US3644086A - Deodorant dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

A deodorant dispenser for use in connection with portable toilet enclosures, consisting of a housing adapted to be secured to a wall of said enclosure adjacent the door thereof, and to receive therein an aerosol container of deodorant having a press-type release valve, a lever carried movably by said housing and projecting therefrom to engage said door, whereby to be moved by the opening or closing of said door, and mechanism carried by said housing and operable to press said release valve each time said door is opened and closed.

Description

United States Patent Feb. 22, 1972 ODell [54] DEODORANT DISPENSER 3,273,756 9/1966 bevy et al. ..222/180 l 72 Inventor: Jimmy R ODell, 2240 West 72nd Street, 3332 4132; gz g P 1 Pame 66208 3,420,445 l/1969 lnzerill ..239/274 d: 7 1 0 [22] Ffle Apr 2 97 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 324m 906,837 9/1962 Great Britain ..222/1s0 [52] US. Cl. ..21/77, 21/55, 21/74 R, Primary ExaminerM0rris O. Wolk 222/ l 80, 222/181, 239/274 Assistant ExaminerBarry S. Richman [51] Int. Cl. ..A6ll 9/00 Attorney-John A. Hamilton [58] Field of Search ..2l/77, 55, 53, 74 R; 239/274;

222/180, 181 [57] ABSTRACT [56] References Cited A deodorant dispenser for use in connection with portable to1let enclosures, cons1st1ng of a houslng adapted to be UNlTED S T S PATENTS secured to a wall of said enclosure adjacent the door thereof, and to receive therein an aerosol container of deodorant hav- 2,534,464 12/1950 Mar n et a! ..21/77 x ing a presmype release valve, a lever carried movably by Said 2,534,465 12/1950 l"! 21/77 X housing and projecting therefrom to engage said door, 2,728,608 12/1955 Manm ..239/274 whereby to be moved by the opening or closing f i door, 2,989,214 6/1961 239/274 x and mechanism carried by said housing and operable to press 3,033,471 5/1962 239/274 said release valve each time said door is opened and closed. 3,042,981 7/1962 Dilione ..2l/77 3,100,066 8/1963 Campbell ..222/ 180 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures l l/ A '7 55 4 7 Q,

s f6 -/z s f; 64 7 Li 1 Q l y I l I d S I i I E 1 I i l l 4 I i Fig :5 1. Tfi [4* c Y 3 78 /4 in c H- s .Z' Q Z 22 g 40 PATENTEDFEB22 m2 Ill/Ill //////l INVENTOR.

/ Ill/If I ll/ DEODORANT DISPENSER This invention relates to new and useful improvements in deodorant dispensers, and has particular reference to deodorant dispensers for use in connection with the portable toilets commonly supplied for the use of workmen on construction projects, and for other usages. Such toilets of course have no sewer connections, and waste materials accumulate in tanks self-contained in the portable enclosure. The need for deodorizing provisions in these circumstances is obvious, in that while the tanks are sometimes chemically treated to suppress odors, this does not fully control odor, and sometimes the intervals at which the tanks are pumped out are longer than the chemical treatment can remain effective.

Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is the provision of a deodorant dispenser adapted to be mounted in a portable toilet enclosure and having means operable by movement of the door of said enclosure to dispense a deodorant preparation into said enclosure each time said door is opened and closed.

Another object is the provision of a deodorant dispenser of the character described which incorporates and utilizes, without change or adaption, an ordinary aerosol spray dispenser of deodorant such as is extremely common and easily available, said aerosol dispenser being operated to dispense a spray burst of deodorant each time the enclosure door is opened and closed.

A further object is the provision of a deodorant dispenser of the character described having means operable to prevent continuous dispensing, and hence wastage of the deodorant in the event the enclosure door is accidentally left open.

A still further object is the provision of a deodorant dispenser of the character described having means adjustable either to provide a short spray burst of deodorant each time the door is opened and each time it is closed for added effectiveness of treatment, or to provide a spray burst each time the door is opened but not when it is closed, for greater economy in the use of the deodorant.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of structure, efficiency and dependability of operation, the provision of vandal proofing features, and adaptability for use in a wide variety of applications.

With these objects in view as well as other objects which will appear in the course of the specification, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of the interior surface of a portable toilet enclosure, showing a deodorant dispenser embodying the present invention operatively,

mounted therein,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line II-II of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line IIIIII of FIG. 1, with parts left in elevation, and showing alternative positions of the operating lever in dotted lines,

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line IVIV of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line VV of FIG. 3, and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line VIVI ofFIG. 3.

Like reference numerals apply to similar parts throughout the several views, and the numeral 2 applies generally to a portable toilet enclosure the details of which are immaterial to the present invention except that it constitutes a portable boothlike enclosure including a fixed wall 4 having a door 6, by means of which users gain access to the enclosure, pivoted to wall 4 as by hinges 8 (see FIG. 2) so as to open outwardly, or in the direction of arrow 10 in FIG. 2.

The deodorant dispenser forming the subject matter of the present invention includes a tubular cylindrical housing 12 formed of plastic, metal or other rigid material, adapted to be secured to the interior surface of wall 4 as by a pair of screws 14. The housing is shown installed in a vertical position, although as will appear the dispenser is fully operable with the housing in any position, thus increasing the flexibility of its application. The heads of screws 14 are disposed interiorly of the housing, and access thereto for insertion or removal thereof is provided by a pair of holes 16 formed in the housing wall at positions diametrically opposite from said screws.

Housing 12 is adapted to receive an aerosol can 18 of a deodorant preparation in the lower portion thereof. Aerosol cans of this type, containing air deodorant preparations under pressure, are extremely common and well known, and the construction thereof is therefore not here detailed. The can includes a release valve operable by downward finger pressure on a pushbutton 20 at the top of the can to release a spray of the deodorant preparation through a nozzle opening 22 formed in the pushbutton, the nozzle usually being directed horizontally. Downward movement of the pushbutton is resisted by the pressure of a suitable spring. The pushbutton release valves of such aerosol cans are ordinarily of one of two types, one in which the spray is continuous as long as the pushbutton is depressed (hereinafter referred to as the continuous delivery type), and one in which each depression of the pushbutton provides a single, short spray burst, with no further spray until the pushbutton is released and again depressed (hereinafter referred to as the short-burst type). The present device can utilize either type, although the latter is preferable for a reason which will presently appear.

Can 18 is inserted upwardly into housing 12 from the lower end thereof, in an inverted position, and then secured therein by a rigid bar 24 extending diametrically across the housing at its lower end. As best shown in FIG. 6, said bar is inserted slidably through a slot 26 provided therefor in housing 12, then pushed through said slot to engage in a socket 28 formed in a laterally projecting boss 30 formed integrally with said housing at a point diametrically opposite slot 26. Said bar is retained releasably in this position by a retainer pin 32 inserted downwardly into a hole 34 formed in the top wall of the boss, externally of the housing, and engaging in a hole 36 formed in the bar. The bar cannot be removed to permit removal of can 18, without first removing pin 32. The head of the pin is flush with the surface of base 30, so that it cannot be easily grasped and removed. However, the pin is formed of a ferrous metal, so that it can be lifted out by means of a magnet. The head of the pin is provided with a plastic coating 38 to disguise its metallic character. The pin arrangement as just described is a vandal-proofing measure, designed to discourage unauthorized removal of the can 18. Also, it will be seen that the can, once inserted and retained by bar 24, is disposed between screws 14 and access holes 16, so that no screwdriver can be inserted through said holes to remove said screws. This is a further vandal-proofing measure, designed to prevent unauthorized removal of housing 12 from the wall.

When can 18 is inserted as just described, it is supported freely on bar 24 by its pushbutton 20, but the weight of the can, even fully charged, is not sufficient to depress the pushbutton to cause a spray of deodorant through nozzle 22. This requires a further downward force on the can, which is supplied by means to be described. The sidewall of housing 12 is cut away at the side thereof away from wall 4, as at 40, to form an opening for spray from nozzle 22 to enter the interior of enclosure 2, and can 18 is inserted into the housing with nozzle 22 directed toward opening 40.

An axle 42 extends diametrically through the upper portion of housing 12, well above can 18, being journaled rotatably in holes 44 provided therefor in the walls of said housing, and is secured against longitudinal movement by cotter pins 46 inserted therethrough adjacent said housing walls. Externally of the housing, axle 42 is angled downwardly to form a crank arm 48 which overlies the inner surface of enclosure door 6, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Fixed in the free end of said crank is a rod 50 which extends laterally of said crank toward said door, and is engaged by said door when the door is closed. Rod 50 is threaded and secured in crank 48 by locknuts 52, whereby its distance of projection from crank 48 may be adjusted.

Within housing 12, a threaded lever 54-extends through a hole formed diametrically through axle 42 at the midpoint thereof, and is adjustably secured therein by locknuts 56 threaded thereon above and below said axle. Said lever extends both above and below said axle, and is provided at its lower end with a rounded tip 58. Intermediate axle 42 and tip 58, lever 54 passes through a slot 60 formed in a bar 62 extending horizontally across the housing, and which may be integral with the housing. Slot 60 extends transversely to axle 42, and is of such length as to limit the angular movement of lever 54 between one limit in which tip 58 thereof is closely adjacent the side of the housing distal from wall 4, as shown in solid lines in FIG. 3, and another limit in which tip 58 is disposed closely adjacent the side of the housing closest to wall 4, this position being indicated in dotted lines at 54 in FIG. 3. However, there is also provided a stop 64, attached to bar 62 by screw 66, which when disposed in the position shown in FIG. 3 and in solid lines in FIG. 5, obstructs slot 60 to limit the movement of lever 54 from the solid line position of FIG. 3 to a position in which said lever is vertical, as indicated in dotted lines at 54. When this limitation is not desired, screw 66 is loosened and stop 64 is pivoted to a position in which it does not obstruct slot 60, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5.

Lever 54 also extends above axle 42, and the upwardly extended end portion thereof is connected by a tension spring 68 to a pin 70 secured in the housing wall. The inner end of the spring is engaged about lever 54 between two nuts 71 threaded on the lever. Spring 68 biases the lever toward position 54' of FIG. 3. The upper end of housing 12 may be provided with a removable cap 74 if desired.

To install the dispenser, housing 12 is first attached by screws 14 to wall 4 of the enclosure 2, adjacent the hinged edge of the door and close enough thereto that crank 48 overlies enclosure door 6, as shown. Then locknuts 52 of rod 50 are loosened and said rod is adjusted in crank 48 to a position such that when door 6 is fully closed, it turns crank 48 against the tension of spring 68 to hold lever 54 in the solid line position of FIG. 3. Nuts 52 are then tightened. This adjustment is useful when the vertical plane of the enclosure wall on which housing 12 must be mounted is offset, in variable degrees, from the plane of the inner surface of the door.

Then, with a can 18 inserted and supported by bar 24, and with door 6 open and stop 64 operative to position lever 54in its vertical position 54" locknuts 56 are loosened and adjusted to move said lever vertically in axle 42 until the tip 58 thereof engages the bottom wall 76 of can 18 and moves the can downwardly sufficiently to operate pushbutton thereof and initiate a deodorant spray from nozzle 22, after which nuts 56 may be retightened. This adjustment adapts the dispenser to receive cans 18 of different vertical heights, variation in this dimension being common. Finally, nuts 71 may be adjusted on lever 54 to adjust the axis of spring 68 to permit most efficient operation thereof. The dispenser is then ready for use.

In operation, assuming first that stop 64 has been set to its inoperative position as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5, it will be seen that each time door 6 is opened, lever 54 will be moved through its 54 position to 54 position by spring 68, and that each time the door is closed, it moves crank 48 to overcome spring 68 and return lever 54 from its 54' position through its 54" position to its original position. Each time the lever passes through its 54" position, its tip 58 engages can bottom 71 and earns the can downwardly to operate pushbutton 20 to deliver a spray of deodorant from nozzle 22, while when said lever is in its normal original position, or in position 54', tip 58 is completely out of engagement with the can, so that no spray occurs. Thus, each time door 6 is opened or closed, pushbutton 20 is operated to deliver a spray of deodorant. Normally a person opens the door, enters, closes the door, then opens the door, leaves and closes the door, and this sequence would deliver four bursts of spray.

This type of operation provides about the same efficiency whether can pushbutton 20 is of the continuous-delivery type, causing a spray as long as the button is depressed, or of the short-burst type, wherein each depression delivers only a short burst of predetermined duration, and no more till the button is released and again depressed, with two exceptions. With the continuous-delivery type, it is unlikely that the door would be left open to just the degree to move lever 54 to its 54" position to hold pushbutton 20 depressed, since the total movement of crank 43 is accomplished in a small movement of the door, and since the doors of portable toilets are usually provided with automatic closers, but it is nevertheless possible. Also, if the door 6 is opened or closed slowly, the spray intervals will each be of longer duration. Either occurrence could result in wastage of the deodorant. However, if the can has a pushbutton 20 of the short-burst type, there is no position of the door which could cause a continuous spray, and the spray duration would not be affected by the speed with which the door is moved. Hence, while the present device will accommodate aerosol cans having either type of pushbutton, the short-burst type is preferred. Another advantage of the short-burst type is that, in combination with stop 64, it permits reduction of the amount of deodorant used, in the event four bursts of deodorant, as supplied in the heretofore described sequence of door movements in a normal usage of the enclosure are considered unnecessary or unduly wasteful. With stop 64 operative, lever 54 moves only to its vertical 54" position when the door is opened, delivering one burst of deodorant, but is then arrested by the stop. When the door is then closed, lever 54 returns to its original position, but does not again press downwardly on the can, as it would have done if allowed to return to its original position from position 54'. Thus in the sequence of door movements involved in single usage of the enclosures, only two, not four, spray bursts will be delivered.

The device may also be used in connection with doors hinged at their right sides, rather than at their left sides as shown. To accomplish this reversal, lever 54 is first removed from axle 42 and cotter pins 46 removed, after which axle 42 is reversed end for end so that crank 48 extends from the opposite side of the housing, and the parts reassembled. Also, rod 50 must be reversed so that it still projects toward the door.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it will be readily apparent that many minor changes of structure and operation could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent 1. For use in connection with a portable toilet including a walled enclosure having an access door, a deodorant dispenser comprising:

a. a housing adapted to be mounted on an interior wall of said enclosure adjacent said door, and containing a fluid deodorant preparation, said housing being tubular, and including a rigid retainer member removably mounted therein to obstruct one end thereof, said deodorant preparation being contained in a pressurized container adapted to be slidably inserted into said housing when said retainer member is removed, and to be secured therein by remounting said retainer member, said container having a generally planar base distal from said retainer member, a resiliently depressable pushbutton at its opposite end and abutting said retainer member, and a release valve operable by depression of said pushbutton to release said deodorant preparation,

b. release means carried by said housing and operable by movement thereof to eject said deodorant preparation from said container, said release means including a shaft extending transversely to the axis of said housing in spaced apart relation from the base of said container and rotatably journaled in said housing, and a cam lever affixed transversely to said shaft within said housing and extending toward the base of said container, the free end of said lever describing an arcuate path responsively to oscillation of said shaft, and being of such length that only in one portion of its arcuate path does it engage said container base and move said container sufficiently to cause depression of the pushbutton thereof against said retainer member, and

c. an operating member constituting a crank arm afiixed to the extended end of said shaft so as to overlie the inner surface of said door, and resilient means urging the free end of said crank arm laterally against said door surface, whereby said crank arm is pivoted by opening and closing movements of said door, the angularity of said crank arm relative to said cam lever being such that the free end of said cam lever has an initial position, when said door is closed, adjacent the side of the housing opposite to the side of said housing toward which it is urged by said resilient means.

2. A deodorant dispenser as recited in claim 1 with the addition of means operable to adjust said cam lever longitudinally of itself with respect to said shaft, whereby the dispenser may be adjusted to receive pressurized deodorant containers of different heights.

3. A deodorant dispenser as recited in claim 1 wherein said cam lever is moved, by opening and closing of said door, between said initial position and a similar limit position adjacent the opposite side of the housing, and is operable to press against said container base sufficiently to cause opening of said release valve only at a position thereof substantially midway between said limit positions, whereby said release valve is opened momentarily each time the door is opened and each time the door is closed.

4. A deodorant dispenser as recited in claim 1 for use in connection with a pressurized deodorant container the release valve of which operates on each depression of its pushbutton to release only a short burst of deodorant, and then close, to be again actuated only by release and redepression of said pushbutton, and wherein said cam lever is moved, by opening and closing of said door, between said initial position and a similar limit position in which it is substantially parallel to the axis of said housing and extends farthest toward said container, when said door is opened, whereby a burst of deodorant is released each time the door is opened, but not when it is closed.

5. A deodorant dispenser as recited in claim 1 with the addition of a stop carried by said housing and operable to limit said cam lever to movement between fixed limits, said stop being selectively adjustable either to provide limits between said initial position and a position adjacent the opposite side of the housing, the free end thereof being spaced equally from the container in both of these positions, or to provide limits between said initial position and a position in which the free end thereof extends farthest toward said container.

Claims (5)

1. For use in connection with a portable toilet including a walled enclosure having an access door, a deodorant dispenser comprising: a. a housing adapted to be mounted on an interior wall of said enclosure adjacent said door, and containing a fluid deodorant preparation, said housing being tubular, and including a rigid retainer member removably mounted therein to obstruct one end thereof, said deodorant preparation being contained in a pressurized container adapted to be slidably inserted into said housing when said retainer member is removed, and to be secured therein by remounting said retainer member, said container having a generally planar base distal from said retainer member, a resiliently depressable pushbutton at its opposite end and abutting said retainer member, and a release valve operable by depression of said pushbutton to release said deodorant preparation, b. release means carried by said housing and operable by movement thereof to eject said deodorant preparation from said container, said release means including a shaft extending transversely to the axis of said housing in spaced apart relation from the base of said container and rotatably journaled in said housing, and a cam lever affixed transversely to said shaft within said housing and extending toward the base of said container, the free end of said lever describing an arcuate path responsively to oscillation of said shaft, and being of such length that only in one portion of its arcuate path does it engage said container base and move said container sufficiently to cause depression of the pushbutton thereof against said retainer member, and c. an operating member constituting a crank arm affixed to the extended end of said shaft so as to overlie the inner surface of said door, and resilient means urging the free end of said crank arm laterally against said door surface, whereby said crank arm is pivoted by opening and closing movements of said door, the angularity of said crank arm relative to said cam lever being such that the free end of said cam lever has an initial position, when said door is closed, adjacent the side of the housing opposite to the side of said housing toward which it is urged by said resilient means.

2. A deodorant dispenser as recited in claim 1 with the addition of means operable to adjust said cam lever longitudinally of itself with respect to said shaft, whereby the dispenser may be adjusted to receive pressurized deodorant containers of different heights.

3. A deodorant dispenser as recited in claim 1 wherein said cam lever is moved, by opening and closing of said door, between said initial position and a similar limit position adjacent the opposite side of the housing, and is operable to press against said container base sufficiently to cause opening of said release valve only at a position thereof substantially midway between said limit positions, whereby said release valve is opened momentarily each time the door is opened and each time the door is closed.

4. A deodorant dispenser as recited in claim 1 for use in connection with a pressurized deodorant container the release valve of which operates on each depression of its pushbutton to release only a short burst of dEodorant, and then close, to be again actuated only by release and redepression of said pushbutton, and wherein said cam lever is moved, by opening and closing of said door, between said initial position and a similar limit position in which it is substantially parallel to the axis of said housing and extends farthest toward said container, when said door is opened, whereby a burst of deodorant is released each time the door is opened, but not when it is closed.

5. A deodorant dispenser as recited in claim 1 with the addition of a stop carried by said housing and operable to limit said cam lever to movement between fixed limits, said stop being selectively adjustable either to provide limits between said initial position and a position adjacent the opposite side of the housing, the free end thereof being spaced equally from the container in both of these positions, or to provide limits between said initial position and a position in which the free end thereof extends farthest toward said container.

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