Dispenser with lockable pushbutton

• US 9,340,337 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2013
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pelkey, John T., Carlson, Brian P., Anderson, Troy A., Stahel, Brian K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAINBRIDGE, ANDREW PHILIP
• Application Number:
  US13/868,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20130292417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 22215301-15306, 222/153.09, 22215313-15314, 222/181.3, 222/182
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/12 for liquid or pasty soap
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1059 Means for locking a pump or its actuation means in a fixed position B05B11/1091 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/109 the dispensing stroke being affected by the stored energy of a spring B05B11/1088 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 55/10 Locking pins destructible locking pins B65D55/06
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 1/0038 Sliding handles, e.g. push buttons E05B13/105 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 13/002 locking the handle E05B13/10, E05B47/0657 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/02 Controlling members for hand actuation by linear movement, e.g. push buttons
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20396 Hand operated

Abstract

A lockable pushbutton includes a locking mechanism configurable to provide a pushbutton locked position and a pushbutton unlocked position. When the locking mechanism is positioned in the locked orientation, the locking mechanism prevents actuation of the pushbutton. When the locking mechanism body is positioned in the unlocked orientation the locking mechanism permits actuation of the pushbutton.

Claims

1. A lockable pushbutton, comprising:

a locking mechanism body having a locked orientation and an unlocked orientation, the locking mechanism body further including;

a base portion having a front side and a back side;

two spaced apart locking projections extending outwardly from the back side of the base portion, and each including an associated locking post; and

two spaced apart unlocking projections extending outwardly from the back side of the base portion substantially parallel with the locking projections;

a locking mechanism receiving area sized to receive the locking mechanism body in either the locked orientation or the unlocked orientation; and

an actuatable pushbutton;

such that when the locking mechanism body is received into the locking mechanism receiving area in the locked orientation, the locking mechanism body prevents actuation of the pushbutton, and when the locking mechanism body is received into the locking mechanism receiving area in the unlocked orientation, the locking mechanism permits actuation of the pushbutton.

2. The lockable pushbutton of claim 1, wherein when the locking projections are oriented toward the pushbutton, the locking posts prevent actuation of the pushbutton.

3. The lockable pushbutton of claim 1, wherein when the unlocking projections are oriented toward the pushbutton, the unlocking projections permit actuation of the pushbutton.

4. A dispenser, comprising:

a housing including a back plate and an openable front cover;

a container inside of the housing having a supply of fluid to be dispensed;

a dispensing actuator that when actuated by a user results in a quantity of the fluid being dispensed from the container;

a locking mechanism body having a locked orientation and an unlocked orientation, the locking mechanism body further including;

a base portion having a front side and a back side;

two spaced apart locking projections extending outwardly from the back side of the base portion, and each including an associated locking post; and

two spaced apart unlocking projections extending outwardly from the back side of the base portion substantially parallel with the locking projections;

the housing further including a locking mechanism receiving area positioned inside of the housing and sized to receive the locking mechanism body in either the locked orientation or the unlocked orientation; and

a lockable pushbutton that upon actuation depresses a latch inside of the housing thus allowing the front cover to be opened;

such that when the locking mechanism body is received into the locking mechanism receiving area in the locked orientation, the locking mechanism body prevents actuation of the pushbutton, and when the locking mechanism body is received into the locking mechanism receiving area in the unlocked orientation, the locking mechanism permits actuation of the pushbutton.

5. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein the fluid comprises at least one of a lotion, a hand soap, a sanitizer, or a cleaning agent.

6. The dispenser of claim 4, wherein when the locking projections are oriented toward the pushbutton, the locking posts prevent actuation of the pushbutton.

7. The dispenser of claim 4, wherein when the unlocking projections are oriented toward the pushbutton, the unlocking projections permit actuation of the pushbutton.

8. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein the dispensing actuator comprises a manual or an automatic dispensing actuator.