Tamper-proof chemical dispensing device for high security environments

• US 6,612,467 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2001
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Keene Sanitary Supply Inc.
• Original Assignee: Keene Sanitary Supply Inc.
• Inventors: Wertheim, Mark S
• Primary Examiner(s): JACYNA, J CASIMER
• Application Number:
  US09/922,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20020050302A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 222/129, 222/135, 222/153.01, 222/153.02, 222/153.03, 222/153.13, 222/153.14, 222/173, 222/182, 222/183, 222/538, 222/540, 222/566, 222/572, 222/573, 222/575
• US Class Current: 222/153.13
• 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 a liquid comprising a chamber for storing the liquid; an outlet in the chamber for dispensing the liquid; and an outlet shield protecting the outlet from damage. The present invention can be characterized as a method of dispensing liquid from a dispensing unit comprising storing a liquid in a supply reservoir within a locked chamber; applying pressure to a plate within the locked chamber through a hole in a top of the locked chamber; and dispensing the liquid through an outlet in the locked chamber, the outlet being covered by an outlet shield to protect the outlet from damage.

Claims

1. A tamper-proof apparatus for dispensing a liquid comprising:

a chamber;

a lockable door making up at least a part of one side of the chamber;

a supply reservoir within the chamber;

a plunger coupled to the supply reservoir;

a hole in the chamber;

a plate coupled to the chamber;

an offset; and

a plurality of screws coupled to the chamber and to the plate;

wherein the plate is within the chamber, such that if pressure is applied to the plate the plunger will be depressed;

wherein the offset controls the depth the plunger can be depressed;

wherein the offset, is a plurality of spacers coupled to the plurality of screws.

2. A tamper-proof apparatus for dispensing a liquid comprising:

a chamber;

a lockable door making up at least a part of one side of the chamber;

a supply reservoir within the chamber;

a plunger coupled to the supply reservoir;

a hole in the chamber;

a plate coupled to the chamber;

an indentation in the lockable door; and

an outlet in the indentation in the lockable door;

wherein the plate is within the chamber, such that if pressure is applied to the plate the plunger will be depressed.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the indentation in the lockable door is shaped such that only hand held containers can be filled with the fluid.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the outlet is pointed toward a back of the indentation in the lockable door.

5. A tamper-proof apparatus for dispensing a liquid comprising:

a chamber for storing the liquid;

an outlet in the chamber for dispensing the liquid;

an outlet shield protecting the outlet from damage;

a hole in a top of the chamber;

a plate coupled to the chamber below the hole; and

a plurality of spacers allowing the plate to be depressed a predetermined distance.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the outlet shield is in the shape of a nose guard.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the outlet shield is one piece of sheet metal welded to the chamber.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising:

a supply reservoir within the chamber for housing the liquid;

a plunger coupled to the supply reservoir; and

an output tube coupled to the plunger and coupled to the outlet, such that the output tube is not accessible from outside the chamber.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a plunger positioned below the plate.

10. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising:

a lockable door making up one side of the chamber; and

a lockable flap coupled to the top of the chamber.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the lockable flap can be locked to cover the hole in the top of the chamber.

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

storing a liquid in a supply reservoir within a locked chamber;

applying pressure to a plate within the locked chamber through a hole in the locked chamber;

dispensing the liquid through an outlet in the locked chamber, the outlet being covered by an outlet shield to protect the outlet from damage; and

locking a lockable flap such that pressure cannot be applied to the plate within the locked chamber.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising filling a container with the liquid being dispensed from the locked chamber.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising causing the liquid to flow through an output tube, wherein the output tube is coupled to the supply reservoir and coupled to the outlet.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the output tube is not accessible from outside of the locked chamber.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the output shield is in the shape of a nose guard.

17. A tamper-proof apparatus for dispensing a liquid comprising:

a chamber for storing the liquid;

an outlet in the chamber for dispensing the liquid;

an outlet shield protecting the outlet from damage;

a supply reservoir within the chamber for housing the liquid;

a plunger coupled to the supply reservoir;

an output tube coupled to the plunger and coupled to the outlet, such that the output tube is not accessible from outside the chamber;

a hole in the chamber;

a plate coupled to the chamber below the hole and above the plunger; and

a plurality of spacers allowing the plate to be depressed a predetermined distance.

18. A tamper-proof apparatus for dispensing a liquid comprising:

a chamber for storing the liquid;

an outlet in the chamber for dispensing the liquid;

an outlet shield protecting the outlet from damage;

a lockable door making up one side of the chamber; and

a lockable flap coupled to a top of the chamber;

a hole in the chamber; and

a plate coupled to the chamber below the hole and above a plunger;

wherein the lockable flap can be locked to cover the hole in the chamber.

19. A tamper-proof apparatus for dispensing a liquid comprising:

a chamber;

a lockable door coupled to the chamber;

an outlet in the chamber;

a hole in the chamber;

a plate coupled to the inside of the chamber; and

an offset for controlling the distance the plate can be depressed;

wherein the plate is accessible through the hole in the chamber.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 where the offset comprises a plurality of spacers.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a plurality of screws coupled to the plurality of spacers.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising an outlet shield protecting the outlet from damage.

23. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising a lockable flap coupled to the chamber;

wherein the lockable flap covers the hole in the chamber when the lockable flap is close.

24. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising an indentation in the lockable door;

wherein the outlet is in the indentation in the lockable door.

25. A tamper-proof apparatus for dispensing a liquid comprising:

a chamber;

a lockable door coupled to the chamber;

an outlet in the chamber;

a plate coupled to the inside of the chamber;

an offset for controlling the distance the plate can be depressed;

a hole in the chamber; and

a lockable flap coupled to the chamber;

wherein the lockable flap covers the hole in the chamber when the lockable flap is closed;

wherein the plate is accessible through the hole in the chamber.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the offset comprising a plurality of spacers.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising a plurality of screws coupled to the plurality of spacers.

28. A tamper-proof apparatus for dispensing a liquid comprising:

a chamber;

a lockable door coupled to the chamber;

an indentation in the lockable door;

an outlet in the chamber;

a hole in the chamber; and

a lockable flap coupled to the chamber;

wherein the lockable flap covers the hole in the chamber when the lockable flap is closed;

wherein the outlet is in the indentation in the lockable door.

29. A tamper-proof apparatus for dispensing a liquid comprising:

a chamber;

a lockable door coupled to the chamber;

an indentation in the lockable door;

an outlet in the indentation in the lockable door; and

a lock coupled to the chamber within the indentation in the lockable door.