U.S. patent application number 16/262564 was filed with the patent office on 2019-08-29 for wall-mounted holder assembly for liquid/gel dispenser.
The applicant listed for this patent is William J. Boyer, Jr.. Invention is credited to William J. Boyer, Jr..
Application Number | 20190261816 16/262564 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 67685317 |
Filed Date | 2019-08-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20190261816 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Boyer, Jr.; William J. |
August 29, 2019 |
WALL-MOUNTED HOLDER ASSEMBLY FOR LIQUID/GEL DISPENSER
Abstract
The present technology relates generally to a wall-mounted
dispenser holder used to suspend a soap dispenser above the
countertop in an airplane lavatory. The dispenser holder includes a
mounting plate configured to be attached to the lavatory wall and a
clip portion having retention arms configured to be arranged around
a neck portion of the soap dispenser. The dispenser holder is
configured to be mounted high enough above the countertop to ensure
that a soap dispenser received within the retention arms does not
touch the countertop, thereby limiting the accumulation of water
and bacteria around the base of the soap dispenser and facilitating
easy cleaning of the countertop.
Inventors: |
Boyer, Jr.; William J.;
(Black Diamond, WA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Boyer, Jr.; William J. |
Black Diamond |
WA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
67685317 |
Appl. No.: |
16/262564 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62624057 |
Jan 30, 2018 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 2201/02 20130101;
A47K 5/12 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47K 5/12 20060101
A47K005/12 |
Claims
1. A dispenser holder for suspending a dispenser of flowable
material above a countertop, the dispenser holder comprising: An
engagement portion configured to releasably engage the dispenser
and to carry the weight of the dispenser and flowable material
therein in a position suspended above the countertop; A mounting
portion coupled to the engagement portion and configured to be
affixed to a portion of support structure spaced above the
countertop, the engagement portion being oriented in an
substantially cantilevered orientation relative to the mounting
portion; Where in the engagement portion suspends the dispenser in
a hanging position spaced away from the mounting portion and spaced
vertically above the countertop.
2. The dispenser holder of claim 1 wherein the engagement portion
is a clip member with spaced apart, flexible engagement arms
configured to releasably clip onto a portion of the dispenser and
support the dispenser in the hanging position.
3. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein the engagement member
is integrally connected to the mounting portion.
4. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein the mounting portion
is a plate mountable to vertical portion of a support wall.
5. The dispenser assembly of claim 1, wherein the engagement member
is connectable to a neck portion of the dispenser.
6. The dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein mounting portion
comprises a retention slot, and the engagement member has a
connection portion slidably positioned within the retention slot
for removal or installation of the engagement member on the
mounting portion.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This non-provisional patent application claims priority to
and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
62/624,057, titled Wall-Mounted Holder Assembly for Liquid/Gel
Dispenser, filed Jan. 30, 2018, which is incorporated herein in its
entirety by reference thereto.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] Embodiments of the present invention are directed to holder
assemblies for dispensers, and more particularly to wall-mountable
holder assemblies for liquid/gel dispensers.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Commercial airplanes typically include lavatories for
passengers to use during flights. These lavatories include sinks
mounted in countertops that the passengers can use to clean their
face or to wash their hands after using the bathroom. The
lavatories often also include soap dispensers mounted next to the
sinks so that the passengers can use the hand soap to fully clean
there while washing. In conventional soap dispenser systems for
airplane lavatories, the soap dispensers are generally
cylindrically shaped bottles having a dispensing pump at a first
end and a protrusion at the opposing second end. A holder apparatus
mounted to the countertop next to the sink includes an opening that
receives the protrusion such that the holder mounted apparatus acts
as a support base for the soap dispenser and securely holds the
soap dispenser in place.
[0004] While washing their hands in the sink, a passenger may first
rinse their hands in water coming from a tap coupled to the sink
before pressing on the dispensing pump to pump out some hand soap.
As they interact with the soap dispenser, some of the water on
their hands is transferred to the soap dispenser and drips down the
sides of the bottle. The water then pools at the base of the holder
and, after a while, bacteria from the water or the passengers'
hands accumulates at the base. Cleaning this accumulated bacteria
requires airplane employees to wipe around the exterior of the
holder. However, the holder is often located adjacent to a wall in
the lavatory making it difficult for the employee to easily clean
all sides of the base. Further, some of the accumulated bacteria
may leak under the sides of the holder such that fully cleaning the
dirt requires completely detaching the holder from the countertop.
If left to accumulate for too long, the bacteria may begin to grow
and can even produce an undesired and unpleasant smell.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved holder assemblies for
dispensers soap, lotion, gel, or other flowable material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a soap dispenser retained
within a dispenser holder configured in accordance with an
embodiment of the present technology.
[0006] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the dispenser holder of FIG.
1.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the dispenser holder of
FIG. 1.
[0008] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of an assembly that includes two
of the dispenser holders of FIG. 1 attached to a mounting
bracket.
[0009] FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the assembly shown in FIG. 4
attached to a wall of a lavatory.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] The present disclosure describes holder assemblies for use
with dispensers of liquids, gels, or other flowable materials
selected in accordance with certain embodiments of the present
invention. Several specific details of the invention are set forth
in the following description and the Figures to provide a thorough
understanding of certain embodiments of the invention. One skilled
in the art, however, will understand that the present invention may
have additional embodiments, and that other embodiments of the
invention may be practiced without several of the specific features
described below.
[0011] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a soap dispenser 4 securely
retained within a dispenser holder 2. The dispenser holder 2
includes a clip portion 6 having flexible retention arms 10
configured to releasably receive and retain a neck portion 14 of
the soap dispenser 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the soap
dispenser 4 is a soap bottle that includes a body portion 12 and a
bottle head portion 16 separated from each other by the neck
portion 14. The head portion 16 is in fluid communication with the
body portion 12 via the neck portion 14 and a pump apparatus
located within the head portion 16 is configured to dispense liquid
or gel-based soap held within the body portion 12 using a tube that
extends from the pump apparatus, through the neck portion 14, and
into the body portion 12. When a passenger presses on the top of
the head portion 16, soap is dispensed from the head portion 16.
While the illustrated embodiment is discussed in connection with a
soap dispenser, the dispenser can be used for dispensing other
liquids, gels, suspensions, or other selected material.
[0012] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the dispenser holder 2 also
includes a mounting plate 8 coupled to the clip portion 6 and
configured to be used to attach the dispenser holder 2 to the wall
of the airplane lavatory. The mounting plate 8 has a generally
planar structure and is configured to be arranged such that it is
flush against the wall of the airplane lavatory when properly
mounted. The clip portion 6 is coupled to the mounting plate 8 at
one end of the planar structure such that the retention arms 10
extend in a direction generally perpendicular to the surface of the
planar structure. As such, when the dispenser holder 2 is coupled
to the lavatory wall, the retention arms 10 extend in a direction
generally perpendicular to the lavatory wall and form a
cantilevered support structure to which the soap dispenser 4 is
removably attached.
[0013] The dispenser holder 2 is mounted to the lavatory wall such
that, when the neck portion 14 of the soap dispenser 4 is
releasably retained by the retention arms 10, the body portion 12
is suspended above the countertop and does not touch the
countertop. Because of this, excess water transferred from a
passenger's hands to the soap dispenser 4 may drip off of the
bottle 4 and onto the countertop. Further, the soap dispenser 4 may
even be suspended sufficiently high above the countertop that a
cleaner's hand is capable of comfortably fitting between the bottom
of the bottle body 4 and the countertop, thereby ensuring that
cleaning any accumulated water drops merely requires the cleaner to
wipe beneath the bottle body 4. As a result, any accumulated water
is easily removed after each flight, thereby limiting any bacterial
growth and reducing any undesired smells that may be present due to
bacterial growth.
[0014] In the illustrated embodiment, the dispenser holder 2 is
formed from a single piece of rigid material, such as plastic or
the like, wherein the clip portion 6 and the mounting plate 8 are
permanently coupled to each other. As such, the retention arms 10
are also formed the single piece of plastic. More specifically, the
retention arms 10 are formed from curved strips of plastic
sufficiently thin enough to ensure that the retentions arms 10 are
flexible and capable of some degree of bending without breaking or
permanently deforming. To ensure that the neck portion 14 of the
soap dispenser 4 does not move when the retained by the dispenser
holder 2, the curved retention arms 10 are sized and shaped to form
a generally circular opening that matches with the neck portion 14
of the soap dispenser 4. In this way, the retention arms 10
securely hold onto the neck portion 14 so that the soap dispenser 4
is restrained by the dispenser holder. To install the soap
dispenser 4 within the dispenser holder 2, a user or technician may
grasp the tips 18 of the retention arms 10 in order to bend or flex
the retention arms 10 so as to create a sufficiently wide gap
between the two tips 18 for the neck portion 14 to pass through.
Once the neck portion 14 passes into the generally circular opening
between the two retention arms 10, the user or technician may
release the tips 18 of the retention arms to allow the arms 10 to
return to their original position. In some embodiments, the neck
portion 4 may include a circular lip configured to rest upon a top
edge of the retention arms 10 so as to help support the weight of
the soap dispenser 4.
[0015] In the illustrated embodiments, the dispenser holder 2
relies upon the strength and flexibility of the retention arms 10
to ensure that the soap dispenser 4 remains securely retained. In
other embodiments, however, the dispenser holder 2 may include an
additional locking or securing mechanism configured to further
restrict movement of the soap dispenser 4 once received by the
retention arms 10. For example, the clip portion 6 may include a
latching mechanism coupled to the tips 18 of the retention arms
that is configured to couple the two retention arms 10 together so
as to help prevent the soap dispenser 4 from disengaging with the
dispenser holder 2. The clip portion 6 may also include a locking
mechanism coupled to the retention arms that ensures that only
authorized personnel (e.g., airline employees) are able to remove
the soap dispenser 4 from the dispenser holder 2.
[0016] Because they are formed from flexible plastic, flexing the
retention arms 10 to allow the neck portion 14 of the soap
dispenser 4 to pass does not permanently or significantly damage
the arms 10. However, if the retention arms 10 are forced to bend
too much, the retention arms 10 may permanently deform and may
therefore no longer be capable of securely retaining the soap
dispenser 4 and must be replaced. In the illustrated embodiment,
the mounting plate 8 and the clip portion 6 are formed from a
single piece of plastic and replacing the retention arms 10
requires replacing the entire dispenser holder 2. In other
embodiments, however, the mounting plate 8 and the clip portion 6
may be formed from two different pieces of plastic configured to
securely attach to each other. For example, the mounting plate 8
may be formed from a generally planar piece of plastic having
attachment features (e.g., one or more notches) configured to mate
with attachment features (e.g., one or more protrusions configured
to securely fit within the one or more notches) on the clip portion
6. In these embodiments, replacing the retention arms 10 includes
replacing the deformed clip portion 6 with a new clip portion 6
without detaching the mounting plate 8 from the lavatory wall. A
screw or some other securing means may also be used to ensure that
the mounting plate 8 and the clip portion 6 remain securely
attached to each other.
[0017] In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting plate 8 includes
fastener holes 20 configured to receive fasteners, such as mounting
screws 22, so that the dispenser holder 2 can be affixed into the
wall. In other embodiments, some other attachment means, such as
tape or adhesive, is used to secure the mounting plate 8 to the
wall. In still other embodiments, the dispenser holder may be
attached to the wall using a mounting bracket. For example, FIGS. 4
and 5 show an assembly that includes two dispenser holders 2
directly mounted to a mounting bracket 24 configured to be attached
to a lavatory wall 26 (e.g., using mounting screws, tape, or
adhesive). The mounting bracket 24 may have a generally rectangular
structure and may be formed from plastic, metal, or some other
material. The two dispenser holders 2, which are affixed to the
mounting bracket 24 (e.g., using mounting screws, tape, or
adhesive) prior to the installation of the mounting bracket 24 onto
the lavatory wall 26, are each configured to receive and retain an
individual soap dispenser 4 such that two different soap dispensers
4 may be retained simultaneously. As such, the mounting bracket 24
ensures that the two soap dispensers 4 both remained suspended a
selected distance above the countertop.
[0018] In the illustrated embodiments, the retention arms 10 are
configured to be arranged around the neck portion 14 of the soap
dispenser 4. In other embodiments, however, the retentions arms 10
may be configured to be arranged other parts of a soap dispenser 4.
For example, some bottles 4 may be cylindrically shaped and do not
include a neck portion around which the retention arms 10 can be
arranged. Instead, the retention arms 10 are sized and shaped to be
arranged around the cylindrical body of the soap dispenser 4. In
general, to accommodate differently-shaped soap dispensers 4,
dispenser holders 2 having differently-sized clip portions 6 and
retention arms 10 may be available. Moreover, in embodiments where
the clip portion 6 and the mounting plate 8 are formed from
separate pieces, the airline may be able to swap out a clip portion
6 configured to receive a soap dispenser 4 having a first size and
shape for a different clip portion 6 configured to receive a soap
dispenser 4 having a second size and shape without removing the
mounting plate 8 from the lavatory wall 26. In still other
embodiments, the clip portion 6 and retention arms 10 may be
adjustable such that a single clip portion 6 can be used to
securely receive and retain soap dispensers 4 having a variety of a
shapes and sizes.
[0019] In the illustrated embodiments, the dispenser holder 2 is
formed entirely from plastic. In other embodiments, however, the
dispenser holder 2 may include some metal. For example, in
embodiments where the mounting plate 8 and the clip portion 6 are
formed from two separate pieces, the clip portion 6 may be formed
from metal while the mounting plate 8 is formed from plastic.
Alternatively, the mounting plate 8 may be formed from metal while
the clip portion 6 is formed from plastic. In still other
embodiments, both the clip portion 6 and the mounting plate 8 are
formed from metal.
[0020] In another embodiment, the mounting plate 8 of the dispenser
holder comprises a mounting slot that removably and slidably
received a mating portion of the clip portion. Accordingly, the
clip portion can slidably engaged and disengaged from the mounting
plate while the clip portion is attached or removed from the
dispenser. The mounting slot can be sized to frictionally engage
the mating portion of the clip in a friction fit that holds the
clip portion in a selected position relative to the mounting plate.
In another embodiment, the mounting slot can have a blocking
shoulder that limited the travel of the mating portion within the
slot. In another embodiment, the slot can have a bottom end against
which the mating portion can engage when the clip portion is
installed on the mounting portion. In yet another embodiment the
slot and mating portion can be arranged so the mounting plate has
an engagement member and the clip portion has the slot that
slidably receives the mounting plate's engagement member so as to
removably retain the clip portion in a selected position relative
to the mounting plate.
[0021] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific
embodiments of the invention have been described herein for
purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be
made without deviating from the scope of the invention.
Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended
claims.
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