Field of the Invention

The invention relates to soap dispensers and, in particular, to soap dispensers which are combined with air fresheners. Such soap dispensers may be provided in, for instance, locations which are space limited such as washrooms, for instance, washrooms on board commercial aircraft.

Background to the Invention

Soap dispensers provided in the washroom facilities of commercial aircraft can are usually rather small because of the restricted space within an aircraft cabin. Accordingly, the soap dispensers must be replaced at frequent intervals as the small amount of soap within the dispenser is quickly used up.

Also commonly provided within washroom facilities on conference, aircraft are air fresheners. In order to save as much space as possible, combined air freshener and soap dispensers have previously been provided. An example of such a device has a first compartment containing soap and a second compartment containing an air freshener, usually in an aerosol form. Upon depression of a nozzle, soap and air freshener dispensed at the same time. In other examples, the device includes either a fragrance induced tissue/gel or a complicated wick diffuser arrangement.

Such known arrangements can be relatively bulky and are not therefore very suitable for fitting into the small spaces which are available within an aircraft cabin. Furthermore, they may include non-recyclable components whereas there is an increasing demand for devices such as those with which the invention is concerned to be made fully recyclable.

Statements of the Invention

According to the present invention, there is provided a soap dispenser provided with an air freshener, the soap dispenser comprising a container for holding liquid soap and having a nozzle through which the liquid soap may be dispensed, the air freshener being in the form of a plastics member removably attached to the soap dispenser and being infused with a substance which continuously releases a fragrance into the atmosphere.

Preferably, the air freshener is a collar located on the exterior of the container.

Preferably, the container comprises a elongate body portion for accommodating liquid soap and a dispensing nozzle assembly mounted on an outlet located at one end of the container.

Preferably, the air freshener is located on a shoulder region between said body portion and said outlet.

Preferably, the width of said shoulder region decreases in a direction from said body portion towards said outlet.

Preferably, said shoulder region includes stepped portions at or near each of its longitudinal extremities.

Preferably, the container is provided with a mounting element to enable the dispenser to be removably attached to a support structure. The mounting element is preferably a threaded, substantially cylindrical projection and is preferably integral with the container.

The present invention also provides a method of dispensing soap and of freshening the air, the method comprising providing a container for holding liquid soap and having a nozzle through which the liquid soap may be dispensed, locating liquid soap within the container and causing said liquid soap to be dispensed through said nozzle, and removably attaching to the soap dispenser a plastics member which is infused with a substance which continuously releases a fragrance into the atmosphere.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The accompanying drawings as follows

Figure 1 is a side view of a soap dispenser in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the soap dispenser of figure 1 with the dispensing nozzle and air freshener collar removed; and

Figure 2 is a side view of a further soap dispenser in accordance with the present invention and secured to a base.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, a combined air freshener and soap dispenser 1 comprises a bottle 3 having a hollow, cylindrical body portion 5 for containing a liquid soap and having a solid bottom end 5. Integral with solid base 7, and extending downwardly therefrom, is a mounting element 9 in the form of a threaded, substantially cylindrical projection.

At its other end, the body portion 5 of soap dispenser 1 is provided with a upwardly extending and inwardly inclined shoulder region 11 which includes a inwardly, gently stepped portion 13 near its lower end and an outwardly, gently stepped portion 15 at its top end.

The soap dispenser 1 is provided with a dispensing nozzle assembly 17 which includes a ring 19 having an internal profile such that the assembly 17 is securable to the body portion 5 by a push fit engagement on portion 15 of shoulder region 11.

Surrounding shoulder region 11 below stepped portion 15 is a collar 19 having an internal and external profile which corresponds to that of the shoulder region 11.

The components, 3 and 17, are made of suitable plastics materials which may be the same or different plastics. Collar 19 is also made of a plastics material but one which is infused with a slow release air freshening chemical substance.

Referring to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings, a combined air freshener and soap dispenser 21 is similar to that described above and is shown screwed into a threaded holder 23.

Accordingly, in the above-described devices a plastics moulding that is impregnated with fragrance is trapped between the dispenser pump mechanism and the bottle of soap. The aroma collars, rings or cups are not attached to the bottle by themselves, nor do they fit into a recess in the soap bottle. Accordingly, the air freshener element can be fitted to any bottle of soap, hand steriliser etc that uses a pump mechanism. Indeed, it could be fitted to soap dispensers that do not use a pump mechanism. The air freshener element could also be fitted to bottles of bleach, hair shampoo etc.

Apart from the pump forming part of the dispensing nozzle assembly, all the components of the above described dispensers are recyclable. The pump itself contains recyclable parts but needs disassembly to separate them from any non-recyclable components.

The fragrance impregnated plastics moulding may be made be any suitable method. For instance, a fragrance oil can be added to a heated ethylenevinyl (EVA) resin and the mixture subjected to repeated heating and blending resulting in the production of a free-flowing resin in which all of the fragrance oil has been absorbed into the EVA. The fragranced resin is then introduced into injection moulding equipment in order to mould the plastic collars.

In another similar method the fragrance oil is converted into a powder being added to the resin, the resultant fragranced resin then having an enhanced fragrance power.