Dispenser for hand sanitizer

• US 9,060,655 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2013
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Swipesense Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Swipesense Incorporated
• Inventors: Iseri, Mert, Malina, Yuri, Hardman, Jori
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicolas, Frederick C
• Application Number:
  US13/769,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20130334248A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 222/1, 222 80- 83, 222/39, 222/207, 222/209, 222212-215, 222/175, 222/105, 222/153.01, 222/153.09, 222/181.1, 222/181.3, 222/181.2, 222/325, 222/183, 222631-633, 222/380
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1208 by means of a flexible dispensing chamber
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1211 using pressure on soap, e.g. with piston A47K5/1201 takes precedence; by squeezing A47K5/122
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands

Abstract

In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a sanitizer dispenser may include a dispenser intake, a diaphragm pump including a diaphragm and a pump chamber, a dispenser outlet, a first one-way valve having an intake in fluid communication with the dispenser intake and an output in fluid communication with the pump chamber, a second one-way valve having an intake in fluid communication with the pump chamber and an outlet in fluid communication with the dispenser outlet, and a push plate including an outer surface and configured to press an outer surface of the diaphragm when the push plate is pressed.

Claims

1. A portable sanitizer dispenser, comprising:

a dispenser intake;

a diaphragm pump comprising a diaphragm and a pump chamber;

a dispenser outlet;

a first one-way valve having an intake in fluid communication with the dispenser intake and an output in fluid communication with the pump chamber;

a second one-way valve having an intake in fluid communication with the pump chamber and an outlet in fluid communication with the dispenser outlet; and

a push plate comprising;

an outer pressing surface configured to have a resting position that is inset from an adjacent outer surface of a pump encasement; and

an inner surface configured to engage an outer surface of the diaphragm when the outer pressing surface of the push plate is pressed.

2. The portable sanitizer dispenser of claim 1, further comprising an interchangeable pouch comprising sanitizer in fluid communication with the dispenser intake.

3. The portable sanitizer dispenser of claim 2, wherein:

the pouch comprises a collapsible plastic bag and a fitment;

the fitment comprises a locking device; and

the dispenser intake comprises an intake locking device configured to engage the locking device.

4. The portable sanitizer dispenser of claim 2, wherein the pouch comprises a flap valve configured to:

close when the pouch is decoupled from the dispenser intake; and

open when the pouch is coupled to the dispenser intake.

5. The portable sanitizer dispenser of claim 2, wherein the dispenser intake comprises:

a tip configured to pierce a seal of the pouch; and

an intake locking device configured to engage a fitment of the pouch.

6. The portable sanitizer dispenser of claim 1, wherein:

the diaphragm comprises a flexible material configured in a dome shape and configured to collapse when pressed and to recoil to the dome shape when released; and

the diaphragm is configured to;

push sanitizer from the pump chamber through the second one-way valve when the diaphragm is pressed; and

pull sanitizer from the dispenser intake through the first-one way valve and into the pump chamber when the diaphragm recoils.

7. The portable sanitizer dispenser of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm comprises silicone rubber with a hardness from approximately 30 durometers to approximately 90 durometers.

8. The portable sanitizer dispenser of claim 1, wherein the first one-way valve comprises a flap valve.

9. The portable sanitizer dispenser of claim 1, wherein the second one-way valve comprises a flap valve.

10. The portable sanitizer dispenser of claim 1, wherein a surface area of the outer surface of the push plate is larger than a surface area of the outer surface of the diaphragm.

11. The portable sanitizer dispenser of claim 1, wherein:

the push plate is configured to have a predefined range of motion when the outer pressing surface of the push plate is pressed; and

the push plate is configured to press the outer surface of the diaphragm a predefined distance corresponding to the predefined range of motion of the push plate.

12. The portable sanitizer dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured emit an audible indicator when a complete dose of sanitizer has been dispensed.

13. The portable sanitizer dispenser of claim 1, wherein the push plate comprises an opening aligned with the dispenser outlet when the push plate is pressed.

14. The portable sanitizer dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a brush configured to clean the dispenser outlet as the push plate transitions from a pressed position to a resting position.

15. The portable sanitizer dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a stopper aligned with the dispenser outlet when the push plate is in a resting position.

16. The portable sanitizer dispenser of claim 1, further comprising an interchangeable attachment device.

17. The portable sanitizer dispenser of claim 1, wherein the push plate fully encircles at least a portion of the sanitizer dispenser.

18. The portable sanitizer dispenser of claim 2, wherein the interchangeable pouch comprises a flexible sanitizer enclosure.

19. The portable sanitizer dispenser of claim 2, wherein the interchangeable pouch comprises a rigid sanitizer enclosure.

20. A method for dispensing a dose of sanitizer, comprising:

receiving a press on an outer pressing surface of a push plate having a predefined range of motion between a resting position and a pressed position, wherein the outer pressing surface is inset from an adjacent encasement when the push plate is in a resting position;

pressing a diaphragm pump a predefined distance corresponding to the predefined range of motion of the push plate;

pushing sanitizer out of a pump chamber, through a one-way outlet valve, and out of a dispenser outlet; and

pulling sanitizer from a dispenser intake, through a one-way intake valve, and into the pump chamber.

21. The method of claim 20 for dispensing a dose of sanitizer, further comprising:

piercing a barrier sealing a reservoir of sanitizer;

lockably engaging a pouch containing the sanitizer; and

sealing a coupling between the pouch and the dispenser intake.

22. The method of claim 20 for dispensing a dose of sanitizer, further comprising dispensing a predefined volume of sanitizer corresponding to the predefined range of motion of the push plate.

23. The method of claim 20 for dispensing a dose of sanitizer, further comprising emitting an audible indicator audibly when a complete dose of sanitizer has been dispensed.

24. The method of claim 20 for dispensing a dose of sanitizer, further comprising cleaning the dispenser outlet with a brush.

25. The method of claim 20 for dispensing a dose of sanitizer, further comprising blocking the dispenser outlet with a stopper when the push plate is in a resting position.

26. The method of claim 21 for dispensing a dose of sanitizer, wherein the pouch comprises a flexible sanitizer enclosure.

27. The method of claim 21 for dispensing a dose of sanitizer, wherein the pouch comprises a rigid sanitizer enclosure.