DESCRIPTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a foldable liquid and gel dispenser of the kind recited in claim 1 . More particularly, such a dispenser is a foldable and portable device for the automatic delivery of sanitary liquid and/or gel substances.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fixed or movable dispensers of sanitary liquid and/or gel substances are known, which may be found in places such as toilets of rest areas or common rooms of offices, hotels and others.

In order to dispense sanitary liquid and/or gel substances, while limiting contact with the dispenser surface, systems are also known, allowing the contactless delivery of said substances, such as proximity or motions sensors.

Moreover, said known devices are generally provided with cumbersome tanks at sight, often connected to a support structure. The above mentioned prior art has some important drawbacks.

For instance, these prior art sanitary dispensers generally are fixed and rigid structures, which are not much suited to fit in a plurality of various environments.

In particular situations like a pandemic, it might be necessary to place said sanitary dispensers in places and environments other than those where these dispensers are normally used. In these different places and environments, the prior art devices often are scarcely recognized and identified for their function.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In such a situation, the object of the present invention is to provide for a foldable liquid and gel dispenser, that may substantially prevent at least some of the above mentioned drawbacks.

An object of the present invention is to provide for an easily foldable and prortable device. Another object of the present invention is to provide for a device having mutually movable sections, that may be esily closed and/or folded, so as to fit to different spaces when in use.

Moreover, an object of the present invention is to provide for a device that can take different shapes and reach different delivery heights, according to the selection of the user.

Still an object of the present invention is to provide for a device incorporating the tank, thus obtaining a linear structure with reduced overall dimensions.

Finally, an object of the invention is to provide a device, whose function may be easily recognized, even in an environment other than those where these devices are normally used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the present invention are hereinafter illustrated by the detailed description of its preferred embodiments, with reference to the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view of the liquid and gel dispenser, in a fully extended configuration of use;

Figure 2 is a view of the liquid and gel dispenser folded, in a fully folded portable configuration;

Figure 3 is a view of the lower part of the liquid and gel dispenser, in an operative configuration, showing a tank refilling stage; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view of part of the dispenser of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A foldable liquid and gel dispensing device 1 according to the present invention is diagrammatically shown in Fig.1 in an operative configuration. Said device 1 is for example suitable to deliver sanitary liquid or gel.

Preferably, according to the present invention, the structure of said device 1 consists of a plurality of tubular portions 2, wherein said tubular portions 2 are interconnected in a sequence that can be rotated.

In figures 1 and 2 tubular portions 2 are shown, having a substantially “U” profile, more particularly being a profile in which the tube axis, in the initial and final part of each tubular portion, is substantially parallel and more particularly provided with openings made on the same side. It has to be noted that said tubular portions 2 may have any cross-section and shape in order to make the device 1 of the present invention.

Said tubular portions 2 may be made of any material suitable to give the proper structural characteristics to the device 1 .

The device 1 also comprises interconnection means, or simply called interconnections, between the tubular portions 2. Said interconnections allow the possibility of connecting said tubular portions 2 together with the fluid passage, this connection however being not necessarily tight.

The interconnections allow the tubular portions 2 to mutually rotate in an axial direction, more particularly in the direction of rotation along the axis of the axial portions at the interconnection point.

The interconnections are also configured to allow locking of said rotation in a plurality of angular positions, preferably along any angular position, or only along predetermined angular positions. The interconnection means may use any technology suitable to obtain that, once a position has been selected, the interconnection strictly keeps said position.

Said interconnections may for instance consist of the ends of said tubular portions. For instance, said ends may be mutually interlocked. More particularly, said ends may have a circular cross-section, so that one end enters the other end, and they are mutually fixed by friction, when not stressed on purpose. As an alternative, said ends may have a polygonal cross-section, so that they can be mutually fitted and locked in a plurality of selected angular position. A person skilled in mechanical structures may easily develop other kinds of interconnections.

Moreover, said plurality of tubular portions 2 is preferably hollow and contains inside at least a pump 3, at least a tank 4, at least a check valve 5 and a liquid and/or gel outlet 6.

The above-mentioned components have a relevant fluid mechanical connection by means of an elastically deformable circuit, suitable to carry fluid and/or gel.

Preferably, said device 1 further comprises a motion detector 7 near said liquid and/or gel outlet 6.

Moreover, said foldable liquid and gel dispensing device 1 comprises control electronics 11 and an electric power supply 12. Preferably, according to the present invention, said power supply 12 includes at least one storage battery of any technology. The battery may be rechargeable or replaceable with suitable electrical connections, or may have a compartment in the device 1 .

Alternately, or in combination with a battery, electric generators such as photovoltaic cells and/or other means may be used.

Still alternately, or in combination with the above-described embodiments, said power supply 12 may comprise a connection to the electric network.

Said control electronics 11 may include one or more electronic cards, such as programmable cards and/or microcontrollers, known as present state of the art, and may define a basic logic, for instance through a suitable firmware. Where its function

Said control electronics 11 are at least suitable to allow control and coordination at least of said pump 3 and said valve 5, as a function of information received from said motion detector 7.

Preferably, said motion detector 7 is a photocell. It is to be noted, that other technologies suitable to detect the motion and/or the presence of a body, such as proximity sensors, may be used.

Moreover, preferably, according to the present invention, said device 1 further comprises an image projector 8. Said projector 8 is at least suitable to project on a surface a symbol of the function of the device 1 ; in this way, advantageously, the device does not require further signalling of its function, for instance as posters, even if it is located in a place where its function is not perceived immediately to the eyes of a user. In addition, still advantageously, the symbol induces a user to utilise said device 1 , for example when the device 1 is placed in front of the entrance of a building. Said symbol projected by said projector 8 may also be an advice or duty to use the device 1 before entering a building and/or a room.

Preferably, said image projector 8 is operatively connected to an on/off push button 81 .

Moreover, said device 1 further comprises signalling means 9 of the level of charge of said at least one tank 4. Preferably, said signalling means 9 of the charge level of said at least one tank, comprise at least one LED 91 . For instance, said LED 91 , operatively connected to said control electronics 11 , may be switched on if the control electronics 11 detect absence of liquid and/or gel in said tank 4. Said signalling means 9 may comprise a plurality of LEDs 92 e.g. of different colours, suitable to show the status of the device, for instance on and operative, on and empty tank, off and so on.

In a preferred embodiment of the device 1 according to the present invention, shown in figure 1 , said at least one pump 3 is contained in a top portion 21 of said device 1 .

Moreover, in a preferred embodiment of the device 1 according to the present invention, shown in figures 1 and 3, said tank 4 is contained in a base portion 22 of said device 1 . Advantageously, this embodiment gives stability to every configuration of the tubular portions 2 of the device 1 , when it stands in the operative configuration.

Advantageously, as shown in figure 3, when said tank 4 is arranged in a base portion 22 of said device 1 , in view of the innovative structure of said tubular portions 2 that can be modulated, it is possible to refill said tank 4, without affecting the contemporaneous use of said device 1 .

Furthermore, preferably said tank 4 comprises also means 10 detecting the quantity of liquid and gel, operatively connected to said control electronics 11. Preferably, said means 10 detecting the quantity of liquid and gel, comprise a float 101.

Preferably, as shown in figure 2, said device 1 when closed has a substantially flat configuration. Advantageously, this embodiment allows an easy transfer of the device 1 , for instance between two rooms of a building, where the device 1 may then be advantageously adapted to the configuration and the objects already present therein, in view of the innovative structure that can be modulated. Moreover, the structure comprising said tubular portions 2, in view of their shape and the described interconnections, may also have a height that can be selected.

In addition, the embodiment of the present device 1 , shown in figure 2, allows an easy transportation of a great number of devices 1 in the folded condition, for instance stacked, in a very advantageous way, when for instance a building has to be provided with sanitary dispensers for needs like events, conferences and so on.

It has to be pointed out that only some preferred embodiments were herein described and illustrated, but many variations, additions, modifications and/or various combinations of the individual elements may be resorted to, however without departing from the general innovative concept, nor from its scope of protection, as resulting also from the appended claims.