System and method for dispensing soap

• US 20020185500A1
• Filed: 06/04/2002
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Technical Concepts LLC (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Technical Concepts LLC (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Hsieh, Rocky, Muderlak, Kenneth J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,651,851 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2005/1218 Table mounted; Dispensers integrated with the mixing tap
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/12 Apparatus, e.g. holders, therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/145 air-liquid contact processes, e.g. scrubbing
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1001 Piston pumps B05B11/1087, B05B11/1088, B05B11/109 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1008 by adjusting or modifying the pump end-of-dispensing-stroke position
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1052 Actuation means locking means therefor B05B11/1059; the dispensing stroke being affected by the stored energy of a spring B05B11/109
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/02 for controlling time, or sequence, of delivery
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 9/007 Devices for eliminating smells by diffusing deodorants in lavatories
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/38 for liquid or semiliquid

Abstract

An automatic fluid soap dispensing apparatus and method comprising a dispensing spout, housing operatively connected to the dispensing spout and the housing adapted to removably receive and hold a fluid soap containing reservoir module in communication with the dispensing spout. The reservoir module has a central axis, and includes a pump mechanism and delivery tube mounted on the reservoir module in alignment with the central axis. The dispensing tube is adapted to move in the dispensing spout when the pump mechanism is actuated.

Claims

1. A reservoir module for an automatic dispensing system comprising:

a container adapted to hold fluid material to be dispensed by the dispensing system, said container having a central axis and a top portion;

an aperture in the top portion of the container, said aperture located on the central axis of the container;

a fluid pump mechanism mounted on said top portion of said container and disposed in alignment with said aperture; and

a delivery tube attached to an upper portion of said fluid pump mechanism, said delivery tube disposed in alignment with the central axis of the container.

2. The reservoir module of claim 1 wherein said delivery tube is elongated.

3. The reservoir of claim 1 wherein said fluid pump mechanism includes an actuator having a flange, said flange disposed off center relative to said central axis of the container.

4. The reservoir module of claim 1 wherein said fluid pump mechanism includes an actuator which dispenses said fluid material from said container through said pump mechanism to said delivery tube upon actuation of said pump mechanism by said actuator.

5. The reservoir module of claim 2 wherein said actuator includes a spider element permitting fluid material to be advanced from said pump mechanism through a central portion of said actuator and to said centrally disposed delivery tube upon actuation of said actuator.

6. A dispensing mechanism for fluid material comprising:

a dispensing spout;

a housing operatively connected to said dispensing spout;

said housing adapted to removably receive and hold a reservoir module in communication with said dispensing spout;

said reservoir module having a central axis,

a pump mechanism and delivery tube mounted on said reservoir module in alignment with said central axis.

7. The dispensing mechanism of claim 6 wherein said delivery tube is disposed in said dispensing spout when said reservoir module is held by said housing.

8. The dispensing mechanism of claim 7 wherein said pump mechanism includes an actuator for selectively activating said pump mechanism,

said delivery tube moving an incremental amount from a first position to a second position when said pump mechanism is actuated.

9. The dispensing mechanism of claim 8 wherein said pump mechanism includes a biasing element to return said delivery tube to said first position in said dispensing spout upon completion of the actuation of said pump mechanism.

10. The dispensing mechanism of claim 6 wherein said housing includes at least one horizontally and circumferentially disposed internal groove at a lower end of said housing, a first opening disposed adjacent said internal groove;

said reservoir module comprising a centrally disposed second opening in a top portion of said reservoir module, said second opening disposed in said first opening when said reservoir module is held by said housing.

11. The dispensing mechanism of claim 10 wherein said reservoir module includes a neck portion adjacent said second opening;

at least one flange element extending outwardly from said neck portion;

said at least one flange extending into said at least one groove of said housing to releasably hold said reservoir module to said housing.

12. The dispensing mechanism of claim 11 wherein said internal groove in said housing includes at least one downwardly extending slot through which said at least one flange moves when installing or removing said reservoir module relative to said housing.

13. The dispensing mechanism of claim 6 wherein said delivery tube is extended into said dispensing spout when said reservoir module is installed in said housing, and said delivery tube is withdrawn from said dispensing spout when said reservoir module is removed from said housing.

14. The dispensing mechanism of claim 6 wherein said reservoir module includes an actuator flange operatively connected to said pump mechanism to selectively actuate said pump mechanism;

said housing includes a drive mechanism operatively connected to said pump mechanism actuator, said drive mechanism moving said pump mechanism actuator upon the detection of the presence of a user of the dispensing mechanism.

15. the method of dispensing fluid soap from an automatic soap dispenser having a spout, a dispensing tube movably disposed in said spout, and a fluid soap container having a pump mechanism attached to said dispensing tube, the method comprising the steps of:

a) sensing the hands of a user;

b) activating the pump mechanism upon sensing the hands to expel fluid soap from the dispensing tube;

c) moving the dispensing tube in a first direction relative to the spout upon activating the pump mechanism; and

d) moving the dispensing tube in a second direction relative to the spout upon completion of the step of activating the pump mechanism.