System and method for dispensing soap

• US 6,929,150 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2003
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rubbermaid Commercial Products LLC (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Technical Concepts LLC (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Hsieh, Rocky, Muderlak, Kenneth J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicolas, Frederick C.
• Application Number:
  US10/660,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20040050876A1
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 222/52, 222/1, 222/63, 222/333, 222/181.2, 222/162, 222/464.3, 222/464.5, 251/129.04, 239/37, 239/99, 239/107, 239/115, 239/117, 239/123, 239/281, 239/451
• US Class Current: 222/1
• 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 11/1001 Piston pumps B05B11/1087, B05B11/1088, B05B11/109 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1008 by adjusting or modifying the pump end-of-dispensing-stroke position
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1052 Actuation means locking means therefor B05B11/1059; the dispensing stroke being affected by the stored energy of a spring B05B11/109
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/02 for controlling time, or sequence, of delivery
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 9/007 Devices for eliminating smells by diffusing deodorants in lavatories
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/38 for liquid or semiliquid

Abstract

A method of dispensing soap from a fluid dispensing system is disclosed. The method includes the steps of presenting a tube having a tube end disposed at a first position within an indented portion of a spout of the fluid dispensing system, sensing an object below the tube end, in response to sensing the object, expelling said soap from the tube end by drawing the tube end further within the indented portion to a second position, and returning the tube end to the first position.

Claims

1. A method to dispense soap from a fluid dispensing system, the method comprising the steps of:

(i) presenting a tube having a tube end disposed at a first position within an indented portion of a spout of the fluid dispensing system;

(ii) sensing an object below the tube end;

(iii) in response to sensing the object, expelling said soap from the tube end by drawing the tube end further within the indented portion to a second position; and

(iv) returning the tube end to the first position.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein returning the tube end to the first position draws soap into the tube end.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein sensing an object below the tube end includes detecting an infrared signal that is reflected off the object.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein drawing the tube end further within the indented portion to a second position 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.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein drawing the tube end further within the indented portion to a second position includes stalling the motor so that the spring bias overcomes the torque of the motor to urge the pump actuator upwards.

6. The method of claim 1, subsequent to expelling soap from the tube end, the method further comprising:

incrementing a counter; and

if the counter is less than 900, then returning to (ii), or

if the counter equals 900, then at least one of lighting a low soap level light indicator and issuing an audible signal.

7. The method of claim 1, subsequent to (ii) sensing an object below the tube end, the method further comprising:

sensing a voltage level of a power source; and

if the voltage is greater than 4.85 volts, then performing (iii), or

if voltage is less than 4.85 volts, then at least one of lighting a low power level light indicator and issuing an audible signal.