Tamper-proof chemical dispensing device for high security environments

• US 6,439,272 B1
• Filed: 04/05/2001
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Keene Sanitary Supply Inc.
• Original Assignee: Keene Sanitary Supply Inc.
• Inventors: Wertheim, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas, Steven O.
• Application Number:
  US09/828,554
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 141/2, 141/18, 141/98, 141/9, 141/100, 141/104, 141/94, 222/538, 222/132, 222/145.1, 222/145.4, 222/145.5
• US Class Current: 141/2
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/32 Arrangements of safety or warning devices; Means for preventing unauthorised delivery of liquid

Abstract

The present invention can be characterized as a tamper proof apparatus for dispensing liquid or cleaning product for use in a environment where abuse or vandalism may occur and a method of operating the apparatus. The apparatus includes a first chamber, a second chamber coupled to the first chamber, a first lockable door recessed within one of the first chamber and the second chamber such that a first hinge pin is not removable, a mixing unit within the first chamber. An output hose in one of the first chamber and the second chamber is coupled to the mixing unit and to a feed-through such that the output hose is not exposed outside the chambers. A faceplate with an indentation within the first chamber prevents filling large containers with liquid while also preventing damage to the mixing unit.

Claims

1. A tamper proof apparatus for dispensing liquid comprising:

a first chamber;

a second chamber coupled to the first chamber;

a first lockable door recessed within one of the first chamber and the second chamber such that a first hinge pin is not removable;

a mixing unit within the first chamber;

a water supply hose coupled to the mixing unit;

a first concentrate supply hose coupled to the mixing unit; and

an output hose in one of the first chamber and the second chamber coupled to the mixing unit and to a feed-through such that the output hose is not exposed outside the chambers.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a second lockable door recessed within one of the first chamber and second chamber such that a second hinge pin is not removable;

a first hinge coupled to a first chamber wall; and

a second hinge coupled to a second chamber wall;

wherein the first hinge and second hinge are crimped on alternating sections such that the first hinge pin and the second hinge pin are not removable.

3. The apparatus of claim 2:

wherein the first hinge pin is welded to the first hinge;

wherein the second hinge pin is welded to the second hinge.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a faceplate coupled to the first chamber;

wherein the faceplate comprises;

an indentation; and

the feed-through for dispensing the liquid.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a drain hole in the faceplate.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the indentation in the faceplate is shaped such that only hand held containers can be filled with the fluid.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the feed-through is pointed toward the back of the indentation.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising:

a second feed-through in the faceplate; and

a second output hose coupled to the second feed-through such that the output hose is not exposed to the front of the faceplate.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a separation plate separating the first chamber from the second chamber;

a first concentrate supply hose hole in the separation plate; and

a water supply hose hole in the separation plate.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:

a plurality of water supply hose holes in the separation plate; and

an output supply hose hole in the separation plate;

wherein the water supply hose is directed through each hole to provide strain relief when the water supply hose is pulled.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:

a barb inserted in the concentrate supply tube;

wherein the barb is greater in diameter than the concentrate supply tube hole, such that if the concentrate supply tube is pulled almost no tension will be put on the mixing unit.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:

a second concentrate supply hose hole in the separation plate;

the first concentrate supply tube going through the first concentrate supply hose hole;

a second concentrate supply tube going through the second concentrate supply hoses hole; and

an output hose hole in the separation plate.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a second lockable door recessed within one of the first chamber and second chamber such that a second hinge pin is not removable;

a first hinge coupled to a first chamber wall;

a second hinge coupled to a second chamber wall;

a separation plate separating the first chamber from the second chamber;

a faceplate coupled to the first chamber;

a concentrate supply hose hole in the separation plate;

a water supply hose hole in the separation plate;

a barb inserted into the concentrate supply hose;

a plurality of prison screws attaching the first hinge to the first lockable door; and

a plurality of prison screws attaching the second hinge to the second lockable door;

wherein the faceplate has an indentation and a feed-through for dispensing the liquid.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

a Y connector coupled to the first concentrate supply tube;

a first check valve coupled to the Y connector;

a second check valve coupled to the Y connector;

a first button for drawing concentrate into the mixing unit; and

a second button for drawing concentrate into the mixing unit.

15. A method of dispensing liquid from a dispensing unit comprising:

supplying a mixing unit with water through a water supply hose, the mixing unit being stored in a first chamber;

supplying a mixing unit with concentrate through a concentrate supply tube, the concentrate being stored in a second chamber;

mixing the water and the concentrate within the mixing unit to form a liquid mixture; and

dispensing the liquid mixture through an output supply hose into a container, the output supply hose being coupled to a feed-through in the dispensing unit such that the output supply hose is not accessible from the outside of the dispensing unit;

unlocking a first lockable door, while keeping a second lockable door locked;

selecting one of a plurality of output hoses through which the liquid mixture is dispensed;

wherein the first lockable door is coupled to the first chamber by prison screws, the first lockable door having a first crimped hinge such that a first hinge pin can not be removed;

wherein the second lockable door is coupled to the second chamber by prison screws, the second lockable door having a second crimped hinge such that a second hinge pin can not be removed.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

filling a hand held container with the liquid mixture being dispensed from the dispensing unit;

wherein the step of dispensing further comprises dispensing the liquid mixture through a faceplate within the first chamber.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

filling a bucket with the liquid mixture being dispensed from the dispensing unit;

wherein the step of dispensing further comprises dispensing the liquid through a feed-through located in the second chamber.

18. A method of dispensing liquid from a dispensing unit comprising:

supplying a mixing unit with water through a water supply hose, the mixing unit being stored in a first chamber;

supplying a mixing unit with concentrate through a concentrate supply tube, the concentrate being stored in a second chamber;

mixing the water and the concentrate within the mixing unit to form a liquid mixture;

dispensing the liquid mixture through an output supply hose into a container, the output supply hose being coupled to a feed-through in the dispensing unit such that the output supply hose is not accessible from the outside of the dispensing unit;

unlocking a first lockable door, while keeping a second lockable door locked; and

selecting one of a plurality of output hoses through which the liquid mixture is dispensed;

wherein the first lockable door is recessed within the first chamber such that a first hinge pin can not be removed from a first hinge;

wherein the second lockable door is recessed within the first chamber such that a second hinge pin can not be removed from a second hinge.

19. A tamper proof apparatus for dispensing liquid comprising:

a chamber;

a mixing unit within the chamber;

a supply tube for transporting a liquid from a supply reservoir to the mixing unit;

a lockable door coupled to the chamber; and

a protective plate protecting the supply tube when the lockable door is open.

20. The tamper proof apparatus for dispensing liquid according to claim 19 further comprising an output tube supplying a mixed liquid from the mixing unit to an outlet in the protective plate.

21. The tamper proof apparatus for dispensing liquid according to claim 20 wherein the protective plate protects the mixing unit and the output tube from being accessed when the lockable door is open.

22. The tamper proof apparatus for dispensing liquid according to claim 19 wherein the protective plate protects the mixing unit from being accessed when the lockable door is open.

23. The tamper proof apparatus for dispensing liquid according to claim 19 further comprising:

a door hinge coupled to the chamber and to the lockable door; and

a door hinge pin coupled to the door hinge;

wherein the lockable door is recessed within the chamber such that the door hinge pin is not removable.

24. The tamper proof apparatus for dispensing liquid according to claim 23 wherein the door hinge pin is welded to a section of the door hinge.

25. The tamper proof apparatus for dispensing liquid according to claim 19 further comprising:

an outlet in the protective plate;

an output tube coupled from the mixing unit to the outlet for supplying a mixed liquid from mixing unit to the outlet; and

an indentation in the protective plate.

26. The tamper proof apparatus for dispensing liquid according to claim 25 wherein the indentation in the protective plate such that only hand held containers can be filled with the mixed liquid.

27. The tamper proof apparatus for dispensing liquid according to claim 19 wherein the protective plate is the entire width of the chamber.

28. The tamper proof apparatus for dispensing liquid according to claim 19 wherein the chamber comprises:

an upper chamber; and

a lower chamber.

29. The tamper proof apparatus for dispensing liquid according to claim 28 further comprising:

a plate separating the lower chamber from the upper chamber; and

an outlet in the upper chamber.

30. A tamper proof apparatus for dispensing liquid comprising:

chamber;

a mixing unit within the chamber;

a lockable panel on the front of the chamber;

a faceplate attached to the inside of the chamber protecting the mixing units when the lockable panel is open; and

a plurality of buttons in the faceplate which are not accessible when the lockable panel is closed;

wherein, the lockable panel prevents the plurality of buttons from being pushed when the lockable panel is closed.

31. The tamper proof apparatus for dispensing liquid according to claim 30 further comprising:

an outlet in the faceplate; and

an output tube coupled to the mixing unit and the outlet;

wherein the output tube supplies a mixed liquid from the mixing unit to the outlet;

wherein the output tube is not exposed outside the chamber.

32. The tamper proof apparatus for dispensing liquid according to claim 30 further comprising:

a supply reservoir within the chamber;

a supply tube coupled for the supply reservoir to the mixing unit; and

a plate inside the chamber separating the supply reservoir from the mixing unit.

33. The tamper proof apparatus for dispensing liquid according to claim 30 wherein the chamber comprises:

an upper chamber; and

a lower chamber.

34. The tamper proof apparatus for dispensing liquid according to claim 33 further comprising:

a plate separating the upper chamber from the lower chamber; and

a supply tube coupled from the mixing unit to the supply reservoir and going through a hole in the plate;

wherein the mixing unit is in the upper chamber and the supply reservoir is in the lower chamber.

35. The tamper proof apparatus for dispensing liquid according to claim 34 further comprising a barb in the supply tube above the plate to supply stress relief on the mixing unit if the supply tube is pulled upon from the lower chamber.

36. The tamper proof apparatus for dispensing liquid according to claim 34 further comprising:

an outlet in the faceplate; and

an output tube coupled from the mixing unit to the outlet;

wherein the output tube is behind the faceplate.

37. The tamper proof apparatus for dispensing liquid according to claim 30 further comprising:

a panel hinge coupled to the chamber and the lockable panel; and

a panel hinge pin coupled to the panel hinge.

38. The tamper proof apparatus for dispensing liquid according to claim 37 wherein the panel hinge is crimped to the panel hinge pin such that the panel hinge pin is not removable from the panel hinge.

39. The tamper proof apparatus for dispensing liquid according to claim 37 wherein the panel hinge is welded to the panel hinge pin such that the panel hinge pin is not removable from the panel hinge.

40. The tamper proof apparatus for dispensing liquid according to claim 30 wherein the protective plate is within the upper chamber.

41. A method of dispensing liquid from a dispensing unit comprising:

storing a liquid in a supply reservoir located in a first chamber, wherein the first chamber can be locked by a first lockable door;

supplying a mixing unit located in a second chamber with the liquid through a supply hose, wherein the second chamber can be locked by a second lockable door and at least a portion of the supply hose is concealed by a protective plate even when the second lockable door is open; and

outputting a mixed liquid from the mixing unit from an outlet.

42. A method of dispensing liquid from a dispensing unit according to claim 41 further comprising pushing a button located in the second chamber to cause the outputting of the mixed liquid from the outlet, wherein the button can only be pushed when the second lockable door is open.

43. A method of dispensing liquid from a dispensing unit according to claim 41 further comprising:

supplying the mixing unit with water through a water supply hose;

mixing within the mixing unit the water from the water supply hose and the liquid from the supply hose to create the mixed liquid.

44. A method of dispensing liquid from a dispensing unit according to claim 43 further comprising filling a hand held container with the mixed liquid.