# US 11,432,686 B2 · Conduit for filling a fluid reservoir and methods for filling a fluid reservoir

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- Number: US 11,432,686 B2
- Document ID: US11432686B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/989,610
- Filed: 2020-08-10
- Published: 2020-11-26
- Granted: 2022-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-10-21
- Assignees: Bobrick Washroom Equipment, Inc.
- Applicants: Bobrick Washroom Equipment, Inc.
- Inventors: Dikran Babikian
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11432686B2

## CPC

- A47K 5/1217: {Electrical control means for the dispensing mechanism}
- A47K 5/1205: {Dispensing from the top of the dispenser with a vertical piston}
- A47K 5/1211: {using pressure on soap, e.g. with piston (A47K5/1201 takes precedence; using squeeze bottles or the like A47K5/122)}
- A47K 5/14: Foam or lather making devices
- B05B 11/0097: {Means for filling or refilling the sprayer (through additional openings in the container B05B11/0056)}
- B05B 12/081: {responsive to the weight of a reservoir or container for liquid or other fluent material; responsive to level or volume of liquid or other fluent material in a reservoir or container}
- B05B 15/30: Dip tubes
- G08B 5/38: using flashing light
- A47K 2005/1218: {Table mounted; Dispensers integrated with the mixing tap}
- B05B 11/0089: {Dispensing tubes}
- B05B 11/1001: {Piston pumps (B05B11/1087, B05B11/1088, B05B11/109 take precedence)}
- A47K: SANITARY EQUIPMENT; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR, e.g. TOILET ACCESSORIES
- B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D)
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS

## Abstract

A method of filling a fluid dispenser is provided and a method for operating power driven pump in a dispenser is provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for operating a power driven pump in a dispenser comprising:
sensing a level of a liquid in a reservoir of said dispenser, wherein said power driven pump is submerged in said liquid for pumping said liquid for being dispensed;
operating said pump multiple times for multiple dispenses of said liquid;
after said multiple dispenses, activating an indicator when said level is at or below a predetermined level;
counting each dispense from said dispenser after said activating; and
preventing further dispenses from the dispenser after counting a predetermined number of dispenses from the dispenser after said activating, wherein after said preventing further dispenses, said power driven pump remains submerged in said liquid.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising activating another indicator after said predetermined number of dispenses have occurred.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said activating an indicator comprises illuminating a light having a first color.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method as recited in claim 3, further comprising activating another indicator after said predetermined number of dispenses have occurred, wherein said activating another indicator comprises illuminating a light having a second color different from the first color.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method as recited in claim 4, wherein said indicator and said another indicator are the same device that provides for the light having the first and the second color.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method as recited in claim 4, wherein said indicator and said another indicator are flashing indicators.