초록 ▼

An adapter used in association with conventional bottled water dispensers which normally accept five gallon bottles of water and dispense hot or cold water or only cold water into a receptacle upon actuation of a manually operated spigot. The adapter enables multiple smaller containers to be support

An adapter used in association with conventional bottled water dispensers which normally accept five gallon bottles of water and dispense hot or cold water or only cold water into a receptacle upon actuation of a manually operated spigot. The adapter enables multiple smaller containers to be supported on top of an existing water dispenser after the water bottle has been removed therefrom with the existing reservoir or reservoirs on the dispenser being provided with a closure uniquely communicating the reservoir with the multiple containers in a quick, easy and sanitary manner. The adapter also includes a support structure for the multiple containers, a spill plate which channels any water spills into the regular overflow basin of the dispenser and fittings, connectors and valve assemblies associated with the containers. In one embodiment of the invention, the adapter is connected to the existing valve structure on the container, in another embodiment a unique new valve and associated structure is provided on the container and in a third embodiment of the invention, a unique container is provided together with a connector structure which includes a feature which penetrates the peripheral wall of a container when the container is placed in its supporting structure.

대표청구항 ▼

1. In combination, a liquid dispenser having a reservoir and discharge spigot means communicating therewith, at least one disposable liquid supply container, a support structure supporting the container at an elevation above the reservoir, reservoir closure means for sealing the reservoir against en

1. In combination, a liquid dispenser having a reservoir and discharge spigot means communicating therewith, at least one disposable liquid supply container, a support structure supporting the container at an elevation above the reservoir, reservoir closure means for sealing the reservoir against entry of ambient air, and means communicating the reservoir with the container for enabling gravity flow of liquid from the container to the reservoir through the closure means without the liquid coming into contact with ambient air, said closure means for the reservoir including a resilient stopper telescoped into an opening in the top of the reservoir and secured in sealed relation thereto, said means communicating the reservoir with the container including a tube having one end communicating with the reservoir through said stopper in sealed relation thereto, the other end of said tube having an end fitting communicating with the interior of the container in sealed relation thereto, said support structure including an upwardly opening recess to enable unrestricted insertion and removal of the container in relation to the recess with the weight of the container and liquid retaining the container in the recess and retaining the end fitting and container in sealed relationship, said support structure including a vertically disposed housing receiving the container with the housing including a bottom panel, said end fitting on the tube being rigidly affixed to the bottom panel and extending therethrough with the fitting including a pointed upper end for penetrating through the bottom of the container when the container is moved downwardly into a position adjacent the bottom panel, said fitting having a lower end extending below the bottom panel and sealingly connected to the tube, said end fitting being sealed to the bottom panel so that any leakage will be retained on the upper surface of the bottom panel, said bottom panel being slanted and provided with a drain to remove any leaked liquid, the upper end of the end fitting including a beveled end terminating in a pointed tip having a metallic cutting edge associated therewith for forming an aperture in the bottom of the container when it is lowered toward the bottom panel. 2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said reservoir includes an open upper end, said stopper including a downwardly opening groove telescopically receiving the upper end of the reservoir, and a clamping band encircling the stopper outwardly of the groove to secure the stopper in place on the reservoir. 3. In combination, a liquid dispenser having a reservoir and discharge spigot means communicating therewith, at least one disposable liquid supply container, a support structure supporting the container at an elevation above the reservoir, reservoir closure means for sealing the reservoir against entry of ambient air, and means communicating the reservoir with the container for enabling gravity flow of liquid from the container to the reservoir through the closure means without the liquid coming into contact with ambient air, said closure means for the reservoir including a resilient stopper telescoped into an opening in the top of the reservoir and secured in sealed relation thereto, said means communicating the reservoir with the container including a tube having one end communicating with the reservoir through said stopper in sealed relation thereto, the other end of said tube having an end fitting communicating with the interior of the container in sealed relation thereto, said support structure including an upwardly opening recess to enable unrestricted insertion and removal of the container in relation to the recess with the weight of the container and liquid retaining the container in the recess and retaining the end fitting and container in sealed relationship, said reservoir including an open upper end, said stopper including a downwardly opening groove telescopically receiving the upper end of the reservoir, and a clamping band encircling the stopper outwardly of the groove to secure the stopper in place on the reservoir, said support structure including a vertically disposed housing receiving the container with the housing including a bottom panel, said end fitting on the tube being rigidly affixed to the bottom panel and extending therethrough with the fitting including a pointed upper end for penetrating through the bottom of the container when the container is moved downwardly into a position adjacent the bottom panel, said fitting having a lower end extending below the bottom panel and sealingly connected to the tube, said end fitting being sealed to the bottom panel so that any leakage will be retained on the upper surface of the bottom panel, said bottom panel being slanted and provided with a drain to remove any leaked liquid, the upper end of the end fitting including a beveled end terminating in a pointed tip having a metallic cutting edge associated therewith for forming an aperture in the bottom of the container when it is lowered toward the bottom panel, said housing being defined by a substantially vertical peripheral wall, said dispenser including a cabinet defined by a vertical peripheral wall of generally the same dimensions as the housing, a peripheral frame member telescopically engaging the upper end of the cabinet and the lower end of the housing for retaining the peripheral walls in vertical, aligned supporting relationship, said housing including transversely extending, vertically disposed partitions forming a plurality of recesses for receiving a plurality of liquid supply containers, each of said recesses including an end fitting and tube interconnecting the end fitting and stopper for communicating all of the containers with the reservoir, the upper end of the housing being open to enable vertical insertion and removal of the containers. 4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said reservoir includes a vent tube communicating therewith through the stopper in sealed relation thereto, and a vent tank mounted in the upper end of the housing with the vent tube connected therewith, each of said tubes communicating the container with the reservoir including a check valve therein to prevent reverse flow from the reservoir to the container.