AU2020100865A4

AU2020100865A4 - Container holder

Info

Publication number: AU2020100865A4
Application number: AU2020100865A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Rob Miller
Original assignee: Anchor Point Eng Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Anchor Point Engineering Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2020-05-27
Filing date: 2020-05-27
Publication date: 2020-07-16
Anticipated expiration: 2028-05-27

Abstract

a holder 1 for releasably retaining a fluid dispenser container is shown. The fluid dispenser container 50 has a body 52, a neck 60 and a head portion 70. The head portion 70 has a laterally extending feature 72 that is, in a transverse direction 74 (being any 5 direction transverse to an axis 62 of the neck 60). The laterally extending feature 72 extends beyond the footprint 64 (shown in broken lines in Fig. 5b) in plan of the neck 60. The laterally extending feature 72 is adapted to face a first lateral direction 76 in operation. The holder 1 includes an upper collar 10 that defines a closed hole 20 that has an eccentric portion 22 extending in an offset transverse direction 26 relative to the 0 operational direction 76. The offset transverse direction 26 is circumferentially offset from the operational direction 76. The operational direction 76 corresponds to the direction that the head portion 70 faces during operation (see Figure 5). A lower portion 30 has a deflectable or displaceable component 40 that is adapted to deflect or displace to allow room for the head portion 70 to be inserted through the upper collar hole 20. 5 The deflectable or displaceable component 40 is further securable in an operational position (see Figure 5) whereby the body 52 is able to be axially stable along the axis 62. In the operational position (see Figure 5), the body 52 is also laterally stable transverse to the axis 62 by securing the neck 60 in the collar hole 20 and the lower portion of the body 52 in the cradle 30. The body 52 is thereby secured in the holder 1 0 and the head portion 70 is able to extend through the collar hole 20. Fig. 5 (G2 070 7/f 7(o 30-0 Fi0 52 6O 3co 304 72 Fig. 5

Description

(G2

070 7/f 7(o

-0 Fi0 52 6O

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304

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Fig. 5

CONTAINER HOLDER FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a fluid dispenser. More particularly, this invention relates to a holder for a fluid-dispensing container.

BACKGROUND ART

The following references to and descriptions of prior proposals or products are not intended to be, and are not to be construed as, statements or admissions of common general knowledge in the art. In particular, the following prior art discussion should not be assumed to relate to what is commonly or well known by the person skilled in the art, but to assist in the inventive process undertaken by the inventor(s) and in the understanding of the invention.

Fluid dispensing containers in the form of pump pack bottles have been described. Such containers may be adapted to selectively dispense hand sanitiser, soap, hand creams, and the like. Holders for such containers may be attachable to a substrate, such as a building wall. In particular, places requiring good sanitation practices may locate such holders as wall or bench-mounted dispensers in strategic locations, such as entrances, bathrooms, corridors and the like. A problem with prior art dispenser holders is the initial installation of a new bottle in the holder necessarily requires that the nozzle head portion be removed as it is not adapted to be inserted and secured in the holder without first unscrewing and removing the nozzle head portion. This may expose the contents to ambient air or other potential contaminants and may compromise the otherwise sterile or germ-free contents that are typically delivered hermetically sealed and hygiene-safe in such containers

Security of sanitiser containers from work places and publicly accessible locations is a vexed issue. Prior art holders are not known by the Applicant to have security measures in place to lock the container against unauthorised removal.

An object of the present invention is to ameliorate one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative thereto.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

The invention according to one or more aspects may be as defined in the independent claims. Some optional and/or preferred features of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

Accordingly, in a first aspect of the invention there is provided:

A holder for releasably retaining a fluid dispenser container, said container having a body, a neck and a head portion, said head portion having a laterally extending feature that is, at least in one direction, transverse to the axis of the neck and extends beyond the footprint, as seen in plan, of the neck, wherein the holder is securable or adapted to be assembled in an operational position and includes:

a collar that defines a closed collar hole that has an eccentric hole portion that is adapted to extend in a lateral direction that includes an operational direction, said operational direction corresponding to a direction that the head portion is adapted to face in the operational position; and

a lower portion with a deflectable or displaceable component adapted to:

deflect or displace to allow room for the head portion to be inserted through the collar hole; and

be secured whereby the body is able to be axially and laterally secured in the holder and the head portion is able to extend through the collar hole.

In a second aspect, the invention provides:

A holder mountable to a substrate and adapted in an operational position to releasably retain a fluid dispenser container having a body, a neck and a head portion, said head portion having a laterally extending feature that is, at least in one direction, transverse to the axis of the neck, beyond the footprint, as seen in plan, of the neck, the laterally extending feature being adapted to face a first lateral direction in the operational position, wherein the holder includes:

a collar that defines a closed collar hole that has an eccentric portion extending in a second lateral direction that is circumferentially offset from the first lateral direction; and a cradle, the holder furthermore adapted to: define an intermediate body space extending at least partially between the collar and the cradle; and accommodate the body in the operational position, wherein the cradle includes a deflectable or displaceable component that is adapted to: be securable in the operational position, whereby the body is able to be axially and laterally secured in the body space and the head portion is able to extend through the upper collar hole; and deflect or displace to allow entry of the container into the body space and to provide room to allow the head portion to be inserted through the collar hole.

HOLDER

The holder may be a unitary piece made of cellulosic, plastic or metal, a composite material, or a composite of materials. Preferably the holder is made from a rigid material, such s galvanised iron or steel, or Aluminium. The holder may have a tactile friendly surface, such as enamel paint, moulded plastic skin or an abraded and smoothed surface.

MOUNT and SUBSTRATE

The holder is preferably adapted to be mounted to a substrate, such as a building wall, a bench or a portable trolley. For example, the holder may be mounted to a variety of suitable substrates in aged care facilities, hospitals, medical clinics, retail entrances, public buildings, and the like.

The mount may take the form of fastener holes formed in one or more rearmost portions of the holder. The mount may include a clamp or hook extending from the rearmost portion.

FLUID DISPENSER CONTAINER

The body of the container may be cylindrical or elliptical in plan or sectional view.

Advantageously, the container's contents include a liquid, gel, paste, cream or other flowable material adapted to be dispensed using a manual or powered pump.

The neck may include a snap-on or screw-on cap. From and/or through the cap, a plunger tube or pipe may extend proud thereof. The plunger pipe advantageously terminates in the head portion. The head portion includes the laterally extending feature that may be in the form of a nozzle for dispensing the contents.

The neck may have a longitudinal axis (neck axis). The plunger pipe may extend coaxially or parallel to the neck axis. The neck axis is typically coaxial with the axis of rotation of the cap in the screw-on form of the cap.

LATERALLY EXTENDING FEATURE

The at least in one direction transverse to the axis of the neck (the transverse direction) that the laterally extending feature extends can be in any direction in the range of 0 3600 about the neck axis. It is conceivable and within the scope of this description, that the laterally extending feature is only capable of rotation about the neck axis through a limited arc. The principle of the invention is that the laterally extending feature is capable of being rotated about the neck axis relative to the holder, so that the laterally extending feature may be fixed relative to the neck. The main requirement is that the holder allow the laterally extending feature to be circumferentially rotated to be offset relative to its original entry orientation through the collar. This enables the laterally extending feature to be axially trapped against downward motion on the side of the collar remote from the cradle. However, it is noted that, once the container is secured by the deflectable or displaceable component, irrespective of the alignment of the lateral and operational directions, the container is trapped in the holder against downward movement by the deflectable or displaceable component, and against upward movement by the collar preventing the body from passing through the collar hole.

The footprint, as seen in plan, of the neck will typically correspond to the plan outline of the cap. In a typical fluid dispenser container, the cap footprint will be circular.

OPERATIONAL POSITION

The first lateral direction that the laterally extending feature faces in the operational

J4 position is typically outward and frontward. The operational position corresponds to the orientation of the container. In the operational position, the laterally extending feature typically extends forward and away from the substrate, so that a nozzle of the is accessible to user.

COLLAR

The collar may be a solid structure. The collar may comprise a plate. The collar defines the closed collar hole. The collar hole may be located in a central region of the collar. The collar hole may include a broad portion adapted to allow the neck to pass therethrough. The eccentric hole portion may be continuous with the broad portion. The eccentric hole portion may be substantially narrower or smaller in width or diameter than the width or diameter of the broad portion. The width or diameter may be taken as the distance between spaced and opposing edges that define the collar hole. The edge defining the collar hole may be a continuous edge. The broad and the eccentric portions may together constitute a hole having a classic keyhole shape. The collar hole may be alternatively tear-drop, ovaloid or triangular in shape.

The lateral direction may be in line with the operational direction. That is, the collar hole may be adapted to receive the neck of the container with the laterally extending feature in alignment with the operational direction, such that it is not necessary to move the container or the neck to align it with the operational position. However, the lateral -0 direction is preferably circumferentially offset relative to the operational direction. The eccentric portion extends in the second lateral direction that is circumferentially offset from the first lateral direction. The second lateral direction may be perpendicular, parallel and opposed, or otherwise angled away from the first lateral direction. Preferably the second lateral direction extends rearwardly and away from a front face of the holder.

INTERMEDIATE BODY SPACE

The intermediate body space extending at least partially between the collar and the cradle is adapted to accommodate the body in the operational position. The holder may comprise the collar and the cradle in separate pieces that may be separately mounted to the substrate. Preferably, the holder includes a rear member in the form of a brace, bar or plate that extends longitudinally parallel along a rear of the holder. The rear member is preferably rigid whereby to fixedly space the collar and the cradle in the neck axis direction.

CRADLE

The cradle forming part of the holder, and together with the remaining components of the holder, may be adapted to support the container against axial displacement in an upright, inclined or horizontal orientation. Preferably, the holder is adapted to support the container in an upright orientation.

The deflectable or displaceable component may be described as a moveable component. The moveable component may be adapted to flex and distort from a resting shape to receive the container and to elastically resume its shape to support the container with the head portion extending through the collar.

The cradle is preferably made of rigid materials. The moveable member is preferably articulated relative to the rear member. The moveable member may be adapted to latch or lock in place to support the container. The cradle may further comprise a stationary member. The moveable member is preferably adapted to be secured to the stationary member in the operational position, whereby the body is able to be axially and laterally secured in the body space and the head portion is able to extend through the upper collar hole.

The moveable member may be in the form of a deflectable or displaceable component. This component may be attached to the cradle or the rear member and adapted for movement relative thereto to effect release or securement of the container in the holder. The deflectable or displaceable component may be adapted to be displaced from a secure position relative to the cradle or the rear member by a rotation or a sliding action. The deflectable or displaceable component may be mounted on tracks formed, for example at the lower end of the cradle. The deflectable or displaceable component may alternatively be hinged for rotation hinge members extending from the cradle or the rear member.

It will be appreciated that any of the features, functions and components described in relation to either the first and second aspects of the invention can be used in any combination within the scope of the invention, and that the invention as described in respect of the second aspect may have one or more of the specific features referred to above in respect of the invention as described in respect of the first aspect, and vice versa.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be better understood from the following non-limiting description of preferred embodiments, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded view of a holder according to one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the holder shown in Figure 1 in partially assembled form;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the holder shown in Figure 1 fully assembled;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the holder shown in Figure 3 in use and receiving a fluid dispenser container;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the holder and the container shown in Figure 4 in fully assembled form; and

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the container shown in Fig. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred features of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings are not to be construed as limiting on the scope of the invention. In describing the various embodiments of the invention, like features will be referred to using like references, with references for features of each embodiment generally preceded by 1, 2, 3, or followed by a Roman numeric sequence, such as i, ii, iii, etc. or an alphabetical sequence such as a, b, c, relative to the corresponding feature of the first embodiment. For example, a feature 10 of the first embodiment may represented as 110, 210, 310, (or n10), or 1Oa, 1Ob, 1Oc, (or lOx) or I Oi iO, 1Oiii, (or 1Or) etc. in second, third and fourth embodiments, respectively.

Referring to Figure 5, a holder 1 for releasably retaining a fluid dispenser container is shown. The fluid dispenser container 50 has a body 52, a neck 60 and a head portion 70. The head portion 70 has a laterally extending feature 72 that is, in a transverse direction 74 (being any direction transverse to an axis 62 of the neck 60). The laterally extending feature 72 extends beyond the footprint 64 (shown in broken lines in Fig. 5b) in plan of the neck 60. The laterally extending feature 72 is adapted to face a first lateral direction 76 in operation. The holder 1 includes an upper collar 10 that defines a closed hole 20 that has an eccentric portion 22 extending in an offset transverse direction 26 relative to the operational direction 76. The offset transverse direction 26 is circumferentially offset from the operational direction 76. The operational direction 76 corresponds to the direction that the head portion 70 faces during operation (see Figure 5). A lower portion 30 has a deflectable or displaceable component 40 that is adapted to deflect or displace to allow room for the head portion 70 to be inserted through the upper collar hole 20. The deflectable or displaceable component 40 is further securable in an operational position (see Figure 5) whereby the body 52 is able to be axially stable along the axis 62. In the operational position (see Figure 5), the body 52 is also laterally stable transverse to the axis 62 by securing the neck 60 in the collar hole 20 and the lower portion of the body 52 in the cradle 30. The body 52 is thereby secured in the holder 1 and the head portion 70 is able to extend through the collar hole 20.

The holder 1 is made of metal components and protected by an enamel paint covering. The collar 10 and the cradle 30 are rigidly spaced from one another by a rear member in the form of a rear plate 80. The rear plate 80 is unitarily formed from one piece of sheet metal cut to form a elongate sheet having a radiused top end (corresponding to the collar 10) and a shallow V-shaped lower end 90 (corresponding to the lower extent of the rear plate 80). The radiused top end is, in manufacture, bent to form a right angle join 14 defining rear extent of the collar 10 and the lower extent of the rear plate 80. A further lower right-angled bend 84 in manufacture turns the V-shaped arms into laterally and forward-extending hinge tabs 92, having hinge slots 94 formed therein.

Also referring to Figs.1 and 4, the cradle 30 comprises a partially cylindrical wall 32 that is adapted to cup or wrap around the lower body portion 54 to secure the lower body portion 54 against lateral displacement. The radius of the partially cylindrical wall 32 is preferably slightly larger than the radius of a container 50 to be held by the holder 1.

The hinge slots 94 are adapted to engage a corresponding pair of curved hinge hooks 96 that extend rearwardly and upwardly from a rear straight edge 44 of the moveable member 40. The moveable member 40 includes, adjacent its front edge 48, a front slot 42 adapted to receive a corresponding downward tab 44 extending from the front lower edge of the a partially cylindrical wall 32.

To secure the cradle 30, with the tabs 96 engaged in the hinge slots 94, the moveable member 40 is rotated upwardly about hinge axes 46 until the front slot 42 receives the downward tab 44. The downward tab 34 includes a small aperture 45 that may receive a padlock or other securing device therethrough to lock the holder 1.

The collar 10 is semicircular in shape in plan view with a front curved edge 12 facing the front of the holder 1. The collar hole 20 includes a broad portion 24 oriented forward of the eccentric portion 22 and the respective hole portions 22,24 are continuous and key-hole shaped in plan view.

The rear plate 80 includes multiple spaced apertures 84 adapted to receive fasteners for mounting the holder 1 to a substrate (not shown).

Figures 1 - 3 show the holder is various states of assembly, starting with an exploded view of the holder 1 in Fig. 1. The rear plate 80, collar 10 and lower hinge tabs 92 are formed as a unitary piece. The partially cylindrical wall 32 is partially radiused in plan, and the arms thereof flatten to extend with flat wall panels 36 rearwardly to form a welded join with a front face 88 of the rear plate 80. The partially cylindrical wall 32 therefore resembles the shape of the front and side walls of a horse float.

Alternatively, the moveable member 40 may be in the form of a slide member 40a mounted to a pair of spaced and parallel side channels extending at least partially along either side of the lower portion of the cradle 30. The slide member 40a may be a planar

a plate and may have corresponding straight side edge portions to engage with the side channels. The moveable member 40 is securable to the cradle 30 using a locking tab arrangement similar to that for rotatable member 40 in which a tab 44a is a semi circularly disc with an aperture. The tab 44a extends laterally frontward and outwardly beyond the footprint of the cradle 30 and the tab 44a aperture is adapted to register with a corresponding slide member aperture formed in the front portion of the slide member 44a to accommodate a security device, such as a padlock.

Throughout the specification and claims the word "comprise" and its derivatives are intended to have an inclusive rather than exclusive meaning unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise. That is, the word "comprise" and its derivatives will be taken to indicate the inclusion of not only the listed components, steps or features that it directly references, but also other components, steps or features not specifically listed, unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise.

In the present specification, terms such as "apparatus", "means", "device" and "member" may refer to singular or plural items and are terms intended to refer to a set of properties, functions or characteristics performed by one or more items or components having one or more parts. It is envisaged that where an "apparatus", "means", "device" or "member" or similar term is described as being a unitary object, then a functionally equivalent object having multiple components is considered to fall within the scope of the term, and similarly, where an "apparatus", "assembly", "means", "device" or "member" is described as having multiple components, a functionally equivalent but unitary object is also considered to fall within the scope of the term, unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise. In the present specification, the phrase "and/or" refers to severally or any combination of the features. For example, the phrase "feature 1, feature 2 and/or feature 3" includes within its scope any one of the following combinations: Feature 1 or feature 2 or feature 3; feature 1 and feature 2 or feature 3; feature 1 or feature 2 and feature 3; feature 1 and feature 3 or feature 2; feature 1 and feature 2 and feature 3.

The meaning of descriptive, precise or absolute terms such as "flexed", "normal",

1 (

"parallel", "horizontal", "vertical" or "fully" includes the preceding qualifier "substantially or almost", unless the context or contrary is expressly indicated.

Qualifying relative terms, such as "relatively", "sufficiently", "near", "almost" or "substantially", may be taken to indicate a variation in an absolute value of between 0 and 100 or between 0% and 10%, relative to the absolute value. For example, "near horizontal" may be taken to mean any orientation between 00 and 100 relative to the horizontal.

Where the word "for" is used to qualify a use or application of an object term, the word "for" is only limiting in the sense that the device or component should be "suitable for" that use or application.

In the present specification, the term "integral" means formed of one body in a single process. In particular, the term "integrally formed" means formed of the one body without post-forming attachment of separately formed component parts. That is, "integrally formed" and the similar term "unitarily formed" mean formed in a single forming process and do not include post-forming attachment of component parts by means of fastener or other component fixing substances or methods.

Orientational terms used in the specification and claims such as vertical, horizontal, top, bottom, upper and lower are to be interpreted as relational and are based on the premise that the component, item, article, apparatus, device or instrument will usually be considered in a particular orientation, with the collar generally being uppermost of the holder components.

The articles "a" and "an" are used herein to refer to one or to more than one (i.e. to at least one) of the grammatical object of the article. By way of example, "an element" means one element or more than one element.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations may be made to the methods of the invention described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The features and components of each of the embodiments of the invention described in the detailed description and/or depicted in the accompanying drawings may be interchangeable as required, with regard to functional equivalency and compatibility. A feature or component described with reference to one but not all embodiments, if functionally and dimensionally compatible as an addition with another embodiment herein described, or substitutable with a corresponding feature or component of that other embodiment in relation to which it has not been expressly described, should be read as a potential addition or substitution to that other embodiment and as being within the scope of the invention. Furthermore, in considering a feature or component that is described in relation a particular embodiment but may be omitted from the embodiment without losing the functionality characterising the invention and without departing from the scope of the invention, unless the context and expressions used in describing the embodiment imputes that the feature or component is essential to the invention as broadly described, the omittable feature or component may be read as not being included in the embodiment.

11,

Claims

Innovation Patent claims:

1. A holder for releasably retaining a fluid dispenser container, said container having a body, a neck and a head portion, said head portion having a laterally extending feature that is, at least in one direction, transverse to the axis of the neck and extends beyond the footprint, as seen in plan, of the neck, wherein the holder is securable or adapted to be assembled in an operational position and includes:

a lower portion with a moveable member adapted to:

2. The holder as defined in Claim 1, wherein the moveable member is hingedly mounted about a hinge on a rear member of the holder extending between the collar and the hinge and is lockable to a lower portion of the cradle.

3. The holder as defined in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the moveable member is slidable relative to the cradle or the rear member.

4. The holder as defined in any one of Claims 1 - 3, wherein the eccentric portion extends in the lateral direction which is circumferentially offset relative to the operational direction.

5. A holder mountable to a substrate and adapted in an operational position to releasably retain a fluid dispenser container having a body, a neck and a head portion, said head portion having a laterally extending feature that is, at least in one direction, transverse to the axis of the neck, beyond the footprint, as seen in plan, of the neck, the laterally extending feature being adapted to face a first lateral direction in the operational position, wherein the holder includes:

a collar that defines a closed collar hole that has an eccentric portion extending in a second lateral direction that is circumferentially offset from the first lateral direction; and

a cradle,

the holder furthermore adapted to:

define an intermediate body space extending at least partially between the collar and the cradle; and

accommodate the body in the operational position,

wherein the cradle includes a deflectable or displaceable component that is adapted to:

be securable in the operational position, whereby the body is able to be axially and laterally secured in the body space and the head portion is able to extend through the upper collar hole; and

deflect or displace to allow entry of the container into the body space and to provide room to allow the head portion to be inserted through the collar hole.

1,4