Bifurcated foam pump, dispensers and refill units

Abstract

Embodiments of foam dispensers including a housing, an air compressor connected to the housing and an actuator for actuating the air compressor are disclosed herein. The air compressor releasably mates with a refill unit. The dispenser has an 'empty state' and a 'refilled state.' The empty state occurs when there is not a refill unit positioned in the dispenser, and the refilled state occurs when the refill unit is positioned in the dispenser. The air compressor remains connected to the housing during the refilled state and remains connected to the housing during the empty state. One refill unit for a foam pump dispenser includes a container for containing a foamable liquid and liquid pump housing connected to the container. The liquid pump housing is configured to releasably mate with an air compressor that is not part of the refill unit but is secured to a foam pump dispenser housing, and the refill unit is configured to be removed from the foam dispenser without removing the air compressor from the foam dispenser. The air inlet passage is in fluid communication with the atmosphere prior to being installed in a foam dispenser and the air inlet passage is in fluid communication with an air compressor when the refill unit is placed in the foam dispenser.