Patent · US Expired

Electrically operated dispensing apparatus and disposable container useable therewith

US4722372A · kind A · utility

224Cited by
32References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 2, 1985
Grant dateFeb 2, 1988
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 2, 2005

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T137/85946
  • WIPO fieldFurniture, games
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

Electrical batteries are integrated with a disposable container of flowable material for powering a dispensing apparatus. The disposable container includes a deformable chamber for containing a predetermined quantity of material to be dispensed, and an electrically energized actuating member deforms the chamber for dispensing the flowable material. The dispensing apparatus is actuated by a photocell system which electrically energizes the actuating member in response to the proximity of a user to the dispensing apparatus without the user contacting the apparatus. The photocell system normally is inactive, and is rendered active by a sensor for detecting the proximity of a user to the apparatus.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.