Selectively secured liquid dispenser, mount and associated method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid dispensers for countertops and walls face issues such as valve and pump failures, instability, difficulty in determining soap levels, labor-intensive refilling, and attractiveness of counter holes, as well as portability and theft concerns.
Innovation Solution
A selectively secured dispenser system with a bottle and mounting assembly that includes a boss on the bottle mating with a socket in a base, allowing secure anchoring to surfaces while enabling easy removal and refilling, using readily available pump components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the dispenser is permanently installed with anchored mounting, then stability and reliability are improved, but portability and ease of removal deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system transitions from a static permanent installation to a dynamic reversible connection. The boss-socket interface with snap-fit engagement allows the dispenser to be securely mounted when installed, yet easily removed when needed, enabling the system to adapt between stable installation and portable relocation states.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system is divided into separate components: a boss integrated with the dispenser body, a socket in the mounting plate, and a snap-fit engagement mechanism. This segmentation allows the dispenser to be selectively connected or disconnected from the mounting plate, providing both stability during use and portability when removed.
2Reliability
If the bottle is securely anchored to the base, then stability is improved, but ease of refilling deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser is segmented into a removable bottle component and a base component with an integrated mounting mechanism. The bottle can be detached from the base by simply pulling it upward, allowing easy refilling without tools or complex disassembly, while the base remains securely mounted to the surface.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the dispenser is made portable and removable, then ease of relocation is improved, but stability and anti-theft properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The boss-socket interface uses an asymmetric geometry where the boss has a specific shape that matches the socket, allowing insertion in only one orientation. This asymmetric design provides secure engagement and stability when mounted, while still allowing easy removal by pulling in the opposite direction, balancing portability with stability.
4Reliability
If the bottle is mounted under the counter, then stability is improved, but visibility of soap level and ease of refilling deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system elevates the dispenser bottle from an under-counter position to a vertical position above the counter surface. The boss extends downward from the bottle bottom to engage with the socket in the mounting plate, which is positioned at or above counter level. This dimensional change makes the bottle and its contents visible while maintaining stable mounting.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid dispenser includes of a bottle for housing the liquid, a pumping mechanism for discharging liquid from the bottle, and a boss that is connected to and extends from the bottom of the bottle. The boss on the bottle mates with a socket in a base to selectively secure the bottle to the base and a countertop or wall mounted support. The boss and socket are shaped so as to allow for a single orientation of the bottle. The combination of the boss on the bottle and the socket in the base provides a counter-top mounting system to securely anchor the liquid dispensing device. The apparatus also allows the soap reservoir to be easily refilled and utilizes readily available pump components.