Motor housing and support assembly for a system for dispensing soap

• US 20050218161A1
• Filed: 05/31/2005
• Published: 10/06/2005
• 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 7,533,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/333
• 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

1-74. -74. (canceled)

75. A motor housing and support assembly for use with a fluid dispensing system having a reservoir module, the reservoir module having a pump actuator that includes a flange, the assembly comprising:

a pump housing adapted to receive the reservoir module; and

a motor and actuator mechanism housing coupled to the pump housing, wherein the motor and actuator mechanism housing includes a motor and a pump hammer, wherein the pump hammer is in communication with the motor and disposed in the motor and actuator mechanism so as to be adapted to interact with the flange of the pump actuator.

76. The assembly of claim 75, wherein the pump hammer includes at least one actuator arm and a gear portion having a flat face.

77. The assembly of claim 76, wherein the motor and actuator mechanism housing further including a stop disposed in a path of the flat face of the pump hammer to restrict the movement of the pump hammer so as to cause the motor to stall.

78. The assembly of claim 75 wherein said motor and actuator mechanism housing further comprises:

an interior portion;

an exterior portion; and

a plurality of grooves disposed in said interior portion.

79. The assembly of claim 78 wherein a topography of said plurality of grooves are complementary to a topography of a plurality of splines located on an attachment shaft.

80. The assembly of claim 78 wherein said plurality of grooves are equally spaced around a circumference of said interior portion.

81. The assembly of claim 80 wherein said plurality of grooves further comprises twelve grooves.

82. The assembly of claim 79 further comprising a shank clip that fixes said motor housing and support assembly to said attachment shaft.

83. The assembly of claim 82 wherein said shank clip is inserted into a pump housing groove located on said motor housing and support assembly.

84. A motor housing and support assembly for use with a fluid dispensing system, the assembly comprising:

a pump housing;

a motor and actuator housing coupled to the pump housing, said motor and actuator housing comprises an interior portion and an exterior portion

a plurality of grooves disposed in the interior portion of said motor and actuator housing.

85. The motor housing and support assembly of claim 84 wherein a topography of said plurality of grooves are complementary to a topography of a plurality of splines located on an attachment shaft.

86. The assembly of claim 84 wherein said plurality of grooves are equally spaced around a circumference of said interior portion.

87. The assembly of claim 86 wherein said plurality of grooves further comprises twelve grooves.

88. The assembly of claim 85 further comprising a shank clip that fixes said motor housing and support assembly to said attachment shaft.

89. The assembly of claim 88 wherein said shank clip is inserted into a pump housing groove located on said motor housing and support assembly.

90. A method for connecting a motor housing and support assembly to an attachment shaft comprising the steps of:

partially inserting a shank clip into a pump housing groove located on said motor housing;

mating a plurality of splines in said attachment shaft to a plurality of grooves in said motor housing and support assembly;

placing an interior portion of said motor housing and support assembly over said attachment shaft;

fully inserting said shank clip into said pump housing groove located in said motor housing.

91. The method of claim 90 further comprising the step of horizontally rotating said motor housing and support assembly to avoid interference.