Hands-free paper towel dispensers
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A hands-free towel dispenser comprising:
- (a) a housing means for containing towels;
(b) a sensing means for detecting an object;
(c) a dispensing means for dispensing a predetermined length of towel when said sensing means detects the object;
(d) an electric power source for powering said dispensing means;
(e) a control circuitry for controlling the dispensing means, providing a delay between cycles of towel dispensing, and controlling said predetermined length of towel; and
(f) an array of one or more photovoltaic cells for energizing said control circuitry.
7 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A towel dispenser comprising an electronic power system, which includes an array of one or more photovoltaic cells for energizing a control circuitry which, in turn, controls operation of the dispenser. The control circuitry is responsive to a sensing device, comprised of a motion detector, which senses rapid changes in light, which in turn, activates the dispensing of a predetermined length of paper towels when an object, such as a user'"'"'s hand, is moved in front of the sensing device.
272 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A hands-free towel dispenser comprising:
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(a) a housing means for containing towels; (b) a sensing means for detecting an object; (c) a dispensing means for dispensing a predetermined length of towel when said sensing means detects the object; (d) an electric power source for powering said dispensing means; (e) a control circuitry for controlling the dispensing means, providing a delay between cycles of towel dispensing, and controlling said predetermined length of towel; and (f) an array of one or more photovoltaic cells for energizing said control circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A hands-free towel dispenser comprising:
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(a) a housing means for containing towels; (b) a sensing means for detecting an object; (c) dispensing means for dispensing a predetermined length of towel when said sensing means detects the object, said dispensing means comprising a drive roller mounted in said housing means and a motor inside said drive roller; (d) an electric power source for powering said dispensing means; (e) a control circuitry for controlling the dispensing means, providing a delay between cycles of towel dispensing, and controlling said predetermined length of towel; and (f) an array of one or more photovoltaic cells for energizing said control circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A method of dispensing paper towel from a hands-free paper towel dispenser including a housing, a dispensing mechanism for dispensing a predetermined length of paper from the dispenser, a sensing mechanism for sensing the presence of an object, control a circuitry for controlling the dispensing mechanism, providing a delay between cycles of towel dispensing, and controlling said predetermined length of towel, a power source for powering the dispensing mechanism, and an array of one or more photovoltaic cells, for providing power to the control circuitry from the array of one or more photovoltaic cells comprising:
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sensing when an object is within a predetermined distance from the sensing mechanism; and dispensing said predetermined length of towel from the dispenser.
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11. A hands-free towel dispenser comprising:
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(a) a housing means for containing towels; (b) a sensing means for detecting an object; (c) a dispensing means for dispensing a predetermined length of towel when said sensing means detects the object; (d) an electric power source for powering said dispensing means; (e) a control circuitry for controlling the dispensing means, providing a delay between cycles of towel dispensing, and controlling said predetermined length of towel; (f) an array of one or more photovoltaic cells for energizing said control circuitry; and (g) an LED light which monitors timing of said cycles of towel dispensing.
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12. A hands-free towel dispenser comprising:
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(a) a housing means for containing towels; (b) a sensing means for detecting an object; (c) a dispensing means for dispensing a predetermined length of towel when said sensing means detects the object; (d) an electric power source for powering said dispensing means; (e) a control circuitry for controlling the dispensing means, providing a delay between cycles of towel dispensing, and controlling said predetermined length of towel; (f) an array of one or more photovoltaic cells for energizing said control circuitry; and (g) a door safety circuit comprising a reed switch which prevents said dispenser from operating when a door of said housing is opened.
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Specification