Top-fill counter-mount soap dispensers

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a soap dispenser includes a nozzle, a pump operable to dispense soap through the nozzle and to be positioned above a surface of a counter, a push rod having a pivot arm aperture. The push rod is coupled to the pump and movement of the push rod in a direction toward the pump activates the pump. The soap dispenser further includes a pivot arm having a lift end disposed within the pivot arm aperture, and a motor assembly. The motor assembly is operable to rotate to pivot the pivot arm and lift the lift end such that the push rod activates the pump to dispense soap through the nozzle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A soap dispenser comprising:
 a nozzle;   a pump operable to dispense soap through the nozzle and to be positioned above a surface of a counter;   a push rod comprising a pivot arm aperture, wherein the push rod is coupled to the pump and movement of the push rod in a direction toward the pump activates the pump;   a pivot arm comprising a lift end disposed within the pivot arm aperture; and   a motor assembly, wherein the motor assembly is operable to rotate to pivot the pivot arm and lift the lift end such that the push rod activates the pump to dispense soap through the nozzle.   
     
     
         2 . The soap dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a down tube comprising an aperture, wherein the push rod is disposed within the down tube and the lift end of the pivot arm is positioned through the aperture. 
     
     
         3 . The soap dispenser of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a refill locking dock having a threaded tube that is operable to extend through an opening in the counter; and   a coupling nut coupled to the threaded tube, the coupling nut comprising a shaft, wherein the down tube is coupled to the shaft of the coupling nut.   
     
     
         4 . The soap dispenser of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a swivel coupler nut coupled to the threaded tube;   an anti-swivel grip coupled to the threaded tube; and   a grip plate assembly comprising teeth and disposed within a recess of the anti-swivel grip, wherein the teeth are operable to engage and undersurface of the counter when the anti-swivel grip is tightened on the threaded tube.   
     
     
         5 . The soap dispenser of  claim 2 , further comprising a soap reservoir bag assembly, the soap reservoir bag assembly comprising a reservoir bag and a reservoir coupler, wherein:
 the reservoir bag is coupled to the reservoir coupler; and   the reservoir coupler is coupled to an end of the down tube.   
     
     
         6 . The soap dispenser of  claim 5 , further comprising a soap tube coupled to the pump and a soap reservoir sleeve disposed within the reservoir bag, wherein the soap tube is partially disposed within the soap reservoir sleeve. 
     
     
         7 . The soap dispenser of  claim 5 , further comprising a soap reservoir, wherein the soap reservoir is coupled to the reservoir coupler and the reservoir bag is within the soap reservoir. 
     
     
         8 . The soap dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the reservoir coupler is permanently coupled to the end of the down tube. 
     
     
         9 . The soap dispenser of  claim 2 , further comprising a soap tube coupled to the pump, wherein:
 the push rod comprises one or more groove features for holding the soap tube, an upper flange and a lower flange; and   the upper flange and the lower flange engage an interior surface of the down tube.   
     
     
         10 . The soap dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the motor assembly comprises a motor, a gear coupled to the motor, and a cam coupled to the gear; and   the cam comprise a sloped surface operable to pivot the pivot arm when the motor rotates the cam.   
     
     
         11 . A soap dispenser comprising:
 a nozzle;   a pump operable to dispense soap through the nozzle and to be positioned above a surface of a counter;   a pivot arm comprising a lift end and a cam engagement surface; and   a motor assembly comprising a motor, a gear coupled to the motor, and a cam coupled to the gear, wherein:
 the cam comprise a sloped surface that varies a height of the cam; 
 the cam engagement surface of the pivot arm contacts the sloped surface; 
 actuation of the motor is operable to rotate the gear and the cam to pivot the pivot arm when the motor rotates the cam; and 
 pivoting the pivot arm activates the pump to dispense soap through the nozzle. 
   
     
     
         12 . The soap dispenser of  claim 11 , further comprising a push rod coupled to the pump, wherein the pivot arm contacts the push rod and lifts the push rod to activate the pump when the motor rotates the gear and the cam. 
     
     
         13 . The soap dispenser of  claim 11 , further comprising an electronics assembly comprising a housing and the motor assembly disposed within the housing, wherein the pivot arm comprises a pair of pivot protrusions that are rotatably coupled to an interior surface of the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The soap dispenser of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the pivot arm comprises a spring hole operable to receive a first end of a spring;   a second end of the spring is operable to be coupled to an interior of the housing; and   the spring is operable to return the pivot arm to a home position when the cam completes a revolution.   
     
     
         15 . The soap dispenser of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a down tube;   a refill locking dock having a threaded tube that is operable to extend through an opening in the counter; and   a coupling nut coupled to the threaded tube, the coupling nut comprising a shaft, wherein the down tube is coupled to the shaft of the coupling nut.   
     
     
         16 . The soap dispenser of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a swivel coupler nut, coupled to the threaded tube;   an anti-swivel grip coupled to the threaded tube; and   a grip plate assembly comprising teeth and disposed within a recess of the anti-swivel grip, wherein the teeth are operable to engage and undersurface of the counter when the anti-swivel grip is tightened on the threaded tube.   
     
     
         17 . The soap dispenser of  claim 11 , further comprising a soap reservoir bag assembly, the soap reservoir bag assembly comprising a reservoir bag and a reservoir coupler, wherein:
 the reservoir bag is coupled to the reservoir coupler; and   the reservoir coupler is coupled to an end of the down tube.   
     
     
         18 . The soap dispenser of  claim 17 , further comprising a soap reservoir, wherein the soap reservoir is coupled to the reservoir coupler and the reservoir bag is within the soap reservoir. 
     
     
         19 . The soap dispenser of  claim 17 , further comprising a soap tube coupled to the pump and a soap reservoir sleeve disposed within the reservoir bag, wherein the soap tube is partially disposed within the soap reservoir sleeve. 
     
     
         20 . The soap dispenser of  claim 11 , further comprising a refill locking dock, wherein the nozzle is removably coupled to the refill locking dock and the pump is positioned within the nozzle.