Hand sanitizer for vehicles

• US 9,758,101 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2016
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dimitri Clair-Chalupka
• Original Assignee: Dimitri Clair-Chalupka
• Inventors: Clair-Chalupka, Dimitri
• Primary Examiner(s): COLILLA, DANIEL JAMES
• Application Number:
  US15/154,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20160362051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 359844, 222192
• 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: A61L 2/16 using chemical substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/15 Biocide distribution means, e.g. nozzles, pumps, manifolds, fans, baffles, sprayers
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/16 Mobile applications, e.g. portable devices, trailers, devices mounted on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 15/02 Washing facilities in railway vehicles B61D35/002

Abstract

A dispenser for, e.g., hand sanitizer or perfume mounted within a rear view mirror of a vehicle. The dispenser has a manual or automated mechanism that expels a small amount of hand sanitizer at a time, preferably when a person places his or her hand under the mirror. The dispenser includes a replaceable reservoir, dispensing mechanism, power source and control circuitry within a cavity in the mirror. A front mirror panel may be hinged to enable access to the operational components.

Claims

1. A rear view mirror for a vehicle having a hand sanitizer dispenser, comprising:

a rear view mirror body having a front mirror panel thereon, wherein the mirror body is connected to a mirror arm support configured for mounting to the windshield or vehicle ceiling above the windshield and the mirror is the primary rear view mirror for the vehicle;

a cavity defined within the mirror body, wherein the front mirror panel is connected to the mirror body to be lifted and enable access to the cavity;

a fluid dispenser mounted within the cavity containing hand sanitizer, the fluid dispenser including a removable or refillable reservoir containing hand sanitizer;

a lower outlet from the fluid dispenser open to an underside of the mirror body; and

a powered pump mechanism mounted within the cavity for expelling the hand sanitizer from the fluid dispenser through the lower outlet.

2. The rear view mirror of claim 1, further including one or more solar photovoltaic panels on a rear face of the mirror that supply electricity for the powered pump mechanism.

3. The rear view mirror of claim 1, wherein the mechanism for expelling the hand sanitizer includes a manual actuator.

4. The rear view mirror of claim 1, wherein the front mirror panel is hinged to the mirror body.

5. The rear view mirror of claim 4, further including magnetic latches for holding the front mirror panel closed against the mirror body.

6. The rear view mirror of claim 1, further including a proximity detector on a lower edge of the mirror body adjacent the lower outlet adapted to detect a user'"'"'s hand and send a signal to dispense hand sanitizer through the lower outlet.

7. The rear view mirror of claim 6, further including circuitry that immediately stops dispensing of hand sanitizer when the user'"'"'s hand is removed from under the mirror.

8. The rear view mirror of claim 1, wherein the powered pump mechanism includes a peristaltic pump with a rotating wheel which forces hand sanitizer through flexible tubing in fluid communication with the reservoir of hand sanitizer.

9. The rear view mirror of claim 1, wherein the powered pump mechanism includes a piston-cylinder arrangement in fluid communication with the reservoir of hand sanitizer, and a motor that drives the piston.

10. A rear view mirror for a vehicle having a hand sanitizer dispenser, comprising:

a rear view mirror body having a cavity defined therewithin and a front mirror panel thereon, the front mirror panel being hinged to enable it to be pivoted away from the mirror body to enable access to the cavity, wherein the mirror body is connected to a mirror arm support configured for mounting to the windshield or vehicle ceiling above the windshield and the mirror is the primary rear view mirror for the vehicle;

a hand sanitizer dispenser mounted within the cavity containing hand sanitizer;

a battery and circuitry mounted within the cavity; and

a powered mechanism including a powered pump mounted within the cavity and connected to the battery and circuitry for expelling the hand sanitizer from the hand sanitizer dispenser.

11. The rear view mirror of claim 10, further including magnetic latches for holding the front mirror panel closed against the mirror body.

12. The rear view mirror of claim 10, further including a proximity detector on a lower edge of the mirror body adapted to detect a user'"'"'s hand and send a signal to dispense the hand sanitizer.

13. The rear view mirror of claim 12, wherein the mechanism for expelling the hand sanitizer includes a lower discharge outlet on the lower edge of the mirror body adjacent the lower discharge outlet through which the hand sanitizer is dispensed.

14. The rear view mirror of claim 13, further including circuitry that immediately stops dispensing of hand sanitizer when the user'"'"'s hand is removed from under the mirror.

15. The rear view mirror of claim 10, further including one or more solar photovoltaic panels on a rear face of the mirror that supply electricity for the powered mechanism.

16. The rear view mirror of claim 10, wherein the powered pump includes a peristaltic pump with a rotating wheel which forces hand sanitizer through flexible tubing in fluid communication with a tank of hand sanitizer.

17. The rear view mirror of claim 10, wherein the powered pump includes a piston-cylinder arrangement in fluid communication with a tank of hand sanitizer, and a motor that drives the piston.

18. The rear view mirror of claim 17, wherein the circuitry limits rotation of the motor so as to avoid inadvertently dispensing hand sanitizer.

19. The rear view mirror of claim 17, wherein the tank of hand sanitizer is replaceable when the front mirror panel is pivoted away from the mirror body to enable access to the cavity.

20. A rear view mirror for a vehicle having a fluid dispenser, comprising:

a rear view mirror body having a cavity defined therewithin and a front mirror panel thereon, the front mirror panel being hinged to enable it to be pivoted away from the mirror body to enable access to the cavity;

a fluid dispenser mounted within the cavity containing fluid;

a battery and circuitry mounted within the cavity; and

a powered mechanism mounted within the cavity and connected to the battery and circuitry for expelling the fluid from the fluid dispenser, wherein the fluid is perfume and the powered mechanism is at least one fan within the cavity and further including vents in the mirror body for dispersing the perfume.