U.S. patent application number 11/098920 was filed with the patent office on 2005-10-13 for receptacle assembly for bottled water dispenser.
Invention is credited to Yoo, Andrei, Yui, George.
Application Number | 20050224133 11/098920 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35059337 |
Filed Date | 2005-10-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050224133 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yui, George ; et
al. |
October 13, 2005 |
Receptacle assembly for bottled 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.
Inventors: |
Yui, George; (Toronto,
CA) ; Yoo, Andrei; (Toronto, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BAKER & DANIELS LLP
111 E. WAYNE STREET
SUITE 800
FORT WAYNE
IN
46802
US
|
Family ID: |
35059337 |
Appl. No.: |
11/098920 |
Filed: |
April 5, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
141/18 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B67D 3/0032
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
141/018 |
International
Class: |
B65B 001/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 29, 2004 |
CN |
200420013562.1 |
Jan 7, 2005 |
CN |
200520038785.8 |
Jan 12, 2005 |
CN |
200520100153.X |
Jan 21, 2005 |
CN |
200520100254.7 |
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.
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. 4,699,188
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.
* * * * *