Vortex atomizing foam pump and refill unit utilizing same

1. A pump for an inverted foam dispensing system comprising:

a connector for connecting the pump to a liquid container, the connector located at the top of the inverted pump during operation;

a compression chamber having an inlet valve and an outlet valve; the compression chamber in fluid communication with a flow restrictor, an atomizer, a mixing chamber, a foaming chip and an outlet, the outlet located at the bottom of the inverted pump during operation;

wherein the inlet valve, outlet valve, flow restrictor, atomizer, mixing chamber, foaming chip and outlet extend along a common axis that extends vertically, and

an air inlet into the mixing chamber, the air inlet opening to atmospheric pressure;

wherein during operation, the liquid pump is located below the liquid container and liquid flowing from the compression chamber is accelerated and atomized and enters the mixing chamber at a velocity sufficient to draw in air from the air inlet to mix with the liquid to form a foam.

2. The pump for dispensing a foam product of claim 1 further comprising a rotator that imparts a rotational motion to a liquid as the liquid passes by the rotator.

3. The pump for dispensing a foam product of claim 2 wherein a flow restrictor increases the velocity of the liquid and the rotator further increases the velocity of the liquid.

4. The pump for dispensing a foam product of claim 3 wherein the outlet of the rotator is an atomizer.

5. The pump for dispensing a foam product of claim 1 wherein the compression chamber is formed at least in part with a piston pump.

6. The pump for dispensing a foam product of claim 1 further comprising a rotator, wherein the flow restrictor is located at least partially within the rotator.

7. The pump for dispensing a foam product of claim 1 further comprising a cap for connecting the pump to a liquid container.

8. The pump for dispensing a foam product of claim 7 further comprising a liquid container filled with a foamable liquid.

9. A refill unit for a foam pump dispenser comprising:

a liquid container;

a foam pump connected to the liquid container, wherein the liquid container is located above the foam pump during operation;

the foam pump having a central vertical axis and including

an inlet valve;

a compression chamber;

an outlet valve;

a foaming nozzle having a flow restrictor, a rotator, an atomizer and an air inlet open to atmospheric pressure, and

an outlet;

wherein the inlet valve, outlet valve, foaming nozzle and outlet extend along the central vertical axis;

wherein the foaming nozzle accelerates the velocity of the liquid, imparts a rotational motion on the liquid, atomizes the liquid and draws in air to mix with the atomized liquid to form a foam that is dispensed out of the outlet.

10. The refill unit of claim 9 wherein the flow restrictor is a cylindrical element located in the flow path.

11. The refill unit of claim 9 wherein the rotator includes one or more extrusion passages for liquid to flow through.

12. The refill unit of claim 9 wherein the rotator includes one or more channels located in its bottom portion and wherein the channels are at least partially tangential to an opening in the bottom of the rotator.

13. The refill unit of claim 12 wherein the opening in the bottom of the rotator has walls that are at least partially sloped.

14. The refill unit of claim 13 wherein the opening in the bottom of the rotator is sized to cause liquid flowing through it to be atomized.

15. An inverted foam pump comprising:

a cap for securing the inverted foam pump to the bottom of a liquid container;

a compression chamber located within the pump body, the compression chamber compressing vertically;

a pump body having an inlet valve;

a valve body located at least partially within the pump body; the valve body having a seal for engaging an interior wall of the pump body;

a first passage between the inlet valve and an interior of the valve body;

a second passage from the interior of the valve body to the exterior of the valve body;

the valve body further having a surface for engaging a valve seat;

a biasing mechanism for biasing the surface of the valve body against the valve seat;

wherein movement of the valve body in a first direction causes liquid to flow past the inlet valve into the valve body and movement in a second direction causes liquid to flow out of the valve body and causes the surface of the valve body to move away from the valve seat and allow liquid to flow out of the pump body; and

wherein a foaming nozzle connected to the pump for converting the liquid to a foam includes an atomizer for atomizing the liquid into a fine mist of droplets.

16. The pump of claim 15 further comprising a second valve body, wherein the second valve body forms at least a portion of the valve seat and the second valve body further comprises a cylindrical restrictor, and wherein the foaming nozzle includes a rotator that at least partially surrounds the cylindrical restrictor and imparts a rotational motion on the liquid.

17. The pump of claim 15 wherein the foaming nozzle further comprises an air inlet that opens to atmospheric pressure and wherein the velocity of fluid flowing past the air inlet causes air to be drawn into the foaming nozzle.

18. The pump of claim 17 further comprising a screen, wherein the fine mist of droplets and air are mixed together and forced through the screen to create a foam.