Touchless dispenser

• US 20110024449A1
• Filed: 07/31/2009
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptar Radolfzell GmbH (AptarGroup Incorporated), Seaquist Perfect Dispensing LLC (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Aptar Radolfzell GmbH (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Inventors: Umbeer, Volker, Kohlne, Jörg, Walters, Peter J., Braun, Craig A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,527,656 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/52
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1052 Actuation means locking means therefor B05B11/1059; the dispensing stroke being affected by the stored energy of a spring B05B11/109
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/205 Actuator caps, or peripheral actuator skirts, attachable to the aerosol container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/62 by membrane, bag, or the like containers in which the content is delivered by the contracting forces inherent in the bag B65D83/0061

Abstract

A touchless dispenser is provided for a pressurized container including a valve member. The dispenser comprises a housing mountable to the container. An electrically controlled valve in the housing includes an inlet and an outlet. The inlet maintains the valve member in an open position incident to the housing being mounted on the container. A nozzle extends between the valve outlet and a discharge orifice. A sensor senses a user'"'"'s hand proximate the discharge orifice. A control in the housing is operatively coupled to the sensor and the electrically controlled valve. The control controls operation of the electrically controlled valve to dispense a select dosage of product from the container responsive to the sensor sensing presence of a user'"'"'s hand proximate the discharge orifice.

Claims

1. A touchless dispenser for a pressurized container including a valve member, comprising:

a housing mountable to the container;

an electrically controlled valve in the housing, the electrically controlled valve including an inlet and an outlet, the inlet maintaining the valve member in an open position incident to the housing being mounted on the container;

a nozzle extending between the valve outlet and a discharge orifice;

a sensor for sensing a user'"'"'s hand proximate the discharge orifice; and

a control in the housing operatively coupled to the sensor and the electrically controlled valve, the control controlling operation of the electrically controlled valve to dispense a select dosage of product from the container responsive to the sensor sensing presence of a user'"'"'s hand proximate the discharge orifice.

2. The touchless dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a circuit board carrying the sensor and circuitry for the control.

3. The touchless dispenser of claim 1 wherein the control comprises a battery operated control.

4. The touchless dispenser of claim 1 wherein the control operates the electrically controlled valve for a select time period, the select time period increasing as pressure in the container decreases to dispense the select dosage.

5. The touchless dispenser of claim 4 wherein the control counts a number of dosages and adjusts the select time period responsive to the count.

6. The touchless dispenser of claim 5 wherein the control comprises a counter reset to set the count to zero incident to the dispenser being mounted to a new container.

7. The touchless dispenser of claim 4 wherein the control measures pressure in the container and adjusts the select time period responsive to the measured pressure.

8. The touchless dispenser of claim 4 wherein the control measures flow rate when the valve is open and adjusts the select time period responsive to the measured flow rate.

9. The touchless dispenser of claim 1 wherein the control prevents subsequent operation of the solenoid valve until a user'"'"'s hand is removed from proximate the discharge orifice.

10. The touchless dispenser of claim 1 wherein the control operates the valve only after a user'"'"'s hand is proximate the discharge orifice for a select period of time.

11. The touchless dispenser of claim 1 wherein the control comprises a programmed microcontroller.

12. The touchless dispenser of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a proximity sensor.

13. A touchless dispenser for a pressurized container including a valve member, comprising:

a housing mountable to the container, the housing comprising a base and a cover, the cover being removably receivable on the base to define an interior space, the base having a neck mountable to the container and first and second support structure in the interior space;

an electrically controlled valve mountable to the first support structure and having a pair of electrical leads extending therefrom, the electrically controlled valve including an inlet and an outlet, the inlet actuating the valve member to an open position incident to the base being mounted on the container;

a nozzle extending between the valve outlet and a discharge orifice;

a circuit board mountable to the second support structure and comprising battery mounting clips, a sensor for sensing proximity of a user'"'"'s hand, terminal pads for electrically engaging the valve electrical leads, and a control circuit operatively coupled to the sensor, the battery clips and the terminal pads, the control circuit controlling operation of the electrically controlled valve to dispense a dosage of product from the container using battery power responsive to the sensor sensing presence of a user'"'"'s hand proximate the discharge orifice.

14. The touchless dispenser of claim 13 wherein the terminal pads engage the valve electrical leads incident to the circuit board and electrically controlled valve being mounted in the base.

15. The touchless dispenser of claim 14 wherein the valve electrical leads extend upwardly incident to the electrically controlled valve being mounted to the first support structure and the terminal pads are located on a bottom surface of the circuit board.

16. The touchless dispenser of claim 14 wherein the terminal pads comprise contact receptacles, and the electrical leads plug into the contact receptacles.

17. The touchless dispenser of claim 13 wherein the base comprises a first sensor opening proximate the discharge orifice, and the sensor comprises an infrared sensor positioned at the first sensor opening.

18. The touchless dispenser of claim 14 wherein the base comprises a second sensor opening proximate the discharge orifice, and the sensor further comprises an LED positioned at the second sensor opening.

19. The touchless dispenser of claim 18 wherein the control circuit periodically activates the LED.