Side-Mounted Dispenser Lever for Elbow Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand cleaning fluid dispensers with forwardly extending activation levers are difficult to activate without hand engagement and often protrude more than four inches from the wall, violating uniform federal activation standards.
Innovation Solution
A liquid dispenser with a laterally extending activation lever that can be engaged by a user's elbow, allowing for fluid dispensing without hand contact and minimizing the dispenser's forward protrusion from the wall.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the activation lever extends forwardly from the dispenser, then the lever can be engaged by a user's hand, but the dispenser protrudes more than four inches from the wall, violating federal standards
Solution Approach 1:
The activation lever is repositioned from a forward-extending configuration to a lateral extension from the side wall of the dispenser. This dimensional change allows the lever to be engaged by the user's elbow from the side, eliminating the need for forward protrusion while maintaining ease of activation.
2Ease of operation
If the activation lever extends forwardly from the dispenser, then the lever can be engaged by a user's hand, but the lever is difficult to activate without hand engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The user's elbow acts as an intermediary body part to activate the lever, replacing direct hand contact. This intermediary approach allows activation while reducing contamination risk, as the elbow can be activated without requiring hand hygiene.
3Length of stationary object
If the activation lever extends laterally from the side wall, then the dispenser complies with four-inch protrusion limits, but the lever must be engaged by elbow rather than hand
Solution Approach 1:
The activation method parameter is changed from hand engagement to elbow engagement. This parameter change allows the lever to be positioned laterally on the side wall within four inches from the wall, while still providing easy activation through the elbow's natural movement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The laterally extending activation lever facilitates easy activation by the elbow, reducing the risk of contamination and ensuring the dispenser complies with the four-inch protrusion limit, providing a convenient and sanitary dispensing method.
Implementation Method 1
an activation lever extending laterally from one of the side walls of the housing journalled to the housing for pivoting about a forwardly extending generally horizontal axis, the lever coupled to the activation plate such that movement of the activation lever moves the activation plate between a rest and an extended position
Data Source
AI summary
A dispenser with an activation lever which extends laterally to one side of the dispenser and is particularly adapted for engagement by an elbow of one arm of a user and particularly adapted for dispensing fluid as onto the hand of a second arm of the user thereby avoiding the need for the activation lever to be engaged by a hand of a user.