Water dispenser abstract
A safety switch for a water dispenser includes a sealing ring movably
received in the channel to alternatively block communication between
the inlet and the outlet, a guiding rod securely received in the
sealing ring and having a first spring compressibly mounted around
an outer periphery of the guiding rod, a handle adapted to be pivotal
relative to the water dispensing tube and having a first distal
end securely connected to a second distal end of the guiding rod,
a support engaged with an outer periphery defining the channel and
a sliding block movably sandwiched between the support and the handle
so that movement of the sliding block relative to the support allows
the pivotal movement of the handle, which initiates an upward movement
of the guiding rod as well as the sealing ring such that the communication
between the inlet and the outlet is resumed.
Water dispenser claims
What is claimed is:
1. A safety switch for a water dispenser having a water dispensing
tube with an inlet, an outlet in communication with the inlet and
a channel in communication with both the inlet and the outlet, the
safety switch comprising: a sealing ring movably received in the
channel to alternatively block communication between the inlet and
the outlet; a guiding rod having a first distal end securely received
in the sealing ring and a first spring compressibly mounted around
an outer periphery of the guiding rod; a handle adapted to be pivotal
relative to the water dispensing tube and having a first distal
end securely connected to a second distal end of the guiding rod;
a support having a first distal end adapted to be securely engaged
with an outer periphery defining the channel and a second distal
end provided with a receiving space; and a sliding block movably
sandwiched between the support and the handle so that movement of
the sliding block relative to the support allows the pivotal movement
of the handle, which initiates an upward movement of the guiding
rod as well as the sealing ring such that the communication between
the inlet and the outlet is resumed.
2. The safety switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein a second spring
is received between the sliding block and the handle to provide
a recovery force to the sliding block.
3. The safety switch as claimed in claim 2 wherein the handle
has a recessed area defined in a bottom face of the handle and a
first protrusion formed on a side face of the recessed area and
the sliding block has a cutout defined in a bottom face of the sliding
block and a second protrusion formed on a side face defining the
cutout to correspond to the first protrusion of the handle such
that the second spring is received between the first protrusion
and the second protrusion.
4. The safety switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sliding
block has a bent formed on a first distal end of the sliding block
to be received in the receiving space of the support so that when
the bent is received in the receiving space, the handle is unable
to be pivoted relative to the support and when the bent is away
from the receiving space, the handle is able to be pivoted to initiate
the upward movement of the guiding rod.
5. The safety switch as claimed in claim 3 wherein the sliding
block has a bent formed on a first distal end of the sliding block
to be received in the receiving space of the support so that when
the bent is received in the receiving space, the handle is unable
to be pivoted relative to the support and when the bent is away
from the receiving space, the handle is able to be pivoted to initiate
the upward movement of the guiding rod.
6. The safety switch as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a
cap adapted to be threadingly connected to the outer periphery defining
the channel to secure the engagement of the first distal end of
the support with the outer periphery defining the channel.
7. The safety switch as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a
cap adapted to be threadingly connected to the outer periphery defining
the channel to secure the engagement of the first distal end of
the support with the outer periphery defining the channel.
8. The safety switch as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a
cap adapted to be threadingly connected to the outer periphery defining
the channel to secure the engagement of the first distal end of
the support with the outer periphery defining the channel.
Water dispenser description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a safety switch, and more particularly
to safety switch for a water dispenser so that an accidental touch
of the safety switch will not cause water to flow out of the water
dispenser, thus avoiding spillage, potential injury to users etc.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional water dispenser usually is equipped with a distilled
water flagon and a water dispensing mechanism having a switch to
control water flow out of the distilled water flagon. By pressing
the switch, the distilled water is able to flow out of the distilled
water flagon and thus the user is able to enjoy the distilled water.
However, when the switch is accidentally touched, such as someone
brushing past the dispenser, heated water flowing out of the water
dispenser may cause a nuisance or even injury to the people, especially
children, nearby the water dispenser. Therefore, to avoid such an
unpleasant incident from happening, patents providing safety measurements
have been introduced to the market and they do have the ability
to prevent such mishap from happening. However, due to the structural
complexity and excessive time consumed in assembly, cost of such
safety switches is never low.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide
an improved safety switch to mitigate the aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an
improved safety switch which is simple in structure and easy to
be assembled.
To accomplish the foregoing objective, the safety switch of the
present invention is provided with a sliding block movably received
between the handle and support so that when the sliding block is
sandwiched between the handle and the support, the handle will not
be able to be pivoted to allow the water to flow out of the dispenser
and when the sliding block is away from engagement with the support,
the handle is able to be pivoted to allow water to flow out of the
water dispenser.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will
become more apparent from the following detailed description when
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the safety switch of the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing structural relationship
between the handle and the sliding block;
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken by line 3--3 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an operational schematic view showing the sliding block
is moved relative to the handle; and
FIG. 5 is an operational schematic view showing that the handle
is able to be pivoted as a consequence of the movement of the sliding
block.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference to FIG. 1 a safety switch in accordance with the
present invention is adapted to combine with a water dispenser (not
shown) with a water dispensing tube (50). The water dispensing tube
(50) has an inlet (51) for receiving water from the water dispenser
and an outlet (52) for allowing the water from the inlet (51) to
flow out of the water dispensing tube (50).
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 it is noted that the safety switch
of the present invention has a handle (10), a sliding block (20),
a support (30) sandwiching the sliding block (20) with the handle
(10), a cap (40) mounted on a periphery defining a channel (53)
in the water dispensing tube (50) and a sealing ring (60) received
in the channel (53) to alternatively block communication between
the inlet (51) and the outlet (52).
The handle (10) has a recessed area (11) in a mediate portion of
the handle (10), a first protrusion (12) formed on a side face defining
the recessed area (11) and two wings (13) extending from a distal
end of the handle (10). A stop (14) is formed on a top face of the
handle (10). The sliding block (20) is partially and slidably received
in the recessed area (11) and has a head (21) formed on a first
distal end of the sliding block (20) and on top of the handle (10),
a second protrusion (22) formed on a side face of a bottom face
of the sliding block (20) to correspond to the first protrusion
(11) of the handle (10), a cutout (23) defined in the bottom face
of the sliding block (20) and a bent (24) formed on a second distal
end of the sliding block (20). A first spring (A) is abutted between
the first protrusion (12) and the second protrusion (22).
The support (30) is securely mounted on top of the periphery defining
the channel (53) and has a receiving space (31) defined to correspond
to and receive therein the bent (24) of the sliding block (20).
The cap (40) is threadingly mounted outside the water dispensing
tube (50) to secure engagement between the support (30) and the
water dispensing tube (50). The sealing ring (60) is received in
the channel (53) of the water dispensing tube (50) to alternatively
block the communication between the inlet (51) and the outlet (52).
A guiding rod (70) with a second spring (B) mounted therearound
is received in the sealing ring (60) and securely connected to the
wings (13) of the handle (10).
With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 after the safety switch of the
water dispenser is assembled, the sliding block (20) is able to
be moved relative to the handle (10) by pushing the head (21), the
bent (24) leaves the restriction of the receiving space (31) of
the support (30) and simultaneously the first spring (A) is compressed
between the first protrusion (12) and second protrusion (22). Because
the bent (24) leaves the limitation of the receiving space (31)
of the support (30), the handle (10) together with the sliding block
(20) is able to be pivoted and thus the communication between the
inlet (51) and the outlet (52) is resumed due to the pivotal movement
of the handle (10) and the upward movement of the guiding rod (70).
Therefore, it can be summed up that only after the sliding block
(20) is moved relative to the handle (10) and the limitation to
the bent (24) of the sliding block (20) by the support (30) is released
can the handle (10) be pivoted to resume the communication between
the inlet (51) and the outlet (52). Accidental touch of the handle
(10) whereby unintended water flow from the water dispenser is avoided
and thus the user of the water dispenser is protected from soaking
and scalding by heated water.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics
and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the
foregoing description, together with details of the structure and
function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only,
and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape,
size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention
to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the
terms in which the appended claims are expressed. |