JPH0230682B2 - EKIJOSETSUKENNOKODASHISOCHI - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing liquid soap in generally discrete portions.

Dispensing devices of this type are used in laundry rooms or the like of public or public institutions or in places where a relatively large number of users are present, especially for sanitary purposes.

The present invention is an improvement to the soap dispenser and refilling device for the same as disclosed in U.S. Pat. All of these devices and dispensers are working effectively;
To some extent, it is common to have refill cartridges designed for these uses that are misused by third parties. That is, although the dispenser is designed to accept a specific cartridge, third parties often attempt to enter the replaceable cartridge market and misuse inferior soap products for dispensers.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid soap dispensing device that includes a refillable dispenser and eliminates the disadvantages of the prior art while providing additional structural and operational advantages. It is a general purpose.

The present invention includes a closed wall structure for defining a container, a partition device for dividing said container into a lower liquid soap reservoir and an upper refill compartment, and for dispensing liquid soap from said reservoir. a dispensing device carried by the container, a refilling opening in the partition device communicating between the storage tank and the refilling compartment, and a refilling cartridge having an outlet containing liquid soap; a slot and key mechanism carried by the refill cartridge outlet end and the container for maintaining the cartridge in a predetermined relative refill arrangement and in communication with the refill opening; , the refill cartridge has an outlet end of the refill cartridge configured to cooperate with the refill opening to allow liquid soap from the refill cartridge to flow into the reservoir to refill the reservoir. and removably enclosed within said refill compartment in said relative refill arrangement.

The soap dispensing device of the present invention removes the refill opening from the refill cartridge while preventing the introduction of liquid soap into the upper refill compartment and the use of refill cartridges that do not have a specific neck design. It accommodates the free flow of liquid soap through the container into the soap storage tank.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further features and advantages, will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Figures 1-3 of the accompanying drawings illustrate a soap dispenser 100 constructed in accordance with the present invention and embodying features of the present invention. The soap dispenser 100 includes a mounting bracket, generally designated 101, which has a generally flat rectangular shape disposed generally vertically to provide a supporting surface during use. including a wall 102 of
The wall also has integral curved lateral flanges 103 projecting forwardly from the wall along each side of its lateral edges. Two substantially vertically aligned stamped bodies 104 are formed in vertical wall 102 and project rearwardly from said vertical wall in a direction opposite to the direction in which lateral flanges 103 extend, each of which has an opening 105 extending through its center. Two embossing bodies (not shown)
is likewise formed in the wall 102 and projects rearwardly therefrom. These unillustrated embossing bodies are arranged in substantially horizontal alignment with each other along a line located substantially midway between the embossing bodies 104; The blades project the same distance as the striking bodies 104 and each has an opening (not shown) extending through its center.

An extension flange 108 integral with the wall 102 at its upper end is sloped forward in substantially the same direction as the side flanges 103 and at its distal end:
It is integral with an upwardly extending flange 109 that is substantially parallel to wall 102. Two forward and upwardly extending support lugs 110 are stamped from wall 102 near the lower end of the wall.

A wall 111 integral with the bottom end of wall 102 and extending forwardly therefrom substantially perpendicular thereto is disposed substantially horizontally in use and extends upwardly integrally around its entire circumference. A bent flange 112 is provided and the top flange 112 is integral with the side flanges 103. Two parallel, laterally spaced apart pivot brackets 113 are integral with wall 111 and project upwardly therefrom substantially perpendicular thereto. A portion of the wall 111 between the pivot brackets 113 is cut out to define a generally rectangular opening 114. A circular soap discharge opening 115 is formed in wall 111 near the forward edge of wall 111 substantially midway between the forward edges of wall 111, the purpose of which openings 114 and 115 is as follows. Enough said. A circular retaining plate 118 is pivotally secured to the inner surface of the upwardly extending flange 109, for example by studs 119.

In use, mounting bracket 101 is mounted on wall 50 generally above and closely adjacent to a sink or washing bowl or the like. The mounting bracket 101 is attached to the wall 5 by means of a mounting screw 55 threaded through an opening provided in the stamped body 104 and threaded into the wall 50.
0, and the wall 102 is disposed substantially parallel to the surface 53 of the wall 50 and the stamped body 10
4 and not shown.
However, the stampings serve to separate mounting bracket 101 from the surface of wall 50 by a small distance.

Dispenser 100 also includes a soap container or housing 120, preferably formed from translucent or transparent plastic. However, it will be appreciated that any suitable material, whether opaque or optically transparent, can be used. The container 120 has a generally box-like profile and includes a generally rectangular front wall 121, a pair of opposing side walls 122, a rear wall 123, a rectangular bottom wall 125, and preferably a rectangular bottom wall 125. 120 is a wall 121,
Preferably, 122, 123 and 125 are all integrally formed with each other. The rear wall 123 has inwardly bent and forwardly sloped portions 124 at its lateral edges. The side wall 122 has a rearwardly extending portion 127 that projects rearwardly beyond the rear wall 123;
The rear wall 123 is thereby retracted with respect to the side walls 122. Further thereon, rear wall 123 extends below bottom wall 125 to form a downwardly extending portion or mounting flange 128 . Similarly, the front wall 121 and the side wall 122 extend sufficiently below the bottom wall 125 and the bottom edge of the mounting flange 128 to form a skirt portion 129 .

Pump assembly or dispensing device 130 connects container 12
It is mounted below the bottom wall 125 of 0. The pump assembly or dispensing device 130 has a pivot pin 1
It includes an operating handle 131 having 32.
Both opposite ends of the pivot pin 132 are connected to the pivot bracket 1 on the mounting bracket 111, respectively.
13 for pivoting the operating handle 131 about the axis of a pivot pin 132. The axis of the pivot pin 132 is substantially parallel to the bracket wall 111 and the bracket wall 102, and extends above the bracket wall 111 in a substantially horizontal direction.
In use, handle 131 projects downwardly through opening 114 in bracket wall 111 and terminates in an enlarged gripping portion at its lower end. The handle 131 also includes a stop member 134 projecting rearwardly from a pin 132 above the housing wall 111 and a stop member 134 projecting rearwardly from a pin 132 above the housing wall 111.
32 and an actuating arm 135 that is substantially longer than the stop member 134.

Pump assembly or dispensing device 130 also includes a unitary pump housing 140, preferably of molded construction. Pump housing 140 is secured to container 1 by suitable fasteners.
It is firmly fixed to the bottom wall 125 of 20. A flexible diaphragm having a plurality of through suction openings in surrounding relationship with an intake opening or conduit 143 in the bottom wall 135 of the container 120 connects the pump housing 140 and the container 120.
It is firmly sandwiched between the bottom wall 125 and the bottom wall 125. The diaphragm 141 also connects the bottom wall 12
It also has a plurality of discharge openings disposed in surrounding relationship with a discharge conduit 144 in 5, the suction conduit and discharge conduit being covered by an inserter 149 during normal use. passage 148
connected by. A flexible, resilient ball 145 is disposed in the area of the intake conduit 143 and below the diaphragm 141, the outer surface of the ball 145 normally being in the normal rest position with the handle 131 shown in solid lines in FIG. If so, actuating arm 1
It is exactly touching 35. Mounting bracket wall 1
A dispensing conduit 146 in a spout 147 located directly above and in alignment with the soap discharge opening 115 provided in the discharge conduit 144
It is located below the diaphragm 141 within the area.

During operation, the soap container 120 is mounted on the mounting bracket 1.
It is mounted on 01. The operating handle 131 is pulled forward by the user, thereby causing the ball 1 to
45 is compressed by the actuating arm 135 and a predetermined amount of liquid soap is forced out of the delivery conduit 146, and release of the operating handle 131 causes the ball 145 to re-inflate, thereby discharging the container through the suction conduit 143 in preparation for the next dispensing operation. Inhale one charge of liquid soap from 120.

The soap container 120 has a partition 150 that is arranged substantially horizontally during use.
is substantially rectangular in shape, the peripheral edge of which rests on a ledge formed on the inner surface of the walls 121-123 of the soap container and is firmly fixed thereto, for example by ultrasonic welding. Partition 150 is 4
It consists of two substantially triangular fan-shaped bodies 152, the upper surface of which is sloped gently downward toward the center of the partition 150, and a depression generally indicated by the reference numeral 155 is formed at the center. There is. These are clearly illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 9 to 11. Hollow 155
includes a cylindrical side wall 154 that is integral with the partition 150 at its upper end and extends downward therefrom. At its lower end, the recess 155 has an inner surface 156 that terminates in a circular bottom wall having an inner bottom surface 157 and an outer bottom surface 159. Small drain openings 1 diametrically opposed to each other
58 is formed at the bottom of recess 155 adjacent its outer edge.

Two keys 160 are located on the inner surface 157 of the reservoir bottom.
and the keys 160 are diametrically opposed to each other and displaced 90 degrees from the drain opening 158. Each key 160 is generally rectangular in shape and has mutually opposed parallel side surfaces 162.
It has a top surface 161 having a . key 16
0 extends inwardly from longitudinally extending inner surface 156 to upright cartridge opening member 165.

having a top surface 166 sloped upwardly toward the front wall 121 of the soap container housing 120;
A hollow cartridge opening member 165 having a generally cylindrical shape is attached to the bottom inner surface 157 of the recess 155.
The cylindrical side wall 154 extends upwardly from the inner surface of the bottom portion, and is coaxial with the cylindrical side wall 154. The top peripheral edge of member 165 is also sharpened sufficiently to pierce the membrane and the outer surface 167 of cartridge opening member 165 is in contact with the two keys 160 and thereby recessed. 155 is coupled to an inner surface 156 of 155 . Preferably, partition 150, recess 155, cartridge opening member 165, and key 160 are all integral and molded in one step.

Divider 150 separates bottom wall 125 and wall 12 of the container.
1-123 and between each other the entire reference numeral 175
It will be appreciated that defining a liquid soap reservoir as shown in FIG. Reservoir 175 is filled with liquid soap 176 to level 177 and the location of partition 150 within soap container 120 is such that reservoir 175 occupies slightly less than half of the internal volume of container 120. It is stipulated in The container 120, and in particular the rear wall 123 of the container, has a drain opening 178 vertically spaced above the bottom inner surface 157 of the refill recess 155 and below the top surface 161 of the key 160; This is critical to the operation of the invention, as will be explained below.

Container 120 also has a top plate, generally designated 180, the outer periphery of which covers container 120.
The shape matches the circumference of the upper edge of the container, and the wall 1 of the container
Flat edge 181 formed on the inner surface of 21-123
It is seated thereon and is rigidly fixed thereto, for example by ultrasonic welding. Top plate 18
0 is formed with a large octagonal opening such that the top plate 180 consists essentially of a relatively narrow flange projecting horizontally inwardly from the wall of the container 120. A shallow recess 182 formed in the upper surface of the top plate 180 near its rear edge is adapted to receive the circular retainer plate 118 therein to securely hold the container 120 in place on the mounting bracket 101. . Two rear abutments (not shown) extend upwardly from the top plate 180 at its rear corners and two front abutments 184 extend upwardly from the top plate 180 adjacent its forward corners, and Each of the front impactors 184 has a notch 186 formed in its front surface. Positioning members 185, the purpose of which will be explained later, are integral with and extend downwardly from top plate 180 adjacent to at least a portion of each corner edge.

The container 120 also has a cover plate 190 that includes a flat rectangular top wall 191, a front wall 192, a pair of opposed side walls 193, and a rear wall 192.
94, all of which are connected together to form a single structure. A key-actuated latch mechanism 195 is rigidly secured to the top wall 191 near the rear edge. An elongated carrier plate 196 is rigidly fixed to the inner surface of the front wall 192 and is provided at opposite ends with rearwardly extending projections 197, each of which is preferably covered with a resilient cushioning material. Preferably, the tabs 197 are each adapted to be received within a cutout 186 in the front abutment 184 of the top plate 180. The cover plate 190 has walls 192-194 having a vertical dimension sufficient to receive the angled flange 108 and the upwardly extending flange 109 of the mounting bracket 101 to accommodate the container 1.
It is sized to completely cover the top wall 180 of 20. In use, the lug 197 is inserted into the notch 186 in the front impactor 184 and the cover plate 190 is then pivoted down to a position completely covering the top of the container 120, as illustrated in FIG. The latching hook of latching mechanism 195 then engages within a complementary retention opening in upwardly extending flange 109 of mounting bracket 101. From just above the partition 150 to the top wall 18 for purposes described in greater detail below.
The vertical slot 200 extending to 0 is the container 120.
It is formed on the rear wall 123 of. Cover plate 190
The partition 150 and the walls 121-123 of the container 120
together define a closed refill compartment, generally designated 205. Communication between this refill compartment 205 and the liquid soap reservoir 175 is provided by a refill opening 169.

The soap dispensing device also includes a refill cartridge 210. The refill cartridge is semi-rigid, preferably formed from a translucent, flexible plastic material, and is capable of retaining the liquid content of container 120, as clearly illustrated in FIGS. 3-7. A supply of liquid soap is maintained for refilling the soap reservoir 175. The refill cartridge 210 has a substantially polygonal shape, with its top wall and end walls 211 and 212 having a pair of opposing side walls 213 and a pair of opposing end walls 214.
The side walls 213 and end walls 214 are perpendicular to each other and to the top and bottom walls 211 and 212. Four guide or corner walls 215 connect the side walls 213 to the end walls 214 and are inclined at a substantially 45° angle to each and each also similarly perpendicular to the top and bottom walls 211 and 212. ing. At the junction of the top wall 211 with the side wall 213, two recesses are formed intermediate the ends thereof to receive the fingers of the user.

a cylindrical neck 220 that is integral with the bottom wall 212 and projects outward from the bottom wall at its center;
is connected to the bottom wall 212 at its upper end. The neck 220 has a tubular wall portion 221 having a top surface 222 integral with an enlarged circular flange 223 having a bottom surface 224 provided with a slot or groove 225. There is. Slots 225 are diametrically opposed to each other and each have two downwardly extending opposing side walls 22.
7, the neck 220 defines a central passageway 228 therethrough. Cervical region 220,
In particular, the tubular wall portion 211 extends from the bottom 224 to the passageway 22.
It is closed or sealed by a closure member 229 which is drawn into the membrane 8 and which may be a pierceable membrane.

When the liquid soap reservoir 175 of the container 120 is to be refilled, the cover plate 190 is unsecured and removed and a new refill cartridge 2 is inserted.
00 is inserted into the repack compartment 205. The repacking cartridge 210 is the same as this cartridge 21.
8 defined by the top plate 180 and positioned in sliding engagement with a locating member 185 cooperating to guide the neck of the reload cartridge 210 into the reservoir 155.
It is shaped and dimensioned to fit exactly into the square opening.

The neck 220, in particular its tubular wall portion 221, has a slot 225 provided in the bottom flange 223.
and a key 16 extending inwardly from the inner surface 156 of the wall 155 to the cartridge opening member 165.
Positioned in alignment with 0. As the refill cartridge 210 is moved downwardly, the upper surface 166 of the cartridge opening member 165, particularly its upper end, contacts and pierces the closure member 229 within the neck 220. Refill cartridge 21
A subsequent downward movement of 0 causes the neck 220 to seat within the reservoir 155, placing the top surface 226 of each slot onto the top surface 161 of the respective key 160 and the bottom surface 224 of the cartridge 210. It rests on the bottom inner surface 157 of the well 155, thereby slipping the cartridge into the well.

Since the cartridge 210 is closed, i.e., non-porous except for the neck 220, the liquid soap 176 within the cartridge 210 will only reach the reservoir 175 up to the level of the effective outlet of the cartridge 210, which is the bottom surface 224 of the cartridge neck 220.
and thereby maintain the liquid level 177 in said reservoir through a drain hole 178 in the rear wall 123 of the soap container housing 120 until the soap supply 176 in the cartridge 210 is exhausted. is also maintained at a constant position that is always below.

It should therefore now be clear how the abuse-proof feature of the invention is achieved. With the key 160 extending upwardly from the bottom inner surface 157 of the recess 155, the cartridge 210 has a neck 220 specifically designed to seat the bottom inner surface of the recess 155 as disclosed. must be maintained. If an abuser attempts to use a standard cylindrical neck within the soap dispenser 100, the key 160 prevents this neck from extending downward to the liquid level 177 shown in FIG. Will. This misused cartridge seats only on the top 161 of the key 160, causing the level of liquid in the reservoir 175 to rise to a level specifically designed to be above the bottom of the drain hole 178, but The soap is then drained from the reservoir and dispenser 100. Slot 22 for receiving a specific key
5 is completely seated in the recess 155 of the cartridge 210 provided therein, whereby the liquid soap 17 contained in this cartridge is completely seated.
6 will drain through the refill opening 169 in the center of the member 165 into the reservoir 175 to a level 177 below the drain hole 178.

In this manner, the reload cartridge 210 is inserted into the reload compartment 205 to the reload profile, i.e., with the neck 220 fully seated within the recess 155, as illustrated in FIG. 3 of the accompanying drawings. After establishing the correct liquid level 177, cover plate 190 is secured in position to close refill compartment 205 and the enclosed refill cartridge. It will be appreciated that this entire cartridge change operation takes place within approximately a few seconds.

When the next repair request is made, inspection of the translucent refill cartridge 210 can immediately tell the repairer whether it is empty or not. If the cartridge is empty, it is removed and discarded, and a new refill cartridge 210 is inserted into position as described above. The repacking cartridge 21
If 0 is not empty, the repair person knows that the reservoir 175 still has a significant amount of soap 176 inside and no further refilling is required.

This soap dispenser 100 is equipped with a refill cartridge 2 specifically designed for use with this soap dispenser.
10 and therefore this container 120 cannot be refilled with liquid soap from unauthorized sources. This purpose is further facilitated by a slot 200 provided in the rear wall 123 of the container 120. In particular, due to the size of the central refill opening 169 in the cartridge opening member 165 which allows liquid soap to flow freely through it by gravity under ambient pressure, unauthorized procurers may It will be appreciated that there is a temptation to simply pour free or loose liquid soap into the refill compartment 205 and drain it through the refill opening 169. However, if this were attempted, the soap would immediately flow out through the slot 200, flow down the back of the container 100, and reach the top of the bracket wall 111.
It flows along the outside of the pump assembly 130, creating severe overflow and possibly ruining the dispensing mechanism. It will thus be appreciated that the slots 200 effectively prevent the accumulation of free liquid soap within the reservoir 175.

The above-described abuse-proof features of the slot 200 combined with the cooperative design of the refill recess 155, the upright cartridge opening member 165, and the cartridge neck 220 make the dispenser 10 of the present invention
Unauthorized use of soap refill cartridges 210 within 0 is completely prevented. Since misused refill cartridges are the single most important economic factor in the liquid soap dispensing business, the present invention achieves its primary objectives through the combination of the foregoing features.

It will be noted that the finger recess 216 provided in the reload cartridge 210 serves to facilitate handling of the reload cartridge during insertion into and removal from the reload compartment 205. These recesses are provided for a very tight fit between the walls of the cartridge 210 and the top plate 180 and when fully inserted into the repack profile.
This is particularly useful in the removal of used refill cartridges 210 because the refill cartridges 210 extend only a small distance above the top plate 180.

When storing the refill cartridge 210, it is generally preferred to position the refill cartridge 210 with the top wall 211 facing downwards, as this provides a much more stable base than with the neck facing downwards. be. It will be appreciated that the upright ribs provide a support surface for supporting the refill cartridge 210 during storage.

In another embodiment of the present invention, now disclosed in FIG. It has a generally downwardly sloped upper surface 253. Recess 255 has a downwardly extending cylindrical outer wall 254 and an inner wall 256 . The recess 255 has a flat bottom with three equally spaced small drain holes 25
8. The bottom inner surface 257 is provided with a bottom inner surface 257. Upright from the bottom inner surface 257 of the recess 255 are three equally spaced, orthogonally shaped keys 260 . Each key 260 has a generally flat upper surface 261 and opposed parallel flat side surfaces 262. Each small drain hole 258 is interposed between adjacent keys 260. Slanted upper surface 266
Also upright from the bottom inner surface 257 of the recess 255 is a cartridge opening member 265 having a central refill opening or passageway 269 communicating between the upper refill chamber and the lower reservoir. .

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13 operates substantially as described above, except that complementary cartridges 310 are connected to top surface 326.
and provides a cartridge specifically designed to fit over the seat on the three upright keys 260 at side 327 and thereby to mate with the keys 260 in the recess 255, thereby allowing the dispenser and Three equally spaced grooves 325 shaped and dimensioned to provide a cartridge designed for use with a dispenser, thereby providing a misuse-proof system comprising the dispenser and the cartridge designed for use with the dispenser. The difference is that a neck portion having a diameter is formed on the bottom wall 312. Cartridge 310 and passage 3 centered on its neck
28 and is provided with a closing member 329.
All of these are as described above.

14 through 20, a further embodiment of the present invention is shown having a partition 150 that is substantially horizontally disposed in use, said partition 150 being substantially rectangular in shape, and having a circumferential edge thereof. Illustrated as containing a soap container 320 whose rim rests on a ledge 151 formed on the inner surface of the soap container walls 121-123 and is rigidly secured thereto, for example by ultrasonic welding. There is. Partition 150
is composed of four substantially triangular fan-shaped bodies 152, the upper surface 153 of which is gently sloped downward toward the center of the partition 150, and a recess generally designated by the reference numeral 355 is formed at the center. There is.
Recess 355 includes a cylindrical side wall 354 that is integral with partition 150 at its upper end and extends below. Recess 355 has an inner surface 356 that terminates at its lower end in a circular bottom wall 357 . Diametrically opposed drain openings 358 are provided in the bottom wall 357 near its outer edge. Two keys 360 extend inwardly from an inner surface 356 of recess 355;
and are diametrically opposed to each other and have a drain opening 358
They are almost lined up. Each key 360 is generally rectangular in shape and includes a top surface 361 terminating well below the top of recess 355, a longitudinally extending inner end surface 362, and mutually opposed parallel side surfaces 363. have. Inner end surface 362 may be flat or arcuate depending on the extent of the arcuate shape of key 360, and its exact dimensions are not critical.

A hollow cartridge opening member 365, which is integral with and extends upwardly from the bottom wall 357 of the basin 355 through its center, is generally cylindrical in shape and extends upwardly toward the front wall 121 of the soap container housing 320. member 365 having a sloped top surface;
The peripheral edge of is sharpened enough to pierce the membrane and central aperture 369. The outer surface of the cartridge opening member 365 is aligned with a respective one of each key 360 and has two diametrically opposed ones.
two longitudinally extending grooves 367, 368 which are oversized with respect to the key 360 as shown in FIG.
It extends downward from 6.

A partition 150 cooperates with the bottom wall 125 of the container 120 and the walls 121-123 to define therebetween a liquid soap reservoir, generally designated 175, which reservoir contains the liquid soap up to level 177. 1
76. The position of the partition 150 in the soap container 120 is the same as that of the storage tank 17.
5 is defined to occupy just less than half of the internal volume of container 120. The container 320, in particular the rear wall 123, is connected to the bottom 15 of the refilling basin 155.
7 and below the top of the key 160, the vertical position of which is important to the operation of the invention, as will be explained later.

The soap dispensing device of the present invention may also be of a semi-rigid type, preferably constructed from a translucent soft plastic material, and dispense liquid soap for refilling the liquid soap reservoir 175 of the container 120. Refill cartridge designed to hold 4
It also includes 10. Refill cartridge 41
0 has a substantially polygonal shape, with a pair of side walls 413 facing each other and a pair of end walls 414 facing each other.
top and bottom walls 411 interconnected by
and 412, side wall 413 and end wall 41
4 mutually and top and bottom walls 411 and 41
It is almost perpendicular to 2. Four guide or corner walls 415 connect the side walls 413 to the end walls 414 and are inclined at substantially 45° angles to each, and each of the guide walls also connects the top and bottom walls 411 and 412. It is perpendicular to the
Top wall 4 with side walls 413 in the middle of both ends
Two recesses are formed at the joint point 11 to receive the user's fingers.

A cylindrical neck 420 connected to the bottom wall 412 at its upper end is integral with and projects outwardly from the bottom wall at its center.
The neck 420 has opposing, inwardly extending slots or grooves 425, each groove extending from the top wall 42.
2 and its bottom or support surface 423. Slot 425 has diametrically opposed and longitudinally extending walls 426 whose inner surface defines a key extending into passageway 428 of neck 420 and whose outer surface defines surface 36 of key 360.
It is consistent with 2. Neck 420 has a bottom end 427 that is closed or sealed by a closure member 429 that is retracted from bottom 427 into passageway 428 . The closure member may be a pierceable membrane.

When the liquid soap storage tank 175 of the container 120 is to be refilled, the fixation of the cover plate 190 is released, the cover plate is removed, and a new refilling cartridge 400 is inserted into the refilling section 205. good. The reload cartridge 410 is connected to the top plate 3 when the guide walls 415 of the reload cartridge 410 are respectively positioned in sliding engagement with the locating members 385 that cooperate to guide the neck 420 of the cartridge 410 into the recess 355.
It is shaped and sized to just fit within the octagonal opening defined by 80. Cervical region 420,
In particular, the tubular wall portion 421, along with the slot 425, fits within the recess 355 and, in particular, in the annular gap between the upright cartridge opening member 365 and the inner surface 356 of said recess. Dimensioned. In detail, the neck 420
The grooves 425 provided in each groove 4
A longitudinally extending surface 426 of each key 360 connects the longitudinally extending adjacent surface 42 of each key 360 to a longitudinally extending surface 426 of each key 360.
6, the inner surface 35 of the recess 355
6 and is positioned to align with a key 360 extending inwardly from 6. Refill cartridge 41
0 is moved downwardly, the upper surface 466 of the cartridge opening member 365, specifically the slot 3
The upper end of the opening member, where 67 touches surface 366, contacts and pierces closure member 429 in neck 420. Continued downward movement of refill cartridge 410 seats neck 420 within recess 355 . As shown in particular in FIG.
is slidably fitted into the recess 355.

Because the cartridge 410 is closed, i.e., non-porous except for the neck 420, the liquid soap 176 within the cartridge 410 only reaches the level of the effective outlet of the cartridge, which is the bottom or end surface 427 of the cartridge neck 420. into the reservoir and thereby remain in a fixed position, always below the drain hole 178 provided in the rear wall 123 of the soap container housing 320, until the supply of soap 176 in the cartridge 410 is exhausted. Maintain the liquid level 177 in the reservoir.

It is therefore now clear how the abuse-proof feature of the invention is achieved. Hollow 35
A key 360 extends inwardly from the inner surface 356 of 5.
and the unique complementary shape of the upright cartridge opening member 365, the cartridge 41
0 must have a neck 420 specifically designed to seat increments until reaching the bottom of the recess 355, as disclosed above. If an abuser attempts to use a standard cylindrical neck style cartridge within the soap dispenser 100, the key 360 prevents the neck from extending downward to the liquid level 177 shown in FIG. Will. A misused cartridge will only block the top of the key 360, thus causing the liquid level in the reservoir 175 to rise to a level specifically designed to be above the drain hole 178, thereby preventing the soap from draining. The reservoir and dispenser 100 will be drained. Only cartridges 410 that are provided with a slot 425 to receive a particular key will be fully seated within recess 355, thereby allowing liquid soap 176 contained within the cartridge to pass through central opening 169 and below drain hole 178. It will drain to level 177.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 is a front perspective view of a liquid soap dispensing device constructed in accordance with the present invention and embodying the features of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2, showing the internal structure of the soap dispenser; FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the refill cartridge exit neck illustrated in FIG. 4; Figure 7 is a vertical section through the fragment along line 7-7 of Figure 3 with the cover plate of the dispenser removed; Figure 8 is a horizontal cross-section along line 8-8 of Figure 7; FIG. 9 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the refill recess and cartridge opening member illustrated in FIG. 3, particularly showing the upright key; FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the refill cavity illustrated in FIG. 9; FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 for another embodiment; FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the refill cavity illustrated in FIG. Figure similar to Figure 6 for example; Figure 14
The figure is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of another embodiment of the soap dispenser of the present invention; Figure 15 is a partial vertical cross-section of the outlet neck of the refill cartridge of the embodiment of Figure 14; An enlarged elevational view; FIG. 16 is a bottom plan view of the refill cartridge exit neck illustrated in FIG. 15; FIG. 17 is a view taken at line 17-17 of FIG. 14 with the dispenser cover plate removed; FIG. 18 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along line 18--18 of FIG. 17; FIG. 19 is a fragmentary view of the refill recess and cartridge opening member illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. Enlarged vertical section; 2nd
FIG. 0 is a top plan view of the refill recess and cartridge opening member illustrated in FIG. 18; 100... Soap dispenser, 101... Mounting bracket, 102... Flat rectangular wall, 103...
Curved side flange, 104... Embossed part, 105
... opening, 108 ... flange, 109 ... flange, 110 ... support protrusion, 111 ... wall, 11
2...Flange, 113...Bracket, 114
...Rectangular opening, 115 ... Soap discharge opening, 11
8... Circular holding plate, 120... Soap container, 12
1... Rectangular front wall, 122... Opposing side wall, 123
... Rear wall, 124 ... Front inclined part, 125 ...
Rectangular bottom wall, 127... Rear extension portion, 128...
... Mounting flange, 129 ... Hem part, 130 ... Dispensing device, 131 ... Operation handle, 132 ...
Pivot pin, 134...stop member, 135
...actuating arm, 140...single pump housing,
141... flexible diaphragm, 143... opening,
144...Discharge conduit, 145...Flexible elastic ball, 148...Passway, 149...Inserter, 150
... partition, 151 ... ledge, 152 ... triangular sector, 155 ... recess, 156 ... inner surface, 157 ... inner bottom surface, 158 ... drain opening, 159 ... outer bottom surface, 160 ... Key, 162 ... Side surface, 165 ... Cartridge opening member, 169 ... Center refill opening, 17
5...Liquid soap storage tank, 177...Level, 17
8...Drain opening, 180...Top plate, 181...
Projection, 182... Shallow recess, 184... Front collision body, 185... Positioning member, 186... Notch, 190... Cover plate, 191... Top wall, 1
92...front wall, 193...side wall, 194...rear wall, 195...key-operated latch mechanism,
196...Support plate, 197...Protrusion piece, 200...
Grooves.

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. A device for dispensing liquid soap, comprising a closed wall structure defining a container and a partition dividing said container into a lower liquid soap storage tank and an upper refill compartment. a dispensing device carried by said container for dispensing liquid soap from said reservoir; a refill opening provided in said partition device communicating between said reservoir and said refill compartment; a refill cartridge having a refill container and an outlet; a slot carried by the refill cartridge outlet end and the container for maintaining the cartridge in a predetermined refill arrangement and in communication with the refill opening; and a key mechanism, the refill cartridge comprising:
The outlet end of the refill cartridge is arranged to cooperate with the refill opening to allow liquid soap from the refill cartridge to flow into the reservoir to refill the reservoir. A dispensing device removably enclosed within said refill compartment in a refill arrangement. 2. In the device according to claim 1,
a refill recess extending downwardly from the partition device and provided with a refill opening communicating between the reservoir and the refill compartment, the refill cartridge outlet being defined by an outwardly extending neck; , and wherein the slot and key arrangement includes one of the reloading recesses, and the bottom of the neck has a key extending therefrom, and the other recess is shaped to receive the key. A device comprising: 3. In the device according to claim 2,
The device wherein the key extends from an inner surface of the refill recess. 4. In the device according to claim 3,
Apparatus wherein the bottom of said refill cartridge neck is provided with a slot shaped to receive said key. 5. A device according to any one of claims 2, 3, or 4, in which there is an even number of keys and an even number of slots. . 6. In the device according to claim 5,
A device consisting of two keys facing each other. 7. A device according to any one of claims 3 or 4, in which there are three keys. 8. A device according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the cartridge is made non-porous except for the outlet, so that the liquid level in the reservoir never reaches the A device adapted to provide a sealed dispensing device which is prevented from rising above the exit of the refill cartridge. 9. A device according to any one of claims 2 to 8, for causing liquid soap injected into the upper refilling compartment to flow out of the upper refilling compartment. a drain hole provided in the upper refill compartment and when the cartridge is in the refill arrangement;
a drain hole spaced vertically above the cartridge outlet and provided in the lower liquid soap storage tank. 10. The device according to any one of claims 2 to 9,
an upwardly extending cartridge opening member in the refill recess with an outer circumferential surface spaced from and connected to the inner surface by the key extending therebetween, the refill cartridge outlet being connected to the inner surface by the key extending therebetween; Apparatus comprising a closure member adapted to be opened by contact with the cartridge opening member to allow liquid soap to flow from the refill cartridge to the reservoir. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the cartridge opening member is a piercing member and the closure member is a pierceable membrane, the piercing member being tubular and opening the reloading opening. A device that is defined. 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said key extends from an inner surface of said reload recess and wherein said reload cartridge neck is provided with a slot configured to receive said key. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the two keys are diametrically opposed on the inner surface of the refill reservoir and have slots aligned with the keys on the neck. A device made up of