Mountable replenishable dispensing system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wall-mounted, refillable dispensing systems for personal-hygiene fluids in hospitality settings fail to simultaneously meet the requirements of being attractive, unobtrusive, easily maintained, and tamper-resistant.
Innovation Solution
A dispensing system comprising a wall-mountable support bracket, a removably positioned dispenser assembly with a container and dispensing pump, and a cover shell that conceals the container, featuring a collar for secure mounting and a key-based locking system for tamper-resistance, allowing for easy replacement and reduction of waste through the use of collapsible, biodegradable or recyclable materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the dispenser is made visible and accessible, then it is easy to maintain and refill, but it becomes obtrusive and less attractive
Solution Approach 1:
The container is extracted from the visible portion and placed inside the support bracket, where it remains hidden during normal use but can be accessed for refilling. The shell further conceals the container, separating the aesthetic exterior from the functional interior component.
Solution Approach 2:
The container is nested within the support bracket structure, and the shell is nested over the container. This nested arrangement allows the container to be hidden during operation while remaining accessible for maintenance by removing the shell and container from the bracket.
2Reliability
If the dispenser is securely mounted, then it is tamper-resistant, but it becomes difficult to maintain and refill
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser system is segmented into separate components: the support bracket mounted to the wall, the container held by the bracket, and the shell covering the container. This segmentation allows the container to be securely held during use but easily removed for refilling by simply detaching it from the bracket's retaining features.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system transitions from a static secure mount to a dynamic state where the container can be easily removed and reattached. The bracket's retaining features (such as clips or latches) allow the container to be firmly held during operation but quickly released for maintenance purposes.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the container is always visible, then it is easy to monitor fluid levels, but it becomes obtrusive and affects aesthetics
Solution Approach 1:
The shell may incorporate transparent or translucent portions that allow visual monitoring of the fluid level in the container without fully exposing the container. This maintains aesthetic appearance while enabling sufficient fluid level detection.
Data Source
AI summary
A personal-hygiene fluid is dispensed from a system including a wall-mountable support bracket, a replaceable dispenser assembly, and a cover shell. The dispenser assembly includes a container holding the fluid and a dispensing pump attached to the container, with the dispenser assembly removably positionable on the bracket. And the shell removably fits onto the bracket and over the container to obscure the container from view. In some embodiments, the dispenser assembly includes a collar attached between the container and the dispensing pump, and the bracket includes a recess that receives the collar to removably mount the dispenser assembly to the bracket. In some embodiments, the shell and the bracket include engaging slide surfaces the enable the shell to vertically slide on and off of the bracket. Also disclosed are a method of replacing the containers of the system, and replacement containers for use in the system and method.