Automatic soap dispenser

• US 5,492,247 A
• Filed: 06/02/1994
• Issued: 02/20/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aling Shu, Lee, Kuo-Chou, Tsang-Chang Hwang
• Original Assignee: Aling Shu, Lee, Kuo-Chou, Tsang-Chang Hwang
• Inventors: Lee, Kuo-Chou, Hwang, Tsang-Chang, Shu, Aling
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Douglas, Lisa Ann
• Application Number:
  US08/253,080
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 222/52, 222/63, 222/95, 222/181, 222/103, 222/207, 222/214, 222/333, 141/98, 141/351, 74/89.15, 251/129.04, 417/412, 417/413.1
• US Class Current: 222/63
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1209 with chamber in the form of a cylindrical tube
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism

Abstract

An automatic soap dispenser having an infrared sensing device and associated circuitry to trigger a driver device into operation. The dynamic power of the device is generated from a motor, through a speed reducing gear to deliver a low speed, high torque driving power to a toothed piece. The toothed piece is driven forward in a direction perpendicular to the soap feeding tube of the soap storage bag, allowing liquid soap in the feeding tube to be squeezed and dispensed for hands cleaning. When the squeezing operation is accomplished, the resiliency of the feeding tube pushes the toothed piece back to its original position and is ready for the next soap dispensing.

Claims

1. An automatic soap dispenser comprising:

a) a base;

b) a first housing pivotally connected to the base for movement between an open position and a closed position, the first housing defining an enclosed space with the base when in the closed position;

c) latching means for detachably securing the first housing to the base in the closed position;

d) a second housing mounted to the base and disposed within the enclosed space, the second housing including separate first and second chambers, each chamber further including a cover for opening and closing the chamber, a concave guide tube formed in a front wall of the second housing, and a hole formed in the guide tube;

e) a driver device and an infrared sensing device disposed in the first chamber, the driver device including a motor, a gear assembly including a speed reducing gear driven by the motor and an elongate member driven by the gear assembly for reciprocating movement towards and away from the hole in the guide tube, the elongate member including an elongate hole and a toothed section formed on a bottom wall of the elongate hole for engagement by said gear of the gear assembly, and the infrared sensing device for operating the motor upon sensing the presence of a hand below the dispenser;

f) an electric power supply disposed in the second chamber for energizing the motor; and

g) a soap storage bag supported on the second housing and disposed within the enclosed space, the storage bag including a downwardly extending feeding tube disposed within the concave guide tube for dispensing soap upon engagement of the tube by the elongate member during the reciprocating movement thereof.

2. The soap dispenser of claim 1 wherein the first housing includes an inner front wall and a blocking plate carried by the inner front wall and for engaging an outer surface of the feeding tube.

3. The soap dispenser of claim 1 wherein the first housing includes an inner front wall, a post mounted on the inner front wall, and the infrared sensing device includes a microswitch engageable by the post when the first housing is in the closed position for activating the infrared sensing device.