Pumping dispenser shield

• US 8,651,328 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2011
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cittadino, Antonio M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Durand, Paul R
• Assistant Examiner(s): PANCHOLI, VISHAL J
• Application Number:
  US13/182,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20130015200A1
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 222/52, 222/63, 222/181.3, 250/491.1, 250/515.1, 250/504.R, 250/482.1, 340/573.1
• US Class Current: 222/52
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1202 dispensing dosed volume A47K5/1201 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism

Abstract

A dispenser apparatus for dispensing a flowable material includes a chassis portion, a sensor disposed proximate the chassis portion for sensing a presence of an object, a pump assembly arranged on the chassis portion, operative to dispense the flowable material responsive to receiving a signal from the sensor, and a shield member disposed proximate to the sensor.

Claims

1. A dispenser apparatus for dispensing a flowable material, the apparatus comprising:

a chassis portion;

a sensor disposed proximate the chassis portion for sensing a presence of an object;

a pump assembly arranged on the chassis portion, the pump assembly operative to dispense the flowable material from a nozzle tip responsive to receiving a signal from the sensor; and

a sensor shield member including a front wall disposed between the sensor and the nozzle tip;

wherein the sensor is disposed below the nozzle tip; and

wherein the sensor shield member extends below the sensor.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the shield member is operative prevent the sensor from sensing the presence of an object in a region partially defined by the shield member.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor shield member includes a portion disposed below the sensor and operative to reduce accumulation of the flowable material on the sensor.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the shield member includes a portion arranged at an oblique angle to the chassis portion and extending below the sensor.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the shield member includes:

a first sidewall;

a second sidewall, the second sidewall opposing the first sidewall;

and

a lip portion extending from the front wall and below the sensor.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the lip portion is arranged at an oblique angle to the front wall.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the shield member further includes:

a first tab portion arranged on the first sidewall;

a second tab portion arranged on the second sidewall, wherein the first tab portion and the second tab portion are operative to slidably engage a portion of the chassis portion.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein the first side wall, the second sidewall, and the front wall partially define an aperture operative to slidably engage the sensor.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the shield member includes:

a first sidewall;

a second sidewall, the second sidewall opposing the first sidewall;

and

a first shield portion extending from the front wall.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the shield member includes a second shield portion extending from the first sidewall.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the shield member includes a third shield portion extending from the second sidewall.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the flowable material comprises at least one of a liquid soap, a liquid lotion, a sanitizer liquid, and an antimicrobial liquid.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor shield member partially defines a sensing region and a dispensing region separate from the sensing region.

22. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor shield member partially defines a dispensing region outside of the sensor shield member.

23. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor shield member partially defines a dispensing region in front of the sensor shield member.

24. The device of claim 1, wherein the front wall partially defines a sensing region behind the front wall and a dispensing region in front of the wall.

25. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor shield member comprises a lip portion extending from the front wall, wherein the lip portion partially defines a sensing region behind the lip portion and a dispensing region in front of the lip portion.

26. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor shield member is operative to reduce accumulation of the flowable material on the sensor or to reduce incidents of dispensing due to the sensor sensing a presence of dripping flowable material.

13. A shield member for a dispenser apparatus for dispensing a flowable material including:

a first sidewall;

a second sidewall, the second sidewall opposing the first sidewall;

a front wall; and

a lip portion extending from the front wall;

wherein the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the front wall partially define an aperture operative to slidably engage a portion of the dispenser apparatus about a proximity sensor such that the lip portion is disposed between the proximity sensor and a nozzle tip.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the lip portion is arranged at an oblique angle to the front wall.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the shield member further includes:

a first tab portion arranged on the first sidewall;

a second tab portion arranged on the second sidewall, wherein the first tab portion and the second tab portion are operative to slidably engage a portion of the chassis portion of the dispenser apparatus proximate to the proximity sensor.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the shield member is operative to prevent the proximity sensor from sensing the presence of an object in a region partially defined by the lip portion.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the shield member is operative to reduce accumulation of the flowable material on the proximity sensor.

18. A dispenser apparatus for dispensing a flowable material, the apparatus comprising:

a chassis portion;

a sensor disposed proximate the chassis portion for sensing a presence of an object;

a pump assembly arranged on the chassis portion, operative to dispense the flowable material responsive to receiving a signal from the sensor; and

a lip portion disposed proximate to the sensor and the nozzle tip.

wherein the sensor is disposed below the nozzle tip; and

wherein the lip portion extends below the sensor.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the lip portion extends from the chassis portion.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the lip portion is arranged at an oblique angle to the chassis portion.