Dispenser for disinfecting gel

• US 7,617,952 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2006
• Issued: 11/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: George Saleh
• Original Assignee: George Saleh
• Inventors: Saleh, George A., King, Caleob T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver; Kevin P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bainbridge; Andrew P
• Application Number:
  US11/343,009
• Publication Number:
  US 20070039976A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,387 Days
• Field of Search: 222/175, 222/224, 222 95- 96, 222/103, 222/105, 222212-214, 222/185.1, 251/7, 251/9, 224/235, 224/251, 224/269
• US Class Current: 222/175
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1202 dispensing dosed volume A47K5/1201 takes precedence

Abstract

Portable dispensers and methods of use are disclosed herein. A portable dispenser includes an output device and a housing having a receiving area configured to accept a container having an opening and housing a viscous fluid (i.e., a disinfecting gel). The housing also includes a fastener for selective attachment to an article of clothing. The output device is selectively coupled to the container so that the viscous fluid may selectively pass from the container through the container opening and the output device. An output device of another portable dispenser is selectively coupled to the container so that the fluid may selectively pass from the container through the container opening and the output device without first being transferred from the container to the dispenser for storage. Methods for using the portable dispensers are also provided.

Claims

1. A portable dispenser for a viscous fluid, the viscous fluid being housed in a container having an opening, the dispenser comprising:

a housing having a receiving area configured to accept the container and having a fastener for selective attachment to an article of clothing; and

an output device for selective coupling with the container, whereby the viscous fluid may selectively pass from the container through the container opening and the output device;

wherein the container includes threads adjacent the container opening;

wherein the output device includes threads complementary to the threads of the container for selective attachment of the container and the output device;

wherein the output device is selectively receivable in the housing and includes a valve for selectively allowing the viscous fluid to pass through the output device;

wherein the valve includes an outlet tube adjustable between a closed configuration and an open configuration;

wherein a rocker is coupled to the housing and movable between a first configuration in which a first end of the rocker does not exert a force on the container and a second end of the rocker ensures the outlet tube is at the closed configuration and a second configuration in which the rocker first end exerts a force on the container and the rocker second end allows the outlet tube to be at the open configuration;

wherein the rocker is biased toward the first rocker configuration;

wherein the housing has a front wall to shield the container from unwanted contact when the container is attached to the output device and the output device is received in the housing; and

wherein the front wall is between the container and the rocker first end when the rocker is at the first configuration such that the container is closer to the front wall than to the rocker first end when the rocker is at the first configuration.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the front wall defines an opening to allow access to the container so that pressure may be exerted on a wall of the container, and wherein the rocker first end passes through the opening in the front wall when moving from the first configuration to the second configuration.

3. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the force exerted by the rocker arm on the container aids in dispensing the fluid from the container.

4. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the output device and the housing present complementary conical mating surfaces to aid in coupling the output device and the housing.

5. The dispenser of claim 4, wherein the force exerted by the rocker arm on the container aids in dispensing the fluid from the container.

8. The dispenser of claim 3, wherein the fastener is integral with the housing.

9. The dispenser of claim 3, wherein the fastener is coupled to the housing and biased by a resilient member.

6. A dispenser for a disinfecting gel, the disinfecting gel being housed in a container having an opening, the dispenser comprising:

a housing having a receiving area configured to receive the container;

a fastener attached to the housing for selectively attaching the housing to an article of clothing; and

an output device for selective coupling with the container, whereby the gel may selectively pass from the container through the container opening and the output device without first being transferred from the container to the dispenser for storage;

wherein the output device includes a valve for selectively allowing the gel to pass through the output device;

wherein the valve includes an outlet tube adjustable between a closed configuration and an open configuration;

wherein a rocker is coupled to the housing and movable between a first configuration in which a first end of the rocker does not exert a force on the container and a second end of the rocker ensures the outlet tube is at the closed configuration and a second configuration in which the rocker first end exerts a force on the container and the rocker second end allows the outlet tube to be at the open configuration, the rocker not restraining any of the disinfecting gel from passing from the container through the container opening and the outlet tube when the rocker is at the second configuration;

wherein the rocker is biased toward the first rocker configuration;

wherein the housing has a front wall to shield the container from unwanted contact when the container is attached to the output device and the output device is received in the housing; and

wherein the front wall is between the container and the rocker first end when the rocker is at the first configuration such that the container is closer to the front wall than to the rocker first end when the rocker is at the first configuration.

7. The dispenser of claim 6, wherein the output device is selectively receivable in the housing.

10. The dispenser of claim 6, wherein the force exerted by the rocker arm on the container aids in dispensing the gel from the container.

11. The dispenser of claim 6, wherein the output device and the housing present complementary conical mating surfaces to aid in coupling the output device and the housing.

12. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein the force exerted by the rocker arm on the container aids in dispensing the gel from the container.

13. A dispenser for a disinfecting gel, the disinfecting gel being housed in a container having an opening, the dispenser comprising:

a housing having a receiving area configured to receive the container;

a fastener attached to the housing for selectively attaching the housing to an article of clothing;

an output device removably coupled to the container such that the gel may pass from the container through the container opening and the output device without first being transferred from the container to the dispenser for storage, the output device being removably coupled to the housing; and

a rocker coupled to the housing and movable between a first configuration in which a first end of the rocker does not exert a force on the container and a second end of the rocker ensures that the gel may not pass out the output device and a second configuration in which the rocker second end allows the gel to pass out the output device, the rocker not restraining any of the gel from passing from the container through the container opening and the output device when the rocker is at the second configuration, the rocker being biased toward the first configuration;

wherein the output device and the housing present complementary mating surfaces to aid in coupling the output device and the housing;

wherein at least one of;

(a) friction associated with the mating surfaces; and

(b) a fastener

removably couples the output device to the housing;

wherein the housing has a front wall to shield the container from unwanted contact when the container is attached to the output device and the output device is coupled to the housing; and

wherein the front wall is between the container and the rocker first end when the rocker is at the first configuration such that the container is closer to the front wall than to the rocker first end when the rocker is at the first configuration.

14. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein the output device includes a pump for selectively causing the gel to pass through the output device.

15. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein the output device includes an outlet tube for selectively allowing the gel to pass through the output device, the outlet tube being adjustable between a closed configuration and an open configuration, the rocker second end maintaining the outlet tube at the closed configuration when the rocker is at the first configuration.

16. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein the complementary mating surfaces are complementary conical mating surfaces.

17. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein the output device is removed from the housing to couple the container to the output device and separate the container from the output device.