Foam dispensers having high air to liquid ratios and foam dispensers that dispense accurate volume doses of foam

Abstract

Foam generators and foam dispensers are disclosed herein. An exemplary foam generator includes a housing that has a charging chamber. The charging chamber includes an inlet. an upper portion and a lower portion. The lower portion has a tapered section. The tapered section has an upper side and a lower side. The charging chamber includes an outlet that has a smaller diameter than the inlet. A porous foam media is also included. At least a portion of the porous foam media is located within the tapered section. The porous foam media has a first foam density at the top of the tapered section and a second foam density as the porous media extends downward in the tapered section. The second foam density is denser than the first foam density.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A foam dispenser for mixing a precise volume of liquid with a volume of air that is greater than 75 times the volume of liquid and providing a foam output comprising:
 a housing;   a liquid charging chamber;   a compression chamber;   a porous foam media located at least partially in the compression chamber;   a flow path through the compression chamber;   wherein the porous foam media has a foam density that increases in density along the fluid flow path;   the liquid charging chamber configured to hold a dose of foamable liquid an air pump;   the air pump configured to deliver at least about 75 times the volume of foamable liquid;   wherein during operation a dose of foamable liquid is placed in the charging chamber; and   wherein the air pump pumps a volume of air into the charging chamber and wherein the volume of air is at least about 75 times the volume of foamable liquid; and   an outlet;   wherein the volume of foamable liquid is mixed with the volume of air and dispensed as a foam.   
     
     
         15 . The foam dispenser of  claim 14  wherein the compression chamber has a tapered shape. 
     
     
         16 . The foam dispenser of  claim 14  wherein the compression chamber has a conical shape. 
     
     
         17 . The foam dispenser of  claim 14  further comprising a screen, wherein the screen retains the porous foam media at least partially in the compression chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The foam dispenser of  claim 14  wherein the charging chamber is cylindrical. 
     
     
         19 . The foam dispenser of  claim 14  wherein air pump is configured to pump a volume of air is at least about 100 times the volume of foamable liquid. 
     
     
         20 . The foam dispenser of  claim 14  wherein air pump is configured to pump a volume of air is at least about 150 times the volume of foamable liquid. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The foam dispenser of  claim 14  wherein the volume of air is pumped through the porous medium in 0.5 seconds or less. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The foam dispenser of  claim 14  wherein a back pressure that is greater than 1.0 psi is generated in the fluid flow path between the air pump and an outlet of the foam dispenser. 
     
     
         27 . A foam dispenser comprising:
 a housing;   a first liquid pump;   an air pump;   a mixing chamber;   the mixing chamber having
 a liquid inlet; 
 an air inlet; 
 and an outlet; 
   a foam generator;
 the foam generator having
 a porous foam media; 
 a tapered portion; 
 
 and a fluid flow path extending through the foam generator; 
 wherein at least a portion of the porous foam media is compressed within the tapered portion; and 
 wherein the density of the porous foam media increases along at least a portion of the flow path through the foam generator; 
 a foam outlet; and 
 wherein the air pump is configured to pump a volume of air that is at least 75 times the volume of liquid that is pumped during the dispense. 
   
     
     
         28 . The foam dispenser of  claim 27  further comprising a second liquid pump, wherein the first liquid pump pumps a concentrate and wherein the second liquid pump pumps a diluent. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . The foam dispenser of  claim 27  wherein the foam outlet comprises an elongated outlet with a passageway therethrough, and wherein the elongated outlet has a length the passageway has a width and wherein the length is at least 5 times the width. 
     
     
         34 . The foam dispenser of  claim 27  wherein the foam outlet comprises an elongated outlet with a passageway therethrough, and wherein the elongated outlet has a length the passageway has a width and wherein the length is at least 7 times the width. 
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . The foam dispenser of  claim 27  wherein the foam outlet comprises an elongated outlet with a passageway therethrough, and wherein a back pressure that is greater than 0.5 psi is generated in the fluid flow path between the air pump and an outlet of the foam dispenser. 
     
     
         38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A foam generator for a dispenser comprising:
 a housing,   the housing having a charging chamber;   the charging chamber having
 an inlet; and 
 an outlet; 
 the outlet having a smaller diameter than the inlet; 
 a fluid flow path extending between the inlet and the outlet; 
 a porous foam media,
 wherein the porous foam media has an increasing density gradient along at least a portion of the fluid flow path; and 
 
 wherein the at least a portion of the fluid flow path is at least 50% of the length of the porous foam media along the flow path 
   
     
     
         41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . The foam generator of  claim 40  wherein the at least a portion of the fluid flow path is at least 5 millimeters along the flow path. 
     
     
         47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . The foam generator of  claim 40  wherein the porous foam media has a compressed state and an uncompressed state and wherein in the uncompressed state the porous foam media has a constant foam density. 
     
     
         51 . The foam generator of  claim 40  wherein the porous foam media has a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         52 . (canceled) 
     
     
         53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . The foam generator of  claim 40  wherein the interior of the outlet has a cross-sectional diameter and wherein the outlet has a length and wherein the length is greater than about 4 times the cross-sectional diameter. 
     
     
         55 . (canceled) 
     
     
         56 . The foam generator of  claim 40  wherein the interior of the outlet has a cross-sectional diameter and wherein the outlet has a length and wherein the length is between about 3 and 10 times the cross-sectional diameter. 
     
     
         57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . (canceled) 
     
     
         59 . (canceled) 
     
     
         60 . (canceled)