Soap dispenser with a clam-shell cover

• US 6,325,245 B1
• Filed: 02/02/2001
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DEB IP Limited (SC Johnson & Son Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: DEB IP Limited (SC Johnson & Son Incorporated)
• Inventors: Matthews, Shaun Kerry
• Primary Examiner(s): Derakshani, Philippe
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bui, Thach H
• Application Number:
  US09/773,927
• Time in Patent Office: 305 Days
• Field of Search: 222/39, 222/52, 222/78, 222/105, 222/181, 222/181.2, 222/181.3, 222/183, 222/207, 222/214, 222/325
• US Class Current: 222/52
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/12 for liquid or pasty soap

Abstract

A soap dispenser is used in association with a pump operated bottle of liquid soap. The soap dispenser includes a back plate, a cover, a pump mechanism and an outer shell. The cover is releasably attached to the back plate. The cover and the back plate define a volute therebetween. The pump operated bottle is positioned in the volute and the pump mechanism is operably connected to the bottle. There is a means to operate the pump mechanism to dispense soap. The outer shell extends over a portion of the cover and is releasably attached thereto. The outer shell can be interchanged with a plurality of similar outer shells. There is a seal between the outer shell and the cover. The outer shell may have a window formed therein and a printed sheet or advertising sheet may be positioned behind the window. Alternatively, the outer shell may have a logo or other design thereon.

Claims

1. A soap dispenser for use in association with a pump operated bottle of liquid soap comprising:

a back plate;

a cover releasably attached to the back plate defining a volute therebetween wherein the pump operated bottle is positioned in the volute;

a pump means for pumping the pump operated bottle; and

an outer shell extending over a portion of the cover and releasably attached thereto whereby the outer shell can be interchanged with a plurality of similar outer shells.

2. A soap dispenser as claimed in claim 1 further including a seal between the outer shell and the cover.

3. A soap dispenser as claimed in claim 2 wherein the outer shell has a window formed therein and the outer shell and cover are adapted to receive a printed sheet therebetween.

4. A soap dispenser as claimed in claim 3 further including a liner positioned between the outer shell and the cover for holding the printed sheet in place.

5. A soap dispenser as claimed in claim 4 wherein the printed sheet is printed advertising.

6. A soap dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outer shell has advertising attached thereto.

7. A soap dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outer shell has a window formed therein and the outer shell and cover are adapted to receive a printed sheet therebetween.

8. A soap dispenser as claimed in claim 7 wherein the printed sheet is printed advertising.

9. A soap dispenser as claimed in claim 3 wherein the printed sheet is printed advertising.

10. A soap dispenser as claimed in claim 1 further including latching mechanism between the back plate and the cover for holding the cover in place including a button whereby depressing the button releases the cover.

11. A soap dispenser as claimed in claim 10 wherein the button is removable when the cover is in an open position and insertable when the cover is in a closed position.

12. A soap dispenser as claimed in claim 10 wherein the latching mechanism includes a button seat adapted to receive both of the removable button and a non-removable button and whereby the user chooses the button.

13. A soap dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cover includes a lever hingeably attached thereto and the lever operably engages a pump mechanism connected to the pump operated deformable bottle positioned in the soap dispenser and the pump means includes the lever and the pump mechanism.

14. A soap dispenser as claimed in claim 13 further including a sensor for sensing an object within a predetermined range of the soap dispenser and the sensor operably connected to the pump operated deformable bottle when positioned in the soap dispenser and the pump means includes the sensor whereby moving an object into the predetermined range causes pumping of the pump operated bottle.

15. A soap dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outer shell has an outer surface and an inner surface and the shape of the inner surface corresponds to the shape of an inner portion of the cover and the outer surface has a shape that is different from the shape of the inner surface.

16. A soap dispenser as claimed in claim 2 wherein the outer shell has an outer surface and an inner surface and the shape of the inner surface corresponds to the shape of an inner portion of the cover and the outer surface has a shape that is different from the shape of the inner surface.