Patent Publication Number: US-6698616-B2

Title: Electronic liquid dispenser

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a liquid dispenser. More specifically, and without limitation, this invention relates to an electronically controlled liquid dispenser for dispensing liquid from a bottle. 
     Liquid dispensers for various liquid products are well known and generally include a container for holding the liquid, with a discharge port through which the liquid is dispensed. A common problem with many prior art dispensers is leakage or dripping of the liquid from the bottle after a desired liquid volume has been discharged or dispensed. Another problem with prior art dispensers is the inability to dispense 100% of the liquid from the bottle. Rather, dispensers typically retain 5-10% of the liquid in the bottle after the bottle is “emptied.” A further problem with prior art medical dispensers is the inability to dispense the desired amount or dosage. 
     There are also problems related to the use of soap or scrub that without the benefit of this disclosure would seem to be unrelated to liquid dispensers. One such problem relates to the diligence of a person in applying soap or surgical scrub. Even if such a liquid is dispensed, in order for it to perform its intended function it may need to be thoroughly applied. For example, where a person seeks to apply surgical scrub as an antiseptic, the person must thoroughly scrub their hands and arms with the antiseptic liquid in order for it to fulfill its intended purpose. If a person does not rub the antiseptic into their hands, finger nails, cuticles and forearms for a sufficient time period then microorganisms including viruses and bacteria are not removed. 
     Similarly, for proper antiseptic use it may be advisable to rinse, and then reapply an amount of the liquid and repeat the scrubbing process. Failure to scrub for the proper time period or to repeat the process can have an adverse affect on the efficiency of the scrubbing process. 
     Further, if the person touches the liquid dispenser in order to dispense liquid a second time, then that person may introduce new microorganisms onto their hands, thus negating at least a portion of the effect of the liquid in the first place. 
     Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a liquid dispenser that improves upon the state of the art. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid dispenser that does not leak or drip liquid after a desired volume has been dispensed. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a liquid dispenser that dispenses 100% of the liquid in a bottle. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid dispenser particularly for medical uses that accurately dispenses a desired dosage of a liquid from a bottle. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a liquid dispenser that dispenses liquid without requiring a person to come in contact with the liquid dispenser. 
     A still further object of the present invention is to provide a liquid dispenser that encourages a person using the dispenser to thoroughly apply the dispensed liquid. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid dispenser that encourages a person to apply a liquid more than once. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid dispenser that uses pneumatic pressure for product dispensing. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a liquid dispenser that can be a closed system that requires no external input or apparatus. 
     These and/or other objects, features or advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the specification and claims. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention includes a liquid dispenser for dispensing liquid from a bottle, the bottle having an inlet port and an outlet port, with liquid being dispensed through the outlet port. According to the present invention, the liquid dispenser includes an air manifold fluidly connected to the inlet port and an air pump fluidly connected to the air manifold for providing compressed air. An electrical control system is electrically connected to the air pump for controlling the dispensing of the liquid. Preferably, there is a solenoid in operative contact with the air manifold for releasing air from the air manifold so that a precise amount of liquid can be dispensed. Also, preferably the liquid dispenser includes a proximity detection system electrically connected to the electrical control system so that when objects such as person&#39;s hands are placed underneath the outlet port of the liquid dispenser, liquid can be automatically dispensed. 
     The present invention also provides for a process of dispensing liquid from a bottle that has an inlet port and an outlet port. The method includes detecting an object that is proximate the outlet port, then pumping air through the inlet port so as to pressurize air within the bottle and thereby dispense a first flow of liquid through the outlet valve, and then releasing pressure in the bottle thereby stopping the flow of liquid through the outlet valve. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, the liquid dispenser includes a built-in scrub timer for delaying for a time period after a first dispensement of liquid and before a second dispensement of liquid. This encourages proper scrubbing. Further, one aspect of the present invention provides for dispensing the liquid only when objects (such as a person&#39;s hands) are placed under the outlet port of the liquid dispenser. 
     Thus, the liquid dispenser of the present invention provides advantages such as automatic dispensing of liquid, dispensing of a controlled amount of liquid, and controlling the dispensement of a liquid in a manner that encourages proper repetition of the scrub, rinse, and repeat process. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the liquid dispenser of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the liquid dispenser of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a pictorial representation of the circuit board of the liquid dispenser of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control system of the liquid dispenser of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the pump, solenoid, and manifold assembly of the liquid dispenser of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The dispenser of the present invention is generally designated by the reference numeral  10  in the drawings. The dispenser  10  generally includes a bottle  12  for containing liquid to be dispensed, and a fixture  14  in which the bottle  12  is mounted. The fixture  14  is then mounted to a base  16 . The base  16  can be mounted on a wall. A battery compartment  18  is disposed within the base such that it is readily accessible for replacement of batteries without requiring that the liquid dispenser be removed from a wall. Although a battery compartment is shown, the present invention contemplates that electrical energy may otherwise be supplied. 
     Also shown in FIG. 1 is an on/off switch  74 . A volume adjustment control or setting  76  is also shown. In addition, an LED or other display  78  is shown. Preferably, where an LED is used, the LED is a two-toned LED. According to one embodiment, the LED will emit a green light which will eliminate for approximately  8  seconds when power is turned on and illuminate at activation and while soap is dispensing. A blinking red light can appear when the batteries are low and a constant red light can be used to indicate a malfunction. 
     As best shown in the exploded view of FIG. 2, the bottle  12  includes an inlet port  20 , which may be capped with inlet cap  22 . When the liquid dispenser  10  of the present invention is assembled with the bottle  12  in place, the inlet cap  22  is removed. 
     The bottle  12  also includes an outlet port  24  having an outlet cap  26 . The cap  26  has an opening therein which is normally closed by a self-sealing, non-drip valve  28 . The valve  34  preferably includes a silicon membrane with cross air slits transecting the membrane. Such a valve is commercially available and commonly known as a zell valve. A removable lid  32  is provided for the outlet cap  26  to enclose the valve  28  for storage and transport of the bottle  12 . In addition, the bottle  12  contains a recess  34  that is retentively engaged by spring clip  35  to secure the bottle  12  in the fixture  14 . 
     A one-way air valve and/or a solid plug  42  is mounted in the fixture  14 . The air valve  42  provides an air tight seal with the inlet port  20  of the bottle  12  when the bottle  12  is mounted in the fixture  14 . A t-branch  44  is provided to connect the air valve  42  in line with a tube  46  having a first end  48  and a second end  50 . The t-branch  44  also connects to a one-way air valve  43  having an air inlet end  45  and an air filter  40  disposed therein. The tube  46  has a first end  48  connected to the t-branch  44  and also a second end  50 . 
     The fixture  14  is attached to the base  16  and preferably is attached in an easily removable manner, such as through using a spring clip or other slidable inner locking assembly. The base  16  contains the removable battery compartment  18  with batteries  52 . In addition, the base  16  contains an opening  54  for providing access to the end  50  of tube  46 . 
     The base  16  can also include a bottle detection sensor or switch  55 . The bottle detector can be a contact switch such that when a bottle is in place the switch  55  is activated. Thus, the control system of the present invention can determine whether or not a bottle is present at any given time or can tell if a bottle has been removed and replaced. 
     The base backing  56  is attached to the base  16  such as through the use of screws  58  or other fasteners. On the base backing  56 , a circuit board  60  is mounted. Also mounted on the circuit board assembly  60  is an air manifold  62  in operative connection with a solenoid  64  and a motor  66  and attached pump  68 . The air pump  68  creates pressurized flow of air through tube  88  into the inner manifold  62  and the air manifold outlet  90 . When the liquid dispenser is assembled, the air manifold outlet  90  protrudes through the opening  54  of the base  16  and connects to the end  50  of tube  46  for providing pressurized air into the bottle  12 . 
     FIG. 3 provides a pictorial representation of the circuit board assembly  60 . The motor  66  drives the air pump  68  to pump air through tube  88  into the air manifold  62 . A solenoid  64  having a spring  82  and a rod  84  is also placed in operative contact with a seal  92 . When the solenoid  64  is in an actuated position with the rod  84  extended the seal  92  seals the air manifold so that air does not escape. 
     Also on circuit board assembly  60  is an electronic control such as a microcontroller  70 . The microcontroller  70  is electrically connected to the motor  66  for activating the motor  66  and air pump  68 . The microcontroller  70  is also electrically connected to the solenoid  64  for controlling actuation of the solenoid. The microcontroller  70  can be an 8 bit microcontroller such as available from Microchip such as a PIC 16F627. The present invention, however, contemplates use of, but is not limited to any particular microcontroller, integrated circuit, portion of an integrated circuit, controller, processor, or discrete control circuit. 
     Also on the circuit board assembly  60  is an on/off switch  74 , a liquid dispensing quantity adjustment control  76  such as a variable resistor, a visual feedback display such as an LED  78 , and a proximity detection system such as an infrared emitter/detector  72 . The infrared emitter/detector  72  emits infrared light and receives reflections of infrared light. Therefore, the infrared emitter/detector pair can emit infrared light and then detect whether that infrared light has been reflected off of an object. For example, if a person&#39;s hands were underneath the infrared emitter/detector  72  then infrared light emitted from the infrared emitter  73  would be reflected off the person&#39;s hands and received by the infrared receiver  75 . 
     FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the control system of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the electronic control  70  is electrically connected to a proximity detection system  72 . Preferably the proximity detection system is an infrared emitter/receiver. However, the present invention contemplates any number of types of proximity detection that rely upon light, ultrasonics, or other technologies. 
     The electronic control  70  is also electrically connected to a quantity adjustment  76 . By adjusting the quantity adjustment  76 , the electronic control can increase or decrease the amount or quantity of liquid dispensed. Where the electronic control  70  is a microcontroller with a built-in analog to digital converter, the quantity adjustment can be implemented through using a variable resistor such that as the variable resistor is adjusted, a voltage level received by the electronic control  70  is adjusted so that the electronic control  70  can adjust the quantity of liquid dispensed based upon the resistance of the variable resistor the present invention, however, contemplates that the quantity of liquid to be dispensed can otherwise be controlled. 
     The motor  66  is also electrically connected or otherwise in operative communication with the electronic control  70  such that the electronic control  70  can turn on or off the motor  66  thereby causing air to be pumped into a bottle when the motor  66  is activated. In addition, the solenoid  64  is electrically connected to the electronic control  70  so that the solenoid can be actuated by the electronic control  70  in order to release air. 
     The use of the electronic control  70  provides great flexibility in the operation of the liquid dispenser. In particular, the electronic control  70  allows for precise quantities of liquid to be dispensed. The electronic control  70  can turn the motor  66  on for a precise amount of time so that a corresponding amount of liquid is dispensed. In addition, the electronic control  70  can monitor the proximity detection system  72 . Thus, the electronic control  70  can activate the motor  66  and dispense liquid after an object has been detected. So, for instance, a person can put their hands underneath the liquid dispenser thereby activating the proximity detection system  72  that is monitored by the electronic control  70  which in turn, turns on the motor  66  to dispense liquid. The electronic control  70  can also include one or more timers. The use of timers further provides the present invention with additional features. For example, according to the present invention, after a first quantity of liquid is dispensed, the electronic control  70  can wait for a given time period and then dispense a second quantity of liquid. Where the liquid dispenser contains soap or surgical scrub this encourages an operator to repeat the scrubbing process. Further, the electronic control  70  is preferably configured such that soap or surgical scrub is not dispensed when the proximity detection system  72  does not detect hands underneath the liquid dispenser. 
     The present invention also provides for an optional bottle detection switch  55  electrically connected to the electronic control  70 . The bottle detection sensor switch can be of numerous types, including a contact switch. When a bottle detection switch  55  is used, the electronic control  70  can detect when a bottle has been removed and when a new bottle has been inserted into the device. The present invention contemplates that as the amount of liquid in the bottle decreases, the motor  66  will need to be turned on for an increased amount of time in order to build sufficient pressure to dispense the same amount of liquid. Thus, the present invention provides for maintaining precise dosages of liquid even as the supply of liquid in the bottle depletes over time. 
     The present invention also provides for a display  78  electrically connected to the electronic control  70 . The display can be an LED or other type of display. Where an LED is used, the LED can be activated prior to the second dispensement of liquid to provide notice to the operator that liquid will soon be dispensed so that the operator can place their hands underneath the outlet of the bottle. The LED is preferably a two-tone LED. For example, the LED can display both green and red. The green light can be used to illuminate for a time period, such as approximately 8 seconds, when the power is turned on and to illuminate upon activation and while the soap is dispensing. The green light can continue to blink for a time period, such as  90  seconds, after the soap has last been dispensed. Once a user places their hands underneath the dispenser while the green light is blinking, the dispenser dispenses a second dose of liquid. A blinking red light can be used when the batteries are low and need to be replaced with the next bottle change. A constant red light can be used when a unit detects a malfunction. The present invention also contemplates that instead of a display  78 , other types of alert or notice could be used, including sound, light or other implementations. Where an intelligent control having an instruction set is used, the instruction set includes instructions for controlling the display. 
     When the electronic control  70  of the present invention includes a microcontroller, processor, or other intelligent control device, the electronic control  70  can have an instruction set so that electronic control of the dispensing process is controlled by these instructions. The instructions provide for determining that the liquid should be dispensed, dispensing a first amount of the liquid, delaying for a time period, and dispensing a second amount of the liquid. In addition, electronic control  70  preferably includes instructions for determining the amount of time the motor should be operated in order to dispense a particular amount of liquid. As the bottle is depleted, the amount of time required to build up sufficient air pressure to dispense the same amount of liquid also increases. The present invention increases the motor run time such that the first does of liquid is of the same size as the last dose of liquid. 
     FIG. 5 shows the motor  66 , pump  68 , solenoid  64 , and manifold  90  assembly in greater detail. The motor  66 , when turned on, causes the pump  68  to pump air through the tube  88  and into the air manifold  62 . The solenoid  64  with spring  82  on the shaft  84 , has a seal  86  used to seal an outlet  92  of the air manifold. When the solenoid is actuated such that the rod  84  is extended, the outlet  92  of the air manifold  62  is sealed so that air can be forced through the tubes and the bottle, resulting in the dispensement of liquid from the bottle. When the motor  66  and pump  68  are turned off and the solenoid  64  is turned off so that the rod  84  returns to its original position, the seal  86  no longer seals the outlet  92  of the air manifold  62 . Thus, pressurized air is immediately released from the air manifold  62  and liquid ceases to be dispensed. This configuration results in precise control of the amount of liquid dispensed from the bottle. 
     Thus, according to a method of the present invention once an object is detected air can be pumped through the inlet port of the bottle so as to pressurize air within the bottle and thereby dispense a flow of liquid through the outlet valve of the bottle. According to the present invention, pressure in the bottle can be released by stopping the flow of liquid through the valve. Preferably 100% of the pressure is released and slow bleed-off is avoided. The present invention also provides for then delaying for a time period and then pumping air again so as to dispense a second quantity of liquid. Preferably, the second quantity of liquid is not dispensed until the user&#39;s hands are detected underneath the outlet of the bottle. Further, the invention provides for an alert that the liquid dispenser is almost ready to resume a second dispensement of liquid. 
     Therefore a liquid dispenser has been disclosed. The liquid dispenser of the present invention provides for the advantages of dispensing a controlled quantity of liquid, dispensing liquid without requiring a person to physically contact the liquid dispenser, dispensing liquid multiple times to encourage proper scrubbing, and other advantages. Further, the present invention contemplates numerous variations in its specific configuration and implementation. The preferred embodiment of the present invention set forth in the drawings and specification may employ specific terms, however these are used in a generic or descriptive sense only and are not used for purposes of limitation. Changes in the form and proportion of parts as well as a substitution of equivalence are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as further defined in the following claims.