초록 ▼

A reservoir for use in a water distribution system within a refrigeration device includes a container having a vessel portion terminating in a neck having an opening, and a cap sealingly engaging the neck. The cap has an internal surface in communication with an interior of the vessel portion, an ex

A reservoir for use in a water distribution system within a refrigeration device includes a container having a vessel portion terminating in a neck having an opening, and a cap sealingly engaging the neck. The cap has an internal surface in communication with an interior of the vessel portion, an external surface opposite the internal surface, an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture through the cap in fluid communication with the container opening, and an inlet tube in fluid communication with the inlet aperture extending from the external surface. The cap may sealingly engage the neck by only one seal. The cap may further include an outlet tube in fluid communication with the outlet aperture extending from the external surface. In certain embodiments, a dip tube may be provided in fluid communication with the outlet aperture extending from the internal surface into the vessel portion.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A reservoir for use in a water distribution system within a refrigeration device comprising: a container having a vessel portion terminating at a neck around an opening,a cap sealingly engaging the container, the cap comprising: an internal surface in communication with an interior of the vessel

1. A reservoir for use in a water distribution system within a refrigeration device comprising: a container having a vessel portion terminating at a neck around an opening,a cap sealingly engaging the container, the cap comprising: an internal surface in communication with an interior of the vessel portion,an external surface opposite the internal surface,an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture through the cap in fluid communication with the container opening,an inlet tube in fluid communication with the inlet aperture extending from the external surface,an outlet tube in fluid communication with the outlet aperture extending from the external surface,the reservoir being oriented in the upright position such that the cap is located above the vessel portion when the reservoir is installed in the refrigeration device,a dip tube in fluid communication with the outlet aperture extending from the internal surface into and near the bottom of the vessel,the cap further comprising a cylindrical outlet flange connecting the outlet tube and the dip tube, the outlet tube and the dip tube positioned within the cylindrical outlet flange, andan air vent from the interior of the vessel portion to the outlet tube, where the air vent comprises a groove in an inside surface of the cylindrical outlet flange in communication with the interior of the vessel portion extending along an outside surface of the dip tube adjacent to the outlet tube, and an opening in the outlet tube in communication with the groove,where a gap between the dip tube and the outlet tube allows air from the groove to pass between the dip tube and the outlet tube and enter the outlet tube. 2. The reservoir as claimed in claim 1, where the dip tube and the outlet tube are a single tube. 3. The reservoir as claimed in claim 1, the cap further comprising a cylindrical inlet flange sealingly engaging an end of the inlet tube forming the inlet aperture and the cylindrical outlet flange sealingly engaging an end of the outlet tube forming the outlet aperture. 4. The reservoir as claimed in claim 3 with at least one selected from the group consisting of the inlet tube frictionally engaging the cylindrical inlet flange and the outlet tube frictionally engaging the cylindrical outlet flange. 5. The reservoir as claimed in claim 3 with at least one selected from the group consisting of the cylindrical inlet flange overmolded around the inlet tube end and the cylindrical outlet flange overmolded around the outlet tube end. 6. The reservoir as claimed in claim 3, the cylindrical outlet flange connecting the outlet tube and the dip tube, the dip tube frictionally engaging the cylindrical outlet flange. 7. The reservoir as claimed in claim 1, the cap comprising a cylindrical inlet flange sealingly engaging an end of the inlet tube forming the inlet aperture. 8. The reservoir as claimed in claim 7 with the inlet tube frictionally engaging the cylindrical inlet flange. 9. The reservoir as claimed in claim 7 with the cylindrical inlet flange overmolded around the inlet tube end. 10. The reservoir as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a dip tube in fluid communication with the inlet aperture extending from the internal surface into the vessel portion, the cylindrical inlet flange connecting the inlet tube and the dip tube, the dip tube frictionally engaging the cylindrical inlet flange. 11. The reservoir as claimed in claim 1, where the cap frictionally engages the container. 12. The reservoir as claimed in claim 1, where the cap and container are cooperatively threaded, and the cap screws onto the container. 13. The reservoir as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an o-ring or gasket seal between the cap and the container. 14. The reservoir as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a second outlet aperture, and a second outlet tube in fluid communication with the second outlet aperture extending from the external surface. 15. The reservoir as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a second dip tube in fluid communication with the second outlet aperture extending from the internal surface into the vessel portion. 16. The reservoir as claimed in claim 1, where the cap is made of crosslinked polyethylene. 17. The reservoir as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a ring cooperatively engaging the cap and the container. 18. The reservoir as claimed in claim 17, where the ring is overmolded around the cap and container. 19. The reservoir as claimed in claim 17, where the ring is made of crosslinked polyethylene. 20. The reservoir as claimed in claim 1, where container is formed from a multilayer material. 21. The reservoir as claimed in claim 10, where at least one layer of the multilayer material is a barrier layer inhibiting passage of one or more from the group consisting of oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapor, molecules affecting taste and molecules affecting odor. 22. The reservoir as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a sleeve around at least a portion of the container. 23. The reservoir as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a tube stop in the cylindrical outlet flange for locating the ends of the dip tube and the outlet tube in forming the gap.