UNIVERSAL HUB FOR A FLUID DISPENSER

Abstract

A removable and replaceable dispensing head for a fluid dispenser system adapted to deliver the fluid to a user includes a hollow shank extending on an axis. A shank hub is attached to the hollow shank, and an aperture aligned with the hollow portion of the shank extends through the shank hub. A first fixed body is removably attached to the shank hub, the first fixed body and shank hub each having corresponding first attachment means arrayed in a predetermined pattern. A fluid conveyance path is provided through the hollow shank, first fixed body and shank hub. A second fixed body is provided having a second attachment means arrayed in the same predetermined pattern, the second attachment means corresponding to the first attachment means in the shank hub enabling removable attachment of the second fixed body to the shank hub upon removal of the first fixed body from the shank hub. A sensor attached to either the fixed body, or to a hub spacer connected to the shank hub, automatically detects the presence of a user and activates the fluid dispensing system.

Description

These and other inventive features of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the attached drawing. In the drawing figures, which are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention defined in the attached claims:

FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic view of one type of fluid dispensing system embodying the novel hub assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial exploded perspective view of the shank and sensor assembly, and a rotatable embodiment of the fixed body and fluid dispenser of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is another exploded perspective view of the fluid dispenser of FIG. 2, illustrating additional details of the bolt assembly and fixed body of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a detail perspective view of the shank, hub spacer and sensor assembly of a further embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the further embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4, particularly illustrating the structure for mounting the sensor assembly on the hub spacer.

Claims

1. A removable and replaceable dispensing head for a fluid dispensing system adapted to deliver the fluid to a user, comprising: a. a hollow shank extending on an axis;b. a shank hub attached to said hollow shank, said shank hub extending in a radial direction relative to said axis at one end of said hollow shank;c. said shank hub including an aperture extending therethrough, said aperture aligned with the hollow portion of said shank;d. a first fixed body removably attached to said shank hub, said first fixed body and said shank hub having corresponding first attachment means arrayed in a predetermined pattern;e. said hollow shank, said aperture in said shank hub and said fixed body providing a fluid conveyance path;f. a second fixed body having second attachment means arrayed in said predetermined pattern, said second attachment means corresponding to said first attachment means in said shank hub enabling removable attachment of said second fixed body to said shank hub upon removal of said first fixed body from said shank hub.

2. The dispensing head of claim 1, further including a sensor assembly disposed in a chamber formed in said fixed body, said sensor assembly attached to one of said chamber in said fixed body and said hub shank.

3. The dispensing head of claim 2, wherein said fixed body has an upper cap portion partially defining said chamber, said sensor assembly attached to said upper cap portion.

4. The dispensing head of claim 2, wherein a hub spacer is mounted between said shank hub and said fixed body, said sensor assembly mounted to said hub spacer.

5. The dispensing head of claim 1 wherein said fixed body includes a rotatable top portion and a fixed lower portion, said top portion pivotal about an axis through a predetermined arc relative to the fixed lower portion.

6. The dispensing head of claim 5, wherein the rotatable top portion includes a hollow spout communicating with said fluid conveyance path.

7. The dispensing head of claim 6 wherein a sensor assembly is attached to one of said chamber of said fixed body and said hub shank, said dispensing head adapted to dispense fluid from said fluid conveyance path through said spout upon the detection of the presence of a user by the sensor assembly.

8. The dispensing head of claim 5 including a fluid seal between the rotatable top portion and the fixed lower portion.

9. The dispensing head of claim 3, wherein said upper cap portion of said fixed body includes an aperture extending through said upper cap portion; a bolt rotatably mounted in said aperture, said bolt having a hollow axial channel forming part of said fluid conveyance path;a mounting portion formed on an upper extent of said bolt, said fluid conveyance path extending through said mounting portion;a top removably attached to the mounting portion of said bolt.

10. The dispensing head of claim 9 wherein said top defines a chamber; a hollow spout attached to said top, said hollow spout communicating with said chamber in said top, said hollow spout and said chamber forming part of said fluid conveyance path.

11. The dispensing head of claim 9 wherein said bolt includes a hollow nipple communicating with said hollow channel, said hollow nipple adapted to be connected to a source of said fluid.

12. The dispensing head of claim 4 wherein said hub spacer includes a plurality of apertures extending through said hub spacer, said plurality of apertures arrayed in said predetermined pattern.

13. The dispensing head of claim 12 wherein said attachment means on said fixed body, said shank hub and said hub spacer are all in axial alignment.

14. The dispensing head of claim 4 wherein said hub spacer includes a mounting element attached to said hub spacer, said sensor assembly mounted on said mounting element.

15. The dispensing head of claim 4 wherein the fixed body includes a rotatable top portion and a fixed lower portion, said top portion pivoted about an axis through a predetermined arc relative to the fixed lower portion.

16. A dispensing head for a fluid dispensing system, comprising: a. a first fixed body having a hollow central portion, said hollow central portion having an upper cap portion;b. said first fixed body removably attached to a hub, said hub mounted on a hollow shank, said hub having a central aperture aligned with the hollow portion of the shank;c. a lens mounted in an aperture extending through said first fixed body;d. a sensor assembly including a sensor mounted in said first fixed body and adjacent said lens, said sensor adapted to detect the presence or absence of a user of the fluid dispensing system;e. a bolt having a hollow central channel, said bolt extending through an aperture in said upper cap portion, said bolt mounted in said aperture of said upper cap portion for limited rotative movement of said bolt relative to said upper cap portion;f. a top removably attached on an upper portion of said bolt, said top having a hollow chamber formed therein, said hollow chamber communicating with the hollow central channel in said bolt;g. a hollow fluid delivery spout mounted to said top, said hollow spout in communication with said hollow central portion of said first fixed body;h. said first fixed body and said sensor assembly adapted to be removed from said hub, and said top adapted to be detached from said bolt;i. said bolt adapted to be attached to a second fixed body, top and sensor assembly.

17. A dispensing head for a fluid dispensing system, comprising: a. hollow shank having a shank hub attached to an end of said hollow shank;b. said shank hub having a central aperture extending therethrough, said central aperture communicating with the hollow portion of said shank;c. a plurality of apertures arrayed in said shank hub, said apertures arrayed in a predetermined pattern;d. a hub spacer disposed on said shank hub, said hub spacer including a plurality of apertures arrayed in said predetermined pattern, said plurality of apertures extending through said hub spacer;e. a first fixed body having a hollow central portion, said first fixed body including a plurality of apertures disposed at a bottom portion of said first fixed body, said plurality of apertures in said first fixed body arrayed in said predetermined pattern;attachment elements extending through said apertures in said shank hub, said hub spacer and said bottom portion of said first fixed body to removably attach said first fixed body to said hub spacer and said shank hub; anda second fixed body including a plurality of apertures disposed at a bottom portion of said second fixed bodysaid plurality of apertures in said second fixed body arrayed in said predetermined pattern, said second fixed body adapted to be attached to said shank hub and said hub spacer upon removal of said fixed body from said shank hub and said hub spacer.

18. The dispensing head for a fluid dispensing system of claim 17, including a sensor mounted on said hub spacer, said sensor adapted to detect the presence of a user of the fluid dispensing system.

19. The dispensing head of claim 16, said first fixed body having a plurality of apertures arrayed in a predetermined pattern on a bottom portion of said first fixed body; said hub having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, said apertures in said hub arrayed in said predetermined pattern;removably attachment means removably attaching said first fixed body to said hub, said attachment means adapted to extend through said aligned apertures in said first fixed body and said hub;said second fixed body having a plurality of apertures arrayed in a predetermined pattern on a bottom portion of said second fixed body, said attachment means adapted to removably attach said second fixed body to said hub after said first fixed body has been removed from said hub.

20. The dispensing head of claim 19 wherein said attachment means extend through said aligned apertures in said second fixed body and said hub to removably attach said second fixed body to said hub.