Sleeve cover for liquid dispensers

Abstract

A sleeve for a liquid dispenser is disclosed. The sleeve includes a sleeve body adapted to receive a liquid dispenser, the sleeve body having a first opening and a second opening and a side portion extending between the first and second openings, where the second opening has a larger diameter than the first opening, such that a liquid dispenser received through the second opening is retained by the first opening of the sleeve body. In some embodiments, the sleeve may have optional slits or cut outs. In still other embodiments, the sleeve may be coated with or may comprise antimicrobial material. Also disclosed is a liquid dispensing system having a sleeve and a pump dispenser.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sleeve for a liquid dispenser, comprising:
 a sleeve body adapted to receive a liquid dispenser, the sleeve body having a first opening and a second opening and a side portion extending between the first and second openings,   where the second opening has a larger diameter than the first opening, such that a liquid dispenser received through the second opening is retained by the first opening of the sleeve body.   
     
     
         2 . The sleeve for a liquid dispenser according to  claim 1 , the sleeve body further comprising a lip extending laterally from the second opening to stabilize the sleeve. 
     
     
         3 . The sleeve for a liquid dispenser according to  claim 2 , the lip further comprising a weighted portion. 
     
     
         4 . The sleeve for a liquid dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is comprised of a thermoplastic polymer. 
     
     
         5 . The sleeve for a liquid dispenser according to  claim 4 , wherein the sleeve is comprised of a polycarbonate. 
     
     
         6 . The sleeve for a liquid dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is coated with a antimicrobial agent. 
     
     
         7 . The sleeve for a liquid dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is comprised of a antimicrobial polymer. 
     
     
         8 . The sleeve for a liquid dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve has at least one slit disposed in the side portion. 
     
     
         9 . The sleeve for a liquid dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve has at least one cut out disposed in the side portion. 
     
     
         10 . The sleeve for a liquid dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve further comprises a stiffening member. 
     
     
         11 . A sleeve for a liquid dispenser, comprising:
 a sleeve body adapted to receive a liquid dispenser, the sleeve body having a first opening and a second opening and a side portion extending between the first and second openings;   where the first opening has a diameter corresponding to a diameter of a pump on a first end of the liquid dispenser, and where the second opening has a larger diameter than the first opening, such that a liquid dispenser received through the second opening is retained by the first opening of the sleeve body; and   where the second opening is adapted to rest flush against a surface.   
     
     
         12 . The sleeve for a liquid dispenser according to  claim 11 , the sleeve body further comprising a lip extending laterally from the second opening to stabilize the sleeve. 
     
     
         13 . The sleeve for a liquid dispenser according to  claim 12 , the lip further comprising a weighted portion. 
     
     
         14 . The sleeve for a liquid dispenser according to  claim 11 , wherein the sleeve is comprised of a thermoplastic polymer. 
     
     
         15 . The sleeve for a liquid dispenser according to  claim 14 , wherein the sleeve is comprised of a polycarbonate. 
     
     
         16 . The sleeve for a liquid dispenser according to  claim 11 , wherein the sleeve is coated with a antimicrobial agent. 
     
     
         17 . The sleeve for a liquid dispenser according to  claim 11 , wherein the sleeve is comprised of a antimicrobial polymer. 
     
     
         18 . The sleeve for a liquid dispenser according to  claim 11 , wherein the sleeve has at least one slit disposed in the side portion. 
     
     
         19 . The sleeve for a liquid dispenser according to  claim 11 , wherein the sleeve has at least one cut out disposed in the side portion. 
     
     
         20 . The sleeve for a liquid dispenser according to  claim 11 , wherein the sleeve further comprises a stiffening member. 
     
     
         21 . A liquid dispensing system comprising:
 a pump dispenser bottle having a bottle body containing a liquid to be dispensed, the bottle body having a threaded neck portion engaging a threaded cap supporting a pump mechanism for dispensing the liquid, the bottle body further having a shoulder portion extending outward from the threaded neck to side portions of the pump dispenser bottle, the bottle body further having a bottom portion opposite the threaded neck portion; and   a sleeve adapted to receive the pump dispenser bottle, the sleeve having a first opening and a second opening opposite the first opening, where the second opening has a cross section greater than the maximum cross section of the pump dispenser bottle, and where the first opening has a diameter greater than the threaded neck portion of the bottle body and less than the diameter of the shoulder portion of the bottle body, such that the first opening receives the threaded neck portion of the bottle body.   
     
     
         22 . The liquid dispensing system as claimed in  claim 20 , where the diameter of the first opening of the sleeve is less than a cross-section dimension of the pump mechanism. 
     
     
         23 . The liquid dispensing system as claimed in  claim 20 , where a base dimension of the sleeve is greater than a base dimension of the pump dispenser bottle. 
     
     
         24 . The liquid dispensing system as claimed in  claim 20 , where a length of the sleeve from the first opening to the second opening is at least as long as a length of the pump dispenser from the threaded neck portion to the bottom portion. 
     
     
         25 . The liquid dispensing system as claimed in  claim 24 , where a length of the sleeve from the first opening to the second opening is longer than a length of the pump dispenser from the threaded neck portion to the bottom portion. 
     
     
         26 . The liquid dispensing system as claimed in  claim 20 , where the sleeve further comprises a stiffening member. 
     
     
         27 . The liquid dispensing system as claimed in  claim 20 , where the sleeve engages the threaded neck portion of the pump dispenser. 
     
     
         28 . The liquid dispensing system as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the sleeve rests on the shoulders of the pump dispenser when it is placed on the pump dispenser.