Motorized household liquid dispenser

Abstract

A household liquid dispensing apparatus includes a container for holding a household liquid and a pump for pumping the household liquid out of the container. The pump includes a pump chamber. A dip tube is adapted to be positioned in the container and communicates with the pump chamber. An exhaust tube communicates with the pump chamber and an outlet for the household liquid. A pump actuator mechanically drives the pump. A motor operatively engages the pump actuator. The motor is electrically connected to a power source. A switch is electrically connected to the motor and the power source. A trigger assembly is operatively connected to the switch to control power delivered to the motor. The trigger assembly is positioned under the outlet for the household liquid for easy actuation by an upturned hand.

1 . An apparatus for dispensing a liquid from an associated pump bottle, wherein the associated pump bottle includes a container for storing a household liquid, a pump for pumping the household liquid out of the container, a pump driving member for driving the pump, and an outlet for the household liquid, the apparatus comprising: 
 a housing adapted to receive the associated pump bottle;    an actuator adapted to engage the pump driving member of the associated pump bottle;    a motor operatively connected to said actuator and electrically connected to a power source;    a switch electrically connected to said motor and the power source for selectively supplying power to said motor; and    a trigger attached to said housing such that said trigger is positioned under the outlet of the associated pump bottle when the associated pump bottle is received by said housing, said trigger selectively engaging said switch.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said housing includes a platform upon which the container of the associated bottle rests when the associated bottle is received by said housing.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said trigger is spaced from the platform of said housing to define an open space between said trigger and the platform.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said housing includes a wall extending from the platform.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus for pumping liquid from an associated bottle comprising: 
 a housing adapted to receive an associated pump bottle;    an actuator movably mounted to said housing;    a motor operatively connected to said actuator and electrically connected to a power source;    a switch electrically connected to said motor and the power source for selectively supplying power to said motor;    a trigger movably mounted to said housing such that an opening is defined by said trigger and a wall of said housing, wherein the opening is adapted to receive a portion of the associated pump bottle.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said housing includes a platform adapted to allow the associated pump bottle to rest on the platform.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said trigger is spaced above the platform on the same side of said housing.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said trigger is positioned between said actuator and the platform.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said trigger is positioned below said actuator.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said actuator reciprocates up and down in relation to said housing.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the opening is substantially rectangular.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said trigger includes a first arm pivotally mounted to the housing.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said trigger includes a second arm spaced from the first arm, wherein the arms further define the opening.  
   
   
       14 . A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising: 
 a container for holding a liquid;    a pump for pumping the liquid out of the container;    an inlet in communication with the pump and the container;    an outlet in communication with the pump;    a motor for driving the pump;    a switch electrically connected to the motor and an associated power source;    a moveable trigger operatively connected to the switch to control power delivered to the motor, wherein the trigger is positioned in relation to the outlet such that the same hand of a user that moves the trigger is also positioned to receive liquid from the outlet.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the trigger is positioned below the outlet.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the outlet is disposed above the container.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the outlet is disposed above the container.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the trigger comprises an optical sensor.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the trigger is positioned below the outlet.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a gear reduction transmission interposed between the motor and the pump.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the trigger comprises a trigger pad.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the trigger pad is positioned in relation to the outlet such that an object that exerts a force on the trigger pad is also positioned to receive the liquid dispensed from the outlet.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a conduit disposed between the pump and the outlet.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising a shroud mounted to the container and covering the conduit.  
   
   
       25 . A dispenser for delivering liquid from an associated bottle to a person's hand, the dispenser comprising: 
 a pump for pumping liquid from the associated bottle;    a conduit in fluid communication with the pump and an outlet for the dispenser;    a motor operatively connected to the pump for driving the pump;    a switch electrically connected to the motor and a power source;    a moveable trigger selectively mechanically engaging the switch, wherein the trigger is positioned in relation to the outlet such that the same hand of the person that moves the trigger is also positioned to receive liquid from the outlet.    
   
   
       26 . The dispenser of  claim 25 , wherein the trigger comprises a trigger assembly that includes a trigger pad.  
   
   
       27 . The dispenser of  claim 26 , wherein the trigger pad is disposed below the outlet.  
   
   
       28 . The dispenser of  claim 27 , wherein the pump includes a pump inlet, the outlet being disposed above the pump inlet.  
   
   
       29 . The dispenser of  claim 25 , wherein the motor engages the pump via a gear reduction transmission.  
   
   
       30 . The dispenser of  claim 25 , further comprising a dip tube in communication with the pump.  
   
   
       31 . The dispenser of  claim 25 , further comprising a housing, the pump and the conduit being at least partially disposed in the housing.  
   
   
       32 . The dispenser of  claim 31 , further comprising a dip tube adapted to be positioned in the associated container.  
   
   
       33 . The dispenser of  claim 32 , wherein the housing includes an opening in communication with the dip tube.  
   
   
       34 . The dispenser of  claim 33 , wherein the opening in the housing aligns with an opening in the associated bottle when the associated bottle is attached to the housing.