Soap Dispenser

Abstract

A concealed soap dispenser comprising: a sink having a sink drain and an overflow opening; an overflow housing secured within the overflow opening, the overflow housing including an inlet to allow fluid to enter a chamber within the overflow housing and an outlet to allow fluid to exit the chamber within the overflow housing; an overflow drain conduit secured by its proximal end to the overflow housing and secured by its distal end to the sink drain wherein fluid may exit the overflow housing and flow through the lumen and into the sink drain; and a soap dispenser secured within the overflow housing.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A concealed soap dispenser comprising:
 a sink having a sink drain and an overflow opening;   an overflow housing secured within the overflow opening;
 the overflow housing including an inlet to allow fluid to enter a chamber within the overflow housing and an outlet to allow fluid to exit the chamber within the overflow housing; 
   an overflow drain conduit secured by its proximal end to the overflow housing and secured by its distal end to the sink drain wherein fluid may exit the overflow housing and enter a lumen within the overflow drain conduit to flow through the lumen and into the sink drain;   a soap dispenser secured within the overflow housing.   
     
     
         2 . The soap dispenser of  claim 1  wherein said soap dispenser comprising:
 a spigot having a primary spring mechanism which permits the extension and/or retraction of the spigot, the spigot being operatively associated with a primary check valve and a fluid reservoir; 
 a button having a secondary spring mechanism operatively associated with a secondary check valve and the fluid reservoir;
 wherein a user may extend said spigot from within said overflow housing by activating the primary spring mechanism and dispense a desired amount of soap by actuating the secondary spring mechanism operatively associated with said button; and 
 said user may then retract said spigot back within said overflow housing to its concealed starting position. 
 
 
     
     
         3 . The soap dispenser of  claim 1  wherein said overflow housing and said overflow drain conduit being comprised of a material selected from the group including a plastic, a metal, a natural rubber, a synthetic rubber, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The soap dispenser of  claim 1  which further comprises a push button switch which may be actuated by said button, and a pump operatively associated with said push button switch. 
     
     
         5 . The soap dispenser of  claim 4  wherein said pump being a peristaltic pump. 
     
     
         6 . The soap dispenser of  claim 4  wherein said push button switch being a pneumatic switch which comprises:
 a button cover secured to a push button, said push button being secured to a stem at its proximal end; 
 a base secured to said stem at its distal end; 
 a bladder operatively associated with said base, said bladder containing a compressed gas; 
 a spring operatively associated with said base and said bladder; 
 a pneumatic fitting operatively associated with said bladder and with a pneumatic air conduit being connected to a pneumatic switch; 
 said pump being connected to said pneumatic switch to permit a user to activate and/or deactivate said pump and dispense a desired amount of soap. 
 
     
     
         7 . The soap dispenser of  claim 6  wherein said compressed gas being selected from the group comprising: oxygen, nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The soap dispenser of  claim 1  wherein said overflow housing and said overflow drain conduit being comprised of a material which is not electrically conductive. 
     
     
         9 . The soap dispenser of  claim 4  wherein said push button switch being an electric switch which comprises:
 a button cover secured to a push button, said push button being secured to a stem at its proximal end; 
 a base secured to said stem at its distal end and a coiled spring surrounding said stem to facilitate the actuation of said push button; 
 a push button switch operatively associated with said base; 
 a pair of electrical leads emanating from and operatively associated with said push button switch; 
 a pair of wires connected to said pair of electrical leads to create an electrical circuit; and 
 said electric pump or said pneumatic pump being connected to said electrical circuit to permit a user to activate and/or deactivate said pump and dispense a desired amount of soap. 
 
     
     
         10 . The soap dispenser of  claim 9  wherein the push button switch being a water proof push button switch. 
     
     
         11 . A method for operating a concealed soap dispenser comprising the steps of:
 providing a sink having a sink drain and an overflow opening;   securing an overflow housing within said overflow opening;
 said overflow housing including an inlet to allow fluid to enter a chamber within said overflow housing and an outlet to allow fluid to exit said chamber within said overflow housing; 
   securing an overflow drain conduit by its proximal end to said overflow housing and securing said overflow drain conduit by its distal end to said sink drain wherein fluid may exit said overflow housing and enter a lumen within said overflow drain conduit to flow through said lumen and into said sink drain;   securing a soap dispenser within said overflow housing, said soap dispenser including a spigot and a button;   extending said spigot from within the overflow housing out into said sink;   pressing said button to dispense a desired amount of soap; and   retracting said spigot back within said overflow housing to its concealed starting position.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said soap dispenser comprising:
 a spigot having a primary spring mechanism which permits the extension and/or retraction of said spigot, said spigot being operatively associated with a primary check valve and a fluid reservoir; 
 a button having a secondary spring mechanism operatively associated with a secondary check valve and said fluid reservoir; 
 actuating the primary spring mechanism on said spigot in order to extend said spigot from within the overflow housing out into said sink; 
 pressing said button and actuating the secondary spring mechanism associated with said button to dispense a desired amount of soap; 
 washing one or more items; and 
 retracting said spigot back within said overflow housing to its concealed starting position by actuating the primary spring mechanism on said spigot. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said overflow housing and said overflow drain conduit being comprised of a material selected from the group including a plastic, a metal, a natural rubber, a synthetic rubber, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  which further comprises a push button switch which may be actuated by said button, and a pump operatively associated with said push button switch. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said pump being a peristaltic pump. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said push button switch being a pneumatic switch which comprises:
 a button cover secured to a push button, said push button being secured to a stem at its proximal end; 
 a base secured to said stem at its distal end; 
 a bladder operatively associated with said base, said bladder containing a compressed gas; 
 a spring operatively associated with said base and said bladder; and 
 a pneumatic fitting operatively associated with said bladder and with a pneumatic air conduit being connected to a pneumatic switch; 
 said pump being connected to said pneumatic switch to permit a user to activate and/or deactivate said electric pump or said pneumatic pump and dispense a desired amount of soap. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said compressed gas being selected from the group comprising: oxygen, nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said overflow housing and said overflow drain conduit being comprised of a material which is not electrically conductive. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said push button switch being an electric switch which comprises:
 a button cover secured to a push button, said push button being secured to a stem at its proximal end; 
 a base secured to said stem at its distal end and a coiled spring surrounding said stem to facilitate the actuation of said push button; 
 a push button switch operatively associated with said base; 
 a pair of electrical leads emanating from and operatively associated with said push button switch; 
 a pair of wires connected to said pair of electrical leads to create an electrical circuit; and 
 said pump being connected to said electrical circuit to permit a user to activate and/or deactivate said electric pump or said pneumatic pump and dispense a desired amount of soap. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the push button switch being a water proof push button switch.