Personal Dispenser Refilling Station

Abstract

A refilling station for personal dispensers includes a housing having one or more docks that are configured to receive and retain compatible personal dispensers therein. The refilling station also includes a manifold system that fluidly couples a refill container to one or more personal dispensers. Thus, when a personal dispenser is placed in the dock, it is automatically refilled with material, such as sanitizer, from the refill container. The refilling station may also include a sanitizing light to disinfect the personal dispensers as they are being refilled to reduce the spread of bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refilling station for refilling one or more personal dispensers with material from a refill container, the refilling station comprising:
 a housing having one or more docks each configured to carry a personal dispenser;   a manifold carried by said housing, said manifold having an inlet and a plurality of outlets, said inlet adapted to be fluidly coupled to the refill container, and each said outlet adapted to be fluidly coupled to said personal dispenser;   a valve in fluid communication with each said outlet, each said valve configured to control the flow of material through each said outlet and into each said personal dispenser fluidly coupled thereto; and   an actuator coupled to said valve;   wherein when said actuator is actuated, said valve is transitioned from its normally closed state to an opened state to allow material from the refill container to flow through said manifold and into each said personal dispenser.   
     
     
         2 . The refilling station of  claim 1 , further comprising a detection switch respectively associated with each said dock, each said detection switch respectively coupled to one said valve, such that each said detection switch is activated by the presence of said personal dispenser carried in said dock, wherein each said valve includes a first trigger set by the actuation of said actuator, and a second trigger that is set when said detection switch is activated, wherein each said valve is transitioned from its normally closed state to an opened state when said first and second triggers are set. 
     
     
         3 . The refilling station of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sanitizing light coupled to said actuator;   wherein when said actuator is actuated, said sanitizing light is illuminated.   
     
     
         4 . The refilling station of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a controller carried by said housing;   a transmitter coupled to said controller, said transmitter configured to communicate with a remote computing system;   a weight sensor coupled to said controller to identify the weight of said personal dispenser carried in said dock, such that said controller identifies an initial weight value of the personal dispenser and an initial time value when said personal dispenser is initially filled with material; and   a reader coupled to said controller, said reader configured to acquire an identification code from an identifier disposed on the personal dispenser carried in said dock;   wherein said weight sensor identifies a final weight value, and a final time value after said personal dispenser has been removed and returned to said dock, said transmitter transmitting said initial weight value, said initial time value, said final weight value, said final time value, and said identification code to said remote computing system.   
     
     
         5 . The refilling station of  claim 4 , wherein said remote computing system generates a usage rate by dividing the difference between said initial weight value and said final weight value by and an elapsed time value that is defined by the difference between said final time value and said initial time value. 
     
     
         6 . The refilling station of  claim 4 , wherein said remote computing system generates a report based on one or more of said initial weight value, said final weight value, said initial time value, and said final time value. 
     
     
         7 . A refilling station for refilling one or more personal dispensers with material from a refill container, the refilling station comprising:
 a housing having one or more docks each configured to carry the personal dispenser, said housing including a bias member configured to apply a biasing force against the refill container carried by said housing to pressurize the material;   a manifold carried by said housing, said manifold having an inlet and a plurality of outlets, said inlet adapted to be coupled to the refill container, and each said outlet adapted to be fluidly coupled to one of the one or more personal dispensers;   a valve in fluid communication with each said outlet, said valve configured to control the flow of material through said outlet and into the personal dispenser coupled thereto; and   an actuator coupled to said valve;   wherein when said actuator is actuated, said valve is transitioned from its normally closed state to an opened state to allow material from the refill container to flow through said manifold and into each of the one or more personal dispensers.   
     
     
         8 . The refilling station of  claim 7 , further comprising a detection switch associated with each said dock and coupled to each said valve, each said detection switch being activated by the presence of the personal dispenser carried in said dock, wherein each said valve includes a first trigger set by the actuation of said actuator, and a second trigger that is set when said detection switch is activated, wherein each said valve is transitioned from its normally closed state to an opened state when said first and second triggers are set. 
     
     
         9 . The refilling station of  claim 7 , wherein said bias member comprises a plate that is biased by a spring. 
     
     
         10 . The refilling station of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a sanitizing light coupled to said actuator;   wherein when said actuator is actuated, said sanitizing light is illuminated.   
     
     
         11 . The refilling station of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a controller carried by said housing;   a transmitter coupled to said controller, said transmitter configured to communicate with a remote computing system;   a weight sensor coupled to said controller to identify the weight of said personal dispenser carried in said dock, such that said controller identifies an initial weight value of the personal dispenser and an initial time value when said personal dispenser is initially filled with material; and   a reader coupled to said controller, said reader configured to acquire an identification code from an identifier disposed on the personal dispenser carried in said dock;   wherein said weight sensor identifies a final weight value, and a final time value after said personal dispenser has been removed and returned to said dock, said transmitter transmitting said initial weight value, said initial time value, said final weight value, said final time value, and said identification code to said remote computing system.   
     
     
         12 . A refilling station for refilling a personal dispenser with material from a refill container, the refilling station comprising:
 a housing having one or more docks each configured to carry the personal dispenser;   a manifold carried by said housing, said manifold having an inlet and a plurality of outlets, said inlet adapted to be coupled to the refill container, and each said outlet adapted to be fluidly coupled to the personal dispenser;   a valve in fluid communication with each said outlet, said valve configured to control the flow of material through said outlet and into the personal dispenser coupled thereto;   a pump in operative communication with said inlet of said manifold, so as to supply air to the refill container to pressurize the material therein;   a controller coupled to each said valve and to said pump; and   an actuator coupled to said controller;   wherein when said actuator is actuated, said controller activates said pump to pressurize the material in the refill container and opens one or more of said valves to allow material from the refill container to flow through said manifold and into each personal dispenser fluidly coupled to each said outlet.   
     
     
         13 . The refilling station of  claim 12 , further comprising a detection switch associated with each said dock and coupled to said controller, each said detection switch being activated by the presence of the personal dispenser carried in said dock, wherein each said valve includes a first trigger set by the actuation of said actuator, and a second trigger that is set when said detection switch is activated, wherein said controller transitions each said valve from its normally closed state to an opened state that has its first and second triggers set. 
     
     
         14 . The refilling station of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a sanitizing light coupled to said actuator;   wherein when said actuator is actuated, said sanitizing light is illuminated.   
     
     
         15 . The refilling station of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a controller carried by said housing;   a transmitter coupled to said controller, said transmitter configured to communicate with a remote computing system;   a weight sensor coupled to said controller to identify the weight of said personal dispenser carried in said dock, such that said controller identifies an initial weight value of the personal dispenser and an initial time value when said personal dispenser is initially filled with material; and   a reader coupled to said controller, said reader configured to acquire an identification code from an identifier disposed on the personal dispenser carried in said dock;   wherein said weight sensor identifies a final weight value, and a final time value after said personal dispenser has been removed and returned to said dock, said transmitter transmitting said initial weight value, said initial time value, said final weight value, said final time value, and said identification code to said remote computing system.   
     
     
         16 . A personal dispenser comprising:
 a housing;   a refill container carried by said housing, a refill port in fluid communication with said refill container adapted to receive liquid material to refill said refill container, and a dispensing port in fluid communication with said refill container; and   a slide member slideably carried by said housing to selectively compress said refill container to dispense liquid material from said refill container through said dispensing port.   
     
     
         17 . The personal dispenser of  claim 16 , wherein said housing includes a slot having a plurality of detents that are configured to receive a catch member that extends from said slide member, said slide member being biased so that said catch member is normally received within one of said plurality of detents to prevent said slide member from sliding when said slide member is released.