Motorized household liquid dispenser

• US 7,766,194 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2008
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Conopco, Inc. (Unilever PLC)
• Original Assignee: Conopco, Inc. (Unilever PLC)
• Inventors: Kalman, Jeffrey, Saunders, Craig M., Boll, David, Schiavoni, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver; Kevin P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tyler; Stephanie E
• Application Number:
  US12/252,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20090261124A1
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 222/190, 222/333, 222/334, 222/383.1, 222/321.8, 222/385, 222/382, 222/504, 222/505, 222/182, 222/180, 222/181.1, 222/181.2, 222/181.3, 222/63, 222/636, 222/52
• US Class Current: 222/333
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1205 Dispensing from the top of the dispenser with a vertical piston
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0054 Cartridges, i.e. containers specially designed for easy attachment to or easy removal from the rest of the sprayer attachment arrangements between pump and container B05B11/1043
• 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 11/1057 Triggers, i.e. actuation means consisting of a single lever having one end rotating or pivoting around an axis or a hinge fixedly attached to the container, and another end directly actuated by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1087 Combination of liquid and air pumps

Abstract

A household liquid dispensing apparatus includes a container for holding a household liquid and a pump for pumping the household liquid out of the container. The pump includes a pump chamber. A dip tube is adapted to be positioned in the container and communicates with the pump chamber. An exhaust tube communicates with the pump chamber and an outlet for the household liquid. A pump actuator mechanically drives the pump. A motor operatively engages the pump actuator. The motor is electrically connected to a power source. A switch is electrically connected to the motor and the power source. A trigger assembly is operatively connected to the switch to control power delivered to the motor. The trigger assembly is positioned under the outlet for the household liquid for easy actuation by an upturned hand.

Claims

1. A household liquid dispensing apparatus comprising:

an integral container for holding a household liquid including a container seal defining an opening which fluidly communicates with a dip tube positioned in said container;

an integral pump housing including a pump for pumping the household liquid out of the container, the pump having a pump inlet and a pump chamber;

an exhaust tube in communication with the pump chamber and an outlet for the household liquid;

a pump actuator for mechanically driving said pump, said pump actuator connected to said pump;

a motor operatively engaging said pump actuator, said motor electrically connected to a power source;

a switch electrically connected to said motor and the power source;

a trigger operatively connected to said switch to control power delivered to said motor, said trigger positioned under the outlet for the household liquid;

wherein said trigger comprises a trigger assembly, the trigger assembly includes a trigger pad positioned below the outlet;

wherein the trigger assembly includes a switch actuator pivotally mounted to said pump housing, wherein the trigger pad is mounted to the switch actuator;

wherein said pump housing includes a shroud, a wall and a mounting portion spaced apart from the wall and said container includes a receiving portion and a wall spaced apart from the receiving portion,

wherein the mounting portion of said housing and the receiving portion of said container are complementarily shaped;

whereby the container seal sealingly engages and the opening fluidly communicates with the pump inlet and the housing wall and container wall remain exposed when the housing mounting portion receives the container receiving portion;

further comprising a latch plate for securing said housing in relation to said container; and

wherein said housing includes a notch and said container includes a notch aligned with the notch of the housing, wherein said latch plate is slidably disposed in the notches.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said trigger is adapted to be actuated by a user when the user slightly depresses the back of his hand on a portion of said trigger.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the trigger is positioned in relation to the outlet such that the same hand of the user that mechanically actuates the trigger is also positioned to receive household liquid from the outlet.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the trigger pad is positioned in relation to the outlet such that an object that exerts a force on the trigger pad is also positioned to receive the household liquid dispensed from the outlet.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said housing includes a depression and said latch includes a protrusion, wherein said depression and said protrusion cooperate to secure said container in relation to said housing.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a mixing apparatus disposed in said exhaust tube.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said mixing apparatus comprises a screen.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shroud covers the exhaust tube.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said shroud and a portion of said housing are an integral plastic unit.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said motor operatively engages said pump actuator via a gear reduction transmission.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises at least one battery.