Integrated cap for upright water bottle coolers
IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0204902
(2001-02-23)
|
국제출원번호 |
PCT/CA01/00220
(2002-12-23)
|
국제공개번호 |
WO01/62659
(2001-08-30)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Harrison, Howard R.
- Brown, Jeffrey R.
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
8 인용 특허 :
6 |
초록
▼
A cooler and dispenser for use with upright water bottles operates to (1) pump chilled water from a vertical bottle through a top opening, (2) filter the air that is drawn in to replace the water, (3) and provide the user with an indication of the level in the bottle. The dispenser cap is designed t
A cooler and dispenser for use with upright water bottles operates to (1) pump chilled water from a vertical bottle through a top opening, (2) filter the air that is drawn in to replace the water, (3) and provide the user with an indication of the level in the bottle. The dispenser cap is designed to fit snugly over the top of standard 3.0 and 5.0 gallon refillable water bottles in the vertical orientation. A small pump in the dispenser cap draws water from the bottom of the bottle and dispenses it through a tube that extends past the side of the bottle. The vacuum created within the bottle during the pumping process draws air in through a filter that keeps foreign particles from entering the bottle. Further, the airflow through the filter is constricted so as to ensure that a partial vacuum exists even after the pump has been turned off, and this draws residual water back through the delivery tube thereby preventing drips. The dispenser cap also contains a fluid level indicator that is connected to sensors mounted on the water draw tube.
대표청구항
▼
1. A cooler and dispenser for use with a water bottle, comprising in combination:a dispenser cap, further comprising, a cap housing adapted to operatively engage a neck of the water battle; a pump mounted within the cap housing in fluid connection with the interior or the water bottle and with a del
1. A cooler and dispenser for use with a water bottle, comprising in combination:a dispenser cap, further comprising, a cap housing adapted to operatively engage a neck of the water battle; a pump mounted within the cap housing in fluid connection with the interior or the water bottle and with a delivery tube; an air inlet tube having a first end in fluid connection with the interior of the bottle and a second end in fluid connection with the air, and an air filter operatively connected to the second end of the air inlet tube:an actuating means operatively connected to the pump to selectively operate the pump to draw water from the water bottle into the delivery tube;a thermally conductive cold saddle configured for intimate supporting contact with the water bottle and to withdraw heat from the water contained within the water bottle; and,a housing to retainingly engage the dispenser cap, the cold saddle, and the water bottle, said housing having at least one opening to permit the extension of the delivery tube therethrough, the extension of the actuating means therethrough the venting of the heat from the cold saddle, and the through passage of an electrical power supply to the cold saddle and the pump. 2. The water cooler and dispenser of claim 1 further comprising an indicator, visible through an opening in the housing, said indicator light being operatively connected to a control circuit, which control circuit is operatively connected to a water level sensor, whereby the indicator emits a first signal when power is applied to the cooler and dispenser, and a second signal when the fluid level in the water bottle falls below the threshold level. 3. The water cooler and dispenser 2 wherein the fluid level sensor is a strain gauge. 4. The water cooler and dispenser 2 wherein the fluid level sensor is a capacitance device. 5. The water cooler and dispenser 1 wherein the cold saddle is contoured to mate with the bottom and a selected portion of the sides of water bottle. 6. The water cooler and dispenser 1 wherein the housing is insulated. 7. A dispenser cap for use with a bottle, said dispenser cap comprising:a cap housing adapted to operatively engage a neck of the bottlea pump mounted within the cap housing in fluid connection with the interior of the bottle and with a delivery tubean air inlet means in fluid connection with the interior of the bottle and with the air,Wherein the air inlet means is a tube having a first end in fluid connection with the interior of the bottle and a second end in fluid communication with ambient air, and wherein the second end of the air inlet means further comprises an air restricting means to ensure that a drawback vacuum persists in the bottle for a selected time after the pump has stopped, to draw residual fluid from the delivery tube back into the bottle. 8. The dispenser cap of claim 7 wherein the pump is an electric pump which may be selectively actuated to operate, thereby creating a vacuum within the bottle as fluid is pumped out of the bottle and through the delivery tube. 9. The dispenser cap of claim 7 wherein the air flow restricting means is an air filter operatively connected to the second end of the air inlet. 10. The dispenser cap of claim 9 wherein the air filter is configured such that substantially all air entering the bottle in response to a vacuum in the bottle must first pass through the air filter. 11. The dispenser cap of claim 10, wherein the air filter is adapted for easy removal and replacement. 12. The dispenser cap of claim 7 wherein the fluid connection between the pump and the interior of the bottle is through a draw tube having a first end operatively attached to the pump and a second end depending into the interior of the bottle. 13. The dispenser cap of claim 12 wherein the first end of the draw tube is removably attached to the pump, and wherein the second end of the draw tube is adapted to rest directly on the bottom of the bottle while still removing w ater from the bottle. 14. The dispenser cap of claim 12 wherein the draw tube is adapted with a bellows, and wherein the second end of the draw tube is adapted to rest directly on the bottom of the bottle while still removing fluid from the bottle. 15. The dispenser cap of claim 7 further comprising a fluid level indicator light having sensors located on the draw tube at a level corresponding to a threshold level of fluid within the bottle to detect threshold level of fluid within the bottle. 16. The dispenser cap of claim 15 wherein the sensors comprise an electrical circuit operating by means of the conductance of a small and harmless amount of electricity through the fluid, to detect the presence or absence of fluid at the threshold level. 17. The dispenser cap of claim 15, further comprising a control circuit connected to the level sensor and to an indicator means to signal when the fluid level in the bottle falls below the threshold level. 18. The dispenser cap of claim 17 wherein the indicator means is operatively connected to the control circuit, to emit a first signal when electrical power is applied to the dispenser cap, and a second signal when the fluid level in the fluid bottle falls below the threshold level. 19. The dispenser cap of claim 7 wherein the fluid connection between the pump and the interior of the bottle is by means of a draw tube adapter having a first end attached to the pump and a second end adapted for mating connection to a second draw tube having a top end attached to the bottle and a bottom end depending within the bottle.
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (6)
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Roberts Mark J. (6344 E. Frost Mesa AZ 85205), Apparatus for transferring water from a container to a refrigerator ice maker.
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Todden Terry J. (14548 Killion St. Van Nuys CA 91411) Thornberry Richard A. (15442 Vintage St. Mission Hills CA 91345), Bottled water pumping and dispensing apparatus.
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Miller Edward J. (3919 Pixie Ave. Lakewood CA 90712) Irvine Michelle R. (81820 Shadow Palm St. ; Apt. #9 Indio CA 92201), Bottled water supply system.
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Beny Janos (23775 Madison St. Torrance CA 90505) Herzig Albert M. (700 N. Rexford Dr. Beverly Hills CA 90210), System for transferring water.
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Harrison Howard R. (1302 Martley Drive Mississauga ; Ontario CAX) Brown Jeffrey R. (1309 Martley Drive Mississauga ; Ontario CAX), Water cooler.
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Hancock Mark W. (Los Angeles CA) MacKay Spencer (Agoura Hills CA) Muljadi Yongky (Simi Valley CA) Inn Glenn (San Mateo CA), Water cooler and dispensing system.
이 특허를 인용한 특허 (8)
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McDonald, David Arlen; Petracca, Phillip, Beer dispenser.
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McDonald, David Arlen; Petracca, Phillip, Beer dispenser.
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Taylor, Curtis, Liquid dispenser for a cooler.
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Taylor, Curtis, Liquid dispenser for a cooler.
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Taylor, Curtis, Liquid dispenser for a cooler and detergent bottle.
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Reyhanloo, Shahryar, Method for dispensing milk portions in drink preparation machines.
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McDonald, David Arlen; Petracca, Phillip, Universal beer dispenser.
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Richter, Charles W., Water cooler display apparatus for positioning, storing and displaying items thereon.
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