibit leakage of hand soap or sanitizer fluid from the reservoir 116.

[0040] The drive housing 124 is open at the top end and extends into the bottle 110 to a bottom end that is closed with a bottom closure 128. The drive housing 124 may be sealed at the top end to prevent fluid or moisture from entering and contacting components inside the drive housing but may have a vent passageway (not shown) therethrough.

[0041] The bottom closure 128 is removably attached to the drive housing 124 and includes a vent valve 130 that allows air to enter the reservoir 116 as hand soap or sanitizer fluid is dispensed from the bottle 110 to equalize the pressure in the bottle 110 with the atmosphere. The vent valve 130 can be any kind of one-way valve, such as a cross-cut valve, a ball and spring valve, a wiper valve, a poppet valve, a flapper valve, an umbrella valve, a slit valve, a mushroom valve, a duck bill valve, or the like. [0042] An upper end of the drive assembly 122 is attached to a pump 132 that has a wider diameter than the drive assembly 122 so that the pump 132 rests on the top surface of the neck 112 of the bottle 110 when the pump assembly 120 is inserted into the mouth 114 of the bottle 110. The closure 108 secures the pump 132 against the neck 112 of the bottle 110.

[0043] An optional gasket or seal (not shown) can be inserted between the mouth 114 of the bottle 110 and the pump 132 as a backup to the seals 126 between the drive housing 124 and the mouth 114 of the bottle 110. Where the connection between the closure 108 and the neck 112 is a repeatable connection, the pump assembly 120 can be removed from the bottle 110 to facilitate refilling of the bottle 110 or re-use of the pump assembly 110 with another bottle 110 that contains hand soap or sanitizer when the original bottle has been emptied.

[0044] A liquid inlet 134 is provided at the bottom end of an inlet tube 136 that extends to the bottom of the bottle 110 and allows the dispenser to dispense hand soap or sanitizer fluid from the reservoir 116 until the reservoir 116 is almost or completely empty, lengthening the time that the dispenser 100 can be used before it runs out and is disposed of or is refilled. Pump 132 is a sequentially activated multi-diaphragm pump, a liquid pump, a foam pump, or the like.

[0045] Referring now to Figures 4-10, various views of the pump assembly 120 are shown to illustrate the operation of the dispenser 100. Referring now to Figures 4-5, partially exploded views of the pump assembly 120 are shown with the drive housing 124 separated from the pump 132 to expose the electrical components of the pump assembly 120. The pump assembly 120 includes the pump 132, the pump liquid inlet 134 and inlet tube 136 (Figure 3), a pump outlet 138, a motor 140 that drives a motor shaft 142, a battery 144, and a controller board (not shown).

[0046] The motor shaft 142 is attached to the pump 132 so that operating the motor 140 causes the pump 132 to pump hand soap or sanitizer fluid from the reservoir 116 via the pump inlet 134 to the pump outlet 138.

[0047] The operation of the pump 132 and the path of the hand soap or sanitizer fluid through the pump assembly 120 from the pump inlet 134 to the nozzle outlet 104 is described in greater detail below. The battery 144 provides electrical power to the electrical components of the dispenser 100 — i.e., the motor 140, the controller board, and the sensor (not shown) — via a wiring harness 145. The battery 144 can be a removable battery that can be changed during maintenance of the dispenser 100 by removing the bottom closure 128 from the drive housing 124 or can be an integrated battery that is permanently attached to the controller board.

[0048] The motor 140 is secured within the drive housing 124 via a motor mount 146 and fasteners 148 that extend through mounting holes 150 of the pump 132 and into the drive housing 124. The motor mount 146 can optionally be integrally formed with the drive housing 124. The motor shaft 142 fixedly engages a drive coupling 152 of the pump 132 to facilitate actuation of the pump 132 via the rotational movement of the motor shaft 142. The motor 140 can be any motor suitable for rotating the drive coupling 152 to cause the pump 132 to actuate.

[0049] Locating the battery 144 within the center and near the bottom of the container 110 increases the stability of the tabletop dispenser 120. In addition, locating a portion of the pump 132 within the container 110 decreases the height of the tabletop dispenser which also increase stability.

[0050] Referring now to Figures 6-10, various views of the pump 132 are shown to illustrate the operation of the pump 132 and the flow of air and hand soap or sanitizer fluid. Referring now to Figures 6-7, exploded views of the pump 132 are shown. The pump 132 includes a diaphragm body 154, a diaphragm housing 156, a diaphragm cover 158, an outlet valve 160, and a pump cover 162.

[0051] The diaphragm body 154, diaphragm housing 156, diaphragm cover 158, and pump cover 162 are aligned by an optional alignment post 106 that extends downward from the pump cover 162 and through alignment holes 108 in each of the diaphragm cover 158, diaphragm body 154, and diaphragm housing 156. Optional fasteners 148 extend through fastener openings 149 in each of the diaphragm body 154, diaphragm housing 156, diaphragm cover 158, and pump cover 162 to engage the drive housing 124 to connect the diaphragm body 154, diaphragm housing 156, diaphragm cover 158, and pump cover 162 together to form the pump 132. Other methods of connecting the components may be used. [0052] Diaphragm housing 156 has a bottom surface 147 with a liquid inlet tube 136 extending downward therefrom.

[0053] The diaphragm body 154 includes a plurality of individual diaphragms 164 that extend downward and protrude through openings 166 in the diaphragm housing 156. Seals 168 extend upwards around and engaged the diaphragm cover. Seals 168 may meet and be received in optional grooves 169 (Figures 9-10) of the diaphragm cover 158. The diaphragms 164 form at least one liquid pump chamber 170 and at least one air pump chamber 172.

[0054] The diaphragm body 154 is formed from a suitably flexible material that allows the diaphragms 164 of the chambers 170, 172 to be repeatedly compressed and expanded. The diaphragm body 154 is sandwiched between and supported by the diaphragm housing 156 and diaphragm cover 158. The diaphragm housing 156 and diaphragm cover 158 are formed from materials that can be more rigid than the diaphragm body 154 to provide support to the diaphragm body 154. Edges between different surfaces of the diaphragm body 154 and the portions of the diaphragm housing 156 and diaphragm cover 148 that engage the diaphragm body 154 can be rounded to facilitate high cycle life of the diaphragm body 154.

[0055] Diaphragm cover 158 includes a sealing post 159. Sealing post 159 extends upward and includes a plurality of passages therethrough forming passages 184 that extend from each diaphragm placing the interior of the diaphragms in fluid communication with outlet valve 160.

[0056] Outlet valve 160 is made of an elastomeric material and is a single unitary piece. Outlet valve 160 includes a wall 163. Wall 163 may be a tapered or have a conical shaped wall as shown. Outlet valve 160 has an annular base 161 that seals against top surface 177 of diaphragm cover 158. Annular base 161 is received by annular recess 165 pump cover 162 and may form a seal with pump cover 162. Outlet valve 160 includes one or more recesses 171 that provide a fluid flow path out of a corresponding one or more pump diaphragms 164. Sealing ribs 173 separate the one or more recesses 171 from each other. Outlet valve 160 includes a sealing portion 175 that seals against sealing post 159. Outlet valve 160 is a normally closed valve. During operation, a portion of outlet valve 160 (the portion aligned with a particular annular recess 165) opens when fluid pressure is built up in in one of the one or more annular recesses 165. Because pump 132 is a sequentially activated diaphragm pump, during operation, the portions of outlet valve 160 that open up do so in a sequence. When one portion is open, the remaining portions are closed, which prevents fluid being driven by one diaphragm from flowing into the pump chamber of another diaphragm.

[0057] Referring now to Figures 8-10, sectional views of the liquid pump chamber 170 (Figure 9) and the air pump chamber 172 (Figure 10) are shown. As can be seen in Figure 9, the liquid pump chamber 170 is fluidly connected to the liquid inlet 134 via the liquid inlet tube 136 and a liquid inlet valve 174. The liquid pump chamber 170 is fluidly connected to the pump outlet 138 via a liquid outlet channel 176 and liquid outlet portion 178 of outlet valve 160.

[0058] The liquid inlet valve 174 is shown as a flap of material that is formed in the diaphragm body 154 and is in a normally closed position at an end of the pump inlet tube 136.

[0059] The liquid outlet portion 178 of the outlet valve 160 that seals against the sealing post 159 of the diaphragm cover 158 in a normally closed position. In the illustrated embodiment, there is one liquid pump chamber 170. In some instances there are more than one liquid pump chambers 170.

[0060] Referring now to Figure 10, the air pump chambers 172 are fluidly connected to the air surrounding the dispenser 100 via air inlet channels 180 formed between the diaphragm cover 158 and the pump cover 162, through air inlet channels 180 in diaphragm cover 158 and an air inlet valve 182. The air pump chamber 172 is fluidly connected to the pump outlet 138 via an air outlet channel 184 and an air outlet portion 186 of outlet valve 160. In the exemplary illustration there are three air pump chambers 172. In some instances, there are more than three air pump chambers 172 and, in some instances, there are less than three air pump chambers 172.

[0061] The ratio of the volume of air pumped by the one or more air pump chambers 172 and the volume of liquid pumped by the one or more liquid pump chambers 170 is greater than 2 to 1, and may be greater than 3 to 1, and may be greater than 4 to 1, and may be greater than 5 to 1, and may be greater than 6 to 1, and may be greater than 7 to 1, and may be greater than 8 to 1, and may be greater than 9 to 1, and may be greater than 10 to 1.

[0062] The air inlet valve 182 is shown as a flap of material formed in the diaphragm body 154 that seals against the diaphragm housing 156 in a normally closed position. The air outlet valve portion 186 is a portion of the outlet valve 160 that seals against sealing post 159 of the diaphragm cover 158 in a normally closed position, similar to the liquid outlet portion 178 of outlet valve 160.

[0063] While the air inlet valve(s) 178 are shown as portions of the diaphragm body 154 the air inlet valve 178 may be any kind of one-way valve, such as a cross-cut valve, a ball and spring valve, a wiper valve, a poppet valve, a flapper valve, an umbrella valve, a slit valve, a mushroom valve, a duck bill valve, or the like.

[0064] The liquid pump chamber 170 and the air pump chamber 172 of the pump 132 are actuated via the vertical movement of actuation members 188. The actuation members 188 are attached to and extend below each of the liquid pump chambers 170 and the air pump chamber 172 and are each engaged by an arm 190 of an actuation or wobble plate 192. Actuation members 188 are pulled downward by wabble plate 192 to expand the pump chambers and pull air/liquid into the air and liquid pump chambers 170, 172. Wobble plate 192 pushes upward against the pump chamber diaphragms to compress the air and liquid pump chambers 173, 172. The actuation plate 192 is rotatably attached to an offset shaft 194 of the drive coupling 152 and the arms 190 of the actuation plate 192 are attached to the actuation members 188 of the liquid pump chamber 170 and air pump chamber 172. The drive coupling 152 is fixedly to the motor shaft 142 so that rotation of the motor shaft 142 causes the drive coupling 152 to rotate, which in turn causes the offset shaft 194 to orbit around the axis of the motor shaft 142 while remaining at an offset angle established by the actuation plate 192. That is, rotation of the drive coupling 152 causes the offset shaft 194 to sweep through a cone shape having an axis centered on the motor shaft 142. As the offset shaft 194 moves through a cone-shaped path, the actuation plate 192 does not rotate but tilts toward the direction of the offset shaft 194 which causes the arms 190 of the actuation plate 192 to raise and lower as the motor 140 is actuated. More specifically, the arm 190 of the actuation plate 192 that is aligned with the tilt direction of the offset shaft 194 is moved to the lowest point of the actuation plate 192 while the arm 190 opposite the tilt direction is raised to the highest point of the actuation plate 192. The arms 190 not aligned with or opposite to the tilt direction of the offset shaft 194 are at a height that is in-between the highest and lowest points of the actuation plate 192.

[0065] As the offset shaft 194 is moved around the motor shaft 142 by the drive coupling 152, the tilt direction of the actuation plate 192 is changed so that the arms 190 of the actuation plate 192 pull down and push up on each of the liquid pump chambers 170 and air pump chambers 172 of the pump 132 in a rotationally sequential order — i.e., either clockwise or counter-clockwise depending on the rotational direction of the motor shaft 142. The offset shaft 194 acts as a lever that pivots the actuation plate 192 pivots around a center 193 arranged between the arms 190 to limit or reduce the force required to compress or expand the liquid pump chamber 170 and air pump chamber 172, and thereby reduce the power required to actuate the pump 132. Each rotation of the motor shaft 142 cycles the pump 132 once, which includes the expansion and compression of each of the liquid pump chamber(s) 170 and air pump chamber(s) 172 in a sequential order. Increasing the rotational speed of the motor 140 increases the rate at which the pump 132 is cycled through each of the liquid pump chamber(s) 170 and air pump chamber(s) 172.

[0066] During actuation of the pump 132, expansion of the liquid pump chamber(s) 170 causes the pressure inside the liquid pump chamber 170 to decrease below the pressure inside the reservoir 116 such that the liquid inlet valve 174 opens to allow hand soap or sanitizer fluid to flow through the pump inlet 134 and into the liquid pump chamber 170 via the pump inlet tube 136. As the motor shaft 142 is further rotated, the arm 190 of the actuation plate 192 pushes up on the actuation member 188 of the liquid pump chamber 170 to compress the liquid pump chamber 170, similar to the compression of the air pump chamber 172 shown in Figures 9-10. Compressing the liquid pump chamber 170 increases the pressure of the hand soap or sanitizer fluid contained therein so that the liquid outlet portion 178 of outlet valve 160 opens and allows hand soap or sanitizer fluid to flow out of the liquid pump chamber 170 and into the pump outlet 138 via the liquid outlet channel 176. The flow of the hand soap or sanitizer fluid from the reservoir 116 into the liquid pump chamber 170 and out of the pump outlet 138 is indicated by flow path arrows 101 as shown in the section views of the pump 132 in Figures 9 and 10. [0067] As was described above, rotation of the drive coupling 152 by the motor 140 causes the actuation plate 192 to tilt towards the actuation members 188 of the air pump chamber(s) 172 so that the arms 190 of the actuation plate 192 pull downward on the actuation member 188 of one of the air pump chambers 172 to cause the air pump chamber 172 to expand, similar to the expansion ofthe liquid pump chamber 170 shown in Figures 9 and 10. The pressure inside the expanding air pump chamber 172 drops below the pressure of the atmosphere surrounding the dispenser 100 such that the air inlet valve 182 opens to allow air to flow through the air inlet channel 180 and into the air pump chamber 172. Continued rotation of the motor shaft 142 causes the arm 190 of the actuation plate 192 to push upward on the air pump chamber 172 to compress the air pump chamber 172 and thereby increase the pressure of the air contained therein so that the air outlet portion 186 of outlet valve 160 opens and allows air to flow into the pump outlet 138 via the air outlet channel 184. The flow of the air from the atmosphere into the air pump chamber 172 and out of the pump outlet 138 is indicated by flow path arrows 103 as shown in the section views of the pump 132 in Figures 9 and 10.

[0068] During operation of the dispenser 100, the sensor detects the presence of one or more of the user’s hands placed below the nozzle 102. The sensor can be any suitable sensor for detecting the presence of a hand or hands below the nozzle 102 and just in front of the sensor, such as, for example, an infrared sensor, a proximity sensor, a camera, or the like. The sensor sends a signal to the controller board indicating that the user’s hand has been detected. The controller board then controls the motor 140 to actuate the pump 132. Actuation of the pump 132 moves hand soap or sanitizer fluid and air through the pump 132 to the pump outlet 138. The pump outlet 138 is fluidly connected to the nozzle 102 via a pump outlet tube 196 that includes a foaming section 198. Continued operation of the motor 140 pumps hand soap or sanitizer fluid and air through the pump 132 to move air and hand soap or sanitizer fluid through the pump outlet 138 and outlet tube 196, through the foaming section 198, the nozzle 102, and out of the nozzle outlet 104 into the hands of the user. The foaming section 198 contains foaming media, such as one or more screens, disposed within the outlet tube 196. The foaming section 198 thoroughly mixes the air and liquid to form a rich foam. In some embodiments, foaming media screens are replaced with porous members, sponges, baffles, or the like. The air and hand soap or sanitizer fluid mix together and form foam in the foaming section 198. The controller board can control the pump 132 to run for a predetermined duration or until a predetermine amount of fluid has been dispensed.

[0069] As can be seen in Figures 7-8, the illustrated pump 132 includes one liquid pump chamber 170 and three air pump chambers 172. Each cycle of the actuation plate 192 — i.e., sequentially tilting towards each of the pump chambers 170, 172 — causes each of the one or more liquid pump chambers 170 and the one or more air pump chambers 172 to expand, fill, compress, and empty in a clockwise or counter-clockwise order, depending on the rotational direction of the motor 140. The relative volume capacity and number of the one or more liquid pump chambers 170 and one or more air pump chambers 172 determines the ratio of the flow rate of air to the flow rate of liquid for the pump 132. In some embodiments, the air pump chambers 172 and the liquid pump chambers 170 have the same individual volume capacity so that the air to liquid ratio for the pump 132 is determined by the number of air pump chambers 172 relative to liquid pump chambers 170 and is between about 1 to 1 and about 20 to 1, for example, the air to liquid ratio may be about 15 to 1, 10 to 1, 8 to 1, 5 to 1, 4 to 1, 3 to 1, or 2 to 1. In some embodiments, the volume capacity of the one or more air pump chambers 172 is greater than the volume capacity of the one or more liquid pump chambers 170 so that one compression and expansion of the one or more air pump chambers 172 causes the pump 132 to output a greater volume of air than the amount of liquid pumped through the one or more liquid pump chambers 170. Again, the air to liquid ratio may be between about 1 to 1 and about 20 to 1, for example, the air to liquid ratio maybe about 15 to 1, 10 to 1, 8 to 1, 5 to 1, 4 to 1, 3 to 1 or 2 to 1. In some embodiments, any combination of differential number and volume capacity of air pump chambers 172 and liquid pump chambers 170 can be used to generate an air to liquid ratio between about 1 to 1 and about 20 to 1, for example, the air to liquid ratio may be about 15 to 1, 10 to 1, 8 to 1, or 5 to 1.

[0070] Referring now to Figures 11-22, illustrations of an example of a soap or sanitizer dispenser 200 are shown. The dispenser 200 includes a nozzle 202 having a nozzle outlet 204 for dispensing hand soap or sanitizer fluid when a user’s hand presses downward on the nozzle 202, or another actuation mechanism. Hand soap or sanitizer fluid is supplied to the nozzle 202 from a bottle 210 via a pump assembly 220. The pump assembly 220 is attached to the bottle 210 via a closure 208. The closure 208 attaches to a neck 212 of the bottle 210 after the bottle is filled with hand soap or sanitizer fluid. The connection between the closure 208 and the neck 212 can take on a wide variety of forms, such as, for example, a threaded connection, a quarter-turn connection, a snap connection, a barbed connection, a press fit connection, an adhesive connection, a welded connection, or any other suitable repeatable or permanent connection.

[0071] The neck 212 of the bottle 210 has a smaller diameter than the rest of the bottle 210 and includes a mouth or opening 214 that facilitates filling the bottle 210 with hand soap or sanitizer fluid. The bottle 210 encloses a reservoir 216 for holding the hand soap or sanitizer fluid and has a bottom 218. The bottom 218 of the bottle 210 is shaped to provide stability when the bottle 210 is placed on a tabletop or other approximately horizontal surface. For example, stability can be provided to the bottom via an indentation or concavity in the center of the bottom so that the surface area of the bottle that is in contact with the tabletop is arranged towards the outer perimeter of the bottle 210.

[0072] The neck 212 includes a top surface 213. Top surface 213 may be a sealing surface and seal against the bottom surface of the diaphragm housing 247 of the pump. In the exemplary embodiment, the pump (including the diaphragm housing 247) is located above the top of the neck 212 and is located within closure 208. Optionally, a gasket (not shown) or sealing member may be located between the diaphragm housing 247 and the top surface 213.

[0073] After the bottle 210 has been filled with hand soap or sanitizer fluid, the pump assembly 220 is inserted into the bottle 210 through the mouth 214 of the neck 212 and is secured to the neck 212 of the bottle 210 with the closure 208. The pump assembly 220 includes a drive assembly 222 at least partially enclosed by a drive housing 224 that includes one or more optional seals 226 that seal against the interior of the mouth 214 of the bottle 210 to prohibit leakage of hand soap or sanitizer fluid from the reservoir 216. The drive housing 224 extends into the bottle 210 to a bottom end that is closed with a bottom closure 228. The bottom closure 228 is removably attached to the drive housing 224 and includes a vent valve 230 that allows air to enter the reservoir 216 as hand soap or sanitizer fluid is dispensed from the bottle 210 to equalize the pressure in the bottle 210 with the atmosphere. The vent valve 230 can be any kind of one-way valve, such as a cross-cut valve, a ball and spring valve, a wiper valve, a poppet valve, a flapper valve, an umbrella valve, a slit valve, a mushroom valve, a duck bill valve, or the like.

[0074] An upper end of the drive assembly 222 is attached to a pump 232 that has a wider diameter than the drive assembly 222 so that the pump 232 rests on the neck 212 of the bottle 210 when the pump assembly 220 is inserted into the mouth 214 of the bottle 210. The closure 208 secures the pump 232 against the neck 212 of the bottle 210. An optional gasket or seal (not shown) can be inserted between the mouth 214 of the bottle 210 and the pump 232 as a backup to the seals 226 between the drive housing 224 and the mouth 214 of the bottle 210. Where the connection between the closure 208 and the neck 212 is a repeatable connection, the pump assembly 220 can be removed from the bottle 210 to facilitate refilling of the bottle 210 or re-use of the pump assembly 210 with another bottle 210.

[0075] Apump inlet 234 is provided at the bottom end of an inlet tube 236 that extends beyond the bottom of the pump assembly 220. Locating the pump inlet 234 at the bottom of the reservoir 216 allows the dispenser to dispense hand soap or sanitizer fluid from the reservoir 216 until the reservoir 216 is almost or completely empty, lengthening the time that the dispenser 200 can be used before it runs out and is disposed of or is refilled. Any suitable pump 232 can be used to move fluid from the reservoir 216 to the nozzle outlet 204, such as, for example, a dome pump, a piston pump, a rotary pump, a gear pump, a sequentially activated multi-diaphragm pump, a liquid pump, a foam pump, or the like.

[0076] Referring now to Figures 14-22, various views of the pump assembly 220 are shown to illustrate the operation of the dispenser 200. Referring now to Figures 14-15, partially exploded views of the pump assembly 220 are shown with the drive housing 224 detached from the pump 232 and removed from the pump assembly 220 to expose the electrical components of the pump assembly 220. The pump assembly 220 includes the pump 232, the pump inlet 234 and inlet tube 236 (Figure 13), a pump outlet 238, a moveable pump outlet tube 296, a motor 240 that drives a motor shaft 242, a battery 244, and a controller board (not shown). The motor shaft 242 is attached to the pump 232 so that operating the motor 240 causes the pump 232 to pump hand soap or sanitizer fluid from the reservoir 216 via the liquid inlet 234 to the pump outlet 238. The operation of the pump 232 and the path of the hand soap or sanitizer fluid through the pump assembly 220 from the pump inlet 234 to the nozzle outlet 204 is described in greater detail below. The battery 244 provides electrical power to the electrical components of the dispenser 200 — i.e., the motor 240, the controller board, and a switch 300 — via a wire harness 245. The battery 244 can be a removable battery that can be changed during maintenance of the dispenser 200 by removing the bottom closure 228 from the drive housing 224 or can be an integrated battery that is permanently attached to the controller board.

[0077] The motor 240 is secured within the drive housing 224 via a motor mount 246 and fasteners 248 that extend through mounting holes 250 of the pump 232 and into the drive housing 224. The motor shaft 242 fixedly engages a drive coupling 252 of the pump 232 to facilitate actuation of the pump 232 via the rotational movement of the motor shaft 242. The motor 240 can be any motor suitable for rotating the drive coupling 252 to cause the pump 232 to actuate.

[0078] Locating the battery 244 within the center and near the bottom of the container 210 increases the stability of the tabletop dispenser 220. In addition, locating a portion of the pump within the container 210 decreases the height of the tabletop dispenser which also increase stability.

[0079] Referring now to Figures 16-17, the switch 300 is formed by a first contact 302 and a second contact 304 that are moveable between an open condition and a closed condition. In the open condition, the first and second contacts 302, 304 are separated and no electrical current can flow through the switch 300. In the closed condition, the first and second contacts 302, 304 are touching to allow electrical current to flow through the switch 300 and to the other electrical components of the dispenser 200. The second contact 304 can be attached to the moveable pump outlet tube 296 so that moving the moveable pump outlet tube 296 in the downward direction moves the second contact 304 to engage the first contact 302 to close the switch 300. A biasing member 306 can be included between the pump 232 and the moveable pump outlet tube 296 to bias the moveable pump outlet tube 296 away from the pump 232 so that the switch 300 defaults to an open condition unless force is applied to compress the biasing member 306. The biasing member 306 can be any suitable mechanism for providing a separating force between the moveable outlet tube 296 and the pump 232, such as, for example a coil spring as shown in Figures 14-15 and 17. [0080] Referring now to Figures 18-22, various views of the pump 232 are shown to illustrate the operation of the pump 232 and the flow of air and hand soap or sanitizer fluid. Referring now to Figures 18-19, exploded views of the pump 232 are shown. The pump 232 includes a diaphragm body 254, a diaphragm housing 256, a diaphragm cover 258, an outlet valve 260, and a pump cover 262.

[0081] The diaphragm body 254, diaphragm housing 256, diaphragm cover 258, and pump cover 262 are aligned by an alignment post 206 that extends downward from the pump cover 262 and through alignment holes 208 in each of the diaphragm cover 258, diaphragm body 254, and diaphragm housing 256. Optinal fasteners 248 extend through fastener openings 249 in each of the diaphragm body 254, diaphragm housing 256, diaphragm cover 258, and pump cover 262 to engage the drive housing 224 and compress the diaphragm body 254, diaphragm housing 256, diaphragm cover 258, and pump cover 262 together to form the pump 232. Other methods of connecting the components may be used.

[0082] The diaphragm body 254 includes a plurality of individual diaphragms 264 that extend downward and protrude through openings 266 in the diaphragm housing 256. Seals 268 extend upwards and engage the diaphragm cover 258. Seals 268 may meet and be received in optional grooves 269 (Figures 21-22) of the diaphragm cover 258, thereby forming at least one liquid pump chamber 270 and at least one air pump chamber 272.

[0083] The diaphragm body 254 is formed from a suitably flexible material that allows the recesses 264 of the chambers 270, 272 to be repeatedly compressed and expanded. The diaphragm body 254 is sandwiched between and supported by the diaphragm housing 256 and diaphragm cover 258. The diaphragm housing 256 and diaphragm cover 258 are formed from materials that can be more rigid than the diaphragm body 254 to provide support to the diaphragm body 254. Edges between different surfaces of the diaphragm body 254 and the portions of the diaphragm housing 256 and diaphragm cover 248 that engage the diaphragm body 254 can be rounded to facilitate high cycle life of the diaphragm body 254.

[0084] Diaphragm cover 258 includes a sealing post 259. Sealing post 259 extends upward and includes a plurality of passages therethrough forming passages 284 that extend from each diaphragm placing the interior of the diaphragms in fluid communication with outlet valve 260.

[0085] Outlet valve 260 is made of an elastomeric material and is a single unitary piece. Outlet valve 260 includes a wall 263. Wall 263 may be a tapered or have a conical shaped wall as shown. Outlet valve 260 has an annular base 261 that seals against top surface 277 of diaphragm cover 258. Annular base 261 is received by annular recess 265 pump cover 262 and may form a seal with pump cover 262. Outlet valve 260 includes one or more recesses 271 that provide a fluid flow path out of a corresponding one or more pump diaphragms 264. Sealing ribs 273 separate the one or more recesses 271 from each other. Outlet valve 260 includes a sealing portion 275 that seals against sealing post 259. Outlet valve 260 is a normally closed valve. During operation, a portion of outlet valve 260 (the portion aligned with a particular annular recess 265) opens when fluid pressure is built up in in one of the one or more annular recesses 265. Because pump 232 is a sequentially activated diaphragm pump, during operation, the portions of outlet valve 260 that open up do so in a sequence. When one portion is open, the remaining portions are closed, which prevents fluid being driven by one diaphragm from flowing into the pump chamber of another diaphragm.

[0086] The liquid outlet portion 278 of the outlet valve 260 that seals against the sealing post 259 of the diaphragm cover 258 in a normally closed position. In the illustrated embodiment, there is one liquid pump chamber 270. In some instances, there are more than one liquid pump chambers 270.

[0087] Referring now to Figures 20-22, sectional views of the liquid pump chamber 270 (Figure 21) and the air pump chamber 272 (Figure 22) are shown. As can be seen in Figure 21, the liquid pump chamber 270 is fluidly connected to the pump inlet 234 via the liquid inlet tube 236 and a liquid inlet valve 274. The liquid pump chamber 270 is fluidly connected to the pump outlet 238 via a liquid outlet channel 276 and a liquid outlet valve 278. The liquid inlet valve 274 is shown as a flap of material that is formed in the diaphragm body 254 and is in a normally closed position at an end of the pump inlet tube 236. The liquid outlet portion 278 of the outlet valve 260 seals against sealing post 259 of the diaphragm cover 258 in a normally closed position. While the liquid inlet valve 274 is shown as a portion of the diaphragm body 254, the liquid inlet valve 274 can be any kind of one-way valve, such as a cross-cut valve, a ball and spring valve, a wiper valve, a poppet valve, a flapper valve, an umbrella valve, a slit valve, a mushroom valve, a duck bill valve, or the like.

[0088] Referring now to Figure 22, the air pump chambers 272 are fluidly connected to the air surrounding the dispenser 200 via air inlet channels 280 formed between the diaphragm cover 258, and through diaphragm cover 258, and an air inlet valve 282. The air pump chamber(s) 272 are fluidly connected to the pump outlet 238 via air outlet channel(s) 284 and air outlet portion(s) 286 of outlet valve 260. The air inlet valve 282 is shown as a flap of material formed in the diaphragm body 254 that seals against the diaphragm housing 256 in a normally closed position. The air outlet portion 286 of the outlet valve 260 seals against the sealing post of diaphragm cover 258 in a normally closed position, similar to the liquid outlet portion 278 of outlet valve 260. While the air inlet valve(s) 278 are shown as portions of the diaphragm body 254 the air inlet valve(s) 278 can be any kind of one-way valve, such as a cross-cut valve, a ball and spring valve, a wiper valve, a poppet valve, a flapper valve, an umbrella valve, a slit valve, a mushroom valve, a duck bill valve, or the like.

[0089] The liquid pump chamber 270 and the air pump chamber 272 of the pump 232 are actuated via the vertical movement of actuation members 288. The actuation members 288 are attached to and extend below each of the liquid pump chambers 270 and the air pump chamber 272 and are each engaged by an arm 290 of an actuation or wobble plate 292. The actuation plate 292 is rotatably attached to an offset shaft 294 of the drive coupling 252 and the arms 290 of the actuation plate 292 are attached to the actuation members 288 of the liquid pump chamber 270 and air pump chamber 272. The drive coupling 252 is fixedly to the motor shaft 242 so that rotation of the motor shaft 242 causes the drive coupling 252 to rotate, which in turn causes the offset shaft 294 to orbit around the axis of the motor shaft 242 while remaining at an offset angle established by the actuation plate 292. That is, rotation of the drive coupling 252 causes the offset shaft 294 to sweep through a cone shape having an axis centered on the motor shaft 242. As the offset shaft 294 moves through a cone-shaped path, the actuation plate 292 does not rotate but tilts toward the direction of the offset shaft 294 which causes the arms 290 of the actuation plate 292 to raise and lower as the motor 240 is actuated. More specifically, the arm 290 of the actuation plate 292 that is aligned with the tilt direction of the offset shaft 294 is moved to the lowest point of the actuation plate 292 while the arm 290 opposite the tilt direction is raised to the highest point of the actuation plate 292. The arms 290 not aligned with or opposite to the tilt direction of the offset shaft 294 are at a height that is in-between the highest and lowest points of the actuation plate 292.

[0090] As the offset shaft 294 is moved around the motor shaft 242 by the drive coupling 252, the tilt direction of the actuation plate 292 is changed so that the arms 290 of the actuation plate 292 pull down and push up on each of the liquid pump chambers 270 and air pump chambers 272 of the pump 232 in a rotationally sequential order — i.e., either clockwise or counter-clockwise depending on the rotational direction of the motor shaft 242. The offset shaft 294 acts as a lever that pivots the actuation plate 292 pivots around a center 293 arranged between the arms 290 to limit or reduce the force required to compress or expand the liquid pump chamber 270 and air pump chamber 272, and thereby reduce the power required to actuate the pump 232. Each rotation of the motor shaft 242 cycles the pump 232 once, which includes the expansion and compression of each of the liquid pump chamber(s) 270 and air pump chamber(s) 272. Increasing the rotational speed of the motor 240 increases the rate at which the pump 232 is cycled through each of the liquid pump chamber(s) 270 and air pump chamber(s) 272.

[0091] During actuation of the pump 232, expansion of the liquid pump chamber(s) 270 causes the pressure inside the liquid pump chamber 270 to decrease below the pressure inside the reservoir 216 such that the liquid inlet valve 274 opens to allow hand soap or sanitizer fluid to flow through the liquid inlet 234 and into the liquid pump chamber 270 via the pump inlet tube 236. As the motor shaft 242 is further rotated, the arm 290 of the actuation plate 292 pushes up on the actuation member 288 of the liquid pump chamber 270 to compress the liquid pump chamber 270, similar to the compression of the air pump chamber 272 shown in Figures 21-22. Compressing the liquid pump chamber 270 increases the pressure of the hand soap or sanitizer fluid contained therein so that the liquid outlet portion 278 of outlet valve 260 opens and allows hand soap or sanitizer fluid to flow out of the liquid pump chamber 270 and into the pump outlet 238 via the liquid outlet channel 276. The flow of the hand soap or sanitizer fluid from the reservoir 216 into the liquid pump chamber 270 and out of the pump outlet 238 is indicated by flow path arrows 201 as shown in the section views of the pump 232 in Figures 21 and 22.

[0092] As was described above, further rotation of the drive coupling 252 by the motor 240 causes the actuation plate 292 to tilt towards the actuation members 288 of the air pump chambers 272 so that the arms 290 of the actuation plate 292 pull downward on the actuation member 288 of one of the air pump chambers 272 to cause the air pump chamber 272 to expand, similar to the expansion of the liquid pump chamber 270 shown in Figures 9 and 20. The pressure inside the expanding air pump chamber 272 drops below the pressure of the atmosphere surrounding the dispenser 200 such that the air inlet valve 282 opens to allow air to flow through the air inlet channel 280 and into the air pump chamber 272. Continued rotation of the motor shaft 242 causes the arm 290 of the actuation plate 292 to push upward on the air pump chamber 272 to compress the air pump chamber 272 and thereby increase the pressure of the air contained therein so that the air outlet portion 286 of outlet valve 260 opens and allows air to flow into the pump outlet 238 via the air outlet channel 284. The flow of the air from the atmosphere into the air pump chamber 272 and out of the pump outlet 238 is indicated by flow path arrows 203 as shown in the section views of the pump 232 in Figures 21 and 22.

[0093] During operation of the dispenser 200, the user presses down on the nozzle 202 to close the switch 300 while holding one or more hands below the nozzle 202. The closure of the switch 300 is detected by the controller board as an indication that the user is ready for hand soap or sanitizer fluid to be dispensed onto one or more of the user’s hands.

[0094] An optional sensor (not shown) can also detect and confirm the presence of a hand or hands below the nozzle 202 and just in front of the sensor, such as, for example, an infrared sensor, a proximity sensor, a camera, or the like.

[0095] When the closure of the switch 300 is detected, the controller board controls the motor 240 to actuate the pump 232. Actuation of the pump 232 moves hand soap or sanitizer fluid and air through the pump 232 to the pump outlet 238. The pump outlet 238 is fluidly connected to the nozzle 202 via the moveable pump outlet tube 296 that includes a foaming section 298. Continued operation of the motor 240 pumps hand soap or sanitizer fluid and air through the pump 232 to move air and hand soap or sanitizer fluid through the pump outlet 238 and moveable outlet tube 296, through the foaming section 298, the nozzle 202, and out of the nozzle outlet 204 into the hands of the user. The foaming section 298 contains foaming media, such as one or more screens, disposed within the moveable pump outlet tube 296. In some embodiments, foaming media screens are replaced with porous members, sponges, baffles, or the like. The air and hand soap or sanitizer fluid mix together and form foam in the foaming section 298. The controller board can control the pump 232 to run for a predetermined duration or until a predetermine amount of fluid has been dispensed.

[0096] As can be seen in Figures 18-19, the illustrated pump 232 includes one liquid pump chamber 270 and three air pump chambers 272. Each cycle of the actuation plate 292 — i.e., sequentially tilting towards each of the pump chambers 270, 272 — causes each of the one or more liquid pump chambers 270 and the one or more air pump chambers 272 to expand, fill, compress, and empty in a clockwise or counter-clockwise order, depending on the rotational direction of the motor 240. The relative volume capacity and number of the one or more liquid pump chambers 270 and one or more air pump chambers 272 determines the ratio of the flow rate of air to the flow rate of liquid for the pump 232. In some embodiments, the air pump chambers 272 and the liquid pump chambers 270 have the same individual volume capacity so that the air to liquid ratio for the pump 232 is determined by the number of air pump chambers 272 relative to liquid pump chambers 270 and is between about 1 to 1 and about 20 to 1, for example, the air to liquid ratio may be about 15 to 1, 10 to 1, 8 to 1, 5 to 1, 4 to 1, 3 to 1, or 2 to 1. In some embodiments, the volume capacity of the one or more air pump chambers 272 is greater than the volume capacity of the one or more liquid pump chambers 270 so that one compression and expansion of the one or more air pump chambers 272 causes the pump 232 to output a greater volume of air than the amount of liquid pumped through the one or more liquid pump chambers 270. Again, the air to liquid ratio may be between about 1 to 1 and about 20 to 1, for example, the air to liquid ratio maybe about 15 to 1, 10 to 1, 8 to 1, , 4 to 1, 3 to 1, or 2 to 1. In some embodiments, any combination of differential number and volume capacity of air pump chambers 272 and liquid pump chambers 270 can be used to generate an air to liquid ratio between about 1 to 1 and about 20 to 1, for example, the air to liquid ratio may be about 15 to 1, 10 to 1, 8 to 1, or , 4 to 1, 3 to 1, or 2 to 1. [0097] While various inventive aspects, concepts and features of the disclosures may be described and illustrated herein as embodied in combination in the exemplary embodiments, these various aspects, concepts, and features may be used in many alternative embodiments, either individually or in various combinations and subcombinations thereof. Unless expressly excluded herein all such combinations and subcombinations are intended to be within the scope of the present application. Still further, while various alternative embodiments as to the various aspects, concepts, and features of the disclosures — such as alternative materials, structures, configurations, methods, devices, and components, alternatives as to form, fit, and function, and so on — may be described herein, such descriptions are not intended to be a complete or exhaustive list of available alternative embodiments, whether presently known or later developed. Those skilled in the art may readily adopt one or more of the inventive aspects, concepts, or features into additional embodiments and uses within the scope of the present application even if such embodiments are not expressly disclosed herein.

[0098] Additionally, even though some features, concepts, or aspects of the disclosures may be described herein as being a preferred arrangement or method, such description is not intended to suggest that such feature is required or necessary unless expressly so stated. Still further, exemplary or representative values and ranges may be included to assist in understanding the present application, however, such values and ranges are not to be construed in a limiting sense and are intended to be critical values or ranges only if so expressly stated.

[0099] Moreover, while various aspects, features and concepts may be expressly identified herein as being inventive or forming part of a disclosure, such identification is not intended to be exclusive, but rather there may be inventive aspects, concepts, and features that are fully described herein without being expressly identified as such or as part of a specific disclosure, the disclosures instead being set forth in the appended claims. Descriptions of exemplary methods or processes are not limited to inclusion of all steps as being required in all cases, nor is the order that the steps are presented to be construed as required or necessary unless expressly so stated. The words used in the claims have their full ordinary meanings and are not limited in any way by the description of the embodiments in the specification.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser comprising: a bottle comprising a reservoir for containing soap or sanitizer fluid; the bottle having a neck with an upper surface; the neck having an inner diameter; a nozzle; a sensor for detecting an object positioned below the nozzle; a pump; the pump having a diaphragm housing, a diaphragm body; the diaphragm body having one or more liquid pump chambers and one or more air pump chambers, wherein the one or more liquid pump chambers and the one or more air pump chambers are operated sequentially; and a diaphragm cover; a liquid pump inlet; one or more air pump inlets; a fluid outlet; the fluid outlet is in fluid communication with the nozzle; the diaphragm housing having an outside diameter; wherein the outside diameter of the diaphragm housing has a diameter that is greater than the inner diameter of the neck; a drive housing extending into the reservoir of the bottle; a motor and a battery located in the drive housing; and control circuitry, wherein when the sensor senses an object, the control circuitry causes the motor to rotate the pump to dispenses a foam product from the nozzle.

2. The tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 1, wherein the nozzle, the pump, the motor and battery are supported by the container.

3. The tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm cover comprises a valve post.

4. The tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 3 further comprising an outlet valve that seals against the valve post.

5. The tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 4, wherein the outlet valve has a tapered wall.

6. The tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 1, wherein the drive housing comprises one or more seals that seal against an inner diameter of a neck of the bottle.

7. The tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 1, wherein the pump and drive housing are only supported by the neck of the container.

8. The tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 1, wherein the pump comprises one liquid pump chamber and three air pump chambers and each of the three air pump chambers has a volume that is greater than a volume of the liquid pump chamber.

9. The tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 1, wherein the pump comprises one liquid pump chamber and three air pump chambers and a total volume of the three air pump chambers is greater than a total volume of the liquid pump chamber.

10. The tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 1, wherein a ratio of a total volume of the one or more air pump chambers to a total volume of the one or more liquid pump chambers is between about 1 to 1 and about 20 to 1.

11. A tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser comprising: a bottle comprising a reservoir for containing soap or sanitizer fluid; a nozzle; a pump assembly comprising: a housing extending into the reservoir of the bottle; a pump comprising one or more liquid pump chambers and optionally one or more air pump chambers, wherein the one or more liquid pump chambers and the optional one or more air pump chambers are formed in a flexible diaphragm; a moveable pump fluid outlet nozzle in fluid communication with the pump; and a pump inlet in fluid communication with the pump and the reservoir; a drive assembly comprising: a switch for detecting movement of the moveable pump nozzle a motor for driving the pump; and a battery for providing power to the pump; wherein moving the movable pump nozzle downward causes the tabletop foam dispenser sanitizer.

12. The tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 11, wherein the motor and battery are located in a drive housing and wherein the drive housing is installed in the bottle by insertion through a neck of the bottle.

13. The tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 11, wherein the outer diameter of the pump is greater than an inner diameter of the neck.

14. The tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 12, wherein the drive housing comprises one or more seals that seal against an inner diameter of a neck of the bottle.

15. The tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 11, wherein the pump supported above the top of the neck of the bottle and the drive housing is located below the top of the neck of the bottle.

16. The tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 11, wherein a centerline of the pump, the motor, and battery lies along a center axis of the bottle and wherein the battery, motor and pump are located below a top surface of the neck.

17. The tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 11 further comprising a valve post located along a central axis of the pump.

18. The tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 17 further comprising an outlet valve, wherein the outlet valve seals against the valve post.

19. The tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 11, wherein the pump comprises one liquid pump chamber and two or more air pump chambers.

20. The tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 19, wherein each of the two or more air pump chambers has a volume that is greater than a volume of the liquid pump chamber.

21. The tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 11, wherein the pump comprises one liquid pump chamber and two air pump chambers and a total volume of the two or more air pump chambers are greater than a total volume of the liquid pump chamber.

22. The tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 19, wherein a ratio of a total volume of the two or more air pump chambers to a total volume of the one or more liquid pump chambers is between about 1 to 1 and about 20 to 1.

23. A tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser comprising: a bottle comprising a reservoir for containing soap or sanitizer fluid; the bottle having a neck with an upper surface; the neck having an inner diameter; a nozzle; a sensor for activating the tabletop dispenser; a pump; the pump having a diaphragm housing, a diaphragm body; the diaphragm body having one or more liquid pump chambers and optionally one or more air pump chambers, wherein the one or more liquid pump chambers and the optional one or more air pump chambers are operated sequentially a plurality of times for each dispense of fluid; and a diaphragm cover; a liquid pump inlet; a fluid outlet; the fluid outlet is in fluid communication with the nozzle; the diaphragm housing having an outside diameter; wherein the outside diameter of the diaphragm housing has a diameter that is greater than the inner diameter of the neck; a drive housing extending into the reservoir of the bottle; a motor and a battery located in the drive housing; and control circuitry; wherein when the sensor provides a signal to the control circuitry to dispense a dose of fluid, the control circuitry causes the motor to rotate the pump to dispenses a dose of fluid from the nozzle.

24. The tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 23, wherein the diaphragm cover comprises a valve post.

25. The tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 24 further comprising an outlet valve that seals against the valve post.

26. The tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 25, wherein the outlet valve has a tapered wall.

27. The tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 23, wherein the drive housing comprises one or more seals that seal against an inner diameter of a neck of the bottle.

28. The tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 23, wherein the pump and drive housing are only supported by the neck of the container.

29. The tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 23, wherein the pump comprises one liquid pump chamber and three air pump chambers and each of the three air pump chambers has a volume that is greater than a volume of the liquid pump chamber.

30. The tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 23, wherein the pump comprises one liquid pump chamber and three air pump chambers and a total volume of the three air pump chambers is greater than a total volume of the liquid pump chamber.

31. The tabletop soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 23, wherein a ratio of a total volume of the one or more air pump chambers to a total volume of the one or more liquid pump chambers is between about 1 to 1 and about 20 to 1.