US2894662A

US2894662A - Soap dispenser

Info

Publication number: US2894662A
Application number: US663662A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard C Mansperger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-06-05
Filing date: 1957-06-05
Publication date: 1959-07-14
Anticipated expiration: 1976-07-14

Description

July 14; 1959 R. c. MANSPERGER 2,894,662

v SOAP DISPENSER Filed June 5, 1957 i '2 Shasta-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. Richard C. Manape/ger.

ATTORNEYS y 1959 R. c. MANSPERGER 2,894,662

SOAP DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 5, 1957 v INVENTOR. Richard C. Manspe/gen W MW A 7'7'ORNEYS- SOAP DISPENSER Richard C. Mansperger, Kansas City, Mo. Application June 5, 1957, Serial No. 663,662 4 Claims. (Cl. 222-242) This invention relates to a dispensing apparatus, and more particularly to dispensers for powdered soap and the like such as are used in publiclavatories, factory washrooms and similar places.

Soap dispensers in common use frequently become inoperative due to the packing of the powdered soap and the like around valve openings or ports or the bridging of the soap in the container adjacent the valve openings. Such conditions are accelerated when using material such as soap which has a tendency to cake or agglomerate, especially under humid or moist conditions. When the dispensing of the soap is inadequate dueto bridging or lumps, the users may attempt to gain entry to the dis penser to obtain some soap, thereby aggravating the condition, and in some instances the dispensers are rendered inoperative by persons playfully or maliciously putting water or other foreign objects into the dispenser.

The objects of the present invention are to provide a soap dispenser that is substantially free of all operating difiiculties; to provide such a soap dispenser with a metering valve and discharge that is positive in operation dispensing a limited quantity of soap with each operation of the metering valve; to provide a soap dispenser with operating members held together by spring pressure; and to provide a soap dispenser which is economical to manufacture, of attractive appearance, and efiicient in operation, easily serviced and maintained.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a soap dispenser embodying the features of the present invention in operative position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the .soap dispenser looking generally from the rear thereof.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the soap dispenser.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal .sectional view through the dispenser on the line 4-4, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a partial vertical sectional view through the dispenser on the line 5--5, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view through the dispenser on the line 6-6, Fig. .3.

Fig. 7 is a horizonal sectional view through the dispenser on the line 7-7, Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view through the dispenser on the line 8-8, Fig. 3.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a soap dispenser having a hollow body or container 2 for containing a suitable quantity of powdered soap. The container 2 includes jafront wall 3 and

side walls

4 and 5 which are preferably formed of a single sheet of transparent synthetic resin formed in a U-shape whereby the front wall is substantially semicylindrical and the side walls are relatively flat and terminate in vertical edges 6 at the rear of the container. A'rear wall 7 has forwardly extending side flanges 8 United States Patent adapted to overlie the rear portion of the

side walls

4 and 5. Ribs 9 are on the rear wall 7 and extend forwardly therefrom in spaced relation to the side flanges 8 to engage the inner surface of the

walls

4 and 5 to hold same against lateral displacement. Spaced fingers 10 extend forwardly from the rear wall 7 to engage and support a strainer 11 with the bottom portion 12 thereof spaced below the upper edge 13 of the

walls

3, 4 and 5, said strainer having upwardly extending portions 14 en.- gaging the inner surfaces of said walls and terminating at the upper edge 13 of the container walls. The screen 11 is preferably formed of wire suitably spaced whereby the powdered soap can be poured therethrough but large lumps are retained and prevented from passage into the container.

A container top member 15 has shoulders 16 resting on the upper edge 13 of the

walls

3, 4 and 5. The top member 15 has depending flanges 17 extending downwardly and engaged with the exterior surface of the upper portion of said container walls. The rear portion of the top member has a depending wall 18 engaging an upper extension 19 of the rear wall 7 and is secured thereto by suitable fastening devices such as screws 20. The top member has a rearwardly extending portion 21 terminating in an edge 22 in vertical alignment with the rear surfaces 23 of lugs 24 on the lower portion of the rear wall as later described. The top member 15 has a fill opening 25 normally closed by a cover member 26 having an arm 27 hingedly mounted by a hinge pin 28 on spaced bars 29 upstanding from the rear portion of the top member 15. A suitable lock 30 is preferably arranged on the forward portion of the cover member 26 and is operable to engage the top member to hold the cover member in closed position.

The dispenser mounting lugs 24 extend rearwardly and laterally from the lower portion of the rear plate 7 and preferably have V-shaped grooves 31 in the rear portion thereof whereby the dispenser may be mounted on a horizontal pipe 32 by means of a clamp member 33 secured to the lugs by suitable fastening devices 34. If desired, the rear faces 23 of the lugs may engage a vertical wall and the dispenser secured to said wall by fastening devices extending through holes 35 in the lugs.

A bottom plate 36 is arranged at the lower ends of the

walls

3, 4, 5 and 7, and has an upstanding flange 37 engaging the exterior of the lower portion of the

walls

3, 4 and 5 of the container, the rear of the upstanding flange 37 engaging the forward edge of the flanges 8 of the rear wall, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The bottom plate is secured by suitable fastening devices such as screws 38 to a de: flector 39 arranged in the container at the rear thereof, said deflector being secured to the rear wall 7 by suitable fastening devices such as screws 40. The screws 38 hold the bottom plate 36 tight against the lower edges of the

walls

3, 4 and 5 and the screws 40 draw the flange 37 against the wall 3 and the edges 6 against the wall 17 to provide a tight seal between the parts.

A dispensing plate 41 is mounted in spaced relation to the bottom plate 36 and has a plurality of outwardly extending ears 42 which align with corresponding ears 43 extending outwardly from the bottom plate 36, the cars 42 having apertures 44 extending tiherethrough for the shanks 45 of screws 46 which are screwed into threaded openings 47 in the ears 43 and serve as guide posts for the plate 41, the heads 48 of the screws are usually spaced slightly from the bottom of the dispensing plate and serve as stops to limit downward movement or tipping of the dispensing plate. The screws 46 may be adjusted to vary the spacing between the bottom .face 49 of the bottom plate and the heads 48 but always hold the dispensing plate 41 against rotation. The bottom plate and dispensing plate have aligned apertures or bearing openings 51 and 52 respectively to rotatably mount hub 53 of a valve plate member 54 which is substantially cylindrical and has a plurality of spaced finger lugs 55 extending substantially radially therefrom. The valve plate member has a plurality of elongated metering openings 56 extending vertically therethrough and spaced from the hub members to register with an elongated opening 57 in the bottom plate 36, and also register with a dispensing opening 58 in the dispensing plate 41, said

openings

56, 57 and 53 each being equally spaced from the axis of rotation of the valve plate 54. The number of finger lugs 55 on the valve plate member 54 preferably corresponds in number to the number of metering openings 56 therein. In the illustrated structure, there are four elongated metering openings 56 in the valve plate, each of suitable size whereby the openings define a volume of soap to be dispensed at one operation of the valve member. The opening 58 in the dispensing plate 41 substantially corresponds in area and shape to the openings 56 in the valve plate with the distance between adjacent ends of the

openings

53 and 57 being greater than the length of the openings 56 whereby there cannot be any simultaneous registry of the openings for flow of soap from the interior of the container to the opening 58.

Ring gaskets

59 and 66 are arranged in concentric relation between the valve plate 54 and bottom plate member 36 and similar gaskets 61 and 62 are arranged between the valve plate 54 and the dispensing plate 41 to prevent soap from moving inwardly or outwardly between the respective plates. The gaskets 59, 6h, 61 and 62 are preferably secured to the valve plate 54 by adhesive to hold them in desired position relative the flow openings. The gaskets also provide spacing between the plate members and the areas between the dispensing passages or openings. This arrangement reduces the friction that results from soap particles tending to move between contacting metal surfaces.

An agitator 63 is arranged in the container and has a hub 64 provided with a shank 65 that extends through an opening 66 in the valve plate member 54 in axial relation thereto. A portion 67 of the shank 65 is of polygonal shape and fits in a similar shaped counterbore 68 in the valve plate to key the agitator to said plate. A gasket 69 is arranged under the agitator hub in engagement with the top surface of the bottom plate 36 to prevent the soap from entering therebetween. A spring 70 is sleeved on the shank 65 below the dispensing plate 41 with one end engaging the dispensing plate and the other end engaging a washer 71 held in place by a suit able pin 72 or other fastening device at the end of the shank whereby the spring is compressed and holds the agitator against the gasket 69 and urges the dispensing plate 41 and valve plate 54 toward the bottom plate to maintain the seals with the gaskets and provide a constant resistance to rotation of the valve plate 54. The agitator is provided with radially extending arms 73 extending outwardly from the lower portion of the agitator hub and adapted to pass under a houlder 7!- fonncd by a groove or recess 75 in the deflector 39 whereby the arms cooperate with the shoulder to tend to break up any lumps in the soap. Other arms 76 extend from the agitator hub in vertically spaced relation to the arms '73 to further cooperate with the deflector surface 77 which I is inclined downwardly and forwardly from the rear wall 7 and is concave in horizontal cross-section for cooperation with the agitator to assure that soap is delivered to the dispensing opening.

The dispensing plate has an annular depending flange 78 extending below the end of the shank 65 and spaced outwardly from the dispensing openings whereby the user can place his hand at the lower part of the flange 78 and soap will be dispensed through the area defined thereby to said hand in response to operation of the valve plate member 54-.

In operating a soap dispenser constructed and mounted as described, the cover 26 is unlocked and opened and soap placed into the container whereby all of the soap entering the lower portion of the container must be of a fineness to pass through the screen 11. Then the cover is closed and locked in place. When soap is to be dispensed, the operator grasps one of the finger lugs and rotates the valve plate member 54 until the finger lug moves between the

forward extending cars

42 and 43, at which position a metering opening 56 registers with the opening 58 and soap powder will drop into the operators hand placed below the annular flange 78. At this time the diametrically opposite metering opening 56 registers with the opening 57 whereby additional soap can move from the container into the respective opening 56 in the valve plate member. The opening 57 is substantially longer than the openings 56 in the valve plate member as illustrated in Fig. 6 whereby on the next rotation of the valve plate member there is ample time for soap to enter the openings 56 of the valve plate member. Simultaneously with rotation of the valve plate member, the agitator is rotated whereby the arms thereon cooperate with the deflector to cause the soap to flow downwardly and forwardly, break up lumps and prevent bridging of the soap relative to the opening 57. The spring 70 urges the dispensing plate 41 and valve plate 54 toward the bottom plate whereby the gaskets 59, 60, 61 and 62 maintain a seal and provide a friction that prevents the valve plate from being turned with suificient force to cause any additional movement thereof other than the positive movement caused by the pressure of a persons finger on the respective finger lugs 155. The gaskets prevent soap from entering between the valve plate and the bottom plate 36 or dispensing plate 41 except in the space between the gaskets 59 and 60 or gaskets 61 and 62 and the spring 70 is such that there is no binding in the operating parts. If there should be any difficulty occurring, the screws 46 may be loosened or removed whereby the operating structures can quickly be cleaned and the dispenser placed back in operation.

It is believed that I have provided a soap dispenser that is positive and eflicient in dispensing soap powder, that has few operating parts and is characterized by an absence of maintenance problems.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described one form of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A dispenser for powdered soap and the like comprising, a container having a bottom plate, a dispensing plate under the bottom plate in vertically spaced relation thereto, cooperative guide means on the bottom plate and dispensing plate for guiding said dispensing plate for vertical movement toward the bottom plate and retaining said dispensing plate and bottom plate against relative rotation, a valve plate between the bottom plate and dis pensing plate, means rotatably supporting the valve plate for rotation on a central axis, resilient means urging the dispensing plate toward the valve plate and both the dispensing plate and valve plate toward the bottom plate, said bottom plate having an elongated discharge port spaced radially from the axis of rotation of the valve plate, a plurality of spaced metering openings in the valve plate equally spaced from the axis of rotation thereof whereby rotation of the valve plate moves the metering opening into registry with the port in the bottom plate, said dispensing plate having a dispensing port therein registrable with the metering ports in the valve plate in response to rotation of said valve plate, said dispensing port being on the opposite side of the valve plate axis relative to the port in the bottom plate with the circumferential spacing such that the metering openings register with ports in the bottom and dispensing plates only at difierent points during rotation through a complete turn of the valve plate, radially extending lugs on the valve plate for moving the same, spaced concentric gaskets between said bottom plate and said valve plate, and spaced concentric gaskets between said dispensing plate and said valve plate, said concentric gaskets between the respective plates having adjacent edges spaced from the metering openings in said valve plate.

2. A dispenser for powdered soap and the like comprising, a container having side walls and a bottom plate, a dispensing plate under the bottom plate in vertically spaced relation thereto, cooperative guide means on the bottom plate and dispensing plate for guiding said dispensing plate for vertical movement toward the bottom plate and retaining said dispensing plate and bottom plate against relative rotation, a valve plate between the bottom plate and dispensing plate, means rotatably supporting the valve plate for rotation on a central axis, resilient means urging the dispensing plate toward the valve plate and both the dispensing plate and valve plate toward the bottom plate, said bottom plate having an elongated discharge port spaced radially from the axis of rotation of the valve plate, a plurality of spaced metering openings in the valve plate equally spaced from the axis of rotation thereof whereby rotation of the valve plate moves the metering opening into registry with the port in the bottom plate, said dispensing plate having a dispensing port therein registrable with the metering ports in the valve plate in response to rotation of said valve plate, said dispensing port being on the opposite side of the valve plate axis relative to the port in the bottom plate with the circumferential spacing such that the metering openings register with ports in the bottom and dispensing plates only at ditferent points during rotation through a complete turn of the valve plate, means on the valve plate for rotating same, an agitator in the container adjacent the bottom plate and having radially extending arms spaced vertically apart, means keying the agitator to the valve plate for rotation therewith, and a deflector in the container extending from said bottom plate between said discharge port and the adjacent side wall upwardly and thence laterally to said adjacent side wall, said deflector having a groove adjacent the bottom plate for receiving the lower most of said radially extending arms whereby the agitator and deflector cooperate for breaking soap lumps in response to rotation of said agitator.

3. A dispenser for powdered soap and the like comprising, a container having a bottom plate with a central bearing opening and an elongated port radially spaced from said opening, a dispensing plate under the bottom plate in vertically spaced relation thereto, cooperative guide means on the bottom plate and dispensing plate for guiding said dispensing plate for vertical movement toward the bottom plate and retaining said dispensing plate and bottom plate against relative rotation, said bottom plate and dispensing plate having parallel adjacent faces, a valve plate having opposite parallel faces between the bottom plate and dispensing plate, a shaft rotatably supporting the valve plate for rotation on the axis of the bearing opening in the bottom plate, said shaft extending through the respective bearing openings into the container and below the dispensing plate, a plurality of spaced metering openings in the valve plate equally spaced from the axis of rotation thereof whereby rotation of the valve plate moves the metering opening into registry with the port in the bottom plate, said dispensing plate having a dispensing port therein registrable with the metering ports in the valve plate in response to rotation of said valve plate, said dispensing port being on the opposite side of the valve plate axis relative to the port in the bottom plate with the circumferential spacing such that the metering openings register with ports in the bottom and dispensing plates only at different points during rotation through a complete turn of the valve plate, means on the 6 valve plate for rotating same, an agitator secured on said shaft in the container adjacent the bottom plate whereby the agitator is keyed to the valve plate for rotation therewith, a deflector in the container, cooperative means on the agitator and deflector for breaking soap lumps in response to rotation of said agitator, and resilient means on said shaft below the dispensing plate for urging the dispensing plate and valve plate toward the bottom plate.

4. A dispenser for powdered soap and the like comprising, a container having a bottom plate with a central bearing opening and an elongated port radially spaced from said opening, a dispensing plate under the bottom plate in vertically spaced relation thereto, cooperative guide means on the bottom plate and dispensing plate for guiding said dispensing plate for vertical movement toward the bottom plate and retaining said dispensing plate and bottom plate against relative rotation, said bottom plate and dispensing plate having parallel adjacent faces, a valve plate having opposite parallel faces between the bottom plate and dispensing plate, a shaft rotatably supporting the valve plate for rotation on the axis of the bearing opening in the bottom plate, said shaft extending through the respective bearing openings into the container and below the dispensing plate, a plurality of spaced metering openings in the valve plate equally spaced from the axis of rotation thereof whereby rotation of the valve plate moves the metering opening into registry with the port in the bottom plate, said dispensing plate having a dispensing port therein registrable with the metering ports in the valve plate in response to rotation of said valve plate, said dispensing port being on the opposite side of the valve plate axis relative to the port in the bottom plate with the circumferential spacing such that the metering openings register with ports in the bottom and dispensing plates only at different points during rotation through a complete turn of the valve plate, radially extending lugs on the valve plate corresponding in number to the number of metering openings therein, spaced means on the bottom plate and dispensing plate between which a finger lug moves when a metering opening is in registry with the port in the dispensing plate and another finger lug is exposed for the next rotative movement of the valve plate, an agitator secured on said shaft in the container adjacent the bottom plate whereby the agitator is keyed to the valve plate for rotation therewith, seal means be tween said agitator and said bottom plate, a deflector in the container, cooperative means on the agitator and deflector for breaking soap lumps in response to rotation of said agitator, resilient means on said shaft below the dispensing plate for urging the dispensing plate and valve plate toward the bottom plate, an annular depending flange on the dispensing plate around the dispensing port therein, spaced concentric gaskets between the valve plate and bottom plate, and spaced concentric gaskets between the valve plate and dispensing plate, said concentric gaskets between the respective plates having adjacent edges spaced from the metering openings in said valve plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 314,692 Leavitt et a1 Mar. 31, 1885 319,155 Wellington June 2, 1885 792,620 Ryan June 20, 1905 861,079 Benner July 23, 1907 1,084,873 Addis Jan. 20, 1914 1,105,075 Greene July 28, 1914 1,302,922 Heylman May 6, 1919 2,176,232 Warren et a1. Oct. 17, 1939 2,584,781 =Beatty Feb. 5, 1952 2,750,072 Duncan June 12, 1956 2,761,592 Lewis et a1. Sept. 4, 1956