Abstract:
A container retainer ( 5 ) is provided in which a locking member ( 11 ) which can be mounted on the neck of a bottle ( 3 ) is itself rotatably held in a bore ( 8 ) of a body part ( 9 ). The body part ( 9 ) is mountable on a suitable surface, such as a wall. With such an arrangement, it is possible to secure the locking member ( 11 ) to the bottle ( 3 ) by rotation, without having to rotate the bottle ( 3 ) itself, or the body part ( 9 ). The container retainer ( 5 ) then will normally be wall mounted, to form a liquid dispenser to dispense liquid from the bottle ( 3 ) or other container ( 3 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to the mounting of containers on surfaces, such as walls. For example, the present invention may be used in a wall-mounted dispenser for dispensing liquids such as soap from a container. 
         [0003]    2. Summary of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Pump dispensers for dispensing liquid products are known. Such pump dispensers typically have a dispenser pump with a variable-volume pump chamber mounted on a container of liquid product. Some pump dispensers are designed to be mounted on a wall, for example above a sink in a public convenience or a hospital. Mounting the pump dispenser on a wall has the advantages of reducing clutter around the sink area and of improving hygiene, for example by reducing handling of the dispenser and by preventing it from being knocked into the sink or onto the floor. 
         [0005]    With a wall-mounted pump dispenser, the pumping mechanism is typically a fixed feature, while the container of liquid, e.g. a bottle or a sachet, is removable to allow it to be refilled or replaced when empty. One method of retaining a container of liquid in a pump dispenser is to provide a screw through a sidewall of an aperture of the pumping mechanism which overlaps a neck of the container. The screw can be tightened to apply pressure to the neck of the container, thereby preventing the container from moving. However, it can be time consuming and/or difficult to turn the screw to a sufficient tightness to prevent slip of the container. 
         [0006]    A second method of connecting the container of liquid to the wall-mounted pumping mechanism is to provide corresponding screw threads on a neck of the container and a fixed aperture of the pumping mechanism. This arrangement enables the container and the pumping mechanism to be brought into interlocking engagement by screwing the container into the aperture of the pumping mechanism. However, these retaining mechanisms cannot be rotated when mounted to a surface, and thus it is necessary to rotate the container relative to such mechanisms to lock the container in place. This can be difficult in cramped locations and preclude the use of certain container shapes and sizes. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    At its most general, the present invention provides a container retainer in which a locking member which can be mounted on the neck of a bottle is itself rotatably held in a body part, which body part is mountable on a suitable surface. With such an arrangement, it is possible to secure the locking member to the bottle by rotation without having to rotate the bottle itself, or the body part. 
         [0008]    The container retainer then will normally be wall mounted, to form a liquid dispenser for dispensing liquid from the bottle or other container. 
         [0009]    Thus, according to one aspect of the invention, there may be provided a container retainer for mounting a container on a surface, such as a wall. The container retainer comprises a body part having a bore therethrough, with a rotatable locking member extending into the bore, held therein so as to resist its movement in the direction of the axis of the bore. The locking member has an aperture through it for receiving a neck of the container, and means within the aperture for securing the locking member to a neck upon rotation of the locking member in the bore relative to the body part. The container retainer is also provided with means to mount the body part onto a surface. 
         [0010]    The container retainer of the above aspect may have any one or, to the extent that they are compatible, any combination of the following optional features. 
         [0011]    The locking member may be releasably held in the bore. This allows the container retainer to be assembled, and also to enable the locking member to be released e.g. for cleaning. 
         [0012]    Such releasability may be provided by one or more lugs on the locking member which are receivable in a corresponding recess or recesses in the surface of the bore. Normally, the inter-engagement of the lug(s) and recess(es) holds the locking member in the bore. However, the lug(s) can be deformed clear of the recess(es) to permit the locking member to be removed from the bore. 
         [0013]    Alternatively, releasability may be provided by a circlip or a setscrew on the locking member which engages a groove in the locking member, but is movable or releasable to disengage the groove and so release the locking member. 
         [0014]    There may also be a flange on the locking member, which abuts against the body part adjacent one end of the bore, to resist axial movement of the locking member relative to the bore in one direction. The flange assists the lugs described above in retaining the locking member in the bore, but also has the effect of positioning the locking member at a predetermined axial position in the bore. This prevents the locking member moving axially, at least when it is not to be released. This effect may further be improved by providing a groove adjacent to the bore in which the flange is received, which then provides both axial and radial positioning of the locking member in the bore. 
         [0015]    The locking member may have a grip part outside the bore to enable a user to rotate the locking member in the bore. The grip part may enable a user to more easily rotate the locking member to secure the locking member to the neck of a container. The grip part may also enable a user to apply a larger rotational force to the locking member relative to a locking member with no grip part, so that the locking member may be more tightly secured to the neck of the container. 
         [0016]    The means for securing the locking member to the neck of the container may be a screw thread engagable with a corresponding screw thread on the neck of the container. Thus, rotation of the locking member in the bore relative to the body part will cause the locking member to engage with, and screw onto, the corresponding screw thread on the neck of the container, so that the locking member is secured to the neck of the container. 
         [0017]    The means for securing the locking member to the neck of the container may comprise a plurality, e.g. two or more, screw threads with different internal diameters. For example, two or more separate screw threads may be disposed within the aperture of the locking member, each of the screw threads protruding a different distance into the aperture so that each of the screw threads has a different internal diameter (i.e. across the aperture of the locking member). The inclusion of a plurality of screw threads of different internal diameters means that the locking member is able to engage with screw threads on necks of different diameter, i.e. containers with different sized necks can be connected to the container retainer through the locking member. 
         [0018]    The means for securing the locking member to the neck of the container may comprise a first screw thread with an internal diameter of 24 mm and a second screw thread with an internal diameter of 28 mm. Thus, containers with neck diameters of either 24 mm or 28 mm may be secured in the bore of the main body with the locking member. 
         [0019]    Where a plurality of screw threads having different diameters are provided, they are arranged along an axial direction in the aperture with the largest diameter closest to the entrance to the aperture in which the neck is inserted. 
         [0020]    A resilient member may be provided between the locking member and the bore to resist rotation of the locking member relative to the body part. Thus, to rotate the locking member relative to the body part, a user must apply a sufficient rotational force to overcome the resistance caused by the compression of the resilient member between the locking member and the bore. 
         [0000]    Undesired rotation of the locking member within the bore of the body part may thus be prevented. 
         [0021]    Normally, if liquids are to be dispensed from the container, a pump unit will be received in the aperture of the locking member, which can enter the neck of the container when the locking member is secured to that container, for pumping liquid out of the container. 
         [0022]    The second aspect of the invention provides a kit of parts for forming a liquid dispenser, consisting of three elements. The first element is a support unit, comprising the body part and mounting means as described above, the second element is the locking member and holding means, and the third element is the pump unit. They may all be assembled together, to form a liquid dispenser to which a container of liquid may be mounted, to enable liquid to be dispensed therefrom. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  shows schematically a side view of a liquid dispenser according to the invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  shows an isometric view of a liquid dispenser according to the invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  shows schematically a top view of a liquid dispenser according to the invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  shows schematically a front view of a liquid dispenser according to the invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  shows schematically a cross-section along line A-A of the liquid dispenser shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  shows schematically region B of the cross-section shown in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  shows schematically a cross-section along line A-A of the liquid dispenser shown in  FIG. 4  according to a second embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0031]    A liquid dispenser  1 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , comprises a container retainer  5  and a pump system  7  connected to the container retainer  5 . The container retainer  5 , which is discussed in more detail below, comprises a rotatable locking member  11  mounted within a bore in body part  9 , and has the dual purposes of attaching a container  3  to the liquid dispenser  1  and of mounting the liquid dispenser  1  on a surface. The pump system  7 , is arranged to dispense liquid from a container  3  retained by the container retainer  5 , e.g. a bottle. 
         [0032]    The container retainer  5 , which is shown in more detail in  FIG. 6 , comprises a rotatable locking member  11  mounted within a bore  8  in a body part  9 . The locked member  11  is releasably held within the bore by a flange  15  and lugs  17  so as to resist its movement in the direction of the axis of the bore  8 . As can be seen from  FIG. 6 , the lugs  17  are received in a recess  16  extending circumferentially around the inner surface of the bore  8 , at the lower axial end thereof, and similarly the flange  15  is received in a groove  20  at the upper axial end of the bore  8 . Note that the groove abuts the flange  15  at both its lower surface, and its radially outer periphery, to limit movement of locking member  11  both axially and radially. The locking member  11  may be released from the bore when lugs  17  are manipulated into a non-securing configuration clear of the recess  16  and the locking member  11  is moved in direction  18  by a user. 
         [0033]    The locking member  11  has an aperture  19  therethrough for receiving the neck of container  3 , and is provided with a screw thread to secure said container upon rotation of the locking member  11  relative to body part  9 . The locking member  11  has a grip part  21  outside the bore  8  to aid rotation of said member within the bore by a user. The grip part  21  may incorporate surface features, such as scallops  12  shown in  FIG. 2 , to aid gripping by a user. 
         [0034]    The container retainer  5  also comprises a surface-mounting portion  13  connected to the body part  9  for mounting the liquid dispenser  1  on a wall. In this embodiment, the surface-mounting portion  13  is arranged to clip onto a corresponding surface-mounting section  14  already attached to a wall. However, the surface-mounting portion  13  may instead be directly attachable to a wall by known attachment means, e.g. adhesive, a nail, a screw or such-like. 
         [0035]    The pump system  7 , which is shown schematically in  FIG. 6 , may be a conventional pump system, as known to a person skilled in the art. The pump system gains access to the liquid contents of the container  3  through the aperture  19  of the locking member  11 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 7  shows a cross-section along line A-A of the liquid dispenser shown in  FIG. 4  for a second embodiment of the invention. Features in common with the first embodiment are given the same reference numbers and description thereof is not repeated. 
         [0037]    In a second embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the locking member  11  is provided with first  23  and second  25  screw threads which are axially separated along the aperture  19  of the locking member  11 , and which have different internal diameters (i.e. across the aperture  19  of the locking member  11 ). In this embodiment, first screw thread  23  with an internal diameter of 28 mm is provided on the locking member  11  towards the end of the bore  8  of the body part  9  that receives the neck of the container  3 . Second screw thread  25  with an internal diameter of 24 mm is provided on the locking member  11  towards the other end of the bore  8 . 
         [0038]    Thus, when a neck of a container  3  having a screw thread with a diameter of 28 mm is inserted into the aperture  19  of the locking member  11 , and the locking member  11  is rotated within the bore  8  relative to the body part  9 , the first screw thread  23  engages with the screw thread on the neck of the container  3  to secure the locking member  11  to the neck of the container  3 . Similarly, when a neck of a container  3  having a screw thread with a diameter of 24 mm is inserted into the aperture  19  of the locking member  11 , and the locking member  11  is rotated, the second screw thread  25  engages with the screw thread on the neck of the container  3  to secure the locking member  11  to the neck of the container  3 . Thus, containers  3  with necks having screw threads with internal diameters of 24 mm or 28 mm can be secured to the locking member  11 , and thereby connected to the liquid dispenser  1 . 
         [0039]    In other embodiments of the invention, first and second screw threads with internal diameters different to 24 mm or 28 mm may be present. Alternatively, in some embodiments more than two screw threads with different internal diameters may be provided on the locking member. 
         [0040]    In the second embodiment, the locking member  11  has a circumferential groove around its outer circumference, and an O-ring  27  is partly received within the circumferential groove. The O-ring  27  is resiliently deformed between the locking member  11  and the bore  8  of the body part  9 . Compression of the O-ring  27  between the locking member  11  and the bore  8  causes resistance to rotation of the locking member  11  within the bore  8 . Thus, a user must apply a rotational force to the locking member  11  greater than the resistive force caused by the compression of the O-ring  27  in order to rotate the locking member  11  in the bore  8  relative to the body part  9 . Therefore, undesired or unintentional rotation of the locking member  11  within the bore  8  of the body part  9 , for example when the liquid dispenser  1  is being used by a user to dispense liquid, can be prevented. 
         [0041]    In the second embodiment, the locking member  11  has a second circumferential groove  29  about its external circumference, adjacent to a lower axial end of the locking member  11 . A circlip  31  is engaged with the groove  29  of the locking member  11  and extends into the recess  16 , which extends circumferentially around the inner surface of the bore  8 , so that it abuts an axially upper face  33  of the recess  16 . Thus, the locking member  11  is prevented from being displaced axially along the bore  8  of the body part  9  in an upwards direction when the circlip  31  is engaged with the groove  29  of the locking member  11 . The locking member  11  is prevented from being displaced axially along the bore  8  of the body part  9  in a downwards direction by the flange  15 , as in the first embodiment. 
         [0042]    The circlip  31  is releasable to disengage the groove  31  of the locking member  11 . When the circlip  31  is released, the locking member  11  is freely displaceable axially along the bore  8  of the body part  9  in an upwards direction, allowing the locking member  11  to be removed from the bore  8  of the body part  9 . In this manner, the locking member  11  can be releasably held in the bore  8  of the body part  9 . 
         [0043]    In other embodiments, the circlip  31  may be replaced with lugs  17 , as described above in relation to the first embodiment. 
         [0044]    The second embodiment has a conventional spring-loaded pump system  7 , as known to a person skilled in the art and as described above in relation to the first embodiment. The pump system  7  gains access to the liquid contents of the container  3  through the aperture  19  of the locking member  11   
         [0045]    A circumferential groove and O-ring as described above in relation to the second embodiment may similarly be included in the first embodiment of the invention. Similarly, a releasable circlip as described above in relation to the second embodiment may be included in the first embodiment in place of the lug arrangement.