Patent Publication Number: US-11045052-B2

Title: Ligature-resistant dispenser

Description:
This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/851,026, filed Dec. 21, 2017, the entire contents of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present invention is generally directed to dispensers that dispense a consumable product, such as soap, lotion, antiseptic, and the like. Specifically, the present invention is directed to surface mounted dispensers with anti-ligature features for the prevention of suicide attempts. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In environments with high suicide rates, such as medical facilities, prisons, detention centers, and mental health facilities, various structures within a room of the facility could be used as attachment or anchor points in suicide attempts. These anchor points can be used as attachment points for ligatures (e.g., rope, sheets, fabric, string, and the like) where the ligature is used by an individual to commit suicide by strangulation. Furthermore, an individual need not be fully suspended to commit suicide by hanging. Indeed, death by hanging or strangulation can occur while a person is partially suspended or in a kneeling, lying down, or seated position. 
     To prevent this from happening, rooms and fixtures may be designed to remove or minimize fixtures with such anchor points. Ligature anchoring points may be doors, grab bars, handles, towel bars, ceiling fans, door knobs and the like. Ligature anchoring points may also be dispensers, such as towel, liquid, or foam soap dispensers. Existing dispensers typically have a general box shape, which can allow for ligature anchoring to the top or to corners. Moreover, many dispensers are made from plastic materials that can easily be cracked or distorted allowing easier access to edges or corners from which to anchor a ligature. 
     In addition, wall-mounted dispensers can have a gap between the mounting surface and the dispenser, or are made from materials that can be bent or pulled from the mounting surface to create gaps for ligature anchoring. U.S. Pat. No. 9,585,528 discloses an anti-ligature system that includes sharp fixtures positioned to cut any ligature positioned between the dispenser and the mounting surface. However, skilled artisans will appreciate that significant damage to an individual may still occur even in the short amount of time that it takes for a ligature to be severed by these fixtures. Furthermore, these fixtures potentially become exposed sharp edges that present additional hazards. 
     Additional gaps or ligature anchor points can be created by the actuation system of existing dispensers. A typical dispenser utilizing manual actuation may include a lever type system with an externally accessible push bar. Once the push bar is depressed, it creates a gap between the push bar and the dispenser housing that can be used as an anchor point for a ligature. Such lever mechanisms are disclosed in, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,991,655 and 6,701,573. 
     Therefore, there remains a need in the art for dispensers with improved anti-ligature safety features without sacrificing significant mechanical efficiency. 
     SUMMARY 
     In light of the foregoing, it is a first aspect of the present invention to provide an anti-ligature dispenser mountable to a surface comprising a back mounting plate having a vertical axis and adapted to be mounted to a surface, wherein the back mounting plate comprises a dispensing platform substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis of the back mounting plate, and wherein the back mounting plate further comprises a perimeter flange that extends outwardly from the back mounting plate and a front housing cover having an underside, the front housing cover having a cover edge configured to abut the back mounting plate inside the perimeter flange thereby enclosing the back mounting plate when in a closed position and preventing access to the underside of the front housing cover. In this aspect, the dispensing platform comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, where the front housing cover comprises a contoured outer surface substantially devoid of ligature anchoring points, and where the front housing cover when in the closed position and the outer surface of the dispensing platform form a housing bottom underside that is substantially devoid of ligature anchoring points. 
     In other embodiments, the front housing cover is hingedly connected to said back mounting plate by at least one hinging mechanism, wherein the at least one hinging mechanism is disposed within the underside of the front housing cover. In yet other embodiments, the front housing cover comprises a material having a yield strength of at least about 100 MPa. In still other embodiments, the front housing cover is made from aluminum metal. 
     In an embodiment, the dispensing system is configured to dispense a discrete quantity of fluid from a container, wherein the dispensing system comprises a lever member having a pivot, a first lever section, and a second lever section, the pivot pivotally connected to the underside of the front housing cover so that the lever member is moveable between a first position and a second position upon application of an input force to the first lever section; an actuator movable between a rest position and a dispense position and configured to contact at least one actuator contact point on the second lever section of the lever member; and an activator member comprising an exterior portion and an interior portion, wherein the exterior portion comprises a contact surface accessible on an exterior side of the front housing cover, and wherein the interior portion is configured to contact the first lever section of the lever member at an activator contact point. 
     In another embodiment, the dispensing system includes a first lever distance and a second lever distance, wherein the first lever distance is from the pivot to the activator contact point and the second lever distance is from the pivot to the at least one actuator contact point, and wherein the first lever distance is greater than the second lever distance. Further, the activator member is configured to receive an application of an input force at an axis substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis of the back mounting plate and apply a first output force to the first lever section of the lever member. In response, the lever member pivots from the first position to the second position and applies a second output force to the actuator, and the actuator, in response to the second output force, moves from the rest position to the dispensing position along an axis that is substantially parallel to the vertical axis of the back mounting plate. In another embodiment, the first lever distance is 105% greater than the second lever distance. 
     In some embodiments, the actuator comprises a set of upwardly curving actuator arms, the distal end of each actuator arm comprising an actuator notch; wherein the lever member further comprises a set of lever arms, each lever arm extending laterally from the second lever section, the distal end of each lever arm comprising an upwardly extending portion that is disposed within a corresponding actuator notch when the front housing cover is in the closed position. In other embodiments, the exterior portion of the activator member comprises tapered side walls that extend externally from the front housing cover to the contact surface, and wherein exterior portion and the contact surface of the activator member are substantially devoid of ligature anchoring points. In yet other embodiments, the actuator further comprises a first dispensing cylinder having a first outer edge and an opening for liquid flowthrough, wherein the opening has a diameter of at least about 1.9 cm. In still other embodiments, the dispensing platform comprises a second dispensing cylinder having outer sidewalls tapered to a second outer edge and having an opening for receiving the first dispensing cylinder of the actuator, wherein the first dispensing cylinder moves within the second dispensing cylinder upon movement of the actuator between the rest position and the dispensing position, and wherein the first outer edge moves less than or equal to 1.5 cm externally to the second outer edge when the actuator is in the rest position. 
     Further, the anti-ligature dispenser may also include a pump stabilizing member connected to the back mounting plate and at least partially disposed within the underside of the front housing cover when in the closed position, wherein the pump stabilizing member is configured to receive a liquid container comprising a pump, and wherein movement of the actuator to the dispensing position compresses the pump of the liquid container thereby dispensing fluid into the opening of the first dispensing cylinder. 
     In another aspect, a dispenser is provided comprising an interior enclosed by a housing and a dispensing system; the housing comprising a contoured front surface substantially devoid of ligature anchor points and the dispensing system disposed within the interior and configured to dispense a discrete quantity of fluid from a container. In such aspect, the dispensing system includes a lever member having a pivot, a first lever section, and a second lever section comprising a set of laterally extending lever arms, the pivot pivotally connected to the underside of the front housing cover so that the lever member is moveable between a first position and a second position upon application of an input force to the first lever section; an actuator movable between a rest position and a dispense position and comprising a set of actuator notches, each actuator notch configured to contact a lever arm of the lever member at an actuator contact point; and an activator member comprising an exterior portion and an interior portion, wherein the exterior portion comprises a contact surface accessible on an exterior side of the front surface of the housing, and wherein the interior portion is configured to contact the first lever section of the lever member at an activator contact point. 
     In some embodiments, the lever section further comprises a first lever distance measured from the pivot to the activator contact point and a second lever distance measured from the pivot to an actuator contact point. In such embodiments, the first lever distance is greater than the second lever distance. In addition, the activator member is configured to receive an application of an input force along a first axis and apply a first output force to the first lever section of the lever member, wherein the lever member, in response to the first output force, pivots from the first position to the second position and applies a second output force to the actuator, and wherein the actuator, in response to the second output force, moves from the rest position to the dispensing position along a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. In other embodiments, the exterior portion of the activator member comprises tapered side walls that extend externally from the front surface of the housing to the contact surface, and wherein exterior portion and the contact surface of the activator member are substantially devoid of ligature anchoring points. In yet another embodiment, the activator member is a push button. 
     In an embodiment, the actuator further comprises a dispensing cylinder having an opening for liquid flowthrough, wherein the opening has a diameter between about 1.5 cm and about 2.5 cm and is configured for receiving a pump nozzle, wherein the actuator further comprises a clip receptacle configured for receiving a clip for attaching the pump nozzle to the actuator thereby preventing access to the interior of the housing. 
     In another aspect, provided herein is an anti-ligature dispenser mountable to a surface comprising a back mounting plate having a vertical axis and adapted to be mounted to a surface, wherein the back mounting plate comprises a dispensing platform substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis of the back mounting plate; a front housing cover having an underside, the front housing cover having a cover edge configured to abut the back mounting plate thereby enclosing the back mounting plate when in a closed position and preventing access to the underside of the front housing cover; and an actuator disposed within the underside of the front housing cover when in the closed position, the actuator moveable between a rest position and a dispense position, wherein the actuator further comprises a first dispensing cylinder having a first outer edge and an opening for liquid flowthrough. In this aspect, the dispensing platform comprises an outer surface and a second dispensing cylinder having outer sidewalls tapered to a second outer edge and having an opening for receiving the first dispensing cylinder, wherein the first dispensing cylinder moves within the second dispensing cylinder upon movement of the actuator, and wherein the first outer edge moves less than or equal to 1.5 cm externally to the second outer edge when the actuator is in the rest position; and wherein the front housing cover comprises a contoured outer surface substantially devoid of ligature anchoring points, and wherein the front housing cover when in the closed position and the outer surface of the dispensing platform form a housing bottom underside that is substantially devoid of ligature anchoring points. 
     In another embodiment, the anti-ligature dispenser also includes a lever member having a pivot, a first lever section, and a second lever section, the pivot pivotally connected to the underside of the front housing cover so that the lever member is moveable between a first position and a second position upon application of an input force to the first lever section, wherein the actuator is configured to provide at least one contact point with the second lever section of the lever member; an activator member comprising an exterior portion and an interior portion, wherein the exterior portion comprises a contact surface accessible on an exterior side of the front housing cover, and wherein the interior portion is configured to contact the first lever section of the lever member; and wherein the activator member is configured to receive an application of an input force along a first axis and apply a first output force to the first lever section of the lever member, wherein the lever member, in response to the first output force, pivots from the first position to the second position and applies a second output force to the actuator, and wherein the actuator, in response to the second output force, moves from the rest position to the dispensing position along a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIGS. 1A-C  depict various views of an exemplary anti-ligature dispenser according to the concepts of the present disclosure.  FIG. 1A  is a front perspective view of an exemplary anti-ligature dispenser. 
         FIG. 1B  is a back view of an exemplary anti-ligature dispenser. 
         FIG. 1C  is a side view of an exemplary anti-ligature dispenser. 
         FIGS. 2A  and B are diagrammatical representations of an exemplary anti-ligature dispenser according to the concepts of the present disclosure.  FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional diagram of an exemplary anti-ligature dispenser. 
         FIG. 2B  is a front perspective view showing the interior of an exemplary anti-ligature dispenser. 
         FIG. 3A  is an exploded view of an exemplary anti-ligature dispenser according to the concepts of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3B  is an interior view of an exemplary front housing cover according to the concepts of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the top of an exemplary liquid container and pump according to the concepts of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of an exemplary pump stabilizer component according to the concepts of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of an exemplary actuator component according to the concepts of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7A  is a front perspective view of an exemplary lever member component according to the concepts of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7B  is a side view of an exemplary lever member component according to the concepts of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of exemplary activator member and activator guide cylinder components according to the concepts of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary anti-ligature dispenser according to the concepts of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 10A  is a front perspective view of an exemplary anti-ligature dispenser according to the concepts of the present disclosure. In this view, a section front housing cover is removed to provide a view of the interior of the exemplary dispenser. 
         FIG. 10B  is a front view of an exemplary anti-ligature dispenser according to the concepts of the present disclosure. In this view, the front housing cover is open to provide a view of the interior of the exemplary dispenser. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The dispensers disclosed herein possess a unique and innovative design that confers increased safety features. Provided herein are anti-ligature dispensers with a contoured and resilient housing design that prevents attachment of ligatures that could be used to cause harm to individuals. Further, the instant disclosure describes an inventive dispenser system with a gap-free and contoured activator member that provides additional safety while maintaining the mechanical efficiency necessary to allow easy operation of the device. The anti-ligature dispensers disclosed herein may include additional safety features as will be described in more detail below. 
     Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as those commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Standard techniques are used unless otherwise specified. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present disclosure, suitable methods and materials are described below. The materials, methods and examples are illustrative only, and are not intended to be limiting. All publications, patents and other documents mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. 
     The term “about” refers to the variation in the numerical value of a measurement, e.g., diameter, weight, length, volume, angle degrees, etc., due to typical error rates of the device used to obtain that measure. In one embodiment, the term “about” means within 5% of the reported numerical value, preferably, the term “about” means within 3% of the reported numerical value. 
     It is an aspect of this disclosure to provide an anti-ligature dispenser that is substantially devoid of ligature attachment or anchoring points when mounted to a surface, such as a wall or pillar. The term “substantially” means that the anti-ligature dispenser provided herein has an exterior surface that, when mounted to a surface, does not have any edges, corners, gaps, or other features that provide an attachment point for a ligature (e.g., rope, string, sheet, fabric, cord, and the like) supporting more than about 2 kg to about 5 kg of weight. For instance, the anti-ligature dispensers described herein may include a back mounting plate for mounting the dispenser to a surface wherein the contact between the dispenser and the mounting surface is substantially devoid of gaps for which a ligature could be attached or anchored. Further, the anti-ligature dispensers described herein may include a contoured, smooth and rounded front surface that is substantially devoid of ligature anchoring points. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3  it can be seen that an anti-ligature dispenser is designated generally by the numeral  10 . The dispenser  10  includes a dispenser housing  15  that encloses a material to be dispensed such as a solid or a liquid. In particular aspects, the material is a liquid, such as soap, lotion, sanitizer, and the like. The anti-ligature dispenser will have a dispensing system capable of dispensing a discrete amount of the solid or liquid. In some embodiments, the dispenser system dispenses solid or liquid in response to some type of sensor detection. In other embodiments, dispenser system dispenses solid or liquid in response to mechanical activation of the system, e.g., manual operation of a press button. The dispenser housing  15  may include a back mounting plate  20  which in most embodiments is substantially planar and capable of being mounted to a surface, such as a wall. A front housing cover  25  may be attached or connected to the back mounting plate  20 . In some embodiments, the front housing cover  25  is sized to fully encapsulate the back mounting plate  20  when the dispenser is in the operational condition. In other words, no edges of the back mounting plate  20  are exposed when the front housing cover  25  is in a closed position. In other embodiments, the front housing cover  25  abuts the back mounting plate  20  such that there is no space between the front housing cover  25  and the back mounting plate  20  from which to attach or insert a ligature. 
     In particular embodiments, the back mounting plate  20  includes a perimeter flange  30  that extends outwardly from the back mounting plate  20 . In such embodiments, the front housing cover  25  is sized such that the cover edge  28  (see  FIG. 3A ) of the front housing cover abuts the back mounting plate  20  and fits tightly inside the perimeter flange  30  thereby effectively eliminating gaps in which to attach a ligature. Moreover, the front housing cover  25  may be contoured to create a very smooth and sloping surface that does not have ledges, corners, edges, or gaps and, therefore, does not allow for attachment of ligatures. Since the dispenser will typically be configured for receiving a material container, such as a liquid container, within its interior, it is contemplated that the front housing cover  25  will have a general elongated dome or concave shape with sloped curves to a generally flat bottomside  55 , from where material is dispensed (see, for example  FIGS. 1A and 1C ). Thus, when mounted to a surface, the front housing cover will be substantially devoid of ligature anchor points. 
     In particular embodiments, the housing  15  of the anti-ligature dispenser may be made wholly or partially from a material with high yield strength to resist deformation. For instance, the back mounting plate  20 , the front housing cover  25 , or both may be made from a strong plastic or metal material that is not easily cracked, dented, or otherwise distorted so as to allow access to the interior or enable attachment of a ligature. Further, the back mounting plate  20  may be made from a strong plastic or metal material that is not easily distorted and pulled from its mounting surface so as to create a gap between the mounting surface and the dispenser from which to attach or anchor a ligature. As one having ordinary skill in the art would understand, the term “yield strength” is defined as the stress at which a predetermined amount of permanent deformation to the material occurs. Suitable housing material may have a yield strength of at least about 100 MPa. In some embodiments, the yield strength should be at least about 130 MPa. In yet other embodiments, the yield strength is about 160 MPa or more. In other embodiments, the material may have a yield strength of at least about 275 MPa. In yet other embodiments, a suitable material will have a yield strength of about 100 MPa, 105 MPa, 110 MPa, 115 MPa, 120 MPa, 125 MPa, 130 MPa, 135 MPa, 140 MPa, 145 MPa, 150 MPa, 155 MPa, 160 MPa, 165 MPa, 170 MPa, 175 MPa, 180 MPa, 185 MPa, 190 MPa, 195 MPa, 200 MPa, 210 MPa, 220 MPa, 230 MPa, 240 MPa, 250 MPa, 260 MPa, 270 MPa, 280 MPa, 290 MPa, 300 MPa, or more. The housing of the dispenser may be made from hard plastic, glass filled plastic, or metal, using art-standard molding or die cast techniques. Exemplary metals include stainless steel, zinc, and aluminum. In some embodiments, the anti-ligature dispenser is made from aluminum. Thus, the anti-ligature dispenser housing provided herein is not easily cracked, distorted, or dented therefore providing for a housing surface that is substantially devoid of ligature anchoring points when in a closed position (i.e., operational configuration) and mounted to a surface. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 1B , the anti-ligature dispenser may contain a plurality of mounting holes  35  in the back mounting plate  20 . The back mounting plate  20  can then be secured to a surface (e.g., wall) with, e.g., mounting screws  36 . The front housing cover  25  may be snap-fit or otherwise attached to the back mounting plate  20  by any suitable means. In a particular embodiment, front housing cover  25  is attached to the back mounting plate by one or more hinge attachments  40 . For instance, the hinge attachment  40  may be a set of pins  42  integral to the back mounting plate  20  and attached to metal brackets  44  that that are fastened to the underside of the front housing cover  25  (see  FIGS. 1B, 3A, and 3B ). In such embodiments, the interior of the dispenser housing may be accessed by pivoting the front housing cover  25  at the hinge attachments  40 . To prevent unauthorized access to the interior of the dispenser, a key and latch mechanism  45  may be included to lock the front housing cover  25  to the back mounting plate  20 . When the key and latch mechanism  45  is unlocked, the front housing cover  25  may pivot at hinge attachments  40  and swing downwards to allow access to the underside of the front housing cover  25  and the back mounting plate  20 . The back mounting plate  20  may have one or more recesses or openings  50  that allow for a portion of the front housing cover  25  to pass through when in the open position so that it may be pivoted to a position that is approximately perpendicular to the back mounting plate  20 . 
     Also shown in  FIG. 1  is the dispenser outlet  60  on the bottomside  55  of the housing  15  and an activator member  65 , such as a push button, disposed within the front housing cover  25 . Consistent with the contoured and rounded design of the front housing cover  25 , the activator member  65  may have sidewalls  66  that taper to a relatively smooth contact surface  68  with rounded edges. Thus, the activator member  65  is substantially devoid of ligature anchor points. Likewise, the dispenser outlet  60 , which may be a separate component or integral to either the back mounting plate  20  or the front housing cover  25 , also includes smooth outer walls  62  that are tapered to the outer edge  64 . In a particular embodiment, the dispenser outlet  60  may be disposed within (e.g., machined in) a dispenser platform  70  that is attached or integral to the back mounting plate  20  and is substantially perpendicular to the back mounting plate  20  (see  FIGS. 3A and 10B ). It being understood that the term “substantially perpendicular” as used herein means at an angle between about 75 degrees and 105 degrees, preferably between about 80 degrees and 100 degrees, more preferably between about 85 degrees and 95 degrees, most preferably between about 88 and 92 degrees to a given surface. In a specific embodiment, when the front housing cover  25  is in the closed position, the dispensing platform  70  and the front housing cover  25  form an outer surface of the bottomside  55  that is substantially free of edges or gaps from which to anchor a ligature (see  FIG. 9 ). 
     The anti-ligature dispenser of the present disclosure may also include a dispensing system for the dispensing of a discrete amount of material, such as a liquid. The components of the dispensing system can be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3A  and generally include an activator member  65 , a lever member  75 , an actuator  80 , and a pump stabilizer  85  for receiving a container, such as a liquid container  90  and pump  95  assembly. In a particular embodiment, a container  90  that is filled with a liquid (e.g., soap or sanitizer) is inserted into the dispenser in an inverted orientation (see  FIGS. 2A and 10 ).  FIG. 4  provides a more detailed view of an exemplary container  90  that includes a pump  95  and a dispensing nozzle  100 . The container  90  is stabilized within the housing by the pump stabilizer  85  as will be described in additional detail below. In this embodiment, the actuator  80  is vertically movable in relation to housing  15  and pump stabilizer  85  to cause mechanical actuation of the pump  95  resulting in dispensation of a discrete quantity of liquid from the dispensing nozzle  100 , it being understood that pump  95  may be any liquid pump or a foam pump available in the art. In the example dispenser depicted in  FIG. 2 , the actuator  80  is movable in response to a force applied manually to the activator member  65 , which acts upon the lever member  75  to move the actuator  80  against a pair of biasing springs  109 . While this particular embodiment requires manual force to cause actuation of the pump  95 , it is also contemplated that a sensor-motor type actuator system could also be used in the anti-ligature dispenser of the present disclosure. 
     The dispensing system of the anti-ligature dispenser  10  will now be explained in further detail.  FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary pump stabilizer  85  that includes a pump collar receptacle  110 , a groove  112 , a curved vertical wall  114 , one or more fastening elements  118 , and a spring pin  120 . The pump stabilizer  85  may be fastened to the back mounting plate  20  by attaching the fastening elements  118  to an attachment point  118 ′ on the back mounting plate  20  (see  FIG. 3A ). In other embodiments, the pump stabilizer  85  is integral to the back mounting plate  20  (e.g., machined into the back mounting plate). The biasing springs  109  connect the pump stabilizer  85  to the actuator  80  at spring pins  120  and  122 , respectively (see  FIGS. 5, 6, and 10B ). The biasing springs  109  bias the actuator  80  to its rest position. Upon, application of force sufficient to overcome the biasing force of the biasing springs  109 , the actuator  80  moves upwards in relation to the pump stabilizer  85  and into to its dispensing position (see  FIG. 2 ). As shown in  FIG. 6 , the actuator  80  may include an inner dispensing cylinder  125  having a nozzle seat  160  at one end and an outer edge  127  at the other end. In this exemplary embodiment, the actuator  80  includes a pair of actuator arms  140  giving the actuator  80  a general u-shape. Each actuator arm  140  may include a notch  145  and a curved notch hood  150  at the distal end. Further, in this particular embodiment, each actuator arm  140  includes a guide tab  155 . At its top portion, the inner dispensing cylinder  125  provides a nozzle ramp  130  as well as a nozzle receptacle  135  to provide a liquid flowthrough  165  for dispensed material. The inner dispensing cylinder  125  is slideably disposed within bore  170  of the dispensing outlet  60  (see  FIGS. 2A and 3A ). As the actuator  80  moves up and down within the housing  15 , the inner dispensing cylinder  125  moves up and down within the dispensing outlet  60  and the guide tabs  155  move along guide flanges  175  that extend from the back mounting plate  20 . 
     In some embodiments, a liquid or foam pump and refill container are used with the anti-ligature dispensers provided herein. The pump stabilizer  85  holds the pump in a position wherein the actuator  80  can cause dispensation of a discrete amount of liquid or foam from the container by actuating the pump. For instance, in an exemplary embodiment, container  90  is a disposable liquid refill container with a foam pump  95 . The pump  95  includes a dispensing nozzle  100  that, when compressed into the body of the pump  95 , causes a discrete amount of liquid or foam to be dispensed. In some embodiments, the dispensing nozzle  100  is comprised of two cylindrical portions; a wider cylindrical portion forming a nozzle shoulder  102  and a thinner cylindrical portion forming the nozzle tip  104  wherein the nozzle shoulder  102  and nozzle tip  104  are separated by an annular recess  106  (see  FIG. 4 ). The pump  95  can be anchored into pump stabilizer  85  by way of a groove and tab fit. For instance, a pump collar  105 , which is fitted around the circumference of the pump  95 , may include a collar tab  107  that is slideably received into the groove  112  of the pump collar receptacle  110  (see  FIGS. 5 and 10 ). As illustrated best in  FIGS. 4, 6, and 10B , the dispensing nozzle  100  is slid over the nozzle ramp  130  of the actuator  80  so that the tip  104  of the dispensing nozzle  100  is inserted into the nozzle receptacle  135  of the inner dispensing cylinder  125 . As noted above, the nozzle receptacle  135  of the inner dispensing cylinder  125  provides a liquid flowthrough  165  for the dispensing of the liquid or foam upon actuation of the pump  95 . 
     Prior to any force being applied to the system, the actuator  80  is in a rest position and seated on the dispensing platform via actuator seat  180  (see  FIGS. 2A and 3A ). When the actuator  80  is in this rest position, the outer edge  127  of the inner dispensing cylinder  125  is approximately flush with the outer edge  64  of the dispenser outlet opening  60  (see  FIG. 9 ). In this configuration, there are no gaps, edges, or other points from which to anchor or attach a ligature. In some embodiments, the outer edge  127  of the inner dispensing cylinder  125  does not extend more than about 3 cm beyond the outer edge  64  of the dispenser outlet opening  60 . In other embodiments, the outer edge  127  of the inner dispensing cylinder  125  does not extend more than about 2 cm beyond the outer edge  64  of the dispenser outlet opening  60 . In other embodiments, the outer edge  127  of the inner dispensing cylinder  125  extends less than about 2.5 cm, e.g., about 2.4 cm, 2.3 cm, 2.2, cm, 2.1 cm, 2.0 cm, 1.9 cm, 1.8 cm, 1.7 cm, 1.6 cm, 1.5 cm, 1.5 cm, 1.4 cm, 1.3 cm, 1.2 cm, 1.1 cm, 1.0 cm, 0.9 cm, 0.8 cm, 0.7 cm, 0.6 cm, 0.5 cm, 0.4 cm, 0.3 cm, or 0.2 cm beyond the outer edge  64  of the dispenser outlet opening  60 . Thus, as can be seen in  FIG. 9 , the cylinder-in-cylinder configuration is substantially devoid of ligature attachment points thereby providing an additional safety measure to the anti-ligature dispenser provided herein. 
     In operation, the actuator  80  is moved against biasing springs  109  and into its dispensing position where it can act upon the pump  95 . In a particular embodiments, the dispensing system is activated by manual force applied to the activator member  65 , which is translated to an upward movement by lever member  75  and application of an output force on the actuator  80  sufficient to overcome the biasing force of the biasing springs  109 . As shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the lever member  75  may include a first lever section  185  that is connected to a second lever section  190  at a connection point  187 . Further, the lever member  75  may include a pair of lever arms  195  that extend laterally from the second lever section  190 . Each lever arm  195  may have a protrusion or head  200  that extends transversely or upwards from the distal end of the arm. Each arm protrusion or head  200  may have a generally rounded tip  205  that contacts the actuator  80  at a corresponding actuator notch  145  (see also  FIGS. 2B and 10A ). The lever member  75  may include a pivot  210  for attachment to the underside of the front housing cover  25  at a pivot attachment point  212  (see also  FIGS. 2A and 3B ). The pivot  210  allows for the lever member  75  to pivot upwards in response to force applied to the first lever section  185  or pivot downwards in response to force applied to the second lever member  190 . The activator member  65  is disposed within an opening  220  in the front housing cover  25  (see  FIG. 3A ) and contacts the first lever section  185 . For instance, as shown in  FIG. 2A , the activation member  65  may include a lateral wall  225  that fits over a seat guide  215  on the lever member  75  and an inner plug  230  that contacts the activator seat  217 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , in a non-dispensing position, the biasing springs  109  bias the actuator  80  in a rest position where it contacts the actuator seat  180  on the dispensing platform  70 . In operation, manual input force F 1  is applied to the activator member  65  thereby depressing the activator member  65  into the opening  220  of the front housing cover  25 . The inner plug  230  of the activator member  65  contacts the activator seat  217  of the first lever member  185 . The activator member  65  provides an output force O 1  to the first lever section  185  which causes lever member  75  to swing upwards U 1  at the pivot  210 . This movement, in turn, causes the second lever section  190  to apply an output force O 2  and move the actuator  80  upwards U 2  against the biasing springs  109  into its dispensing position. As the actuator  80  moves upwards, the nozzle seat  160  contacts the nozzle shoulder  102  of the dispensing nozzle  100  and compresses the dispensing nozzle  100  into the body of the pump  95  to cause dispensing of a discrete amount of liquid. The liquid then flows into the inner dispensing cylinder  125  of the actuator  80 , through flowthrough  165 , and out dispenser outlet  60 . Once the manual input force F 1  is removed, the biasing springs  109  move the actuator  80  back into its resting position. As the actuator moves downward, it causes the lever member  75  to pivot downwards thereby moving the activation member  75  back out through opening  220 . The pump  95  is then recharged (i.e., the nozzle moves out of the body of the pump). 
     The dispensing system of the anti-ligature dispenser disclosed herein allows for efficient dispensing of foam or liquid while maintaining the anti-ligature design. As noted above, the activator member  65  has sidewalls  66  that taper to the contact surface  68 . The smooth, contoured design of the activator member  65  is substantially devoid of ligature anchoring points. Further, the axis of the manual input force F 1  applied to the activator member  65  is substantially perpendicular to a hypothetical vertical axis A of the dispenser  10  when mounted to a surface (see  FIG. 2A ). As a result, the activator member  65  moves into the housing in a relative horizontal direction, which is different from existing dispenser designs that utilize a lever mechanism that is accessible exteriorly to the housing and creates gaps for anchoring ligatures. Thus, contrary to these existing designs, there is no gap created between the activator member  65  and the housing  15  in the presently described anti-ligature dispensers. This is due, in part, because the lever member  75  of the present device is interior to the housing  15  and translates the horizontal force from the activator member  65  into a vertical movement and output force moving the actuator  80  upwards into the dispensing position. 
     Another benefit of the dispenser design provided herein is that it comprises the above-discussed anti-ligature features while maintaining adequate mechanical efficiency of the dispensing system, which is determined by the amount of input force needed to cause actuation and dispensing of an adequate amount of material (see, e.g., Example 1). The mechanical efficiency of this system may be further aided (i.e., by requiring less input force for adequate dispensing) by increasing the length of the first lever section  185  of lever member  75  as compared to the second lever section  190 . For instance, as shown in  FIG. 7B , the distance D 1  is measured from point of initial contact C 1  between the activator seat  217  and the inner plug  230  to the pivot  210 . In particular embodiments, distance D 1  is greater than the distance D 2  that is measured from the pivot  210  to the point of contact C 2  between the rounded tip  205  and the actuator notch  145 . In some embodiments, distance D 1  is at least 101% greater than distance D 2 , e.g., 101%, 102%, 103%, 104%, 105%, 106%, 107%, 108%, 109%, 110%, 111%, 112%, 113%, 114%, 115%, 116%, 117%, 118%, 119%, 120% greater than distance D 2 . In some embodiments, distance D 1  is at least 105% greater than distance D 2 . In yet other embodiments, distance D 1  is at least 110% greater than distance D 2 . 
     In addition, the lever angle of lever member  75  should be large enough to maintain the mechanical efficiency of the system. For instance, as shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the connection point  187  of the first lever section  185  and the pivot  210  of the second lever section  190  creates an angle α that is equal to or greater than about 90 degrees, e.g., 90 degrees, 91 degrees, 92 degrees, 93 degrees, 94 degrees, 95 degrees, 96 degrees, 97 degrees, 98 degrees, 99 degrees, 100 degrees, 101 degrees, 102 degrees, 103 degrees, 104 degrees, 105 degrees, 106 degrees, 107 degrees, 108 degrees, 109 degrees, 110 degrees, 111 degrees, 112 degrees, 113 degrees, 114 degrees, 115 degrees, 116 degrees, 117 degrees, 118 degrees, 119 degrees, 120 degrees, 121 degrees, 122 degrees, 123 degrees, 124 degrees, 125 degrees, 126 degrees, 127 degrees, 128 degrees, 129 degrees, 130 degrees, or more. In some embodiments, the angle α is in a range from about 100 degrees to about 130 degrees. In other embodiments, the angle α is in a range from about 110 degrees to about 120 degrees. 
     The anti-ligature dispensers provided herein may be used to dispense foam material, such as foam soap, from a refill container with a suitable foam pump system. Refill containers with foam pump systems are commercially available, e.g., the GOJO refill  5161  or  5162  (GOJO Industries, Inc., Akron, Ohio). In some embodiments, the inner dispensing cylinder  125  has a flowthrough diameter that is optimized for dispensing foam. In such embodiments, the diameter is between about 1.5 cm and about 3.0 cm, preferably between about 1.9 cm and about 2.8 cm, more preferably between about 2.0 cm and about 2.5 cm. In other embodiments, the flowthrough diameter is in a range of about 1.7 cm to about 2.3 cm or about 1.8 cm to about 2.2 cm. In yet other embodiments, the flowthrough diameter is about 1.9 cm. In other embodiments, the inner dispensing cylinder  125  has a flowthrough diameter that is optimized for liquid, such as liquid soap, and has a diameter between about 1.0 cm and about 3.0 cm. 
     The dispensing system of the anti-ligature dispenser may also include an activator guide cylinder  235 .  FIG. 8  depicts an exemplary activator guide cylinder  235  that may include a activator collar  240 , a perimeter stop seat  250 , and a stop tab lip seat  255 . In devices that include an activator guide cylinder  235 , the activator member  65  may additionally include a stop tab  260  with a lip  265  that protrudes outward from the distal end of the stop tab  260 . The activator collar  240  slideably receives the lateral wall  225  of the activator member  65 . The activator guide cylinder  235  may be disposed within opening  220  in the front housing cover  25  and attached to the underside of the housing at attachment points  270  via fasteners  275  (see  FIG. 3B ). As manual force is applied to the activator member  65 , the lateral wall  225  moves along the inner wall  245  of the activator collar  240  until the manual force is removed or until the lateral wall  225  contacts the perimeter stop seat  250  of the activator guide cylinder  235 . Once manual force is removed from the system, the biasing springs  109  move the actuator  80  downward from the dispensing position to the resting position, which, in turn, causes the lever member  75  to pivot back towards the opening  220  in the front housing cover  25 . The activator member  65  then moves away from the perimeter stop seat  250  until manual force is again applied or the lip  265  of the stop tab  260  contacts the stop tab lip seat  255  of the activator guide cylinder  235 . 
     Additional safety features may be added to some embodiments of the anti-ligature dispenser. Some embodiments may include a key and latch mechanism for preventing access to the interior.  FIGS. 1A and 3A  depict an exemplary locking mechanism  45  suitable for use with the anti-ligature dispensers disclosed herein. The locking mechanism  45  may be a standard tumbler locking mechanism wherein a key  275  is inserted into the keyhole  280  to rotate the latch  285  out of the latch receiver  290  so that the front housing cover  25  can be opened and swung down to expose the underside of the front housing cover  25  and interior of the back mounting plate  20 . The locking mechanism  45  can be used to lock the front housing cover  25  in a closed position thereby preventing access to the interior of the dispenser. 
     Other embodiments include a security device that secures the dispensing nozzle of the pump to the actuator thereby preventing an individual from displacing the nozzle from the inner dispensing cylinder and accessing the interior of the dispenser housing. For instance,  FIG. 6  depicts a security clip  295  that has a set of clip arms  300  for engaging a set of corresponding clip receptacles  310  in actuator  80 . The security clip may have a tab or flange  305  sized to match a particular nozzle shape. An exemplary nozzle shape is depicted in  FIG. 4  and shows pump  95  with dispensing nozzle  100  that includes a nozzle shoulder  102  and a disc-shaped nozzle tip  104  separated by an annular recess  106 . When a container, such as container  90 , is inserted into the dispenser, the nozzle tip  104  is positioned within the nozzle receptacle  135  of the actuator  80 . The security clip  295  is then inserted into clip receptacles  310  in the actuator  80 . The flange  305  of the security clip  295  fits within the annular recess  106  of the pump nozzle  100  thereby securing the nozzle tip  104  within the inner dispensing cylinder  125 . In such a configuration, the nozzle  100  cannot easily be displaced from the inner dispensing cylinder  125  even when an individual inserts a finger or other object in the dispenser outlet  60 . 
     The disclosure now being generally described, it will be more readily understood by reference to the following examples, which are included merely for purposes of illustration of certain aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the disclosure. 
     Example 1. Mechanical Function Over Time 
     To test the mechanical functionality of the dispensing system over time, an anti-ligature dispenser as described herein was installed on a plywood wall. A soap container was installed into the dispenser and force-to-press was tested for 500 cycles. The amount of force needed to press the activator mechanism was measured at time 0 and after 500 cycles. Five measurements were taken for both time points. After 500 cycles, the average amount of force needed to press the button did not decrease significantly. There was no apparent damage, wear, or leakage to the unit. The unit was then tested for a life cycle of 100,000 cycles using a ¾ inch bore pneumatic cylinder tuned to smoothly push the activator member about once every second. The soap dispenser showed no signs of wear or degradation after 100,000 cycles and the amount of force needed to press the button did not decrease significantly. 
     Example 2. Yield Strength 
     To test the force-to-yield of anti-ligature dispenser housing made from different materials, an impact study was carried out and analysis performed for aluminum alloy-1, aluminum alloy-2, and aluminum alloy-3. The loads were applied to simulate the impact forces applied to yield the front cover material. Linear analysis was performed using SOLIDWORKS Simulation Express (Dassault Systemes Solidworks Corporation, Waltham, Mass., USA). Due to software limitations, the model was over-constrained and run as a “fixed” constraint. Two load cases were used. Load case #1 tested a load applied directly to a 1.5 inch diameter area on the front and center of the front housing. Load case #2 tested a load applied directly to a 1.5 inch diameter area on the side of the front housing. The applied force required to yield the cover shape is shown in Table 1. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Force-to-Yield of the Front Housing 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Force-to-Yield (lbs.) 
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Load #1 
                 Load #2 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Aluminum alloy-1 
                 340 
                 1,300 
               
               
                   
                 Aluminum alloy-2 
                 575 
                 2,300 
               
               
                   
                 Aluminum alloy-3 
                 450 
                 1,800 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The impact force required to yield the back mounting plate was also tested. In this load simulation, the simulation was run to determine the amount of force needed to bend the back mounting plate and create a gap between the back mounting plate and the mounting surface. The results are summarized in Table 2. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Force-to-Yield of the Back Mounting Plate 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Force-to-Yield (lbs.) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Aluminum alloy-1 
                 100 
               
               
                   
                 Aluminum alloy-2 
                 170 
               
               
                   
                 Aluminum alloy-3 
                 140 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     All publications and patents mentioned herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety as if each individual publication or patent was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. 
     While specific embodiments of the subject disclosure have been discussed, the above specification is illustrative and not restrictive. Many variations of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of this specification and the claims below. The full scope of the disclosure should be determined by reference to the claims, along with their full scope of equivalents, and the specification, along with such variations.