Abstract:
The invention pertains to a new type of restroom dispenser and is characterized by a casing, the back wall of which can be fastened to a vertical surface such as a restroom wall and which forms an inner chamber that holds a tank of a liquid dispenser, which has a dosing apparatus on the bottom of the casing for dosed dispensing of a liquid, for example a cleansing liquid, for example onto a piece of toilet paper.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention pertains to a restroom dispenser. 
     The object of the invention is to present a dispenser that is suitable as a supplementary element for restrooms, as a liquid dispenser for moistening paper, especially toilet paper, and for additional hygiene of the genital area. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A suitable dosing device for the liquid dispenser is, for example, a roller, which is provided with a ball and is of a similar to design to a deodorant roller. Suitable dosing devices are also spray mechanisms or other dispensers that enable dosed dispensing of liquids, for example, membrane dispensers. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the restroom dispenser also has a tampon dispensing device, and/or a fragrance dispenser, and/or an air freshener, and/or at least one lockable compartment in which additional objects, especially sanitary napkins and panty liners can be stored. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the casing is formed in such a way that it has a back wall, or an installation element by which the dispenser can be fastened to a vertical surface, for example, to the surface of a restroom wall, and has a hood-shaped casing that is hinged on the back wall, so that by moving away the hood-shaped casing the dispenser can be opened and by moving back the hood-shaped casing the dispenser can be closed. 
     The actual dispensing method, i.e. the elements and specifically the tank of the liquid dispenser are located on the back wall, so that these parts can easily be refilled and/or replaced when the casing is open. 
     The size and shape of the dispenser are such that they match visually, the existing paper roll dispensers. 
     In a further possible embodiment of the invention, the dispenser has a modular construction, i.e. it consists of several modules, each of which is fully functional in itself, i.e. for example, a liquid dispenser module, a fragrance dispenser or an air freshener module and/or a tampon dispenser module. The modules, or their casings, can then be connected to each other. 
     In a further possible embodiment of the invention, the dispenser is constructed in such a way that the casing is hood-shaped and can be moved away from the back wall for opening, and that means of fastening the liquid dispenser tank are provided on the back wall. 
     In a further possible embodiment of the invention, the dispenser is constructed in such a way that the hood-shaped casing can swivel on an axis, preferably on the vertical axis on the back wall. 
     In a further possible embodiment of the invention, the dispenser is constructed in such a way that the dosing device of the liquid dispenser includes a roller, for example, a roller provided with a ball. 
     In a further possible embodiment of the invention, the dispenser has a tampon dispensing device in the casing. 
     In a further possible embodiment of the invention, the dispenser is constructed in such a way that the tampon dispensing device includes a shaft for holding a number of tampons and at least one dispenser slide mechanism on the one open end of the shaft. 
     In a further possible embodiment of the invention, the dispenser is constructed in such a way that the shaft is located on the back wall. 
     In a further possible embodiment of the invention, the dispenser has a fragrance dispenser and/or an air freshener dispenser, in the casing. 
     In a further possible embodiment of the invention, the dispenser is constructed in such a way that the fragrance dispenser has a spraying device with an actuating button, that is accessible on the outer surface, preferably on the front of the casing. 
     In a further possible embodiment of the invention, the dispenser is constructed in such a way that the spraying device of the fragrance dispenser is located on a tank of the fragrance dispenser. 
     In a further possible embodiment of the invention, the dispenser is constructed in such a way that the casing forms at lest one compartment for holding other objects. 
     In a further possible embodiment of the invention, the dispenser is constructed in such a way that the compartment is closed by a hinged cover on the front. 
     In a further possible embodiment of the invention, the dispenser is constructed in such a way that the dosing device of the liquid dispenser includes a dosing pump and a dosing aperture, connected with the outlet of this pump, or forming the outlet of this pump. 
     In a further possible embodiment of the invention, the dispenser is constructed in such a way that the dosing pump can be actuated manually by means of an actuating element, preferably by means of a ring-shaped actuating element. 
     In a further possible embodiment of the invention, the dispenser is constructed in such a way that the actuating element is located on the bottom of the dispenser casing. 
     In principle, the possibility also exists of integrating the common paper roll dispenser in the dispenser, or of constructing it as a module for such a dispenser. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The following invention is described in more detail with reference to the sample embodiments in the figures. These depict: 
     FIG. 1 the restroom dispenser of the invention fastened to a vertical wall in side view; 
     FIG. 2 a depiction similar to FIG. 1, however with the dispenser open; 
     FIG. 3 a front view of the dispenser of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 a simplified depiction of a cross section through the dispenser of FIG. 1 in a vertical plane 
     FIG. 5 a cross section corresponding to the line B—B of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 a cross section corresponding to the line C—C of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 7 a depiction similar to FIG. 5, however with the tank of the liquid dispenser removed from the casing of the dispenser 
     FIG. 8 a back view of the hinged casing element of the dispenser of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 9 a cross section corresponding to the line E—E of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 a top view of the back wall or installation wall of the dispenser to be fastened to the vertical wall 
     FIG. 11 a cross section corresponding to the line F—F of FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 12 a cross section corresponding to the line G—G of FIG. 11; 
     FIGS. 13-17 the tank of the liquid dispenser in back view, in bottom view, in side view and cross section, in top view and in front view; 
     FIGS. 18-22 the fragrance dispenser in bottom view, front view, side view, back view and top view; and 
     FIGS. 23 and 24 a further embodiment of the restroom dispenser in side view and in cross section. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The dispenser  1  depicted in the Figures, contains an installation plate or back wall  2 , with which the dispenser  1  can be fastened to a vertical restroom wall  3 , by gluing with suitable adhesives, e.g. a double-sided adhesive strip, or with the help of fastening elements, such as screws. The dispenser  1  serves as a supplementary element for restrooms that is installed in addition to the already existing paper roll dispensers. The outer appearance of the dispenser  1  or of the casing located on the back wall  2 , is adapted to the design of common paper roll dispensers. 
     For the sake of clarity, the three right-angled spatial axes are designated with X, Y and Z, of which the Y-axis and the Z-axis define the vertical surface of the restroom wall as Y-Z plane. The casing  4 , which as the back wall  2  is made of a suitable, highly shock-resistant plastic, can be swiveled on the Y-axis on the lower edge of the essentially rectangular back wall  2  in the direction of the Y-axis, from the operating position depicted in FIG.  1  with the casing closed into a position in which the interior  5  of casing is opened, especially for the purpose of refilling, as described in more detail below. 
     On the back wall  2 , two receptacles are formed in the direction of the Y-axis offset against each other (especially FIGS.  10  and  11 ), into which a liquid dispenser tank  6  can be inserted from above by means of hook-like fastening elements  7  on the back of this tank when the casing is open, as depicted for example in FIG.  5 . The receptacles  5  are both formed by groove-like recesses that are open on the front of the back wall  2  opposite of the building wall  3  and extend in the direction of the Y-axis. Each groove forms an undercut at its end, into which the hood-shaped fastening element  7  on the back  8  of the liquid dispenser tank  6  can be inserted. The fastening elements are on the upper edge of the back  8  of the liquid dispenser tank  6  extending in the direction of the Y-axis after insertion of the liquid dispenser tank  6 . 
     In the cross-sectional plane, perpendicular to the back wall  2 , i.e. in the X-Z plane, the liquid dispenser tank  6  has a profile corresponding to a quarter-circle segment, with an even back  8  and even bottom  9 , which lies in the X-Y plane and extends perpendicular to the back  8 , as well as a front  10  with a convex circular arc curvature on the outside. 
     A closable refill opening  11  is provided on the front  10  near the crossover to the back wall  8 . On the other side  9 , there is a dispenser or dosing device  12 , which in the depicted embodiment includes a ball  13 , located at an opening of the liquid dispenser tank  6 , that is pressed against an inner surface of this opening by a pressure spring  14  in such a way that a tight seal is achieved. By holding a piece of toilet paper against the ball  13  and applying light pressure to this ball while rolling away it is possible to apply the liquid from the liquid dispenser tank  6  evenly onto the toilet paper for cleansing purposes. 
     As shown in the Figures, the casing  4  has a front wall  15  in the approximate shape of an S-curve, an upper wall  16  that lies in the X-Y plane when the casing is closed, a lower wall  17  that also lies in the X-Y plane when the casing is closed, and two side walls  18  and  19  that lie in the X-Z plane. Furthermore, the hood-shaped casing  4 , that is open at the back, is provided with two intermediate walls  20  and  21 , of which the intermediate wall  21  is parallel to the walls  16  and  17  and forms a compartment  22  below the upper wall  16  for holding various objects, such as panty liners, sanitary napkins, etc and which is closed on the front  15  of the casing  4  by a hinged cover  23 , which, as the compartment  22 , also extends along the entire width of the casing  4  in the direction of the Y-axis, and can be moved on the Y-axis on its bottom edge extending in the direction of the Y-axis, from a closed position, in which the hinged cover  23  locks into position on the upper edge on the top  16  of the casing  4 , into an open position in which the hinged cover  23  extends past the front  15  of the casing, angled slightly upward, as depicted in FIG. 1, so that the concave inner side of the hinged cover  23  forms a removal recess. The hinged cover  23  is adapted to the shape of the front  15  of the casing  4 . Between the left side wall  18 , in FIG. 4, for example, and the intermediate walls  20  and  21 , of which the intermediate wall  21  lies in the X-Z plane, and the bottom  17  a compartment  24  is formed in the casing  4  that holds e.g. the liquid dispenser tank  6  after closing the casing  4 , in such a way that only part of the surface of the ball  13  extends to the outside through an opening  25  that is located in the bottom  17  of the casing  4 . With a liquid dispenser tank  6 , inserted, or attached to the back wall  2 , as described above, a space remains in the closed casing  4  between this tank and the side wall  18  in the compartment  24  that is occupied by a fragrance dispenser  26  or by the tank  27  of this fragrance dispenser. 
     As already mentioned, the fragrance dispenser consists in part of the tank  27  for holding a liquid fragrance (e.g. perfume). On the front of the tank  27 , there is a push button  28 , with a nozzle opening  28 ′ of a spray device, which is located in the tank  27  and is constructed in the manner of common spray devices. The tank  27  can be inserted into the casing  4  in such a way that it fills the space between the liquid dispenser tank  6  and the side wall  18 , after closing the casing  4 , whereby the push button  28  with the nozzle opening  28 ′ extends to the outside through an opening  30  on the front  15  of the casing. The tank  27 , which has a closable refill opening  29  on the top and a handle  31  on the back, is pressed against the back wall  2  when the casing is closed, so that spraying of the fragrance by pressing on the push button  28  is possible. 
     Between the intermediate wall  21  and the right side wall  19 , in FIG. 4 another compartment  32  is formed in the casing  4 , also open toward the back of this casing. When the casing  4  is closed, the compartment  32  holds a shaft  33  of a tampon dispenser constructed for this purpose. The shaft  33  is located on the back wall  2  and extends from this diagonally downward, with increasing distance from the plane of the back wall  2 . The shaft  33  is open at the top end, so that tampons  34  can be filled into this shaft  33 , which then lie in the Y-axis with their longitudinal side. The bottom end of the shaft  33  is partially closed, in such a way that the tampons  34  cannot slip out. When the casing  4  is closed the bottom end of the shaft  33  is directly adjacent to the inner surface of the front wall  15 , near the crossover to the bottom  17 . On the front side  15  there is a slide mechanism  35 , which is part of the tampon dispenser and with which the bottommost tampon  35  in the shaft  33  can be pushed out at a dispenser opening on the side  19 . For the slide mechanism  35 , there is a slot  37  in the front side  15  extending in the Y-axis in which the slide mechanism  35  is guided. Furthermore, the slide mechanism  35  consists of an actuating button  35 ′ accessible on the outside of the casing and of a pusher surface  35 ″ located on the inside, against which the tampon  34  is pressed when being pushed out. The shaft  33  is for example a shaft that is closed on its entire perimeter with a rectangular profile. In principle it is also possible to choose a C-shaped profile for the shaft  33  such that the top of the shaft  33  is open at least in the middle area, so that the fill level of the shaft  33  can be visually checked. Under the shaft  33  there is a depot  38  for holding a supply of tampons  34 . 
     FIGS. 23 and 24 show a dispenser  1   a  that differs from the dispenser  1  of FIGS. 1-22 only in that instead of the dosing element  12  with the ball  13  on the liquid dispenser tank  6 , a dosing device  12   a  is provided for that has a dosing or spray pump  40  in the tank  6  with a spray opening on the bottom  17  of the casing and that can be actuated by means of an actuating ring  41  extending past the bottom  17 , by lifting this ring with a medium ring opening  42 . The spray opening is in a cone  43  that increases toward the bottom, so as to prevent unwanted lateral spraying of the liquid from the liquid dispenser. 
     The invention has been described above with reference to sample embodiments. Of course, numerous alterations and adaptations are possible without abandoning the underlying inventive idea. Thus it is possible, for example, for the liquid dispenser to have a different dosing system, for example a spray system similar to the spray system of the fragrance dispenser  26 . 
     Furthermore it is possible to integrate a toilet paper roll dispenser in the dispenser  1 . 
     Furthermore it is also possible that the liquid dispenser tank  6  consists of a one-way or disposable package for the respective liquid, whereby the dosing element  12  or  12   a  or an auxiliary tank possessing this dosing element can be connected to this tank by means of a suitable adapter or that the dosing element  12  or  12   a  is part of this disposable package. The disposable package is then designed to be exchangeable in the restroom dispenser  1  or  1   a  or in its casing  4 . 
     LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 
       1 ,  1   a  restroom dispenser 
       2  back wall 
       3  building wall 
       4  casing 
       5  receptacle 
       6  liquid dispenser tank 
       7  fastening element 
       8  back 
       9  bottom 
       10  front 
       11  refill opening 
       12 ,  12   a  dosing element 
       13  ball 
       14  spring 
       15  front of casing 
       16  top of casing 
       17  bottom of casing 
       18 ,  19  sides of casing 
       20 ,  21  intermediate walls of casing 
       22  compartment 
       23  hinged cover 
       24  compartment 
       25  opening 
       26  fragrance dispenser 
       27  fragrance dispenser tank 
       28  actuating element or push button 
       28 ′ spray nozzle 
       29  spray nozzle 
       30  opening 
       31  handle 
       32  compartment 
       33  shaft 
       34  tampon 
       35  slide mechanism 
       35 ′ actuating surface 
       35 ″ pusher surface 
       36  discharge or dispenser opening 
       37  slot 
       38  depot 
       40  dosing pump 
       41  actuating ring 
       42  ring opening 
       43  atomizing cone