Manual dispenser with electrical generator

• US 20100219206A1
• Filed: 02/27/2009
• Published: 09/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OP hygiene IP Gmbh
• Original Assignee: Gotohti.Com Inc.
• Inventors: Ophardt, Heiner
• Granted Patent: US 8,215,523 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/192
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1207 Dispensing from the bottom of the dispenser with a vertical piston
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism

Abstract

A dispensing apparatus including a product dispenser in which product is dispensed by manual movement of an activation mechanism as, for example, by moving a lever with a person'"'"'s hand, arm or foot. The dispensing apparatus includes an electrical generator for generating electrical energy as a result of the manual movement of the activation mechanism, preferably by electromagnetic induction or electrochemistry. The electrical energy from the generator is utilized in the dispensing apparatus to power a data communication unit for receiving information about the product dispenser and transmitting the information to a receiver, preferably but not necessarily wirelessly.

Claims

1. A fluid dispensing apparatus comprising:

a fluid containing reservoir,

the reservoir having an outlet opening,

a dispensing mechanism which on activation causes fluid from the reservoir to be discharged from the outlet opening to a discharge outlet,

an activation mechanism for activation of the dispensing mechanism by the engagement by a user moving the activation-mechanism from a first position to a second position,

an electrical generator for generating electric energy,

the electrical generator coupled to the activation-mechanism such that on movement of the activation-mechanism from the first position to a second position the generator generates electrical power,

an electrical storage device coupled to the generator to store electrical power generated by the generator.

3. A fluid dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including a dispenser sensor unit in said dispenser for detecting information about the fluid dispensing apparatus,

a data communications unit in communication with said dispenser sensor unit and configured for receiving information from said dispenser sensor unit,

said data communications unit for transmitting information wirelessly to said a wireless receiver.

2. (canceled)

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21. A dispensing apparatus comprising:

a product containing reservoir,

a dispensing mechanism which on activation causes the product to be discharged from the reservoir,

an activation mechanism for activation of the dispensing mechanism by the engagement by a user moving the activation-mechanism, characterized by;

an electrical generator for generating electric energy,

the electrical generator coupled to the activation-mechanism such that on movement of the activation-mechanism the generator generates electrical energy.

4. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein said information is selected from the group consisting of a low product condition in the reservoir and the number of times the activation mechanism has been moved by the user.

5. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 23 including a wireless hub interconnecting with said data communications unit;

and a computer interconnecting with said hub, wherein said computer employs a web browser for viewing information sent via said hub.

7. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 23 wherein:

the product is a fluid and

the dispensing mechanism comprises a fluid pump.

8. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the pump comprises a piston pump with a piston slidably received coaxially in a piston chamber member for reciprocal sliding between a retracted position and an extended position to dispense fluid.

9. A fluid dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the activation mechanism comprises a lever pivotable about a pivot axis between different axial positions relative the pivot axis,

the lever having an engagement portion spaced from said pivot axis for engagement by a user to pivot the lever about the pivot axis,

the piston coupled to the lever for sliding of the piston in the piston chamber member with pivoting of the lever.

13. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein the electrical storage device is selected from the group consisting of one or more of a capacitor and a rechargeable battery.

15. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the fluid comprising a hand cleaning fluid,

the dispensing apparatus comprising a hand cleaning fluid dispenser.

22. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 21 further including an electrical storage device coupled to the generator to store electrical energy generated by the generator.

23. A fluid dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 21 further including a dispenser sensor unit in said dispenser for detecting information about the fluid dispensing apparatus,

a data communications unit in communication with said dispenser sensor unit and configured for receiving information from said dispenser sensor unit,

said data communications unit for transmitting information wirelessly to said a wireless receiver.

24. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 23 wherein said information is selected from the group consisting of information relating to the product in the reservoir and quantity of product dispensed.

25. A fluid dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 23 wherein the activation mechanism comprises a lever pivotable about a pivot axis between different axial positions relative the pivot axis,

the lever having an engagement portion spaced from said pivot axis for engagement by a user to pivot the lever about the pivot axis.

26. A dispenser as claimed in claim 21 wherein the electrical generator comprises an electromagnetic generator.

27. A dispenser as claimed in claim 26 wherein the electromagnetic generator is coupled to the activation mechanism such that on movement of the activation mechanism a magnetized member moves relative a coil member to generate electrical energy.

28. A dispenser as claimed in claim 7 wherein the electrical generator is an electrochemical fuel cell coupled to the activation mechanism such that on movement of the activation mechanism the fluid to be dispensed flows through the fuel cell,

the fuel cell comprising as an electrolyte the fluid and two electrodes namely, an anode and a cathode, separated from each other with the electrolyte between the electrodes,

fuel for the cell comprising the fluid in communication with a first of the electrodes atmospheric air containing oxygen is in communication with a second of the electrodes,

wherein with chemical conversion of the fluid at the first electrode to provide electrical current flow oxygen is consumed at the second electrode where water is produced.

29. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 15 including a wireless hub interconnecting with said data communications unit;

and a computer interconnecting with said hub, wherein said computer employs a web browser for viewing information sent via said hub.

30. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 29 further including an electrical storage device coupled to the generator to store electrical energy generated by the generator.

31. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 27 further including an electrical storage device coupled to the generator to store electrical energy generated by the generator.