Automatic dispenser for hand-sanitizer lotion

• US 8,353,427 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2010
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Konrad Landauer
• Original Assignee: Konrad Landauer
• Inventors: Landauer, Konrad
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P
• Assistant Examiner(s): PANCHOLI, VISHAL J
• Application Number:
  US12/901,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20120085780A1
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 222/52, 222/63, 222/95, 222/105, 222/108, 222/111, 222/129, 222/132, 222/135, 222/143, 222/181.2, 222/181.3, 222/182, 222/192, 222/207, 222/214, 222/333, 222/386.5
• US Class Current: 222/52
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/12 for liquid or pasty soap

Abstract

An automatic dispensing apparatus for dispensing hand-sanitizer lotion, which is powered using a rechargeable battery pack rechargeable via solar cells, which battery pack is pivotally mounted in the upper interior section of the main frame of the dispenser, above the liquid-storage bag, whereby as the liquid storage bag is depleted after continual use, the weight of the battery pack serves to compress the storage bag to thereby increase the pressure therein, so that the delay of the dispensing of the liquid does not increase over time as the bag becomes depleted. Also provided is a lower, pivotal tray located below the dispensing nozzle of the dispensing apparatus by which drippings and excess dispensed amounts are caught by the tray and do not fall upon the floor therebelow. A front cover is rotatable to an upper position such that it does not rotate back down by itself in order to allow unencumbered access to the interior of the apparatus for changing storage bags and batteries. The apparatus also contains an aerosol spray canister for spraying a sanitizing mist into the ambient surroundings after the apparatus has dispensed sanitizing fluid onto the hands.

Claims

1. In a dispensing apparatus for dispensing fluid, such as hand-sanitary liquid, hand-antiseptic lotion, and the like, which dispensing apparatus comprises a main housing having a pair of side walls, a rear wall, a pivotal front cover pivotal to an open position to allow access to the interior of the main frame, said main housing mounting in the interior thereof an automatic dispensing station having a pump assembly and a bottom dispensing nozzle for dispensing measured amounts of fluid, a rechargeable battery-pack assembly, and a flexible, dispensing fluid-storage bag operatively connected to said pump assembly and said nozzle, and at least one solar panel operatively connected to said battery-pack assembly, the contents of said bag being dispensed through said nozzle, the improvement comprising:

a lower, pivotal tray comprising a first generally vertical section, and a second generally horizontal section, said second section having a substantially depressed upper surface for collecting unused and spilled dispensed fluid;

said first vertical section having a pair of mounting elements projecting therefrom;

each of said first and second side walls of said main housing having a lower portion having a groove formed therein for receiving a respective said mounting element, each said groove having a front entrance-opening by which a respective said mounting element is received, a generally elongated straight section extending rearwardly from said entrance opening, and a rear downwardly-extending section extending from the rear of said generally elongated straight section;

said tray further comprising a rearwardly-extending protuberance for contact against a wall to which is mounted said rear wall of said main housing for orienting said tray in a pivoted state such that the forward edge surface of said second generally horizontal section of said tray is positioned forwardly of said dispensing nozzle so that the tray captures excess fluid dispensed by said nozzle.

2. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein each of said pair of side walls of said main frame comprises an intermediate cutout section between said upper portion and lower portion, in order to allow easier access to the interior of said main housing.

3. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said pivotal front cover comprises a front surface and a pair of side surfaces, each said side surface having an upper section and an interiorly-projecting pivot pin for pivotally mounting said front cover to said upper portions of said side walls of said main housing;

said pivot pins being mounted to forward portions of said side walls;

said upper portions of said side walls having holes located in forward portions thereof for mounting said pivot pins, whereby when said front cover is pivoted upwardly to its open position, it remains in its upward position.

4. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said pivotal tray further comprises an intermediate curved section connecting said first and second sections together.

5. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said pair of mounting elements comprises a pair of spaced-apart bracket elements projecting forwardly from an upper surface area thereof and a pair of pivot pins protruding outwardly from said pair of bracket elements.

6. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said battery-pack assembly comprises a frame, and at least one rechargeable battery mounted by said frame, said frame comprising a pair of side plates, each said side plate having a rear end and front end, and a pivot post extending from a respective said rear end;

each of said pair of said side walls of said main housing comprising an upper portion having a pivot hole formed therein, each said pivot hole pivotally mounting a respective said pivot post, whereby said frame of said battery-pack assembly is pivotally mounted in the upper interior of the said main housing;

said flexible, dispensing fluid-storage bag being removably mounted in the interior of said main housing below said battery-pack assembly, and defining an upper bag-portion surface upon which rests said battery-pack assembly, said battery-pack assembly being continually pivoted downwardly by gravity as the contents of said flexible fluid-storage bag are dispensed over time, the weight of said battery-pack assembly compressing the thus-depleted storage bag in order to maintain fluid pressure therein, whereby the time delay of the dispensing of the fluid does not increase over continued use.

7. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises a sensor for detecting the upward positioning of said front cover and said pivotal tray, and a shut-off device for disabling said pump assembly when said sensor is activated.

8. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises an aerosol spray assembly in said housing, said aerosol spray assembly comprising a sanitizer-mist storage element for spraying a sanitizer-mist into the ambient surroundings;

and a sensor for activating said aerosol spray assembly for spraying a sanitizer-mist when said sensor is activated.

9. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises at least one connecting element for use in connecting at least two dispensers together side-by-side;

at least one of said pair of side walls having a downwardly-tapering groove defining an upper, wider gap section and a lower, narrower gap section;

said at least one connecting element comprising a first enlarged flange, a second enlarged flange, and a shaft connecting said flanges together in spaced-apart relationship;

said first flange being located interiorly at said lower, narrower gap section, and said second flange being located exteriorly at said lower, narrower gap section when said at least one connecting element is mounted therein, with said shaft frictionally retaining said at least one connecting element in place at the bottom of said groove, whereby when said second flange is inserted into another said groove of another dispensing apparatus and moved upwardly, said shaft of said at least one connecting element also frictionally retains said at least one connecting element in place at the bottom said another groove.

10. In a dispensing apparatus for dispensing fluid, such as hand sanitary liquid, hand antiseptic lotion, and the like, which dispensing apparatus comprises a main housing having a pair of side walls, a rear wall, a pivotal front cover pivotal to an open position to allow access to the interior of the main frame, said main housing mounting in the interior thereof an automatic dispensing station having a pump assembly and a bottom dispensing nozzle for dispensing measured amounts of fluid, a rechargeable battery-pack assembly, and a flexible, dispensing fluid-storage bag operatively connected to said pump assembly and said nozzle, and at least one solar panel operatively connected to said battery-pack assembly, the contents of said bag being dispensed through said nozzle, the improvement comprising:

said battery-pack assembly comprising a frame, and at least one rechargeable battery mounted by said frame, said frame comprising a pair of side plates, each said side plate having a rear end and front end, and a first pivot element extending from a respective said rear end;

each of said pair of said side walls of said main housing comprising an upper portion having a second pivot element, each said second pivot element pivotally mounting a respective said first pivot element, whereby said frame of said battery-pack assembly is pivotally mounted in the upper interior of the said main housing;

said flexible, dispensing fluid-storage bag being removably mounted in the interior of said main housing below said battery-pack assembly, and defining an upper bag-portion surface upon which rests said battery-pack assembly, said battery-pack assembly being continually pivoted downwardly by gravity as the contents of said flexible fluid-storage bag are dispensed over time, the weight of said battery-pack assembly compressing the thus-depleted storage bag in order to maintain fluid pressure therein, whereby the time delay of the dispensing of the fluid does not increase over continued use.

11. The improvement according to claim 10, wherein said pivotal front cover comprises a front surface and a pair of side surfaces, each said side surface having an upper section and an interiorly-projecting pivot pin for pivotally mounting said front cover to said upper portions of said side walls of said main housing;

said pivot pins being mounted to forward portions of said side walls;

said upper portions of said side walls having holes located in forward portions thereof for mounting said pivot pins, whereby when said front cover is pivoted upwardly to its open position, it remains in its upward position.

12. The improvement according to claim 10, further comprising a lower, pivotal tray comprising a first generally vertical section, and a generally horizontal section, said second section having a substantially depressed upper surface for collecting unused and spilled dispensed fluid;

said first vertical section having a pair of mounting elements projecting therefrom;

each of said first and second side walls of said main housing having a lower portion having a groove formed therein for receiving a respective said mounting element, each said groove having a front entrance-opening by which a respective said mounting element is received, a generally elongated straight section extending rearwardly from said entrance opening, and a rear downwardly-extending section extending from the rear of said generally elongated straight section;

said tray further comprising a rearwardly-extending protuberance for contact against a wall to which is mounted said rear wall of said main housing for orienting said tray in a pivoted state such that the forward edge surface of said second generally horizontal section of said tray is positioned forwardly of said dispensing nozzle so that the tray captures excess fluid dispensed by said nozzle.

13. The improvement according to claim 11, wherein said pivotal tray further comprises an intermediate curved section connecting said first and second sections together.

14. The improvement according to claim 11, wherein said pair of mounting elements comprises a pair of spaced-apart bracket elements projecting forwardly from an upper surface area of thereof and a pair of pivot pins protruding outwardly from said pair of bracket elements.

15. The improvement according to claim 10, wherein said apparatus further comprises an aerosol spray assembly in said housing, said aerosol spray assembly comprising a sanitizer-mist storage element for spraying a sanitizer-mist into the ambient surroundings;

and a sensor for activating said aerosol spray assembly for spraying a sanitizer-mist.

16. In a dispensing apparatus for dispensing fluid, such as hand sanitary liquid, hand antiseptic lotion, and the like, which dispensing apparatus comprises a main housing having a pair of side walls, a rear wall, a pivotal front cover pivotal to an open position to allow access to the interior of the main frame, said main housing mounting in the interior thereof an automatic dispensing station having a pump assembly and a dispensing nozzle for dispensing measured amounts of fluid, a rechargeable battery-pack assembly, and a flexible, dispensing fluid-storage bag operatively connected to said pump assembly and said nozzle, the contents of said bag being dispensed through said nozzle, a method of minimizing the time-delay of dispensing the fluid comprising:

(a) pivotally mounting said battery-pack assembly in the interior of said main housing for pivotal motion in a vertical direction;

(b) providing a removable, flexible, dispensing fluid-storage bag in the interior of said main housing directly below and in close proximity to said battery-pack assembly;

(c) initially resting said battery-pack assembly on an upper surface portion of a newly-provided fluid-storage bag;

(d) inherently intermittently pivoting said battery-pack assembly downwardly as the contents of said flexible fluid-storage bag are dispensed over time;

(e) said step (d) comprising having said battery-pack assembly intermittently pivot downwardly via gravity and compressing the thus-depleted storage bag in order to maintain fluid pressure therein, whereby the time delay of the dispensing of the fluid does not increase over continued use.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

(f) manually pivoting said battery-pack assembly upwardly away from said storage bag;

(g) removing said storage bag from the interior of said main housing;

(h) replacing said removed storage bag of said step (g) with a new, full storage bag; and

(i) repeating said step (c).

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

(f) mounting a lower, pivotal tray comprising a first generally vertical section and a second generally horizontal section below said dispensing nozzle in order to collect excess fluid exiting from the nozzle and hands;

(g) said step (f) providing a rearwardly-projecting element from said pivotal tray for contact against a vertical wall to which the dispensing apparatus is mounted;

(h) said step (g) positioning said tray in a forwardly-pivoted state such that the front edge surface of said generally horizontal section projects considerably forwardly beyond said dispensing nozzle.

19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

(i) disabling said pump assembly when at least one of said pivotal tray and said front cover is pivoted upwardly to a raised position.

20. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

(i) mounting an aerosol spray assembly in said housing, said aerosol spray assembly comprising a sanitizer-mist storage element for spraying a sanitizer-mist into the ambient surroundings;

(j) activating, via a sensor, said aerosol spray assembly; and

(k) spraying a sanitizer-mist when said sensor is activated into the ambient surroundings.