Hand Sanitizer Latch Control

• US 20170071418A1
• Filed: 09/16/2015
• Published: 03/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James Borchard
• Original Assignee: James Borchard
• Inventors: Borchard, James
• Granted Patent: US 9,888,815 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/12 for liquid or pasty soap
• 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 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/60 Arrangements for mounting, supporting or holding spraying apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses

Abstract

A system having a dispenser enabled to contain and dispense a liquid or semi-liquid material and located on a wall of a facility having a door, a user-operable triggering mechanism causing dispensing of a volume from the dispenser upon operation of the triggering mechanism, and a door latch mechanism incorporated at an opening edge of the door of the facility and coupled to the dispenser in a manner that operating the triggering mechanism to dispense the volume also unlatches the door latch mechanism, allowing the door to open.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a dispenser enabled to contain and dispense a liquid or semi-liquid material and located on a wall of a facility having a door;

a user-operable triggering mechanism causing dispensing of a volume from the dispenser upon operation of the triggering mechanism; and

a door latch mechanism incorporated at an opening edge of the door of the facility and coupled to the dispenser in a manner that operating the triggering mechanism to dispense the volume also unlatches the door latch mechanism, allowing the door to open.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the dispenser is mounted to the door adjacent the door latch mechanism, and the dispenser and the door latch mechanism are mechanically coupled.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the dispenser is mounted to an inside wall away from the door latch mechanism, and both the dispenser and the door latch mechanism further comprise wireless communication circuitry and electro-mechanical elements enabling signaling and operating the door latch mechanism remotely when the triggering mechanism is operated.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the dispenser has a front face and a rear mounting face, and the triggering mechanism comprises an operating point beneath the dispenser and near the rear mounting face, such that a user must place a hand palm up beneath the dispenser, placing the palm directly below a dispensing outlet, to reach an activation point of the triggering mechanism with a finger of the hand, and operating the trigger mechanism causes the dispenser to dispense the volume into the palm and to also operate the door latch mechanism.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein a time delay is provided between a dispensing action and operation of the door latch mechanism.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the trigger mechanism comprises a forward and backward translatable lever that a user translates to implement dispensing the volume and operating the door latch mechanism.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein the trigger mechanism is pivoted, and an upward lifting of the activation point causes dispensing and unlatching of the door latch mechanism.

8. The system of claim 4 wherein the dispenser further comprises electromechanical elements and circuitry, and the activation point comprises a button that closes a circuit to activate dispensing and operation of the door latch mechanism.

9. A method comprising:

mounting a sanitizing lotion dispenser to an inside vertical surface of an enclosed toilet facility; and

coupling the dispenser to a door latch mechanism latching a door to the enclosed facility closed in a manner that triggering the dispenser to dispense a volume also unlatches the door latch mechanism allowing a user to leave the facility.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the dispenser is mounted to the door adjacent the door latch mechanism, and the dispenser and the door latch mechanism are mechanically coupled.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the dispenser is mounted to an inside wall away from the door latch mechanism, and both the dispenser and the door latch mechanism further comprise wireless communication circuitry and electro-mechanical elements enabling signaling and operating the door latch mechanism remotely when the triggering mechanism is operated.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the dispenser has a front face and a rear mounting face, and the triggering mechanism comprises an operating point beneath the dispenser and near the rear mounting face, such that a user must place a hand palm up beneath the dispenser, placing the palm directly below a dispensing outlet, to reach an activation point of the triggering mechanism with a finger of the hand, and operating the trigger mechanism causes the dispenser to dispense the volume into the palm and to also operate the door latch mechanism.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein a time delay is provided between a dispensing action and operation of the door latch mechanism.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the trigger mechanism comprises a forward and backward translatable lever that a user translates to implement dispensing the volume and operating the door latch mechanism.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the trigger mechanism is pivoted, and an upward lifting of the activation point causes dispensing and unlatching of the door latch mechanism.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the dispenser further comprises electromechanical elements and circuitry, and the activation point comprises a button that closes a circuit to activate dispensing and operation of the door latch mechanism.