Automatic liquid soap dispenser

• US 5,344,047 A
• Filed: 10/08/1993
• Issued: 09/06/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SHIH Kong Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SHIH Kong Incorporated
• Inventors: Chen, Ching-Shih
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kaufman, Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US08/134,240
• Time in Patent Office: 333 Days
• Field of Search: 222/52, 222/63, 222/181, 222/185, 222/333, 222/340, 4/605, 4/903
• US Class Current: 222/63
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/021 of the piston type G01F11/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/029 provided with electric controlling means G01F11/022 and G01F11/024 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 4/903 Shower head with material dispensing

Abstract

An automatic liquid soap dispenser includes a liquid soap container which receives liquid soap therein and which has a bottom wall that is formed with an outlet port. A flow control unit includes a plunger and a tubular body secured to a bottom surface of the bottom wall such that a through-hole at a closed rear portion of the tubular body is aligned with the outlet port. The closed rear portion of the tubular body is further formed with an upright soap outlet adjacent to the through-hole. A ball valve unit controls the flow of liquid soap through the soap outlet. The plunger has a piston which extends fittingly and movably into the tubular body via an open front portion of the latter, and a flexible shaft portion connected to the piston. An actuating unit includes an infrared unit for detecting a target, a driving unit activated by the infrared unit upon detection of the target, and a driving gear driven rotatably by the driving unit. The shaft portion of the plunger is connected eccentrically to the driving gear so that rotation of the driving gear results in linear movement of the piston within the tubular body to dispense a predetermined amount of the liquid soap through the soap outlet. A contact switch is activated by the driving gear when the driving gear completes one revolution and deactivates the driving unit when activated.

Claims

1. An automatic liquid soap dispenser, comprising:

a liquid soap container which confines a hollow space for receiving liquid soap therein, said soap container having a bottom wall which is formed with an outlet port and which has a bottom surface;

a flow control unit including;

a tubular body with an open front portion and a closed rear portion which is formed with adjacent first and second annular outward projections that respectively confine a through-hole communicated with an interior of said tubular body, said tubular body being secured to said bottom surface of said bottom wall of said liquid soap container such that said through-hole of said first annular outward projection is aligned with said outlet port, said closed rear portion of said tubular body being further formed with an upright soap outlet disposed adjacent to and communicated with said through-hole of said second annular outward projection, said second annular outward projection having a lower end which is formed with a valve seat, and a first ball member disposed movably within said second annular outward projection on said valve seat, said second annular outward projection and said first ball member serving as a ball valve unit to control flow of said liquid soap through said soap outlet; and

a plunger having a piston which extends fittingly and movably into said tubular body via said open front portion, and a flexible shaft portion which has a first end connected to said piston and a second end; and

an actuating unit mounted on said liquid soap container and including;

an infrared unit for detecting a target;

a driving unit connected to said infrared unit and activated by said infrared unit upon detection of said target;

a speed changing gear set driven rotatably by said driving unit;

a driving gear driven rotatably by said speed changing gear set, said second end of said shaft portion of said plunger being connected eccentrically to said driving gear, rotation of said driving gear resulting in linear movement of said piston of said plunger within said tubular body to open said ball valve unit and dispense a predetermined amount of said liquid soap through said soap outlet; and

a contact switch disposed on one side of said driving gear and activated by said driving gear when said driving gear completes one revolution, said contact switch being connected to said driving unit and deactivating said driving unit when activated.

2. The automatic liquid soap dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first annular outward projection has a lower portion which is formed with a plurality of angularly spaced and inwardly projecting radial ribs, said first annular outward projection being provided with a second ball member therein to control flow of said liquid soap into said tubular body.

3. The automatic liquid soap dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said driving unit is a motor with an output shaft, and said speed changing gear set includes a first small gear wheel which is secured on said output shaft of said driving unit, a large gear wheel which meshes with said first small gear wheel, and a second small gear wheel which is formed on one side of said large gear wheel and which meshes with said driving gear.

4. The automatic liquid soap dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said driving gear has one side which is formed with an eccentric annular projection, and said second end of said shaft portion of said plunger is formed with a retaining ring that is sleeved around said eccentric annular projection.

5. The automatic liquid soap dispenser as claimed in claim 4, wherein said retaining ring is formed with a switch actuator which projects radially outward therefrom and which presses against said contact switch so as to activate said contact switch when said driving gear completes one revolution.