Abstract: An apparatus for forming and dispensing portions of soap foam or lather is provided with a double-acting compressed air membrane pump for generating compressed air and with a soap solution dosing pump. Both pumps are operated by means of a single lever which need only be pressed in a single direction, the return motion to the initial position being effected by a return spring. The forward actuation of the lever causes soap foam or lather to be formed in a mixing chamber. The return motion of the lever dispenses a dose of soap foam or lather through a dispensing aperture. In order to obtain a double-acting pump action of the membrane of the membrane pump, inlet valves and and outlet valves are employed. One of the outlet valves assists in the generation of the soap foam in the mixing chamber. The other outlet valve then assists in ejecting a portion of the soap foam through the dispensing aperture during the return motion of the lever.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming lather or soap foam for washing and/or shaving purposes comprises an actuation lever which simultaneously serves to drive a piston, a liquid soap-dosing pump and a membrane pump for generating compressed air. A perforated wall of a conduit or line enables blowing the compressed air into a dosed quantity of liquid soap located within a mixing chamber, to thereby form a coarse bubble lather or soap foam which subsequently is blown through a porous body, homogenized and compacted. Different embodiments of the apparatus can be realized and it is particularly suitable for use as a foot actuated structure and for producing hot lather for shaving. A preferred construction contains an intermittently operated heater for preheating the compressed air, to thereby accomplish a particularly effective generation of hot lather.

Abstract: A soap solution dispenser for use in public and private lavatories, washrooms and so forth, has a refill cartridge for aqueous soap solution. This exchangeable refill or supply cartridge has a flexible connecting member mounted upon a hollow plug element of a solution level indicator. During use of the dispenser, first the cartridge is emptied, then the solution level indicator, and only then a reservoir within the dispenser. Thus, the contents of the cartridge can be used up completely, while the dispenser still remains operative because of the reservoir volume, until such time as the cartridge can be conveniently replaced. For higher contrast indication of the solution level, the indicator can contain an optical body or element which is immersed in the soap solution. The optical element only becomes totally internal reflecting when the refill cartridge is empty. Prisms can be provided so as to optimize the use of existing sources of light, and optical filters can be employed for an indication in color.