Liquid soap dispenser

• US 5,992,698 A
• Filed: 08/07/1995
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Inventors: Copeland, James L., Peterson, Jeff W., Pilosi, Paul Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): DERAKSHANI, PHILIPPE
• Application Number:
  US08/512,227
• Time in Patent Office: 1,576 Days
• Field of Search: 222/180, 222/325, 222/183, 222/154, 222/505, 222/321.8, 222/181.2, 222/181.3
• US Class Current: 222/180
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/12 for liquid or pasty soap
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Disclosed is a dispenser 10 for liquid soap having a cartridge 13 with a groove 32. A housing 12 encloses the cartridge 13 and mounting bracket 15. The dispenser'"'"'s mounting bracket 15 has a rib 34 which corresponds with the groove 32 on the cartridge 13. Depression of a push plate 14 activates a pump 65 to expel liquid soap 41 from the cartridge 13.

Claims

1. A dispenser for liquid materials, comprising:

a) a rigid cartridge for containing the materials and having a rear wall having a rear wall surface and a front wall, the cartridge including an elongated slot formed in a portion of the rear wall, the slot ending within the rear wall surface, the slot being non-circular in cross section and extending along the rear wall at one of a plurality of angular orientations with respect to vertical, the cartridge including a discharge opening having valve means;

b) a cover means which substantially encloses the cartridge; and

c) a mounting means including a rib which is sized and configured to mate with the slot on the cartridge, the rib being rigidly fixed at the one of a plurality of angular orientations with respect to vertical, the cover means being hingedly connected to the mounting means, wherein the cartridge with the valve means are removable from the mounting means;

whereby the angular orientations of the elongated rib and the elongated slot are configured to uniquely match the cartridge with the mounting;

wherein the rear wall of the cartridge includes markings about the slot to indicate the angular orientations of the slot, and wherein the mounting means includes markings about the rib to indicate the angular orientations of the rib;

wherein the markings identify whether the angular orientation of the slot of the cartridge will match the angular orientation of the rib of the mounting means.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the portion of the rear wall of the cartridge includes a circular region therein, and the elongated slot is formed in the circular region.

3. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said mounting means is made of a plastic material and is molded in one unitary piece.

4. The dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising attachment means for attaching said cover means to said mounting means, said attachment means comprising a movable latch member on said mounting means which is sized and configured to releasably engage with said cover means.

5. The dispenser according to claim 4, wherein said mounting means is attached to a vertical wall.

6. The dispenser according to claim 3, wherein said mounting means includes two or more ribs.

7. The dispenser according to claim 3, wherein said cartridge includes two or more grooves.

8. The dispenser according to claim 3, wherein said angle of said groove and said rib depends upon a type of soap in said cartridge.

9. The dispenser according to claim 3, wherein said angle of said groove and said rib depends upon a type of user of said dispenser.

10. A dispenser for liquid soap, comprising:

a) a container for a first type of liquid soap, the container having a rear wall having a rear wall surface with an elongated slot formed in a portion of the rear wall, the slot ending within the rear wall surface and being non-circular in cross section and the slot extending along the rear wall at a first one of a plurality of predetermined angles with respect to vertical, the container including a discharge orifice;

b) a mounting bracket including a rigidly fixed elongated rib, the rib being sized and configured to fit within the slot, the rib being non-circular in cross section and extending at the first one of the plurality of predetermined angles, whereby the angles of the rib and the slot are configured to uniquely match the cartridge with the mounting bracket; and

c) a housing for enclosing the container and mounting bracket;

wherein the rear wall of the cartridge includes markings about the slot to indicate the angle of the slot, and wherein the mounting bracket includes markings about the rib to indicate the angle of the rib;

wherein the markings identify whether the angles of the slot of the cartridge will match the angle of the rib of the mounting means.

11. The dispenser according to claim 10, wherein said mounting bracket includes a movable latch member which is sized and configured to releasably engage with said housing.

12. The dispenser according to claim 10, wherein said groove and rib are at a second predetermined angle for a second type of liquid soap.

13. The dispenser according to claim 10, wherein said angle of said groove and said rib depends upon a type of soap in said cartridge.

14. The dispenser according to claim 10, wherein said angle of said groove and said rib depends upon a type of user of said dispenser.

15. A dispenser for liquid soap, comprising:

a) a container for a first type of liquid soap, the container having a rear wall having a rear wall surface with an elongated slot formed in a portion of the rear wall, wherein the portion of the rear wall of the cartridge includes a circular region therein, and the elongated slot is formed in the circular region, the slot ending within the rear wall surface and being non-circular in cross section and the slot extending along the rear wall at a first one of a plurality of predetermined angles with respect to vertical, the container including a discharge orifice;

b) a mounting bracket including a rigidly fixed elongated rib, the rib being sized and configured to fit within the slot, the rib being non-circular in cross section and extending at the first one of the plurality of predetermined angles, whereby the angles of the rib and the slot are configured to uniquely match the cartridge with the mounting bracket; and

c) a housing for enclosing the container and mounting bracket.