Technical field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to a dispenser arrangement for storing and discharging a fluid, such as for instance dishwashing detergent, soap, cooking oil, vinegar, ketchup, etc. In particular the present invention relates to a dispenser arrangement comprising a tubular casing

presenting a first end having an axial opening and a second end, said first end of the tubular casing being adapted to be arranged at a surface of a carrier, an ejection mechanism arranged in said tubular casing, the ejection mechanism comprising a traveller, which is displaceable back and forth in said tubular casing between a storage position and a working position, and a container for a fluid.

Background of the Invention and Prior Art

Within several areas there is a wish to be able to handle fluids in a simple and efficient way and to be able to receive an adequate amount of fluid when a need arise. In a household such fluids may for instance be constituted by dishwashing detergent or soap for cleaning in a kitchen or bathroom, or cooking oil, vinegar or the like for cooking purposes. There are also other applications within the industry, where for instance a detergent or a substance in liquid form used in a process needs to be provided in an efficient and controlled manner.

To provide a fluid within for instance a household is well known within the field, among other things in the form of a bottle of dishwashing detergent or a soap pump standing on a surface in connection with a kitchen sink or a hand basin in a bathroom. However, it is a drawback that this requires the presence of a separate bottle or container occupying room and being kept accessible even when not in use . It is also known to have a pump for a fluid, where the pump is fixedly mounted in for instance a work top, however this entail that it is hard/impossible to use the fluid at other places than where the pump is mounted. For providing fluid to the pump there are technical solutions using for instance a hose or the like to provide fluid from a

container located under the work top, however this is cumbersome and occupies unnecessarily much space.

The problems described above in connection with use in a household are also present in industrial applications.

Therefor, there is a need for a more appropriate dispenser arrangement that solve the above problems and that is simple and space saving. Objects of the Invention

The present invention aims at obviating abovementioned drawbacks and failings of previously known dispenser

arrangements and at providing an improved dispenser

arrangement. A primary object of the invention is to provide an improved dispenser arrangement of initially disclosed type, which is detachable when it is up in a working

position and which is hidden when it is in storage position, such that the container can be hidden when not in use and be easily accessible when it shall be used. Thanks to the fact that it is detachable different mechanisms for

access/discharging of the fluid may be used, for instance by pumping or pouring, and cleaning and refilling is simplified as well. Also use at different places, both in connection with the location of the dispenser arrangement and at a distance from the dispenser arrangement, is made possible thanks to the container being detachable.

Brief description of the Invention

According to the invention at least the primary object is achieved by means of the initially defined dispenser arrangement, having the features defined in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are further defined in the dependent claims.

According to a first aspect of the present invention a dispenser arrangement of initially defined type is provided, which dispenser arrangement is characterized in that the container is detachably connected to the traveller and axially displaceable in relation to the axial opening in the first end of the tubular casing, the envelope surface of the container being hidden by the tubular casing when the traveller is located in the storage position, and the envelope surface of the container being accessible from the outside of the tubular casing when the traveller is located in the working position.

Thus, the present invention is based on the

understanding that the container shall not be visible or be in someone's way when not in use and feasibly be discharged in order to eligibly be used at site or at whatever other place .

According to another preferred embodiment the traveller may be fixed in the working position, preferably by having the traveller when in working position to eligibly engage a bayonet fitting of the casing and thereby being fixed.

Thereby it is also achieved that the container, when

arranged in the casing, can be used in a convenient and practical way and that pumping of fluid can be achieved without displacing the container from the working position to the storage position.

According to another preferred embodiment the ejection mechanism is spring biased by means of a coil spring, in order to attain a practical and reliable power storage that for long time can move the traveller from the storage position to the working position.

Preferably the dispenser arrangement also comprises a dampening device that damps the movement of the container between the storage position and the working position, such that a smooth movement is obtained.

It is preferred that the upper end of the container, when the traveller and the container are in the storage positions, is located in flush with the surface of the carrier at which the dispenser arrangement is arranged. This entail the possibility to hide the container entirely under the surface, at the same time as the container is easily accessible when about to be used.

Other advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the other dependent claims as well as from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments.

Brief description of the drawings

A more complete understanding of abovementioned and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a dispenser arrangement having the casing in a carrier and the container located above the casing,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view from above of a dispenser

arrangement having the container in the storage position,

Fig. 3 is a side view of the container as well as parts of the ejection mechanism,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view from below of the container, Fig. 5a is a schematic cross sectional side view of a

preferred embodiment of the container,

Fig. 5b is a cross sectional side view of the traveller of the ejection mechanism, Fig. 6 is a cross sectional side view of the casing as well as the gear ring and casing liner of the ejection mechanism,

Fig. 7 is a perspective view from above of the traveller, Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view from above of the casing and the casing liner at a level above the traveller,

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional side view of the dispenser

arrangement having the container in the storage position,

Fig. 10a is a schematic side view of a gas dampening device when the container is pushed into the casing, and Fig. 10b is a schematic cross sectional side view of the gas dampening device according to figure 10a when the container is discharged from the casing.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

Reference is initially made to figure 1 disclosing a dispenser arrangement 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The dispenser arrangement 1 comprises a tubular casing 2 and a container/bottle 3, the casing 2 being arranged at a carrier 4 in such a way that a first end 21 of the casing 2 is located in a through opening of the carrier 4 and a radial collar 23 is preferably provided at the first end 21 of the casing 2. The collar 23 preferably rest against a surface 41 of the carrier 4 or most preferably embedded in the surface 41 of the carrier 4 such that the upper end of the casing 2 is in flush with the surface 41. Thereby an embedment of the dispenser

arrangement 1 in the carrier 4 is achieved, which carrier 4 can be constituted by work top or another surface suitable for mounting a dispenser arrangement 1. The first end 21 of the casing has an axial opening 24 into which the container 3, suited to contain a fluid such as for instance

dishwashing detergent, soap, cooking oil, vinegar, is adapted to be inserted, as will be explained more in detail herein below. The casing 2 can be fastened to the carrier by having the radial collar 23 glued to the carrier, or the like, but the casing can as well be detachably attached by means of a clamping device/joint (not shown) abutting the under side of the carrier and clamping the casing to the carrier. For instance an eccentric clamp ring can be

attached round the casing 2 and be pressed upwards against the under side of the carrier 4, or the outer side of the casing 2 can be threaded whereupon a nut is tightened against the under side of the carrier 4.

A the first end 21 opposite second end 22 of the casing 2 is preferably axially open, but can alternatively be entirely or partly closed and in such a case comprise a bottom surface 25 against which the components of the dispenser arrangement 1 may rest.

In figure 2 the casing 2 is disclosed in perspective from above, having the collar 23 radially projecting from the first end 21 and having the container 3 inserted into the axial opening 24.

Reference is now made to figure 3 that disclose the container/bottle 3 having an envelope surface, generally designated 31, extending from an upper end 35 to a bottom 34. The container 3 is adapted to contain one or more fluids and comprises in the preferred embodiment a pump mechanism for discharging the fluid, as will be described in more detail below. However, it shall be realized that the

container 3 alternatively may comprise other types of discharging solutions, such as a detachable lid such that the fluid can be poured from an axial opening by tilting the container 3, or may comprise a radial opening adjacent the upper end 35 such that the fluid can be poured by tilting the container 3, or any other opening of discharge mechanism may be used such that the fluid can be discharged from the container 3 in required amount. Thereto, the container 3 is preferably refillable such that a new fluid may be provided if wanted. Thereto, the container 3 may comprise several compartments or spaces for different fluids, having a common discharge opening or separate discharge openings. In some embodiments the container presents air holes allowing air to enter into the container 3 when the fluid is

discharged/poured out.

The container 3 is located on top of a part of an ejection mechanism, generally designated 5, that comprises a traveller 50. The traveller 50 comprises in the disclosed preferred embodiment an upper disc 51 and a lower disc 52 that are concentric and connected to each other such that they can be turned in relation to each other. The traveller 50, or the lower disc 52, rest against or is connected to a spring 53 that in a storage position is partly compressed. The spring 53 is preferably a coil spring. Furthermore, the ejection mechanism 5 comprises a gear ring 54 located below the traveller 50, the lower end of the spring 53 resting against or is connected to the gear ring 54. The gear ring 54 comprises saw shaped teeth 55 directed upwards towards the traveller 50 and the container 3.

Reference is now made to figure 4 disclosing the container 3 in perspective view from below. In the disclosed preferred embodiment the container 3 has a radial opening 32 for discharging fluid, for instance by means of a not disclosed pump mechanism. At the bottom 34 the container 3 comprises at least one recess 33 that can act together with at least one corresponding ridge 57 of the traveller 50 (see figure 7 ) .

In figure 5a is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the container 3 in cross section, having the recesses 33 in the bottom 34 and a schematically disclosed pump mechanism 37. The pump mechanism 37 is manoeuvrable by means of a lid 36 of the container 3, which lid can be pressed towards the bottom 34 and run telescopically at the outer side of a narrow part 31a of the envelope surface 31. Upon depression fluid is sucked from an inner cavity 30 of the container 3 up via a pipe 38 extending from an area close to the bottom of the inner cavity 30 towards the lid 36 and is discharged through the discharge duct 39 and via the opening 32, in a way known within the field. The pump mechanism 37 comprises preferably in a conventional way a spring returning the lid 36 to the initial position thereof and allow for a repeated pumping. Other embodiments of a discharge mechanism are of course also conceivable within the scope of the accompanying claims, for instance having a radial mouth piece at the opening 32 or a detachable lid or cap uncovering an axial opening, and it is easily realized by the skilled person that a number of other alternatives may be used.

Figure 5b disclose the traveller 50 in cross section, having the upper disc 51 located onto the lower disc 52 and connected to the same by means of a centrally located fastening device 58 arranged to admit mutual turning of the upper disc 51 and the lower disc 52. The lower disc 52 comprises in the shown embodiment a recess 59 into which the upper part of the spring 53 may abut (see figure 9) .

Figure 6 discloses a cross section of the casing 2, a casing liner 6 being located in the casing 2 and being adapted to circumscribe the container 3 when inserted into the casing 2. The casing liner 6 comprises a cylindrical inner surface 60 having a number of axial grooves 61 extending from a lower end 64 of the casing liner 6 towards an upper end 65 at which they in a preferred embodiment transcend into a bayonet joint 62. At the lower end 64 there is also a set of inclined surfaces between each pair of axial groves 61, a storage position 63 being arranged between each pair of axial groves 61.

The casing liner 6 is preferably inserted into the casing 2 from below, whereupon the gear ring 54 is inserted into and connected to the second/lower end 22 of the casing 2. The gear ring 54 secures the casing liner 6 in the casing 2. The casing liner 6 constitutes a part of the ejection mechanism 5. The spring 53 and the traveller 50 are not disclosed in figure 6.

In an alternative embodiment the axial groves 61, the bayonet joints 62 and the storage positions 63 are formed directly in the inner surface of the casing 2.

Figure 7 disclose the preferred embodiment of the traveller 50 in detail, having the two discs of the

traveller 50 shown in perspective from above, such that a number of ridges 57 on the surface of the upper disc 51 are visible. These ridges 57 are formed to cooperate with the recesses 33 in the bottom 34 of the container 3, in such a way that a turn of the container 3 about a centre axis extending between the upper end 35 and the bottom 34 of the container 3 also result in a corresponding turn of the upper disc 51. Both the upper disc 51 and the lower disc 52 present a number of guide pins 56 that are formed to slide along the axial groves 61 of the casing liner 6 in an axial direction inside the casing 2. The upper disc 51 has preferably a sealing (not disclosed) in the outer rim in order to seal between the traveller 50 and the casing liner 6. The ridges 57 may alternatively (not shown) be

constituted by hooks that engage the recesses 33 in the bottom 34 of the container 3 upon mutual turning of the container 3 and the traveller 50, in order to secure the container 3 in the casing 2.

Figure 8 disclose the upper disc 51 and the ridges 57 of the traveller 50 seen from above. The guide pins 56 of the traveller 50 are arranged in the axial grove 61 of the casing liner 6. In the radial direction the casing liner 6 is enclosed by the casing 2.

In figure 9 the entire dispenser arrangement 1 is disclosed having the container 3 in a storage position and having the recesses 33 in engagement with the ridges 57 of the upper disc 51 of the traveller 50. The lower disc 52 rest against the spring 53 that is in a compressed state and is enclosed by the gear ring 54, which is inserted into the second end 22 of the casing 2. The container 3 is arranged in the casing liner 6 that is arranged inside the casing 2, and the upper end 35 of the container 3 is located in flush with the collar 23 of the casing 2. The dispenser

arrangement 1 is now in the storage position and the

container is ready to be brought to the working position by means of the spring 53.

The upper end 35 of the container 3 is in the storage position in flush with the first end 21 of the casing 2 such that an essentially flat surface can be obtained. Due to the mounting of the casing 2 in the carrier 4 in flush with the surface 41 also the container 3 can be in flush with the surface 41 of the carrier 4.

Figures 10a and 10b disclose schematically a preferred embodiment of the dampening device 7 that is located in connection with the second end 22 of the casing 2 and that comprise a disc or a membrane 71, which is partly or

entirely movable in a space 70. The dampening device 7 is preferably a gas dampening device having an upper opening 72, side openings 73 and eligibly a lower opening 74. The openings cooperate with the disc 71 such that a dampening of the movement of the container 3 can be provided and a low pressure work against the container 3 when displaced from the storage position to the working position. Figure 10a disclose the dampening device 7 when the container 3 is pressed into the casing 2 towards the storage position, and the arrows extending from the upper opening 72 towards the side openings 73 demonstrate how air easily is pressed from the interior of the casing 2 via the dampening device 7. During this movement the disc 71 pushed away from the upper opening 72 by means of the air, and the depression of the container 3 is only damped by the spring 53. However, when the container 3 is ejected from the casing 2 towards the working position, a low pressure arise in the interior of the casing 2 lifting the disc 71 against the upper opening 72 such that the upper opening 72 is covered whereupon passage of air from the side openings 71 and/or the lower opening 74 through the upper opening 72 is prevented. Air that shall replace the space of the container 3 in the casing 2 must be provided via the axial opening 24 in the upper end 21 of the casing 2. A low pressure is formed that damp the movement of the container 3 upwards to the working position and a smoother movement can be obtained. However, it shall be realized that other types of dampening or another design of a dampening device is feasible for use together with the present invention, and also a dispenser arrangement entirely free from dampening mechanism may occur .

Herein below the operation of the dispenser arrangement 1 according to the invention will be described in detail, with reference to the figures disrobed above.

The dispenser arrangement 1 is initially located in the storage position, as disclosed in figure 9. The container 3 is located above the traveller 50. The spring 53 is

biased/compressed and the envelope surface 31 of the

container 3 is entirely enclosed/hidden by the casing 2. In order to prevent the spring 53 from ejecting the container 3 from the tubular casing 2, the guide pins 56 of the lower disc 52 of the traveller 50 are located in the storage positions 63 of the casing liner 6. Thereby, the casing liner 6 form an anvil and keeps the traveller 50 located in a position having the spring compressed, and due to the upper end 65 of the casing liner 6 abut a narrower part 27 of the first end 21 of the casing 2 the casing liner 6 is kept in place inside the casing 2. In the storage position of the dispenser arrangement 1 the envelope surface 31 of the container 3 is entirely covered by the casing 2 and is thereby hidden.

The traveller 50 is thereby fixed in the storage position by this cooperation between the storage positions 63 of the casing liner 6, the gear ring 54, the spring 53 and the guide pins 56 of the traveller 50. In order to eject the container 3 to a working position a pressure is applied onto the upper end 35 thereof such that the container 3 is pressed further down into the casing

2 whereupon the spring 53 is compressed further. During this movement downwards the guide pins 56 of the lower disc 52 of the traveller 50 engage the saw-toothed teeth 55 of the gear ring 54 and is thereby rotated stepwise such that the guide pins 56 are displaced in the circumferential direction from a position below the storage positions 63 and instead end up in a position below the axial groves 61. When the pressure against the container 3 cease, the spring 53 is free to expand and displace the traveller 50 and thus the container

3 upwards, to a position in which the container project from the casing 2 and can be used for dispensing a fluid. This position is the working position of the dispenser

arrangement 1.

In the working position the envelope surface 31 of the container 3 is accessible from the outside of the tubular casing 2, and there are several alternative ways to use the dispenser arrangement 1. Either the container 3 can be gripped and removed entirely from the casing 2 in order to by used freestanding, for instance by pouring of pumping fluid from the container, either in direct connection to the location of the casing 2 at the carrier 4 or at another location, or the container 3 is allowed to remain partly lowered into the casing 2, when the traveller 50 is in the working position, and fluid is pumped without removing the container 3 from the casing 2. In order to, in this second alternative, pump fluid without at the same time happen to compress the spring 53 and bring about a lowering of the container 3 towards the storage position, the container 3 can be rotated such that the upper disc 51 of the traveller 50 by means of the engagement between the ridges 57 and the recesses 33 is brought in rotation and the guide pins 56 of the upper disc 51 cooperate with the bayonet joint 62, whereupon the traveller 50 take a locked working position. Thus, this rotation locks the traveller 50 and prevents a lowering of the container 3 into the casing 2, and a

pressure can be applied against the lid 36 of the container 3 in order activate the pump mechanism 37 and discharge the fluid. Hereby the ejection mechanism 5 is fixed in the working position. In an alternative embodiment the ridges 57 and the recesses 33 are missing, and the locking of the traveller 50 in the working position can be obtained by the user himself by turning the upper disc 51 manually, or in any other suitable way.

For maintenance of the dispenser arrangement 1 the container 3 can be lifted from the casing 2 and be emptied, cleaned or refilled, based on the present need. Thereafter it can once again be placed upon the traveller 50 and the operation is resumed. Alternatively another container/ bottle having other content may be lowered into the casing 2.

When the container 3 once again shall be put into the storage position the traveller 50 is set free, by rotating the container 3 and thereby the traveller 50 in the opposite direction, from the bayonet joint 62 such that the traveller 50 occupy an unlocked working position, whereupon the guide pins 56 once again are allowed to run in the axial groves 61 in which a movement of the traveller 50 and the container 3 from the working position to the storage position is

possible. It shall be noted that upon locking of the upper disc 51 of the traveller 50 by means of the bayonet joint 62 the guide pins 56 of the lower disc 52 remain in the axial groves 61.

In order to bring the container back to the storage position a pressure is once again applied against the upper end 35 of the container 3 such that the traveller 50 thereby is pressed down and the spring 53 is compressed. The guide pins 56 of the lower disc 52 of the traveller 50 thereafter again engage the saw-toothed teeth 55 of the gear ring 54 such that the lower disc 52 stepwise rotates and the guide pins 56 are turned away from the axial groves 61 of the casing liner 6. When the pressure against the container 3 cease the spring 53 can expand slightly and bring the guide pins 56 of the lower disc 52 to the storage positions 63 where the guide pins 56 cooperate with the casing liner 6 and lock the traveller 50 in the storage position and once again prevent expansion of the spring 53.

It shall be pointed out that in the embodiment the traveller 50 comprises an upper disc 51 and a lower disc 52, the guide pins 56 of the upper disc 51 runs along the same axial grove 61 all the time, the guide pins 56 of the lower disc 52 running in a new axial grove 61 each new ejection of the container 3. By this the container 3 is not turned when the lower disc 52 of the traveller 50 is turned due to the engagement with the gear ring 54.

According to one embodiment the spring 53 of the ejection mechanism 5 is weaker than the spring of the pump mechanism 37, such that a pressure against the container in order to bring it back to the storage position does not result in discharge of fluid from the container 3. According to a preferred embodiment the lid 36 of the container 3 presents a turn locking arrangement that prevents the lid from unwished be pressed down over the narrower part 31a of the envelope surface 31 of the container 3 in connection with the container 3 being pressed into the casing 2. When the container 3 is located in the casing 2 the lid 36 is locked and when the container 3 is accessible and shall be used the lid 36 is turned in a first direction in order to achieve a change of condition from a locked to an unlocked discharge position in order to admit pumping/discharge of the fluid. Thereafter the lid 36 is turned in a the first direction opposite second direction, or continued in the first direction, in order to achieve a change of condition from unlocked to locked discharge position. Preferably turning of the lid 36 occur in connection with the traveller 50 is turned, by means of the container 3, to/from the locked working position.

In an alternative embodiment the axial groves 61, the storage positions 63, the bayonet joints 62 and the gear ring 54 can be cut directly in the tubular casing 2, even if they in the preferred embodiment are formed as a separate gear ring 54 and a casing liner 6.

The pump of the container 3 may in an alternative, not disclosed, embodiment be controlled by means of a known contact free sensor technique, which is based on the idea that when one want to have fluid discharged one can for instance hold the hand underneath the mouth piece, and thereby get a sensor to sense the presence and thereby start a discharge of the fluid to the hand.

Thereto, the actual ejection mechanism 5 may also be controlled by means of an electric motor. In this embodiment the ejection of the container is not preformed by means of so-called spring force. Ejection and lowering shall instead be driven by known sensor technique, for instance by

sweeping the hand over the container 3 the traveller 50 is displaced to the working position. When the use of the container 3 is over one sweep the hand over the container 3 again, or apply a slight pressure onto the container 3, the traveller 50 shall again be displaced to the storage

position. The electric motor can drive a gear rack

arrangement or other suitable linear unit, which displace the traveller.

Feasible modifications of the Invention

The invention is not limited only to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, which primarily have an illustrative and exemplifying purpose. This patent application is intended to cover all adjustments and

variants of the preferred embodiments described herein, thus the present invention is defined by the wording of the appended claims and thus the equipment may be modified in all kinds of ways within the scope of the appended claims.

It shall also be pointed out that all information about/concerning terms such as above, under, upper, lower, etc., shall be interpreted/read having the equipment oriented according to the figures, having the drawings oriented such that the references can be properly read. Thus, such terms only indicates mutual relations in the shown embodiments, which relations may be changed if the inventive equipment is provided with another

structure/design .

It shall also be pointed out that even thus it is not explicitly stated that features from a specific embodiment may be combined with features from another embodiment, the combination shall be considered obvious, if the combination is possible.