Locking dispenser
View Patent ↗A locking dispenser to dispense material from a replaceable refill container maintains a lock assembly having a plurality of spring-biased plungers configured in accordance with a predetermined lock parameter. The refill container carries a collar that includes a plurality of markers configured in accordance with a predetermined key parameter. Thus, when a refill container having a key parameter that is compatible with the lock parameter of the key block is installed at the dispenser, the plungers transition from a locked state to an unlocked state to enable the movement of an actuator, which when depressed by a user, results in the dispensement of material from the refill container.
1. A locking dispenser comprising:
a refill container carrying material therein to be dispensed by a pump coupled thereto, said refill container having a collar maintaining at least one marker configured in accordance with a predetermined key parameter;
a support bracket adapted to carry said refill container;
a lock assembly attached to said support bracket configured to be interfaced with said collar, said lock assembly maintaining at least one movable plunger configured in accordance with a predetermined lock parameter; and
an engagement bar operatively coupled to said support bracket that when actuated engages said pump to dispense said material from said refill container, said engagement bar maintaining a lock arm in operative communication with said at least one plunger, said plunger initially locking said lock arm to prevent the actuation of said engagement bar;
wherein said plunger unlocks said lock arm to enable the actuation of said engagement bar if said key parameter of said at least one marker is authorized by said lock parameter of said plunger when said marker and said plunger are interfaced, so as to enable the dispensing of said material from said refill container when said engagement bar is actuated.
2. The locking dispenser of claim 1 , wherein said at least one marker and said at least one plunger comprise magnets configured in accordance with said respective key parameter and said lock parameter.
3. The locking dispenser of claim 2 , wherein said magnets are enclosed in plastic.
4. The locking dispenser of claim 2 , wherein said lock parameter is defined at least partially by the orientation of said magnetic poles of said magnet maintained by said plunger.
5. The locking dispenser of claim 2 , wherein said key parameter is defined at least partially by the orientation of said magnetic poles of said magnet maintained by said marker.
6. The locking dispenser of claim 1 , wherein said lock parameter is defined at least partially by the arrangement of said plungers.
7. The locking dispenser of claim 1 , wherein said key parameter is defined at least partially by the arrangement of said markers.
8. The locking dispenser of claim 1 , wherein said lock arm maintains at least one locking aperture through which said at least one plunger extends.
9. The locking dispenser of claim 8 , wherein said at least one plunger comprises a head from which extends a keyed extension having a lock section and a notched section, wherein said keyed extension is received through said locking aperture.
10. The locking dispenser of claim 9 , wherein when said lock arm is locked, said lock section of said at least one plunger is received within said locking aperture of said lock arm.
11. The locking dispenser of claim 9 , wherein when said lock arm is unlocked, said notched section of said at least one plunger is received within said locking aperture of said lock arm.
12. The locking dispenser of claim 11 , wherein said locking aperture comprises a slide slot that extends at least partially to an edge of said lock arm, such that when said lock arm is unlocked, said plunger is received within said slide slot, allowing said engagement arm to freely slide about said slide slot.
13. The locking dispenser of claim 9 , wherein said plunger head is recessed to receive said at least one marker.
14. The locking dispenser of claim 9 , wherein said lock assembly maintains a lock slot that separates a lock plate from a lock grid that maintains said at least one plunger, wherein said lock slot receives said lock arm.
15. The locking dispenser of claim 14 , wherein said lock plate maintains at least one aperture to receive said keyed extension.
16. The locking dispenser of claim 1 , wherein said key parameter is defined by the arrangement of at least one magnetic north marker, at least one magnetic south marker, and at least one non-magnetic marker.
17. A method for operating a locking dispenser comprising:
providing a dispenser maintaining at least one movable plunger configured in accordance with a lock parameter, said plunger operatively engaging said dispenser to place said dispenser in a normally locked state;
providing a refill container carrying material to be dispensed having at least one marker configured in accordance with a key parameter;
installing said refill container at said dispenser, such that said marker is interfaced with said plunger;
unlocking said dispenser if said key parameter of said marker is authorized by said lock parameter of said plunger;
actuating said dispenser to dispense said material from said refill container and locking said dispenser when said refill container is uninstalled from said dispenser.
18. A method for operating a locking dispenser comprising:
providing a dispenser maintaining at least one movable plunger configured in accordance with a lock parameter, said plunger operatively engaging said dispenser to place said dispenser in a normally locked state;
providing a refill container carrying material to be dispensed having at least one marker configured in accordance with a key parameter, wherein said key parameter of said at least one marker is at least partially defined by a magnet;
installing said refill container at said dispenser, such that said marker is interfaced with said plunger; and
unlocking said dispenser if said key parameter of said marker is authorized by said lock parameter of said plunger.
19. A method for operating a locking dispenser comprising:
providing a dispenser maintaining at least one movable plunger configured in accordance with a lock parameter, wherein said lock parameter of said at least one said plunger is at least partially defined by a magnet, said plunger operatively engaging said dispenser to place said dispenser in a normally locked state; providing a refill container carrying material to be dispensed having at least one marker configured in accordance with a key parameter;
installing said refill container at said dispenser, such that said marker is interfaced with said plunger; and
unlocking said dispenser if said key parameter of said marker is authorized by said lock parameter of said plunger.
20. A method for operating a locking dispenser comprising:
providing a dispenser maintaining at least one movable plunger configured in accordance with a lock parameter, said plunger operatively engaging said dispenser to place said dispenser in a normally locked state;
providing a refill container carrying material to be dispensed having at least one marker configured in accordance with a key parameter, wherein said key parameter of said at least one marker is defined by the arrangement of at least one magnetic north marker, at least one magnetic south marker, and at least one non-magnetic marker;
installing said refill container at said dispenser, such that said marker is interfaced with said plunger; and
unlocking said dispenser if said key parameter of said marker is authorized by said lock parameter of said plunger.
21. A locking dispenser for dispensing material from a pump fluidly coupled to a replaceable refill container, the replaceable refill container having at least one marker configured with a predetermined key parameter, the locking dispenser comprising:
a support bracket adapted to carry the replaceable refill container;
a lock assembly attached to said support bracket configured to be interfaced with the marker of the replaceable refill container, said lock assembly maintaining at least one movable plunger configured in accordance with a predetermined lock parameter; and
an engagement bar operatively coupled to said support bracket that when actuated engages the pump to dispense the material from the replaceable refill container, said engagement bar maintaining a lock arm in operative communication with said at least one plunger, said plunger initially locking said lock arm to prevent the actuation of said engagement bar;
wherein said plunger unlocks said lock arm to enable the actuation of said engagement bar if the key parameter of the at least one marker is authorized by said lock parameter of said plunger when the marker and said plunger are interfaced, so as to enable the dispensing of the material from the replaceable refill container when said engagement bar is actuated.
22. The locking dispenser of claim 21 , wherein said at least one plunger comprises a magnet configured in accordance with said lock parameter.
23. The locking dispenser of claim 22 , wherein said magnet is enclosed in plastic.
24. The locking dispenser of claim 22 , wherein said lock parameter is defined at least partially by the orientation of said magnetic poles of said magnet.
25. The locking dispenser of claim 21 , wherein said lock parameter is defined at least partially by the arrangement of said plungers.
26. The locking dispenser of claim 21 , wherein said lock arm maintains at least one locking aperture through which said at least one plunger extends.
27. The locking dispenser of claim 26 , wherein said at least one plunger comprises a head from which extends a keyed extension having a lock section and a notched section, wherein said keyed extension is received through said locking aperture.
28. The locking dispenser of claim 27 , wherein when said lock arm is locked, said lock section of said at least one plunger is received within said locking aperture of said lock arm.
29. The locking dispenser of claim 27 , wherein when said lock arm is unlocked, said notched section of said at least one plunger is received within said locking aperture of said lock arm.
30. The locking dispenser of claim 29 , wherein said locking aperture comprises a slide slot that extends at least partially to an edge of said lock arm, such that when said lock arm is unlocked, said plunger is received within said slide slot, allowing said engagement arm to freely slide about said slide slot.
31. The locking dispenser of claim 27 , wherein said plunger head is recessed to receive the at least one marker.
32. The locking dispenser of claim 27 , wherein said lock assembly maintains a lock slot that separates a lock plate from a lock grid that maintains said at least one plunger, wherein said lock slot receives said lock arm.
33. The locking dispenser of claim 32 , wherein said lock plate maintains at least one aperture to receive said keyed extension.