Water dispenser abstract
An improved non-spill water bottle cap is developed for preventing
water spillage when a water bottle is inverted to place on a water
dispenser. The improved non-spill water bottle cap comprises a cylindrical
plastic tube (10), a spherical float (20) for controlling the water
flow, a plastic cap head (30) integrally formed with the cylindrical
plastic tube (10), an edge frame (11) disposed at the end of the
cylindrical plastic tube (10) and an annular flange (13) with a
plurality of peepholes (13a) disposed at the mouth of the plastic
cap head (30) for retaining the spherical float (20) inside the
cylindrical plastic tube (10), and an annular sealing ridge (12)
for momentarily blocking the water flow path by contacting the spherical
float (20) to form a seal when the water bottle is inverted.
Water dispenser claims
7. An improved non-spill water bottle cap for preventing water
spillage when a water bottle is inverted to be placed on a water
dispenser, said improved non-spill water bottle cap comprising:
a cylindrical transparent plastic tube (10) with a series of holes
(10a) linearly arranged along half of the circumference, midway
along the length of said cylindrical transparent plastic tube (10),
a spherical float (20) disposed within said cylindrical transparent
plastic tube (10) to control the water flow through said tube, a
plastic cap head (30) having a mouth opening, integrally formed
with a front end of said cylindrical transparent plastic tube (10)
to cap onto a port of said water bottle, an edge frame (11) disposed
at a rear end of said cylindrical transparent plastic tube (10)
for retaining said spherical float (20) within said cylindrical
transparent plastic tube (10), and an annular flange (13) with a
series of circumferential pinholes (13a) therein, located along
an edge of said mouth opening of said plastic cap head (30) for
retaining said spherical float (20) within said cylindrical transparent
plastic tube (10), and an annular sealing ridge (12) integrally
formed around the circumference of a front inner wall portion of
said plastic tube with a spherically curved mating surface for momentarily
blocking the water flow path by contacting said spherical float
(20) when the water bottle is inverted to be placed on the water
dispenser.
8. An improved non-spill water bottle cap as claimed in claim 7
wherein said annular flange (13) is oriented obliquely inward at
the mouth of said plastic cap head (30) and said series of pinholes
(13a) are located along the center of the annular flange (13) for
passing the flow of air and water.
9. An improved non-spill water bottle cap as claimed in claim 7
wherein said annular sealing ridge (12) is located adjacent to said
annular flange (13).
10. An improved non-spill water bottle cap as claimed in claim
9 wherein said annular sealing ridge (12) has an inner diameter
approximately one-fifth smaller than the diameter of said spherical
float (20).
11. An improved non-spill water bottle cap as claimed in claim
9 wherein said annular sealing ridge (12) is located approximately
one-fourth of the diameter of said spherical float (20) away from
said mouth of the plastic cap head (30).
12. An improved non-spill water bottle cap as claimed in claim
9 wherein said annular sealing ridge (12) and a tip of said annular
flange (13) are designed to simultaneously contact said spherical
float (20) due to water pressure in order to momentarily block the
water flow through the water bottle.
13. An improved non-spill water bottle cap as claimed in claim
7 wherein said cylindrical transparent plastic tube (10) has a
diameter approximately one-fifth larger than said spherical float
(20) for passing the flow of air and water.
Water dispenser description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a non-spill water bottle
cap for preventing water spillage when a water bottle is inverted
to place on a water dispenser. Particularly, the improved non-spill
water bottle cap has an advanced feature for momentarily blocking
the water flow path of the water bottle. The improved non-spill
water bottle cap consists of a transparent cylindrical plastic tube,
a spherical float, an annular flange with a plurality of peepholes
and an annular sealing ridge.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Recently, bottled purified water is increasingly consumed
by many people due to pollution of drinking water reservoirs. Along
with the increase in purified water consumption, bottled purified
water and its dispenser became essential devices at many modern
offices and homes. Some such devices are also equipped with an electric
hot water and cold water dispensing system.
[0005] When a water bottle is emptied, a new water bottle must
be placed on the dispenser. Before installing a new water bottle,
a seal on the water bottle must be removed, then the bottle must
be lifted and inverted simultaneously to orient the port vertically
downward toward the dispenser. During this replacing process, many
people may experience spilling the water on the floor.
[0006] A user who has once experienced the water spilling may have
anxiety when they place a new water bottle on the dispenser.
[0007] In order to solve the spilling problem, many different types
of devices are suggested. A typical device is cited here as an example
for discussion.
[0008] Korean Patent No. 1999-007557 discloses "a device for
opening and closing the port of a water bottle for the hot and cold
water dispenser" comprising a floating ball, guiding bar, end
ring shape support and inserting cap for stopping water spill during
the inversion of the bottle.
[0009] However, this device has a problem in that the floating
ball is frequently stuck in the narrow neck of the water bottle
due to water pressure exerted on it. Thus, the user must often shake
the water bottle to release the stuck ball from the neck of the
water bottle.
[0010] Accordingly, it is required to develop a device that can
prevent the stuck ball and water spilling problems during the inversion
of the water bottle to place on the dispenser.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In order to overcome the aforementioned problems of the
conventional devices, a new concept of improved water bottle cap
is introduced for preventing water spillage.
[0012] An objective of the present invention is to provide an improved
non-spill water bottle cap comprising a transparent cylindrical
plastic tube (10) with a plurality of holes (10a), a spherical float
(20) disposed inside of the transparent cylindrical plastic tube
(10) for controlling the water flow, a plastic cap head (30) integrally
formed with the transparent cylindrical plastic tube (10), an edge
frame (11) disposed at one end of the cylindrical plastic tube (10)
for retaining the spherical float (20) inside the cylindrical plastic
tube (10), and an annular flange (13) with a plurality of peepholes
(13a) disposed at the mouth of the plastic cap head (30) for retaining
the spherical float (20) inside the cylindrical plastic tube (10).
[0013] Another objective of the present invention is to provide
the non-spill water bottle cap having an annular flange (13) oriented
obliquely inward at the mouth of the plastic cap head (30), the
cylindrical plastic tube (10) having an annular sealing ridge (12)
for momentarily blocking the water flow path by contacting the spherical
float (20) when the water bottle is inverted to place on the water
dispenser and simultaneously retaining the spherical float (20)
inside the cylindrical plastic tube (10).
[0014] The diameter of the annular sealing ridge (12) is approximately
one-fifth smaller than that of the spherical float (20) and the
ridge is disposed at a location equal to approximately one- fourth
of a diameter from the mouth of the plastic cap head (30).
[0015] The diameter of the cylindrical plastic tube (10) is approximately
one-fifth larger than that of the spherical float (20) in order
to provide a clearance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The following description of the preferred embodiment is
given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a non-spill water bottle
cap for preventing water spillage according to the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a front view of the non-spill water bottle cap
of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view for illustrating the configuration
of the non-spill water bottle cap.
[0020] FIG. 4 is an upright water bottle employing the non-spill
water bottle cap.
[0021] FIG. 5 is an inverted water bottle employing the non-spill
water bottle cap.
[0022] FIGS. 6 through 8 illustrate the process of controlling
the water flow through the non-spill water bottle cap of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0023] An improved non-spill water bottle cap has been developed
to achieve the above objectives of the present invention. Hereinafter,
a detailed description is presented with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 an improved non-spill water bottle
cap is designed to prevent the water spillage when a water bottle
is inverted to be placed on a water dispenser. The improved non-spill
water bottle cap comprises a transparent cylindrical plastic tube
(10) with a plurality of holes (10a), a spherical float (20) disposed
inside of the cylindrical plastic tube (10) to control the water
flow and a plastic cap head (30) integrally formed with the cylindrical
plastic tube (10) for capping on the opening of a water bottle.
[0025] A series of multiple holes (10a) arranged in a line is located
at one third of the tube height from the top edge and on only one
side of the tube, so that the water can flow into the tube from
one side to rotate the spherical float (20). However, it is possible
to arrange the many holes in any pattern or location on the wall
of the cylindrical plastic tube (10). The cylindrical plastic tube
(10) can be made of a Lucite tube as one piece or joined to a plastic
screen or net above the position b-b, as shown in FIG. 2.
[0026] A passage for air and water flow is also provided between
the cylindrical plastic tube (10) and the spherical float (20).
The clearance of the water-air passage is provided in such a way
that the diameter of cylindrical plastic tube (10) is approximately
one-fifth larger than the diameter of the spherical float (20).
[0027] An edge frame (11) is disposed at one end of the cylindrical
plastic tube (10) for retaining the spherical float (20) inside
the tube (10). An annular flange (13) is attached to the mouth of
the plastic cap head (30) for retaining the spherical float (20)
inside the tube (10). A plurality of peepholes (13a) is located
along the center of the annular flange (13) for allowing the passage
of air and water flow.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 3 the annular flange (13) is oriented
obliquely inward at the mouth of the plastic cap head (30).
[0029] An annular sealing ridge (12) is located at the lower part
of the inner wall of the cylindrical plastic tube (10) for momentarily
blocking the water flow path by contacting the spherical float (20)
to form a seal when the water bottle is inverted to place on the
water dispenser. The annular sealing ridge (12) also acts as a retainer
for retaining the spherical float (20) inside the cylindrical plastic
tube (10). The diameter of the annular sealing ridge (12) is approximately
one-fifth smaller than that of the spherical float (20). The annular
sealing ridge (12) is formed at a location equal to approximately
one-fourth the diameter of the spherical float (20) from the mouth
of the plastic cap head (30). By design, the annular sealing ridge
(12) and the tip of the annular flange (13) are simultaneously in
contact with the spherical float (20).
[0030] Therefore, the spherical float (20) is able to move from
point a-a to point b-b passing through point c-c, i.e. the movement
of the spherical float (20) is restricted between the edge frame
(11) and annular sealing ridge (12). While the spherical float (20)
is moving along the cylindrical plastic tube (10) between the points
a-a and c-c, the amount of water flow is controlled by the displaced
water through the tube.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 4 a non-spill water bottle cap of the
present invention is capped to the upright water bottle. A security
seal (31) may be installed to prevent the entry of foreign objects
or water spillage during delivery when the present non-spill water
bottle cap is installed at a manufacturing facility or distribution
center. Otherwise, the security seal (31) may not be included for
sale on the market as an accessory part.
[0032] Before inverting the water bottle, the security seal (31)
is peeled off for placing the water bottle on the dispenser.
[0033] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 the water bottle with the present
non-spill water bottle cap is inverted and placed on the water dispenser.
At this point, the spherical float (20) is pressed into contact
with the annular sealing ridge (12) and the tip of the annular flange
(13) at the same time by the water pressure, momentarily blocking
the water flow. The present cap is designed such that approximately
one-fourth of the diameter of the spherical float (20) protrudes
from the port of the water bottle when in this position.
[0034] Referring to FIGS. 6 through 8 the process of controlling
the water flow through the non-spill water bottle cap of the present
invention is described in detail.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 6 the inverted water bottle is placed
on the water dispenser. At this point, the water in the bottle is
leaking down between the contacting surfaces of the annular sealing
ridge (12) and the spherical float (20). As time elapses, the amount
of leaking water rapidly increases, to fill the airspace below the
spherical float (20). As the airspace is filled with the leaking
water, the water flow from the bottle gradually decreases and finally
stops when the water has filled the entire airspace.
[0036] As the water bottle approaches pressure equilibrium, the
spherical float (20) begins to rise as shown in FIG. 7 and reaches
the top of the cylindrical plastic tube (10) as shown in FIG. 8.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 8 when the water level is lowered from
position A to position B, i.e. someone turns on the water from the
water dispenser to drink, the water flows out from the water bottle
by gravitational force. As the water flows out from the bottle,
the spherical float (20) in the cylindrical plastic tube (10) is
moved down and the vacuum pressure in the closed water bottle is
increased. When the vacuum pressure is increased to a certain level,
the air outside of the bottle starts to flow into the water bottle.
At this point, the vacuum pressure and the buoyant force act on
the spherical float (20) to rise upward in the cylindrical plastic
tube (10) against the gravitational flow force. As the spherical
float (20) rises up, the water fills into the cylindrical plastic
tube (10) to flow out from the water bottle. As the water in the
cylindrical plastic tube (10) flows out, the spherical float (20)
sinks down. This simple process is rapidly repeated until the water
level in the dispenser reaches position A again. Through this water
dispensing process, it is possible to control the water flow from
the water bottle.
[0038] While the present invention has been described in detail
with its preferred embodiments, it should be understood that further
modifications are possible. The present application is therefore
intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptations of the invention
following the general principles thereof, and includes such departures
from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice
in the art to which this invention pertains within the limits of
the appended claims. |