Wall-mounted dispenser assembly with transparent window

A dispenser for releasably receiving a collapsible bottle having a neck and a pump projecting from the neck. The dispenser includes a back plate with a cover hinged thereto and a container receiving bracket carried on the back plate for receiving the neck of the bottle. The bottle may include a security collar fixed to the neck with a rib geometry on its periphery for mating with a complemental geometry on the bracket to fix the bottle in place on the back plate. The cover carries a projecting transverse rib on its inner surface so that, when the cover is closed, the rib engages the security collar to further assist in retaining and locating the bottle. The cover also includes a transparent sight window located adjacent its lower end for observing the level of the contents of the bottle, a light window adjacent its upper end for admitting ambient light into the closed dispenser and a push bar for activating the pump to dispense material from the bottle.

RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates, in general, to dispenser assemblies for dispensing fluid products and relates, in particular, to an improved dispenser assembly for use with a collapsible bottle structure for insuring the bottle is accurately placed and retained within the dispenser, which has improved viewing means for effectively indicating the level of the bottle contents, and keying means for insuring that only the proper bottle can be received in the proper dispenser.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are a number of fluid dispensing combinations known in the prior art generally including a back plate or body and a cover hingedly or otherwise secured to the body so that it can be opened and closed with respect thereto and a refill cartridge or container, often taking the form of a collapsible bottle for refilling the dispenser assembly when the contents of the original or current container or refill cartridge has been exhausted.

Many of these dispensers utilize a collapsible bag containing the fluid with a box supporting the bag and with the pump attached to the bag so that the box and pump can be readily utilized to replace exhausted containers. Many others, however, also use a collapsible container or refill taking the form of a molded collapsible bottle such as can be seen in Banks U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,288 rather than a collapsible bag.

In general, the marketplace, particularly for skin care products, is interested in products that are packaged in sanitary and sealed containers to ensure that the products do not become contaminated during their life cycle in the dispenser. Also there is a desire to provide problem-free dispensers. To that end, a sanitary, sealed system wherein the refill cartridge or container is non-vented to the environment provides the highest degree of product quality to the end user. In such systems germs or other foreign matter cannot enter the container or cartridge to contaminate the contents once the container is filled.

To that end, as noted, collapsible bottles are gaining in popularity. These are soft or thin walled molded bottles which collapse completely similarly to the collapsible bag of the prior art, but are felt to have less of a tendency to leak because there are no seams or welds which can open and leak. Bottles are generally also easier to handle than bags and can be shipped without individual protective packaging such as the box described above.

A major problem encountered with collapsible bottles, however, is the inability to control the collapse geometry. In most cases, these bottles have fold lines in them which are designed to more or less control the collapse so that no jamming or dislocation of the bottle within the dispenser occurs as the contents are exhausted and the bottle collapses.

When such collapse happens though, even with the most elaborate fold line construction, the bottle will still tend to twist to one side or the other and cause the dispenser to malfunction unless such movement can be controlled. Otherwise, this can cause the pump and discharge nozzle to become misaligned and the dispenser to malfunction.

It is also the case with dispensers and refill cartridges or containers of this type that the dispensers are maintained by janitorial staff and it is desirable to check the actual product level of the container or bottle within the dispenser to ascertain whether replacement is called for at the present time or in the near future. It is desirable to avoid having to open the dispenser to conduct this inspection and, to that end, the prior art has utilized what are called sight windows which are clear transparent areas of the cover so that one can observe the level of material without opening the cover. However, the prior art sight windows have also proved to be somewhat less than fully trustworthy especially because the window is usually relatively small and also due to the fact that the dispenser assembly is closed during operation and its interior is essentially light-free at that time except for any light which might enter through the sight window, there is some difficulty in observing the contents.

Furthermore, the sight windows are generally located adjacent the lower end of the cover and really are only effective to disclose the actual product level when the contents are nearly exhausted or when the janitor has to actually open the dispenser to see the actual level of the product.

Furthermore, there is a problem with dispensers of this type which are frequently used in the healthcare field, for example, in that it is often the case that the cover is labeled or bears some indicia which indicates the type of material contained therein, e.g., soap, lotion, antibacterial solution, etc. In the prior art, these products are packaged in bags or bottles of a uniform nature and, therefore, while a given installation or customer may have a variety of such products in inventory, a problem is often encountered in that the product which is actually placed into the dispenser is not the one indicated on the outer surface of the cover and, therefore, the user receives something different from want he or she might have expected or desired. Therefore, it is felt to be desirable to provide some sort of keying arrangement wherein the dispenser will only accept the proper type of refill.

Accordingly the principal objects of this invention are to provide a dispenser which firmly and accurately retains the proper bottle or refill cartridge during use, one in which the contents are readily viewable from the exterior thereof and one in which refilling with the proper material is insured.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In furtherance of the above-identified objects of the invention it has been found that viewing of the contents of the container can be enhanced by the provision of the usual sight window located adjacent the lower end of the cover and intended to permit one to view the refill container to ascertain whether its contents are exhausted or nearly exhausted by adding a light window much greater size adjacent the top end of the cover so as to permit greater ambient light to be received interiorly thereof.

Further, it has been discovered that the security of the refill container, which is normally collapsible plastic bottle, can be achieved by providing a container receiving bracket on the back plate and a mating collar on the container so that the container, once inserted into the dispenser, is fixedly held in place to avoid displacement or dislocation of the pump.

It has further been found that the problem of refilling with the wrong product can be overcome by providing a collar on the replaceable container or refill element, said collar having a particular geometry of ribs on its exterior periphery and the dispenser receiving bracket therein having a mating groove or slot configuration complemental to that of the collar on the container so that only the proper container can be inserted into a given dispenser.

It accordingly becomes the principal object of this invention to provide an improved dispenser assembly of the character above described with further objects thereof becoming more apparent upon a reading of the following brief specification considered and interpreted in view of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring first toFIGS. 1 and 2of the drawings, it will be noted that the dispenser, generally indicated by the numeral10, includes a back plate or body20and a cover30. These components are hinged together as is generally indicated by the numeral50inFIG. 2so that the cover30may be swung away from the back plate20for access to the interior as can be seen inFIG. 8, for example. The cover30also includes a hinged push bar40for engagement by the hand of the user of the dispenser10for actuation of the pump contained therein as will be described in greater detail below.

The cover30also contains a sight window60, and a light window70. Sight windows are commonly used in this art and generally take the form of the small window, such as60located near the lower portion of the cover, which presumably enables one to view at least part of the container containing the material from the outside without opening the cover30. Such windows allow the user to observe the material he or she will receive by actuating the push bar and enable maintenance personnel to ascertain whether the dispenser needs refilling. The present invention contemplates the use of that type of sight window plus a much larger light window70at the top of cover30with it having been found that greater amounts of light may be admitted to the inside of the container when the cover30is in the closed position ofFIGS. 1 and 2thereby enabling enhanced viewing through the window60as well as viewing through the window70. Such an arrangement is particularly advantageous when the container itself is fabricated from clear material.

Turning then toFIG. 3of the drawings, it will be seen that the back plate or body20has a plurality of through apertures21,21therein with these apertures being utilized to mount the back plate and hence the assembled dispenser10on a wall or other vertical surface. In this view also the hinge arrangement50can clearly be seen and it will be seen that this arrangement includes hinge pins51,51which are carried by the first or lower end of the back plate20and which are received in barrels or pin receiving members52,52which are carried on the first or lower end of cover30. Thus cover30can be easily attached to back plate20by snapping hinge pins51into pin receiving members52. It will be understood that different hinge structures could be employed if desired.

Also carried by the back plate or body20is an elongate, slidable latch bar22which is capable of sliding along the vertical or longitudinal axis of the back plate20to engage a latch plate31which projects from the top of the cover30as can be seen inFIGS. 3,6and8. A key32is employed and is inserted through the bottom of cover30to activate the latch bar22to move it upwardly for disengagement purposes. When the cover30is closed the latch plate31engages projections23on back plate20to hold the cover in the closed position. In that regard, the latch plate31on the cover30is flexibly received on the top or second end of the cover30and movement of the latch bar22in a vertical direction with respect toFIGS. 3 and 8will cause its upper end to engage latch plate31and flex it to allow the cover30to be swung open about the hinge arrangement50.

Referring then toFIG. 4of the drawings, it will be seen that the bottom surface33of cover30has an opening33aand it is intended to be capable of receiving the nozzle of the pump assembly carried by the replacement cartridge as will be described.

In that regard, and referring toFIGS. 7 and 8of the drawings, the container80is illustrated as being a collapsible bottle and has a neck portion81which receives a pump82which is held in place by a closure member83which is generally screwed or otherwise secured to the neck to hold the pump in place. The pump includes a tube (not shown) which is in fluid communication with the interior of the container80, a collapsible pumping member84and a nozzle85. Material is dispensed through nozzle85by collapsing the pumping member84.

FIG. 6is a view of the inner surface of the cover30showing the latch plate31, sight window60and light window70, push bar40and at least one transverse rib33on the inner surface of cover30which assists in retaining the container or refill cartridge within the dispenser10when the cover is closed as will also be described below.

This view also illustrates an additional feature of push bar40which has opposed extending legs41,41which, upon inward movement of push bar40, assist in actuating the pump as will be more fully described below.

FIG. 7illustrates the refill container or cartridge80inserted into the back plate or body20with its nozzle85projecting through the aperture33ain the bottom of the cover30. As mentioned, the container carries a pump82which is of the collapsible type so that collapse of the retractable portion thereof will discharge a predetermined amount of the container contents through nozzle85.

The container or refill cartridge80generally includes a body81and it is contemplated that this would be of the “rigid” type commonly used in the industry wherein, while denominated as rigid, the bottle actually will collapse as the material contained therein is drawn out through the nozzle85by activation of the pump82. These bottles are generally provided with fold lines of various designs (not shown) and collapse much as a flexible bag collapses as the material is drawn out and, in that regard, of course, the sight window60and light window70are advantageous in that they enable one to readily observe the condition of the container without opening the cover30.

Actuator90, as seen inFIGS. 5,7,7aand12, is a generally U-shaped member having a cross bar91and upwardly projecting legs92,92which are slidably received on rails24on back plate or body20. An aperture91ais provided in cross bar91for receipt of pump nozzle85and it will be seen by comparingFIGS. 7 and 7athat when actuator90is slid upwardly on rails24, the pumping member84will be collapsed to dispense material from container80. Thus, it can be seen that as actuator90moves vertically in response to movement of the push bar40in the direction of the arrow100, that legs41will engage actuator90and the pumping member84of pump82will be collapsed and activated as the cross bar91engages it in order to draw material from the container or cartridge80through the nozzle85. The extending legs41of push bar40cause this by engaging beneath cross bar91as the push bar40pivots inwardly.

It will be noted that cross bar91has a pair of upwardly projecting, opposed stub shafts93and that a pair of facing stub shafts25are carried by bracket121of the container receiving means120which is received on back plate20. These serve as seats for coil springs94,94which serve to urge actuator90and push bar40back to the idle position ofFIG. 1after the dispensing operation has taken place and the push bar40has been released.

FIGS. 7,7a,8and12also illustrate the means for retaining the cartridge or the refill container80within the dispenser. To that end, a collar110is secured to the closure member on the neck81of the container80. It is understood that the container would be supplied to the user in that condition with the collar110in place. This collar has on its outer surface at least one horizontal rib111and at least one vertical rib112.

Container receiving means are carried by the back plate or body20and are generally indicated by the numeral120as can be seen inFIG. 12. These means consist of a horseshoe-shaped bracket121which is slidably snapped into channels26on the back plate20and which includes complemental recesses or grooves122and123which receive the collar110and the ribs111and112thereof. This makes is possible to firmly engage the collar110and, thus, to firmly engage the container80within the dispenser10.

When the cover30is closed, the ribs33also will engage legs114of this collar to assist in retaining the cartridge or refill container80in place. This is important in that when containers such as80are collapsed, there is often a tendency for them to twist or turn somewhat and the ribs33will assist in resisting that to the extent that the pump82will be held in its operative position so that upon actuation of the push bar40and the actuator means90the dispenser will function as designed.

In use or operation of the improved dispenser assembly, it will first be assumed that a container80will be provided to the user with a collar110already in place thereon. Assuming the cover30to be in the open position, it is simply necessary to insert the container80into the back plate and locate the collar110in the container receiving means120with the nozzle85and the pump82projecting downwardly and the nozzle85projecting through the aperture33ain the bottom of the cover30and aperture91ain the cross bar91of actuator90. The cover30can then be closed with the latch plate31engaging the projections23on the back plate or body20to lock the cover in the closed position ofFIG. 1. Actuation of the push bar40at that point will cause the legs41of the push bar40to engage actuator90and move it upwardly against the force of springs94bringing the cross bar91and actuator90into engagement with the bracket121to activate and collapse pumping member84and dispense material through nozzle85.

It will be seen then that the present invention provides several advantages over the prior art.

First, the addition of a light window70, adjacent the top or second end of the cover30, permits a much greater quantity of ambient light to be transmitted into the interior of the dispenser. This makes it easier to observe through the sight window50to ascertain whether or not the refill container80is empty or close to empty and requires replacement. It also enhances the viewing capabilities of the interior in the closed position so that one can ascertain the nature of the material contained in container80.

The utilization of the container receiving means120and the collar110and their mating characteristics enhance the stability and location of container80and ensure that the pump84is properly located at all times. This feature also has an additional advantage, in that dispensers of this type commonly are labeled on the exterior of the cover30with the identification of the material contained therein, e.g., soap, lotion, etc. The use of the collar80ensures that the proper material is utilized for refilling the dispenser so that the user gets what he or she intends to get based on the labeling on the exterior of the cover30.

It should be noted that the precise configuration of the ribs111and112and the grooves122and123could be varied depending on the contents of the container80so as to insure that only the proper refill is utilized in a given dispenser. That is, different rib and groove geometry than that illustrated can be employed to insure that only the proper refill for any given dispenser is employed.

While a full and complete description of the invention has been set forth in accordance with the dictates of the Patent Statutes, it should be understood that modifications can be resorted to without departing from the spirit hereof or the scope of the appended claims.