Automatic soap dispenser

A dispenser for automatically dispensing viscous material, said dispenser comprising:

• a base;
• a cover movable between an open position and a closed position, said cover and said base defining a housing for containing components of said dispenser when said cover is in the closed position;
• a disposable cartridge having a reservoir of viscous material to be dispensed through a dispensing tube, said disposable cartridge further including a generally flat battery defining terminal portions engaged by fixed terminals when said disposable cartridge is inserted in said housing;
• a mechanical actuator configured to engage said dispensing tube of said disposable cartridge to cause a quantity of said viscous material to be dispensed therethrough;
• detection circuitry operative to detect presence of a user's hand at a predetermined location near said dispenser;
• a motor operative in response to said detection circuitry to cause movement of said mechanical actuator;
• at least one solar power cell;
• and
• at least one supplemental power storage component located in said housing and being charged by said solar power cell;
• wherein substantially all power to operate said motor is derived from said generally flat battery of said disposable cartridge and substantially all power to operate said detection circuitry is derived from said supplemental power storage component.

A dispenser for automatically dispensing viscous material, said dispenser comprising:

• a wall-mounted housing;
• a disposable cartridge having a reservoir of viscous material to be dispensed, said disposable cartridge further including a generally flat battery defining terminal portions engaged by fixed terminals when said disposable cartridge is inserted in said housing;
• a mechanical actuator operative to cause a quantity of said viscous material to be dispensed from said reservoir;
• detection circuitry including an light emitter and a light sensitive receiver, said detection circuitry operative to detect presence of a user's hand at a predetermined location near said dispenser;
• a motor operative in response to said detection circuity to cause movement of said mechanical actuator;
• at least one solar power cell located on said housing to receive ambient light;
• and
• at least one supplemental power storage component located in said housing and being charged by said solar power cell;
• wherein substantially all power to operate said motor is derived from said generally flat battery of said disposable cartridge and substantially all power to operate said detection circuitry is derived from said supplemental power storage component.