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EP-4740805-A1 - LOCKABLE RECEPTACLE HOLDER FOR PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS

EP4740805A1EP 4740805 A1EP4740805 A1EP 4740805A1EP-4740805-A1

Abstract

The invention refers to a lockable receptacle holder for personal hygiene products. The holder according to the invention comprises a body (1) intended to be fixed to a wall, the body (1) comprising a horizontal upper portion (1a), a horizontal lower portion (1b) parallel to the upper portion (1a) and a main vertical portion, a locking mechanism for said receptacle being fitted beneath the horizontal upper portion (1a), which can be unlocked by means of a key inserted through a slot (13) provided in the upper portion (1a), the locking mechanism consists of a pair of receptacle securing components, each comprising, at the front side, an arched claw (3, 4) having an outer end and an inner end between which a circular sector is defined that secures the neck of the receptacle and, at the rear side, a profiled tab (20, 19) intended to interact with an actuating component (5) elastically tensioned by means of a leaf spring (6) compressed against the main vertical portion of the body (1), the actuating component (5) being provided with a recess positioned in correspondence with the slot (13) provided in the upper portion (1a) of the body (1), such that, upon insertion of the tip of the key through the slot (13) and the said recess, the tip of the key interacts with the actuating component (5), which in turn acts on the profiled tabs (20, 19), thereby causing the translation of the actuating component (5) and, automatically, the outward planar pivoting of the arched claws (3, 4) which release the neck of the receptacle and, simultaneously, the outward planar pivoting of tongues (21, 22) forming the inner ends of claws (3, 4), which automatically push the receptacle outside the holder.

Inventors

  • Rus, Alin Ion
  • Bujor, Florin Alexandru

Assignees

  • Allinox Innovation S.r.l.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251105

Claims (14)

  1. Lockable receptacle holder for personal hygiene products, the lockable holder comprising a body (1) intended to be fixed to a wall, the body (1) comprising a horizontal upper portion (1a) provided at the free end with a semicircular fork (27) intended to partially confine the neck of said receptacle (30), and a horizontal lower portion (1b) parallel to the upper portion (1a) and intended to form a base for the bottom of said receptacle, the upper and lower portions (1a, 1b) being connected to each other by a main vertical portion which features means (14, 23) for attaching the body (1) to said wall, a locking mechanism for said receptacle (30) being fitted beneath the horizontal upper portion (1a), which can be unlocked by means of a key (29) inserted through a slot (13) provided in the upper portion (1a), said locking mechanism consists of a pair of receptacle securing components, each securing component comprising, at the front side, an arched claw (3, 4) having an outer end and an inner end between which a circular sector is defined that secures the neck of the receptacle and, at the rear side, a profiled tab (20, 19), characterised in that the locking tabs (20, 19) interact with an actuating component (5) elastically tensioned by means of a leaf spring (6) compressed against the main vertical portion of the body (1), the actuating component (5) being provided with a recess positioned in correspondence with the slot (13) provided in the upper portion (1a) of the body (1), such that, upon insertion of the tip of the key (29) through the slot (13) and the said recess, the tip of the key (29) interacts with the actuating component (5), which in turn acts on the profiled tabs (20, 19), thereby causing the translation of the actuating component (5) and, automatically, the outward planar pivoting of the arched claws (3, 4) which release the neck of the receptacle (30) and, simultaneously, the outward planar pivoting of tongues (21, 22) forming the inner ends of claws (3, 4), which automatically push the receptacle (30) outside the holder.
  2. Holder according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking of the receptacle (30) for personal hygiene products in the holder occurs automatically by pushing receptacle (30) between the arched claws (3, 4), causing their inward planar pivoting and locking the profiled tabs (20, 19) with the actuating component (5) compressing the lamellar spring (6) on the main vertical portion of body (1).
  3. Holder according to claim 2, characterized in that when locking the receptacle (30) for personal hygiene products in the holder, tongues (21, 22) cooperate to establish the limit closing position of the arched claws (3, 4).
  4. Holder according to claim 1, characterized in that when unlocking the receptacle (30) for personal hygiene products in the holder, tongues (21, 22) cooperate to establish the limit opening position of the arched claws (3, 4).
  5. Holder according to claim 1, characterized in that the holder further comprises a support plate (7) which covers the bottom part and supports said locking mechanism, the support plate (7) being secured to the horizontal upper portion (1a) of body (1) by means of screws (9) fitted in crimp nuts (2).
  6. Holder according to claim 5, characterized in that the support plate (7) features two raised lateral edges to guide the sides (16) of the actuating component (5) in its translation motion when unlocking/locking the arched claws (3, 4).
  7. Holder according to claim 6, characterized in that the support plate (7) features a tab (28) facing downwards from the plane of the support plate (7), which is intended to prevent involuntary rotation and to tighten the receptacle (30) in the holder.
  8. Holder according to claim 5, characterized in that the crimp nuts (2) have a head fixed in the horizontal upper portion (1a) of body (1) and a tubular body threaded on the inside, which extends through through-holes (17, 18) in the arched claws (3, 4) so as to allow the planar outward and, respectively, inward pivoting of said arched claws (3, 4).
  9. Holder according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that an elastic element (8) is fitted between the arched claws (3, 4) and the support plate (7), which compensates for the distance between the arched claws (3, 4) and the support plate (7) and reduces the clearance between said components during the pivoting motion of the arched claws (3, 4).
  10. Holder according to claim 1, characterized in that the horizontal lower portion (1b) comprises on its upper face, intended to come into contact with the bottom of the receptacle for personal hygiene products, a protrusion (10) which is adequately configured to fit into a cavity in the bottom surface of the receptacle (30), ensuring its solid fixation into the holder.
  11. Holder according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (14, 23) for securing the body (1) to said wall consist of circular and/or elongated holes for fitting suitable screws.
  12. Holder according to claim 1, characterized in that body (1) comprising the horizontal upper portion (1a), the horizontal lower portion (1b) and the main vertical portion is made as one piece, of an elastically deformable material, for example, metal or plastic, which allows a slight deformation and taking over various dimensional deviations of the receptacles and securing them safely in the holder.
  13. Holder according to claim 1, characterized in that the semicircular fork (27) provided at the free end of the horizontal upper portion (1a) has the same diameter as that of the arched claws (3, 4), in their locked position.
  14. Holder according to claim 13, characterized in that the semicircular fork (27) provided at the free end of the horizontal upper portion (1a) has a circumference (15) smaller than that of the arched claws (3, 4), in their locked position.

Description

The invention refers to a lockable receptacle holder for personal hygiene products. The use of rechargeable receptacles for personal hygiene products, such as liquid soap, shower gel or shampoo, in general, in public toilets and, in particular, in hotels or guesthouses is nowadays common. Also known are holders supporting said receptacles. Unfortunately, the theft of such receptacles is also extremely common, which is why holder solutions have been developed to limit or eliminate such undesirable practices. Such a lockable receptacle holder for personal hygiene products is known from EP4114239, which reveals a lockable holder comprising a body intended to be fixed to a wall, the body comprising a horizontal upper portion provided at the free end with a fork intended to partially confine the neck of said receptacle, and a horizontal lower portion, parallel to the upper portion and intended to form a base for the bottom of said receptacle, the upper and lower portions being connected to each other by a main vertical portion which features means for attaching the body to said wall, the holder including a locking mechanism for the said receptacle, which can be unlocked by means of a key inserted through a slot provided in the upper portion. Said locking mechanism mainly consists of a hook-shaped piece which, upon unlocking by cooperation between a key and an elastic plate, can be manually pivoted to lock/unlock the neck of the receptacle. Similar solutions are also disclosed in EP4044889 and SE2251587. The main disadvantage of the above-mentioned solution is that both the locking and the unlocking of the receptacle is done manually, resulting not only in a very time-consuming removal/insertion of receptacles, but also in the significant potential to damage the locking mechanism, due to haste, lack of care or of understanding the locking/unlocking principle. Other solutions are known from CN117378951 and CN221153912, which disclose soap dispensers that comprise a support for securing the receptacle with a magnetic locking mechanism. Considering the humid environment of a bath and the oily nature of liquid soap, the use of a magnetic locking mechanism does not seem the most viable choice. CN 219962711 U discloses a holder provided with anti-theft system for liquid bottles, according to the preamble of independent claim 1. The main objective of this invention is to eliminate or limit the disadvantages associated with the prior art solutions. Another objective of this invention is to provide a lockable receptacle holder for personal hygiene products, which will ensure a faster, automated and more intuitive closing/opening. In accordance with this invention, the lockable receptacle holder for personal hygiene products comprises a body intended to be fixed to a wall, the body comprising a horizontal upper portion provided at the free end with a semicircular fork intended to partially confine the neck of said receptacle, and a horizontal lower portion, parallel to the upper portion and intended to form a base for the bottom of said receptacle, the upper and lower portions being connected to each other by a main vertical portion which features means for attaching the body to said wall, a locking mechanism for said receptacle being fitted beneath the horizontal upper portion, which can be unlocked by means of a key inserted through a slot provided in the upper portion, said locking mechanism consisting of a pair of receptacle securing components, each securing component comprising, at the front side, an arched claw having an outer end and an inner end between which a circular sector is defined that secures the neck of the receptacle and, at the rear side, a profiled tab, wherein the locking tabs interact with an actuating component elastically tensioned by means of a leaf spring compressed against the main vertical portion of the body, the actuating component being provided with a recess positioned in correspondence with the slot provided in the upper portion of the body, such that, upon insertion of the tip of the key through the slot and the said recess, the tip of the key interacts with the actuating component, which in turn acts on the profiled tabs, thereby causing the translation of the actuating component and, automatically, the outward planar pivoting of the arched claws which release the neck of the receptacle and, simultaneously, the outward planar pivoting of tongues forming the inner ends of the claws, which automatically push the receptacle (30) outside the holder. According to an advantageous feature of the invention, locking the receptacle for personal hygiene products in the holder occurs automatically by pushing the receptacle between the arched claws that cause their inward planar pivoting and locking the profiled tabs with the actuating component compressing the lamellar spring on the main vertical portion of the body. According to another advantageous feature of the invention, when locking the recept