Fluid Dispenser With Moveable Nozzle Shield For Manual Activation

Abstract

A fluid dispenser including a fluid reservoir containing a supply of a fluid to be dispensed; a spout for discharging the fluid; a fluid pump that dispenses the fluid out through the spout on activation of the fluid pump; a nozzle shield that at least partially covers the spout; a touchless pump activation mechanism that touchlessly activates the fluid pump; and an alternative pump activation mechanism for manually activating the fluid pump. The nozzle shield is moveable between a first position and a second position. The alternative pump activation mechanism is activated by manually moving the nozzle shield from the first position to the second position.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A fluid dispenser comprising:
 a fluid reservoir containing a supply of a fluid to be dispensed;   a spout for discharging the fluid;   a fluid pump that dispenses the fluid out through the spout on activation of the fluid pump;   a nozzle shield that at least partially covers the spout;   a touchless pump activation mechanism that touchlessly activates the fluid pump; and   an alternative pump activation mechanism for manually activating the fluid pump;   wherein the nozzle shield is moveable between a first position and a second position; and   wherein the alternative pump activation mechanism is activated by manually moving the nozzle shield from the first position to the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid pump comprises a piston that is moveable between an extended position and a retracted position; and
 wherein the fluid pump is activated by moving the piston between the extended position and the retracted position.   
     
     
         3 . The fluid dispenser according to  claim 2 , wherein the nozzle shield is pivotable about a nozzle shield pivot axis, and wherein moving the nozzle shield from the first position to the second position comprises pivoting the nozzle shield about the nozzle shield pivot axis. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid dispenser according to  claim 3 , wherein the alternative pump activation mechanism comprises a piston activation member that is pivotable about a piston activation axis between a rest position and a shifted position;
 wherein the piston activation member comprises a piston activation surface;   wherein, when the piston activation member pivots from the rest position to the shifted position, the piston activation surface engages with the piston to move the piston from the extended position to the retracted position;   wherein the piston activation member comprises a camming surface;   wherein the nozzle shield comprises a cam arm; and   wherein, when the nozzle shield moves from the first position to the second position, the cam arm engages with the camming surface to move the piston activation member from the rest position to the shifted position.   
     
     
         5 . The fluid dispenser according to  claim 4 , wherein, when the fluid pump is activated by the touchless pump activation mechanism, the piston activation member is configured to remain stationary at the rest position. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid dispenser according to  claim 4 , wherein the fluid dispenser further comprises a housing having a mounting member;
 wherein the mounting member has a right wall and a left wall, and a pump mounting structure located between the right wall and the left wall; and   wherein the pump mounting structure carries the fluid pump.   
     
     
         7 . The fluid dispenser according to  claim 6 , wherein the nozzle shield comprises a nose portion that at least partially covers the spout, a right rear extension that extends rearwardly adjacent to the right wall, and a left rear extension that extends rearwardly adjacent to the left wall;
 wherein the right rear extension is pivotally mounted to the right wall; and   wherein the left rear extension is pivotally mounted to the left wall.   
     
     
         8 . The fluid dispenser according to  claim 7 , wherein the right rear extension is positioned laterally outwardly from the right wall; and
 wherein the left rear extension is positioned laterally outwardly from the left wall.   
     
     
         9 . The fluid dispenser according to  claim 8 , wherein the nozzle shield comprises a nozzle shield axle that extends between the right rear extension and the left rear extension;
 wherein the right wall and the left wall each have a nozzle shield mounting opening; and   wherein the nozzle shield axle extends through the nozzle shield mounting opening of the right wall and the nozzle shield mounting opening of the left wall.   
     
     
         10 . The fluid dispenser according to  claim 7 , wherein the piston activation member comprises a central plate carrying the piston activation surface, a right activation arm that extends rearwardly from the central plate adjacent to the right wall, and a left activation arm that extends rearwardly from the central plate adjacent to the left wall;
 wherein the right activation arm is pivotally mounted to the right wall; and   wherein the left activation arm is pivotally mounted to the left wall.   
     
     
         11 . The fluid dispenser according to  claim 10 , wherein the right activation arm is positioned laterally outwardly from the right wall; and
 wherein the left activation arm is positioned laterally outwardly from the left wall.   
     
     
         12 . The fluid dispenser according to  claim 11 , wherein the right activation arm and the left activation arm each have an activation arm opening;
 wherein the right wall and the left wall each have a piston activation member mounting projection that extends laterally outwardly;   wherein the piston activation member mounting projection of the right wall extends through the activation arm opening of the right activation arm; and   wherein the piston activation member mounting projection of the left wall extends through the activation arm opening of the left activation arm.   
     
     
         13 . The fluid dispenser according to  claim 10 , wherein the camming surface is a right camming surface and the cam arm is a right cam arm;
 wherein the right rear extension comprises the right cam arm;   wherein the right activation arm comprises the right camming surface;   wherein the left rear extension comprises a left cam arm;   wherein the left activation arm comprises a left camming surface; and   wherein, when the nozzle shield moves from the first position to the second position, the right cam arm engages with the right camming surface and the left cam arm engages with the left camming surface to move the piston activation member from the rest position to the shifted position.   
     
     
         14 . The fluid dispenser according to  claim 6 , wherein the touchless pump activation mechanism comprises a touchless activation lever that engages with the piston. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid dispenser according to  claim 14 , wherein the touchless activation lever engages with at least one side surface of the piston; and
 wherein the piston activation surface of the piston activation member engages a top surface of the piston.   
     
     
         16 . The fluid dispenser according to  claim 14 , wherein the touchless activation lever is positioned laterally inwardly from the right wall and the left wall. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein, when the fluid pump is activated by the touchless pump activation mechanism, the nozzle shield is configured to remain stationary at the first position. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid dispenser according to  claim 5 , wherein the fluid dispenser further comprises a housing having a mounting member;
 wherein the mounting member has a right wall and a left wall, and a pump mounting structure located between the right wall and the left wall;   wherein the pump mounting structure carries the fluid pump;   wherein the nozzle shield comprises a nose portion that at least partially covers the spout, a right rear extension that extends rearwardly adjacent to the right wall, and a left rear extension that extends rearwardly adjacent to the left wall;   wherein the right rear extension is pivotally mounted to the right wall;   wherein the left rear extension is pivotally mounted to the left wall;   wherein the right rear extension is positioned laterally outwardly from the right wall;   wherein the left rear extension is positioned laterally outwardly from the left wall;   wherein the nozzle shield comprises a nozzle shield axle that extends between the right rear extension and the left rear extension;   wherein the right wall and the left wall each have a nozzle shield mounting opening; and   wherein the nozzle shield axle extends through the nozzle shield mounting opening of the right wall and the nozzle shield mounting opening of the left wall.   
     
     
         19 . The fluid dispenser according to  claim 18 , wherein the piston activation member comprises a central plate carrying the piston activation surface, a right activation arm that extends rearwardly from the central plate adjacent to the right wall, and a left activation arm that extends rearwardly from the central plate adjacent to the left wall;
 wherein the right activation arm is pivotally mounted to the right wall;   wherein the left activation arm is pivotally mounted to the left wall;   wherein the right activation arm is positioned laterally outwardly from the right wall;   wherein the left activation arm is positioned laterally outwardly from the left wall;   wherein the right activation arm and the left activation arm each have an activation arm opening;   wherein the right wall and the left wall each have a piston activation member mounting projection that extends laterally outwardly;   wherein the piston activation member mounting projection of the right wall extends through the activation arm opening of the right activation arm; and   wherein the piston activation member mounting projection of the left wall extends through the activation arm opening of the left activation arm.   
     
     
         20 . The fluid dispenser according to  claim 19 , wherein the camming surface is a right camming surface and the cam arm is a right cam arm;
 wherein the right rear extension comprises the right cam arm;   wherein the right activation arm comprises the right camming surface;   wherein the left rear extension comprises a left cam arm;   wherein the left activation arm comprises a left camming surface;   wherein, when the nozzle shield moves from the first position to the second position, the right cam arm engages with the right camming surface and the left cam arm engages with the left camming surface to move the piston activation member from the rest position to the shifted position;   wherein the touchless pump activation mechanism comprises a touchless activation lever that engages with the piston;   wherein the touchless activation lever engages with at least one side surface of the piston;   wherein the piston activation surface of the piston activation member engages a top surface of the piston;   wherein the touchless activation lever is positioned laterally inwardly from the right wall and the left wall; and   wherein, when the fluid pump is activated by the touchless pump activation mechanism, the nozzle shield is configured to remain stationary at the first position.