Point-of-care hand hygiene dispenser having security features

• US 9,920,553 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2015
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DEB IP Limited (SC Johnson & Son Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: DEB IP Limited (SC Johnson & Son Incorporated)
• Inventors: Limbert, Dean Philip, Lang, Christopher, Butler, Robert, Creaghan, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Lien
• Application Number:
  US14/885,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20160040455A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 22215309, 22215303, 22215304, 2221813, 222173, 222180, 2221811, 222182, 222183, 2221851
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2201/00 Details of connections of bathroom accessories, e.g. fixing soap or towel holder to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/12 for liquid or pasty soap
• 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: E05B 35/002 for flexible keys
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/006 for covers or panels for manholes E02D29/1427; for holes enabling access to installations in buildings E04F19/08; for pressure vessels F16J13/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/06 for swing doors or windows, i.e. opening inwards and outwards
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/383 power control in peer-to-peer links

Abstract

Various embodiments of a point-of-care hygiene dispenser and an electronic hand hygiene event monitoring system are disclosed. One embodiment is directed to point-of-care dispenser and a corresponding electronic monitoring system, wherein the point-of-care dispenser is movable between predetermined zones of interest. Another embodiment is directed to a secure point-of-care dispenser having corresponding dispenser cover and main body interlocks. A still further embodiment is directed to point-of-care dispensing system comprising a point-of-care dispenser having a dispenser cover and a main body, a locking mechanism configured to secure the dispenser covers with the main body in a closed condition, and a docking unit configured for mounting with the point-of-care dispenser.

Claims

1. A point-of-care dispenser comprising:

a main body having an interior defining a hand hygiene cartridge chamber;

a dispenser cover secured to the main body for pivotal movement of the dispenser cover between an open condition with respect to the main body, and a closed condition with respect to the main body;

at least one main body interlock secured to the main body, wherein the at least one body interlock includes an undercut feature; and

at least one dispenser cover interlock secured to the dispenser cover, wherein the at least one dispenser cover interlock includes an undercut feature, wherein the undercut features of the at least one dispenser cover interlock and the at least one main body interlock engage one another when the dispenser cover is in a closed position with respect to the main body, and wherein engagement between the undercut features increases in response to an increase in a prying force used to move the dispenser cover from the closed condition to the open condition.

2. The point-of-care dispenser of claim 1, wherein the at least one main body interlock comprises:

a lock spring; and

a locking arm including,

a rear portion configured to engage the lock spring,

a pivot portion configured to allow rotation of the locking arm about a pivot axis,

a hook element formed proximate a front portion of the arm, and

a vertical opening extending at least partially through the locking arm proximate the hook element.

3. The point-of-care dispenser of claim 2, further comprising a key barrel extending from the pivot portion of the locking arm toward the exterior of the main body where it may accept key.

4. The point-of-care dispenser of claim 3, wherein the key barrel is resiliently deformable.

5. The point-of-care dispenser of claim 1, wherein the at least one main body interlock and the at least one dispenser cover interlock include camming surfaces configured to smoothly engage one another as the dispenser cover is moved from the open condition to the closed condition.

6. The point-of-care dispenser of claim 5, wherein the camming surfaces are configured to terminate engagement with one another once the dispenser cover is secured to the main body in the closed condition.

7. The point-of-care dispenser of claim 2, wherein the dispenser cover interlock comprises:

a pair of parallel sidewalls extending toward the rear of the dispenser cover and terminating at a rectangular opening, wherein the regular opening is configured to accept the hook element; and

a crossbar disposed proximate a lower edge of the rectangular opening to form the dispenser cover interlock undercut, wherein dispenser cover interlock undercut is configured to engage the vertical opening of the locking arm.