Flexible mounting system for hand hygiene dispensers

• US 10,039,423 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2016
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schultz, Andrew M., Gilbertson, Sarah E., Anderson, Daniel D., Littau, Cheryl A.
• Primary Examiner(s): McNichols, Eret C
• Application Number:
  US15/088,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20160288151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 24822112, 24822111, 24822212, 24822213, 24822241, 24822912, 24822913, 24822914, 24822922, 2482283, 2482303, 24823141, 2483112, 248312, 2483113, 222180, 2221813, 2221811, 222325
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3226 collecting data of usage
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3233 Details of the housing, e.g. hinges, connection to the wall
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2010/3266 Wet wipes
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2201/025 with resilient locking device
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/12 for liquid or pasty soap
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1204 by means of a rigid dispensing chamber and pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1205 Dispensing from the top of the dispenser with a vertical piston
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1207 Dispensing from the bottom of the dispenser with a vertical piston
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1211 using pressure on soap, e.g. with piston A47K5/1201 takes precedence; by squeezing A47K5/122
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1215 applied by a peristaltic action
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/512 Clamping devices for hanging the tools
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/62 Arrangements for supporting spraying apparatus, e.g. suction cups
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/10 using pivoting jaws
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/09 Releasable fastening devices with a stud engaging a keyhole slot
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0657 at least one of the plates providing a raised structure, e.g. of the doghouse type, for connection with the clamps or clips of the other plate
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/105 the horizontal axis being the roll axis, e.g. for creating a landscape-portrait rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/024 : by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections

Abstract

A flexible mounting system for a chemical product dispenser includes a dispenser holder and at least one mounting apparatus. The dispenser holder may be attached to the mounting apparatus by means of a releasable connection mechanism. The releasable connection mechanism may provide for attachment of the dispenser holder to the mounting apparatus in multiple orientations. In one example, the mounting apparatus includes a mounting bracket configured for mounting to a support object, such as a wall, table, counter top, cabinet, shelf, cart etc. In another example, the mounting apparatus includes a mounting clamp configured for mounting to ledges, poles, bedrails, handles, etc.

Claims

1. A product dispenser mounting system comprising:

a dispenser holder, the dispenser holder including;

a dispenser holder body configured to receive a product dispenser;

the dispenser holder body further including;

a sidewall having a front surface and a back surface; and

a back plate positioned proximate the back surface of the sidewall, the back plate further including a first aperture; and

a latch positioned between the back plate and the back surface of the sidewall, the latch including a second aperture, the second aperture having walls defining a locking side and an unlocking side, the latch further moveable between a first locked position and a second unlocked position; and

a mounting apparatus configured for fixedly mounting on a support object, the mounting apparatus including an attachment post including;

a base portion having a shape configured to fit within the first aperture of the back plate in one or more orientations; and

a post portion extending outwardly from the base portion and including a cap, the cap having a diameter that is relatively larger than a diameter of the post portion, the cap further providing a bottom locking surface,

such that when the base portion of the attachment post is fit within the first aperture of the back plate, the walls of the second aperture defining the locking side engage the bottom locking surface of the cap when the latch is moved into the first locked position,

the sidewall further including a projection extending outwardly from the back surface of the sidewall and aligned substantially in the center of the first aperture.

2. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 1, wherein the back plate further includes one or more guiderails configured to receive the latch such that the latch is slidably moveable within the guiderails between the first locked position and the second unlocked position.

3. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 2, wherein the post portion of the attachment post further include a bore extending longitudinally therethrough sized to receive the projection extending outwardly from the back surface of the sidewall.

4. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 1, the base portion of the attachment post having a size and a shape configured to fit within the first aperture in one or more orientations such that dispenser holder is maintained in a selected one of the one or more orientations when the dispenser holder is connected to the attachment post.

5. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 1 wherein the base portion of the attachment post and the first aperture both have a shape comprising a regular n-sided polygon such that dispenser holder is maintained in a selected one of the one or more orientations when the dispenser holder is connected to the attachment post.

6. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 5 wherein the base portion of the attachment post and the first aperture have a shape including one of a triangle, a square, a pentagon, a hexagon, an octagon, a star-shape, and a clover-shape.

7. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 1, the back plate further including one or more guiderails configured to slidably receive the latch,

the second aperture of the latch further including a first wider end having a diameter that is relatively wider than a diameter of the cap and a second narrower end having a diameter that is relatively narrower than the diameter of the cap, and wherein the latch is slidably moveable along the guiderails to move the second narrower end of the second aperture with respect to the attachment post such that the locking side of the latch engages the bottom locking surface of the cap.

8. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 7 wherein the latch is further slidably moveable along the guiderails to move the first wider end of the second aperture with respect to the attachment post such that the dispenser holder may be removed from the mounting apparatus.

9. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 1 wherein the mounting apparatus comprises a mounting clamp.

10. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 9 wherein the mounting clamp further includes:

a first jaw providing a first inward clamping surface; and

a second jaw having a proximal end pivotally attached to a proximal end of the first jaw, the second jaw providing a second inward clamping surface;

wherein the attachment post extends outwardly from a top surface of the first jaw, and wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are movable with respect to each other to apply a clamping force to the support object.

11. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 10 wherein the mounting clamp further includes an adjustment knob configured to adjust a distance between the first inward camping surface, the second inward clamping surface.

12. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 10 wherein the mounting clamp further includes a tip portion pivotally attached to a distal end of the second jaw, the tip portion providing a third inward clamping surface.

13. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 1 wherein the support object includes one of a wall, a cabinet, a pole, a post, a counter, a table, a shelf, and a cart.

14. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 1 wherein the product dispenser is a manual pump bottle.

15. The mounting system of claim 1 further comprising:

a sensor that detects actuation of the product dispenser; and

an indicator that is activated in response to each detected actuation of the product dispenser.

16. The mounting system of claim 1 further comprising:

a sensor that detects actuation of the product dispenser; and

a counter that increments a count in response to each detected actuation of the product dispenser.

17. The mounting system of claim 16 wherein data associated with the detected actuations of the product dispenser is received and analyzed by a hand hygiene compliance computing system.

18. A product dispenser mounting system comprising:

a dispenser holder, the dispenser holder including;

a dispenser holder body configured to receive a product dispenser;

the dispenser holder body further including;

a sidewall having a front surface and a back surface; and

a back plate positioned proximate the back surface of the sidewall, the back plate further including a first aperture; and

a latch positioned between the back plate and the back surface of the sidewall, the latch including a second aperture, the second aperture having walls defining a locking side and an unlocking side, the latch further moveable between a first locked position and a second unlocked position; and

a mounting apparatus configured for fixedly mounting on a support object, the mounting apparatus including an attachment post including;

a base portion having a shape configured to fit within the first aperture of the back plate in one or more orientations; and

a post portion extending outwardly from the base portion and including a cap, the cap having a diameter that is relatively larger than a diameter of the post portion, the cap further providing a bottom locking surface,

such that when the base portion of the attachment post is fit within the first aperture of the back plate, the walls of the second aperture defining the locking side engage the bottom locking surface of the cap when the latch is moved into the first locked position,

the latch further including a tapered wall around a perimeter of the second aperture on a side facing the back surface of the sidewall, and the cap of the post portion further having a top tapered edge configured to cooperate with the tapered wall around the perimeter of the second aperture to cause the latch to move from the first locked position to the second unlocked position.

19. A product dispenser mounting system comprising:

a dispenser holder, the dispenser holder including;

a dispenser holder body configured to receive a product dispenser;

the dispenser holder body further including;

a sidewall having a front surface and a back surface; and

a back plate positioned proximate the back surface of the sidewall, the back plate further including a first aperture; and

a latch positioned between the back plate and the back surface of the sidewall, the latch including a second aperture, the second aperture having walls defining a locking side and an unlocking side, the latch further moveable between a first locked position and a second unlocked position; and

a mounting apparatus configured for fixedly mounting on a support object, the mounting apparatus including an attachment post including;

a base portion having a shape configured to fit within the first aperture of the back plate in one or more orientations; and

a post portion extending outwardly from the base portion and including a cap, the cap having a diameter that is relatively larger than a diameter of the post portion, the cap further providing a bottom locking surface,

such that when the base portion of the attachment post is fit within the first aperture of the back plate, the walls of the second aperture defining the locking side engage the bottom locking surface of the cap when the latch is moved into the first locked position,

the dispenser holder body further including a top portion having first and second arms configured to receive the neck of the product dispenser, and

wherein the top portion is pivotally connected to the sidewall such that the first and second arms are moveable between a first, lowered position and a second, raised position.

20. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 19 wherein the product dispenser is held in place in the dispenser holder when the first and second arms are in the first, lowered position and wherein the product dispenser may be removed from the dispenser holder when the first and second arms are in the second, raised position.

21. A product dispenser mounting system comprising:

a dispenser holder, the dispenser holder including;

a dispenser holder body configured to receive a product dispenser;

the dispenser holder body further including;

a sidewall having a front surface and a back surface; and

a back plate positioned proximate the back surface of the sidewall, the back plate further including a first aperture; and

a latch positioned between the back plate and the back surface of the sidewall, the latch including a second aperture, the second aperture having walls defining a locking side and an unlocking side, the latch further moveable between a first locked position and a second unlocked position; and

a mounting apparatus configured for fixedly mounting on a support object, the mounting apparatus including an attachment post including;

a base portion having a shape configured to fit within the first aperture of the back plate in one or more orientations; and

a post portion extending outwardly from the base portion and including a cap, the cap having a diameter that is relatively larger than a diameter of the post portion, the cap further providing a bottom locking surface,

such that when the base portion of the attachment post is fit within the first aperture of the back plate, the walls of the second aperture defining the locking side engage the bottom locking surface of the cap when the latch is moved into the first locked position,

wherein the mounting apparatus comprises a mounting bracket, and

wherein the mounting bracket includes one or more living hinges by which the mounting bracket may conform to a contoured surface of the support object.

22. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 21 wherein the mounting bracket includes a mounting plate having one or more screw holes by which the mounting bracket may be fixedly attached to the support object.

23. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 21 wherein the mounting bracket includes one or more channels, each of the one or more channels configured to receive a fastener by which the mounting bracket may be fixedly attached to the support object.

24. The product dispenser mounting apparatus of claim 23 wherein the fastener includes a cable tie.

25. A product dispenser mounting system comprising:

a dispenser holder configured to support a product dispenser, the dispenser holder having a back side and a bottom side;

one or more connector clips, each of the one or more connector clips integrated into one of the back side or the bottom side of the dispenser holder, each connector clip including;

a first sidewall including a first aperture;

a release latch including a second aperture, the release latch moveable from a first unlocked position to a second locked position with respect to the first aperture, the release latch further providing a locking surface on a side facing the first sidewall;

a mounting apparatus configured for fixedly mounting on a support object and including an attachment post configured for releasable connection to the one or more connector clips, the attachment post including;

a base portion having a shape configured to fit within the first aperture of the first sidewall in one or more orientations; and

a post portion including a cap providing a bottom locking surface that engages with the locking surface of the release latch when the base portion of the mounting apparatus is fit within the first aperture and the release latch is in the second locked position,

wherein the one or more connector clips comprises a first connector clip integrated in the back side of the dispenser holder and a second connector clip integrated in the bottom side of the dispenser holder.

26. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 25 further comprising:

a sensor that detects actuation of the product dispenser; and

an indicator that is activated in response to each detected actuation of the product dispenser.

27. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 25 further comprising:

a sensor that detects actuation of the product dispenser; and

a counter that increments a count in response to each detected actuation of the product dispenser.

28. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 27 wherein data associated with the detected actuations of the product dispenser is received and analyzed by a hand hygiene compliance computing system.

29. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 25 wherein the support object includes one of a wall, a cabinet, a pole, a post, a counter, a table, a shelf, and a cart.

30. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 25 wherein the product dispenser is a manual pump bottle.