Functional operation and timing control improvements for dispensers

• US 8,668,115 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2013
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Sipinski, Gene
• Primary Examiner(s): Durand, Paul R
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAINBRIDGE, ANDREW PHILIP
• Application Number:
  US13/890,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20130240560A1
• Time in Patent Office: 306 Days
• Field of Search: 422/5, 239 69- 70, 239/99, 422/81, 462/3, 222/1, 222/23, 222/36, 222/52, 222/63, 222/183, 222/333, 222/504, 222/638, 222644-649, 222/402.1, 222/325
• US Class Current: 222/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/14 using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/262 by clockwork, motor, electric or magnetic means operating without repeated human input

Abstract

A method of operating a dispensing unit includes the steps of applying a power source to a dispensing unit that includes a container and performing a startup procedure in response to applying the power source. The startup procedure also includes the step of performing an activation sequence that discharges a fluid from the container. The method further includes the step of performing an active mode procedure after the startup procedure without providing a lockout period in between. The active mode procedure includes activating a sensor associated with the dispensing unit, performing an activation sequence that discharges the fluid from the container when the sensor detects sensory input, and performing a transition procedure.

Claims

1. A method of operating a dispensing unit, comprising the steps of:

applying a power source to a dispensing unit that includes a container;

performing a startup procedure in response to applying the power source, wherein the startup procedure includes performing an activation sequence that discharges a fluid from the container; and

performing an active mode procedure after the startup procedure without providing a lockout period therebetween, wherein the active mode procedure includes activating a sensor associated with the dispensing unit, performing an activation sequence that discharges the fluid from the container when the sensor detects sensory input, and performing a transition procedure.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of performing the transition procedure includes providing a lockout period during which the sensor is deactivated and performing a subsequent active mode procedure after the expiration of the lockout period, and wherein the length of the lockout period is selectable by a user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of performing the transition procedure includes providing a timeout period during which the sensor is deactivated, performing one or more automatic activation sequences during the timeout period, and performing a subsequent active mode procedure after the expiration of the timeout period.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein a user can select one or more of the length of the timeout period, the number of automatic activation sequences during the timeout period, and the timing of the one or more automatic activation sequences during the timeout period.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of performing the transition procedure includes performing subsequent activation sequences in response to the sensor detecting subsequent sensory input and providing a timeout period during which the sensor is deactivated only after performing one or more subsequent activation sequences.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a user can select the number of subsequent activation sequences to be performed before providing the timeout period.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of performing the transition procedure includes performing one or more activation sequences each time sensory input is sensed.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a user can select the number of activation sequences performed each time sensory input is sensed.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of performing the startup procedure further includes the steps of providing an indication that the dispensing unit is functioning properly, providing a sleep period that lasts about five seconds, providing an indication that the activation sequence is about to be performed, and performing the activation sequence.

10. A method of operating a dispensing unit, comprising the steps of:

applying a power source to a dispensing unit that includes a container;

performing a startup procedure in response to applying the power source, wherein the startup procedure includes performing an activation sequence that discharges a fluid from the container; and

performing an active mode procedure after the startup procedure without providing a lockout period therebetween, wherein the active mode procedure includes detecting sensory input by a sensor associated with the dispensing unit and performing a transition procedure.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of performing an activation sequence during the active mode procedure upon detecting sensory input by the sensor.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of performing an activation sequence during the transition procedure upon detecting sensory input by the sensor during the active mode procedure.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the transition procedure includes at least one lockout period and at least one activation sequence.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the lockout period and the activation sequence of the transition procedure is user-selectable.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the activation sequence performed in the active mode procedure is a different activation sequence than performed in the startup procedure.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the activation sequence performed in the start-up procedure is performed in at least one of the active mode procedure and the transition procedure.

17. A method of operating a dispensing unit, comprising the steps of:

applying a power source to a dispensing unit that includes a container;

performing a startup procedure in response to applying the power source, wherein the startup procedure includes providing a sleep period and performing an activation sequence that discharges a fluid from the container immediately after the sleep period has elapsed; and

performing an active mode procedure after the startup procedure, wherein the active mode procedure includes activating a sensor associated with the dispensing unit,

performing an activation sequence that discharges the fluid from the container when the sensor detects sensory input, and performing a transition procedure,

wherein the transition procedure includes providing a timeout period during which one or more automatic activation sequences are performed independent of any sensory input and a subsequent active mode procedure is initiated after the expiration of the timeout period.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the sensor is deactivated during the timeout period.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein any sensory input detected by the sensor is not registered to cause the dispensing unit to perform the one or more automatic activation sequences during the timeout period.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the active mode procedure is performed after the startup procedure without a timeout period therebetween, and wherein the user can select one or more of the length of the timeout period, the number of automatic activation sequences during the timeout period, and the timing of the one or more automatic activation sequences during the timeout period.