Dual dispenser, supply unit, and method

• US 6,062,425 A
• Filed: 02/05/1998
• Issued: 05/16/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fresh Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fresh Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Scherger, David F., Brown, Douglas S., Brown, Robert B., Heilman, George C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kaufman, Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US09/019,252
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 222/1, 222/4, 222/105, 222/129, 222/135, 222/180, 222/181, 222/325, 222/642, 261/26, 261/30, 261/DIG. 65
• US Class Current: 222/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/12 for liquid or pasty soap
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1202 dispensing dosed volume A47K5/1201 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1209 with chamber in the form of a cylindrical tube
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1215 applied by a peristaltic action
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/122 comprising a fan
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/088 using a deformable conduit-like element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/65 Vaporizers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/88 Aroma dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2467 Sulphur containing

Abstract

A method of facilitating replacement of a supply of air freshener every time a supply of soap is replaced, including the steps of providing a supply of air freshener, providing a supply of soap and joining the supply of soap and the supply of air freshener. Another aspect of the invention is a method of packaging a supply unit including providing a supply of soap and a supply of air freshener and connecting the supply of soap and the supply of air freshener in a manner such that when the supply of soap is removed from a dispenser, the supply of air freshener is removed from the dispenser as well. Another aspect is a supply unit for the dual dispenser including a receptacle, a supply of soap within the receptacle, and a supply of air freshener connected to or secured within the receptacle. Yet another aspect of the invention is a dual dispenser including a mechanism for dispensing the soap, a mechanism for actuating the dispensement of soap, a mechanism for accelerating the dispensement of air freshener and a mechanism for actuating the mechanism for accelerating the dispensement of air freshener.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

manipulating an actuator;

said manipulation of said actuator closing a first electric circuit initiating a timer, said initiated timer closing a second electric circuit between a fan and a power source, thereby starting said fan;

said manipulation of said actuator simultaneously mechanically operating a pump connected to a supply of soap, thereby dispensing a portion of said supply of soap;

said timer opening said second electric circuit a predetermined time after initiation of said timer, thereby stopping said fan.