WO2000060989A1

WO2000060989A1 - Dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO2000060989A1
Application number: PCT/NO2000/000087
Authority: WO
Inventors: Svein Roger Svinsaas; Terje NYTRÖ; Tore Hagen
Original assignee: Svein Roger Svinsaas; Nytroe Terje; Tore Hagen
Priority date: 1999-03-26
Filing date: 2000-03-13
Publication date: 2000-10-19
Also published as: NO991471D0; AU3465800A; NO991471L; NO309762B1

Abstract

Dispenser (1) for releasing liquid substances for sanitary purposes, skin care and the like, for installation on a vertical surface (2). The dispenser includes a carrier (4) for a replaceable or refillable container (6) with a dump valve, and an activation handle (7) with a protruding service part (8), and an activation part (9) to open the dump valve of the container (6). The activation handle (7) is in one piece, with two arms (24, 25) and a rung (26) therebetween. The activation part (9) is opposite to the rung (26). Upon installation the activation part (9) of the activation handle (7) will be covered by the carrier, and the rung (26) will point downwards when the dispenser (1) is installed.

Description

Dispenser

The invention relates to a dispenser for soap, moisturizer or the like, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Background

Dispensers that release liquid substances, preferably soap, moisturizer or disinfective gel, often require direct contact between the palm of the hand and the activation handle. However, the palm should not be in contact with the activation handle, because this may result in undesirable transferral of microbes. The palm of the hand, should, to a large extent, be reserved mainly for handling instruments in the health sector, and foodstuff in the food industry. Insufficient hand hygiene is probably the main reason for hospital infections and food poisoning, and the concentration of microbes is highest exactly close to washstands, toilets and dispensers. Several prior dispensers are known where the undesirable contact between the activation handle and the palm of the hand is avoided. Different mechanisms for the release of soap, exist. For example, the elbow of the other hand may be used, or foot pedals or photocells. Dispensers with photocells or foot pedals are expensive, they require elaborate installation and often requires servicing beyond changing the container for the liquid substance. Dispensers where the other elbow is used are impractical because both hands must be used, and the user must stand very close to the dispenser. This means that short people, children and wheelchair users will have trouble reaching the handle, alternatively tall people may have to bend in order to submit the soap. From an ergonomic point of view, both cases are very undesirable, because this is a movement that must be repeated several times a day. Experience shows that a lot of people are also using the palm of the other hand, to relese the substance.

Object

The main object of the invention is to provide a dispenser for releasing liquid substances, avoiding contact between a palm and the dispenser, and which is easy to use and to install. Another object of the invention is to create such a dispenser which is especially simple in construction, robust in use, and that has a versatile adjustment. Invention

The objects of the invention are obtained with a achieved according to the characterizing part of claim 1. Further advantages are given in the dependent claims.

The dispenser and the activation handle fo the present invention, may be produced by any appropriate material, and it is not necessary that they are produced of the same material. However, it is an advantage if the activation handle is of a one piece plastic construction, and that the carrier for the soap container is also in plastic. This material is simple and cheap to work with, and it is easy to keep clean.

With a dispenser according to the present invention, the palm of a user's hand is not in contact with the dispenser, however, the wrist is. Thus, the dispenser may be used with one hand only, and it is not necessary for the user to stand close to the dispenser. There may still be a risk for scattering microbes, but as it is very rare for the wrist to contact instruments in the health sector or foodstuff, the risk is substantially reduced compared to many existing dispensers. From an ergonomic point of view, a dispenser according to the present invention is also advantageous, because the user can get soap with one movement, with one hand. The activation handle of the dispenser points downwards, and will therefore be pressed upwards when the hand is moved up to receive soap. This is a simple and logical ergonomically correct movement. Upon installation of the dispenser, washstands, mirrors etc are already installed. Therefore it may be predetermined where the dispenser should be placed, and this is not necessarily the optimal placing. A dispenser according to the present invention may be mounted to a foot with a ball joint, and thus be flexible in all directions even after installation on the wall. Therefore it is less important where on the wall, the dispenser is placed, because it may be turned to an optimal position later. The dispenser will also be more robust due to the ball joint. If a user presses the activation handle too hard, or in the wrong direction, it will not break, but the whole dispenser will be turned out of position. The same will apply if a knock or blow hits the dispenser or activation handle. With a grip the dispenser can be replaced to the desirable position. The ball joint performs a certain resistance, so that the dispenser is not turned out of position by normal use. Example

The invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying figures that illustrate an example of an embodiment, where

Figure 1 shows a section through the dispenser where the container with the liquid substance is mounted,

Figure 2 shows a projection of the activation handle, and Figure 3 shows the back of the dispenser.

Figure 1 shows a dispenser 1 for releasing liquid substances for sanitary purposes, skin care and the like, mounted on a vertical surface, for example a wall 2. The dispenser includes a base 3 for mounting on the vertical surface, a carrier 4 for enclosing a replaceable or refillable container 6 for the liquid substance, provided with a dump valve, a fastening device 5 between the carrier 4 and the base 3, and an activation handle 7 with a protruding service part 8 and an activation part 9. The base 3 includes a foot 10 and a protruding pole 11, wherein the fastening device 5 towards the carrier 4 is fastened in the end. The foot 10 is after installation, in contact with the vertical surface whereon the dispenser 1 is mounted. The dispenser 1 is either fastened with screws 12, or bilateral adhesive tape, or both.

The fastening device 5 between the base 3 and the carrier 4, includes a ball joint and a back plate 13. The ball 14 in the ball joint, is permanently fastened to the end of the pole 11 of the base 3, and held towards the carrier 4 by the back plate 13, which preferably has a curve (not shown) directed towards the base 3, containing parts of the ball 14 of the ball joint. The back plate 13 is preferably fastened to the carrier 4 with one or more screws 16. It may either be fastened in a recess in the wall of the earner, or direct to the surface of the carrier. The back plate 13 must be under tension, in order to achieve a large frictional force between the ball 14 and its surroundings. Both the ball and the inside of the curve may preferably have a rough surface, to provide better friction. However, the friction must not be so high, that the carrier 4 can not be pushed out of position, if, for example, the user uses to much force on the activation handle. The carrier itself includes two cup-shaped parts 17, 18, one foremost 17, and one hinder 18, a slit 19, and an activation protrusion 20. The hinder part 18 is permanently fastened to the back plate 13 and to the base 3 via the ball joint, while the foremost part 17 functions as a lid, and may be removed for refilling/changing the container 6 which contains the liquid substance. The lid 17 is preferably transparent or provided with a through slit or the like _,

4

(not shown), in order to ease the inspection of the remaining amount of liquid substance in the container 6. A dividing line 21 between the hinder 18 and the foremost part 17 of the carrier 4, is shown in Figure 1. The two parts 17, 18 of the carrier 4 may be fastened to each other by any known releasable method, for example with a normal snap connection. If that 5 is the case, one of the parts 17, 18 will have holes, wherein protruding pins on the other part 17, 18, fits. The lowermost ends of the two parts 17, 18 of the earner together forms an opening 22, where soap from the container 6, can exit the carrier 4.

The slit 19 is situated in the lower part of the earner 4, and preferably in the hinder part. The short ends thereof, may be stepped (not shown), so that the activation handle 7 which is 10 mounted in this slit 19, can be moved up- and downwards without hindrance of the slit 19. The activation handle 7 is kept in place, in the slit 19, by the back plate 13, which protrudes completely or partly down below the slit. The back plate may also be preformed with two arms in the lower part (not shown). The arms protrude horizontally on both sides of the plate, and is lead into the slit 19. Then the back plate 13 is bent into its place, and fastened 15 with one or more screws 16. The activation handle 7 will in that case, be held in position in the same way, but the arms of the back plate 13 will be on the inside of the carrier 4.

When in use, the carrier 4 shall contain a container 6 with the liquid substance, dotted line in Figure 1, e.g. soap. From the hinder 18 (or foremost 17) part of the carrier 4, a bracket 23 protrudes, and under this is formed a buttonlike activation protrusion 20, 20 pointing downwards. The dump valve of the soap container 6 shall be positioned under this. Figure 2 shows the activation handle before it is mounted in the dispenser. It is in one part, and has two arms 24, 25 with a rung 26 between, and an activation part 9 opposite to the rung 26. The arms 24, 25 and the rung 26 constitute together a service part 8. The activation handle 7 preferably has an approximately circular projection with a straight part 25 27, where the activation part 9 is arranged, facing inwards to the circle. The activation part 9, is in the illustrated embodiment, a ring, preferably of the same material as the activation handle 7.

The arms of the activation handle 7 are bent in the same direction (not shown), in order to give it a three-dimensional shape. Further, the rung 26 is wider than the rest of the 30 activation handle 7, because is should comfortably rest against the wrist of a user.

The arms 24, 25 and the rung 26 is curved on the outside, and more straight on the inside (not shown) for the same reason.

The activation handle 7 is mounted in the carrier 4, by leading the activation part 9 into the slit 19, and by fastening the back plate 13. The rung 26 shall point downwards. The activation part 9 will in this way be covered by the carrier. Upon use, the activation part 9 of the activation handle 7 will be pressed up against the buttonlike protrusion 20, and the dump valve of the soap container 6, which is positioned between the activation part 9 of the activation handle 7 and the buttonlike protrusion 20, will be opened.

Claims

Claims:

1. Dispenser (1) for releasing liquid substances for sanitary purposes, skin care and the like, for installation on a vertical surface (2), including a carrier (4) for a replaceable or refillable container (6) for the liquid substance, provided with a dump valve, and a activation handle (7) with a protruding service part (8) and an activation part (9) to open the dump valve of the container (6), in order to release a measured amount of the contents of the container, characterized in

- that the activation handle (7) has two arms (24, 25) with a rung (26) there between, and the activation part (9) is opposite to the rung (26), and that - the activation handle (7) is installed in such a way that the activation part (9) is placed inside the carrier, with the rung (26) pointing downwards when the dispenser (1) is installed.

2. Dispenser (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the arms (24, 25) of the activation handle (7) are bent in the same direction, in order to give it a three-dimensional shape.

3. Dispenser (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the activation handle (7) is an approximately circular projection, with a straight edge part (27) adjacent the activation part (9).

4. Dispenser (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the activation part (9) is placed inside of the circular shape.

5. Dispenser (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the activation part (9) is a ring.

6. Dispenser according to any one of the claims 1-5, characterized in that the activation handle (7) is moulded in one piece, in plastic.

7. Dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrier (4) has two parts (17, 18), and the lower part of the carrier (4) includes a crosswise slit (19), in which the activation handle (7) is installed.

8. Dispenser (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that a bracket (23) protrudes from a hinder (18) or foremost (17) part of the carrier (4), and that a buttonlike protrusion (20) is formed under the bracket (23).

9. Dispenser (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the bracket (23) protrudes from the hinder part (18) of the carrier (4).

10. Dispenser (1) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the liquid is released by pressing the activation handle (7) upwards, and that the activation part (9) thus is pressed against the inner protrusion (20), in such a way that the dump valve of a container (6), placed between the activation part (9) and the protrusion (20) is opened.

AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau on 01 September 2000 (01.09.00); original claim 1 amended; remaining claims unchanged (1 page)] Claims:

1. Dispenser (1) far releasing liquid substances for sanitary purposes, skin care and the like, for installation on a vertical surface (2), including a carrier (4) for a replaceable or refillable coniainer (6) for the liquid substance, provided with a dump valve, and a activation handle (7) with a proiruding service part (8) and an activation part (9) to open The dump valve of ihe container (6), in order to submit a measured amount of the contents of the container, characterized in

- that the activation part (9) for the dump valve is opposite to the rung (26), and

- the activation handle (7) is arranged in such a way that the rung (26) will be stay at the lower edge o f the cam cr (4) .

5. Dispenser (1 ) according to claim 4, characterized in that the activation part (9) is a ring.

7. Dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrier (4) has two parts (17, 18), and the iower part of the carrier (4) includes a crosswise slit (19), in which the activation handle (7) is installed.