# US 2008/0185397 A1 · Automatic dispensing apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0185397 A1 - Document ID: US20080185397A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/704,063 - Filed: 2007-02-07 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-07 - Inventors: Hannibal Anvieh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080185397A1 ## CPC - A47K 5/18: for both soap and toothpaste or the like; in combination with holders for drinking glasses, toothbrushes, or the like {; Toothpaste dispensers; Dental care centers} - A47K 1/09: Holders for drinking glasses, tooth brushes, hair brushes, or the like - A47K: SANITARY EQUIPMENT; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR, e.g. TOILET ACCESSORIES ## Abstract Described is an automatic dispensing apparatus for dispensing toothpaste. The dispensing apparatus comprises a housing having a front portion with a hole therethrough. The housing is capable of holding a tube of toothpaste. A sensor is attached with the housing. A spring is connectable with the housing for compressing the container of the viscous substance. A dispenser head is attached with the housing for attaching with the container of the viscous substance. Additionally, a motor is connected with the sensor and the dispenser head. Thus, a user can activate the sensor by placing an object proximate the sensor to activate the motor so that the motor rotates the dispenser head. In operation, the spring compresses the tube of toothpaste such that the toothpaste is pressed out of the container and through the dispenser head and the hole in the front portion of the housing to be dispensed upon a toothbrush. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An automatic dispensing apparatus, comprising: a housing having a front portion, wherein the housing is capable of holding a container of a viscous substance proximate to the front portion, and the front portion further comprising a hole therethrough; a sensor component attached with the front portion of the housing; a compression apparatus that is connectable with the housing, the compression apparatus being operative for compressing the container of the viscous substance; a dispenser head attached with the housing proximate the front portion, wherein the dispenser head is capable of attaching with the container of the viscous substance; and a motor unit connected with the sensor component and the dispenser head, whereby a user can activate the sensor component by placing an object proximate the sensor component to activate the motor unit so that the motor unit rotates the dispenser head, with the compression apparatus compressing the container of the viscous substance such that the viscous substance is pressed out of the container and through the dispenser head and the hole in the front portion of the housing to be dispensed upon the object. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An automatic dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein the compression apparatus includes a spring for compressing a container of the viscous substance. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An automatic dispenser as set forth in claim 2, wherein the dispenser head further comprises a rotating cylinder with a diagonal and continuous opening which directs the flow of the viscous substance from the container of viscous substance to the hole in the front portion of the housing to be dispensed upon an object. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) An automatic dispenser as set forth in claim 3, wherein the housing further comprises a controller connected with the motor unit, the controller being operable to allow a user to manually set an amount of time that the motor unit is activated to dispense a set amount of the viscous substance upon an object. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) An automatic dispenser as set forth in claim 4, wherein the dispenser head further comprises a teeth portion and the motor unit further comprises a teeth portion, the teeth portions being formed such that the teeth portion of the motor unit interlink with the teeth portion of the dispenser head, thereby allowing the motor unit to rotate the dispenser head when the motor unit is activated by the sensor component. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An automatic dispenser as set forth in claim 5, wherein the housing has a shape, with the shape being formed to simulate an item selected from a group consisting of a house, a car, and a nightlight. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An automatic dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein the dispenser head further comprises a rotating cylinder with a diagonal and continuous opening which directs the flow of the viscous substance from the container of viscous substance to the hole in the front portion of the housing to be dispensed upon an object. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An automatic dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a controller connected with the motor unit, the controller being operable to allow a user to manually set an amount of time that the motor unit is activated to dispense a set amount of the viscous substance upon an object. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An automatic dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein the dispenser head further comprises a teeth portion and the motor unit further comprises a teeth portion, the teeth portions being formed such that the teeth portion of the motor unit interlink with the teeth portion of the dispenser head, thereby allowing the motor unit to rotate the dispenser head when the motor unit is activated by the sensor component. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An automatic dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein the housing has a shape, with the shape being formed to simulate an item selected from a group consisting of a house, a car, and a nightlight. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) An automatic dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a toothbrush holder for holding a toothbrush. ### Claim 12 An automatic dispensing apparatus, comprising: a housing having a front portion, wherein the housing is capable of holding a container of a viscous substance proximate to the front portion, and the front portion further comprising a hole therethrough; a sensor component attached with the front portion of the housing; a compression apparatus that is connectable with the housing, the compression apparatus being operative for compressing the container of the viscous substance; a dispenser head attached with the housing proximate the front portion, wherein the dispenser head is capable of attaching with the container of the viscous substance; a motor unit connected with the sensor component and the dispenser head; wherein the compression apparatus includes a spring for compressing a container of the viscous substance; wherein the dispenser head further comprises a rotating cylinder with a diagonal and continuous opening which directs the flow of the viscous substance from the container of viscous substance to the hole in the front portion of the housing to be dispensed upon an object; wherein the housing further comprises a controller connected with the motor unit, the controller being operable to allow a user to manually set an amount of time that the motor unit is activated to dispense a set amount of the viscous substance upon an object; wherein the dispenser head further comprises a teeth portion and the motor unit further comprises a teeth portion, the teeth portions being formed such that the teeth portion of the motor unit interlink with the teeth portion of the dispenser head, thereby allowing the motor unit to rotate the dispenser head when the motor unit is activated by the sensor component; wherein the housing has a shape, with the shape being formed to simulate an item selected from a group consisting of a house, a car, and a nightlight; and wherein the housing further comprises a toothbrush holder for holding a toothbrush, whereby a user can activate the sensor component by placing an object proximate the sensor component to activate the motor unit so that the motor unit rotates the dispenser head, with the compression apparatus compressing the container of the viscous substance such that the viscous substance is pressed out of the container and through the dispenser head and the hole in the front portion of the housing to be dispensed upon the object. ### Claim 13 A method for forming an automatic dispensing apparatus, comprising acts of: forming a housing having a front portion, wherein the housing is formed such that it is capable of holding a container of a viscous substance proximate to the front portion, and the front portion further comprising a hole therethrough; attaching a sensor component with the front portion of the housing; forming a compression apparatus that is connectable with the housing, the compression apparatus being operative for compressing the container of the viscous substance; attaching a dispenser head with the housing proximate the front portion, wherein the dispenser head is capable of attaching with the container of the viscous substance; and connecting a motor unit with the sensor component and the dispenser head, whereby a user can activate the sensor component by placing an object proximate the sensor component to activate the motor unit so that the motor unit rotates the dispenser head, with the compression apparatus compressing the container of the viscous substance such that the viscous substance is pressed out of the container and through the dispenser head and the hole in the front portion of the housing to be dispensed upon the object. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising an act of forming the dispenser head to include a rotating cylinder with a diagonal and continuous opening which directs the flow of the viscous substance from the container of viscous substance to the hole in the front portion of the housing to be dispensed upon an object. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising an act of connecting a controller with the motor unit, the controller being operable to allow a user to manually set an amount of time that the motor unit is activated to dispense a set amount of the viscous substance upon an object. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) A method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising an act of forming both the dispenser head and motor unit to each include teeth portions, the teeth portions being formed such that the teeth portion of the motor unit interlink with the teeth portion of the dispenser head, thereby allowing the motor unit to rotate the dispenser head when the motor unit is activated by the sensor component. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) A method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising an act of forming the housing have a shape, with the shape being formed to simulate an item selected from a group consisting of a house, a car, and a nightlight. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) A method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising an act of forming the housing to include a toothbrush holder for holding a toothbrush. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) A method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising an act of forming the compression apparatus to include a spring for compressing a container of the viscous substance.