Flexible mounting system for hand hygiene dispensers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11253109-B2
Application number	US-202016883169-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 26, 2020
Priority date	Apr 1, 2015
Publication date	Feb 22, 2022
Grant date	Feb 22, 2022

Abstract

A flexible mounting system for a chemical product dispenser includes a dispenser holder and at least one mounting apparatus. A releasable connection mechanism provides for attachment of the dispenser holder to the mounting apparatus. 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 body including a bottom portion having a base configured to support a manually actuated product dispenser; and
a mounting apparatus configured to fixedly mount on a support object and to removably connect to the dispenser holder body, and including an attachment post having a size and a shape configured to removably connect with the dispenser holder body in multiple orientations such that dispenser holder body is maintained in a selected one of the multiple orientations when the dispenser holder body is connected to the attachment post;
the base further including at least one actuation sensor that detects actuation of the product dispenser.

2. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 1 further comprising an indicator that is activated in response to each detected actuation of the product dispenser.

3. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 1 further comprising a counter that increments a count in response to each detected actuation of the product dispenser.

4. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 1 wherein data associated with the detected actuations of the product dispenser is received and analyzed by a computing device.

5. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 1 , the dispenser holder body further including a top portion having first and second arms configured to receive a neck of the product dispenser, and wherein the top portion is pivotally connected to a sidewall such that the first and second arms are moveable between a first, lowered position and a second, raised position.

6. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 5 wherein the product dispenser is held in place in the dispenser holder body when the first and second arms are in the first, lowered position and wherein the product dispenser may be removed from the dispenser holder body when the first and second arms are in the second, raised position.

7. 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.

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

9. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 1 wherein the product dispenser contains any one of a liquid, a foam, or a gel.

10. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 1 wherein the product dispenser contains a hand hygiene product.

11. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 1 wherein the product dispenser contains any one of a hand washing soap or a hand sanitizer.

12. A product dispenser mounting system comprising:
a dispenser holder body including a bottom portion having a base configured to support a manually actuated product dispenser;
a mounting apparatus configured to fixedly mount on a support object and to removably connect to the dispenser holder body, and including an attachment post having a size and a shape configured to removably connect with the dispenser holder body in multiple orientations such that dispenser holder body is maintained in a selected one of the multiple orientations when the dispenser holder body is connected to the attachment post; and
a sensor module comprising:
at least one actuation sensor positioned in the base that detects actuation of the manually actuated product dispenser;
one or more processor(s) configured to receive an actuation signal from the at least one actuation sensor and store an electronic record of each detected actuation of the manually actuated product dispenser.

13. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one actuation sensor detects application of a downward force applied to the manually actuated product dispenser to detect actuation of the manually actuated product dispenser.

14. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one actuation sensor is positioned in the base to detect application of a downward force to the manually actuated product dispenser.

15. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 12 , further including two actuation sensors positioned in the base, and wherein one or both of the two actuation sensors detect application of a downward force applied to the manually actuated product dispenser.

16. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one actuation sensor further includes:
a push button switch including one or more movable contacts and one or more stationary contacts;
a spring biasing the push button switch and the one or more movable contacts to an open position with respect to the one or more stationary contacts when the manually actuated product dispenser is installed in the dispenser holder,
wherein the spring is compressed upon application of an actuation force to the manually actuated product dispenser, moving the push button switch in the direction of the actuation force such that the one or more movable contacts are moved into a closed position with respect to the one or more stationary contacts, and
wherein the spring biases the push button switch and the movable contacts to the open position with respect to the one or more stationary contacts when the actuation force is removed.

17. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more processor(s) are further configured to communicate dispenser actuation data including the detected actuations of the manually actuated product dispenser to one or more computing devices.

18. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 17 , wherein the one or more computing devices include a local computing device that receives dispenser actuation data from one or more sensor modules associated with one or more dispenser holders installed in a facility.

19. The product dispenser mounting system of claim 18 , wherein the local computing device analyzes the dispenser actuation data from the one or more sensor modules to monitor hand hygiene compliance in the facility.

20. A product dispenser mounting system comprising:
a dispenser holder body including a bottom portion having a base configured to support a manually actuated product dispenser, the dispenser holder body further including a top portion having first and second arms configured to receive a neck of the product dispenser, and wherein the top portion is pivotally connected to a sidewall such that the first and second arms are moveable between a first, lowered position and a second, raised position; and
a mounting apparatus configured to fixedly mount on a support object and to removably connect to the dispenser holder body;
the base further including at least one actuation sensor that detects actuation of the product dispenser.

21. A product dispenser mounting system comprising:
a dispenser holder body including a bottom portion having a base configured to support a manually actuated product dispenser, the dispenser holder body further including a top portion having first and second arms configured to receive a neck of the product dispenser, and wherein the top portion is pivotally connected to a sidewall such that the first and second arms are moveable between a first, lowered position and a second, raised position;
a mounting apparatus configured to fixedly mount on a support object and to removably connect to the dispenser holder body; and
a sensor module comprising:
at least one actuation sensor positioned in the base that detects actuation of the ma

Assignees

• Ecolab Usa Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• F16M13/02 Primary

  for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle · CPC title

• A47K5/1217

  Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism · CPC title

• F16M11/041

  Allowing quick release of the apparatus · CPC title

• A47K2010/3233

  Details of the housing, e.g. hinges, connection to the wall · CPC title

• F16M11/105

  the horizontal axis being the roll axis, e.g. for creating a landscape-portrait rotation · CPC title