Flexible mounting system for hand hygiene dispensers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10039423-B2
Application number	US-201615088751-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 1, 2016
Priority date	Apr 1, 2015
Publication date	Aug 7, 2018
Grant date	Aug 7, 2018

Abstract

A flexible mounting system for a chemical product dispenser includes a dispenser holder and at least one mounting apparatus. The dispenser holder may be attached to the mounting apparatus by means of a releasable connection mechanism. The releasable connection mechanism may provide for attachment of the dispenser holder to the mounting apparatus in multiple orientations. In one example, the mounting apparatus includes a mounting bracket configured for mounting to a support object, such as a wall, table, counter top, cabinet, shelf, cart etc. In another example, the mounting apparatus includes a mounting clamp configured for mounting to ledges, poles, bedrails, handles, etc.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A product dispenser mounting system comprising:
a dispenser holder, the dispenser holder including:
a dispenser holder body configured to receive a product dispenser;
the dispenser holder body further including:
a sidewall having a front surface and a back surface; and
a back plate positioned proximate the back surface of the sidewall, the back plate further including a first aperture; and

a latch positioned between the back plate and the back surface of the sidewall, the latch including a second aperture, the second aperture having walls defining a locking side and an unlocking side, the latch further moveable between a first locked position and a second unlocked position; and

a mounting apparatus configured for fixedly mounting on a support object, the mounting apparatus including an attachment post including:
a base portion having a shape configured to fit within the first aperture of the back plate in one or more orientations; and
a post portion extending outwardly from the base portion and including a cap, the cap having a diameter that is relatively larger than a diameter of the post portion, the cap further providing a bottom locking surface,

such that when the base portion of the attachment post is fit within the first aperture of the back plate, the walls of the second aperture defining the locking side engage the bottom locking surface of the cap when the latch is moved into the first locked position,
the sidewall further including a projection extending outwardly from the back surface of the sidewall and aligned substantially in the center of the first aperture.

2. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 1 , wherein the back plate further includes one or more guiderails configured to receive the latch such that the latch is slidably moveable within the guiderails between the first locked position and the second unlocked position.

3. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 2 , wherein the post portion of the attachment post further include a bore extending longitudinally therethrough sized to receive the projection extending outwardly from the back surface of the sidewall.

4. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 1 , the base portion of the attachment post having a size and a shape configured to fit within the first aperture in one or more orientations such that dispenser holder is maintained in a selected one of the one or more orientations when the dispenser holder is connected to the attachment post.

5. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 1 wherein the base portion of the attachment post and the first aperture both have a shape comprising a regular n-sided polygon such that dispenser holder is maintained in a selected one of the one or more orientations when the dispenser holder is connected to the attachment post.

6. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 5 wherein the base portion of the attachment post and the first aperture have a shape including one of a triangle, a square, a pentagon, a hexagon, an octagon, a star-shape, and a clover-shape.

7. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 1 , the back plate further including one or more guiderails configured to slidably receive the latch,
the second aperture of the latch further including a first wider end having a diameter that is relatively wider than a diameter of the cap and a second narrower end having a diameter that is relatively narrower than the diameter of the cap, and wherein the latch is slidably moveable along the guiderails to move the second narrower end of the second aperture with respect to the attachment post such that the locking side of the latch engages the bottom locking surface of the cap.

8. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 7 wherein the latch is further slidably moveable along the guiderails to move the first wider end of the second aperture with respect to the attachment post such that the dispenser holder may be removed from the mounting apparatus.

9. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 1 wherein the mounting apparatus comprises a mounting clamp.

10. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 9 wherein the mounting clamp further includes:
a first jaw providing a first inward clamping surface; and
a second jaw having a proximal end pivotally attached to a proximal end of the first jaw, the second jaw providing a second inward clamping surface;
wherein the attachment post extends outwardly from a top surface of the first jaw, and wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are movable with respect to each other to apply a clamping force to the support object.

11. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 10 wherein the mounting clamp further includes an adjustment knob configured to adjust a distance between the first inward camping surface, the second inward clamping surface.

12. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 10 wherein the mounting clamp further includes a tip portion pivotally attached to a distal end of the second jaw, the tip portion providing a third inward clamping surface.

13. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 1 wherein the support object includes one of a wall, a cabinet, a pole, a post, a counter, a table, a shelf, and a cart.

14. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 1 wherein the product dispenser is a manual pump bottle.

15. The mounting system of claim 1 further comprising:
a sensor that detects actuation of the product dispenser; and
an indicator that is activated in response to each detected actuation of the product dispenser.

16. The mounting system of claim 1 further comprising:
a sensor that detects actuation of the product dispenser; and
a counter that increments a count in response to each detected actuation of the product dispenser.

17. The mounting system of claim 16 wherein data associated with the detected actuations of the product dispenser is received and analyzed by a hand hygiene compliance computing system.

18. A product dispenser mounting system comprising:
a dispenser holder, the dispenser holder including:
a dispenser holder body configured to receive a product dispenser;
the dispenser holder body further including:
a sidewall having a front surface and a back surface; and
a back plate positioned proximate the back surface of the sidewall, the back plate further including a first aperture; and

a latch positioned between the back plate and the back surface of the sidewall, the latch including a second aperture, the second aperture having walls defining a locking side and an unlocking side, the latch further moveable between a first locked position and a second unlocked position; and

a mounting apparatus configured for fixedly mounting on a support object, the mounting apparatus including an attachment post including:
a base portion having a shape configured to fit within the first aperture of the back plate in one or more orientations; and
a post portion extending outwardly from the base portion and including a cap, the cap having a diameter that is relatively larger than a diameter of the post portion, the cap further providing a bottom locking surface,

such that when the base portion of the attachment post is fit within the first aperture of the back plate, the walls of the second aperture defining the locking side engage the bottom locking surface of the cap when the latch is moved into the first locked position,
the latch further including a tapered wall around a perimeter of the second aperture on a side facing the

Assignees

• Ecolab Usa Inc

Inventors

• Schultz Andrew M
• Gilbertson Sarah E
• Anderson Daniel D
• Littau Cheryl A

Classifications

• F16M2200/024

  by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections · CPC title

• A47K5/1211 Primary

  using pressure on soap, e.g. with piston (A47K5/1201 takes precedence; using squeeze bottles or the like A47K5/122) · CPC title

• A47K5/1205

  Dispensing from the top of the dispenser with a vertical piston · CPC title

• A47L13/512

  Clamping devices for hanging the tools · CPC title

• F16M11/041

  Allowing quick release of the apparatus · CPC title