Abstract:
The present invention provides a liquid soap dispensing apparatus having a counter-top mounting system that makes it possible to securely anchor the liquid dispensing device to a surface such as a counter-top and still allow easy removal for portability, so the dispenser can be transported and used in other areas. The apparatus also allows the soap reservoir to be easily refilled and utilizes readily available pump components.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims priority to provisional application Ser. No. 60/350,307, filed Jan. 17, 2002, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to a liquid dispensing apparatus and more particularly to a surface mounted liquid soap dispenser having a counter-top mounting system that makes it possible to securely anchor the liquid dispensing device to the counter-top and still allow portability. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   There are a variety of counter mounted fluid dispensers known in the prior art. Unfortunately, such mounted dispensers of liquid soap and other similar liquid products are often inconvenient to use and/or refill. 
   Counter-mounted dispensers have typically included a dispenser fixture located above the counter and a refillable soap reservoir located under the cabinet into which dip tubes are inserted. The dip tubes have typically included one or two check valves and a piston type pump. The fixture includes an actuation button that is depressed by the user when a quantity of soap is desired. When the actuation button is depressed, the pump is operated and soap is drawn from the reservoir, pushed through the delivery spout and into the user&#39;s hand. 
   Because of the location of the reservoir such as behind the sink these dispensers are very difficult to refill. The user is typically required to climb under the counter to remove the reservoir from the pump mechanisms that generally remain attached to the counter. The filled reservoir must then be returned to its position under the cabinet without spilling the liquid soap or causing it to overflow by reinserting the mechanism into an overfilled pump reservoir. These pump and valve arrangements are typically permanent installations and over a period of time the valves and/or pumps often fail or become clogged such that no soap can be dispensed. The owner is left with an unusable device and/or a hole in the counter-top that requires covering. 
   Wall-mounted liquid soap dispensers require double sided adhesive sheets to be applied to a wall surface. One side of the adhesive sheet is applied to the wall and the soap dispenser is adhered to the second side. Once a wall mounted dispenser is emptied it must be removed from the wall before it can be refilled or replaced. Often adhesive is left on the surface or the paint is removed with the adhesive sheet leaving the owner with a scarred or unsightly wall surface. 
   Counter-top liquid soap dispensers often have a problem with placement. The liquid soap dispenser must be placed on an already crowded counter adjacent the sink. In the past, these dispensers had no anchoring and were often tipped over or knocked into the sink. Counter-top dispensers are especially likely to be tipped over when they are low on liquid and are top heavy. 
   Accordingly, what is lacking in the art is a soap dispenser having a counter-top mounting system that makes it possible to securely anchor the liquid dispensing device to the counter-top and still allow portability, so the dispenser can be transported and used in other areas. The design should also allow the reservoir to be easily refilled and utilize readily available pump components. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
   A number of prior art devices exist for dispensing liquid soap, lotion or other viscous liquids. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,470,523 to Spector discloses a wall-mounted liquid soap dispenser whose container is formed of flexible plastic material and is provided with a flat rear wall and an externally threaded nipple projecting from the front wall adjacent the base. The nipple has a cap screwed thereon which incorporates a pivoted spigot that when folded in seals the nipple and when folded out creates an outlet from which soap is discharged when the front wall is depressed. In installing the assembly on a wall, a base sheet is adhered to a selected site on the wall after which a foot member is adhered to a central zone of the base sheet and the soap container is adhered to the foot member. The foot member acts as a load distributor for the soap dispenser to prevent it from dislodging from the wall. To remove the dispenser the base sheet must be peeled from the wall. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,340 to Lynch, Sr. discloses a counter-top liquid soap dispenser that includes a decorative housing with a soap reservoir and a pressurized gas reservoir disposed inside of the housing. A dispensing valve is provided between the pressurized gas reservoir and the soap reservoir for selectively allowing the pressurized gas to force the liquid soap through a flexible tube that extends outwardly from the housing. The housing is rested on a counter surface adjacent to the sink and the dispensing tube is extended along the faucet spout such that the distal end of the tube is positioned adjacent to the mouth of the faucet spout. The tube is coupled to the faucet spout by adhesive or fastening bands. However, there is no disclosure or a suggestion of securing a holding stem to the sink and using the holding stem to prevent the soap dispenser from sliding into the sink. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,566, to Brandenburg discloses a counter-mounted liquid soap dispensing apparatus which includes a permanently mounted actuator rod and dispenser spout adapted to be used with a disposable soap reservoir and piston pump module. The main objectives of the device are to keep the actuator rod and soap separated as well as providing a disposable soap cartridge that contains its own disposable pump. To complete these objectives the actuator rod and the dispenser spout are permanently mounted in the counter-top. A disposable soap reservoir and pump attach to the dispenser spout from underneath of the counter. When the user depresses the actuator button, the rod engages a pump piston in the refill cartridge to cause liquid soap to be pumped through a delivery tube. The delivery tube extends completely through the delivery spout of the fixture so that soap does not come into contact with the delivery spout. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,342 to Lewis discloses an improved counter-mounted liquid soap dispensing apparatus which includes a permanently mounted actuator rod and dispenser spout adapted to be used with a disposable soap reservoir. The patent is aimed at improving the Brandenburg apparatus by utilizing readily available viscous fluid pumps in place of the specially designed pumps in Brandenburg. Like the Brandenburg device the Lewis device maintains the soap reservoir below the counter-top and therefore has all of the problems associated therewith. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,594 to Ozturk discloses a soap dispensing device which is attached to the end of a standard kitchen faucet. The device is activated by rotating the device in a first direction which cuts off the flow of water and dispenses liquid soap. When the device is returned to the original position the soap flow is stopped and the original flow of water is returned. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,114,048 to Minke discloses a faucet assembly having an integral dispenser for liquid products such as soap, lotion, and the like. In addition to the conventional mixer tap for supplying water, the faucet assembly includes a pair of upstanding pump assemblies. The pump assemblies are manually operable to pump liquid products from reservoirs to a dispenser block located within the faucet assembly adjacent to the spigot. Reservoirs for the liquids dispensed from the pump assemblies are maintained under the counter-top. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,896 to Rocchelli discloses a soap dispenser that attaches to the water tap. The apparatus is designed as a split ring that fits under the base of a water tap. The device allows a soap dispenser to be installed without drilling holes in the sink. This device also requires the soap reservoir to be installed under the counter-top. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,571,821 to Kaiser discloses a kitchen sink with a raised section which houses a variable number of accessories. A removable ornamental plate closes the open top. 
   U.S. Pat. No. D438,041 to Huang discloses a soap supplier design. The design requires the soap reservoir to be installed under the counter-top. 
   U.S. Pat. No. D366,834 to Reid discloses a dispenser spout design. This design also requires the soap reservoir to be installed under the counter-top. 
   In addition to the difficulties associated with refilling and monitoring the fluid levels within these prior art devices they also lack portability. Typically these devices are permanently mounted to the faucet, counter-top or to an adjoining wall. Nothing in the prior art teaches or suggests a soap dispensing system wherein there is a permanently attached stem which removably and securely engages a portable soap container. The prior art further fails to teach a decorative pump head that is removable and replaceable to match various color schemes and the like. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of liquid soap dispensers in the prior art, the present invention provides a portable yet secured liquid soap dispensing system. 
   The general purpose of the present invention is to provide a counter-top soap dispenser system that utilizes a reservoir with a bottom surface constructed and arranged to cooperate with a holding stem rigidly secured to a surface, thereby preventing the reservoir from sliding or being inadvertently pulled into the sink. Because the reservoir is not permanently attached to the counter it can be easily refilled and/or moved and used in other locations that may or may not have the cooperating holding stem. 
   The principles and objectives of the present invention include, but are not limited to providing a method and apparatus for securing a liquid soap dispenser to a sink or counter-top. 
   Accordingly, a primary objective of the instant invention is to teach a novel apparatus and method for securing a liquid soap dispenser to a surface. 
   Another objective of the instant invention is to teach a liquid soap reservoir having a unique bottom surface capable of use with or without the holding stem. 
   Yet another objective of the instant invention is to teach an easily refillable liquid dispenser system. 
   Still yet another objective of the instant invention is to teach a tamper resistant liquid dispenser system. 
   Some of these objects are achieved by a reservoir assembly having a generally flat bottom surface with a centrally located cavity for cooperating with a holding stem that is secured to the sink or counter-top. 
   Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric partially exploded view of one embodiment of the instant invention with a portion thereof being broken away illustrating the cooperating container and holding stem utilized to removably secure the invention to a surface; 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of one embodiment of the instant invention with a portion of the container being broken away illustrating the cooperative engagement between the cavity in the lower surface of the container and the holding stem; 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of one holding stem embodiment with a portion thereof being broken away illustrating a holding stem attachment means wherein the locator stem utilizes a stud member and a second surface engagement means to attach the locator stem to a surface; 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the attachment means shown in  FIG. 2  illustrating a backing plate for engaging the second surface; 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the instant invention illustrating an alternative holding stem attachment means wherein the locator stem utilizes a threaded stub to secure the locator stem to a surface, also illustrated is a one piece container assembly; 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of an alternative holding stem embodiment illustrating a geometrically shaped stem (hex) and a rubber grommet attachment means; 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view along line  1 — 1  of the holding stem of  FIG. 6  illustrating a geometric shape (hex) utilized to directionally orient the dispenser; 
       FIG. 8  is a side view of an alternative holding stem embodiment illustrating a geometrically shaped stem (round) and an adhesive pad attachment means; 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view along line  2 — 2  of the holding stem of  FIG. 8  illustrating a geometric shape (round) utilized to allow the dispenser to be infinitely oriented; 
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional side view of the container and pump head illustrating the centrally located cavity in the bottom surface of the container as well as the optional removable and replaceable pump head and the optional identification disc; 
       FIG. 11  is a partial side view of the instant invention illustrating an alternative embodiment of the holding stem with a portion of the container being broken away for clarity. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIG. 1 through 9 , the liquid soap dispensing system embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention will be described. 
   As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the liquid soap system generally comprises a unique container  10  with a soap reservoir  16 , a pump mechanism  60 , and a holding stem  22 . The pump mechanism  60  is in fluid communication with the soap reservoir  16  and has a actuator with a pump head  38  extending from the container  10 . The holding stem  22  typically attaches to a surface  28  such as sink, counter-top, bathtub or the like and cooperates with the bottom surface of the container. In operation the container is slid downward over the holding stem to substantially prevent the container from tipping over or sliding across the counter-top. 
   In closer detail, the liquid soap system comprises a means for containing a supply of liquid illustrated herein as a container  10  preferably having a separable upper portion  12  and lower portion  14  with the upper portion  12  of the container  10  removably and sealably attached to the lower portion  14 . Alternatively, the container  10  can be constructed as a one piece tamper resistant construction ( FIG. 5 ) and may be disposable when the liquid is consumed. The interior chamber of the container  10  is utilized as a reservoir  16  for holding a supply of liquid illustrated herein as liquid soap. The instant invention could also be utilized to dispense other viscous liquids, e.g. lotion, hand cleaning cream, hand sanitizing cream and the like. 
   The top portion  12  of the container  10  assembly further comprises a pump mounting structure  30 , fixedly connected to the container  10  to which the pump device  32  is attached. The pump mounting structure  30  is preferably constructed with an outer threaded portion  34 . In this case the pump device  32  may have a cap  36  including inner threads to engage the outer threads  34  on the mounting structure  30 . An optional identification disc  74  slides over the pump mounting structure  30  and is held firmly in place by the cap  36 . The identification disc  74  provides a surface for labels, warnings or product identification. The identification disc  74  may also be formed in various shapes to allow the liquid within the reservoir to be visually identified by the shape of the disk. This feature is especially useful when more than one container  10  is secured to the same surface. Shapes for the identification disk may include but should not be limited to round, square, star, heart, daisy, egg, polygon and the like. The pump device also includes a removable and replaceable pump head  38 . The pump head  38  is constructed and arranged for cooperative engagement with the pump device  32 . In this manner the pump head  38  can be removed and replaced with different pump heads for decorative/product-identification purposes or should a pump head become clogged or damaged. Like the identification disk  74  the pump head  38  may be formed in various shapes and/or colors that would allow visual identification of the liquid within the container. 
   The lower portion of the container  14  has a lower surface  18  configured with a centrally located cavity  20  for cooperation with an anchoring means illustrated herein as a holding stem assembly  22 . The holding stem assembly  22  is constructed and arranged with a proximal end  24  for cooperation with the cavity  20  and a distal end  26  for cooperation with at least one surface  28  having a flange  48  disposed therebetween. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4  a preferred albeit non-limiting holding stem assembly  22  construction is shown. The holding stem assembly  22  utilizes a central stud member  52  secured to a cap member  44  at the proximal end  24  of the holding stem  22  extending downwardly through the annular stem, the first surface  28  and the second surface  40 . The central stud member  52  threadedly connects to a second surface engaging means at the proximal end  26  of the holding stem  22  illustrated herein as sub-plate  42 . The sub-plate  42  is constructed and arranged generally as a rectangle so as to allow insertion downwardly through the aperture  46 . The assembly is secured by pulling upwardly and turning the cap  44  until the flange  48  and sub-plate  42  provide sufficient frictional engagement against both the first  28  and second surfaces  40 . The stem assembly  22  may also include a watertight sealing means shown as, but not limited to, a resilient sealing member  50 . The resilient sealing member  50  creates a watertight seal between the flange  48  and the first surface  28 . Other suitable methods of creating a watertight seal that are well known in the art may be used in place of the resilient sealing member  50 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 5  an alternative embodiment of the holding stem  22  is shown. In this embodiment the holding stem  22  utilizes a threaded stub  54  at the distal end  26  of the holding stem  22  to secure the holding stem  22  to a surface  28 . To attach the holding stem to a surface the stem  22  is merely threaded into a sized aperture until the flange  48  tightens against the desired surface  28 . Also illustrated is a one piece container assembly  10 . The one piece container assembly may be disposable after the contents are used and replaced with a new container. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7  an alternative holding stem  22  embodiment is illustrated wherein the proximal end  24  of the holding stem  22  is constructed with a polygon shaped periphery. By utilizing elliptical or other polygon shaped peripheries or combinations thereof on the proximal end  24  of the holding stem  22  the container  10  can be directionally oriented and/or indexed. Suitable geometric shapes may include but should not be limited to square, triangle, hexagon, octagon, ellipse, polygon, D-shaped or combinations thereof. The attachment means on the distal end  26  is illustrated as a rubber grommet  56 . Holding stems  22  utilizing the rubber grommet  56  may be secured to a surface  28  by inserting the grommet  56  through a suitably sized aperture. It should be noted that when holding stems utilizing the shaped peripheries are used the cavity in the container should have a conjugate shape to that of the holding stem to permit cooperating engagement. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9  an alternative holding stem embodiment is illustrated wherein the proximal end  24  of the holding stem  22  is constructed with a round perimeter. By utilizing the round shaped perimeter on the proximal end  24  of the holding stem  22  the container  10  can be infinitely rotated and oriented. The holding stem  22  illustrated utilizes an adhesive pad  58  to secure the proximal end  24  of the stem  22  to a surface  28 . Adhesive pads such as the one utilized herein are well known in the art. Use of the adhesive pad  58  eliminates the need for an aperture  46  to mount a holding stem  22 . 
   As a further modification the stem  22  may be magnetized or contain at least one magnet within the stem. In this manner a holding stem  22  can be mounted to magnetic surfaces such as cast iron sinks and bath-tubs without the need for an aperture  46 . A second magnet may also be placed with the container cavity  20  or adjacent to the bottom surface  18  to cooperate with the magnetic stem. 
   Referring to  FIG. 10  a cross-sectional side view of the container  10  and pump head  38  illustrating the centrally located cavity  20  in the bottom surface  18  of the container  10  as well as the optional removable and replaceable pump head  38  and identification disc  74 . Supported within the canister is the pump means  60 , the pump means is generally supported by the cap  36  which has a centrally located opening therein. Extending downward from the pump is the suction tube  62 , extending upwardly from the pump is the actuator tube  64 . The pump head  38  is constructed with an aperture  66  in its lower surface to cooperate with the actuator tube  64 . The proximal end of the pump tube thus sealably engages the pump head aperture  66 . Operation of the pump means  60  causes viscous liquid contained in the reservoir  16  to be drawn into the suction tube  62 . The viscous fluid is then forced upward through the actuator tube  64  and the pump head  38  exiting through the dispenser tube  68 . This arrangement permits the pump heads  38  to be removed from the pump  60  and replaced with other decorative/identification pump heads. 
   Referring to  FIG. 11  a partial side view with a portion of the container being broken away is shown. In this non-limiting embodiment the holding stem  22  is constructed with a locking means illustrated herein as a protuberance  70  on the proximal end  24  of the locking stem  22 . The protuberance  70  is constructed and arranged to cooperate with an indentation  72  in the centrally located cavity  20  of the container  10 . The cooperation of the protuberance  70  and the indentation  72  provides secure retention of the container  10 . It is also contemplated and understood that other suitable means of securing the container to the holding pin well known in the art could be substituted for the means illustrated herein. 
   All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. 
   It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification. 
   One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.