Apparatus and method for dispensing post-foaming gel soap

• US 20050247735A1
• Filed: 05/10/2004
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rubbermaid Commercial Products LLC (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Technical Concepts LLC (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Hsieh, Rocky, Muderlak, Kenneth J., Bellinger, Sean
• Granted Patent: US 7,540,397 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/190
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/16 with mechanical drive food mixers A47J43/04
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/267 by a separate device actuated by repeated, e.g. human, input, e.g. by a moving wing of a door or window, a ringing doorbell, a flushing toilet
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/384 comprising an aerosol container disposed in an outer shell or in an external container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/46 Tilt valves B65D83/50 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing a post-foaming gel soap is disclosed. The dispenser includes a housing containing a first actuator and a second actuator. A motor is operatively connected to said first and second actuator. A circuit is connected to said motor, as well as a sensor assembly and a power supply. In operation, said first and second actuator moves a stem valve and a cylindrical pump located on a reservoir containing a gel soap and an inert propellant gas. The cylindrical pump operates on a piston principle and also closes to prevent any dripping after use. Further disclosed are various methods of accurately dispensing a consistent dose of gel soap.

Claims

1. An apparatus for dispensing a post-foaming gel soap from a propellant driven reservoir comprising:

a first actuator for tilting a stem valve on said reservoir;

a second actuator for pushing a cylindrical pump on said reservoir in a downward direction;

a gear assembly operatively connected to said first and second actuators;

a motor operatively connected to said gear assembly;

a power supply in electrical communication with said motor;

a sensor assembly; and

circuitry containing logic which receives a signal from said sensor assembly and directs energy to said motor from said power supply.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first actuator comprises a single protrusion that pushes against said stem valve.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said second actuator is a “

U”

shaped protrusion.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the single protrusion and said “

U”

shaped protrusion are on a common mounting.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said single protrusion is located at the base of the “

U”

shaped protrusion.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said energy source is a battery pack.

7. The apparatus is claim 1 wherein said circuitry controls the amount of time that said power supply provides energy to said motor.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the circuitry periodically lengthens an amount of time that said power supply provides energy to said motor through a lifetime of said reservoir.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said circuitry adjusts an amount of time that said power supply provides energy to said motor through a lifetime of said reservoir based upon results detected during a lifetime of a previous reservoir.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said circuitry adjusts an amount of time that said power supply provides energy to said motor through a lifetime of said reservoir based upon results detected during said lifetime of said reservoir.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said circuitry adjusts said amount of time that said power supply provides energy to said motor by detecting the level of soap in the reservoir using diodes and a photoreceiver.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said diodes are located to indicate that said receiver is 80% full, 60% full, 40% full, 20% full, and empty.

13. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said circuitry lengthens said amount of time that said power supply provides energy to said motor by detecting whether a user requests two immediately consecutive doses.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said circuitry shortens said amount of time that said power supply provides energy to said motor by detecting whether the last ten users have not requested two immediately consecutive doses.

15. An apparatus for dispensing a gel from a propellant driven reservoir comprising:

a first actuator to move a first valve on said reservoir;

a second actuator operatively connected to said first actuator for pushing a cylindrical pump on said reservoir in a downward direction; and

a gear assembly operatively connected to said first and second actuators.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein an operator-controlled lever is operatively connected to said gear assembly.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said operator-controlled lever provides motion to said gear assembly.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein an operator controlled button is operatively connected to said gear assembly.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said operator-controlled button provides motion to said gear assembly.

20. A reservoir assembly for containing a gel and a inert propellant comprising

a reservoir;

a stem valve operatively connected to the reservoir; and

a cylindrical pump operatively connected to the stem valve.

21. The reservoir assembly of claim 20 wherein said stem valve opens when tilted in respect to said reservoir.

22. The reservoir assembly of claim 21 wherein the cylindrical pump operates on a piston principle.

23. The reservoir assembly of claim 22 wherein the cylindrical pump opens when the pump is moved in a downward direction in respect to the reservoir.

24. The reservoir assembly of claim 23 wherein the cylindrical pump further comprises:

a piston chamber;

a piston;

a spring holding said piston in a rest position;

an opening; and

a seal closing said opening when in a rest position.

25. The reservoir assembly of claim 24 wherein when said spring holds said piston in a rest position, a volume of said piston chamber is maximized.

26. The reservoir assembly of claim 25 wherein when said seal disengages said opening when said cylindrical pump moves in a downward direction from said reservoir.

27. The reservoir assembly of claim 26 wherein said seal reengages said opening when said spring returns said piston to said rest position, thereby preventing said reservoir assembly from dripping.

28. A gel soap dispenser assembly comprising:

a dispenser housing;

a reservoir assembly further comprising;

a reservoir contain a gel soap and an inert propellant;

a stem valve; and

a cylindrical pump further comprising;

a piston chamber;

a piston;

a spring holding said piston in a rest position;

an opening; and

a seal closing said opening when in a rest position;

a first actuator for tilting a stem valve on a reservoir;

a second actuator for pushing a cylindrical pump on said reservoir in a downward direction;

a gear assembly operatively connected to said first and second actuators;

a motor operatively connected to said gear train;

a power supply in electrical communication said the motor;

a sensor assembly; and

circuitry containing logic which receives a signal from said sensor assembly and allows said power supply to provide energy to said motor.

29. The gel soap dispenser of claim 28 wherein gel soap travels through said stem valve and said cylindrical pump when said stem valve is tilted and said cylindrical pump is moved in said downward direction.

30. The gel soap dispenser of claim 29 wherein said piston forces out of all said gel soap out of said piston chamber when said cylindrical pump reaches a stall position.

32. The gel soap dispenser of claim 30 wherein said gel soap is prevented from dripping by said cylindrical pump when said cylindrical pump returns to said rest position.

31.