U.S. patent application number 16/547141 was filed with the patent office on 2020-12-24 for drain system with overflow protection.
The applicant listed for this patent is BHRS GROUP. Invention is credited to JONATHAN RUBIN.
Application Number | 20200399110 16/547141 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005261135 |
Filed Date | 2020-12-24 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200399110 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
RUBIN; JONATHAN |
December 24, 2020 |
DRAIN SYSTEM WITH OVERFLOW PROTECTION
Abstract
A water inlet pipe connects a water supply to a faucet. A water
flow control valve in the water inlet pipe regulates the flow of
water through the water inlet pipe from the water supply to the
faucet. A drip tray located beneath the faucet captures water
overflow. A conduit connects the drip tray a storage container such
that water in the drip tray drains into the storage container. A
water level sensor associated with the storage container generates
a overflow signal when the water level in the storage container
reaches a pre-set level. The water flow control valve automatically
prevents water flow through the water inlet pipe to the faucet in
response to the overflow signal. A visible display and a sound
generator are also energized in response to the alarm signal.
Inventors: |
RUBIN; JONATHAN; (Lakewood,
NJ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BHRS GROUP |
Lakewood |
NJ |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005261135 |
Appl. No.: |
16/547141 |
Filed: |
August 21, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62865409 |
Jun 24, 2019 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B67D 1/16 20130101; B67D
1/0878 20130101; B67D 1/0014 20130101; B67D 1/0888 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B67D 1/08 20060101
B67D001/08; B67D 1/16 20060101 B67D001/16; B67D 1/00 20060101
B67D001/00 |
Claims
1. Water dispensing apparatus for use with a water supply, said
apparatus comprising a water inlet pipe connected to the water
supply, and a faucet, said water inlet pipe connecting the water
supply to said faucet, a flow control valve in said water inlet
pipe which regulates the flow of water through said water inlet
pipe to said faucet, a drip tray located beneath said faucet
adapted to capture water overflow, a storage container, a conduit
connecting said drip tray and said storage container such that
water from said drip tray drains into said storage container, a
level sensor associated with said storage container, said flow
control valve automatically closing to prevent water flow through
said water inlet pipe to said faucet when the water level in the
storage container, as sensed by said level sensor, reaches a
pre-set level.
2. The water dispensing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an
overflow display energized to indicate that the water level in the
storage container, as sensed by said level sensor, has reached the
pre-set level.
3. The water dispensing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a
sound generator energized to produce an audible alarm when the
water level in the storage container, as sensed by said level
sensor, reaches the pre-set level.
4. The water dispensing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a
water filter associated with said water inlet pipe.
5. The water dispensing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a
water character control unit associate with said water inlet
pipe.
6. The water dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said water
flow control valve is a solenoid valve.
7. The water dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said water
level sensor takes the form of a mechanical sensor such as a float,
a light sensor or a moisture sensor.
8. Water dispensing apparatus for use with a water supply, said
apparatus comprising a water inlet pipe connected to the water
supply, and a faucet, said water inlet pipe connecting the water
supply to said faucet, a flow control valve in said water inlet
pipe which regulates the flow of water through said water inlet
pipe to said faucet, a drip tray located beneath said faucet
adapted to capture water overflow, a storage container, a conduit
connecting said drip tray and said storage container such that
water from said drip tray drains into said storage container, a
level sensor associated with said storage container, said flow
control valve automatically closing to prevent water flow through
said water inlet pipe to said faucet when the water level in the
storage container, as sensed by said level sensor, reaches a
pre-set level, an overflow display energized to indicate when the
water level in the storage container, as sensed by said level
sensor, reaches the pre-set level, and a sound generator energized
to provide an audible alarm when the water level in the storage
container, as sensed by said level sensor, reaches the pre-set
level.
9. The water dispensing apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a
water filter and a water character control unit associated with
said water inlet pipe.
10. The water dispensing apparatus of claim 8 wherein said water
flow control valve is a solenoid valve and said water level sensor
takes the form of a mechanical sensor such as a float, a light
sensor or a moisture sensor.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Priority is claimed on Provisional Patent Application Ser.
No. 62/865,409, filed Jun. 24, 2019, which is incorporated herein
in its entirety by reference.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO A "SEQUENCE LISTING", A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM
LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC
[0003] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates to a water dispensing
apparatus having a drip tray connected to an overflow storage
container which automatically shuts off the water supply and
generates an alarm when the storage container is full.
2. Description of Prior Art Including Information Disclosed Under
37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
[0005] Machines for dispensing heated and/or cooled liquids such as
water are well known. Water dispensing machines are typically
connected to a water supply which may be a pipe of the water
distribution system of the building where the machine is located or
a large bottle which is mounted on the machine and must be replaced
or refilled periodically. The machines dispense the water through a
faucet or tap to a glass, bottle or other container in response to
the depression of a pushbutton or lever which regulates the water
flow through the faucet. Such machines commonly include filters and
units which control the character of the water being dispensed
including the temperature of the water, and whether the water is
carbonated.
[0006] A drip tray is usually provided at a location below the
faucet in order to catch any overflow which occurs during the water
dispensing operation. In some installations, the drip tray is
connected to the sewer system by a drain pipe and the water
collected by the drip tray is disposed of through the sewer system
of the building in which the machine is located. However, the drip
trays in most water dispensing machines are not connected to drain
and the overflow water collects in the drip tray until the drip
tray is manually emptied.
[0007] If the overflow water in the drip tray is not periodically
emptied, the overflow water will eventually exceed the capacity of
the drip tray. When that occurs, the water will end up on the floor
near the base of the water dispensing machine, a result which is
not desirable.
[0008] Accordingly, there is a need for a drain system for a water
dispensing machine in which the overflow water in the drip tray is
allowed to drain into a storage container with a liquid capacity
which is substantially larger than the liquid capacity of the drip
tray. There is also a need for a drain system for a water
dispensing machine in which the water supply is automatically shut
off when the water level in the storage container reaches a pre-set
level such that no additional water can enter the drip tray until
the liquid in the storage container is emptied. There is also a
need for a drain system for a water dispensing machine which will
generate an audible and/or visible alarm when the storage container
is filled to a pre-set level, to alert the user that the storage
container must be emptied.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
a water dispensing apparatus is provided. The water dispensing
apparatus includes a water inlet pipe connecting a water supply to
a faucet and a water flow control valve in the water inlet pipe
which regulates the flow of water through the water inlet pipe from
the water supply to the faucet. A drip tray is located beneath the
faucet to capture water overflow. A storage container is provided.
A conduit connects the drip tray and the storage container such
that water in the drip tray drains into the storage container. A
water level sensor is associated with the storage container. The
flow control valve is automatically closed to prevent water flow
through the water inlet pipe to the faucet when the water level in
the storage container, as sensed by the level sensor, reaches a
pre-set level.
[0010] The water dispensing apparatus also includes a visible
display which is energized in response to the water level in the
storage container, as sensed by the level sensor, reaching the
pre-set level. The visual display may take the form of an LED
display or other LED indicator associated with the cabinet of the
water dispensing apparatus.
[0011] The water dispensing apparatus also includes a sound
generator connected to the water level sensor which is energized to
produce an audible alarm in response to the water level in the
storage container, as sensed by the level sensor, reaching the
pre-set level.
[0012] The water dispensing apparatus also includes a water filter
associated with the water inlet pipe.
[0013] The water dispensing apparatus also includes a water
character control unit associated with the water inlet pipe which
regulates the temperature or other characteristic of the dispensed
water.
[0014] The water flow control valve preferably takes the form of a
solenoid valve.
[0015] The water level sensor may take the form of a mechanical
sensor such as a float, a light sensor or a moisture sensor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWINGS
[0016] To these and to such other objects that may hereinafter
appears, the present invention relates to a water dispensing
apparatus having a drain system with overflow protection as
described in detail in the following specification and recited in
the annexed claims, taken together with the accompanying drawings,
in which like numerals refer to like parts and in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the water dispensing
apparatus of the present invention with the cabinet door open and
the overflow storage container removed from the cabinet;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the water
dispensing apparatus of FIG. 1 with the cabinet door open showing
the drip tray and the overflow storage container in place within
the cabinet;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the top portion of the
cabinet showing the water control dispensing buttons and the
overflow storage status display;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1
showing the drip tray on the upper section of the cabinet door;
and
[0021] FIG. 5 is block diagram of the major components of the water
dispensing apparatus of the present invention showing the water
flow connections and flow controls.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] As illustrated in the drawings, the water dispensing
apparatus of the present invention includes a cabinet, generally
designated A, which contains the components of the apparatus. The
cabinet includes a front access door 10 connected to the cabinet by
a hinge which can be opened to access the components in the
cabinet.
[0023] A drip tray 12 is mounted on the upper portion of access
door 10. The top section 14 of cabinet A protrudes outwardly beyond
the middle section 16 of the cabinet and contains the water outlet
faucet 18, the water selector buttons 20, the overflow status
display 22, the overflow status alarm 24 and the microprocessor 26
which controls the functions of the components.
[0024] The protruding section 14 of the cabinet has an open hole
for the spout. Section 14 protrudes outwardly beyond the middle
section 16 such that a glass, small bottle or other container (not
shown) can be inserted under and aligned with faucet 18. Water is
dispensed into the glass, small bottle or other container from the
faucet in response to the depression of the electronic buttons 20
on top of the unit.
[0025] When access door 10 is closed, the drip tray 12 is aligned
with faucet 18 in order to catch any water from faucet 18 which is
not received in the glass, small bottle or other container. Drip
tray 12 is connected to a storage container 28 by a tube 30. Water
from drip tray 12 drains into storage container 28 through tube 30
and collects in storage container 28, which may be a plastic or
glass bottle, preferably of substantially greater liquid capacity
than the drip tray.
[0026] The water dispensing apparatus is connected to a water
supply. The water supply may be a large bottle of water, of the
type which is commonly situated upside down on the top of the
cabinet. However, in the preferred embodiment of the apparatus
which is illustrated, the water supply pipe 32 is connected to the
water supply system of the building in which the water dispensing
apparatus is located.
[0027] Water inlet pipe 32 connects the water supply to faucet 18
through a filtration system including filters 34, a water character
control unit 36 and a flow control valve 38. Flow control valve 38
may be a solenoid valve or any other type of electrically
controlled valve. Valve 38 controls the flow of water through the
inlet pipe to the faucet.
[0028] When buttons 20 are depressed, a signal is sent by a control
circuit 26 which causes flow control valve 38 to open, such that
water can be dispensed through faucet 18.
[0029] The filtration system may include one or more water filter
canisters 34. In the preferred embodiment, two water filter
canisters 34 are illustrated.
[0030] Before being dispensed through faucet 18, water passes
through the water character control unit 36. Unit 36 regulates the
character of the water in accordance with the selector buttons 20
selected by the user. Buttons 20 are situated on top of the
cabinet. For example, the user may select chilled water, heated
water, carbonated water or non-carbonated water by depressing the
appropriate button.
[0031] Control circuit 26 may be a micro-processor or the like
which regulates the operation of the water dispensing apparatus.
Circuit 26 receives signals from the selector buttons 20 and causes
the water character control unit to provide water with the desired
characteristics to the faucet.
[0032] A level sensor 40 is associated with storage container 28.
Level sensor 40 detects the level of the water in the storage
container. Sensor 40 may take the form of any type of level sensor
including a mechanical sensor such as a float, a light sensor or a
moisture detector.
[0033] Sensor 40 is connected to control circuit 26. When the
liquid level in storage container 28 reaches a pre-set level,
sensor 40 sends an overflow signal to circuit 26. In response to
the overflow signal, circuit 26 causes the flow control valve 38 to
automatically to close, preventing any water from being dispensed
through the faucet. Circuit 26 will continue to keep the flow
control valve in the closed state, even if buttons 20 are
depressed, until the storage container is emptied, and the system
is reset.
[0034] Further, in response to the overflow signal, the control
circuit generates an alarm signal. The alarm signal is sent to an
overflow status display 22 and an audible sound generator 24. The
alarm signal from circuit 26 energizes a visible display 22 to
indicate that the overflow container requires emptying, such as
some kind of LED indicator that it is full either by means of a
light, icon, or words displayed. as illustrated in FIG. 3.
Preferably, the alarm signal from circuit 28 also energizes sound
generator 24 to broadcast an audible alarm indicating the overflow
container requires emptying.
[0035] While only a single preferred embodiment of the present
invention has been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it is
obvious that many modifications and variations could be made
thereto. It is intended to cover all of those modifications and
variations which fall within the scope of the present invention, as
defined by the following claims:
* * * * *