Water filter abstract
A filter adaptor assembly for a water cooler of the type having
a support housing provided with a water bottle support at a top
end to support an inverted water bottle over a water reservoir of
the housing. The filter adaptor assembly comprises a support platform
having a support base and it is connected in support engagement
above the water reservoir. Supports are connected to the support
base for securing one or more filter cartridges thereto. A dispensing
valve is secured under the base and has a conduit for receiving
treated water from the filter assembly. The valve has a water level
sensing float mechanism which is adapted to detect the water level
in the reservoir to dispense or cut-off the supply of treated water
to the reservoir. The filter assembly is also connected to a pressurized
water supply.
Water filter claims
We claim:
1. A filter adaptor assembly for adapting a water purification
means to a water cooler of the type having a support housing provided
with a water bottle support means at a top end to support an inverted
water bottle over a water reservoir, said adaptor assembly comprising
a support platform provided with a circular disc-like attachment
base having a circumferential side wall for support engagement of
said platform in a top open end section of said water reservoir,
and one or more undercut connecting flanges disposed under a peripheral
end section of said attachment base for retention engagement thereof
with a respective flange connection formed in a peripheral edge
of said top end section of said water reservoir, said support platform
having water purification retention means for detachably supporting
one or more filter cartridges above said attachment base, and a
dispensing valve secured to said support platform and projecting
under said attachment base and having conduit means to receive treated
water from said one or more filter cartridges, said valve having
water level sensing means adapted to detect a water level in said
reservoir to dispense or cut-off a supply of said treated water
to said reservoir, said one or more filter cartridges having a water
inlet for connection to a pressurized water supply.
2. A filter adaptor assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said
filter cartridges are detachably connected to said attachment base.
3. A filter adaptor assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said
attachment base is shaped for frictional engagement about said top
open end section of said water reservoir.
4. A filter adaptor assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said
attachment base is provided with two or more clip connectors depending
from an outer peripheral edge thereof for locking engagement with
a respective locking slot provided in a top wall of said housing
spaced from an outer peripheral edge thereof.
5. A filter adaptor assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said
attachment base is comprised of a support post extending vertically
from said support base and having a connecting bracket in a top
end thereof for removable connection of said filter cartridges.
6. A filter adaptor assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said
dispensing valve is secured to an underface of said support base
to position same above said water reservoir.
7. A filter adaptor assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein said
water cooler is provided with a removable top cover dimensioned
and shaped to enclose a water bottle, said adaptor assembly replacing
said water bottle and being concealed by said removable top cover.
8. A filter adaptor assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein said
water level sensing means is a float valve having a pivotal arm
provided with a float at a free end to sense a water level in said
reservoir, and a valve seat plug actuable by pivotal displacement
of said pivotal arm to close and open a valve port in said conduit
means to control said supply of said treated water to said reservoir.
9. A filter adaptor assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein there
are two of said float valves, a first of said float valves detecting
a first predetermined water level and a second of said float valves
detecting a second water level above said first predetermined water
level.
10. A filter adaptor assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein an
aperture is provided in a bottom wall of said attachment base and
aligned with said float of said second of said float valves to detect
the position thereof.
11. A filter adaptor assembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein said
float of said second of said float valves is provided with a colored
top wall which is visible through said aperture to serve as an indicator
that said first of said float valve is defective.
12. A filter adaptor assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said
support platform has a molded base having a top wall spaced from
said attachment base, and one or more cavities in said top wall,
each shaped to frictionally engage a bottom end portion of one of
said filter cartridges.
13. A filter adaptor assembly as claimed in claim 12 wherein said
support platform is a blow-molded circular support platform.
Water filter description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an adaptor assembly and particularly
to a filter cartridge attachment means for use with a bottle fed
water cooler whereby to replace the water bottle and feed the reservoir
of the water cooler with filtered water.
BACKGROUND ART
There is a growing demand for quality water at the workplace or
at home. A popular type of water dispenser consists of a support
housing having an open-ended reservoir at a top end thereof with
a self-contained refrigerant system whereby to cool the water in
the reservoir. A large water bottle is supported in an inverted
position on top of this reservoir to feed water thereto by gravity
or by other controllable means. A disadvantage of these popular
type water dispensers is that bottled water poses many inconveniences
such as the handling of heavy containers from the place of purchase
to its mounting on top of the reservoir, and the ongoing expenses
of purchasing these water bottles or the scheduling of water delivery.
Often you need to store large quantities of these heavy 5 gallon
bottles if they are used in the workplace. These water coolers may
also need to be disinfected once in a while depending on the quality
of the water being dispensed through the valve system.
In an attempt to resolve the problem of dispensing quality water
through such water coolers, attempts have been made to incorporate
filters within these water coolers to treat the water which is dispensed
from these bottles. Most of the water that is dispensed from these
bottles is spring water which may or may not have been filtered
as well as tap water which may be filtered before insertion into
the water bottles. Reference is herein made to U.S. Pat. No. 4995975
which shows a unitary water cooler equipped with a filter device
to filter the water from an inverted water bottle. The filter device
is located within the reservoir. Accordingly, this patent serves
as an indication of the need to have bottled water filtered prior
to being consumed by a user person. However, with this water cooler
there is still a need to handle heavy 5 gallon water bottles and
the expense associated therewith.
There are water coolers with filter cartridges incorporated in
the housing during the construction thereof. The housing must therefore
be adapted to service these filters and needs to be permanently
wired. With the filter cartridges mounted internally, they are difficult
to service.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is a feature of the present invention to provide an adaptor
assembly to replace the bottles of water coolers of the type which
is usually fed by gravity and wherein the bottle is supported in
an inverted position over the water reservoir of the housing, whereby
to support water purification means to feed the reservoir with treated
water.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide an adaptor
assembly which is adaptable to existing water coolers of the type
having inverted water bottles mounted at a top end thereof and concealed
by a cover and further wherein the adaptor assembly detachably secures
itself over the top open end reservoir of these water coolers.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide an adaptor
assembly capable of support filter cartridges to feed tap water
to the reservoir of bottle fed water coolers and wherein the filters
remove up to 99% of potential harmful volatile organic chemicals,
including chlorine, chloramines, asbestos, molds, algae, dirt, off-tastes
and odors from a tap water supply.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide an adaptor
assembly for a water cooler of the type which is fed by an inverted
water bottle and wherein the water bottle is replaced by the adaptor
and supports the filter cartridges whereby to ensure an unlimited
supply of fresh, clean drinking water at a substantial savings when
compared to bottled water and which eliminates the need of handling
the heavy 5 gallon water bottles.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide a filter
cartridge adaptor which is removably securable over the top open
end reservoir of a bottle fed water cooler whereby to replace the
bottle with a filtered tap water supply.
According to the above features, from a broad aspect, the present
invention provides an adaptor assembly for adapting a water purification
means to a water cooler of the type having a support housing provided
with a water bottle support means at a top end to support an inverted
water bottle over a water reservoir. The adaptor assembly comprises
a support platform having an attachment base for support engagement
over the water reservoir. The support platform has water purification
retention means for supporting one or more water purification means
thereabove. A dispensing valve is secured to the support platform
and projects under the attachment base and has conduit means to
receive treated water from the water purification means. The valve
has water level sensing means adapted to detect a water level in
the reservoir to dispense or cut-off a supply of the treated water
to the reservoir. The filter means has a water inlet for connection
to a pressurized water supply.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described
with reference to the examples thereof as illustrated by the accompanying
drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the adaptor assembly
of the present invention supporting filter cartridges above a water
reservoir of a bottle fed water cooler with the cover of the housing
shown removed;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the water cooler of the prior
art with an inverted water bottle positioned over the water reservoir;
FIG. 3 is a simplified fragmented side view showing the position
of the adaptor assembly secured over the water reservoir of the
water cooler housing;
FIGS. 4A to 4C are simplified fragmented section views showing
how the attachment base of the filter support platform can be secured
above the reservoir of the water cooler;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the construction of the dispensing
valve and level sensing floats;
FIG. 6 is a simplified exploded fragmented section view of the
construction of the dispensing valve body;
FIG. 7 is a side view of the dispensing valve assembly and showing
its relationship with the support base of the adaptor support platform;
and
FIG. 8 is an exploded view showing the construction of the adaptor
and filter cartridge support post.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1
to 3 there is shown generally at 10 the adaptor assembly of the
present invention for mounting filter cartridges 22 22' over the
top open end 11 of a water reservoir 12 of a water cooler housing
13. As shown in FIG. 2 the housing 13 is of the type adapted to
support a large inverted water bottle 14 over the reservoir whereby
to dispense water 15 contained therein within the reservoir 12.
This water bottle is usually concealed by a cover 16 which fits
over the water bottle and sits on top of the housing. The present
invention replaces this water bottle by the adaptor assembly 10
as shown in FIG. 1 and this adaptor assembly and the cartridges
connected thereto are concealed by the cover 16 which is positionable
thereover and which provides access to the filter cartridges for
maintenance purposes wherein to interchange filters and permitting
access to the assembly. The filter cartridges 22 and 22' are also
referred to herein as water purification means as other type of
water treating devices can be connected to the adaptor 10. For example,
ultraviolet water treating devices can be supported by the adaptor.
As shown in FIG. 3 the water reservoir 12 may have various shapes
and is usually formed with a support rim 17 whereby to receive a
shoulder portion of the bottle 14 in support engagement thereon,
as is well known in the art. With the present invention the adaptor
assembly 10 is provided with a support platform 18 which has a support
base 19 and a circumferential flange or side wall 20 for frictional
fit engagement about the side wall 17' of the reservoir 12 and adjacent
the support rim 17. A filter cartridge attachment support tree 21
extends from the support base 19 and is adapted to support one or
more filter cartridges 22 22' above the support platform.
A dispensing valve assembly 23 is secured under the support base
19 and extends within the water reservoir and is provided with a
float assembly 24 to sense the level of water within the reservoir
12 to dispense or cut-off the supply of treated water from the filters
to the reservoir. The filter cartridges 22 and 22' are hereinshown
connected in series and a water inlet 25 of filter 22 is connected
to a suitable pressurized tap water line (not shown) so that water
will enter the inlet 25 through a shut-off valve 25', pass through
the first filter 22 and then through the second filter 22' by its
interconnection 26 and then via the outlet feed pipe 27 to the dispensing
valve assembly 23. The filters 22 and 22' may have different functions
and three or four of these filters may be supported by the support
tree 21 depending on the water treatment that is desirable prior
to feeding the water into the reservoir 12 which is then dispensed
through the dispensing valves 28. Essentially, the purpose of these
filter cartridges 22 and 22' is to reduce trihalomethanes and suspected
carcinogens below regulated limits and to further take out chlorine,
chloramines and extreme tastes and odors from the water supply connected
thereto.
The support platform 18 as shown in FIG. 3 is adapted for friction
fit about the side wall 17' of the water cooler reservoir whereby
to provide a stable and rigid connection of the filter attachment
support tree 21 thereto and particularly to resist any imbalance
due to unequal weights depending on the number of filters being
supported by the tree.
FIG. 4A illustrates a further embodiment of the support platform
18. As hereinshown the reservoir 12 has a top wall 9 with an outer
peripheral flange 8 which projects therefrom. This outer peripheral
flange may be entirely about the circumference of the top wall or
sections thereof. The adaptor support platform 18 is provided with
an undercut lip 7 whereby to removably connect the adaptor over
the reservoir. A flange wall 6 is used to pry the undercut lip from
its connection to detach the support platform 18. If the outer peripheral
flanges 8 are flange sections, then the support platform is connected
by simply rotating it until the undercut lip engages with the peripheral
flange sections 8.
FIG. 4B shows a still further embodiment wherein the support platform
18 is formed from blow molding and wherein the support base 19 is
frictionally retained at its support base 19 with the side wall
17' of the reservoir 12. As hereinshown the top wall 19' is provided
with cavities 5 and 5' whereby to receive in friction fit therein
the base portion of the filter cartridges 22 and 22' respectively.
This adaptor assembly 10 provides ease of connection and disconnection
of the filter cartridges therefrom.
FIG. 4C shows a still further embodiment wherein the support platform
18 is molded with depending clips 4 which are located in openings
3 formed in the top wall 13' of the housing 13. These slots 3 would
be provided with larger open ends whereby to permit the clip heads
4' to be inserted under the top wall 13'. Again, the support base
would then be rotated in engagement over the open end of the reservoir
12.
Referring now to FIG. 8 there is shown an exploded view of the
adaptor assembly embodiment of FIG. 3. As hereinshown, the filter
attachment support tree 21 consists of a support post 31 which may
be integrally formed with the support base 19 and extend vertically
thereabove. The top end 32 of the support post is provided with
a detachable plate 33 having a pair of opposed clamping cavities
34 to hold the filter cartridges 22 and 22'. This detachable plate
33 may be provided with at least four clamping cavities if it is
desirable to support four cartridges connected in series for special
filtering purposes. Screw fasteners 35 removably connect the detachable
plate to the post 31.
As also shown in FIG. 8 the dispensing valve assembly 23 is secured
to an underface 36 of the support base 19 by means of fasteners
37. Therefore, the valve assembly is easily detachable for replacement
or repair. The dispensing valve assembly is provided with a float
24 which is secured to a pivotal arm 38 which is attached to the
valve housing 39 by a pivoting mechanism 40. As the pivotal arm
pivots when the water level within the reservoir is displaced below
the predetermined level 41 as shown in FIG. 7 a closure member
42 moves in and out of a valve seat 43 as shown in FIG. 6 to permit
water to be dispensed through the valve body 39 or to obstruct the
valve port or conduit 44 to cut the water supply.
With additional reference now to FIGS. 5 to 7 it can be seen that
the dispensing valve assembly 23 is provided with two float valve
bodies 39 and 39' each having a water level detecting float assembly
consisting of floats 24 and 24' connected to a respective pivotal
arm 38 and 38'. The valve bodies 39 and 39' are interconnected and
an O-ring seal 40' seals their housings. As can be seen from FIG.
5 these floats are offset from one another and each adapted to
cut off the water supply from the inlet nipple connection 45 when
a first predetermined water level 41' or a second predetermined
water level 41 is detected within the reservoir. The lowermost float
24' detects a normal predetermined water level desired, 41', within
the reservoir 12 and the uppermost float 24 usually maintains the
valve port 44 open.
As can be seen from FIGS. 6 and 7 the valve assembly 23 has a
second valve seat 43' associated with the lower float 24' and the
upper valve port 44 remains open with the water being dispensed
through the valve port 44'. Should the lower float 24' assembly
malfunction, and in order to prevent pressurized water to be continuously
supplied to the reservoir causing damage, the second valve port
44 will close once the water within the reservoir reaches the second
predetermined water level 41. Should this condition occur it is
unlikely to be detected by the user unless an alarm or other form
of visual indication is given to indicate to the user this valve
malfunction. To achieve this objective there is provided an aperture
50 formed within the support base 19 and aligned with at least a
portion of the top wall 51 of the float 24. A protective plastic
or glass cover 53 may cover the hole 50 for sanitary purposes. This
aperture provides the user with a visible means to detect the position
of the float 24. Additionally, the top wall 51 of the float is of
a color which is easy to detect and accordingly when the float 24
is in its position, as shown in FIG. 7 the color will be easily
seen through the aperture providing an indication of a lower valve
malfunction. A covering or plug 53 may also be constructed of magnified
glass to amplify this condition.
Although the dispensing valve assembly 23 is provided with a two-section
valve body, as shown in FIG. 6 the invention also contemplates
the use of a single float valve.
The adaptor assembly of the present invention was conceived whereby
to adapt water purification means, such as the filter cartridges,
to existing water cooler housings wherein to replace the water bottle
with the filter assembly. This provides easy conversion of bottle-fed
water coolers whereby to adapt them to a filtered tap water supply.
Alternatively, water coolers may be manufactured with this removable
filter assembly to provide ease of maintenance and ease of reconverting
the water cooler from the filter assembly, back to the water bottle
dispensing, if the user wishes to do so. Accordingly, the water
cooler of the present invention may have a dual function, this being
to dispense bottled water or filtered tap water.
It is within the ambit of the present invention to cover any other
obvious modifications of the preferred embodiment described herein,
provided such modifications fall within the scope of the appended
claims. |