Dispenser with multi-directional pushbar

1. A product dispenser comprising:

a housing adapted to selectively retain a replaceable product refill unit, the replaceable product refill unit comprising a product reservoir and a piston pump actuated through reciprocating movement of a piston to dispense product from the product reservoir;

the housing providing a multidirectional pushbar adapted to be pivoted about a plurality of axes relative to the remainder of the housing such that the multidirectional pushbar can selectively be pushed in any of a plurality of directions to actuate the piston pump; and

a transfer mechanism adapted to cause actuation of the piston pump upon movement of the multidirectional pushbar by converting an input force applied to the multidirectional pushbar into an actuating force against the piston pump of the replaceable product refill unit to dispense the product.

2. The product dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the multidirectional pushbar is secured to a collar that is pivotable on a pushbar support member carried by the housing, the pushbar support member having the shape of a spherical zone.

3. The product dispenser of claim 2 , wherein the collar includes a top collar portion and a bottom collar portion that are secured together.

4. The product dispenser of claim 2 , wherein the pushbar support member includes an arm extending upwardly therefrom, the arm connected to the housing.

5. The product dispenser of claim 2 , wherein a plurality of radial fins are provided on an outer surface of the pushbar support member.

6. The product dispenser of claim 2 , wherein the transfer mechanism includes a carriage positioned around a guide post extending upwardly from the pushbar support member, the carriage being axially movable along the guide post upon pivoting movement of the multidirectional pushbar, movement of the carriage adapted to cause movement of the piston of the piston pump to cause dispensing of the product.

7. The product dispenser of claim 6 , wherein the guide post is supported by a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs extending inwardly from an inner surface of the pushbar support member.

8. The product dispenser of claim 7 , wherein the carriage includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced feet carried by a rim, the feet received between the spaced ribs when the carriage is unactuated.

9. The product dispenser of claim 8 , wherein a retainer is carried by the carriage and adapted to receive an end of the piston therein, the retainer including an outwardly extending rim that engages the feet.

10. The product dispenser of claim 2 , wherein the transfer mechanism includes a plurality of flexible fingers extending between the collar and a ring positioned over the pushbar support member, the flexible fingers adapted to deform upon movement of the pushbar to cause vertical displacement of the ring, movement of the ring causing movement of the piston to dispense the product.

11. The product dispenser of claim 10 , where a retainer is carried by the ring and adapted to receive an end of the piston, the retainer including an outwardly extending rim that engages the ring.

12. The product dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the multidirectional pushbar includes a valley between a first ramped surface and a second ramped surface of the multidirectional pushbar.

13. The product dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the housing is a wall mounted housing.

14. A product dispenser comprising:

a housing adapted to selectively retain a replaceable product refill unit, the replaceable product refill unit comprising a product reservoir and a piston pump actuated through reciprocating movement of a piston to dispense product from the reservoir;

the housing providing a multidirectional pushbar adapted to be pivoted about a plurality of axes relative to the remainder of the housing such that the multidirectional pushbar can selectively be pushed in any of a plurality of directions to actuate the piston pump; and

a transfer mechanism adapted to cause actuation of the piston pump upon movement of the multidirectional pushbar by converting an input force applied to the multidirectional pushbar into an actuating force against the piston pump of the replaceable product refill unit to dispense the product, wherein the multidirectional pushbar includes a valley between a first ramped surface and a second ramped surface of the multidirectional pushbar and wherein the transfer mechanism includes a carriage having rolling elements, the carriage being engaged with an end of the piston, where pivoting of the multidirectional pushbar causes the carriage to roll up the ramped surfaces and cause axial movement of the piston to dispense the product.

15. The product dispenser of claim 14 , wherein the carriage includes:

a retaining member receiving the end of the piston, and

a plurality of arms extending radially outwardly from the retaining member, each arm including at a distal end one of the rolling elements.

16. The product dispenser of claim 14 , wherein the housing is a wall mounted housing.

17. The product dispenser of claim 14 , wherein the multidirectional pushbar is secured to a collar that is pivotable on a pushbar support member carried by the housing, the pushbar support member having the shape of a spherical zone.

18. The product dispenser of claim 17 , wherein the collar includes a top collar portion and a bottom collar portion that are secured together.

19. The product dispenser of claim 17 , wherein a plurality of radial fins are provided on an outer surface of the pushbar support member.

20. The product dispenser of claim 14 , wherein the product comprises at least one of an aerosol product, a liquid product, or a foam product.