U.S. patent application number 11/904462 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-31 for secure surface mounted dispensing system.
Invention is credited to Kenneth B. Gerenraich.
Application Number | 20080023490 11/904462 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36695668 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080023490 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gerenraich; Kenneth B. |
January 31, 2008 |
Secure surface mounted dispensing system
Abstract
Flush mount dispensing bottle and apparatus includes a bracket
having a mounting flange and a bottle having a flat back with an
embossment for receiving the flange and enabling the flat back to
flushly contact a surface supporting the bracket. A button
attachable to the surface at a spaced apart distance from the
bracket is provided and a second embossment receiving the button
enables the flat back to flushly contact the surface and further
prevents unauthorized removal of the bottle from the bracket.
Inventors: |
Gerenraich; Kenneth B.;
(Laguna Hills, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WALTER A. HACKLER, Ph.D.;PATENT LAW OFFICE
SUITE B
2372 S.E. BRISTOL STREET
NEWPORT BEACH
CA
92660-0755
US
|
Family ID: |
36695668 |
Appl. No.: |
11/904462 |
Filed: |
September 27, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11042676 |
Jan 25, 2005 |
7290683 |
|
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11904462 |
Sep 27, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
222/180 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 403/7007 20150115;
A47K 2201/02 20130101; A47K 5/1205 20130101; B65D 23/003 20130101;
Y10T 403/58 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/180 |
International
Class: |
B67D 5/06 20060101
B67D005/06 |
Claims
1-4. (canceled)
5. A flush mount dispensing bottle and bracket apparatus
comprising: a bracket having a mounting flange, said mounting
flange including a protruding triangular wedge and said embossment
includes a corresponding female triangular wedge engaging the
protruding wedge; a bottle having a flat back with an embossment
receiving the flange and enabling the flat back to flushly contact
a surface supporting said bracket; a button attachable to said
surface at a spaced apart distance from said bracket; and a second
embossment receiving said button and enabling the flat back to
flushly contact the surface and preventing unauthorized removal of
said bottle from said bracket.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising a release
tool inserted between said surface proximate said bottom, movement
of said release tool separating said bottom from said second
embossment, resiliency of said flat back enabling removal of said
bottle from said bracket.
Description
[0001] The present invention is generally related to surface or
wall mounted dispensers suitable for measuring and delivering into
a users hand a small uniform quantity of liquids or viscous liquids
such as soaps, creams, paste and lubricants.
[0002] Many designs of liquid dispensers, particularly liquid soap
dispensers, are well known in the art. Such dispensers typically
are employed in public restrooms and the like and usually include a
mounting bracket to permanently affix the dispenser to a wall. Such
dispensers also include an access port of same type in order that
the dispenser may be serviced by a maintenance worker for
refilling.
[0003] Other types of dispensers utilize refill cartridges that are
inserted into a housing structure. All such dispensers rely on
continued maintenance and operability of the housing, which is
permeably affixed to a wall.
[0004] In order to service such dispensers, a supply system must be
utilized for storing additional liquid soap or the like which is
thereafter transported and loaded into the dispenser. It should be
apparent that this maintenance entails considerable time and
logistics.
[0005] In addition, if the dispenser is damaged or vandalized,
replacement thereof involves the removal of the entire housing from
the wall and the reinstallation of a new dispenser housing.
[0006] The present invention is an improvement over such existing
dispensers in that it provides a self-contained dispenser, which
may be disposable or refillable. The refilling of the dispenser may
be done in a central location and accordingly does not depend upon
the time consuming onsite refilling of heretofore utilized
wall-mounted dispensers. In addition, the present invention
provides for a secure mounting system inhibiting removal without
the use of a release tool.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Flush mount dispensing bottle bracket apparatus in
accordance with the present invention generally includes a bracket
having a mounting flange along with a bottle having a flat back
with an embossment for receiving the flange and further enabling
the flat back to flushly contact a surface supporting the
bracket.
[0008] This structure inhibits tampering of the dispensing bottle
in view of the fact there are no members which are accessible to
vandals.
[0009] More particularly, the present invention further includes a
button attachable to the surface at a spaced apart distance from
the bracket and a second embossment is provided in the flat back
for receiving the button. This arrangement further enables the flat
back to flushly contact the surface and in addition prevents
unwanted removal of the bottle from the bracket by unauthorized
personnel.
[0010] For maintenance requiring refilling of the bottle, a
maintenance worker may simply replace the empty or partially full
dispenser bottle with a full bottle utilizing a release tool.
[0011] The empty or partially full bottles may thereafter be
reloaded at a central site. Accordingly, the present invention may
include a system which includes a plurality of bottles and a
bracket for supporting one of the bottles with the remaining
bottles being utilized for on-site refilling.
[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the bracket
includes a protruding hub having opposing female bayonet grooves
therein and the embossment includes opposing studs for engaging the
bracket grooves upon alignment and turning of the bottle with the
hub inserted into the embossment.
[0013] More particularly, the mounting flange may include openings
for receiving threaded screws with the screws fixing the bracket to
a suitable surface. Correspondingly, the embossment includes a
circular groove receiving the screw heads to facilitate the flush
mounting of the flat back and enable turning of the bottle into the
hub for causing securing and releasing of the bottle to and from
the bracket.
[0014] As hereinabove noted, the present invention further includes
a release tool which is insertable between the bottle and the
surface proximate the button. Movement of the release tool
separates the button from the second embossment and resiliency of
the flat back enables such separation and removal of the bottle
from the bracket. This structure inhibits unauthorized removal of
the bottle from the bracket and surface.
[0015] In another embodiment of the present invention, mounting
flange includes a protruding triangular wedge and the embossment
includes a corresponding female triangular wedge for engaging the
protruding wedge.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The advantages and features of the present invention will be
better understood by the following description when considered in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bottle and the bracket
apparatus in accordance with the present invention generally
showing the bottle and the bracket in a spaced apart relationship
in order to show a bracket having a flange along with a bottle
having a flat back with an embossment therein for receiving a
flange;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a side view of the bottle and bracket shown in
FIG. 1 in partial cross section showing engagement of the
embossment with a bracket and flush mounting of the flat back of
the bottle against a mounting surface;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a
bottle and bracket in accordance with the present invention showing
the bottle and bracket in a spaced apart relationship in order to
show a bracket with a protruding wedge and an embossment in a
bottle back corresponding thereto with a female configuration for
engaging a protruding wedge along with a security button and a
second embossment in the bottle back for receiving same; and
[0020] FIG. 4 is a side view of the bottle and bracket shown in
FIG. 3 and partial cross section showing engagement of the
embossment with the bracket and a second embossment engaging the
button, also shown is a release tool for facilitating a removal of
the bottle from the bracket by authorized personnel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown flush mount
dispensing bottle and bracket apparatus 10 generally including a
bracket 12 having a mounting flange 14 and a bottle 18 having a
flat back 20 which includes an embossment 24 for receiving the
flange 14 and enabling the flat back to flushly engage a surface 26
supporting the bracket 12, as more clearly shown in FIG. 2.
[0022] A button 30 attachable to the surface 26 by any conventional
manner is disposed at a spaced apart distance from the bracket 12
and a second embossment 32 is provided in the flat back 20 for
receiving a button 30 and further facilitating flush contact
between the flat back 20 and the surface 26, as illustrated in FIG.
2. The button functions to prevent, or inhibit, unauthorized
removal of the bottle 18 from the bracket 12.
[0023] Preferably, the bottle 18 is molded from plastic and any
bracket 12 may be either plastic or metal. A suitable plastic
provides resiliency for enabling the bottle 18 to be removed from
the bracket 12 utilizing a release tool 36, see FIG. 2, as will be
hereinafter discussed in greater detail.
[0024] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bracket 12
includes a protruding hub 40, which includes opposing female
bayonet grooves and the embossment 24 includes opposing studs 44
aligned for engaging the bracket grooves 42 upon alignment and
turning of the bottle embossment 24 with the hub 40 inserted
thereinto.
[0025] The mounting flange 14 may include openings 48, 50, 52 for
receiving threaded screws 54, 56, 58 and the embossment 24 further
includes a circular groove 54 for receiving screw heads 58, 60, 62
thereby enabling a flat back 20 to turn into the hub 40 to cause
securing and releasing of the bottle 18 to and from the bracket
12.
[0026] A dispensing pump 66, which may be conventional in nature,
is disposed at a top 68 of the bottle 18 upon an axis 70 which is
perpendicular to an embossment axis 72 in order that actuation of a
dispenser plunger 74 does not apply any rotational torque to the
bottle 18. This prevents dislodgement of the bottle 18 from the
bracket 12 during operation of the dispenser 66.
[0027] The release tool 36, as shown in FIG. 2, may be a simple
lever device which includes a tip 78 insertable between the bottle
back 20 and as indicated by the arrow 80 and when moved, or
pivoted, as indicated by the arrow 52, releases the flat back 20
from the surface 20, as indicated by the arrow 84, thus enabling
rotation of the bottle 18 with respect to the bracket 12, as
indicated by the arrow 86, see FIG. 1.
[0028] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is shown an
alternative embodiment 90 of the present invention, common
reference characters indicating identical or substantially similar
components hereinbefore discussed in connection with the embodiment
10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0029] In this embodiment 90, a mounting flange includes a
protruding triangular wedge 94, the flange 92 being attached to the
surface 26 by either an adhesive 96 or by recessed screws (not
shown) or any other conventional attachment device (not shown).
[0030] The flat back 20 of the bottle 18 includes an embossment 98,
which includes a corresponding female triangular wedge sized and
shaped for engaging the protruding triangular wedge 94 by downward
movement of the bottle 18 onto the flange 92, as indicated by the
arrow 102 in FIG. 3. Engagement of the bottle 18 with the flange 92
and wedge 94 against the surface 26 is shown in FIG. 4. Also shown
is engagement of the button 30 with the second embossment 32 on the
bottle flat back 20.
[0031] This engagement inhibits unauthorized removal of the bottle
18 from the surface 26 by lifting of the bottle as indicated by the
arrow 104 in FIG. 4.
[0032] As with the apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the release
tool 36 functions, when inserted between the bottle 18 and the
surface 26 as indicated by the arrow 106 in FIG. 4, to separate the
second embossment 32 from the button 30 when the tool 36 is
actuated, or rotated, in a direction indicated by the arrow 108 to
cause outward movement of a bottle bottom 110, as indicated by the
arrow 112, which then enables removal of the bottle 18 from the
bracket flange 92, as indicated by the directional arrow 104 in
FIG. 4.
[0033] Although there has been hereinabove described a specific
secure surface mounted dispensing system in accordance with the
present invention for the purpose of illustrating the manner in
which the invention may be used to advantage, it should be
appreciated that the invention is not limited thereto. That is, the
present invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist
essentially of the recited elements. Further, the invention
illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the
absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.
Accordingly, any and all modifications, variations or equivalent
arrangements which may occur to those skilled in the art, should be
considered to be within the scope of the present invention as
defined in the appended claims.
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