Tamper-proof chemical dispensing device for high security environments

• US 6,644,359 B1
• Filed: 04/11/2002
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• 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): Douglas, Steven O.
• Application Number:
  US10/121,303
• Time in Patent Office: 579 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, 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, 222/540, 222/566, 222/572, 222/573, 222/575
• 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 a selected liquid such as a cleaning product in a environment where protection against abuse and vandalism is desired. The tamper proof apparatus includes a cabinet enclosure having an open front for accessing interior components; a hinged faceplate covering the open front of the cabinet enclosure; a mixing unit fastened to an inside surface of the hinged faceplate for dispensing the selected liquid; a filling recess formed in the hinged faceplate for limiting a dimension of a container placed inside the filling recess; a filling nozzle coupled to the mixing unit for dispensing the selected liquid into the container placed inside the filling recess; a pushbutton coupled to the mixing unit through the hinged faceplate for causing the selected liquid to be dispensed through the filling nozzle; and a locking plate that may be detachably coupled to the hinged faceplate for restricting access to the pushbutton individually.

Claims

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

a cabinet enclosure having an open front for enclosing interior components;

a hinged faceplate covering the open front of the cabinet enclosure;

a mixing unit fastened to an inside surface of the hinged faceplate for mixing the selected liquid in a selected proportion of a liquid chemical product and a liquid solvent;

a filling nozzle coupled to the mixing unit for dispensing the selected liquid into a container;

a pushbutton coupled to the mixing unit through the hinged faceplate for causing the selected liquid to be dispensed from the filling nozzle; and

a locking plate that may be detachably coupled to an outside surface of the hinged faceplate for restricting access to the pushbutton.

2. The tamper proof apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a filling recess formed in the hinged faceplate for limiting a dimension of a container placed inside the filling recess so that a top of the container fits under the filling nozzle.

3. The tamper proof apparatus of claim 1 wherein the selected liquid comprises a product concentrate mixed with a solvent in a selected proportion.

4. The tamper proof apparatus of claim 1 wherein the selected liquid comprises one of a plurality of liquid product concentrates stored in product containers inside the cabinet enclosure.

5. The tamper proof apparatus of claim 4 wherein the product containers comprise one of a flexible bladder and a plastic keg.

6. The tamper proof apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a filling nozzle coupled to the mixing unit for dispensing the selected liquid into a container placed underneath the cabinet enclosure and a wall mounting coupled to the cabinet enclosure for mounting the cabinet enclosure at a selected height to limit a height of the container placed underneath the cabinet enclosure.

7. The tamper proof apparatus of claim 6 further comprising an outlet shield coupled to the hinged faceplate for protecting the filling nozzle.

8. The tamper proof apparatus of claim 6 wherein the container is one of a mop bucket, an auto-scrubber, and a vat.

9. The tamper proof apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a supply line coupled to the mixing unit for conducting one of a product concentrate and a solvent to the mixing unit.

10. The tamper proof apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a strain relief coupled to the supply line for relieving strain between the supply line and the mixing unit.

11. The tamper proof apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a product container stored inside the cabinet enclosure and coupled to the supply line.

12. The tamper proof apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a feedthrough for connecting the supply line through the cabinet enclosure to a water supply.

13. The tamper proof apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a faceplate clasp fastened to the cabinet enclosure and a slot formed in the hinged faceplate through which the faceplate clasp can protrude for securing the hinged faceplate to the cabinet enclosure.

14. The tamper proof apparatus of claim 1 wherein no component thereof may be removed from the outside without a specialized tool.

15. The tamper proof apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hinged faceplate may not be manually bent, kicked, or pried open.

16. The tamper proof apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a filling recess formed in the hinged faceplate having a customized shape for allowing only an appropriately shaped dispenser container to fit under the filling nozzle.

17. The tamper proof apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filling nozzle aims directly downward from a rigid tube that may not be manually bent to prevent filling an oversize container.

18. The tamper proof apparatus of claim 1 wherein a chemical supply line for the liquid solvent is strain relieved to prevent damaging components inside the cabinet enclosure if pulled on.

19. The tamper proof apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filling nozzle may not be manually bent or turned.

20. The tamper proof apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filling nozzle is recessed so that they may not be tampered with from the outside.

21. The tamper proof apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pushbutton is enclosed by a cylindrical wall to prevent tampering.

22. A tamper proof apparatus for dispensing a selected liquid comprising:

cabinet enclosure means for enclosing interior components;

faceplate means for covering an opening in the cabinet enclosure means;

mixing unit means coupled to the faceplate means for mixing a selected proportion of a liquid chemical product and a liquid solvent constituting the selected liquid;

filling nozzle means coupled to the mixing unit means for dispensing the selected liquid into a container;

pushbutton means coupled to the mixing unit means for causing the selected liquid to be dispensed from the filling nozzle; and

locking plate means detachably coupleable to the faceplate means for restricting access to the pushbutton.

23. The tamper proof apparatus of claim 22 further comprising filling recess means for limiting a dimension of a container that may be placed inside the filling recess so that a top of the container fits under the filling nozzle means.

24. The tamper proof apparatus of claim 22 further comprising filling nozzle means coupled to the mixing unit means for dispensing the selected liquid into a container placed underneath the cabinet enclosure means and wall mounting means coupled to the cabinet enclosure for mounting the cabinet enclosure at a selected height to limit a height of the container placed underneath the cabinet enclosure.

25. The tamper proof apparatus of claim 24 further comprising outlet shield means coupled to the faceplate means for protecting the filling nozzle means.

26. The tamper proof apparatus of claim 22 further comprising supply line means coupled to the mixing unit means for conducting one of a product concentrate and a solvent to the mixing unit means.

27. The tamper proof apparatus of claim 26 further comprising strain relief means coupled to the supply line means for relieving strain between the supply line means and the mixing unit means.

28. The tamper proof apparatus of claim 26 further comprising product container means coupled to the supply line means.

29. The tamper proof apparatus of claim 26 further comprising feedthrough means for connecting the supply line means to a water supply.

30. The tamper proof apparatus of claim 22 further comprising faceplate clasp means for securing the hinged faceplate to the cabinet enclosure.

31. A tamper proof apparatus for dispensing a selected liquid comprising:

a cabinet enclosure having an open front for accessing interior components;

a hinged faceplate covering the open front of the cabinet enclosure;

a mixing unit coupled to the cabinet enclosure;

a filling nozzle coupled to the mixing unit for directing a stream of the selected liquid into a sink basin;

a lever coupled to the mixing unit for causing the selected liquid to be dispensed through the filling nozzle into the sink basin; and

a lock coupled to the lever for restricting access to the lever individually.

32. The tamper proof apparatus of claim 31 wherein the filling nozzle may be adjusted to aim the stream of selected liquid into the sink basin.

33. The tamper proof apparatus of claim 31 further comprising an outlet shield coupled to the cabinet enclosure and the filling nozzle.