Patent Application
20160303598
The present disclosure relates generally to device for dispensing a spray of liquid, such as a disinfectant, cleaning solution, or a non-irritating skin sanitizing solution, for personal cleansing as well as for cleaning the toilet seat area before and after use. The sanitary liquid dispensers provides an environmentally friendly way of obtaining a higher level of personal hygiene.
For personal hygiene and comfort, it is often desirable to use sanitary moistened wipes or toilet paper after using the lavatory facilities. Moistened wipes are especially useful for those with medical conditions, such as hemorrhoids, where the use of dry toilet paper would be extremely uncomfortable and irritating to the affected areas. Further, parents with toddlers or children just starting to learn how to use the lavatory by themselves would benefit from a system where they can more effectively clean themselves after using the toilet. The elderly would be another population that would benefit from a faster, easier way of cleaning themselves after using the bathroom.
Currently, there are products on the market that allow such cleansing after bathroom use. Unfortunately, many of these products are not flushable or biodegradable, such as baby wipes. And even when these products are marketed as being flushable or biodegradable, they do not break down as quickly or as easily as toilet paper and have a greater chance of clogging city sewer systems and septic tanks, thus creating more waste. In addition, continuously having to replenish these types of wipes is also costly compared to a system where a sprayer can moisten regular toilet paper with water or the cleansing solution of a user's choice. Thus there exists a need in the current market for a dispenser that can be either hung on the toilet paper rack or mounted near the toilet and that provides touchless moistening of toilet paper.
A number of prior art patents disclose systems which are to be used in conjunction with toilet paper but none have the advantages of this current dispenser device. The following patents are representative and are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes: U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,759 to Ayigbe, U.S. Pat. No. 7,162,754 to Haile, Jr., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,084 to Saleur.
The liquid dispenser in Ayigbe is a dispenser and toilet paper holder combination. The Ayigbe combination dispenser has the disadvantage that it must be located with the toilet paper. A user has no choice of where to place the dispenser for either mechanical or aesthetic considerations. Further, because the spray is located right above the toilet paper roll, spraying single sheets of toilet paper may cause the toilet paper to disintegrate and come apart even before it is torn from the roll, and even more so when handled before use. Thus, a user would more likely tear the toilet paper off before pushing the button for dispensing the liquid, which defeats the benefit of having the dispenser opening right above the toilet paper roll. The Ayigbe dispenser also is a manual dispenser, which is less sanitary than a touchless one.
The device for moistening paper disclosed in Haile, Jr. uses primarily water. The water supply for this dispenser system taps into the existing water supply line. A user here would activate a lever to dispense an amount of water onto toilet paper. While this system is environmentally friendly, it requires the added hassle of installing a new outlet and water supply line for moistening the toilet paper. Further, the device of Haile, Jr. only reasonably allows for use of water and not other cleansing solutions of a user's choice. The Haile, Jr. dispenser here also is a manual operated dispenser, not a touchless one, which, as mentioned above, is less sanitary especially if placed in a location for public use.
Finally, the dispenser detailed in Saleur is integrated system for moistening toilet paper using a humidifying device that moistens the toilet paper and that is integrated with an electric toilet paper dispenser. When the roll is dispensed in Saleur, the toilet paper is “moistened” by humidifying means and a cutting member then cuts the toilet paper. While the Saleur system is advantageous for always providing a constant level of moistening, it is not a good device for users that want different levels of moisture on the toilet paper at different times. A user wanting a different level of moisture with the Saleur dispenser would somehow have to adjust the dispenser to suit his preferences, which would be inconvenient if persons in the same household had different preferences on the level of moistening.
Thus, there is need in this area for a solution dispenser that allows a user to decide what liquid to use for moistening toilet paper and the level of moistening to be provided. Further, a dispenser that can either be hung from existing toilet paper dispensers or mounted would allow user more options for locating a desired placement of the dispenser. There is also a need for a touchless dispenser to lessen the transmission of germs from one user to the next.
The present disclosure is directed to a liquids dispenser for delivering a mist of liquid. The liquids dispenser includes a liquids cartridge for holding a liquid and a cartridge receptacle coupled to the liquids dispenser. The dispenser further includes a pump and a heating element. The cartridge receptacle including electrical circuitry designed to detect a first condition such that when the first condition is met, the pump is activated and cartridge receptacle dispenses an aliquot of liquid or mist through a dispensing element. The heating element heats the liquid that travels through to the dispensing element and is dispensed when a second condition occurs. A motion sensor is also disposed on the cartridge receptacle for detecting the first condition. Finally, the dispenser includes a holder for either hanging or attaching the dispenser to a stable surface or object.
The disclosed sanitary liquid dispensers device will become better understood through review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the figures. The detailed description and figures provide merely examples of the various inventions described herein. Those skilled in the art will understand that the disclosed examples may be varied, modified, and altered without departing from the scope of the inventions described herein. Many variations are contemplated for different applications and design considerations; however, for the sake of brevity, each and every contemplated variation is not individually described in the following detailed description.
Throughout the following detailed description, a variety of sanitary liquid dispensers examples are provided. Related features in the examples may be identical, similar, or dissimilar in different examples. For the sake of brevity, related features will not be redundantly explained in each example. Instead, the use of related feature names will cue the reader that the feature with a related feature name may be similar to the related feature in an example explained previously. Features specific to a given example will be described in that particular example. The reader should understand that a given feature need not be the same or similar to the specific portrayal of a related feature in any given figure or example.
Sanitary liquid dispenser disclosed in this application contains replaceable or refillable cartridges for replenishing the desired solution as well as the option of an adjustable strap or wall mounting and a sensor for touchless dispensing of the cleansing solution. Sanitary liquid dispenser provides an easy way to improve upon personal hygiene. Sanitary liquid dispenser has the benefit that the user can fill the cartridge with the cleanser of her choice. Further, sanitary liquids dispenser requires no special plumbing and may be hung or amounted anywhere that is convenient or aesthetically pleasing to the user.
With reference to
Additionally or alternatively to attaching sanitary liquid dispenser 100 to an object, such as the toilet roll dispenser, with an adjustable strap 150, any feasible way of mounting touchless toilet paper spritzer 100 into place can be used. Suitable mounting techniques include mounting with screws, nails, adhesives onto a surface such as a wall, or can be any combination thereof. Other methods of mounting may include an eye and hook type attachment or a hook and pile attachment where either hook or pile portion is placed on sanitary liquid dispenser 100 and the corresponding member is attached to the surface of interest. Sanitary liquid dispenser 100 may also be hung from any item that is convenient for the user.
While sanitary liquid dispenser 100 may be readily used with toilet paper, one skilled in the art will appreciate that sanitary liquid dispenser 100 may be used in other settings where it would be desirable to have access to a cleaning or cleansing solution without the need for manual touch. Other suitable places where the sanitary liquid dispenser 100 may be used could include other areas of the house where cleanliness is important, such as the kitchen area. Outside the home, sanitary liquid dispenser 100 may be used in a commercial setting for cleaning and cleansing purposes, such as the entrance of a store where often there are sanitary wipes for wiping off a shopping receptacle. Sanitary liquid dispenser 100 has the advantage of providing wipes with fresh cleaning or cleansing solution on demand instead of providing wipes where the cleansing solution has already evaporated or even dried completely. Using sanitary liquid dispenser 100 has the further advantage of being compatible with an eco-friendly cleaning solution, which allows the used paper towels to be composted instead of placed in the garbage.
Further, no special plumbing is required for sanitary liquid dispenser 100 to work. In some of the prior art solutions, the corresponding devices require introducing an additional line, either from the sink or toilet water supply, to supply liquid to the dispenser. Sanitary liquid dispenser 100 needs no such adaptation. A user can easily fill the reservoir with water, a commercially purchased cleaning or cleansing solution, or a solution formed from the user blending ingredients she has on hand.
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In the present embodiment, cartridge receptacle 120 receives liquids cartridge 110 and sits proximate to liquids cartridge 110 when the two are engaged. When cartridge receptacle 120 and liquids cartridge 110 are engaged with one another, there is fluid connection between liquids cartridge 110 and dispenser 128 through cartridge receptacle 120. Liquids cartridge 110 sits on top of cartridge receptacle 120. Washers that can be securely mated, are located between the opening at the base of liquids cartridge 110 and on the top of cartridge receptacle 120. The washers serve to prevent leakage of liquid from liquids cartridge 110 onto cartridge receptacle 120 when the two are engaged and sanitary liquid dispenser 100 is in use. Further, the openings that provide liquid from liquids cartridge 110 to cartridge receptacle 120 are aligned to allow fluid connection between the two components.
Cartridge receptacle 120 further includes at least one coupling point 114. Coupling points 114 are located at the top end perimeter of cartridge receptacle 120 and function to hold liquids cartridge 110 in place when liquids cartridge 110 is engaged with cartridge receptacle 120. As mentioned above, liquids cartridge 110 possess a corresponding impression or impressions along the perimeter of its outer wall that allows coupling points 114 to securely mate with the impression on liquids cartridge 110. In other examples, clips, mated grooves, male/female attachments and similarly mated parts may be used to secure liquids cartridge 110 to cartridge receptacle and base 120.
Cartridge receptacle 120 also includes a release 115. When release 115 is pressed, coupling points 114 become disengaged from their corresponding depressions on liquids cartridge 110 and thus release liquids cartridge 110 from cartridge receptacle 120. In other examples, the opening on the bottom end of liquids cartridge that provides cleansing solution to the dispenser is engaged with the opening at the top end of the cartridge receptacle, through threading components that allow one end to be screwed securely into a second end. In this latter example, no coupling points or release is required. One consideration for this latter example is that because there are no other points for the securing liquids cartridge into the cartridge receptacle, the cylinder wall into which the liquids cartridge sits may need to be taller to provide stability to the overall device when the liquids cartridge and the cartridge receptacle are connected.
Cartridge receptacle 120 further supports a piece of tubing 124 that connects the opening of liquids cartridge 110 with dispenser 128. When dispenser 128 is activated, dispenser 128 draws liquid from liquids cartridge 110 through tubing 124 and sprays liquid through dispenser 128 onto a surface chosen by the user. Dispenser 128 can be an atomizer, a spritzer, a mister, or a dispenser that delivers a measured aliquot of liquid. Tubing 124 may be made of plastic, metal or other synthetic pipe or tubing material. A person skilled in the art can decide whether a stiffer tubing made from metal or a more flexible tubing would be desirable for the connection between liquids cartridge 110 and dispenser 128.
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Further disposed on tubing 124 is heating element 130. Heating element 130, disposed on the portion of tubing 124 in close proximity to dispenser 128, supplies heat to tubing 124 when a second condition is met. In this embodiment, the second condition is when liquid starts to pass through tubing 124 on route to dispenser 128. By heating the cleansing liquid with heating element 130 as it passes through tubing 124, the liquid that reaches dispenser 128 will be more easily atomized and sprayed onto a desired surface, such as toilet paper. An added benefit for heating the cleansing or sanitizing liquid, is that warmer-than-room temperature liquid may be applied to the body region of a user, which provides more soothing cleansing than a cold, moistened toilette.
An auto sensor 140 and a viewing window 125 are also located on the body of cartridge receptacle 120. Auto sensor 140 senses when an object is within its vicinity and triggers dispenser 128 to pull liquid from liquids cartridge 110 and spray atomized liquid onto the object in its spray path. Touch-less sensor 141) also triggers heating element to provide heat to tubing 124. Touch-less sensor 140 is positioned where user can easily hold toilet paper or other wiping material and coordinate with dispensing element 128 to accurately spray atomized liquid onto the toilet paper or other wiping material. In some embodiments, the sensor is located on the front side of the cartridge receptacle and in other embodiments, the sensor is located adjacent or in the near vicinity of dispensing element 128. Viewing window 125 allows a user to see when liquids cartridge 110 is almost empty and requires replacement or refilling.
Cartridge receptacle 120 also includes a base end 122 as shown in
Cartridge receptacle 120 further includes bumpers 144 on its back surface. Bumpers 144 are disposed on various positions on the back side of cartridge receptacle 120 as shown in
Further, base end 122 includes a bottom cover 138 that protects the power supply from debris and dust. Bottom cover 138 is slightly recessed from the bottom edges of base end 122. As
The elements of sanitary liquid dispenser 100 may be composed of any suitable materials that allow sanitary liquid dispenser 100 to properly function. The elements of sanitary liquid dispenser 100 may be made of a single material or a combination of suitable materials. Ideally, liquids cartridge 110 is transparent. This makes it easy for a user to know when he or she has to replenish the cleansing solution. It would also be possible to have liquids cartridge 110 made of mostly opaque material but further include a window where user can see if the cleansing liquid needs to be refilled. Liquids cartridge 110 and cartridge receptacle 120 may be made of singularly or any combination of plastic, metal, glass, any suitable manufactured or natural material.
As shown in
In other embodiments, sanitary liquid dispenser 100 can have a holder 160.
A second embodiment of the sanitary liquids dispenser, dispenser 200, will now be described. Dispenser 200 share many similarities and identical features with the previously disclosed example. Thus, for the sake of brevity, each feature of dispenser 200, will not be described redundantly in great detail.
Dispenser 200 also contains a liquids cartridge 210 and a cartridge receptacle 220. The main difference between dispenser 100 and dispenser 200 is that liquids cartridge 210 is contained and mostly concealed within cartridge receptacle 220 as shown in
In the two embodiments described, sanitary liquids dispenser 100 and 200 are largely cylindrical in shape. But in other embodiments, both the liquids cartridge and the cartridge receptacle may be any other suitable shape such as but not limited to square or rectangular or polygonal. In yet other embodiments, face plates or covers that fit over either the liquids cartridge, the cartridge receptacle, or both can be included to change to the look and style of the dispenser so that a user can match and coordinate the dispenser to the décor of a room. The face plates or covers can be attached with adhesives or magnetic strips or other appropriate adhering mechanism.
In other embodiments, the liquids dispenser may be stackable or fit side-by-side. This would be useful in a commercial setting when different sanitizing or cleansing solutions may be needed or used. In the stackable or side-by-side configuration, the multiple liquids dispensers may be attached to a sturdy surface or be placed in holders that can accommodate a multiple dispenser configuration, either in a stacked or side-by-side configuration.
In yet other embodiments, the liquids dispenser described above may also include a light. The light will be shown in a direction where a person using the liquids dispenser would hold the object onto which the liquid would be sprayed. The light would be placed in a location on the body of the cartridge receptacle such that when the auto sensor senses motion, it will simultaneously trigger the sprayer or mister along with the light turning on.
Finally, in other embodiments, the liquids dispenser can include a plate or pan disposed at the bottom of the liquids dispenser that catches drips from the liquids dispenser. The plate or pan can be part of the holder or an attachment onto the liquids dispenser or the holder.
The disclosure above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in a particular form, the specific embodiments disclosed and illustrated above are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed above and inherent to those skilled in the art pertaining to such inventions. Where the disclosure or subsequently filed claims recite “a” element, “a first” element, or any such equivalent term, the disclosure or claims should be understood to incorporate one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.
Applicant(s) reserves the right to submit claims directed to combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed inventions that are believed to be novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of those claims or presentation of new claims in the present application or in a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to the same invention or a different invention and whether they are different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are to be considered within the subject matter of the inventions described herein.
