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US 6,467,651 B1Granted
System and method for dispensing soap
AssigneeTechnical Concepts, LLC
InventorsKenneth J. Muderlak, Rocky Shieh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic fluid soap dispensing apparatus and method comprising a dispensing spout, housing operatively connected to the dispensing spout and the housing adapted to removably receive and hold a fluid soap containing reservoir module in communication with the dispensing spout. The reservoir module has a central axis, and includes a pump mechanism and delivery tube mounted on the reservoir module in alignment with the central axis. The dispensing tube is adapted to move in the dispensing spout when the pump mechanism is actuated.
Claims39
A reservoir module for insertion and removal as a unit from a fluid dispensing system, the reservoir module comprising:
- a container adapted to hold fluid material to be dispensed by the dispensing system, the container defining a central axis and having a top portion;
- an aperture in the top portion of the container, the aperture located on the central axis of the container;
- a fluid pump mechanism mounted on the top portion of the container and disposed in alignment with the aperture;
- and
- a delivery tube attached to an upper portion of the fluid pump mechanism, the delivery tube disposed in alignment with the central axis of the container.
2 more elements
A reservoir module for a dispensing system, the reservoir module comprising:
- a container adapted to hold fluid material to be dispensed by the dispensing system, the container defining a central axis and having a top portion;
- an aperture in the top portion of the container, the aperture located with respect to the central axis of the container;
- a fluid pump mechanism mounted on the top portion of the container and disposed in alignment with the aperture;
- an elongated delivery tube attached to an upper portion of the fluid pump mechanism, the delivery tube disposed in alignment with the central axis of the container;
- and
- a timing shaft that is adapted to permit fluid material to be advanced from the pump mechanism through a central portion of a pump actuator and to the centrally disposed delivery tube upon actuation of the actuator.
3 more elements
A dispensing system for fluid material, the dispensing system comprising:
- a dispensing spout;
- a housing operatively connected to the dispensing spout;
- a reservoir module having a central axis, the housing adapted to removably receive and hold the reservoir module in communication with the dispensing spout;
- and
- a delivery tube mounted on the reservoir module and disposed in alignment with the central axis.
2 more elements
A dispensing system for fluid material, the dispensing system comprising:
- a dispensing spout;
- a housing that includes at least one internal groove, wherein the internal groove is horizontally and circumferentially disposed at a lower end of the housing, wherein the housing further includes a first opening that is disposed adjacent the internal groove, and where the housing is operatively connected to the dispensing spout;
- a reservoir module having a central axis, wherein the reservoir module includes a centrally disposed second opening in a top portion of the reservoir module such that the second opening is disposed in the first opening when the reservoir module is held by the housing, the housing adapted to removably receive and hold the reservoir module in communication with the dispensing spout;
- and
- a delivery tube mounted on the reservoir module and disposed in alignment with the central axis.
2 more elements
A method to dispense fluid soap from a dispensing system, wherein the dispensing system includes a spout, a dispensing tube movably disposed in the spout, and a fluid soap container having a pump mechanism attached to the dispensing tube, the method comprising:
- a) sensing a hand of a user;
- b) activating the pump mechanism upon sensing the hand;
- c) in response to activating the pump mechanism, moving the dispensing tube in a first direction relative to the spout to expel fluid soap from the dispensing tube;
- and
- d) moving the dispensing tube in a second direction relative to the spout upon completion of activating the pump mechanism.
2 more elements
A method to dispense fluid soap from a dispensing system, wherein the dispensing system includes a spout, a dispensing tube movably disposed in the spout, and a fluid soap container having a pump mechanism attached to the dispensing tube, the method comprising:
- a) sensing a hand of a user;
- b) activating the pump mechanism upon sensing the hand;
- c) in response to activating the pump mechanism, moving the dispensing tube in a first direction relative to the spout to expel fluid soap from the dispensing tube, wherein moving the dispensing tube in a first direction relative to the spout includes activating a torque of a motor to rotate an actuator arm of a pump hammer so that the actuator arm contacts a flange on a pump actuator and urges the pump actuator downward to overcome a spring bias;
- and
- d) moving the dispensing tube in a second direction relative to the spout upon completion of activating the pump mechanism.
2 more elements
A reservoir module for use with a fluid dispensing system, the reservoir module comprising:
- a container defining a longitudinal axis;
- a pump mechanism defining a center and attached to the container;
- a pump actuator defining a center and coupled to the pump mechanism;
- and
- a delivery tube having a lower end and defining a center and an axis that follows the center of the delivery tube, wherein the delivery tube extends at the lower end from the pump actuator and
- wherein the longitudinal axis of the container is aligned through the center of the pump mechanism, the center of the pump actuator, and the axis of the delivery tube at least at the lower end of the delivery tube.
3 more elements
A reservoir module for use with a fluid dispensing system, the reservoir module comprising:
- a container defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the container includes a top closure and a neck disposed above the top closure, the neck having at least two tabs that extend radially from the neck;
- a pump mechanism defining a center and coupled to the container;
- a pump actuator defining a center and coupled to the pump mechanism;
- and
- a delivery tube having a lower end and defining a center and an axis that follows the center of the delivery tube, wherein-the delivery tube extends at the lower end from the pump actuator and
- wherein the longitudinal axis of the container is aligned through the center of the pump mechanism, the center of the pump actuator, and the axis of the delivery tube at least at the lower end of the delivery tube.
3 more elements
A reservoir module for use with a fluid dispensing system, the reservoir module comprising:
- a container defining a longitudinal axis;
- a pump mechanism defining a center and coupled to the container and
- wherein the pump mechanism includes a stationary housing coupled to the container by a ferrule so as to extend into the container, the stationary housing having a first aperture over which a first ball cock resides, and
- wherein the pump mechanism further includes an intake tube having a second aperture over which a second ball cock resides and having a circular wall disposed within an interior of the stationary housing, wherein the circular wall is resilient, extends outwardly form the center of the pump mechanism, and
- wherein the pump mechanism includes a pump sealing member coupled to the interior of the stationary housing so as to retain the circular wall within the interior of the stationary housing, and
- wherein the pump mechanism includes a spring disposed within the interior of the stationary housing so as to bias the circular wall against the pump sealing member;
- a pump actuator defining a center and coupled to the pump mechanism;
- and
- a delivery tube having a lower end and defining a center and an axis that follows the center of the delivery tube, wherein the delivery tube extends at the lower end from the pump actuator and
- wherein the longitudinal axis of the container is aligned through the center of the pump mechanism, the center of the pump actuator, and the axis of the delivery tube at least at the lower end of the delivery tube.
7 more elements
A reservoir module for use with a fluid dispensing system, the reservoir module comprising:
- a container defining a longitudinal axis;
- a pump mechanism defining a center and coupled to the container;
- a pump actuator defining a center and coupled to the pump mechanism
- wherein the pump actuator defines an opening and includes a timing shaft disposed in the opening;
- and
- a delivery tube having a lower end and defining a center and an axis that follows the center of the delivery tube, wherein the delivery tube extends at the lower end from the pump actuator and
- wherein the longitudinal axis of the container is aligned through the center of the pump mechanism, the center of the pump actuator, and the axis of the delivery tube at least at the lower end of the delivery tube.
4 more elements
A fluid dispensing system, comprising:
- a reservoir module having a container, the container defining a longitudinal axis, the reservoir module further having a pump mechanism defining a center and attached to the container, a pump actuator defining a center and coupled to the pump mechanism, and a delivery tube having a lower end and defining a center and an axis that follows the center of the delivery tube, wherein the delivery tube extends at the lower end from the pump actuator and
- wherein the longitudinal axis of the container is aligned through the center of the pump mechanism, the center of the pump actuator, and the axis of the delivery tube at least at the lower end of the delivery tube;
- and
- a spout and mounting shaft assembly, wherein the delivery tube is disposed within the spout and mounting shaft assembly.
1 more element
A fluid dispensing system, comprising:
- a reservoir module having a container, the container defining a longitudinal axis, the reservoir module further having a pump mechanism defining a center and coupled to the container, a pump actuator defining a center and coupled to the pump mechanism, and a delivery tube having a lower end and defining a center and an axis that follows the center of the delivery tube, wherein the delivery tube extends at the lower end from the pump actuator and
- wherein the longitudinal axis of the container is aligned through the center of the pump mechanism, the center of the pump actuator, and the axis of the delivery tube at least at the lower end of the delivery tube;
- a spout and mounting shaft assembly,
- wherein the delivery tube is disposed within the spout and mounting shaft assembly;
- and
- a motor housing and support assembly coupled between the reservoir module and the spout and mounting shaft assembly.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.