Off-axis inverted dispensers and refill units

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of inverted dispenser systems and refill units are disclosed herein. An exemplary dispenser includes a dispenser housing and an actuating lever. A rack is engaged by the actuating lever. An actuator carriage is included that is movable back and forth in a linear motion. The rack is linked to the actuating carriage and the rack is movable back and forth in a linear motion. Movement of the rack toward the back of the dispenser causes the actuator carriage to move toward the front of the dispenser.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A dispenser comprising:
 a dispenser housing;   an actuating lever;   a rack engaged by the actuating lever;   an actuator carriage movable back and forth in a linear motion;   the rack linked to the actuating carriage;   the rack movable back and forth in a linear motion; and   wherein movement of the rack toward the back of the dispenser causes the actuator carriage to move toward the front of the dispenser.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser of  claim 1  further comprising one or more gears linking the rack to the actuator carriage. 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser of  claim 1  further comprising a lost motion connector secured to the actuator carriage. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the actuating lever is configured to pivot about a hinge pin. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser of  claim 1  further comprising a refill unit. 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 5  wherein the refill unit contains a foam pump. 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 1  further comprising a pump locking mechanism secured to a door of the dispenser. 
     
     
         8 . The dispenser of  claim 5  wherein the housing stops short of the top of the refill unit leaving at least a portion of the refill unit exposed. 
     
     
         9 . A dispenser system comprising:
 a refill unit having a container and a pump;   a dispenser housing configured to receive a portion of the refill unit;   the housing having a housing cross-sectional shape;   the container having a container cross-sectional shape;   wherein the housing cross-sectional shape has substantially the same shape as the container cross-sectional shape.   
     
     
         10 . The dispenser system of  claim 9  wherein the housing cross-sectional shape has substantially the same area as the container cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         11 . The dispenser system of  claim 9  wherein the container has a second container cross-sectional shape that has a smaller area than the first cross-sectional shape and wherein the second container cross-sectional shape has substantially the same shape as the housing cross-sectional shape and has an area that is less than the area of the housing cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser system of  claim 9  wherein the container includes a lip portion and wherein the lip portion rests on the top of the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser system of  claim 9  further comprising an actuating lever, wherein movement of the actuator toward the back of the dispenser causes an actuating carriage to move towards the front of the dispenser and dispense fluid from the refill unit. 
     
     
         14 . The dispenser system of  claim 9  further comprising a door and a pump locking mechanism, wherein the pump locking mechanism prevents the refill from being removed unless the door is open. 
     
     
         15 . The dispenser system of  claim 9  further comprising a door and a pump locking, wherein the door will not close if the pump locking mechanism does not properly mate with a pump secured to the container. 
     
     
         16 . A refill unit comprising:
 a container:   a pump secured to the container;   the container having a lower portion that extends vertically and an upper portion that extends vertically;   the transition between the upper portion and the lower portion creating a lip;   wherein when the refill unit is installed in a dispenser, the lip rests on at least a portion of the dispenser housing and the lower portion of the container fits within the housing.   
     
     
         17 . The refill unit of  claim 16  wherein the pump has a liquid pump portion and the liquid pump portion has a liquid inlet valve and a liquid outlet valve, wherein the liquid inlet valve and the liquid outlet valve is closer to the front of the dispenser than the liquid inlet valve. 
     
     
         18 . The refill unit of  claim 16  wherein the pump housing includes a keying system. 
     
     
         19 . The refill unit of  claim 18  wherein the keying system includes at least one of a rib and a slot. 
     
     
         20 . The refill unit of  claim 16  the pump housing includes one or more ribs for engaging with a pump locking mechanism secured to a dispenser to prevent the refill unit form being removed from the pump dispenser system.