DISPENSER FOR A FLOWABLE MEDIUM

• US 20110108571A1
• Filed: 11/05/2010
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hans Georg Hagleitner
• Original Assignee: Hans Georg Hagleitner
• Inventors: HAGLEITNER, HANS GEORG
• Granted Patent: US 8,590,741 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/39
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism

Abstract

A dispenser for a flowable medium, such as soap, foam soap or the like, has an outlet opening on the underside, a sensor in the region of the outlet opening, which sensor emits an electrical signal upon sensing a person, and an electrical pump which is caused to dispense a portion of the medium through the outlet opening as a result of the electrical signal from the sensor. A switch is also provided on the dispenser, the operation of which switch causes the next signal from the sensor to emit an optical or acoustic signal instead of dispensing a portion of the medium.

Claims

1. A dispenser for a flowable medium, including soap, foam soap, or lotion, the dispenser comprising:

a housing having an underside with an outlet opening formed therein;

a sensor in a region of said outlet opening, said sensor emitting an electrical signal upon sensing a person;

an electrical pump causing a dispensing of a portion of the flowable medium through said outlet opening as a result of the electrical signal from said sensor; and

an actuator selected from the group consisting of switches and pushbuttons disposed on said housing, an operation of said actuator causing a next signal from said sensor to emit an optical signal or an acoustic signal instead of dispensing the portion of the flowable medium.

2. The dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising a timer connected to said pushbutton.

3. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said actuator is disposed on said underside of said housing.

4. The dispenser according to claim 3, wherein said actuator is disposed at a lateral distance from said sensor.

5. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said sensor is an infrared reflection light barrier.

6. The dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising an illuminable ring surrounding said outlet opening and emitting an optical signal.

7. The dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising an adjustable timer connected to said pushbutton.

8. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said underside of said housing has a depression formed therein, said actuator is disposed in said depression.