COUNTERMOUNT FOAM DISPENSER

Abstract

A countertop foam dispenser has a spout made of a spout extension front housing and a spout extension rear housing. The spout includes a spout nozzle with a spout opening. A spout mounting shaft is mounted to the spout at a mounting shaft bracket. A mixer pump housing has a spout retainer latch. The mixer pump housing houses a mixer pump. The mixer pump includes a motor. A retainer notch is formed on the lower portion of the spout. The retainer notch is configured to engage the spout retainer latch. A bottle contains liquid soap. The bottle has a connection to the mixer pump housing.

Claims

1. A countermount foam dispenser comprising: a. a spout made of a spout extension front housing and a spout extension rear housing, wherein the spout includes a spout nozzle with a spout opening; b. a spout mounting shaft mounted to the spout at a mounting shaft bracket; c. a mixer pump housing having a spout retainer latch, wherein the mixer pump housing houses a mixer pump, wherein the mixer pump includes a motor; d. a retainer notch formed on the lower portion of the spout, wherein the retainer notch is configured to engage the spout retainer latch; e. a bottle for containing liquid soap, wherein the bottle has a connection to the mixer pump housing; and f. batteries located on the mixer pump housing, wherein the batteries power the mixer pump for extracting liquid soap from the bottle, wherein the batteries also power a circuit board mounted in the mixer pump housing, and wherein the batteries also power a sensor, wherein the sensor is mounted to the spout extension front housing.

2. The countermount foam dispenser of claim 1, wherein the mixer pump housing further includes a battery tray for retaining the batteries, wherein the battery tray has a tray door latch cam with a pair of indents, namely a first latch indent and a second latch indent, wherein the pair of indents receive respectively a first key protrusion and a second key protrusion formed on a tray door key, wherein the tray door latch cam travels between a closed position and an open position during a rotation of the tray door latch cam.

3. The countermount foam dispenser of claim 1, wherein the bottle further includes: a. a bottle sidewall extending vertically; b. a shoulder extending from the bottle sidewall at an upper portion of the bottle; c. a bottle neck extending upwardly front the shoulder, wherein the bottle neck includes a neck groove interrupted by a rotation stop, wherein the rotation stop is formed as a protrusion that protrudes horizontally away from the neck; d. an adapter mounted to the bottle neck, wherein the adapter has an adapter sidewall, wherein the adapter sidewall includes adapter protrusions extending away from the sidewall, wherein the adapter includes adapter hooks configured to permanently snap to the neck groove and form a seal between the neck and the adapter; and e. an adapter gasket having an adapter port opening for forming a seal, wherein the adapter gasket is mounted to an adapter port of the adapter.

4. The countermount foam dispenser of claim 3, wherein the mixer pump housing further includes a bottle adapter receiver frame, wherein the bottle adapter receiver frame includes a bottle adapter receiver with bottle adapter retainer slots, wherein the bottle adapter retainer slots include a bottle adapter intake funnel and a bottle adapter retainer bump.

5. The countermount foam dispenser of claim 3, wherein the mixer pump housing further includes a battery tray for retaining the batteries, wherein the battery tray has a tray door latch cam with a pair of indents, namely a first latch indent and a second latch indent, wherein the pair of indents receive respectively a first key protrusion and a second key protrusion formed on a tray door key, wherein the tray door latch cam travels between a closed position and an open position during a rotation of the tray door latch cam.

6. The countermount foam dispenser of claim 3, wherein the batteries are retained on a battery tray, wherein the battery tray is locked with a battery tray key, wherein the battery tray key rotates the tray door latch cam, wherein the tray door latch cam has a circular profile.

7. The countermount foam dispenser of claim 1, wherein the mixer pump housing further includes an upper alignment indent formed on a bottle adapter receiver frame, wherein the upper alignment indent forms an upper alignment edge; and wherein the bottle further includes a lower alignment indent forming a lower alignment indent edge, wherein the upper alignment edge and the lower alignment edge align when the bottle is in an engaged position.

8. A countermount foam dispenser comprising: a. a spout including a spout nozzle with a spout opening; b. a spout mounting shaft mounted to the spout at a mounting shaft bracket; c. a mixer pump housing having a spout retainer latch, wherein the mixer pump housing houses a mixer pump, wherein the mixer pump includes a motor, wherein the motor includes a motor shaft, wherein the motor shaft has a crank, wherein the crank actuates a piston handle, wherein the piston handle depresses a piston diaphragm at piston diagram tips, wherein the piston diaphragm tips are configured to change the volume of the piston diaphragm when the piston handle depresses the piston diaphragm, wherein the piston diaphragm is configured to change the pressure against an output cover, wherein the piston diaphragm aspirates air from an air inlet port, and then blows the air to mix the air with liquid soap at a mixer; d. a bottle for containing liquid soap, wherein the bottle has a connection to the mixer pump housing at the liquid inlet port; and e. batteries located on the mixer pump housing, wherein the batteries power the mixer pump for extracting liquid soap from the bottle, wherein the batteries also power a circuit board mounted in the mixer pump housing, and wherein the batteries also power a sensor, wherein the sensor is mounted to the spout extension front housing.

9. The countermount foam dispenser of claim 8, wherein the mixer pump housing further includes a battery tray for retaining the batteries, wherein the battery tray has a tray door latch cam with a pair of indents, namely a first latch indent and a second latch indent, wherein the pair of indents receive respectively a first key protrusion and a second key protrusion formed on a tray, door key, wherein the tray door latch cam travels between a closed position and an open position during a rotation of the tray door latch cam.

10. A bottle for a countermount foam dispenser comprising: a. a bottle sidewall extending vertically; b. a shoulder extending from the bottle sidewall at an upper portion of the bottle; c. a bottle neck extending upwardly from the shoulder, wherein the bottle neck includes a neck groove interrupted by a rotation stop, wherein the rotation stop is formed as a protrusion that protrudes horizontally away from the neck; d. an adapter mounted to the bottle neck, wherein the adapter has an adapter sidewall, wherein the adapter sidewall includes adapter protrusions extending away from the sidewall, wherein the adapter includes adapter hooks configured to permanently snap to the neck groove and form a seal between the neck and the adapter; and e. an adapter gasket having an adapter port opening for forming a seal, wherein the adapter gasket is mounted to an adapter port of the adapter.

11. The bottle for a countermount foam dispenser of claim 10, wherein the adapter gasket is formed of an elastomeric material.

12. The bottle for a countermount foam dispenser of claim 10, wherein the adapter gasket is configured to seal to a liquid inlet nozzle.

13. The bottle for a countermount foam dispenser of claim 10, wherein the adapter is configured to mount to a bottle adapter receiver frame.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a front view.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a right side view.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a left side view.

[0023] FIG. 5 is a top view.

[0024] FIG. 6 is an exploded view.

[0025] FIG. 7 is a detailed exploded view.

[0026] FIG. 8 is an enlarged detailed exploded view of the upper portion of FIG. 7.

[0027] FIG. 9 is an enlarged detailed exploded view of the lower portion of FIG. 7.

[0028] FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the pump and mixer assemblies.

[0029] The following call out list of elements can be a useful guide in referencing the elements of the drawings. [0030] 20 Spout [0031] 21 Spout Sensor [0032] 22 Spout Nozzle [0033] 23 Spout Nozzle Opening [0034] 24 Spout Extension [0035] 25 Spout Shoulder [0036] 26 Spout Mounting Shaft [0037] 27 Mounting Shaft Nut [0038] 28 Nut Flare [0039] 29 Forward Sensor [0040] 30 Bottle [0041] 31 Side Wall [0042] 32 Sidewall Indent Grip [0043] 33 Lower Depression [0044] 34 Upper Depression [0045] 35 Bottle Adapter [0046] 36 Adapter Protrusion [0047] 37 Adapter Port [0048] 38 Adapter Port Opening [0049] 39 Bottle Shoulder [0050] 40 Mixer Pump [0051] 41 Mixer Pump Housing [0052] 42 Pump Outlet Opening [0053] 43 Battery Door [0054] 44 Battery Tray [0055] 45 Tray Door Opening [0056] 46 Tray Door Key Handle [0057] 47 Tray Door Latch [0058] 48 Tray Door Latch Can [0059] 49 Mixer Pump Housing Top Face [0060] 50 Tray Door Key [0061] 51 First Key Protrusion [0062] 52 Second Key Protrusion [0063] 53 First Latch Indent [0064] 54 Second Latch indent [0065] 55 Key Handle Opening [0066] 56 Indicator [0067] 57 Mixer Housing Connector [0068] 58 Mixing Housing Connector Opening [0069] 59 Mixer Housing Connector Tab [0070] 60 Lower Port [0071] 61 Spout Extension Front Housing [0072] 62 Spout Extension Rear Housing [0073] 63 Sensor Bracket [0074] 64 Shoulder Gasket [0075] 65 Bottle Adapter Receiver Frame [0076] 66 Foam Screen [0077] 67 Motor [0078] 68 Motor Mount [0079] 69 Water Proof Gasket [0080] 70 Flow Control Fittings [0081] 71 Liquid inlet Nozzle [0082] 72 Adapter Gasket [0083] 73 Battery [0084] 74 Battery Slots [0085] 75 Tray Opening [0086] 76 Circuit Board [0087] 77 Mourning Shaft Bracket [0088] 78 Spout Retainer Latch [0089] 79 Retainer Notch [0090] 80 Alignment System [0091] 81 Bottle Adapter Receiver [0092] 82 Bottle Adapter Receiver Sidewall [0093] 83 Bottle Adapter Intake Funnel [0094] 84 Bottle Adapter Retainer Bump [0095] 85 Adapter Sidewall [0096] 86 Adapter Hooks [0097] 87 Neck Groove [0098] 88 Rotation Stop [0099] 89 Bottle Adapter Retainer Slot [0100] 90 Bottle Neck [0101] 91 Upper Alignment Indent [0102] 92 Upper Alignment Edge [0103] 93 Lower Alignment Indent [0104] 94 Lower Alignment Edge [0105] 95 Liquid Inlet Nozzle Tubing Connector [0106] 100 Pump Assembly [0107] 101 Output Cover [0108] 102 Rubber Stopper [0109] 103 Filter Net [0110] 104 Piston Diaphragm [0111] 105 Piston Bracket [0112] 106 Piston Handle [0113] 107 Crank [0114] 108 Tailstock [0115] 109 Motor Housing [0116] 110 Motor Shaft [0117] 111 Motor Shaft Mourning Opening [0118] 112 Piston Handle Shaft Opening [0119] 113 Piston Handle Shaft [0120] 114 Piston Handle Arms [0121] 115 Piston Handle Diaphragm Engagement [0122] 116 Piston Diaphragm Tips [0123] 117 Piston Diaphragm Cups [0124] 118 Foam Outlet Port [0125] 119 Liquid Inlet Port [0126] 120 Air Inlet Port [0127] 121 Air Outlet Port [0128] 122 Mixer

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0129] As seen in FIG. 1, a spout 20 is configured to extend from a countertop by a spout extension 24 and dispense a flow of foam soap for a user Tice spout 20 includes a spout sensor 21 which can be an infrared device or other type of proximity sensor. The spout sensor 21 is mounted to an underside of the spout 20. The spout nozzle 22 extends from a terminal tip of the spout 20 The spout nozzle 22 has a spout nozzle opening 23. The spout extension 24 has a lower end that forms a base. The spout shoulder 25 is configured to abut the countertop. Optionally, the spout 20 also preferably includes a forward sensor 29 that is directed forward and senses for the presence of a user. An indicator 56 can be mounted in an opening that receives the forward sensor 29 so that the user can see the operational status of the countertop dispenser.

[0130] A spout mounting shaft 26 extends downwardly from the spout extension 24. A mounting shaft nut 27 is threaded to the spout mounting shaft and has a nut flare 28 that contains a lower surface of the countertop underneath the countertop. The spout mounting shaft 26 extends downwardly to a pump outlet opening 42 to allow the spout mounting shaft 26 2 connected to the mixer pump 40.

[0131] The mixer pump 40 has a mixer pump housing 41 which includes the pump out housing 42. The mixer pump housing 41 includes a battery door 43 attached to a battery tray 44. The tray door opening 45 is formed on the battery door 43 and is configured to receive a connector such as a security screw that retains the battery tray door 43. The tray door has a tray door latch 47 actuated by a tray door latch cam 48. The tray door latch cam 48 has a slot for receiving a tray door key. The tray door key 50 as a tray door key handle 46 that when turned can actuate the tray door latch cam 48. The tray door key 50 has a security engagement to the tray door latch cam 48, such as by a pair of nonstandard prongs. The mixer pump housing 41 also includes a mixing housing connector opening 58 that shape to receive a security screw. The mixing housing connector opening 58 allows a connector to retain together a pair of sections of the mixer pump housing 41 such as the 49 mixer pump housing top face and the lower portion of the mixer pump housing.

[0132] The bottle 30 is connected to an underside of the mixer pump housing 41. The bottle 30 has a sidewall 31 with a sidewall indent grip 32 that improves structural rigidity. The bottle 30 has a lower depression 33 and an upper depression 34 also to improve structural rigidity.

[0133] As seen in FIG. 2, the spout 20 has a forward facing spout sensor 21 that is pill shaped and elongated. The spout sensor 21 has a lens providing a continuous flush external surface with the spout 20. The spout nozzle 22 is a frustroconical protrusion extending downward from the spout 20. The spout extension 24 is generally centered to the spout mounting shaft 26 and the spout shoulder 25, The Mounting shaft nut 27 can be made of metal or plastic and configured to rotate and tighten onto a mounting opening formed in the countertop. The forward sensor mounted inside the spout 20 and also has a flush lens that allows the forward sensor 29 to detect the presence of a user. The forward sensor 29 can work in conjunction with the spout sensor 21 so that the spout only activates when both sensors sense a presence. The spout sensor 21 senses the presence of the user's hands, and the forward sensor 29 senses the presence of a user's torso.

[0134] The indicator 56 can be mounted in the same opening as the forward sensor 29. The tray door key handle 46 is preferably rounded. The 50 tray door key may have a first key protrusion 51 and a second key protrusion 52, A key handle opening 55 may allow connection to a lanyard or other line. The pair of key protrusion, namely the first key protrusion 51 and the second key protrusion 52 are required to allow the turning of the tray door latch cam 48.

[0135] As seen in FIG. 3, the spout 20 can have a curved profile that extends at an angle front the spout shoulder 25. The mounting shaft nut 27 is preferably hexagonal. The bottle 30 mounts to the mixer pump in a single action.

[0136] As seen in FIG. 4, the tray door key 50 allows access to the battery tray and is next to the mixer housing connector 57. The mixer housing connector 57 preferably includes a mixer housing connector opening 58 and may have mixer housing connector tab 59. The mixer housing connector tab 59 can be formed as a latch that has a snap connection between the different parts of the mixer housing.

[0137] As seen in FIG. 5, the spout 20 extends forward, and the spout shoulder 25 can form a seal with the countertop. The forward sensor 29 is perpendicular to the extension of the spout. The mixer pump housing top face 49 is preferably rectangular. The tray door key 50 can extend laterally from the left side of the mixer pump housing. The indicator 56 is also disposed forwardly to provide an indication to the user.

[0138] As seen in FIG. 6, the spout 20 may have a lower port 60 with an annular relief that allows installation of an elastomeric ring seal. The mixer housing connector tab 59 can release a spout retainer latch 78 in the pump outlet opening 42 so as to release the lower port 60 of the spout 20. The spout retainer latch 78 may retain the lower port 60 at a retainer notch 79. The spout retainer latch 78 preferably allows a snap connection of the spout 20 to the pump outlet opening 42. In this way, a user can first mount the spout 20 using the nut in a first step and then in a second step snap on the spout retainer latch 78 to the retainer notch 79 thereby engaging the pump outlet opening 42 the spout 20 in a pair of separate steps.

[0139] The user can attach the bottle 30 after attaching the pump outlet opening 42 to the lower port 60. The user grasps the sidewall 31 of the bottle 30 by a variety of sidewall indent grips 32. The user may also use the lower depression 33 or the upper depression 34. The bottle 30 has a bottle adapter 35 mounted above a bottle shoulder 39. The bottle adapter 35 snaps to the neck of the bottle and creates a watertight permanent seal to the bottle. The bottle adapter 35 preferably has four adapter protrusions 36 that are oriented at 90 from each other and extend away from a vertical sidewall of the bottle adapter 35. The bottle adapter 35 has an adapter port 37 with an adapter port opening 38.

[0140] The mixer pump 40 mixes water and air inside the mixer pump housing 41 resulting foam soap is expelled through the pump outlet opening 42 and through the spout 20. The tray door latch cam 48 has a pair of depressions that receive a pair of protrusions of the tray door key 50. The tray door key 50 has a first key protrusion 51 and a second key protrusion 52. The tray door latch cam 48 has a first latch indent 53 and a second latch indent 54 that receive the pair of protrusion of the tray door key 50. When both protrusions insert into both depressions, the latch can be turned to unlock the battery tray door. The battery tray door and battery compartment is preferably watertight.

[0141] As seen in FIG. 7, a variety of internal components reside within the various housings. The spout sensor 21 is mounted between a spout extension front housing 61 and a spout extension rear housing 62. A sensor bracket 63 can mount on mounting posts of the spout extension front housing 61 and thus retain the spout sensor 21 to the spout extension front housing 61. Similarly, a foam screen 66 can remix rough foam into finer foam and can be mounted in the cavity between the spout extension front housing 1 and the spout extension rear housing 62. The spout shoulder 25 can retain the lower semicircular edges of the pair of spout extension housings. The spout mounting shaft 26 has a mounting shaft bracket 77 that secures to the spout extension front housing 61. A shoulder gasket 64 can seal the spout shoulder 25.

[0142] The bottle 30 holds soap in liquid form and receives a bottle adapter 35. The bottle adapter 35 adapts to an adapter gasket 72. The adapter gasket 72 secures to a bottle adapter receiver frame 65 formed as a lower portion of the mixer pump housing 41. The bottle adapter receiver also forms a lower portion of the battery tray slot and may define a portion of the tray opening 75. The battery tray 44 receives batteries 73 in battery slots 74 and is secured by the tray door latch cam 48 with the tray door key 50. The battery, system powers a circuit board 76.

[0143] The battery powers a motor 67 that is mounted to a motor mount 68. A variety of flow control fittings 70 prevents leaks while allowing single-handed quick connection. A water proof gasket 69 made of an elastomeric material seals a liquid inlet nozzle 71. The liquid inlet nozzle 71 is mounted to the bottle adapter receiver frame 65 and sealed against the adapter gasket.

[0144] As seen in FIG. 9, an alignment system 80 includes indents and slots for retaining the bottle 30 at the bottle neck 90. The bottle adapter receiver 81 is a hollow indented portion of the bottle adapter receiver frame 65, and is shaped to receive the bottle adapter 35. The adapter protrusion 36 engage to the bottle adapter receiver sidewall 82. The adapter protrusions 36 have a circular cylindrical profile that extend horizontally away from the bottle adapter. The adapter protrusions 36 engage a bottle adapter intake funnel 83 and rotate clockwise to pass over a bottle adapter retainer bump 84. The bottle adapter intake funnel 83 and the bottle adapter retainer bump 84 are formed on the bottle adapter retainer slot 89. The bottle adapter retainer slot 89 is formed on the bottle adapter receiver sidewall 82.

[0145] The alignment system 80 also includes an alignment for the bottle. The bottle adapter 35 has an adapter sidewall 85 The bottle adapter 35 has downwardly protruding adapter hooks 86. The adapter hooks 86 engage to a neck groove 87 formed on a neck of the bottle. A rotation stop 88 breaks the continuity of the neck grooves 87 so that the adapter hooks 86 will abut the rotation stop 88 when the adapter protrusions 36 are engaged to the bottle adapter retainer bump 84. As liquid is drawn upward from the bottle 30, air intake is entrained within the flow of liquid to make rough foam. As the rough foam travels upward, it can pass through additional screening or mixing to screen into finer foam.

[0146] Preferably, an upper alignment indent 91 formed on the bottle adapter receiver frame 65 has an upper alignment edge 92. The upper alignment edge 92 aligned with a lower alignment edge 94. The lower alignment edge 94 is formed on a lower alignment indent 93 which is disposed on the bottle 30. The pair of aligning alignment edges allows a user to uninstall and install the bottle from the bottle adapter receiver frame 65 without direct line of sight, using only touch. The upper alignment indent 91 holds the lower alignment indent 93 so that the inside surface of the upper alignment indent 91 abuts the outside surface of the lower alignment indent 93. Thus, the alignment indents key the bottle to the bottle adapter receiver 81, The bottle adapter receiver 81 only receives the bottle that has the matching alignment indent. The alignment indent on the bottle is formed on the bottle shoulder. The bottle shoulder may be slightly flexible for allowing it to rotate into the bottle adapter receiver 81 where the pair of alignment indents engage.

[0147] As seen in FIG. 10, the motor 67 is part of a pump assembly 100. The motor 67 has a motor housing 109 and a motor shaft 110 extending from the motor housing 109. The motor shaft 110 extends into a tailstock 108. The tailstock 108 is a housing that holds a crank 107 and a piston handle. The crank 107 has a motor shaft mounting opening 111. The motor shaft mounting opening 111 is offset from a piston handle shaft opening 112. The crank 107 has a piston handle shaft opening 112 that retains a piston handle shaft 113. The piston handle shaft 113 wobbles cyclically about the motor shaft 110 and has an angle to the motor shaft 110. The piston handle 106 has three extending piston handle arms 114. Each of the piston handle arms have a piston handle diaphragm engagement 115. The piston handle diaphragm engage e 115 engages the piston diagram 104 at piston diaphragm tips 116. The piston diaphragm tips 116 are connected to an integrally formed with piston diaphragm cups 117. The piston diaphragm cups can be cylinder or cone shaped and fit into piston bracket recesses of the piston bracket 105. As the piston handle shaft 113 rotates, it sequentially depresses piston handle diaphragm engagements 115, which in turn sequentially depress piston diaphragm tips 116, thereby sequentially decreasing a volume of the piston diaphragm cups 117. The piston diaphragm 104 has a flat portion that seals on of the piston bracket 105, so that the piston diaphragm 104 does not rotate relative to the piston bracket 105. The piston bracket 105 also does not rotate relative to the tailstock 108 as the piston bracket 105 is secured to the tailstock 108 by connectors such as screws.

[0148] A filter net 103 in a mixer 122 can screen liquid tri create rough foam output from the mixer 122. The mixer is separated from the pump area by some distance to prevent backflow of foam tire motor. The output nozzle cover 101 has an air inlet port 120 and an air outlet port 121.

[0149] The air generation is used to power and airflow and the airflow enters a mixer 122 where it mixes with liquid soap to create a rough foam via a screen. A rubber stopper 102 can selectively cyclically allow and control admittance of air. The liquid in let port 119 is connected to the bottle. The rubber stopper 102 an act as a one-way valve, and also the air inlet port 120 preferably includes a one-way valve so as to prevent leakage. The air inlet port 120 can have a one-way valve installed such as by a plastic sheet, a ball stop, or other type of cyclically engaging seal. No liquid should enter the pump area, and is restricted to only the mixer area. The liquid is likely to leak around the piston diaphragm 104 and destroy the motor should liquid enter the output cover 101. Therefore, it is imperative to maintain the dry condition of the output cover 101. It is preferred that the pump is connected to the mixer by a plastic tubing or otherwise segregated by a one-way flow valve. A foam outlet port 118 expels generated foam created from aspirated air through the air inlet port. 120 and the liquid inlet port 119 in the mixer. It is a feature of the present invention to separate the membrane pump area from the foam mixing area so as to increase longevity of the electromechanical components.

[0150] The plastic tubing connecting the components in the present invention is not shown in the drawings for purposes of clarity since the appropriate connections are obvious. For example, components such as the liquid inlet nozzle 71 preferably have a liquid inlet nozzle tubing connector 95 which can be connected by tubing to the liquid inlet port 119.