Interactive portable carrying case for hand sanitizer

• US 9,412,263 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GOJO Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Pelfrey, Keith Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, VERNAL U
• Application Number:
  US13/833,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20140266575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1201 hand-carried
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/04 Deformable containers producing the flow, e.g. squeeze bottles
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/108 Means for counting the number of dispensing strokes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/753 characterised by details or accessories associated with outlets
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A dispensing system is provided including a housing that removably supports a container. A material is contained within the container. The material is dispensed from the container. The housing includes a wireless communication system that transmits a first set of information related to a user of the dispensing system. An example method of operating the dispensing system is also provided.

Claims

1. A dispensing system, comprising:

a housing configured to removably support a container within which a material is contained and from which the material is dispensed, the housing comprising a mating portion configured to engage a keying feature of the container to activate the housing when the housing supports the container, the housing not activated when the housing does not support the container such that the mating portion does not engage the keying feature, wherein the housing is electrically connected to the container when the mating portion engages the keying feature, the housing comprising;

a carrying mechanism configured to allow the housing to be carried by a user of the dispensing system; and

a wireless communication system configured to transmit a first set of information related to the user of the dispensing system.

2. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication system is configured to transmit the first set of information to a second housing of a second dispensing system, and receive a second set of information from the second housing, the second set of information related to a second user of the second dispensing system.

3. The dispensing system of claim 2, comprising an audio device for audibly conveying at least one of at least some of the first set of information to the second user or at least some of the second set of information to the user.

4. The dispensing system of claim 2, comprising a visual device for visually conveying at least one of at least some of the first set of information to the second user or at least some of the second set of information to the user.

5. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the keying feature is unique to the container and disposed on a surface of the container.

6. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the mating portion is configured to apply a force to the container to support the container within the housing.

7. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the keying feature comprises at least one of a conductive ink or a conductive film through which the housing is electrically connected to the container when the mating portion engages the keying feature.

8. The dispensing system of claim 1, the container comprising:

a cap portion comprising an electrical contact; and

a cover portion attached to the cap portion and movable between an opened position, in which the cover portion does not cover an opening in the cap portion, and a closed position, in which the cover portion covers the opening in the cap portion, the cover portion comprising an electrically conductive portion configured to selectively create an electrical connection with the electrical contact of the cap portion when the cover portion is moved between the opened position and the closed position, wherein the first set of information is indicative of the electrical connection.

9. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the housing defines a first opening at a first end of the housing, the first opening having an opening cross-sectional shape that substantially matches a container cross-sectional shape of the container, the housing configured to receive the container through the first opening such that the container is removably supported by the housing.

10. A dispensing system, comprising:

a housing configured to removably support a container within which a material is contained and from which the material is dispensed, the housing configured to store a first set of information related to a user of the dispensing system, the housing comprising;

a carrying mechanism configured to allow the housing to be carried by the user of the dispensing system;

a mating portion configured to engage a keying feature of the container to activate the housing when the housing supports the container, wherein, when the housing is activated, electric current flows between the mating portion and the keying feature;

a wireless communication system configured to transmit the first set of information to a second housing and receive a second set of information from the second housing when the housing is in proximity to the second housing when the housing is activated; and

at least one of;

an audio device for audibly conveying at least one of;

at least some of the first set of information to a second user of the second housing, or

at least some of the second set of information to the user, or

a visual device for visually conveying at least one of;

at least some of the first set of information to the second user, or

at least some of the second set of information to the user.

11. The dispensing system of claim 10, wherein the keying feature is unique to the container and disposed on a surface of the container.

12. The dispensing system of claim 10, wherein the mating portion is configured to apply a force to the container to support the container within the housing.

13. The dispensing system of claim 12, wherein the mating portion comprises mechanically biased electrical contacts.

14. The dispensing system of claim 10, wherein the keying feature comprises at least one of a conductive ink or a conductive film.

15. A method of operating a dispensing system, comprising:

receiving into a housing a container within which a material is contained and from which the material is dispensed, the container received such that a keying feature of the container engages a mating portion of the housing to activate the housing by electrically connecting the housing to the container such that electric current flows between the mating portion and the keying feature, the housing comprising a carrying mechanism for allowing the housing to be carried by a user of the dispensing system;

maintaining a first set of information related to the user of the dispensing system within the housing; and

at least one of transmitting the first set of information to a second housing that is in proximity to the housing or receiving a second set of information from the second housing when the housing is activated.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the second set of information is related to a second user of a second dispensing system comprising the second housing.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising audibly conveying at least one of at least some of the first set of information to the second user or at least some of the second set of information to the user.

18. The method of claim 16, comprising visually conveying at least one of at least some of the first set of information to the second user or at least some of the second set of information to the user.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the second set of information is related to a location of at least one of the housing or the second housing.

20. A dispensing system, comprising:

a housing configured to removably support a container within which a material is contained and from which the material is dispensed, the housing comprising;

a carrying mechanism configured to allow the housing to be carried by a user of the dispensing system; and

a wireless communication system configured to transmit a first set of information related to the user of the dispensing system;

the container comprising;

a cap portion comprising an electrical contact; and

a cover portion attached to the cap portion and movable between an opened position, in which the cover portion does not cover an opening in the cap portion, and a closed position, in which the cover portion covers the opening in the cap portion, the cover portion comprising an electrically conductive portion configured to selectively create an electrical connection with the electrical contact of the cap portion when the cover portion is moved between the opened position and the closed position, wherein the first set of information is indicative of the electrical connection.

21. The dispensing system of claim 20, wherein the electrically conductive portion comprises a conductive ink.