Automatic heated fluid dispenser

• US 9,974,416 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2014
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toaster Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Toaster Labs, Inc.
• Inventors: Buckalter, Amy Carol, Iverson, David Oscar, Nenninger, Garet Glenn, Horth, Roland David, Hadley, Jonathan B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, Nicholas J
• Application Number:
  US14/530,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20150265107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,299 Days
• Field of Search: 222 52, 222 14, 222325-327, 222 55, 222183, 2221812, 2221813, 222103, 222 63, 222333
• 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: A47K 5/122 using squeeze bottles or the like A47K5/1201 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/122 responsive to presence or shape of target B05B12/124 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/002 incorporating means for heating or cooling, e.g. the material to be sprayed
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/0838 supply being effected by follower in container, e.g. membrane or floating piston, or by deformation of container
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0022 provided with heating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0077 Electronic circuitry

Abstract

A dispenser includes a housing, an aperture, a receptacle, a heating element, and an actuator. When a reservoir is received within the receptacle, an outlet port of the reservoir is exposed through the aperture. The heating element heats fluid housed within the reservoir. The actuator provides a dispensing force that induces a flow of the heated fluid. In some embodiments, the heater is an inductive heater. In other embodiments, the heater is a resistive heater. The dispenser dispenses the fluid through the aperture. Another embodiment of a dispenser may include a housing, an aperture, a receptacle within the housing, an actuator configured to receive a fluid reservoir, and a power source. The power source provides power to the actuator. The power source includes an alternating current source.

Claims

1. A dispenser comprising:

a housing;

an aperture within the housing;

a reservoir body defining a translation axis and a reservoir volume for storing fluid;

an outlet port coupled to the reservoir body;

a chamber positioned within the reservoir body and protruding into the reservoir volume, the chamber defining a first opening and a second opening, the second opening positioned in the reservoir volume and the second opening being coupled to the outlet port;

a conductive cylinder fastened to an outer surface of the chamber between the first and second openings, the conductive cylinder protruding into the reservoir volume;

a receptacle within the housing that is configured to removably receive the reservoir body such that the outlet port is exposed through the aperture;

a heating element that is configured to energize at least a portion of fluid housed within the reservoir;

a piston disposed within the reservoir body; and

an actuator configured to urge the piston along the translation axis of the reservoir body to provide a dispensing force that induces a flow of a predetermined volume of energized fluid within the reservoir through the exposed outlet port of the reservoir and dispenses the energized predetermined volume through the aperture;

wherein the heating element is an inductive coil positioned outside of the reservoir body and configured to induce current in the conductive cylinder, such that the induced current in the conductive cylinder energizes the fluid housed in the reservoir.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a convertor that converts electrical energy to provide the dispensing force.

3. The dispenser of claim 2, wherein the convertor is a motor.

4. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the dispensing force translates the piston in the reservoir a predetermined distance to induce the flow of and dispense the predetermined volume of energized fluid.

5. The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor that generates a signal when at least an object is positioned proximate to the aperture in the housing or the object is moving relative to the aperture, wherein the signal actuates the actuator.

6. The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising:

a source that emits electromagnetic energy in a frequency band, wherein the frequency band is within the visible spectrum and the emitted electromagnetic energy illuminates at least a portion of the dispenser.

7. The dispenser of claim 6, wherein the frequency band is based on a user selection.

8. The dispenser of claim 6, wherein an intensity of emitted electromagnetic energy is based on a user selection.

9. The dispenser of claim 6, wherein the illuminated portion of the dispenser includes at least a region of the housing that is disposed underneath the aperture.

10. The dispenser of claim 6, wherein the source is a light emitting diode (LED).

11. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the heating element surrounds at least a portion of the receptacle, such that the heating element is configured to substantially uniformly energize at least a portion of the fluid housed with the reservoir.

12. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is a pivoting receptacle that is configured to pivot to an open position and a closed position.

13. The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a pivot assembly that is configured to pivotally rotate at least one of the receptacle, the heating element, and the actuator.

14. A fluid dispenser comprising:

a housing;

an aperture within the housing;

a reservoir body defining a translation axis and a reservoir volume for storing fluid;

a plunger defining a channel having a first channel end and a second channel end;

an outlet port in fluid communication with the second channel end;

a chamber having a first chamber end and a second chamber end, the plunger being slidably positioned within the chamber having the second channel end positioned within the chamber, the second chamber end protruding into the reservoir volume;

a conductive cylinder mounted to an outer surface of the chamber and extending at least partially into the reservoir volume;

a biasing member positioned between the outlet port and the reservoir body and biasing the outlet port away from the reservoir body;

a receptacle within the housing that is configured to receive the reservoir such that an outlet port of the reservoir is exposed through the aperture;

a piston disposed within the reservoir body;

a heating element that is configured to energize at least a portion of the fluid housed within the reservoir, the heating element being an inductor configured to impose an alternating electromagnetic field on the conductive element;

an actuator configured to urge the piston along the translation axis of the reservoir body to provide a dispensing force-that induces a flow of a volume of fluid within the reservoir through the outlet port of the reservoir and dispenses the volume of fluid through the aperture; and

a power source that provides power to the actuator.

15. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein the base portion includes a containment depression positioned directly below the aperture and is configured to contain the dispensed volume of fluid.

16. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein the aperture is configured such that when the volume of fluid flows through the outlet port of the reservoir, the volume of fluid is dispensed without contacting a perimeter of the aperture.

17. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein the volume is based on a user selection.

18. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein the heating element is proximate to the receptacle.

19. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein the heating element surrounds at least a portion of the receptacle, such that the heating element is configured to substantially uniformly energize at least a portion of the fluid housed with the reservoir.

20. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein the receptacle is a pivoting receptacle that is configured to pivot to an open position and to a closed position.

21. The dispenser of claim 14, further comprising a pivot assembly that is configured to pivotally rotate the receptacle.

22. The dispenser of claim 14, further comprising a pivot assembly and a heating element, wherein the pivot assembly is configured to pivotally rotate the heating element.

23. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein the reservoir defines a cylindrical wall and a top extending across a first end of the cylindrical wall, the cylindrical wall defining the outlet port.

24. The dispenser of claim 23, wherein a second end of the cylindrical wall is open, the piston being inserted within the cylindrical wall and being slidable within the cylindrical wall toward the top effective to urge fluid out of the outlet port.

25. The dispenser of claim 14, further comprising:

a first one-way valve mounted within the plunger, the first one-way valve oriented to permit fluid flow into the channel from the chamber; and

a second one-way valve mounted within the chamber, the second one-way valve oriented to permit fluid flow from the reservoir volume into the chamber.

26. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein a major portion of the conductive cylinder protrudes into the reservoir volume.