Electronic soap dispenser

• US 9,271,613 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2014
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delta Faucet Company (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Delta Faucet Company (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: Rosko, Michael Scot, Nelson, Alfred Charles, Moore, Jeffrey L., Schneider, Randy L. II
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicolas, Frederick C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zadeh, Bob
• Application Number:
  US14/168,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20140231450A1
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 222/173, 222/180, 222/227, 222/23, 222/325, 222/333, 222/381, 222/52, 222/63, 417/410.1, 417/44.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2005/1218 Table mounted; Dispensers integrated with the mixing tap
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 2210/00 Combinations of water taps, soap dispensers and hand dryers
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1211 using pressure on soap, e.g. with piston A47K5/1201 takes precedence; by squeezing A47K5/122
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1217 Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/24 by varying capacitance

Abstract

An electronic soap dispenser includes an upper dispensing head supported above a sink deck, and a liquid soap reservoir and a pump assembly supported below the sink deck. A capacitive sensor is operably coupled to the dispensing head. A controller is in electrical communication with the capacitive sensor and activates the pump assembly in response to input from the capacitive sensor.

Claims

1. An electronic soap dispenser comprising:

a dispensing head configured to be supported above a mounting deck and including an outlet;

a lower reservoir operably coupled to the dispensing head and configured to be supported below the mounting deck;

a pump assembly operably coupled to the lower reservoir, the pump assembly configured to be supported below the mounting deck and to pump liquid soap from the lower reservoir to the outlet of the dispensing head;

a capacitive sensor operably coupled to the dispensing head; and

a controller in electrical communication with the capacitive sensor, the controller configured to receive an output signal from the capacitive sensor and to distinguish between a proximity output signal from the capacitive sensor when a user is positioned in a detection area near the dispensing head, and a touch output signal from the capacitive sensor when a user touches the dispensing head;

wherein the pump assembly operates in different dispensing modes based upon whether the controller detects the proximity output signal or the touch output signal from the capacitive sensor;

wherein the dispensing modes include a proximity mode and a touch mode, and the controller controls operation of the pump assembly for dispensing different amounts of liquid soap in the proximity mode and the touch mode.

2. The electronic soap dispenser of claim 1, wherein the dispensing head includes an electrode electrically coupled to the capacitive sensor.

3. The electronic soap dispenser of claim 2, wherein the electrode comprises an electrically conductive sensing plate.

4. The electronic soap dispenser of claim 2, wherein the electrode comprises an electrically conductive spout body.

5. The electronic soap dispenser of claim 1, wherein the dispensing head includes a spout body removable from the lower reservoir which remains coupled to the mounting deck.

6. The electronic soap dispenser of claim 5, further comprising an electrical connector including a first electrical contact supported for movement with the dispensing head, and a second electrical contact supported on the mounting deck and in selective electrical communication with the first electrical contact.

7. The electronic soap dispenser of claim 6, wherein the first electrical contact comprises one of an electrically conductive tab and an electrically conductive arcuate strip, and the second electrical contact comprises the other of an electrically conductive arcuate strip and an electrically conductive tab, the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact configured to maintain electrical communication as the spout body is rotated relative to the mounting deck.

8. The electronic soap dispenser of claim 7, wherein the spout body is rotatable relative to the mounting deck from an on position where the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are in electrical communication to an off position where the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are not in electrical communication.

9. The electronic soap dispenser of claim 1, wherein the lower reservoir includes a bottom wall and an open upper neck, the pump assembly is supported by the bottom wall of the lower reservoir, and a supply tube extends upwardly through the lower reservoir from the pump assembly to an upper neck of the lower reservoir.

10. The electronic soap dispenser of claim 9, further comprising a dispensing tube extending within the dispensing head and including opposing lower and upper ends, the upper end defining the outlet, and a tube retainer securing the lower end of the dispensing tube to the dispensing head, the tube retainer including a downwardly facing funnel portion to receive an upper end of the supply tube.

11. The electronic soap dispenser of claim 10, wherein the lower reservoir includes a rib secured to the upper end of the supply tube to support the supply tube within the upper neck of the lower reservoir to define a refill opening.

12. The electronic soap dispenser of claim 1, wherein the controller distinguishes between the proximity output signal and the touch output signal based upon an amplitude of the output signal from the capacitive sensor.

13. The electronic soap dispenser of claim 1, further comprising an electrical insulator positioned between the dispensing head and the mounting deck.

14. An electronic soap dispenser comprising:

a dispensing head configured to be supported above a mounting deck and including an outlet;

a lower reservoir operably coupled to the dispensing head and configured to be supported below the mounting deck;

a pump assembly operably coupled to the lower reservoir, the pump assembly configured to be supported below the mounting deck and to pump liquid soap from the lower reservoir to the outlet of the dispensing head;

a capacitive sensor operably coupled to the dispensing head; and

a controller in electrical communication with the capacitive sensor, the controller configured to receive an output signal from the capacitive sensor and to distinguish between a proximity output signal from the capacitive sensor when a user is positioned in a detection area near the dispensing head, and a touch output signal from the capacitive sensor when a user touches the dispensing head;

wherein the pump assembly operates in different dispensing modes based upon whether the controller detects the proximity output signal or the touch output signal from the capacitive sensor;

wherein the dispensing modes include a proximity mode and a touch mode, the controller controlling the pump assembly such that a predetermined amount of liquid soap is dispensed in the proximity mode, and liquid soap is dispensed continuously in the touch mode.

15. The electronic soap dispenser of claim 14, wherein the controller deactivates the pump assembly after a predetermined time in the touch mode.

16. An electronic soap dispenser comprising:

a dispensing head including a spout body;

a mounting base configured to be supported above a mounting deck and releasably coupled to the dispensing head;

a lower reservoir operably coupled to the dispensing head and configured to be supported below the mounting deck;

a pump assembly operably coupled to the lower reservoir and configured to pump liquid soap from the lower reservoir to the dispensing head;

a controller in electrical communication with the pump assembly; and

an electrical connector between the dispensing head and the controller, the electrical connector including a first electrical contact supported for movement by the dispensing head, and a second electrical contact in selective electrical communication with the first electrical contact supported on the mounting base wherein the electrical connector is configured to maintain electrical communication as the dispensing head is rotated relative to the mounting base;

wherein at least one of the first electrical contact or the second electrical contact includes an electrically conductive arcuate strip.

17. The electronic soap dispenser of claim 16, wherein the pump assembly is supported by a bottom wall of the lower reservoir, and a supply tube extends from the pump assembly through the lower reservoir to an upper neck of the lower reservoir.

18. The electronic soap dispenser of claim 17, wherein the lower reservoir includes a rib secured to the upper end of the supply tube to support the supply tube within the upper neck of the lower reservoir to define a refill opening.

19. The electronic soap dispenser of claim 17, further comprising a dispensing tube extending within the dispensing head and including opposing lower and upper ends, the upper end defining an outlet, and a tube retainer securing the lower end of the dispensing tube to the dispensing head, the tube retainer including a downwardly facing funnel portion to receive an upper end of the supply tube.

20. The electronic soap dispenser of claim 19, wherein the reservoir includes a rib secured to the upper end of the supply tube to support the supply tube within the upper neck of the lower reservoir to define a refill opening.

21. The electronic soap dispenser of claim 16, further comprising:

a capacitive sensor operably coupled to the spout body; and

wherein the controller is configured to receive an output signal from the capacitive sensor and to distinguish between a proximity output signal from the capacitive sensor when a user is positioned in a detection area near the dispensing head, and a touch output signal from the capacitive sensor when a user touches the dispensing head.

22. The electronic soap dispenser of claim 21, wherein the pump assembly operates in different dispensing modes based upon whether the controller detects the proximity output signal or the touch output signal from the capacitive sensor.

23. The electronic soap dispenser of claim 22, wherein the dispensing modes include a proximity mode and a touch mode, a predetermined amount of liquid soap is dispensed in the proximity mode, and liquid soap is dispensed continuously in the touch mode.

24. An electronic soap dispenser comprising:

a dispensing head including a spout body;

a mounting base configured to be supported above a mounting deck and releasably coupled to the dispensing head;

a lower reservoir operably coupled to the dispensing head and configured to be supported below the mounting deck;

a pump assembly operably coupled to the lower reservoir and configured to pump liquid soap from the lower reservoir to the dispensing head;

a controller in electrical communication with the pump assembly; and

an electrical connector between the dispensing head and the controller, the electrical connector including a first electrical contact supported for movement by the dispensing head, and a second electrical contact in selective electrical communication with the first electrical contact supported on the mounting base wherein the electrical connector is configured to maintain electrical communication as the dispensing head is rotated relative to the mounting

wherein the spout body is rotatable relative to the mounting base from an on position where the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are in electrical communication to an off position where the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are not in electrical communication.