Water dispenser abstract
A water inlet and venting pipe of a water dispenser. The venting
pipe is installed in the water dispenser. The venting pipe is partitioned
into water inlet channel and venting channel by a partitioning board
integrally formed with the venting pipe. At least one inlet aperture
is formed on the venting pipe for connecting the water inlet channel,
while a venting aperture is formed on the venting pipe for connecting
the venting channel. Thereby, air in the water inlet pipe is vented
to from the water dispenser to the venting channel via the venting
aperture, and water a tank installed on the water dispenser flows
into the water dispenser via the inlet aperture and the water inlet
channel. As the venting pipe includes the inlet channel and the
venting channel are integrally formed, the manufacturing process
is simple since only one mold is required and no special tooling
is necessary. Further, the gauges of the inlet pipe and the venting
pipe are fixed, such that the flow of water or air is more fluent.
Water dispenser claims
What is claimed is:
1. A water inlet and venting pipe in a water dispenser, comprising:
a partitioning board to define at least one water inlet channel
and a venting channel in the water inlet and venting pipe; wherein
the partitioning board is integrally formed with the water inlet
and venting pipe, and the water inlet and venting pipe further comprises
a first water inlet aperture and a venting aperture to connect the
water inlet channel and the venting channel, respectively.
2. The water inlet and venting pipe of claim 1 is in a form of
cylindrical tube.
3. The water inlet and venting pipe of claim 1 wherein the partitioning
board is so configured that the water inlet channel is larger than
the venting channel.
4. The water inlet and venting pipe of claim 1 further comprising
a second aperture and a third aperture connecting the water inlet
channel, wherein the first, second and third apertures are equidistant
to each other.
5. The water inlet and venting pipe of claim 4 wherein the first,
second and third apertures are level to each other.
6. The water inlet and venting pipe of claim 1 wherein the partitioning
board includes a cross cross-section to define three water inlet
channels and the venting channel, and the capacity of each water
inlet channel is the same as that of the venting channel.
7. The water inlet and venting pipe of claim 6 wherein the water
inlet pipe comprises one water inlet aperture for each water inlet
channel.
8. The water inlet and venting pipe of claim 1 comprising a close
top and an open bottom end.
9. The water inlet and venting pipe of claim 1 further comprising
an extension pipe extending from the bottom end thereof.
Water dispenser description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a water inlet
and venting pipe of a water dispenser and, more particularly, to
a water inlet and venting pipe that can be easily manufactured without
using any special tooling for assembly, and provides fluent flow
of air or water therein.
[0002] FIG. 1 shows a conventional water dispenser 10A, including
an inversely disposed tank 20A and a water inlet and venting pipe
1A thereon. The top of the tank 20A is sealed with a cap 2A. Recessed
from the center of the cap 2A is a hollow water guide 21A. A sealing
cover 3A is disposed in the water guide 21A. Before the water tank
20A is installed in the water dispenser 10A, the cap 2A is sealed
by the sealing cover 3A; and therefore, water in the tank 20A is
prevented from flowing from the opening 22A through the water guide
21A. The sealing cover 3A also prevents objects entering the tank
20A to contaminate the water therein.
[0003] As shown in FIG. 2 the hollow water inlet and venting pipe
1A includes an outer pipe 11A and an inner pipe 12A disposed in
the outer pipe 11A. The inner pipe 12A is connected to the outer
pipe 11A by the fitting wings 13A formed at a bottom thereof. A
venting channel 14A is formed between the outer pipe 1A and the
inner pipe 12A, and a water inlet channel 15A is defined within
the inner pipe 12A. As shown in FIG. 1 the flow communication between
the upper portion of venting channel 14A and the upper portion of
the water inlet channel 15A is blocked by a skirt bending from a
top edge of the inner pipe 12A towards the outer pipe 11A. Above
the skirt, a water inlet aperture 16A is formed on the outer pipe
11A to establish a channel towards the water inlet channel 15A,
and under the skirt, a venting aperture 17A is formed on the outer
pipe 11A to provide the connection for the venting channel 14A.
[0004] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 when the inversely disposed
tank 20A is installed on the water dispenser 20A, that is, the top
of the tank 20A is aligned over water inlet and venting pipe 1A,
allowing the water inlet and venting pipe 1A inserted through the
water guide 21A. By moving the tank 20A downwardly, the top portion
of the water inlet and venting pipe 1A is in contact with the sealing
cover 3A. A further downward movement of the tank 20A thus results
in the removal of the sealing cover 3A from the water guide 21A
and the upward movement of the water inlet and venting pipe 1A relative
to the tank 20A. As a result, the sealing cover 3A and the upper
portion of the water inlet and venting pipe 1A, including the water
inlet aperture 16A and the venting aperture 17A are inserted into
the tank 20A. Thereby, air in the water inlet and venting pipe 1A
is vented from the venting hole 17A into the tank 20A, while water
in the tank 20A flows into water dispenser 10A through the water
inlet channel 15A of the water inlet channel 15A of the water inlet
and venting pipe 1A.
[0005] The above water inlet and venting pipe 1A assembled by the
outer pipe 11A and the inner pipe 12A requires two molds, which
increase the inconvenience and cost. Further, additional tooling
is required to assemble the outer pipe 11A and the inner pipe 12A
together. In the case that the inner pipe 12A is not precisely positioned
in the outer pipe, the flows of air and water are seriously affected.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides a water inlet and venting
pipe of a water dispenser, in which the water inlet and venting
pipe is integrally formed to simplify the manufacturing process,
so as to eliminate the requirement of tooling for assembly.
[0007] The present invention further provides a water inlet and
venting pipe of a water dispenser that provides fluent flows of
air or water therethrough.
[0008] The present invention is characterized in installing the
water inlet and venting pipe on water dispenser and merging the
water inlet and venting pipe with a cap sealing structure of the
tank. The water inlet and venting pipe is partitioned into a water
inlet channel and a venting channel. At least one water inlet aperture
is formed on the water inlet and venting pipe to connect with the
water inlet channel, and at least one venting aperture is formed
on the water inlet and venting pipe to connect with the venting
channel. Thereby, air is vented from the water inlet and venting
pipe into the water tank, and water flows from the tank through
the water inlet channel to be dispensed.
[0009] The present invention is characterized in forming a longitudinal
partitioning board to partition the water inlet and venting pipe
into a venting channel and a water inlet channel. Preferably, the
capacity of the water inlet channel is larger than the venting channel.
Three water inlet apertures are formed on the water inlet and venting
pipe to connect the water inlet channel, and one venting aperture
is formed on the water inlet and venting pipe to connect the venting
channel.
[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the water inlet
and venting pipe is integrally formed with a cross partitioning
board therein. The elongate water inlet and venting pipe and the
cross partitioning board define three elongate water inlet channels
and one elongate venting channel. Similarly, three water inlet apertures
are formed on the water inlet and venting pipe to connect the water
inlet channels, and one venting aperture is formed on the water
inlet and venting pie to connect the venting channel.
[0011] In one embodiment, the present invention further provides
an extension pipe extending from a bottom of the water inlet channel
to provide a more fluent water flow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] These, as well as other features of the present invention,
will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a conventional water dispenser
and a water tank;
[0014] FIG. 2 is shows a perspective view of a water inlet and
venting pipe of the conventional water dispenser;
[0015] FIG. 3 shows the conventional water dispenser with the water
tank disposed thereover;
[0016] FIG. 4 shows the conventional water dispenser with the water
tank installed thereon;
[0017] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a water inlet and venting
pipe provided by the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the water inlet and
venting pipe illustrated in FIG. 5;
[0019] FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of a water inlet and venting
pipe provided by the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the water inlet and
venting pipe illustrated in FIG. 7;
[0021] FIG. 9 shows an exploded view of a water dispenser and a
water tank;
[0022] FIG. 10 shows the water dispenser with the water tank disposed
thereover; and
[0023] FIG. 11 shows the water dispenser with the water tank installed
thereon.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] The present invention provides a water inlet and venting
pipe of a water dispenser. Referring to FIG. 9 the water inlet
and venting pipe 1 is installed in a water dispenser 10. When the
water tank 20 is installed on the water dispenser 10 the sealing
structure of the cap 2 of the water tank 20 is driven by the water
inlet and venting pipe 1 to enter the water tank 20. As shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6 the water inlet and venting pipe 1 includes an exterior
cylindrical tube and an elongate partitioning board therein to define
a water inlet channel 12 and a venting channel 13. In one embodiment,
the water inlet and venting pipe 1 is so partitioned by the elongate
partitioning board that the capacity of the water inlet channel
12 is larger than the venting channel 13. On the exterior cylindrical
tube, three equidistant water inlet apertures 14 are formed to connect
the water inlet channel 12 and one venting aperture 15 is formed
to connect the venting channel 13. Preferably, the equidistant water
inlet apertures 14 are formed at the same level.
[0025] FIGS. 7 and 8 show another embodiment of the water inlet
and venting pipe 1. Similarly, the water inlet and venting pipe
1 includes an elongate exterior tube and an elongate cross partitioning
board 16 within the exterior tube. The exterior tube and the cross
partitioning board 16 defines three water inlet channels 12 and
one venting channel 13. The capacity of each water inlet channel
12 is the same as the capacity of the inlet channel 13. For each
water inlet channel 12 one water inlet aperture 15 is formed on
the corresponding portion of the exterior tube allowing water flowing
into the water inlet channel 12. A venting aperture 15 is also formed
on the portion of the exterior tube corresponding to the venting
channel 13 allowing air to flow therefrom.
[0026] The above water inlet and venting pipe 1 has a close top
end and an open bottom end. Preferably, an extension pipe 121 extends
from the open bottom is included to improve the water flow along
the water inlet channel 12.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 9 a water tank 20 to be installed on the
water dispenser 10 is inversely disposed. A cap 2 is installed at
the top of the water tank 20. A hollow guide 21 is recessed from
the cap 2 to define an opening 22 allowing water to flow through.
Before the water tank 20 is installed on the water dispenser 10
a sealing cover 3 is apply to seal the opening 22 of the cap 2.
[0028] In the present invention, a water outlet 31 and an air inlet
32 are formed on sidewall of the sealing cover 3. Before the water
tank 20 is installed on the water dispenser 10 the water outlet
31 and the air inlet 32 are blocked by the guide 21 such that water
is prevented from flowing through the opening 22.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 9 to install the water tank 20 on the
water dispenser 10 the water tank 20 is inversely disposed. The
opening 22 defined by the guide 21 of the cap 2 is aligned over
the water inlet and venting pipe 1 of the water dispenser 10. The
water inlet and venting pipe 1 is then inserted into the guide 21
through opening 22. As shown in FIG. 10 once the top end of the
water inlet and venting pipe 1 inserted into the guide 21 reaches
the sealing cover 3 the sealing cover 3 is engaged with the water
inlet and venting pipe 1.
[0030] In FIG. 11 the water tank 20 is moved downwardly, such
that the sealing cover 3 engaged with the water inlet and venting
pipe 1 is pushed upwardly relative to the guide 21 of the cap 2.
As water tank 20 moves further downwardly, the sealing cover 3 is
no longer overlapped with the guide 21. Instead, the top portion
of the sealing cover 3 is at a higher level compared to the top
portion of the guide 21. In this embodiment, latching structures
such as barbs are formed along the bottom edge of the sealing cover
3 and the top edge of the guide 21. Therefore, when the water tank
20 is installed in the water dispenser 10 the top portion of the
sealing cover 3 attached to the top portion of the water inlet and
venting pipe 1 is pushed upwardly relative to the cap 2 while the
cap 2 is driven upwardly into the water tank 20 by the latching
structures latching the bottom edge of the sealing cover 3 with
the top edge of the guide 22. As the cap 2 is drawn downwardly from
the sealing cover 3 and the guide 22 and the sealing cover 3 are
staggered from each other, the water outlet 31 and the air inlet
32 can be aligned with the water inlet aperture 14 and the venting
aperture 15 of the water inlet and venting pipe 1 respectively.
[0031] When the water tank 20 is properly installed in the water
dispenser 10 as shown in FIG. 11 air is vented from the venting
channel 13 to the water tank 20 via the venting aperture 15 and
the air inlet 32. Meanwhile, water contained in the water tank 20
flows through the water outlet 31 the water inlet aperture 14
and the water inlet channel 12 to be dispensed from the water dispenser
10.
[0032] Accordingly, the present invention has at least the following
advantages:
[0033] 1. The water inlet and venting pipe and the partitioning
board are integrally formed to define the water inlet channel 12
and the venting channel 13 such that only one mold is required,
and the manufacturing process is simplified.
[0034] 2. As the water inlet and venting pipe and the partitioning
board therein are integrally formed as a unitary structure, no additional
tooling is required for assembly.
[0035] 3. The capacities of the water inlet channel 12 and the
venting channel 13 are constant, such that the air or water flow
through the water inlet and venting pipe 1 is much more fluently.
[0036] Other embodiments of the invention will appear to those
skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice
of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification
and examples to be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope
and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims. |