Water dispenser abstract
A receptacle for receiving a supply bottle in a bottled water dispenser
includes a bottle support member having an annular rim for supporting
the supply bottle in an inverted mounted position. The support member
has a downwardly depending funnel portion for receiving the bottle
neck, the neck having a closure cap. The funnel portion has a bottom
wall portion with an opening therein. Water in the funnel portion
received from the bottle passes through this opening to be dispensed
by the dispenser. A piercing probe extends upwardly from the bottom
wall portion to pierce the cap on the water bottle neck. The piercing
probe is non-tubular and has at least one longitudinal exterior
groove to allow water to pass from the bottle neck into the funnel
portion.
Water dispenser claims
1. A receptacle for delivering liquid from an inverted supply bottle
to a reservoir in a dispenser, wherein the supply bottle has a narrow
neck, the neck being closed by a cap having a central, axial recess
with a frangible bottom, comprising: a bottle support member having
an annular rim for supporting a supply bottle in an inverted mounted
position, the support member also having a downwardly depending
funnel portion extending below the rim and adapted to receive the
bottle neck; the funnel portion having a bottom wall portion defining
at least one opening for the passage of liquid from the funnel portion
to a dispenser reservoir, the bottom wall portion being spaced below
the neck of a mounted supply bottle; an elongate piercing probe
extending upwardly from the bottom wall portion a sufficient distance
to break the cap frangible bottom of a mounted supply bottle; and
the piercing probe having at least one longitudinal exterior groove
adapted to extend through a broken cap frangible bottom of a mounted
supply bottle for the passage of liquid from inside the supply bottle
into the funnel portion.
2. A receptacle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the funnel portion
has an upright side wall, and wherein the bottom wall portion has
a probe support releasably mounted therein.
3. A receptacle as claimed in claim 2 wherein the side wall has
a curved upper portion extending downwardly and inwardly from the
annular rim.
4. A receptacle as claimed in claim 2 wherein the probe support
is threadably attached to the side wall.
5. A receptacle as claimed in claim 2 wherein the probe support
is attached to the sidewall by a twist lock.
6. A receptacle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bottle support
member and piercing probe are formed as one integral unit.
7. A receptacle as claimed in claim 4 wherein the probe support
further comprises a demountable canister located below and in communication
with the bottom wall opening to receive liquid through said opening,
the canister having a foraminate lower wall for passing liquid therethrough
to the reservoir.
8. A receptacle as claimed in claim 7 wherein the canister is filled
with a filter medium.
9. A receptacle as claimed in claim 8 wherein the filter medium
includes activated charcoal.
10. A receptacle as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising radially
disposed support gussets extending between the bottom wall portion
and the piercing probe.
11. A receptacle as claimed in claim 4 wherein the piercing probe
has an upper distal end portion having a transverse width sufficient
to split open the frangible bottom of the supply bottle cap central
axial recess.
12. A receptacle as claimed in claim 2 wherein the funnel bottom
wall portion has a plurality of openings for the passage of liquid
therethrough.
13. A receptacle as claimed in claim 2 wherein the piercing probe
has a plurality of transversely disposed longitudinal ribs defining
one of said longitudinal exterior grooves between adjacent ones
of said ribs.
14. A receptacle as claimed in claim 2 wherein the piercing probe
has an arcuate elongate wall portion defining said longitudinal
exterior groove.
15. A receptacle as claimed in claim 2 wherein the probe has a
helical or spiral rib defining said longitudinal exterior groove
between adjacent revolutions of said helical rib.
16. A receptacle as claimed in claim 2 wherein the probe is in
the form of a helical coil, said longitudinal exterior groove being
formed between adjacent turns of said coil.
17. A receptacle as claimed in claim 2 wherein the piercing probe
has an upper distal end portion defining a transverse groove for
use with a supply bottle of the type having a sealable plug as the
frangible bottom of the cap central axial recess.
18. A receptacle as claimed in claim 2 wherein the piercing probe
has an upper end portion formed with transverse projections for
use with a supply bottle of the type having a sealable plug as the
frangible bottom of the cap central axial recess.
19. A receptacle as claimed in claim 13 wherein said ribs include
laterally disposed outer flanges.
20. A receptacle as claimed in claim 14 wherein the piercing probe
has a pair of opposed accurate elongate wall portions and a central
flange joining said opposed arcuate-wall portions.
Water dispenser description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to liquid dispensers, and in particular,
to devices for transferring water from a bottled water source to
an internal reservoir in a bottled water dispenser.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] For a number of reasons, it has become popular in offices
and homes to have bottled drinking or potable water. Dispensers
are provided for the bottled water. The water normally comes in
plastic bottles containing 5 US gallons or approximately 19 litres
of water. Early water dispensers had an internal reservoir and an
open top, which allowed the water supply bottle to be mounted on
top of the dispenser in an inverted position with the neck of the
water bottle extending into the reservoir. When the water level
in the reservoir reaches the neck of the bottle, air can no longer
enter the bottle, so water stops flowing from the bottle. When water
is taken from the dispenser lowering the water level in the reservoir,
the bottle neck is exposed allowing air again to enter the bottle.
Water then flows again from the bottle to replenish the reservoir.
A difficulty with these early water dispensers, however, is that
water was often spilled while trying to invert and mount the somewhat
heavy water supply bottle on the dispenser.
[0003] In order to try to overcome this spillage problem, attempts
were made to put closures or caps on the necks of the water supply
bottles wherein these closures had spring-loaded plunger-type valves
in them. When the water supply bottle was inverted and placed on
top of the dispenser, the plunger would be depressed, opening the
valve allowing water to come out of the supply bottle. While this
reduced the spillage, the plunger-type valves were problematic and
these types of caps were expensive.
[0004] A similar approach, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4699188
issued to Henry E. Baker et al, was to provide a water supply bottle
with a plastic cap. The cap had a central, axial recess, and the
dispenser was provided with an inlet tube with a sharpened upper
end, so that when the water supply bottle was inverted and mounted
on the dispenser, the sharpened tube would enter the cap recess
and pierce the cap at the inner end of the recess allowing water
to flow through the inlet tube into the dispenser reservoir. If
there is a good seal between the water supply bottle cap and the
piercing inlet tube of the dispenser, this Baker system works fine.
However, this is usually not the case, so some water leaks out around
the inlet tube and surrounds the supply bottle cap. This leaked
water accumulates and stagnates and can be a source of bacteria
that gets into the water supply.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In the present invention, a receptacle is provided that
has a funnel portion that accepts the neck of a water supply bottle.
The funnel portion has a bottom wall portion with an opening therethrough,
so that any water that surrounds the supply bottle cap can drain
out of the funnel portion and not stagnate therein.
[0006] According to the invention, there is provided a receptacle
for delivering liquid from an inverted supply bottle to a reservoir
in a dispenser. The receptacle is used with water supply bottles
having a narrow neck closed by a cap having a central, axial recess
with a frangible bottom. The receptacle comprises a bottle support
member having an annular rim for supporting a supply bottle in an
inverted mounted position. The support member also has a downwardly
depending funnel portion extending below the rim which is adapted
to receive the bottle neck. The funnel portion has a bottom wall
portion defining at least one opening for the passage of liquid
from the funnel portion to the dispenser reservoir. The bottle wall
portion is spaced below the neck of a mounted supply water bottle.
An elongate piercing probe extends upwardly from the bottom wall
portion a sufficient distance to break the cap frangible bottom
of a mounted supply bottle. Also, the piercing probe has at least
one longitudinal exterior groove adapted to extend through a broken
cap frangible bottom of a mounted supply bottle for the passage
of liquid from inside the supply bottle into the funnel portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described,
by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic partial elevational view, partly
in section, showing a prior art receptacle assembly;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic elevational view similar to FIG.
1 but showing a preferred embodiment of a receptacle assembly according
to the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing
a water supply bottle about to be mounted on a receptacle assembly;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of
FIG. 3;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the piercing probe and
probe support used in the embodiment of FIGS. 2 to 4 as viewed
in the direction of arrows 5-5 of FIG. 4;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of another
preferred embodiment of a receptacle assembly according to the present
invention;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the probe and probe
support of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 as viewed in the
direction of arrows 8-8 of FIG. 7;
[0016] FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the filter canister used in some
of the preferred embodiments of the invention;
[0017] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view, partly broken away, showing
some possible modifications to the preferred embodiments of the
present invention;
[0018] FIG. 11 is an enlarged elevational view of the upper end
of another preferred embodiment of the piercing probe according
to the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 12 is another preferred embodiment of a receptacle
assembly according to the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 13-13
of FIG. 12;
[0021] FIG. 14 is an elevational view of another preferred embodiment
of a probe and probe support according to the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG.
14;
[0023] FIGS. 16 to 19 are cross-sectional views of yet further
preferred embodiments of the piercing probes according to the present
invention;
[0024] FIG. 20 is an elevational view of yet another preferred
embodiment of a piercing probe and probe support according to the
present invention;
[0025] FIG. 21 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the embodiment
shown in FIG. 20;
[0026] FIG. 22 is an elevational view of yet a further preferred
embodiment of a probe and probe support according to the present
invention; and
[0027] FIG. 23 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the embodiment
shown in FIG. 22.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] Referring firstly to FIG. 1 a prior art receptacle 10 for
a bottled water dispenser is shown with a water bottle 12 mounted
thereon. Water bottle 12 has a narrow neck 14 that extends downwardly
into a cup-like member 16. Bottle 12 comes with a plastic cap 18
that has a central axial recess 20. The receptacle 10 includes a
tubular probe 22 having an upper inlet hole 24 so that when the
bottle 12 is mounted on receptacle 10 probe 22 enters the axial
recess 20 in cap 18 pierces the cap, and allows inlet opening 24
to receive the water inside bottle 12 and deliver it downwardly
into a reservoir (not shown) of the bottled water dispenser.
[0029] Ideally, the probe 22 in axial recess 20 is dimensioned
to provide a seal therebetween, so that all of the water inside
the bottle is eventually delivered to the dispenser reservoir. However,
the seal often leaks, or sometimes the bottle 12 is removed from
receptacle 10 before all of the water is emptied from it, in which
case some residual water 26 collects in the bottom of the cup-like
member 16. There is no way for this residual water to escape, so
it stagnates and offers a breeding ground for bacteria which can
eventually migrate to the water inside bottle 12.
[0030] Turning now to the present invention, a preferred embodiment
of a receptacle assembly for a bottled water dispenser is generally
indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3 by reference numeral 30. Receptacle assembly
30 includes a bottle support member 32 having an annular rim for
supporting a water supply bottle 12 thereon in an inverted mounted
position, as indicated in FIG. 2. Support member 32 has a downwardly
depending funnel portion 36 extending below rim 34. The funnel portion
has an upright sidewall 38 including a curved upper portion 40 extending
downwardly and inwardly from annular rim 34. Sidewall 38 is adapted
to receive the bottle neck 14. Funnel portion 36 has a bottom wall
portion 42 which defines at least one opening 44 for the passage
of liquid, such as water, from the funnel portion 36 downwardly
to a reservoir (not shown) in the dispenser located below receptacle
assembly 30.
[0031] It will be noted that bottom wall portion 44 is spaced below
the bottle neck 14 so that any water in funnel portion 36 can drain
out through openings 44. Actually, in use, the water rises to the
bottom edge of cap 18 and cannot rise any higher, because air cannot
then enter bottle 12 allowing more water to come out of the bottle.
The water in funnel portion 36 may completely drain out of openings
44 when an empty bottle 12 is removed, but at least the water in
funnel portion 36 is constantly being removed and replenished, so
that it cannot stagnate and become a breeding ground for bacteria.
[0032] Referring next to FIGS. 4 and 5 a probe assembly 46 is
shown, which includes an elongate piercing probe 48 and a probe
support portion 50. In the receptacle assembly 30 shown in FIGS.
2 to 6 the probe support portion 50 actually forms part of bottom
wall portion 42 and the outlet or drain openings 44 are actually
located in probe support 50.
[0033] As seen best in FIGS. 2 and 3 piercing probe 48 extends
upwardly from bottom wall portion 42 a sufficient distance to enter
cap recess 20 and pierce or spread open the inner end or frangible
bottom 52 (see FIG. 3) of the portion of cap 18 that forms recess
20.
[0034] Piercing probe 48 has at least one longitudinal exterior
groove 54 which extends through or passes the broken bottle cap
frangible bottom 52 when bottle 12 is mounted on receptacle assembly
30 as indicated in FIG. 2. This allows water to flow from inside
bottle 12 along the probe and into the funnel portion 36.
[0035] As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 the longitudinal grooves
54 in probe 48 are defined by longitudinal flanges or ribs 56. Radially
disposed support gussets 51 are provided to strengthen the base
of probe 48.
[0036] Probe 48 has a non-tubular, solid cross-section. Probe 48
has a rounded upper or distal end portion 58 that actually does
the piercing or splitting or breaking of the supply bottle cap frangible
bottom 52. Some water supply bottles have caps 18 that are provided
with cup-like members or plugs (not shown) that form the frangible
bottom 52 of recess 20. These cup-like members are made so that
they can break off when the piercing probe enters recess 20 and
there are interlocking annular flanges that allow these cup-like
members to be reattached as the piercing probe is withdrawn from
the water bottle or the water bottle is lifted off the probe. This
type of water bottle is referred to as a resealable water bottle,
so that it can be removed from the water dispenser before it is
empty. In order to reseal the cup-like members, the piercing probe
usually has a transverse groove or notches 60 in the distal end
portion 58 which grabs and retains an annular flange on the cup-like
members and pulls the cup-like member back into position to re-seal
the cap when the water bottle is lifted off the dispenser.
[0037] As seen best in FIGS. 3 to 5 the probe support 50 is releasably
mounted in the bottom wall portion 42. One way that this is done,
as seen best in FIG. 4 is to provide a probe support 50 with radially
outwardly disposed tabs 62 and the bottom edge of sidewall 38 with
circumferential recesses 64. Probe support 50 can then be rotated
until tabs 62 line up with recesses 64 to allow the probe support
50 and funnel portion 36 to be axially separated. The reverse procedure
is used to attach probe support 50 to funnel portion 36 and this
releasable mount or connection is referred to herein as a twist
lock. Another way to provide this releasable mounting is to threadably
attach probe support 50 to the sidewall 38 as seen best in FIG.
6. The probe support 50 has male threads 66 (see FIG. 8) and the
lower end of sidewall 38 as mating female threads 68.
[0038] Referring again to FIGS. 2 3 and 6 probe support 50 has
an optional demountable canister 70 threadably mounted thereon.
Canister 70 has a foraminous lower wall as seen best in FIG. 9 where
the bottom wall 72 has a plurality of holes 74 formed therein. Canister
70 may be filled with a filter medium 76 such as a suitable foam
impregnated with activated charcoal. Alternatively, canister 70
could simply be filled with activated charcoal if holes 74 are made
small enough to prevent the charcoal from escaping or a suitable
filter medium is placed between the activated charcoal and bottom
wall 72. Either way, canister 70 is in communication with bottom
wall portion openings 44 and openings 74 to allow water to pass
from funnel portion 36 through canister 70 to the reservoir in the
bottled water dispenser.
[0039] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate that probe 48 could have a truncated
conical upper or distal end portion 78. The probe distal end portion
could also be hemispherical or it could have other configurations
as well, as discussed further below, as long as it has a transverse
width sufficient to split open the frangible bottom 52 of the supply
bottle cap central axial recess 20 where this frangible bottom is
of the simple non-resealable type mentioned above.
[0040] FIG. 10 shows a modification where the funnel wall bottom
portion 42 has side openings 80 as well as or instead of the bottom
openings 44 in probe support 50. In this embodiment, the canister
70 would not be used, although the lower portion 82 of probe support
50 could still be provided with threads 84 to permit the addition
of a filtering canister at a later date, if desired. In this latter
event, a funnel portion 36 not having openings 80 would be used.
[0041] FIG. 11 shows an alternate embodiment for piercing probe
48 where the upper or distal end portion 86 has a plurality of transverse
projections 88 arranged in a horizontal ring. These projections
88 would be used with releasable type supply water bottle caps where
cup-like members or detachable plugs are formed on the inner end
of the axial recess 20 in the bottle caps 18. These projections
88 would releasably engage the releasable cap plugs to allow the
plugs to be reattached as the water bottle is pulled off probe 48.
[0042] FIGS. 12 and 13 show another preferred embodiment of a receptacle
assembly 90 where the bottle support member 92 and the piercing
probe 94 are formed as one integral unit. As seen best in FIG. 13
four sector-like openings are provided in the bottom wall portion
98 to allow the water to pass downwardly out of funnel portion 100.
Receptacle assembly 90 also has a downwardly disposed lower tubular
portion 102. This allows for a lower water level in the reservoir
of a water bottle dispenser, because lower opening 104 now provides
the gateway for air passing upwardly into a supply water bottle.
[0043] FIGS. 14 and 15 show a modified probe assembly 104 which
is similar to the probe assembly shown in FIG. 8 but where the
probe ribs 106 extend all the way to the top of the probe. Upper
or distal end portion 108 also has a ring of radial projections
110 that perform the same function as the projections 88 in the
embodiment of FIG. 11 in connection with the resealable-type of
supply water bottle caps.
[0044] FIG. 16 to 19 show various other possible preferred configurations
for the piercing probe of the present invention. In FIG. 16 there
are three transversely disposed longitudinal ribs 112. The longitudinal
grooves 114 for the flow of water along the probe are provided between
adjacent ones of the ribs 112.
[0045] FIG. 17 illustrate that the probe longitudinal ribs 116
can have laterally disposed, outer, longitudinal flanges 118. Again,
the longitudinal grooves 120 are defined between adjacent ones of
the ribs and flanges 116 118.
[0046] FIGS. 18 and 19 show probes having arcuate elongate wall
portions. In FIG. 18 a single arcuate elongate wall portion 120
defines a single longitudinal groove 122. Longitudinal groove 122
appears to be in the inside of arcuate wall portion 120 but for
the purposes of the present invention it is considered to be a longitudinal
exterior groove, because it is open to the exterior of the probe,
as opposed to being of the enclosed tubular-type of probe found
in the prior art.
[0047] FIG. 19 has a pair of opposed arcuate elongate wall portions
124 joined by a central flange 126 again to provide two longitudinal
outwardly exposed exterior grooves 128 for the flow of water along
the probe.
[0048] FIGS. 20 and 21 show a probe assembly 130 having a helical
or spiral rib 132 defining the longitudinal exterior groove 134
between adjacent revolutions of the helical ribs.
[0049] FIGS. 22 and 23 show a probe assembly 136 in the form of
a helical coil 138. The longitudinal exterior groove 140 is formed
between adjacent turns of helical coil 138.
[0050] It will be appreciated that the features described in the
various embodiments discussed could be mixed and matched as desired.
[0051] As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light
of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications
are possible in the practice of this invention without departing
from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the
invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined
by the following claims. |