SOAP AND GEL DISPENSER

Abstract

The first embodiment is comprised of three components, a back plate component, a handle component and a cover component. The handle component is rotationally attachable to the back plate component. The cover component is removably attachable to the back plate component where it covers the handle component except that a portion of a panel on the handle component protrudes through an aperture in the cover component. When the handle component is attached to the back plate, and the cover component is attached to the back plate component, and a container containing a liquid is installed in a cavity behind the handle, then when the handle panel is pushed, a small amount of liquid is dispensed. Additional embodiments are presented. The embodiments are inexpensive to manufacture and easily maintained without tools.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/753,012 filed Jan. 16, 2013 by the present inventor. This provisional patent application is incorporated herein by reference.

The invention presented herein relates to liquid, foam, and gel dispensers. More particularly, it relates to commercial liquid, foam, and gel dispensers that are tamper proof, easy to clean, and inexpensive to manufacture and service.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Each year commercial dispensers continually succumb to vandalism and abuse. This creates problems for facility managers including: slippery dangerous floors, added cost for replacement product, walls in a state of disrepair, and countless man hours cleaning floors and replacing broken dispensers. The result is additional labor required to maintain the dispensers and added cost to the facility manager.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The invention presented herein solves the problem of providing a dispenser that is vandal-proof, easy to clean and sanitize, inexpensive to manufacture, and requires little or no maintenance.

The first embodiment is comprised of a back plate component, a handle component and a cover component. When assembled, the assembled unit has a cavity that holds a soap or gel container with a nozzle. The first embodiment additionally has a handle component that is rotationally attached to the back plate component. In an alternate embodiment, the handle is rotationally attached to the cover.

The cover component is removably attached to the back plate component where it covers the handle except that a portion of the panel on the handle protrudes through an aperture in the cover component. If the handle component is attached to the back plate component, and the cover component is attached to the back plate component, and a container containing a liquid or gel is installed in the cavity, then when the handle panel is pushed, a small amount of liquid, foam, or gel is dispensed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the three components of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2a illustrates a top view of a first flat plate used to manufacture the back plate member of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2b illustrates a perspective view of the back plate component of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3a illustrates a top view of the second flat plate member used to manufacture the handle of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3b illustrates a perspective view of the handle component of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4a illustrates a top view of a third flat plate used to manufacture the cover of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4b illustrates a perspective view of the cover component of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5a illustrates a perspective view of the assembled back plate component and the handle component of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5b illustrates a cutaway perspective view of the assembled back plate component, the handle component and the cover component of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5c illustrates a sectional view of FIG. 5b, showing portions of the assembled back plate component, the handle component and the cover component of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective detailed view of a locking mechanism of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective detailed view of the cover attaching mechanism of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates perspective view alternate embodiment where the handle is rotationally attached to the cover.

LIST OF NUMERALS

• • 108a back plate member
  • 108b first flat plate
  • 110 back plate component
  • 114 handle component
  • 115a handle member
  • 115b second flat plate
  • 116 cover component
  • 117a cover member
  • 117b third flat plate
  • 122 first pair of brackets
  • 126 first lock bracket
  • 128 second lock bracket
  • 130 cover top hole
  • 132 second shaft
  • 134 nozzle
  • 136 nozzle support bracket
  • 140 rectangular aperture
  • 142 first handle panel
  • 143 second handle panel
  • 151 rectangular part
  • 152 cylinder
  • 154 first shaft
  • 154a alternate first shaft
  • 156 second pair of brackets
  • 156a alternate second pair of brackets
  • 160 cover bottom hole
  • 162 mounting slot
  • 164 soap container
  • 166 padlock
  • 168 new bracket member
  • 170 straight cam locking part
  • 172 protrusion
  • 174 imbedded opening
  • 176 third pair of brackets
  • 180 rivet
  • 182 cotter pin

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

As used in this specification and claims the term component has one or more members. A member has one or more parts. If more than one essentially identical part is used, then only one part may display a part number on each figure. Flat members that are shaped into a three dimensional shape are denoted by suffixes to numerals, e. g, handle member 115a, is shaped into its final form using second flat plate 115b. The terms top, side and bottom refer to the apparatus when it is attached to a wall.

The first embodiment is a soap and gel dispenser having three components. The three components are constructed using three custom-made members that are easily manufactured, and also have additional standard parts such as brackets, bolts, rivets, and securing pins.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the three custom-made components and the hardware parts used in the components of the first embodiment of the present invention. The components are the back plate component 110, the handle component 114 and the cover component 116.

Referring to FIG. 1, back plate component 110 is constructed out of back plate member 108a, first pair of brackets 122 consisting of two angular brackets that are permanently attached to back plate member 108a, and first lock bracket 126 permanently attached to back plate member 108a. Back plate component 110 additionally has a second pair of brackets 156 that will receive first shaft 154 of the handle component 114.

Again referring to FIG. 1, handle component 114 is constructed out of handle member 115a and a first shaft 154. First shaft 154 is used to rotationally secure handle component 114 to second pair of brackets 156 located on back plate component 110 when unit is assembled.

Again referring to FIG. 1, cover component 116 is constructed using a cover member 117a. Cover member 117a has an approximately rectangular aperture 140 matched to first handle panel 142. Cover component 116 additionally has a second shaft 132 attached to cover member 117a, and a second lock bracket 128 that attaches to cover member 117a at cover top hole 130 using a rivet (rivet not shown in the figure).

A nozzle 134 is also illustrated in FIG. 1; the nozzle is not part of the first embodiment, but is attached to a container that holds a liquid such as soap or gel, also not part of the first embodiment and not shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2a illustrates a first flat plate 108b. It is constructed out of plastic in the first embodiment and has mounting slots 162 for securely mounting the first flat plate 108b on a wall.

FIG. 2b illustrates the member and parts of the back plate component 110. The back plate component has back plate member 108a. Back plate component 110 additionally has two angular brackets 122 permanently attached to back plate member 108a towards the bottom of back plate member, and first lock bracket 126 permanently attached to back plate member 108a towards the top of back plate member. Back plate component additionally has a pair of brackets 156 that will receive first shaft 154 of handle component 114.

FIG. 3a illustrates the second flat plate 115b. It is made of plastic in the first embodiment. The dashed lines in the figure indicate the bend lines, that when bent, achieve the shape of the handle member 115a as illustrated in FIG. 3b. FIG. 3b illustrates handle component 114. It has handle member 115a, with cylinder 152. Cylinder 152 is obtained by bending the rectangular part 151 into cylinder 152.

FIG. 4a illustrates the third flat plate 117b. It is a circular disk made of plastic, with an approximately rectangular aperture 140, and a cover top hole 130. FIG. 4b illustrates the cover component 116. It has the shape of a spherical cap, manufactured from the third flat plate 117b. Additionally, second lock bracket 128 is secured to cover member using a rivet (not shown in the figure); the rivet passing through cover top hole 130. Finally, second shaft 132 is permanently attached to cover member 117a through cover bottom holes 160.

FIG. 5a illustrates the sizing and assembly of the back plate component 110, and handle component 114. Referring to FIGS. 2b, 3b, and 5a, handle component 114 is sized and configured so handle component 114 may rotate around first shaft 154.

FIG. 5b illustrates additional information concerning the sizing, assembly and functioning of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5b illustrates the back plate component 110 handle component 114 and cover component 116. The soap container 164 is inserted against back plate component 110 with nozzle 134 inserted in and supported by nozzle support bracket 136. Nozzle 134 rests on nozzle support bracket 136 and leans against first handle panel 142. If first handle panel 142 is pushed, a small amount of the liquid in the soap container 164 will be dispensed.

To assemble the three components, cover component 116 is attached to back plate component 110 by inserting the second shaft 132 into first pair of brackets 122. First lock bracket 126 is aligned with second lock bracket 128 and secured with a padlock 166. The padlock is not part of the first embodiment of the invention. When the cover is installed, a portion of first handle panel 142 will protrude through the rectangular aperture 140. In constructing the handle member 115a, the parts are bent into shape. All brackets are using standard plastic bonding techniques.

To disassemble the first embodiment for cleaning, the padlock 166 is removed. Then the back plate component 110 and cover component 116 may be washed by hand or in a dishwasher. The back plate component 110 may be washed by hand if removed from the wall. The handle component 114 and cover component 116 may be assembled and disassembled without tools.

Additional embodiments are consistent with the inventive concept presented herein. The shape and mechanisms of the various components may be varied. For example, the locking mechanism shown in FIG. 5b may be replaced by the locking mechanism of FIG. 6, where a new bracket member 168 is used with straight cam locking part 170. The back plate component 110 may be removably attached to cover member 117a as follows. A protrusion 172 is attached to the first flat plate 108b, the protrusion 172 having an imbedded opening 174. A third pair of brackets 176 are attached to the cover member 117a. The back plate component 110 is then removably attached to said cover member 117a by securing with a cotter pin 182 and a cotter pin accommodating rivet 180

Further additional modifications to the first embodiment are possible. A nozzle and a container may be added to the first embodiment. Stainless steel or other material may be used instead of plastics for some of the components or for other parts used in its manufacturing. The second handle panel 143 may be shaped to conform to the shape of the cover member 117a.

FIG. 9 illustrates another alternate embodiment where the handle is rotationally attached to the cover instead of the back plate. Referring to FIG. 9, the first shaft 154 of the first embodiment is replaced by a shorter alternate first shaft 154a, and the second pair of brackets 156 of the first embodiment is replaced by an alternate second pair of brackets 156a installed on the inside of cover 116. When assembled, the handle is rotationally attached to the alternate second pair of brackets 156a installed on the inside of cover member 117a.

The disclosure presented herein gives several embodiments of the invention. These embodiments are to be considered as only illustrative of the invention and not a limitation of the scope of the invention. Various permutations, combinations, variations and extensions of these embodiments are considered to fall within the scope of this invention. Therefore the scope of this invention should be determined with reference to the claims and not just by the embodiments presented herein.

Claims

1. An apparatus for dispensing a liquid contained in a container having a nozzle, said apparatus comprised of:

a back plate component having a back plate member; said back plate member capable of supporting said container;

a handle component; said handle component rotationally attachable to one of said back plate component and a cover component, said handle component comprised of a handle member, said handle member having a handle panel and;

said cover component, said cover component comprised of a cover member; said cover member having an aperture, said cover component removably attachable to said back plate component wherein a portion of said handle panel is capable of protruding through said aperture;

wherein when said container containing said liquid is installed on said back plate member, said handle component is rotationally attached to one of said back plate component and said cover component, and said cover component is attached to said back plate component, then said cover component encloses said handle component except that said portion of said handle panel protrudes through said aperture, and when said portion of said handle panel protruding through said aperture is pushed, a portion of liquid is dispensed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said handle component is configured so that it is removably attachable to said back plate component without requiring tools, said handle component is configured so that it is attachable to one of said back plate component and said cover component without requiring tools, and said cover component is configured so that it removably attachable to said back plate component using only at least one of a key, and a key and padlock pair.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

said back plate component is further comprised of a first pair of brackets positioned near the bottom of said back plate member, a second pair of brackets positioned the middle of said back plate member, a first lock bracket positioned near the top of said back plate member, and a nozzle support bracket positioned above the center of said back plate member;

said handle component further comprising a first shaft, said first shaft attached to said handle member, said first shaft rotationally attachable to said second pair of brackets, and;

said cover member further comprising a second shaft and a second lock bracket wherein said first shaft is removably and rotationally attachable to said second pair of brackets, said second shaft is removably attachable to said first pair of brackets, said second lock bracket is attached to the top of said cover member, said handle component and said cover component are sized and configured such that is said first shaft is rotationally attached to said second pair of brackets, said second shaft is secured to said first pair of brackets, and said first lock bracket is secured to said second lock bracket using a padlock, then said back plate component and said cover component encloses said handle component except that said first handle panel protrudes from said aperture.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first lock bracket and said second lock bracket accommodates said padlock with a key.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said second lock bracket is a straight cam locking member and said first lock bracket accommodates said second lock bracket.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said apparatus is further comprised of said nozzle and said container.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said handle member and said cover member are constructed out of plastic.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

said back plate component is further comprised of a first pair of brackets positioned near the bottom of said back plate member, a first lock bracket positioned near the top of said back plate member, and a nozzle support bracket positioned above the center of said back plate member;

said handle component further comprising an alternate first shaft, said alternate first shaft attached to said handle member, said alternate first shaft rotationally attachable to alternate second pair of brackets, and;

said cover member further comprising an said alternate second pair of brackets positioned at the middle of the inside of said cover component, and a second lock bracket wherein said alternate first shaft is removably and rotationally attachable to said alternate second pair of brackets, said alternate first shaft is removably attachable to said first pair of brackets, said second lock bracket is attached to the top of said cover member, said handle component and said cover component are sized and configured such that is said alternate first shaft is rotationally attached to said alternate second pair of brackets, said alternate first shaft is secured to said first pair of brackets, and said first lock bracket is secured to said second lock bracket using a padlock, then said back plate component and said cover component encloses said handle component except that said first handle panel protrudes from said aperture.