SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR DISPENSERS

Abstract: Suspension system for suspending one or more dispensers (3) for dispensing measured quantities of liquid skin care products, comprising: suspension means; and at least one dispenser (3) with a dispenser housing (4), a liquid reservoir, a metering device and a control button (6). The suspension means comprise a suspension bar (1) and fixing means for fixing the suspension bar (1) to a wall or to an object connected to a wall, which suspension bar (1) extends horizontally when the suspension system is in a position mounted on a wall. The dispenser housing (4) comprises a through suspension hole (8), intended for sliding along the suspension bar (1), in such a way that a rotatable suspension of the dispenser (3) on the suspension bar (1) is obtained.

Description: Short title.- Suspension system for dispensers The invention relates to a suspension system for suspending one or more dispensers for dispensing metered quantities of liquid skin care products. An ever-increasing number of bottles with liquid skin care products can currently be found in, for example, a bathroom. This large number of bottles soon leads to a cluttered and untidy situation, in which, in addition, a large amount of the available shelf space is taken up in the bathroom. When the bathroom is being cleaned, in par- ticular the shelf space, all the bottles first have to be removed from the shelves before the shelves can be cleaned. Then all the bottles have to be put back on the shelves . This is a time-consuming and irritating chore. If the bottles are made of glass, there is also a risk that they will be accidentally knocked off the shelf, and will fall onto the ground and break. US-A-5, 673, 884 discloses in Fig. 4 a suspension system according to the preamble of claim 1. The system consists of two suction cups for placing on a wall, between which cups a suspension shelf can be fitted. Several elements, such as a soap dispenser and a soap dish can then be suspended from the suspension shelf . A disadvantage here is that the elements are suspended loosely from the suspension shelf by means of sus- pension hooks. The soap dish in particular can shoot off the suspension shelf and fall to the ground, for example as a result of the dispensing of a quantity of soap. The suspension hook of the soap dispenser is fitted on the dispenser housing by means of a suction cup. Movements of the soap dispenser, for example again as a result of the removal of a quantity of soap, soon lead to the suction cup becoming detached. Furthermore, this known suspension system is difficult to clean, owing to the profiled shape of the suspension element and to dirt which can become lodged between the suspension hook and the suspension element. - 2 - The object of the present invention is to provide a suspension system in which the abovementioned disadvantages are overcome . This object is achieved according to the invention by a suspension system according to claim 1. By fixing a suspension bar by means of fixing means to a wall or another object such as a shower head guide bar, with the suspension bar extending substantially in the horizontal direction, a dispenser with a suitable suspension hole can be slid along the suspension bar. In this way, a pivoting connection is obtained between the dispenser and the suspension bar. The suspension bar is preferably of such a length that several dispensers can be suspended alongside each other on the suspension bar. The invention thus ensures that a large proportion of the bottles with liquid skin care products such as soap, shampoo, shower foam, body lotion and the like can be moved off the shelves. The contents of a bottle can simply be transferred into a liquid reservoir of a dispenser of the suspension system according to the invention,, after which the bottle can be thrown away. The suspension system is quick and easy to clean, which is beneficial for hygiene in a bathroom. Owing to the freely rotatable suspension of the dispenser on the suspension bar, the dispenser is not so susceptible to damage resulting from rough handling, for example by children. However, should a dispenser become defective, it can be replaced. The suspension system can be extended by other types of system elements, for instance suspension hooks, a toothbrush holder, a watertight radio and the like. So long as they are provided with a suitable suspension hole, all these system elements can simply be slid along the suspension bar alongside the one or more dispensers. Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the subclaims . The invention will be explained in greater detail with reference to the appended drawing, in which : Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a first embodiment of a suspension system according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the top part of - 3 - a dispenser according to the invention with the lid unscrewed; Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of an exchangeable contents indicator; Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the wall housing part in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a view in section of the wall housing part in Fig . 4 ; Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of the bar knob part in Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a view in section of the bar knob part in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a view in section of a second embodiment of a suspension system according to the invention, coupled to a vertical guide bar; Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic top view of the suspension means made up of two halves in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a view in perspective of a third embodiment of a suspension system according to the invention, coupled to a vertical guide bar; Fig. 11 is a view in perspective of the suspension means made up of two halves in Fig. 10; and Fig. 12 is a view in perspective of a fourth embodiment of a suspension system according to the inven- tion, with a radio unit which is integral with the dispenser housing. The suspension system in Fig. 1 comprises a suspension bar 1, two wall fixing knobs 2, and a dispenser 3. The dispenser 3 consists of a dispenser housing 4, containing a liquid reservoir, a metering device connected to the underside of the reservoir, and a control button 6 connected to the metering device. A certain measure of liquid is dispensed at the underside of the dispenser 3 by depressing the control button 6. In the application according to the invention, the dispenser 3 is used for dispensing measured quantities of a liquid skin care product, such as soap, shampoo, shower foam, body lotion and the like. These products can simply be transferred from their own pack, for example a bottle, into the liquid reservoir of a dispenser. - 4 - The suspension bar 1 can be mounted on a wall by means of the two wall fixing knobs 2. In this mounted position, the suspension bar 1 extends in a horizontal direction. The dispenser housing 4 is provided with a through suspension hole 8. The dispenser 3 is slid by means of this suspension hole 8 along the suspension bar 1. The suspension is characterized in that the dispenser 3 is suspended in a freely rotatable manner from the suspension bar 1. Moreover, the dispenser 3 can be slid to the left or to the right along the suspension bar 1, as desired. A user can tilt the dispenser 3 towards him and operate it in a desired position. In this forward tilted position, the user can grip with his fingers behind a downward projecting wall part 9 of the dispenser housing 4, cup his hand, and at the same time depress the control button 6 with, for example, the palm of his hand. However, it is also possible for the user to rest the rear side of the dispenser housing 4 against a wall while he depresses the control button 6. The freely rotatable suspension of the dispenser therefore provides an additional possibility for use. Apart from the abovementioned dispenser 3, three suspension hooks 10 are also slid onto the suspension bar 1. A tooth brush holder 11 is suspended from one of the suspension hooks 10. In addition to the system elements 3 , 10 , 11 shown suspended from the suspension bar 1, it is advantageously possible to suspend several dispensers alongside each other on the suspension bar 1. This is in keeping with the trend towards using an increasing number of different skin care products. All these skin care products can be transferred into dis- pensers and suspended in a very uncluttered manner by means of the suspension system according to the invention in, for example, a shower cubicle, beside a bath or above a washbasin. The measured dispensing of the dispensers here advantageously ensures that unnecessary extravagance with the liquid skin care products does not occur. It can be seen in Fig. 2 that a dispenser housing 20 is provided with a detachable lid 21 on the top side. A suspension hole 22 in this case extends through the lid 21. The lid 21 is connected by means of a bayonet closure 23 to - 5 - the remaining part of the dispenser housing 20. This makes it advantageously possible to replenish the liquid reservoir of the dispenser without having to remove the entire dispenser from the suspension bar. The part of the dis- penser housing with the liquid reservoir can be unscrewed from the lid, while the lid remains suspended on the suspension bar. The top side of the lid 21 is provided with an exchangeable contents indicator 25. As can be seen in Fig. 3, the contents indicator 25 is in the form of a shell-shaped cap 30, which on the underside is provided with three locking hooks 31. Depending on the type of skin care product with which the liquid reservoir of the dispenser is being filled, an appropriate contents indicator 25 can be snapped firmly onto the lid 21. The wall fixing knobs 2 shown in Fig. 1 are preferably designed in such a way that the suspension bar 1 can be removed quickly and easily from the fixing knobs 2, after which it is possible to slide additional system elements onto the suspension bar 1 or to replace already suspended system elements with other system elements. In one embodiment, for this purpose each wall fixing knob 2 consists of a wall housing part 14 for immovably fixing to a wall (see also Figs. 4 and 5) and a bar knob part 16 for connecting detachably to a suspension bar (see also Figs. 6 and 7) . The wall housing part 14 and the bar knob part 16 can be connected to and detached from each other in a simple manner by means of a suitable snap connection. Figs. 4 and 5 show an embodiment of a wall housing part. The wall housing part consists substantially of a cylindrical sleeve 40 with a rear wall 41. The rear wall 41 can be connected to a wall by means of screws, by gluing, or by means of double-sided tape material. Situated inside the sleeve 40 are two T-shaped supporting ribs 42, which project slightly beyond the sleeve 40, and between which in the mounted position a suspension bar is confined. In order to limit the suspension bar towards one side, the supporting ribs 42 are provided with a vertical boundary wall 43 at one end. The sleeve 40 further has a cap-shaped snap - 6 - element 45. The snap element 45 is fitted on the end of a resilient arm 46 and projects at the side of the sleeve 40 where the boundary walls 43 are also placed. The boundary walls 43 ensure that the snap element 45 can be pressed inwards slightly at all times. Figs . 6 and 7 show an embodiment of a bar knob part. The bar knob part consists substantially of a hemispherical cap 60 provided with two quarter-cylindrical positioning plates 61. The cap 60 is provided on either side with two through apertures 63 between the positioning plates 61. The assembled form of the wall housing part shown in Figs . 4 and 5 , with the bar knob part shown in Figs . 6 and 7 and a suspension bar confined therein, can be seen in Fig. 1. A fitting operation per fixing knob is carried out as follows. A bar knob part 16 is first slid, by means of one of the through apertures 63, over an end of a suspension bar 1. Since the bar knob part 16 has two symmetrical apertures 63, it does not matter onto which end of the suspension bar 1 the bar knob part 16 is slid. The two positioning plates 61 are then pressed into the sleeve 40 on either side of the supporting ribs 42. In the course of this, the projecting part of the suspension bar 1 must be positioned in such a way that this part is situated oppo- site the snap element 45. While the positioning plates 61 are being slid into the sleeve 40, the end of the suspension bar 1 projecting into the cap 60 is pressed between two supporting ribs 42. Locking between the wall housing part 14 and the bar knob part 16 is ultimately achieved by the fact that the snap element 45 of the wall housing part 14 engages in the still free aperture 63 in the bar knob part 16. The wall housing part 14 and the bar knob part 16 can be detached from each other again by pressing the snap element 45 inwards in the cap 60, after which the bar knob part 16 together with the suspension bar 1 can be slid outwards away from the wall housing part 14. The wall fixing knobs according to the invention thus ensure that the suspension bar, with the system elements suspended thereon, is simple to mount or remove between the wall fixing knobs . - 7 - The snap connection is simple to operate and at the same time advantageously shuts off the free end of the suspension bar. The suspension system in Fig. 8 is designed for use on a guide bar already connected to a wall . Such a guide bar is often already present in a bathroom, for instance the shower head guide bar by means of which a shower head can be adjusted in height as desired. Another example is the water pipes often running along the wall . The suspen- sion system again comprises a suspension bar 81, onto which a dispenser 82 with a through suspension hole 83 is slid. Only the top part of the dispenser 82 is shown in Fig. 8. The dispenser can be, for example, identical to that in Fig. 1. The suspension bar 21 is integral with a coupling element 85, which engages around a vertical guide bar 80 connected to a wall (not shown) . The coupling element 85 is preferably designed in such a way here - for example, by means of a compressible cylinder shoe with a high coefficient of friction accommodated in the coupling element 85 - that rotation around the vertical guide bar 80 is possible, while the suspension means and dispenser as a whole can be slid vertically along the vertical guide bar 80. In order to ensure that the entire vertical guide bar 80 does not have to be removed from a wall first before the coupling element 85 can be slid along the vertical guide bar 80, the coupling element 85 and the suspension bar 81 are preferably in the form of two symmetrical halves 90, as can be seen in Fig. 9. The two halves 90 at the position of the coupling element together define a through opening 92, which is intended for gripping around a vertical guide bar in a clamping manner. After the two halves 90 have been fitted around a guide bar, the two halves 90 can be locked together through the cylindrical wall of the suspension hole 83 of the dispenser 82. The free ends of the halves 90 are provided with raised edge parts 95. Together with an edge part projecting inwards into the suspension hole 83, this advantageously ensures that once a dispenser has been slid along the halves 90, it cannot slide off the suspension bar. The free end of the through suspension hole 83 is - 8 - shut off by a shut-off cap 87. This prevents dirt from being able to collect there in the suspension hole 83. If desired, a longer suspension bar can be used, which makes it possible to slide more than one dispenser or other types of system elements onto the suspension bar. Fig. 10 shows a suspension system which largely corresponds to the suspension system shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Here again, a dispenser 102 with a through suspension hole 103 is slid along a suspension bar 101. The suspension bar 101 is integral with a coupling element 105, which acts upon a vertical guide bar 100. The assembly of suspension bar 101 and coupling element 105 consists of two housing halves 110, which are shown disassembled in Fig. 11. At the position of the coupling element parts 105, the two housing halves 110 define a through opening which is intended for gripping around the vertical guide bar 100. The housing halves 110 are each provided with a projecting bush 112 with a snap edge 113. After the two housing halves 110 have been fitted around the guide bar 100 and pressed onto one another, the respective snap edges 113 snap into each other, with the result that the two housing halves 110 are locked together. A cuff 115 is provided, in order to increase the grip of the coupling element parts 105 on the guide bar 100. The cuff 115 can be opened out and is preferably made of a soft plastic or rubber. During mounting, the cuff 115 is folded around the guide bar 100, after which the two coupling element parts 105 are placed around the cuff 115 and engage thereon in the locked position. The cuff 115 can advantageously also be used as a bridge part for guide bars of differing diameters, for example for shower bars with standard dimensions of 18 and 22 mm respectively. Supplying several cuffs of different dimensions along with a suspension system according to the invention ensures that the suspension system can be used simply and cheaply for different guide bars, without the coupling element 105 having to be adapted for this purpose . At the position of the suspension bar parts 101, the two housing halves 110 are provided with snap fingers - 9 - 120, which project slightly beyond the peripheral wall of the suspension bar parts 101. The dispenser housing is provided with complementary recesses made in the through suspension hole. In the mounted position, the snap fingers 120 snap into the complementary recesses. Viewed in the tangential direction, the complementary recesses partially have a constant depth, and subsequently decrease gradually in depth. This means that if the dispenser 102 is rotated through a relatively large angle relative to the suspension bar parts 101, the snap fingers 120 are gradually depressed, after which it is possible to slide the dispenser 102 off the suspension bar parts 101 in the axial direction. Fig. 12 shows a special embodiment of a suspension system with a dispenser according to the invention. The dispenser consists of a dispenser housing 124, a liquid reservoir 125 accommodated therein, a metering device which is connected to the underside of the reservoir, and a control button 126 connected to the metering device. In its top part, the dispenser housing 124 is provided with a radio unit 130. The radio unit 130 is provided with a tuning button 131, an ON/OFF button 132 and a volume button 133. The buttons are shaped and positioned in such a way here that the entire dispenser 123 has the amusing appear- ance of a doll. The radio unit 130 is advantageously accommodated in a part of the dispenser housing 124 in the form of a lid, and is detachably connected in a sealing manner to the part of the dispenser housing 124 in which the liquid reservoir 125 is situated. Many variants are possible in addition to the embodiments shown. For instance, the suspension bar to be positioned horizontally can be fixed to a wall in countless ways. However, the fixing of the suspension bar to the wall is preferably easily detachable, so that the system elements to be suspended from the suspension bar can be exchanged quickly. The modular suspension system is very flexible and can be adapted to everyone's requirements. The suspension means for coupling to a guide bar already connected to a wall are of a very simple construction and - 10 - cheap to produce, and they are preferably constructed from two halves which can be clamped around the guide bar, without first having to remove the guide bar from the wall for this purpose. Since these suspension means with coupling element can also interact with the same dispenser and other system elements as those in the case of the suspension means with wall fixing knobs, a user can suspend dispensers or other system elements, purchased once, from one of the two suspension systems, as desired.

Claims: - 11 - Claims 1. Suspension system for suspending one or more dispensers (3) for dispensing liquid skin care products, comprising: at least one dispenser (3) with a dispenser housing (4) and a liquid reservoir; a suspension element; and fixing means for fixing the suspension element to a wall or to an object connected to a wall, the suspension element extending substantially horizontally when the suspension system is in a position mounted on a wall, characterized in that the suspension element is a suspension bar (1) , and the dispenser housing (4) comprises a through suspension hole (8) , designed for sliding along the suspension bar (1) , in such a way that a rotatable suspension of the dispenser (3) on the suspension bar (1) is obtained. 2. Suspension system according to claim 1, in which the dispenser (3) further comprises a metering device and a control button (6) . 3. Suspension system according to claim 1 or 2, in which the diameter of the through suspension hole (8) substantially corresponds to the diameter of the suspension bar (1) . 4. Suspension system according to one of the preceding claims, in which the dispenser housing (20) further comprises a lid (21) , and the suspension hole (22) extends through the lid (21) . 5. Suspension system according to claim 4, in which the lid (21) is detachably connected by means of a bayonet closure (23) to the remaining part of the dispenser housing (20) . 6. Suspension system according to one of the preceding claims, in which the dispenser housing (20) is provided with an exchangeable contents indicator (25) . 7. Suspension system according to one of claims 1-6, in which the fixing means comprise two wall fixing knobs - 12 - (2) which are detachably connected to the suspension bar (1) • 8. Suspension system according to claim 7, in which ' the wall fixing knob (2) consists of a wall housing part (14) for immovably fixing to a wall, and a bar knob part (16) for detachably connecting to the suspension bar (1) , which parts can be detachably connected to each other. 9. Suspension system according to claim 8, in which the bar knob part (16) has two through apertures (63) situ- ated opposite each other, one through aperture (63) of which is intended for accommodating an end of the suspension bar (1) , and in which the wall housing part (14) comprises a projecting cap-shaped snap element (45) , which is intended for snapping into the other through aperture (63) in the bar knob part (16) . 10. Suspension system according to one of claims 1-6, in which the fixing means comprise a coupling element (85) which is connected to the suspension bar (81) and is intended for connection to a guide bar (80) connected to a wall. 11. Suspension system according to claim 10, in which the coupling element (85) and the suspension bar (81) consist of two housing halves (90) which can be locked together, which two halves (90) when in a locked position together define a through hole (92) at the position of the coupling element parts (85) , for engaging in a clamping manner around the guide bar (80) . 12. Suspension system according to claim 11, in which the fixing means further comprise a cuff (115) , which is intended for placing around the guide bar (100) , and around which the two coupling element parts (105) are intended for engaging in the locked position. 13. Suspension system according to claim 12, in which the cuff (115) can be opened out and is made of a soft plastic or rubber. 14. Suspension system according to one of the preceding claims, in which the suspension bar (101) is provided in its peripheral wall with one or more resilient snap fingers (120) , and the dispenser housing is provided with one or - 13 - more complementary recesses made in the through suspension hole, in order to limit in the axial direction a dispenser (102) slid onto the suspension bar (101) . 15. Suspension system according to claim 14, in which the recesses gradually decrease in depth in the tangential direction, in order gradually to depress the snap fingers (120) from a certain rotation of the dispenser housing around the suspension bar (101) onwards. 16. Suspension system according to one of the preceding claims, in which the dispenser housing (124) comprises a radio unit (130) . 17. Suspension system according to claims 3 and 16, in which the radio unit (130) is provided in the lid. 18. Dispenser for use on a suspension system according to one of claims 1-17.

Inventors: MIDDENDORP OSCAR, MIDDENDORP, OSCAR
Applicants: INNOESSENTIALS INT BV, MIDDENDORP OSCAR, INNOESSENTIALS INTERNATIONAL B.V., MIDDENDORP, OSCAR
Application year: 1999
Main classification: A47K1
IPC codes: A47J47, A47K1