초록 ▼

An interlocking mechanism for a fluid dispenser includes a container body and a top portion. The container body includes a first sidewall having a first slot therein and a second sidewall having a second slot therein. The top portion includes a first lock channel, a first magnet adjacent to the firs

An interlocking mechanism for a fluid dispenser includes a container body and a top portion. The container body includes a first sidewall having a first slot therein and a second sidewall having a second slot therein. The top portion includes a first lock channel, a first magnet adjacent to the first lock channel, a second lock channel, and a second magnet adjacent to the second lock channel. A first sliding lock member is positioned within and slidable along the first lock channel. The first sliding lock member has a tip portion configured to engage and disengage with the first slot, and a base portion having a third magnet disposed therein. A second sliding lock member is positioned within and slidable along the second lock channel. The second sliding lock member has a tip portion configured to be engaged and disengaged with the second slot, and a base portion having a fourth magnet disposed therein.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An interlocking mechanism for a fluid dispenser comprising: a container body including a first sidewall having a first slot therein and a second sidewall having a second slot therein; a top portion including: a first edge wall;a second edge wall;a third edge wall;an inner surface;a first lock cha

1. An interlocking mechanism for a fluid dispenser comprising: a container body including a first sidewall having a first slot therein and a second sidewall having a second slot therein; a top portion including: a first edge wall;a second edge wall;a third edge wall;an inner surface;a first lock channel positioned along a portion of the inner surface and extending to the second edge wall;a first magnet disposed on the inner surface adjacent to the first lock channel;a second lock channel positioned along a portion of the inner surface and extending to the third edge wall;a second magnet disposed on the inner surface adjacent to the second lock channel;a first sliding lock member positioned within and slidable along the first lock channel, the first sliding lock member having a tip portion configured to engage and disengage with the first slot, and a base portion having a third magnet disposed therein;wherein a first attractive magnetic force is applied between the first magnet and the third magnet to slide the first sliding lock member into an engaged position with the first slot;a second sliding lock member positioned within and slidable along the second lock channel, the second sliding lock member having a tip portion configured to be engaged and disengaged with the second slot, and a base portion having a fourth magnet disposed therein; andwherein a second attractive magnetic force is applied between the second magnet and the fourth magnet to slide the first sliding lock member into an engaged position with the second slot. 2. The interlocking mechanism of claim 1 further comprising: a key fob including a fifth magnet configured to apply a third attractive magnetic force between the fifth magnet and the third magnet to slide the first sliding lock member into a disengaged position from the first slot, and apply a fourth attractive magnetic force between the fifth magnet and the fourth magnet to slide the second sliding lock member into a disengaged position with the second slot. 3. The interlocking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first lock channel is positioned along a portion of a first axis extending from the first edge wall to the second edge wall. 4. The interlocking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the second lock channel is positioned along a portion of a second axis extending from the first edge wall to the third edge wall. 5. The interlocking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first edge wall is a front edge wall, the second edge wall is a left edge wall, and the third edge wall is a right edge wall. 6. The interlocking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the top portion further includes a first magnet recess adjacent to the first lock channel, the first magnet disposed within the first magnet recess. 7. The interlocking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the top portion further includes a second magnet recess adjacent to the second lock channel, the second magnet disposed within the second magnet recess. 8. The interlocking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the base portion of the first sliding lock member includes a third magnet recess, the third magnet disposed within the third magnet recess. 9. The interlocking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the base portion of the second sliding lock member includes a fourth magnet recess, the fourth magnet disposed within the fourth magnet recess. 10. The interlocking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the top portion further includes a dispenser opening therethrough. 11. The interlocking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the top portion further includes a first lock stop disposed proximate to an end of the first lock channel and the first edge wall, and a second lock stop disposed proximate to an end of the second lock channel and the first edge wall. 12. The interlocking mechanism of claim 11, wherein the base portion of the first sliding lock member is in substantial contact with the first lock stop when the first sliding lock member is in a disengaged position from the first slot, and the base portion of the second sliding lock member is in substantial contact with the second lock stop when the second sliding lock member is in a disengaged position from the second slot. 13. The interlocking mechanism of claim 1, wherein the top portion further includes a groove and the container body includes a lip portion, the groove configured to mate with the lip portion when the top portion is placed upon the container body. 14. The interlocking mechanism of claim 1 further comprising: a cover plate configured to cover at least a portion of one or more of the first lock channel and the second lock channel of the top portion. 15. A multi-container fluid dispenser apparatus comprising: a plurality of fluid dispensers, each of the plurality of fluid dispensers including: a container body including a first sidewall having a first slot therein and a second sidewall having a second slot therein;a top portion including: a first edge wall;a second edge wall;a third edge wall;an inner surface;a first lock channel positioned along a portion of the inner surface and extending to the second edge wall;a first magnet disposed on the inner surface adjacent to the first lock channel;a second lock channel positioned along a portion of the inner surface and extending to the third edge wall;a second magnet disposed on the inner surface adjacent to the second lock channel;a first sliding lock member positioned within and slidable along the first lock channel, the first sliding lock member having a tip portion configured to engage and disengage with the first slot, and a base portion having a third magnet disposed therein;wherein a first attractive magnetic force is applied between the first magnet and the third magnet to slide the first sliding lock member into an engaged position with the first slot;a second sliding lock member positioned within and slidable along the second lock channel, the second sliding lock member having a tip portion configured to be engaged and disengaged with the second slot, and a base portion having a fourth magnet disposed therein; andwherein a second attractive magnetic force is applied between the second magnet and the fourth magnet to slide the first sliding lock member into an engaged position with the second slot. 16. The multi-container fluid dispenser apparatus of claim 15, further comprising: a mounting plate configured to mount each of the plurality of fluid dispensers to a surface. 17. The multi-container fluid dispenser apparatus of claim 16, wherein the surface is a substantially vertical surface. 18. The multi-container fluid dispenser apparatus of claim 15, further comprising: a key fob including a fifth magnet configured to apply a third attractive magnetic force between the fifth magnet and the third magnet to slide the first sliding lock member into a disengaged position from the first slot, and apply a fourth attractive magnetic force between the fifth magnet and the fourth magnet to slide the second sliding lock member into a disengaged position with the second slot. 19. A fluid dispenser for being disposed in a gang configuration on a wall surface, comprising: a fluid container having two substantially flat sides, a substantially flat back with a front surface and forming an opening at the top thereof; anda lid for being disposed over the opening, the lid having at least a forward facing surface substantially parallel to the substantially flat back, the lid containing: first and second engaging members for engaging the uppermost edges of the opening on opposite sides thereof and having an open position when the first and second engaging members are engaged with the upper most edges of the opening and a closed position when the first and second engaged members are not engaged with the uppermost edges of the opening, anda locking member disposed proximate the forward facing surface of the lid for causing the first and second engaging members to be either in the closed position or the open position. 20. The fluid dispenser of claim 19, wherein the first and second engaging members engage the uppermost edges of the opening on the substantially flat sides. 21. The fluid dispenser of claim 20, wherein the first and second engaging members are reciprocating members that can extend into corresponding slots on the uppermost edges of the two substantially flat sides in a reciprocating manner. 22. The fluid dispensing member of claim 19, wherein the locking member is not physically accessible from external to the lid. 23. The fluid dispenser of claim 22, wherein the locking member comprises a magnetic locking member that is activated with an external magnet when the external magnet is disposed proximate to the forward facing side of the lid. 24. The fluid dispenser of claim 23, wherein the first and second engaging members comprise longitudinal members that are operable to reciprocate within a channel within the lid to reciprocate into corresponding slots within the upper edges of the opposite sides of the fluid container and each of the sliding members containing a restraining member that, when an external magnet is not disposed adjacent the forward facing side of the lid, the sliding members will be reciprocated outward to engage the slots and containing respective first and second magnets that, when the external magnet is proximate to the forward facing side, the first and second internal magnets will be attracted toward the external magnet to reciprocate the sliding members inward from the slots to provide the open position. 25. The fluid dispenser of claim 24, wherein the restraining member comprises third and fourth internal magnets that will attract the first and second internal magnets to reciprocate the sliding members outward, wherein the external magnet has a sufficient strength to break the magnetic attraction between the first and second magnets and the third and fourth magnets, respectively.