Abstract: A fluid dispenser with a fluid pump for dispensing fluid on movement of an actuator, and an air pump for delivering a stream of air through at least one sound generator on movement of the actuator. The sound generator produces at least two sounds as the actuator is moved from a first position to a second position, with each sound produced in a different time period during a cycle of operation, or differing from the other sound in respect of one or more detectable sound characteristics, such as duration, frequency, temporal alignment, amplitude, and/or timbre. The time period of each sound is a function of the relative location of the actuator between the first and second positions.

Abstract: A free standing support stand adapted to be supported on a horizontal floor. The stand having a lower end floor engaging surfaces to engage the floor. The stand including a coupling member adapted to couple a fragile element to the stand spaced from the lower end of the stand. The stand including a fall arrest bumper member spaced upwardly from the lower end to engage with the floor to reduce damage to the fragile element from any impact with the floor should the stand be tipped over.

Abstract: An apparatus has an illumination device and an illuminatable structure. The illuminatable structure has a laminate material having an opaque first side layer, a light transmitting middle layer, and an opaque second side layer. The illuminatable structure also has a light display area where the light transmitting middle layer is exposed. The illumination device emits light into the light transmitting middle layer of the illuminatable structure, and the light transmitting middle layer transmits the light to the light display area so that the light display area becomes illuminated.

Abstract: A mouth insert for a flexible pouch. The mouth insert defines a passageway that extends along an axis from an axially outer end of the mouth insert to an axially inner end of the mouth insert. The mouth insert is flexible and includes a sealing portion and a lip portion. The sealing portion is for forming a sealed connection to the flexible pouch. The lip portion is configured to extend axially outwardly from the flexible pouch. The lip portion has an axial height that is less than ? of the axial height of the mouth insert.

Abstract: A method of determining the volume of fluid contained in a collapsible bottle, the collapsible bottle containing a fluid to be dispensed from a fluid dispenser. The fluid dispenser has a distance measuring sensor, and the collapsible bottle is coupled to the fluid dispenser so that a preselected surface of the collapsible bottle is positioned in a measurement path of the sensor. The fluid dispenser is activated to dispense an allotment of the fluid from the collapsible bottle, the collapsible bottle collapsing in a predictable manner as the fluid is dispensed from the collapsible bottle. The sensor is used to measure a distance between the sensor and the preselected surface of the collapsible bottle, the distance changing predictably as the collapsible bottle collapses. The volume of the fluid contained in the collapsible bottle is determined based on the distance between the sensor and the preselected surface of the collapsible bottle.

Abstract: A method of conducting two-way communication between a first NFC enabled device and a second NFC enabled device. The method includes transmitting a write command from the first NFC enabled device to the second NFC enabled device. A silent mode of the second NFC enabled device, in which the presence of the second NFC enabled device is hidden from the first NFC enabled device, is then activated. While the silent mode is activated, the second NFC enabled device processes the write command and writes a response in a memory of the second NFC enabled device. The silent mode is then deactivated, which triggers the first NFC enabled device to read the response in the memory of the second NFC enabled device.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing system including a fluid dispenser that is operable in a stand-alone mode, and a housing that is configured to removably receive the fluid dispenser for operation of the fluid dispenser in a housed mode. When the fluid dispenser is placed on top of a horizontal support surface for operation of the fluid dispenser in the stand-alone mode, a pump mechanism of the fluid dispenser is manually activatable to dispense an allotment of fluid by manually depressing an activation member of the pump mechanism. When the fluid dispenser is received by the housing for operation of the fluid dispenser in the housed mode, the pump mechanism is activatable by activating an actuation mechanism of the housing.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser having a temperature sensor that senses a temperature of an external surface presented by a user's hand, and a pump mechanism that is configured to dispense fluid onto the user's hand when the pump mechanism is activated. It is determined whether the fluid has been dispensed onto the user's hand based, at least in part, on the temperature of the external surface presented by the user's hand.

Abstract: A sensor assembly including a sensor, a sensor housing that carries the sensor, a mounting member that pivotally engages with the sensor housing, an adjustment member for selecting an angular position of the sensor housing relative to the mounting member, and a locking mechanism for locking the sensor housing at the selected angular position relative to the mounting member. The adjustment member is moveable relative to the mounting member between a first location and a second location, and engages with the sensor housing to pivot the sensor housing about a pivot axis relative to the mounting member between a first angular position and a second angular position.

Abstract: The invention provides a bathroom fixture in the form of an electronic mirror with a touchlessly operated fluid dispenser. The device provides visual cues to assist in the touchless operation thereof.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing ozone containing foam. The dispenser comprises an ozone generating chamber having an air inlet in communication with a source of air and an air outlet. The ozone generating chamber contains a corona discharge generator that generates a corona discharge to produce: (a) ozonated air, by converting oxygen in the air into ozone, and (b) an ionic wind. The ionic wind draws the air from the air source into the ozone generating chamber through the air inlet, and expels the ozonated air from the ozone generating chamber through the air outlet. A foam generator receives the ozonated air expelled from the ozone generating chamber and mixes the ozonated air with a foamable liquid to generate the ozone containing foam.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser having a pump mechanism that dispenses a dose of fluid when a movable pump member of the pump mechanism is moved between an extended position and a retracted position. A pump engagement body engages with the movable pump member for effecting movement of the movable pump member. A first cam surface and a second cam surface are connected to the pump engagement body, at least one of the first cam surface and the second cam surface comprising an adjustable cam surface whose location relative to the pump engagement body is selectively adjustable. A camming body engages with the first cam surface and the second cam surface to effect movement of the pump engagement body, and a dose adjustment mechanism allows the location of the adjustable cam surface relative to the pump engagement body to be selected.

Abstract: A foam dispenser with a pump mechanism that mixes a liquid with air to generate foam. The pump mechanism includes a first stage pump and a second stage pump. The first stage pump delivers the liquid and a first volume of the air through a first foam generator to generate a first foam. The second stage pump delivers the first foam and a second volume of the air through a second foam generator to generate a second foam.

Abstract: A dispenser with a replaceable cartridge containing a product to be dispensed, and a housing configured to removably receive the cartridge. The cartridge has a surface that is marked with a first marking, and the housing has a surface that is marked with a second marking. The housing is configured so that, when the cartridge is received by the housing, the first marking and the second marking together form a machine readable code that is detectable from outside of the housing.

Abstract: A method of storing a product that contains a volatile component within a fluid storage reservoir formed with enclosing walls having a permeability that permits limited passage of the volatile component from the storage reservoir to the atmosphere, preferably with the method increasing the shelf life of the product stored, and a fluid storage reservoir with a first container containing the fluid product to be dispensed including the volatile component and a second container containing a sacrifice material including the same volatile component with an intermediate transfer wall shared by both the first container and the second container for transfer of the volatile component between the first container and the second container. The product preferably is a surface cleaner or a hand sanitizer including 30 to 95% ethanol.

Abstract: A piston pump arrangement that disables operation of the pump in the absence of an inlet liquid and also to a piston pump arrangement useful to discharge liquids from at least two sources and to disable discharge of all of the liquids when supply of liquid from at least one source is empty.

Abstract: A thin walled collapsible container having an outlet end and a closed base end intermediate which there are provided walls extending longitudinally of the container from the outlet end to the base end, the walls including at least a front wall and an opposite wall opposite the front wall and walls joining the front wall with the opposite wall, and in which an inwardly extending medial groove is provided between the front wall and the opposite wall, the groove extending downwardly within a bottom wall forming the base end inwardly towards the outlet end. Visible indicia such as a printed label may be provided on the front wall which label, in an uncollapsed container held by its outlet end, is disposed to be directed in a particular direction for viewing by a user and in which during collapse of the collapsible container by withdrawing fluid therefrom, the container collapses with, to a large extent, the front wall carrying the labelling to continue to be directed roughly in the same direction.