Dispensing Apparatus

• US 20090140004A1
• Filed: 03/28/2006
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mindsinsync (Hong Kong) Ltd
• Original Assignee: Mindsinsync (Hong Kong) Ltd
• Inventors: Scorgie, Iain
• Application Number:
  US11/921,589
• Publication Number:
  US 20090140004A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/52
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism

Abstract

This invention provides a liquid dispensing apparatus such as, for example, a liquid soap dispensing apparatus. The apparatus can be provided as a self-contained unit including a reservoir provided at a spaced location from a base. Sensor means are provided to allow the selective dispensation of liquid from the reservoir upon the detection of a part of a user'"'"'s anatomy in a position between the liquid reservoir and the base. A motor can be connected to an outlet from the liquid reservoir which allows a portion of the liquid to be dispensed in a controlled manner, and the power source for the motor is typically a battery or batteries and the same are located in the base. The provision of the batteries in the base, a position remote from the liquid reservoir, protects the batteries from the liquid and means that the liquid reservoir need not be provided with a sealing cap to prevent liquid from entering the power source and damaging the same.

Claims

1. Apparatus for the selective dispensation of a liquid, said apparatus comprising:

a base;

a reservoir of the liquid to be dispensed with is spaced from the base;

a dispenser through which a quantity of liquid can be dispensed from the reservoir into a dispensing region between the base and the reservoir;

a power source; and

and a sensor to control the dispensing of the liquid upon detection of a person and wherein the power source is provided at a position on the apparatus below the dispenser.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said power source is provided within or adjacent to said base.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said power source is located in a housing being accessible through an opening on a face of said base other than the face of said base which faces toward said dispenser.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said power source is located in a housing remote from said liquid reservoir so as to prevent the liquid from contacting said power source.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said power source is one or a plurality of batteries.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus can be selectively activated and only when the apparatus is activated is the sensor active.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus includes a dispenser adjuster which allows a user to select a quantity of the liquid which is dispensed on each occasion.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said sensor detects the presence of part of a person'"'"'s anatomy in said dispensing region and when a presence is detected, a quantity of the liquid, which is for use in cleaning part of the person'"'"'s anatomy, is dispensed.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said sensor is an infrared sensor which detects the presence of heat generated by the presence of a part of a person'"'"'s anatomy within a given range of said sensor.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said sensor includes a first part mounted at one side of said dispensing region and a second part mounted on an opposing side of the dispensing region and when a part of the person'"'"'s anatomy is positioned between the first and second parts, a detection is made and dispensation of a portion of the liquid occurs.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a controller is provided for the dispenser to ensure that a quantity of liquid is dispensed for a predetermined period of time.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a controller is provided for the dispenser which ensures that a particular volume of liquid is dispensed.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein once said sensor has been activated and a portion of liquid dispensed, a time interval is required to elapse before a further quantity of liquid can be dispensed.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said liquid reservoir is provided with an aperture at an upper face of the reservoir, the aperture being enclosed by a lid which can be selectively opened to gain access to the reservoir.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said reservoir can be refilled in situ.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said reservoir can be detached from the apparatus and replaced with a further reservoir.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said reservoir can be removed from said apparatus to be refilled at a location remote from the apparatus and then moved back into position.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said reservoir is filled under factory conditions and is purchased as a refill unit.

19. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus includes a drip or collection tray positioned on the base to act as a collector for excess liquid which has been dispensed and not used on the person'"'"'s anatomy.

20. The apparatus according to claim 1 further includes attachments to allow a selective attachment of said apparatus via the base and/or side walls to locate said apparatus in position for use.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said attachments are in the form of one or more suckers.

22. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein operation of said sensor causes visual and/or audible features to operate.

23. The apparatus according claim 22 wherein operation of the visual and/or audible features is in addition to or instead of dispensing of the liquid from the reservoir.

24. The apparatus according to claim 1 further including a counter device to provide an indication of a number of uses for the apparatus.

25. An apparatus for selective dispensation of a liquid of a type to aid cleaning a part of a person'"'"'s anatomy, said apparatus comprising:

a reservoir of the liquid to be dispensed;

a dispenser through which a quantity of the liquid can be dispensed;

a power source; and

a sensor to control the dispensing of the liquid in response to a user'"'"'s presence being detected to allow the liquid to be dispensed onto the person for use.

26. An apparatus for dispensing a liquid for the cleaning of part of a person'"'"'s anatomy, said apparatus comprising:

a base;

a reservoir of the liquid to be dispensed;

a dispenser through which a quantity of liquid can be dispensed from the reservoir;

a power source; and

a sensor to control the dispensing of the liquid upon detection of the presence of a part of a person'"'"'s anatomy in a dispensing region for the liquid and wherein the power source is provided within or adjacent to said base.