U.S. patent application number 09/974890 was filed with the patent office on 2002-04-18 for water bottle rack.
Invention is credited to Bourbonnais, Serge, Lajeunesse, Andre.
Application Number | 20020043509 09/974890 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 9901113 |
Filed Date | 2002-04-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020043509 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lajeunesse, Andre ; et
al. |
April 18, 2002 |
Water bottle rack
Abstract
A water bottle rack for storing, for transporting by a delivery
truck and for subsequently dispensing by gravity standard water
plastic jugs having a narrow mouth, a relative flat bottom portion
and two or more annular rims extending outwardly from the jug side
wall. The rack comprises a rigid frame having a front, a rear, a
bottom, a top, two sides and an interior. The rack is adapted to be
installed on the floor, on a stand, on the deck within a
conventional delivery truck loading area, or stacked on top of each
other or moved by a fork-lift truck. A number of inclined guiding
rails, paired transversally so as to form shelves, supporting
conventional water bottles by two of their annular rims, or a
number of inclined shelves configured so as to substantially
conform to the contour of a conventional jug are secured to the
frame in predetermined spaced relationship relative to each other
allowing, at each higher side of shelf level the loading of jugs by
the front of the back of the rack. The inclined shelves are being
disposed alternely one over the other having at their lower side a
throat section directly over the higher side of the shelf beneath
it and therefore rolling down said jugs back and forth in the rack,
back at one level and conversely forth at a lower level, and so,
down the shelves until the jug reach the exit aperture.
Inventors: |
Lajeunesse, Andre;
(St-Laurent, CA) ; Bourbonnais, Serge;
(St-Polycarpe, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Andre Lajeunesse
Suite 401
990, St-Francois-Xavier
St-Laurent
QC
H4L 5E7
CA
|
Family ID: |
9901113 |
Appl. No.: |
09/974890 |
Filed: |
October 12, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/59.2 ;
108/53.1; 108/55.1; 211/74 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 7/28 20130101; A47F
1/087 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/59.2 ;
211/74; 108/53.1; 108/55.1 |
International
Class: |
A47F 007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 12, 2000 |
GB |
0024971.4 |
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege or
property is claimed are defined as follow:
1. A water bottle rack for storing, for transporting by a delivery
truck and for subsequently dispensing by gravity standard water
plastic jugs, having a narrow mouth, a relative flat bottom portion
and two or more annular rims extending outwardly from the jug side
wall, the first of said annular rims being adjacent to the said
flat bottom portion, the second of said annular rims being adjacent
to the conic section, said conic section narrowing said side wall
to said narrow mouth, said rack comprising a rigid frame having a
front, a rear, a bottom, a top, two sides and an interior, said
frame bottom configuration allowing said rack to be installed on a
floor, or on a stand, or to be moved by a fork-lift truck, or to be
stack on top of each other, or to be installed on the deck within a
conventional delivery truck loading area, said interior having a
number of inclined shelves secured to the frame in predetermined
spaced relationship relative to each other so as to allow by
gravity down rolling movement of said jug on said first and second
annular rim onto the surface of said shelf, said shelves being
disposed alternately one over the other having at their lower side
a throat section having substantially vertically throat guide
directly over the higher side of the shelf beneath it therefore
allowing said jug to roll down back and forth in said rack, back at
one level and conversely forth at a lower level and so, down the
shelves until said jug reach the exit aperture located in the said
front adjacent said bottom.
2. A water bottle rack as recited in claim 1 wherein said front,
rear, and two sides having each at least 4 transversal
reinforcement rods proportionally and evenly distributed along the
vertical axis each level forming a supporting component for
supporting a shelf
3. A water bottle rack as recited in claim 2 wherein said shelves
are configured so as to substantially conform to the outer contour
of a conventional water jug and adapted to be rested on said
corresponding reinforcement rods being said supporting component of
said shelf perimeter.
4. A water bottle rack as recited in claim 3 wherein said shelves
are made out of an integral piece of material
5. A water bottle rack as recited in claim 4 wherein said interior
accommodates more than one transversal of said standard water jugs
and relatively the same number of dispensing apertures in the said
front, adjacent said bottom.
6. A water bottle rack as recited in claim 4 wherein said front and
said rear rigid frame provide sufficient space opening to load
directly each shelf level from said front and said rear.
7. A water bottle rack as recited in claim 1 wherein said shelves
are constituted by an inclined set of guiding rails paired
transversally so as to support said conventional jugs by said first
and second annular rims, said guiding rails being secured to the
frame in a predetermined spaced relationship relative to each
other, said guiding rails forming a substantially wedge shapes
configuration.
8. A water bottle rack as recited in claim 7 wherein said guiding
rails have generally a "U"-shaped cross sectional configuration,
said sectional configuration adapted to substantially conform to
the configuration of said annular rims.
9. A water bottle rack as recited in claim 8 wherein said interior
accommodates more than one transversal of said standard water jugs
and consequently the same number of dispensing apertures in the
said front, adjacent said bottom.
10. A water bottle rack as recited in claim 8 wherein said front
and said rear rigid frame provide sufficient space opening to load
directly each shelf level from said front and said rear.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of bottled water
accessories and is particularly concerned with a water bottle
rack.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Along with an increased concern about the purity and
potability of municipally provided water supplies has come an
increased use of bottled water services provided commercially.
[0003] The commercially provided water is said to be purer and
better tasting than what comes out of the tap in many
localities.
[0004] Indeed, the use of bottled water has become ever more
popular, and in fact at least from time to time, is considered an
essential commodity in many areas due to contamination of the water
supply, chemical impurities and the like. Many individuals just do
not care for the taste of many chemical additives in their water
supply and, accordingly purchase bottled water for drinking.
[0005] Drinking water, such as spring water, is typically sold
commercially in a plurality of different bottle sizes. A common
bottled water container for water can be, e.g., a one quart
capacity, a half-gallon capacity or a gallon capacity. These
smaller containers are usually made of polymeric resin and
relatively easy to handle. These smaller containers are generally
cooled by placing them in a common refrigerator. A more economical
way to sell bottled water is to put it in large containers of,
e.g., 5 gallons.
[0006] Generally, the commercial water purveyors supply the
subscriber with some time of dispensing apparatus such as the
familiar water cooler that can now be found in countless offices
and homes. It is indeed common practice to provide in many offices,
institutional and factory locations a free-standing drinking water
dispenser having an inverted, large bottled water reservoir that
requires periodic replacement. This type of water dispenser is
becoming also increasingly popular in common households.
[0007] One of the most common types of commercially available
bottled water dispensers and inverted bottle type construction
wherein the bottle is turned upside down into an open receptacle or
well which is on top of the cooler dispenser. The bottle must be
lifted approximately 4', turned upside down, placed into the well
for use. Water is thereafter dispensed from the cooler dispenser by
dispensing buttons or spigots which extend forwardly of the cabinet
of the cooler-dispenser.
[0008] The most common bottle receptacle of these re-usable
polymeric bottles is a standard 5-gallon plastic jug having a
narrow mouth and a flat bottom portion.
[0009] Typically, these 5-gallon jugs having two or more annular
rims extending outwardly from the bottle side wall to facilitate a
carrying of the jugs and to provide rolling surfaces when the jugs
are roller on their sides.
[0010] Such size gallon bottled water containers are commercially
available from a number of sources and are typically returned by
the user when the water has been consumed therefrom. The jugs must
be transported to and from the filling plant and are typically
sterilized before refilling.
[0011] Typically, the bottled water jugs are delivered to homes,
offices and the like by delivery trucks. These trucks have a
support structure for the container that places them horizontally.
This horizontal position facilitates movement and storage of the
container while on the delivery truck. However, it is often
difficult and awkward to remove the containers from the support
structures and then move them to their respective destinations.
[0012] One of the main drawbacks associated with conventional racks
associated with delivery trucks for bottled water relates to the
fact that the racks are configured so that the bottles are
manipulated and dispensed by their neck rather than their
circumferential surface. This leads to unergonomic and potentially
injurious manipulation of the bottles.
[0013] Since such 5-gallon bottled water containers are heavy,
weighing approximately 50 lb. each, this produces wear and tear
upon delivery personnel that must remove the bottles from trucks
and delivery often at a substantial distance from the home, office
building, businesses and the like. The problem is compounded by the
fact that these bottled water dispensers are typically delivered to
homes or offices in multiples of e.g., two to five bottles at a
time.
[0014] Unergonomic handling of the bottles as they are removed or
stored from or in the truck racks relates to the fact that the
prior art racks are constructed such that the bottles are extracted
or inserted in the racks at various heights relative thereto. In
other words, a bottle stored on an upper shelf of the rack will
require from the delivery personnel to manipulate the heavy bottle
in an overhead position. While bottles stored on a lower shelf of
the rack requires manipulation thereof, while the delivery
personnel is in a bent position, again potentially leading to
potential injuries.
[0015] Furthermore, conventional truck racks for bottled water
containers are often unsuitably designed for safe and easy
positioning thereof within the truck loading area.
[0016] Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved water
bottle rack.
[0017] Advantages of the present invention include that fact that
the proposed water bottle rack is specifically designed so as to be
installable within conventional delivery truck loading areas. The
proposed rack has a built-in means for facilitating handling
thereof by fork lift-type vehicles or the like.
[0018] Furthermore, the proposed rack has built-in ergonomical
features allowing the bottled water jugs to be biased by gravity
towards a single loading and unloading area.
[0019] Alternatively, the jugs may be loaded at a predetermined
location and unloaded at a predetermined site. Furthermore, the
rack is specifically designed so that insertion and withdrawal into
or out of the rack is performed with the peripheral circumferential
surface of the bottle presented to the individual performing the
manipulation.
[0020] Still further, the proposed rack has built-in guiding means
for guiding the movement of the water bottles inserted therein
along their path leading to the discharge area. The guiding means
is specifically designed so as to minimize risk of damaging the
water bottles and so as to secure the water bottles within rack
during movement of the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0021] In accordance with embodiment of the invention a water
bottle rack for storing, for transporting by a delivery truck and
for subsequently dispensing by gravity standard water plastic jugs
having a narrow mouth, a relative flat bottom portion and two or
more annular rims extending outwardly from the jug side wall. The
rack comprises a rigid frame having a front, a rear, a bottom, a
top, two sides and an interior. The rack is adapted to be installed
on the floor, on a stand, on the deck within a conventional
delivery truck loading area, or stacked on top of each other or
moved by a fork-lift truck. A number of inclined guiding rails,
paired transversally so as to form shelves, supporting conventional
water bottles by two of their annular rims, or a number of inclined
shelves configured so as to substantially conform to the contour of
a conventional jug are secured to the frame in predetermined spaced
relationship relative to each other allowing, at each higher side
of shelf level, the loading of jugs by the front or the back of the
rack. The inclined shelves are being disposed alternely one over
the other having at their lower side a throat section directly over
the higher side of the shelf beneath it and therefore rolling down
said jugs back an forth in the rack, back at one level and
conversely forth at a lower level, and so, down the shelves until
the jug reach the exit aperture in the front adjacent the
bottom.
[0022] Conveniently the water bottle rack allows discharged of a
rack from a delivery truck by means of fork-lift truck in a store
and place on a stand to provide easy ergonomic height for customer
pickup of water jug. This procedure will reduce considerably the
work load of hand manipulation from the truck into the store. A
water bottle rack containing empty bottle will then easily be
pickup by the fork-lift truck and place in the truck.
[0023] Conveniently the water bottle rack allows easy discharged
from a delivery truck by means of a fork-lift truck of rack
containing empty bottle at the refilling plan and conversely
charging a bottle rack containing fill bottles.
[0024] Conveniently the water bottle rack allows easy staking of
racks for storage within the refilling plan.
[0025] Conveniently the water bottle rack allows easy water bottle
loading by both the front and the back at each shelf level.
[0026] Conveniently the water bottle rack allows easy dispensing of
bottle at an ergonomic height from the delivery truck.
[0027] Conveniently the water bottle rack allows easy loading of
empty bottle by the front input adjacent the top of the rack.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] An embodiment of the present invention will now be
disclosed, by way of example, in reference to the following
drawings, in which:
[0029] FIG. 1: in a perspective view with sections taken out,
illustrates a water bottle rack in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention, the rack being shown with conventional
5-gallon water bottles inserted therein;
[0030] FIG. 2: in a side elevational view, illustrates the rack
shown in FIG. 1 having bottles inserted in an upper section thereof
while other bottles are stored in a lower section thereof;
[0031] FIG. 3: in a partial perspective view with sections taken
out, illustrates some of the end guiding components, part of the
rack shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0032] FIG. 4: in a partial transversal cross sectional view taken
along arrows IV-IV of FIG. 2, illustrates some of the guiding
components of the rack shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, as bottles are
being inserted therein;
[0033] FIG. 5: in a partial transversal cross section view taken
along arrows V-V of FIG. 2, illustrates some other guiding means
part of the rack shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, as a bottle is being
rolled there along;
[0034] FIG. 6: in a partial longitudinal view taken along arrows
VI-VI of FIG. 2, illustrates some of the guiding components shown
in FIG. 5;
[0035] FIG. 7: in a partial perspective view with sections taken
out, illustrates a releasable stopping mechanism used at the
discharge area for selectively allowing discharge of the water
bottles;
[0036] FIG. 8: in partial side view with sections taken out,
illustrates the release mechanism shown in FIG. 7, in its locking
position shown in full lines and its releasing position shown in
phantom lines;
[0037] FIG. 9: in a partial side view with sections taken out,
illustrates a conventional 5-gallon bottle as it transfers from one
level to another within the rack shown in FIGS. 1 through 8;
[0038] FIG. 10: in a partial side view with sections taken out,
illustrates a water bottle rack in accordance with a second
embodiment of the present invention;
[0039] FIG. 11: in a top view, illustrates some of the components
of the rack shown in FIG. 10;
[0040] FIG. 12: in a partial cross sectional view, illustrates some
of the components of the rack shown in FIG. 10 at a lower level
thereof;
[0041] FIG. 13: in a transversal cross sectional view taken along
arrows XIII-XIII of FIG. 11, illustrates some of the components of
the rack shown in FIGS. 1 through 12.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0042] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a water bottle rack 10
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0043] The water bottle rack 10 includes a peripheral frame 12 made
of substantially tubular members 12 so as to form a generally
parallelepiped shaped outer frame.
[0044] Typically, although by no means exclusively, the rack has a
height substantially in range of 68", a width substantially in the
range of 45" and a depth substantially in the range of 45".
Typically, these dimensions allow for the storage of 40
conventional 5-gallon water jugs. It should be understood that the
rack 10 could have other configuration and size without departing
from the scope of the present invention.
[0045] A set of guiding rails 14 are secured to the frame 12 in a
predetermined spaced relationship relative to each other. The
guiding rails 14 typically form pairs of upper and lower guiding
rail sub-assemblies 16 forming a substantially wedge shaped
configuration. The guiding rails 14 are also paired transversally
so as to form shelves specifically adapted to support conventional
5-gallon water bottles 18. Such conventional 5-gallon water bottles
18, typically include at least a pair of annular rims 20,
projecting from their respective peripheral walls 22.
[0046] As shown in greater details in FIG. 3, each guiding track or
rail 14 preferably has a generally "U"-shaped cross sectional
configuration defining a track central section 24 having a pair of
substantially perpendicular flanges 26 extending integrally
therefrom.
[0047] The cross sectional configuration of the tracks 14 is
adapted to substantially conform to the configuration of the rims
20, part of the jugs 18, so as to stabilize and guide the latter.
The tracks 14 are thus transversally paired in a predetermined
transversal spaced relationship relative to each other so as to be
positioned substantial in register with the top and bottom rims 20,
part of the conventional jugs 18.
[0048] Each shelf formed by pairs of transversally adjacent tracks
14, extends from one of the lateral walls defined by the frame 12,
in an inclined relationship relative thereto, towards the opposed
lateral wall and terminates before reaching the latter so as to
define a corresponding transfer throat 28 allowing passage of the
jugs 18 from one shelf to the other. The shelves are thus so
positioned that jugs placed upon a higher shelf will roll forward
into the rack towards the opposed lateral wall before falling into
the corresponding transfer throat 28 on the underlying shelf.
[0049] The racks 14 forming the superposed shelves are maintained
in their predetermined vertical and lateral spaced relationship
relative to each other by both intermediate supporting rods 30 and
end support components 32. The supporting rods 30 are adapted to
extend depth wise from one intermediate supporting vertical rod 34
to another. The end supporting components 32 typically have a
generally "S"-shaped configuration and are adapted to extend from
the corner frame rods 12 at predetermined intervals.
[0050] A set of neck guiding rods 36 is further provided. The
guiding rods 36 are positioned so as to extend in a generally
parallel relationship relative to upper guiding track components in
a predetermined vertical spaced relationship relative thereto so as
to support the neck portion 38 of the conventional jugs 18. The
jugs 18 are thus supported both by upper and lower guiding tracks
14 and by the neck guiding rods 36 thus ensuring stability thereof
during transportation within a conventional delivery truck.
[0051] Furthermore, the increased guiding capacity of the rack 10
ensures proper transition from one shelf level to another and thus
reduces the risk of damaging the jugs 18. The proximal ends of the
neck guiding rods 36 are solidly anchored, as shown in FIG. 3, to
corresponding neck guide anchoring rods 38. In turn, the neck guide
supporting rods 38 are secured to an intermediate segment of the
end supporting components 32 ensuring stability of the
structure.
[0052] In order to allow smooth transition from one shelf level to
another, throat guides 40 are provided at each throat section 28.
As shown in FIG. 3, the throat guides 40 also preferably have a
generally "U"-shaped cross sectional configuration so as to support
the rims 20 of the jugs 18.
[0053] Furthermore, the throat guides 40 are given a generally
curved configuration for guiding the transfer of the vertical drop
towards the adjacent inclined shelf.
[0054] A frictional speed bump component 42 is preferably provided
adjacent the distal end of each throat guide 40 in order to reduce
the speed imparted on the relatively heavy jugs 18 by gravitational
forces while the jugs fall into the adjacent throat 28. The reduced
velocity minimizes the risk of impact with other jugs 18 on the
shelf causing damage to the jugs. The throat guides 40 are
typically pivotally mounted about their proximal ends by an hinge
mechanism 44 to corresponding frame reinforcement rods 46. Said
hinge mechanism 44 allow to pivot throat guides 40 when filling
each level of the rack with bottle.
[0055] As shown more specifically in FIG. 9, the frictional speed
bumps 42 are also provided adjacent the intersection between upper
and lower guiding tracks 14 so as to further reduce velocity of the
throat engaging jugs 18 and, thus, further reduce the risk of
damaging other jugs 18. Also, FIG. 9 illustrates that the adjacent
pairs of upper and lower tracks 14 are positioned so as to allow
for clearance between the rims 20 and the upper guiding tracks 14.
The clearance typically has a value substantially in the range of
1/8".
[0056] As shown more specifically in FIGS. 1, 7 and 8, the rack 10
is further provided with a bottle dispensing mechanism 48 allowing
selective blocking and dispensing of the jugs 18 at a predetermined
dispensing sight typically located at the distal end of the lower
most shelf. The dispensing mechanism 48 preferably includes a
blocking arm 50, pivotally mounted to the lower most transversal
reinforcement rod 46 and having a handle 52 integrally attached
thereto.
[0057] A friction plate 54 is solidly anchored to the blocking arm
50. The friction plate 54 and the blocking arm 50 are so configured
and sized that, as shown in FIG. 8, pivotal movement of the latter
allow selective blocking and release of the jugs 18 by selectively
abutting and clearing the lateral wall 22 and associated rims 20
thereof. Hence, the jugs 18 may be selectively inserted or
withdrawn from the rack 10 through a single location selectively
blocked by the mechanism 48. Alternatively, the jugs 18 may be
inserted within the rack at an upper shelf level and discharged
through the use of the mechanism 48.
[0058] The rack 10 is preferably further provided with supporting
legs 56 defining an abutment surface 58 for abutting against the
ground surface and a clearance 60 relative to the frame 12 allowing
for insertion of the tines, part of the conventional fork lift.
[0059] Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 10 through 13,
there is shown a water bottle rack 10' in accordance with a second
embodiment of the present invention. The bottle rack 10' presents
many similarities with the herein above disclosed bottle rack
10.
[0060] Like the bottle rack 10, the second embodiment 10' includes
a set of shelves configured so as to substantially conform to the
outer contour of conventional 3 or 5 liter water jugs 18. The
shelves 60 are made out of an integral piece of material that is
adapted to be rested, as shown in FIG. 13 on the corresponding
supporting components reinforcement rods 46 of the frame 62. Each
shelf 60 defines a corresponding throat section 64 having
substantially vertical throat guiding walls 66.
[0061] Each shelf 60 also defines a reinforced section 68 having
integral reinforcement ribs 70 adapted to withstand the impact of
jugs falling from the adjacent throat 64. The upper most surface 72
of the frame 62 is provided with a protruding lip 74 adapted to be
inserted into a corresponding recess formed in the lower most
section of a corresponding frame 62 for allowing racks 10' to be
securely stacked on top of each other. The rack 10' is specifically
designed so as to be made out of a suitable polymeric resin using
conventional polymeric transfer process such as thermal forming,
injection molding or a combination thereof.
* * * * *