초록 ▼

A liquid dispensing apparatus and method for using same, including a dispenser for dispensing liquid such as water to a user. A liquid container is located below the dispenser and removably attachable to a pivoting cradle engaging the liquid container. The cradle may be pivoted about an axis located

A liquid dispensing apparatus and method for using same, including a dispenser for dispensing liquid such as water to a user. A liquid container is located below the dispenser and removably attachable to a pivoting cradle engaging the liquid container. The cradle may be pivoted about an axis located adjacent an exit location for liquid within the liquid container. A filling device may be located below the liquid container for removably engaging the liquid container in fluid communication.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A liquid dispensing apparatus, comprising: a dispenser for dispensing liquid to a user; a liquid container located below the dispenser and removably attached to a pivoting door, wherein the door pivots about an axis generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the liquid dispensin

We claim: 1. A liquid dispensing apparatus, comprising: a dispenser for dispensing liquid to a user; a liquid container located below the dispenser and removably attached to a pivoting door, wherein the door pivots about an axis generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the liquid dispensing apparatus, and wherein the pivoting axis is located adjacent an exit location for liquid within the liquid container; a hollow probe, wherein pivoting of the door to a closed condition engages the liquid container and causes the hollow probe to extend into an opening of the liquid container placing the liquid container in fluid communication with the hollow probe, and wherein pivoting of the door leverages a user's ability to place the container into fluid communication with the probe; and a reservoir that is in fluid communication with the hollow probe, the reservoir being located above the liquid container. 2. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pivoting door is coupled to a cradle engaging the liquid container. 3. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid comprises water. 4. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid container comprises a water bottle, and the exit location of the liquid container comprises a neck of the water bottle. 5. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the water bottle is engaged to a bottle cap and the probe is in fluid communication with the bottle cap. 6. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein dispensing of the liquid from the dispenser is controlled by a manually accessible push-button located adjacent the dispenser. 7. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reservoir comprises a cold tank, the cold tank being located above the liquid container. 8. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the cold tank is in fluid communication with a hot tank located above the liquid container, and both tanks are in fluid communication with the dispenser. 9. The liquid dispenser of claim 8, further comprising a solenoid valve in electrical communication with the hot and cold tanks, and a pump, enabling a user indirectly controlling the solenoid valve to dispense liquid from the dispenser. 10. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 8, further comprising temperature sensors associated with the cold and hot tanks. 11. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a device for boiling water within the hot tank. 12. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a device for removing excess water and vapor created by boiling water and for sending this excess water and vapor to a reservoir. 13. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 8, further comprising one or more baffles associated with the cold and hot tanks. 14. A liquid dispensing apparatus, comprising: a dispenser for dispensing liquid to a user; a liquid container located below the dispenser and removably attachable to a pivoting door engaging the liquid container; a hollow probe wherein pivoting of the door engaged to the liquid container causes the liquid container to be placed in fluid communication with the hollow probe; a cold tank, located above the dispenser, that is in fluid communication with the hollow probe and the dispenser; and a hot tank, located above the dispenser, that is in fluid communication with the cold tank and the dispenser. 15. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 14, wherein the pivoting door is coupled to a cradle for engaging the liquid container. 16. A method for dispensing a liquid from a liquid dispensing apparatus, comprising the steps of: providing a dispenser for dispensing the liquid to a user, and a liquid container located below the dispenser and removably attachable to a pivoting cradle engaging the liquid container; engaging the liquid container to the cradle; pivoting the cradle about an axis located adjacent an exit location for liquid within the liquid container, wherein the container is located with the exit location facing down; engaging the liquid container in fluid communication with a hollow probe wherein pivoting of the cradle engaged to the liquid container causes the liquid container to be placed in fluid communication with the hollow probe; and engaging the hollow probe with a bottle cap in removable fluid communication with the hollow probe; engaging the hollow probe in fluid communication with a cold tank, located above the dispenser; and engaging the cold tank in fluid communication with the dispenser and a hot tank, located above the dispenser.