Abstract: A pump comprising a piston in communication with a valve chamber provided with a first valve seat and a second valve seat, and a resilient valve element comprising a first tapered portion, a second tapered portion and a flange portion extending from a periphery of the first tapered portion, in which the flange portion co-operates with the first valve seat to form an inlet valve, and the second tapered portion co-operates with the second valve seat to form an outlet valve, and in which negative pressure applied to the flange portion by the pressure means in use lifts it from the first valve seat, and positive pressure applied to the first tapered portion by the piston in use lifts the second tapered portion from the second valve seat.

Abstract: A dispensing device comprising a base, a cover and a valve, in which the cover is releasably attached to the base by means of first hinge means, the movement of the cove defined by first hinge means operating the valve, and in which the cover is attached to the base by means of second hinge means, the movement of the cover defined by second hinge means exposing the base for loading or unloading a container of material to be dispensed, said movement defined by second hinge means only being possible when the cover is detached from the first hinge manes.

Abstract: A liquid dispenser has a support (2) for a collapsible container (28) and a connector (60), including a stopper (8), to connect an actuator of the liquid dispenser to the collapsible container (28). The stopper (8) is movable from a first position to a second position in which the stopper (8) connects to the collapsible container (28), whereby operation of the actuator causes the delivery of liquid from the dispenser. The collapsible container (28) is a flexible pouch (38) having a valve (52) which, upon movement of the stopper (8) into its second position, is moved from a first position preventing loss of liquid from the pouch (38), into a second position in which the stop valve (52) allows the delivery of a quantity of liquid from the dispenser.

Abstract: A dispensing device for dispensing a measured quantity of a concentrated cleansing liquid into a spray bottle or any other suitable receptacle, is provided with means for pumping the measured quantity of the liquid from a source into a holding reservoir. The dispensing device includes inhibiting means for preventing the interruption of a priming stroke as the liquid is pumped from the source into the reservoir and for preventing the interruption of a delivery stroke as the liquid is pumped from the reservoir to the receptacle. The inhibiting means includes a pivotable lever having an arcuate rib engaged by a pair of locking members arranged to engage opposite tracks of the arcuate rib.

Abstract: A method of assembling a peristaltic pump having a motor housing having a driveshaft extending therefrom and a pump housing containing a pump including a rotor mounted on a stub shaft extending through the pump housing wherein the motor housing and the pump housing are detachably connected together. They are assembled by positioning the motor housing and the pump housing so as to axially align the stub shaft and the driveshaft, and moving the pump housing towards the motor housing in the axial direction of the driveshaft so that the driveshaft enters the pump housing and engages the rotor while the stub shaft is urged axially out of the pump housing. When the pump housing contains two or more rotors the stub shaft preserves the alignment of the rotors both during manufacture of the pump assembly and transportation of the pump housing.

Abstract: A dispensing device comprising a base, a cover and a valve, in which the cover is releasably attached to the base by means of first hinge means, the movement of the cove defined by first hinge means operating the valve, and in which the cover is attached to the base by means of second hinge means, the movement of the cover defined by second hinge means exposing the base for loading or unloading a container of material to be dispensed, said movement defined by second hinge means only being possible when the cover is detached from the first hinge manes.