Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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WALLrMOUNTED DISPENSER F'OR LI~1UIDS
This invention relates in general to liquid dispensing assemblies and relates
in particular to wall-mounted dispensers for liquids.
It is known in the art to dispense soaps, lotions, conditioners, and other
liquid substances of that general nature, in various ways. These include
freestanding pump- and aerosol-type containers or bottles, countertop-mounted
pump-type dispensers and wall-mounted-type dispensers.
This invention relates particularly to wall-mounted dispensers of which there
are a variety known to the art.
In general, wall-mounted dispensers for material of this type include a back
plate and cover which is capable of being opened to permit the dispenser to
receive replaceable cartridges or refill packages with the dispenser being a
more or
less permanent installation in areas such as lavatories, restrooms, food
handling
areas, etc.
One general type of wall-mounted dispenser which has achieved
considerable popularity in recent years is one in which the refill cartridge
or
package is the bag-in-box type. These generally include a collapsible bag
which
contains the material and which is itself received in a box made of cardboard
or
some similar material. The box is capable of being inserted onto a shelf in
the
interior of the dispenser and then partially opened to expose a tube which is
in
fluid communication with the bag and which constitutes the liquid dispensing
pump of the assembly. This tube carries a nozzle on its distal end which is
positioned in the dispenser so as to dispense the material onto the hand of
the user
when the pump is activated. These dispensers generally have a pivoting
pressure
bar which can be engaged by the hand of the user to apply pressure on the
tube/pump, either by pushing against or pulling against the tube to thus
dispense
the material through the nozzle.
Examples of patent prior art involving this general method of dispensing can
be seen in Bartasevich U.S. Patent 5,265,772; Bell U.S. Patent 5,443,236; Bell
U.S. Patent 5,465,877; Sears U.S. Patent 5,625,659; and Schroeder U.S. Patent
5,944,227 and many others.
While dispensing arrangements of this type have proved generally
satisfactory, it is believed that certain improvements can be made thereto.
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For one thing, it is believed desirable to reduce the force required to
actually
pump material from the cartridge or reservoir in order to render the unit more
user
friendly.
For another thing, it is believed desirable to be able to ascertain when the
refill requires replacement without having to open the dispenser. To that end,
many of these dispensers have sight windows disposed in the cover so that one
can view at least a part of the bag from the outside of the dispenser with the
cover
closed. The difficulty is that, in practice, it is not really possible to
obtain a good
view through these windows for several reasons. One is that it is generally
not
possible to position the sight windows low enough down on the cover to
accurately ascertain when the refill unit is nearly out of material because of
the
pumping mechanism usually employed. That is, the tube-type pumps extend
below the bag or cartridge so that the window is positioned above the bottom
of
the bag. Another is that the interior of the dispenser is unilluminated so
that it is
quite difficult to see into the interior of the dispenser. Finally, as the
bags empty,
they tend to collapse and wrinkle so that the view of the contents is further
impaired. That is, the optimum would be for the window to rest against a
relatively flat surface which is not possible once the bag begins to empty.
Inasmuch as many of these dispensers are located in public or commercial
establishments and are refilled by maintenance people, it would save
considerable
time, and thus considerable expense, to provide a means whereby maintenance
personnel can, at a glance, without opening the dispenser, ascertain whether
refills
are required.
It is also the practice with dispensers of this type to fill them with
different
materials from time to time. That is, the dispenser may, on occasion, contain
soap
and on another occasion contain lotion, for example. Furthermore, multiple
dispensers containing different materials may be located in proximity to each
other. Because it is desirable that the end user know precisely the material
which
he or she is going to receive upon activation of the pumping mechanism of the
dispenser, it is believed desirable to insure that a given dispenser can be
filled
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r
only with refills intended for that dispenser and containing the appropriate
material. It is, therefore, believed to be desirable to provide a means for
insuring
that only the correct refill can be placed into any given dispenser.
Also, with the bag-in-box-type replacement cartridge, the box necessarily is
a cubical item occupying a given amount of space. It has been found then that,
in
shipping quantities of these replacements, considerable space in the shipping
container is wasted because of the fairly rigid characteristics of the boxes
and it is
thought to be desirable to be able to eliminate the box and simply ship
collapsible
bags of fluid material which makes it possible to ship a far greater volume of
actual material in a container of a given size. This also makes it possible to
more
efficiently utilize the space within the dispenser.
Thus, it has been found that a bag retainer and pump support can be
provided in conjunction with the back plate of the dispenser whereby the bag,
which, of course, has no fixed shape, can be employed as the refill cartridge
itself.
I S Also, inasmuch as these dispensers are mass produced, it is obviously
desirable to provide a dispenser which can be easily and economically
assembled.
To that end, it has been found that, by providing a unique hinge structure,
the base
cover and bag retainer and pump support can be quickly and easily snapped
together and, once assembled and mounted on the wall, will provide improved
resistance to vandalism.
Finally, given that the dispensers are generally durable and securely fixed to
the wall, it is thought to be desirable to increase the volume of material
available
after each refill operation. With the conventional tube/pump arrangement, a
significant percentage of the interior space in the dispenser is devoted to
accommodating the pumping mechanism. Therefore, it is believed desirable to
provide a more compact pumping mechanism located on the lower front surface of
the bag so that virtually all of the interior of the dispenser can be utilized
to store
material.
It has been found that more efficient shipping and handling of replacement
cartridges can be achieved by providing a dispenser having a pocket formed by
a
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bag retainer and pump support with side and front walls attached to and
projecting
from the base or wall-mounting plate of the dispenser and which is capable of
accommodating a collapsible bag of material without the need for providing a
supporting box therearound. Such a bag retainer and pump support will also
serve
to protect the bag from pinching or puncture as the dispenser is opened and
closed.
It has also been found that provision of a collapsible dome-like pump affixed
adjacent the bottom of the bag on the front surface thereof will permit the
same
refill quantity to be placed in a dispenser having a lesser overall dimension
because
of the fact that the space normally occupied within the dispenser by the
elongate
tube/pump can be eliminated, thereby rendering the overall dispenser more
efficient by storing a greater quantity per refill.
It has further been found that it is possible to facilitate the ease and
accuracy
of ascertainment of the condition of the refill by utilizing a pump of this
nature
adjacent the bottom of the bag and providing it with a clear, transparent
collapsible dome and providing a pressure or push bar on the cover which
likewise
has a transparent member juxtaposed over the pump so that, without opening the
container, one can ascertain the amount of material remaining in the bag and
whether or not the cartridge is due for replacement. It has been found that
this
feature also has the advantage of permitting the user to view the material to
be
2o dispensed in the event it is color-coded to identify it as a soap, lotion,
etc.
Utilization of such a collapsible dome-like pump also reduces the pressure
required to activate the pump.
It has also been found that misfilling of a given dispenser can be avoided by
providing a plate with a contoured aperture and a nozzle on the pump of the
refill
having a complemental contour so that it can be assured that only the proper
refill
cartridge will be placed in the appropriate dispenser. This arrangement also
insures
secure and accurate seating of the pump.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a
dispenser for dispensing liquids from a collapsible bag having a pump attached
3o thereto, comprising: a back plate; a cover hingedly attached to said back
plate for
movement between open and closed positions; a bag retainer and pump support
attachable to said back plate for receiving the collapsible bag and providing
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support for the pump; and pressure means carried by said cover for actuating
the pump, wherein said pump includes a transparent collapsible dome and said
pressure means includes a transparent window engaging said transparent
collapsible dome during activation of the pump by said pressure means.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a
dispenser for dispensing liquids from a collapsible bag having a pump attached
thereto, comprising: a back plate; a cover; a bag retainer and pump support;
said
cover having a transverse pivot bar adjacent its lower edge; said back plate
having
hook-like connectors adjacent its bottom edge for releasable engagement with
said
1 o pivot bar; and said bag retainer and pump support having an engagement
member
adjacent its bottom edge for releasable engagement with said pivot bar whereby
said back plate, said cover and said bag retainer and pump support may be
assembled with said cover hingedly attached to said back plate for movement
between open and closed positions.
Accordingly, production of an improved wall-mounted dispenser for liquids
of the character described becomes an object of an aspect of this invention
with
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other objects thereof becoming more apparent upon a reading of the following
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brief specification considered and interpreted in view of the accompanying
drawings.
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing our new liquid dispenser;
FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view thereof;
S FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view thereof;
FIGURE 4 is a rear elevational view thereof;
FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3;
FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 3;
FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 2;
FIGURE 8 is a partial enlarged perspective view of the back plate and
partial depiction of the cover;
FIGURE 9 is an exploded view showing the nozzle, key plate and pump;
FIGURE 10 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 10-10 of
FIGURE 4 showing the latching mechanism;
FIGURE 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of FIGURE 10;
and
FIGURE 12 is an exploded view showing the hinge interconnection between
the back plate, cover, push bar and bag retainer.
Referring then to FIGURES 1 through 4 of the drawings, it will be seen that
the improved dispenser, generally indicated by the numeral 10, includes a back
plate 20, a cover 30, and a pressure or push bar 40.
The cover 30 is hingedly connected to the back plate 20, as at 21, in a unique
fashion, as will be described below, and is capable of being latched into
place in
the closed position shown in FIGURES 1 through 3 of the drawings. The cover
30 is, of course, also capable of being rotated away from the back plate 20 by
means of the hinge 21, as is shown partially in FIGURE 8 of the drawings, to
enable the cartridge or bag of material to be replaced as required.
Referring to FIGURES 1, 2 and 7 of the drawings, it will be seen that the
cover 30 has an opening 30a adjacent its lower edge and that the pressure or
push
bar 40 is received within this opening and hinged to the interior of the
cover, as at
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41. To that end, referring to FIGURE 12 of the drawings, it will be seen that
the
pressure or push bar 40 has interior walls 44 which terminate in stub shafts
44a,44a, and that the cover has a support bar 32 which is perforated so that
the
pressure or push bar can be snapped into place. The pressure or push bar being
thus hingedly attached is capable of being moved toward and away from the back
plate 20 when the cover 30 is in the closed position by engagement by the heel
of
the hand of the user. Such movement will cause a predetermined amount of the
contents to be deposited on the hand of the user as will be described.
The pressure or push bar 40 also has a depressed frusto-conical portion 42
which, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, is fabricated from a
clear,
transparent material and terminates in a concave wall 42a for purposes which
will
be described more fully below.
If desired, pressure or push bar 40 may also be provided with an offset area
43 for engagement by the heel of the hand of the user.
1 S Refernng particularly to FIGURES 5, 8, 9 and 12, it will be seen that a
bag
retainer and pump support 80 is provided for interconnection with the cover 30
and back plate 20. This bag retainer and pump support includes a peripheral
wall
81 and a front wall 82. It will be seen that when this bag retainer 80 is
snapped
onto back plate 20, as can be seen, for example, in FIGURES 8 and 9, it serves
to
form a pocket for receipt of a bag B (see FIGURE 7) containing the material to
be
dispensed, as well as means for locating and supporting pump 60. If desired,
the
bag retainer and pump support 80 could also be formed integrally with the back
plate. .
Still referring to FIGURES 7, 8 and 9, it will be seen that the front wall 82
of the bag retainer and pump support 80 has a central opening formed by
downwardly tapering edge surfaces 82a and downwardly extending contiguous
vertical edge surfaces 82b so as to form an opening in the front wall 82 for
receipt
of the pump mechanism as will be subsequently described.
Referring particularly next to FIGURE 9 of the drawings, it will be seen that
a projecting ramp 83 projects from each portion of the forward wall 82,
sloping
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outwardly away from the front wall 82 of bag retainer 80 so as to create a
wedge-
shaped appearance. These ramps each have an arcuate, recessed area 83a
adjacent
its bottom end.
The ramps 83 each terminate in a slotted rib 83b with an elongate slot 83c
therein and with the ribs projecting outwardly and away from the front wall
82.
Also disposed on the front wall 82 are projecting control posts 84 which
each receive, in their distal ends, a removable stop member 84a.
Refernng to FIGURES 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 12, it will be seen how the main
components of the dispenser can be readily assembled. Thus, the cover 30 has a
fixed integral cross bar 33 adjacent its bottom edge, while the back plate ZO
has
spaced hook-like members 22 on its bottom edge. These hook members merely
snap over the cross bar to interconnect the back plate 20 and cover 30.
Similarly,
the bag retainer and pump support 80 has a C-shaped member 85 on its lower
edge
which engages the cross bar 33 following which the bag retainer and pump
support 80 has its locking lugs 86,86, which depend from its sidewalk 81,
snapped into the receiving notches 23,23 in the walls of base plate 20. It
will be
noted that there is no conventional hinge pin as such and that, when thus
assembled, the dispenser 10 is nearly tamper proof.
Turning next to FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings for a description of the
refill or cartridge assembly, it will be seen that a pump 60 is attached by
means of
a fitment 63 to the collapsible bag B on its front surface adjacent its lower
end.
This pump is in fluid communication with the interior of the bag B through
fitment 63 and has a dispensing nozzle 62 projecting from the main body 61 of
pump 60 for communication with the atmosphere. A collapsible and transparent
dome 61a made of flexible material is also secured to the body 61 in fluid
tight
condition so as to form, with main body 61, a chamber for receipt of a charge
of
material from collapsible bag B. It will be noted that when the dispenser has
the
cover 30 in the closed position shown, for example, in FIGURE 7, the clear
transparent end wall 42a of portion 42 of the pressure or push bar 40 overlies
the
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collapsible dome 61 a with its concave surface mating with the convex surface
of
the dome 61 a in the uncollapsed position.
The pump assembly 60 also includes appropriate valve means disposed
adjacent fitment 63 and nozzle 62 with the valve in fitment 63 being normally
open to the bag B and the one in nozzle 62 normally closed. Depression or
collapse of the dome 61 a by actuation of the pressure or push bar 40 will
provide
pressure on the valve in fitment 63 to close it and permit the valve in nozzle
62 to
open, permitting discharge of the material contained in the chamber formed by
the
dome 61 a and body 61 to be expelled through nozzle 62. Release of pressure on
resilient dome 61 a permits it to return to its expanded condition and
reverses the
valve action to permit refilling of the chamber.
It will be apparent then that movement of the pressure or push bar 40 toward
the back plate 20 will cause frusto-conical portion 42 to collapse the dome,
which
is supported by bag retainer and pump support 80, thus closing off valve means
1 S (not shown) in the fitment 63 and opening valve means (not shown) in the
nozzle
62 and permitting a quantity of material to be discharged from the nozzle 62
to the
hand of the user.
It will be readily understood that release of the push bar 40 will permit it
to
return to the position of FIGURE 7, closing the valve in the nozzle and
opening
ZO the valve in the fitment 63 and providing enough suction to draw material
from
bag B to permit the chamber formed by the body 61 and collapsible dome 61 a of
the pump 60 to refill.
In assembling the combination of the present invention, it will be seen that a
key plate 50 is provided. This key plate 50 is sized so that it will fit
within the
25 grooves 83c,83c of the slotted ribs 83b,83b, as shown particularly in
FIGURES 8
and 9 of the drawings. The key plate 50 is a generally flat piece with a
projection
52 extending from one face thereof and having a through opening 52a therein.
It
will be noted from the drawings that the nozzle 62 has projecting ribs 62a,62a
arranged in a predetermined and spaced disposition with respect to each other
so
30 as to simulate a key. It will further be noted that the opening 52a in the
projection
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52 of the key 50 has a complemental contour so that the nozzle will fit snugly
in
the opening 52a, as can be seen, for example, in FIGURE 8 of the drawings.
Inasmuch as various products are dispensed from dispensers of this type, it
is contemplated that a user dispensing a given product will be provided with a
key
plate 50 contoured so that the bags containing that product will be provided
with a
complementally configured nozzle 62 and, in that fashion, it will be
impossible to
insert the wrong refill cartridge or bag B into the dispenser without changing
key
plate 50. This complemental configuration will also insure, along with the
arcuate
recesses 83a in the ramps 83, accurate and secure seating of pump 60 and
support
therefor when the dome is being collapsed.
Reference has previously been made to the control posts 84 and the
replaceable stop members 84a. It will be noted that these project from the
forward
face of the forward wall 82 of the bag retainer 80, and when the dispenser is
in the
closed position, it will be apparent that, as the push bar 40 is depressed
toward
back plate 20, it will encounter or engage, at some point, with the stop
members
84a. This will control the degree to which the push bar can be pushed inwardly
toward the back plate 20 and, therefore, control the amount of collapse
imparted to
the dome 61 a. It will be understood that the stops 84a are replaceable and,
depending upon the length chosen for the stops, it will be possible to control
the
amount of collapse of the collapsible dome member 61a and thus the amount of
product dispensed with each depression of the push bar.
A further security feature can be seen in FIGURE 12 of the drawings. As
previously noted, pressure or push bar 40 is simply hingedly attached to the
cover
by snapping stub shafts 44a into support bar 32. When the cover is in the
25 closed position of, for example, FIGURE 1, it will be apparent that the
pressure or
push bar could be easily removed. However, bag retainer and pump support 80
has opposed, spaced, L-shaped ribs 87a projecting from the front wall 82. The
spacing between these ribs is such that, when the cover is closed, the legs
87a
thereof will lie along the walls 44 and prevent removal of the pressure or
push bar
30 40 from the outside.
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A simplified, unique latching arrangement is also provided to secure cover
30 in the closed position. The back plate 20 carries a slidable actuator 2S,
as can
be seen in FIGURES 4, S, 10, 11 and 12. This actuator has its lower end
accessible from the bottom of dispenser 10 when the cover is closed (see
FIGURE
4). Its upper end has a beveled surface 2Sa. The cover 30 has a flexible lip
3S at
its top which also has a mating beveled surface 3Sa on its leading edge. This
lip
overlies the opposed end of actuator 2S (see FIGURE 10) and has an engagement
wedge 3Sb for engagement with back plate 20. Thus, when the cover is closed,
the wedge 35b snaps into place and Iocks the cover 30 to back plate 40. Moving
slidable actuator 2S upwardly causes the beveled surfaces 2Sa and 3Sa to
engage
flexing lips 35 out of engagement with back plate 20 and, thus, unlocks cover
30.
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