Faucet System Comprising a Liquid Soap Delivery Line

Abstract

A water faucet system including a faucet having a neck comprising a water passageway and liquid soap delivery line, both integrated within the neck assembly. The water faucet system features a streamlined neck assembly that includes a water outlet or spout, located at the distal portion of the neck assembly, and additionally includes a separate soap outlet located at a predetermined location. The soap delivery (soap dispensing) is initiated by a user performing an activation event directed to a sensor system located in the neck assembly. In preferred embodiments, the sensor system utilizes touchless type sensors so to avoid any physical contact with the neck assembly.

What is claimed herein is: 
     
         1 . A faucet system, comprising:
 an elongated neck, configured from a substantially continuous tubular structure having an internal volume; said elongated neck comprising a base portion, a spout, and a mediate portion located between said base portion and said spout;   a water passageway that provides a water flow path for a water stream through said spout;   a means for initiating said water stream through said spout;   a sensor system having a sensor mounting location on said elongated neck;   a soap delivery line, including a soap outlet, wherein a user receives a soap delivery of a soap dispensed in a soap delivery zone;   an electrically controlled means for controlling said soap delivery, integrated onto a portion of said soap delivery line, wherein said electrically controlled means for controlling said soap delivery is regulated by a control module having a module power source, said control module manages a soap dispensing duration, and a soap delivery initiation point in time—determined by the user performing an activation event that produces an activation signal generated by said sensor system;   said soap outlet is disposed on said mediate portion of said elongated neck so to provide a trajectory separation length of between said spout having a water free-fall trajectory and said soap outlet having a soap free-fall trajectory such that each trajectory possesses its own distinct receiving region to virtually eliminate the opportunity for cross contamination.   
     
     
         2 . The faucet system of  claim 1 , wherein said internal volume of said elongated neck provides said water passageway for said water stream through said spout. 
     
     
         3 . The faucet system of  claim 1 , further comprising a water delivery line disposed within said internal volume of said elongated neck, thereby providing a dedicated water passageway enabling said water stream through said spout. 
     
     
         4 . The faucet system of  claim 1 , wherein said sensor system comprises a proximity sensor that is sensitive to motion of objects within a detection zone, is disposed adjacent to said soap outlet such that said detection zone of said proximity sensor is substantially coterminous with said soap delivery zone. 
     
     
         5 . The faucet system of  claim 4 , further comprising a service light affixed to said elongated neck at a location neighboring said soap outlet, wherein user benefits include promptly locating said soap outlet and said soap delivery zone in dim light conditions. 
     
     
         6 . The faucet system of  claim 1 , wherein said sensor system comprises a beam-break sensor arrangement including a first sensor and a second sensor, said first and second sensors are each affixed on said elongated neck in a predetermined arrangement enabling the formation of a detection beam; whereby said user performing an activation event onto said detection beam, fabricates said activation signal thereby initiating said soap delivery. 
     
     
         7 . The faucet system of  claim 6 , wherein said soap dispensing duration is determined by the duration of said activation event performed by the user, such that a one-to-one time relationship is produced thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The faucet system of  claim 1 , wherein said soap delivery line further comprises a means for producing a foam soap. 
     
     
         9 . The faucet system of  claim 1 , wherein said electrically controlled means for controlling said soap delivery further comprises a means for transporting soap, wherein said means for transporting soap is a pump or a water pressure powered means for transporting. 
     
     
         10 . The faucet system of  claim 1 , further comprising a means for a soap line water flush, said means for a soap line water flush further comprises an electrically controlled water flush line fluidly coupled to said soap delivery line, for substantially purging said soap from said soap delivery line and said soap outlet, thereby substantially preventing flow restriction problems. 
     
     
         11 . The faucet system of  claim 1 , further comprising a removably attachable customer replaceable cartridge comprising a soap storage tank fluidly adapted to releasably attach to said soap delivery line. 
     
     
         12 . The faucet system of  claim 11 , wherein said removably attachable customer replaceable cartridge is adapted to supply said soap to a plurality of said soap delivery lines in a faucet network. 
     
     
         13 . The faucet system of  claim 1 , wherein said removably attachable customer replaceable cartridge further comprises a battery utilized as said module power source, said removably attachable customer replaceable cartridge electrically connects said battery to said control module such that the electrical connection is removably attachable. 
     
     
         14 . A faucet system, comprising:
 a neck, configured from a substantially continuous tubular structure having an internal volume, comprising: a base portion; a spout; and a mediate portion having a top and a bottom, and is located between said base portion and said spout;   a water passageway that provides a water flow path for a water stream through said spout;   a means for initiating said water stream through said spout;   a sensor system having a sensor mounting location on said top of said mediate portion of said neck;   a soap delivery line, including a soap outlet disposed on said bottom of said mediate portion of said neck, wherein a user receives a soap delivery of a soap;   an electrically controlled means for controlling said soap delivery, comprising a portion of said soap delivery line, wherein said electrically controlled means for controlling said soap delivery is regulated by a control module having a module power source, said control module functions include: managing a soap dispensing duration, and a soap delivery initiation point in time—determined by the user performing an activation event that produces an activation signal generated by said sensor system.   
     
     
         15 . The faucet system of  claim 14 , further comprising a means for a soap line water flush, wherein a portion of said means for a soap line water flush comprises an electrically controlled water flush line fluidly coupled to said soap delivery line for substantially purging said soap from said soap delivery line and said soap outlet, thereby substantially preventing primary cause of flow restriction issues associated with said soap delivery line. 
     
     
         16 . The faucet system of  claim 14 , wherein said sensor system comprises a proximity sensor that is sensitive to motion of objects within a detection zone. 
     
     
         17 . The faucet system of  claim 16 , further comprising a service light affixed to said neck at a location neighboring said proximity sensor, wherein user benefits include promptly locating said detection zone in dim light conditions. 
     
     
         18 . The faucet system of  claim 14 , wherein said soap delivery line further comprises a means for producing a foam soap. 
     
     
         19 . The faucet system of  claim 14 , wherein said electrically controlled means for controlling said soap delivery further including a means for transporting soap, wherein said means for transporting soap is a pump or a water pressure powered means for transporting. 
     
     
         20 . The faucet system of  claim 14 , further comprising a removably attachable customer replaceable cartridge comprising a soap storage tank fluidly adapted to releasably attach to said soap delivery line.