BACKGROUND ART Dispenser pouches and dispensing units are described in U. S. Patent Nos. 5,067,635; 5,000,350 and 5,207,355 as well as U. S. Design Patent No. 317,690. U. S. Patent No. 5,207,355 discloses a pump system in combination with a dispenser pouch comprising a pair of overlying panels defining a reservoir for the liquid to be dispensed and a spout at the lower end of the pouch. A pump system which is disposed in the spout includes a separate insert having a dome-like bulbous portion that is positioned in a like- shaped recess defined in one of the panels.

The pump system disclosed in US Patent No. 5,207,355 is particularly suitable for low to medium viscosity products but due to the vacuum created in the pouch during the repetitive pumping action, the reduced gravity at low product level and the fact that the non-formed web is partly sucked into the dome of the insert due to the vacuum, it is found that shot size is slightly reduced at quick repeatable pump actions and the recovery time is slow.

Although this problem is of no consequence or concern with most installations, it is of concern where the dispensers are installe in high use areas as it can be annoying to the user of the dispenser.

Prior art dispensing units employ complicated dispensing methods with pivoting spring loaded levers. The dome-shaped insert described above requires activation of the dome and a"pinch off'of the product between the

main reservoir and the nozzle or sprout prior to the press action by the lever on the dispenser unit that in turn will release product by flattening the dome as well as the nozzle area as described in the above U. S. Patents.

The"pinch off"made by two hard plastic parts or the two webs or panels to close off back flow from the pump system to the reservoir as disclosed in the abovementioned prior art requires a high spring load to be effective. There is a market requirements for a maximum eight pound pressure on the lever for product release and prior art dispenser units incorporated a complicated gearing of the lever to achieve this load restriction.

There is, therefore, a need for an improved pumping system and for an dispensing unit for dispenser pouches.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an insert for a dispensing pouch, the insert comprising: a resilient dome in which is formed a plurality of passages, the dome defining an interior chamber; the dome having a periphery from which extends a plurality of resilient tongues, the tongues extending away from the chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is a partly broken away cross-sectional view of a dispenser incorporating a dispensing pouch according to one aspect of the invention with the pouch in the non-dispensing mode, Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the pouch at the end of the

dispensing mode, Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the spout portion of the dispensing pouch shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is an enlarged front elevational view of the spout portion of the dispensing pouch shown in Fig. 4, Fig. 5 is an underneath view of the pump insert shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the compressed insert for the pump shown in Fig. 5, Fig. 7 is a perspective view from above of the pump insert, Fig. 8 is a perspective view from below of the pump insert, Fig. 9 is a front elevation view of a modified form of the spout portion of the dispensing pouch shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 10 is an enlarged side elevational view of the spout portion shown in Fig. 9, Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 9 having a modified pump insert, Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view through a spout and showing a pump insert with skirt, Fig. 13 (a) and (b) are cross-sections through lines a-a of Fig. 12, Fig. 14 is a schematic plan view of a pouch with hump insert, sealed portions of the superimposed panels being shown with cross-hatching, and Fig. 15 is a cross-section through lines b-b of Fig. 14, the pump insert not having been cross-sectioned.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate part of a dispensing pouch 10 comprising a pair of superimposed panels 11 and 12. The pouch 10 defines a reservoir 13 adapted to contain a medium or high-viscosity liquid product therein, such as

soap, shampoo, tomato ketchup, mayonnaise, heavy duty oil, or other suitable product in liquid form.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention, panels 11 and 12 constitute a pair of separate composite plastic sheets superimposed over each other during manufacture and heat-sealed or ultrasonically welded together substantially about their peripheries, as depicted at side seams 14 and 14' (Fig.

4). The upper end of the dispenser pouch may be left open during initial stages of the packaging process to allow the pouch to be filled with a liquid product whereafter it is sealed. Alternatively, flat panel 12 could be heat- sealed to deep-drawn panel 11 after the reservoir is filled with product. The lower end of the pouch 10 is preferably closed during manufacture by sealed panel portions forming a removable closure portion (Fig. 9). The closure portion can be snipped-off 101 by scissors, for example, when the dispenser pouch is placed in use by a consumer.

Each panel 11 and 12 is preferably composed of co-extruded composite plastic materials of the types described in U. S. Patents 5,000,350 and 5,067,635 the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Individual thicknesses and compositions of the panels will vary, depending on the particularly product application under consideration. The composite thickness of each panel is preferably selected from the approximate range of from 3.0 to 10.0 mils for most home and industrial pouch applications and the pouches are adapted to contain from 50 mi to 5,000 ml of a liquid product in reservoir 13. Further, it is contemplated that most of the dispenser pouches would have a total length in the approximate range of from 10.0 cm to 40.0 cm and an internal maximum width of reservoir 13, between seams, of from 5.0 cm to 18.0 cm.

Pump system 16 comprises a separate one-piece dome insert 18 that is sandwiched between panels 11 and 12 in the spout 17.

The insert 18 may be composed of polyethylene, P. E. T. rubber or other suitable material having sufficient thickness and other dimensional, physical and mechanical (e. g., durometer hardness of from 60 to 80) properties to effect the desired resilience and pumping action. The preformed insert 18, shown in this normally relaxed condition in Figs, 1,7 and 8 defines a charging chamber 20 communicating with a plurality of passages 21, formed between the radially extending legs 150 of the dome portion 22 of the insert 18. The charging chamber 20 is adapted to retain a uniform charge of liquid therein and between the panels 11,12 in the spout 17. The base portion 23 of the insert 18 has four generally triangular tongues 23a which extend from the periphery, that prevent the panel 12 from being sucked into the chamber 20 during operation of the pump system 16. The tongues in their relaxed state extend outwardly from the nominal plane of the dome's base so that they are more effective in keeping the sheet 12 out of the interior of the chamber 20. The tips 151 of the tongues have tips 153 which do not meet and therefore define an opening 152 into and out o the interior of the chamber 20.

When the dome-like portion 22 of the insert 18 is compressed externally through overlying panel 11, the resulting pumping action is sufficient to dispense the liquid from the charging chamber, through the lower-most passageway 25. Release of the pumping pressure will permit the dome-like portion 22 of the insert 18 to reassume its normally relaxed and expanded condition, illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, to ready the dispenser pouch 10 for the next-following dispensing function. Simultaneously with automatic expansion of the insert 18, the relative decrease in pressure (partial vacuum) in chamber 20, aided by gravity feed (the dispenser pouch is normally mounted vertically),

will function to recharge chamber 20 with a pre-measured charge of liquid from reservoir 13.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the dome-like portion 22 of the insert 18 forms a section of a sphere, preferably a half-sphere or less (Figs. 3 and 7). Further, although the pump system of this invention is adapted for use with the type of pouch disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 5,067,635, it is preferably utilized with the type of pouch disclosed in U. S. Patent No.

5,000,350 wherein panel 11 is deep-drawn to assume its illustrated expanded condition on one side of the pouch and panel 12 is at least substantially flat.

The dome-like pocket or cavity 110 defined in panel 11, conforming to the outer shape of insert 18, is also preformed during a deep-drawing step in the method for making the pouch.

Referring to Fig. 1, pump system 16 is disposed in the downwardly tapered neck or spout 17 of the dispenser pouch 10. As described in the above-referenced U. S. patents, the spout 17 terminates at its lower end in a valve 24, including a normally closed passage 25 (Fig. 4) that forms an outlet from the pouch communicating with the lowermost outlet passages 21 from pump system 16. Passage 25 is preferably rectangular and straight and is defined by overlying portions of panels 11 and 12 that are normally flattened and compressed together to close the valve, but open under pressure.

The upper region 120 of the spout 17 may define a plurality of canals 26 preformed in panel 11 for communicating with reservoir 13 to aid in the periodical communication of the charge of liquid to charging chamber 20 of pump system 16. The composite cross-sectional area of canals 26, which define an inlet to chamber 20 is substantially larger than the cross-sectional area of outlet passage 25. When the dispenser pouch 10 is mounted vertically for use, the product retained in reservoir 13 and charging chamber 20 will not

leak since valve 24 is normally closed. Compression of the dome-like portion 22 of insert 18 will function to open valve 24 to dispense the contents form charging chamber 20.

Upon release, the insert 18 will exhibit sufficient spring-back characteristics and"memory"to enable the insert to reassume its normally expanded condition illustrated in Figs. 1,7 and 8, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the packaging arts. Simultaneously therewith, a negative pressure (partial vacuum) will be created in charging chamber 20 (valve 24 closing automatically to prevent exposure of the chamber to ambient air pressure). Thus, another predetermined charge of liquid will be communicated from reservoir 13 and into chamber 20, via canals 26. The efficient operation of the pump system will insure that at least substantially all of the packaged product can be used by a consumer.

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrates part of a dispensing unit 29 which has a mounting bracket (not shown) adapted to be secured on a wall or the like by a standard adhesive or by other suitable fastening means inserted through holes formed through the back panel of the bracket. A cover 30 is pivotally mounted on the mounting bracket and is movable to allow the dispenser 10 to be installed and removed from the unit 29.

The cover 30 further has a press plate 32, pivotally mounted by pins 31 on bracket 33 forming part of the cover 30. When press plate 32 is pushed in toward the back-up plate 42 of the base 34 of the unit 29 for dispensing purposes, the face 37 will function to compress and apply a descending pumping pressure onto a pump system 16 to open valve 24 and dispense the pre-measured charge of liquid product from charging chamber 20.

The upper end of the pressure plate 32 is normally spring-biased into relatively"light"and non-dispensing contact with the pouch by spring 40. As

shown in Fig. 2, application of hand or finger pressure to press plate 32 will pivot the press plate 32 on pins 31. An interior horizontal upper edge 38 of press plate 32 will initially move into line contact with the upper end of spout 17, across optional canals 26, to block further entry of liquid into or out of the charging chamber.

As shown in Fig. 2, continued application of pressure to press plate 32 will function to pivot pressure plate 32 about pin 31 to completely exhaust charging chamber 20. Upon release of the pressure plate 32, leaf spring 40 will return the pressure plate to its Fig. 1 normal position. Charging chamber 20 will then fill automatically, via canals 26 and passageways 21 to ready the unit for a subsequent dispensing function.

As more clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the base 34 has a stationary back-up plate 42 formed integrally thereon. As shown in Fig. 1, pinch-off seal means in the form of a piece of tubing or strip of polymer 41 is secured in a horizontal disposition on the back-up plate 42, for more closely controlling the precise closing of the inlet to chamber 20 from reservoir 13 in response to inward pivoting of pressure plate 32. The pinch-off means 41 co-operates with the edge 38 (with the panels 11 and 12 therebetween) to define a line contact and closure across the full width of spout 17 when the dispensing function is commenced. The panel material forming the portion of the pouch defining canals 26 will exhibit sufficient"memory"characteristics to permit the passages to reassume their normal fully open condition when pumping pressure is removed from the pouch.

Normally closed valve 24 is preferably similar to that described in U. S.

Patent Nos. 5,000,350 and 5,067,635 but can be sized and constructed to normally remain"slightly"open. In the latter case, the size (cross-sectional area and length) of outlet passage 25 would be matched against the viscosity

of the particular liquid that is packaged in the dispenser to prevent any leakage. In particular, the viscosity of such liquid would be sufficiently high to prevent leakage thereof through the outlet passage when the dispenser assumes its normal pre-dispensing condition prior to activation of pump system 16.

As shown in Fig. 12, an insert 18 may be provided with an extension 130 which supports a convoluted skirt 44. As shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the skirt 44 is adapted to lie in the upper portion of the passageway of the spout 17, that is, the portion between the spout and the reservoir.

As shown in Fig. 13, the skirt 44 is preferably convoluted or corrugated and serves to keep this portion of the passageway open until it is forcibly closed by the action of the edge 38 of the pressure plate 32 against the pinch- off seal 41. When the edge 38 retracts, the skirt 44 resumes its original position, that depicted in Fig. 13 (a). The distal edges of the fins 7 or alternatively, the plate or surface 8 which encloses them is in contact with the interior surface of the manifold 3.

Particularly with regard to larger capacity pump inserts, there exists the risk that the insert may slip out of the pocket which is formed to accommodate it. As shown in Figs. 14 and 15, this problem can be overcome by partially encircling the insert with raised barriers 200 which are moulded into the panel in which the pocket 110 is formed. In the example provided in Figs. 14 and 15, the raised barriers 200 are four in number and are arranged in a spaced, equidistant relationship around the periphery of the pocket 110. In this example, the upper surfaces 201 of the barriers 200 are not sealed to the flat sheet 202 but it is understood that they may be sealed to the flat sheet 202, if required. The barriers 200 may be formed in a variety of shapes and spacings

with the intention that they act collectively to keep the insert 18 located within the pocket 110.

Additional means may be used to localise the insert 18, particularly with the object that the insert not be accidentally or maliciously introduced into the product reservoir 13. In the example illustrated in Fig. 14, the reservoir 13 leads to the pump insert area by two channels 203. Accordingly, a raised landing 204 is formed between the channels 203. The landing 204 need not be entirely sealed to the overlying panel but it is preferred that at least one portion 205 of the landing 204 be sealed with respect to the overlying panel 202. In this way, it is impossible that the pump insert 18 pass into the reservoir 13 because the opening on either side of the sealed portion 205 is too small to allow the insert 18 to pass.

While the present invention has been disclosed with reference to particular details of construction, these should be understood to have been provided by way of example and not as limitations to the scope or spirit of the invention as expressed in the claims.