System and method for dispensing soap

• US 6,467,651 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2000
• Issued: 10/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Technical Concepts LLC (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Technical Concepts LLC (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Muderlak, Kenneth J., Shieh, Rocky
• Primary Examiner(s): Doerrler, William C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nicolas, Frederick C.
• Application Number:
  US09/525,976
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 222/52, 222/63, 222/333
• US Class Current: 222/52
• 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 11/1008 by adjusting or modifying the pump end-of-dispensing-stroke position
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/02 for controlling time, or sequence, of delivery

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. A reservoir module for insertion and removal as a unit from a fluid dispensing system, the reservoir module comprising:

a container adapted to hold fluid material to be dispensed by the dispensing system, the container defining a central axis and having a top portion;

an aperture in the top portion of the container, the aperture located on the central axis of the container;

a fluid pump mechanism mounted on the top portion of the container and disposed in alignment with the aperture; and

a delivery tube attached to an upper portion of the fluid pump mechanism, the delivery tube disposed in alignment with the central axis of the container.

2. The reservoir module of claim 1 wherein the delivery tube is elongated.

3. The reservoir of claim 1 wherein the fluid pump mechanism includes an actuator having a flange, the flange disposed off center relative to the central axis of the container.

4. The reservoir module of claim 1 wherein the fluid pump mechanism includes an actuator which dispenses the fluid material from the container through the pump mechanism to the delivery tube upon actuation of the actuator by the pump mechanism.

5. A reservoir module for a dispensing system, the reservoir module comprising:

a container adapted to hold fluid material to be dispensed by the dispensing system, the container defining a central axis and having a top portion;

an aperture in the top portion of the container, the aperture located with respect to the central axis of the container;

a fluid pump mechanism mounted on the top portion of the container and disposed in alignment with the aperture;

an elongated delivery tube attached to an upper portion of the fluid pump mechanism, the delivery tube disposed in alignment with the central axis of the container; and

a timing shaft that is adapted to permit fluid material to be advanced from the pump mechanism through a central portion of a pump actuator and to the centrally disposed delivery tube upon actuation of the actuator.

6. A dispensing system for fluid material, the dispensing system comprising:

a dispensing spout;

a housing operatively connected to the dispensing spout;

a reservoir module having a central axis, the housing adapted to removably receive and hold the reservoir module in communication with the dispensing spout; and

a delivery tube mounted on the reservoir module and disposed in alignment with the central axis.

7. The dispensing system of claim 6 wherein the delivery tube is disposed in the dispensing spout when the reservoir module is held by the housing.

8. The dispensing system of claim 7 further comprising:

a pump mechanism, wherein the pump mechanism includes a means for selectively activating the pump mechanism, wherein the delivery tube is adapted to move an incremental amount from a first position to a second position in the dispensing spout when the pump mechanism is actuated.

9. The dispensing system of claim 8 wherein the means for selectively actuating is an actuator and wherein the pump mechanism includes a biasing element, wherein the biasing element is adapted to return the delivery tube to the first position in the dispensing spout upon a completion of the actuation of the pump mechanism.

13. The dispensing system of claim 6 wherein the delivery tube is extended into the dispensing spout when the reservoir module is installed in the housing, and the delivery tube is withdrawn from the dispensing spout when the reservoir module is removed from the housing.

14. The dispensing system of claim 6 wherein the reservoir module includes a pump mechanism actuator operatively connected to the pump mechanism to selectively actuate the pump mechanism and wherein

the housing includes a drive mechanism operatively connected to the pump mechanism actuator, the drive mechanism moving the pump mechanism actuator upon the detection of the presence of a user of the dispensing system.

10. A dispensing system for fluid material, the dispensing system comprising:

a dispensing spout;

a housing that includes at least one internal groove, wherein the internal groove is horizontally and circumferentially disposed at a lower end of the housing, wherein the housing further includes a first opening that is disposed adjacent the internal groove, and where the housing is operatively connected to the dispensing spout;

a reservoir module having a central axis, wherein the reservoir module includes a centrally disposed second opening in a top portion of the reservoir module such that the second opening is disposed in the first opening when the reservoir module is held by the housing, the housing adapted to removably receive and hold the reservoir module in communication with the dispensing spout; and

a delivery tube mounted on the reservoir module and disposed in alignment with the central axis.

11. The dispensing system of claim 10 wherein the reservoir module includes

a neck portion adjacent to the second opening,

at least one flange element extending outwardly from the neck portion,

wherein the at least one flange extends into the at least one groove of the housing to releasably hold the reservoir module to the housing when the reservoir module is held by the housing.

12. The dispensing system of claim 11 wherein the internal groove in the housing includes at least one downwardly extending slot through which the at least one flange moves when the reservoir module is one of installed and removed relative to the housing.

15. A method to dispense fluid soap from a dispensing system, wherein the dispensing system includes a spout, a dispensing tube movably disposed in the spout, and a fluid soap container having a pump mechanism attached to the dispensing tube, the method comprising:

a) sensing a hand of a user;

b) activating the pump mechanism upon sensing the hand;

c) in response to activating the pump mechanism, moving the dispensing tube in a first direction relative to the spout to expel fluid soap from the dispensing tube; and

d) moving the dispensing tube in a second direction relative to the spout upon completion of activating the pump mechanism.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein sensing a hand of a user includes detecting an infrared signal that is reflected off the hand of the user.

17. A method to dispense fluid soap from a dispensing system, wherein the dispensing system includes a spout, a dispensing tube movably disposed in the spout, and a fluid soap container having a pump mechanism attached to the dispensing tube, the method comprising:

a) sensing a hand of a user;

b) activating the pump mechanism upon sensing the hand;

c) in response to activating the pump mechanism, moving the dispensing tube in a first direction relative to the spout to expel fluid soap from the dispensing tube, wherein moving the dispensing tube in a first direction relative to the spout includes activating a torque of a motor to rotate an actuator arm of a pump hammer so that the actuator arm contacts a flange on a pump actuator and urges the pump actuator downward to overcome a spring bias; and

d) moving the dispensing tube in a second direction relative to the spout upon completion of activating the pump mechanism.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein moving the dispensing tube in a second direction relative to the spout includes stalling the motor so that the spring bias overcomes the torque of the motor to urge the pump actuator upwards.

19. A reservoir module for use with a fluid dispensing system, the reservoir module comprising:

a container defining a longitudinal axis;

a pump mechanism defining a center and attached to the container;

a pump actuator defining a center and coupled to the pump mechanism; and

a delivery tube having a lower end and defining a center and an axis that follows the center of the delivery tube, wherein the delivery tube extends at the lower end from the pump actuator and

wherein the longitudinal axis of the container is aligned through the center of the pump mechanism, the center of the pump actuator, and the axis of the delivery tube at least at the lower end of the delivery tube.

20. The reservoir module of claim 19, wherein the pump actuator includes a flange that extends radially outward from the pump actuator.

21. A reservoir module for use with a fluid dispensing system, the reservoir module comprising:

a container defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the container includes a top closure and a neck disposed above the top closure, the neck having at least two tabs that extend radially from the neck;

a pump mechanism defining a center and coupled to the container;

a pump actuator defining a center and coupled to the pump mechanism; and

a delivery tube having a lower end and defining a center and an axis that follows the center of the delivery tube, wherein-the delivery tube extends at the lower end from the pump actuator and

wherein the longitudinal axis of the container is aligned through the center of the pump mechanism, the center of the pump actuator, and the axis of the delivery tube at least at the lower end of the delivery tube.

22. The reservoir module of claim 21, wherein the at least two tabs are four tabs symmetrically disposed about the center longitudinal axis.

23. The reservoir module of claim 22 wherein the container includes at least one bump disposed below a tab.

24. A reservoir module for use with a fluid dispensing system, the reservoir module comprising:

a container defining a longitudinal axis;

a pump mechanism defining a center and coupled to the container and

wherein the pump mechanism includes a stationary housing coupled to the container by a ferrule so as to extend into the container, the stationary housing having a first aperture over which a first ball cock resides, and

wherein the pump mechanism further includes an intake tube having a second aperture over which a second ball cock resides and having a circular wall disposed within an interior of the stationary housing, wherein the circular wall is resilient, extends outwardly form the center of the pump mechanism, and

wherein the pump mechanism includes a pump sealing member coupled to the interior of the stationary housing so as to retain the circular wall within the interior of the stationary housing, and

wherein the pump mechanism includes a spring disposed within the interior of the stationary housing so as to bias the circular wall against the pump sealing member;

a pump actuator defining a center and coupled to the pump mechanism; and

a delivery tube having a lower end and defining a center and an axis that follows the center of the delivery tube, wherein the delivery tube extends at the lower end from the pump actuator and

wherein the longitudinal axis of the container is aligned through the center of the pump mechanism, the center of the pump actuator, and the axis of the delivery tube at least at the lower end of the delivery tube.

25. The reservoir module of claim 24, further comprising:

an inlet tube disposed within the container and coupled to the stationary housing.

26. A reservoir module for use with a fluid dispensing system, the reservoir module comprising:

a container defining a longitudinal axis;

a pump mechanism defining a center and coupled to the container;

a pump actuator defining a center and coupled to the pump mechanism

wherein the pump actuator defines an opening and includes a timing shaft disposed in the opening; and

a delivery tube having a lower end and defining a center and an axis that follows the center of the delivery tube, wherein the delivery tube extends at the lower end from the pump actuator and

wherein the longitudinal axis of the container is aligned through the center of the pump mechanism, the center of the pump actuator, and the axis of the delivery tube at least at the lower end of the delivery tube.

27. The reservoir module of claim 26, wherein the timing shaft includes a plurality of blades that extend radially outward from the center of the pump actuator.

28. A fluid dispensing system, comprising:

a reservoir module having a container, the container defining a longitudinal axis, the reservoir module further having a pump mechanism defining a center and attached to the container, a pump actuator defining a center and coupled to the pump mechanism, and a delivery tube having a lower end and defining a center and an axis that follows the center of the delivery tube, wherein the delivery tube extends at the lower end from the pump actuator and

wherein the longitudinal axis of the container is aligned through the center of the pump mechanism, the center of the pump actuator, and the axis of the delivery tube at least at the lower end of the delivery tube; and

a spout and mounting shaft assembly, wherein the delivery tube is disposed within the spout and mounting shaft assembly.

29. A fluid dispensing system, comprising:

a reservoir module having a container, the container defining a longitudinal axis, the reservoir module further having a pump mechanism defining a center and coupled to the container, a pump actuator defining a center and coupled to the pump mechanism, and a delivery tube having a lower end and defining a center and an axis that follows the center of the delivery tube, wherein the delivery tube extends at the lower end from the pump actuator and

wherein the longitudinal axis of the container is aligned through the center of the pump mechanism, the center of the pump actuator, and the axis of the delivery tube at least at the lower end of the delivery tube;

a spout and mounting shaft assembly,

wherein the delivery tube is disposed within the spout and mounting shaft assembly; and

a motor housing and support assembly coupled between the reservoir module and the spout and mounting shaft assembly.

30. The fluid dispensing system of claim 29, wherein the reservoir module includes a pump actuator having a flange and wherein the motor housing and support assembly includes a pump hammer that is disposed to interact with the flange of the pump actuator.

31. The fluid dispensing system of claim 29, wherein the pump actuator defines an opening and includes a timing shaft disposed in the opening, wherein the timing shaft includes a plurality of blades that extend radially outward from the center of the pump actuator.

32. The fluid dispensing system of claim 29, wherein the spout and mounting shaft assembly includes a spout defining a spout tip, the spout having an indented outlet that extends within the spout from the spout tip to define a spout opening,

wherein the delivery tube defines a tube end, the tube end having a first position and a second position, wherein the tube end resides within the indented outlet in the first position and the second position.

33. The fluid dispensing system of claim 32, wherein the spout and mounting shaft assembly further includes an electric eye sensor residing in an opening in the spout.

34. The fluid dispensing system of claim 33, wherein the electric eye sensor includes a signal emitter, a signal receiver communicatively coupled to a motor disposed in the motor housing and support assembly, a speaker, and an indicator light.

35. The fluid dispensing system of claim 33, wherein at least one of the speaker and the indicator light are adapted to emit at least one of a low fluid signal and a low power signal.

36. The fluid dispensing system of claim 29, wherein the spout and mounting shaft assembly includes a spout and a support shaft coupled to the spout, wherein the motor housing and support assembly includes a pump housing, wherein the support shaft and the pump housing are coupled to one another by a plurality of splines and grooves.

37. The fluid dispensing system of claim 36, wherein the plurality of splines are disposed on an end of the support shaft.

38. The fluid dispensing system of claim 37, wherein each of the plurality of splines are disposed at an angle of thirty degrees from an adjacent spline.

39. The fluid dispensing system of claim 29, wherein the spout and mounting shaft assembly includes an internal passageway disposed within the spout between the spout opening and the support shaft.