Abstract: An exemplary refill unit for a foam dispenser includes a container for holding foamable liquid and a liquid pump. The liquid pump includes a pump housing and an outlet nozzle with an elongated central axis. The pump housing has an arcuate shaped liquid pump chamber formed by a backing plate. The backing plate includes a liquid inlet and a flexible membrane. At least a portion of the elongated central axis of the nozzle extends through a central area defined, at least in part, by the arcuate shaped pump chamber.

Abstract: A dispensing system includes a housing including a cover portion attached to a base portion. The cover portion includes an opening. The dispensing system includes a dispensing assembly within which a material is contained and from which the material is dispensed. The dispensing assembly is supported within an interior of the base portion and in fluid communication with the opening. At least one of the cover portion is movable relative to the base portion or the base portion is moveable relative to the cover portion. A position of the cover portion relative to the base portion is adjusted between a first position, in which the cover portion does not engage the dispensing assembly such that the material is not dispensed through the opening, and a second position, in which the cover portion engages the dispensing assembly such that the material is dispensed through the opening.

Abstract: An exemplary refill unit for a foam dispenser includes a container for holding foamable liquid and a liquid pump. The liquid pump includes a pump housing and an outlet nozzle with an elongated central axis. The pump housing has an arcuate shaped liquid pump chamber formed by a backing plate. The backing plate includes a liquid inlet and a flexible membrane. At least a portion of the elongated central axis of the nozzle extends through a central area defined, at least in part, by the arcuate shaped pump chamber.

Abstract: A wipes dispenser includes a container having an interior holding a plurality of wipes. A grip orifice provides communication between the interior and the exterior of the container, and the grip orifice serves to prevent wipes from falling back into the interior. The dispenser also includes a rip fence, and a lead end of a lead wipe of the plurality of wet wipes within the container extends through the grip orifice and then through the rip fence such that pulling on the lead end to pull the lead wipe against the rip fence causes the remainder of the lead wipe to be removed from the container and become disassociated with the remaining wipes of the plurality of wipes. As the lead end is pulled against the rip fence, the following wipe of the plurality of wipes is pulled through the grip orifice to provide its lead end outside of the interior of the container, and the grip orifice prevents this lead end of the following wipe from falling back into the interior of the container.

Abstract: A wipes dispenser includes a container having an interior holding a plurality of wipes. A grip orifice provides communication between the interior and the exterior of the container, and the grip orifice serves to prevent wipes from falling back into the interior. The dispenser also includes a rip fence, and a lead end of a lead wipe of the plurality of wet wipes within the container extends through the grip orifice and then through the rip fence such that pulling on the lead end to pull the lead wipe against the rip fence causes the remainder of the lead wipe to be removed from the container and become disassociated with the remaining wipes of the plurality of wipes. As the lead end is pulled against the rip fence, the following wipe of the plurality of wipes is pulled through the grip orifice to provide its lead end outside of the interior of the container, and the grip orifice prevents this lead end of the following wipe from falling back into the interior of the container.

Abstract: A dispensing system includes a housing including a cover portion attached to a base portion. The cover portion includes an opening. The dispensing system includes a dispensing assembly within which a material is contained and from which the material is dispensed. The dispensing assembly is supported within an interior of the base portion and in fluid communication with the opening. At least one of the cover portion is movable relative to the base portion or the base portion is moveable relative to the cover portion. A position of the cover portion relative to the base portion is adjusted between a first position, in which the cover portion does not engage the dispensing assembly such that the material is not dispensed through the opening, and a second position, in which the cover portion engages the dispensing assembly such that the material is dispensed through the opening.

Abstract: A collapsible container has a front face and a collapsible backing, wherein the container volume decreases as product is removed, and the collapsible backing collapses by vacuum as the container volume decreases. The front face may be flexible and thus susceptible to losing its original shape as the container volume decreases, but is nevertheless designed to retain its shape by having a frame around at least a portion of its perimeter. The front face may instead be adapted to retain its shape as the collapsible backing collapses upon a decrease in the container volume. The collapsible container is of particular beneficial use in a dispenser housing having a sight window in a front wall thereof, the sight window being aligned with the front face of the collapsible container.

Abstract: A portable dispenser provides a light source that is configured to illuminate a dispensing nozzle, indicia carried upon the dispenser housing, and the refill container when the dispenser is actuated to dispense material therefrom. As such, the dispenser conveniently identifies the intended region at which the material is to be dispensed, while providing a compelling and entertaining manner of operation.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of dispensers for dispensing a liquid from a refill unit that has a container and a resilient dome pump are disclosed herein. Some embodiments include a plurality of rollers that rotate about a common axis to compress a dome pump and a holder for holding a refill unit having a container and a resilient dome pump. During operation, when a refill unit is located within the holder, rotation of the rollers about the common axis causes a roller to compress the resilient dome pump as the roller passes over the resilient dome pump to dispense liquid, and the resilient dome pump expands to its original position once the roller passes to draw in liquid.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of solutions of plasma activated water and peroxyacetic acid are disclosed herein. In addition, exemplary embodiments of methods for making solutions are disclosed herein. Some methods include exposing water to a plasma gas to activate the water, adding acetic acid to the activated water; and mixing the acetic acid and activated water to form a solution. Additional exemplary methods include adding acetic acid to water to form a solution, mixing solution of acetic acid and water together; and exposing the solution to a plasma gas to activate the solution. Another exemplary embodiment includes exposing water to a plasma gas to activate the water; adding an acetyl group donor to the activated water; and mixing the acetyl group donor and activated water to form a solution.

Abstract: A collapsible container has a front face and a collapsible backing, wherein the container volume decreases as product is removed, and the collapsible backing collapses by vacuum as the container volume decreases. The front face may be flexible and thus susceptible to losing its original shape as the container volume decreases, but is nevertheless designed to retain its shape by having a frame around at least a portion of its perimeter. The front face may instead be adapted to retain its shape as the collapsible backing collapses upon a decrease in the container volume. The collapsible container is of particular beneficial use in a dispenser housing having a sight window in a front wall thereof, the sight window being aligned with the front face of the collapsible container.

Abstract: A dispensing system with an electronic keying mechanism, the dispenser including a housing and a refill unit. The refill unit includes a product reservoir, a pump mechanism and a collar adapted to secure the refill unit within the housing. An infrared sensor is provided in the housing and includes an infrared radiation source and a detector. A taggant is dispersed within at least a portion of the collar, the taggant being detectable by the detector when exposed to infrared radiation.

Abstract: A portable dispenser provides a light source that is configured to illuminate a dispensing nozzle, indicia carried upon the dispenser housing, and the refill container when the dispenser is actuated to dispense material therefrom. As such, the dispenser conveniently identifies the intended region at which the material is to be dispensed, while providing a compelling and entertaining manner of operation.

Abstract: A dispenser with an optical keying system includes a housing that is configured to carry a removable refill container that contains an amount of material, such as soap, for example. The removable refill container includes microscopic indicia that is visually-imperceptible to a human, which includes an authorization code, as well as a reference code that identifies various attributes associated with the refill container, such as its size, material type, and date of manufacture. Finally, the dispenser includes an optical sensor that is configured to read the authorization code defined by the microscopic or visually-imperceptible indicia to determine whether the refill container is authorized for use with the dispenser.

Abstract: A liquid dispenser is disclosed in the present application. In one exemplary embodiment, a liquid dispenser is configured to dispense foam. The liquid dispenser includes a frame portion, a pump portion, a refill portion, and a guide portion. The pump portion includes one or more compression members coupled to a rotatable member. The rotatable member is configured to rotate relative to the frame portion. The refill portion includes a liquid container, a tube, and a foaming nozzle. The tube is fluidly coupled to the liquid container and the foaming nozzle. The tube is positioned between the compression members and the guide portion. The tube is compressed by the one or more compression members as the rotatable member rotates to move liquid material from the liquid container to the foaming nozzle. The foaming nozzle is configured to covert the liquid material to foam, which is dispensed by the liquid dispenser.

Abstract: A flexible impeller pump includes first and second component housings. The first component housing includes a first flexible impeller and the second component housing includes a second flexible impeller. As these impellers rotate within their respective housings, they draw in and expel individual components into a common receiving chamber. In a particular application, one component is a foamable liquid, and the other component is air, and a mixture of foamable liquid and air is thus created in the common receiving chamber.

Abstract: A dispensing system with an electronic keying mechanism, the dispenser including a housing and a refill unit. The refill unit includes a product reservoir, a pump mechanism and a collar adapted to secure the refill unit within the housing. An infrared sensor is provided in the housing and includes an infrared radiation source and a detector. A taggant is dispersed within at least a portion of the collar, the taggant being detectable by the detector when exposed to infrared radiation.

Abstract: Personal dispensers include a refill unit and a refill casing. The refill unit is a collapsible container that is associated with pump mechanisms for dispensing fluid from within the collapsible container. The refill casing retains and protects the refill unit, and includes a pump lock that is manipulated to selectively cover a pump opening in the refill casing. When the pump lock covers the pump opening, the pump mechanisms cannot be manipulated, and when the pump lock does not cover the pump opening, the pump mechanisms can be manipulated to dispense product.

Abstract: A wipes dispenser includes a container having an interior holding a plurality of wipes. A grip orifice provides communication between the interior and the exterior of the container, and the grip orifice serves to prevent wipes from falling back into the interior. The dispenser also includes a rip fence, and a lead end of a lead wipe of the plurality of wet wipes within the container extends through the grip orifice and then through the rip fence such that pulling on the lead end to pull the lead wipe against the rip fence causes the remainder of the lead wipe to be removed from the container and become disassociated with the remaining wipes of the plurality of wipes. As the lead end is pulled against the rip fence, the following wipe of the plurality of wipes is pulled through the grip orifice to provide its lead end outside of the interior of the container, and the grip orifice prevents this lead end of the following wipe from falling back into the interior of the container.