The present invention relates to water bottle filler. More particularly, the present invention relates a water bottle filler providing water dispensing nozzle sanitization.
In recent years, the popularity of bottled drinking water has increased. This increase may be attributed to several factors, the portability of the bottled water, the perceived taste of bottled water, and concerns over germs and bacteria associated with public water fountains.
The bottle filler described herein provides an environmentally friendly alternative to bottle water. By providing users with the ability to reuse containers the bottle filler reduces non-biodegradable plastic waste and decreases dependency on natural resources to produce containers. The large bottle alcove allows a large variety of containers to be used. The bottle filler may be adapted to fit almost any size of container a user desires to fill with water. Most embodiments of the bottle filler may accommodate 1 liter containers. In addition to providing users the ability to refill water containers, the bottle filler provides great tasting water through the use of filtration systems.
The bottle filler may employ a full line of filters and UV to help disinfect and remove impurities from the water. These filtration steps help improve the quality and taste of the water, as well as, providing a healthier alternative to most bottled water.
Another problem associated with public water sources is the concern over germs and bacteria. The dispensing nozzle of most water fountains is in constant contact with the air, and as such, in contact with any airborne germs or bacteria. The water fountain industry has paid little attention to this type of contamination. The bottle filler described herein is specifically designed to combat this type of contamination, in a variety of ways.
The design of the bottle filler helps to prevent any splash back that may occur during the filling process. By placing the outlet spout above the bottle alcove, only minimal splash back occurs. In addition, the bottle filler's outlet spout is not exposed to the outside air between uses. After an individual finishes filling a container. An electronic controller instructs a solenoid to close a dispenser door. This door creates a seal with the dispenser chamber, enclosing the dispenser nozzle. To further prevent contact contamination the bottle filler is designed so that the dispenser nozzle and the container to be filled may never come into contact. This ensures that contaminants on the container are not transferred to the nozzle.
Lastly, the bottle filler sterilizes the nozzle between uses. This sterilization ensures that any splash back that reached the nozzle will not contaminate the water dispensed during the next use. The bottle filler uses ultraviolet (“UV”) light and ozone to sterilize the dispensing nozzle between each use. A UV bulb is placed in the dispensing chamber. After a user releases the activation button, the dispenser door closes sealing the dispensing chamber; trapping air and any remaining water in the chamber. The UV light bathes the entire chamber and associated components. The UV light sanitizes the surface of the chamber and components, including but not limited to, the outlet spout and the outlet spout cover.
The UV light also converts the oxygen in the trapped air inside the dispensing chamber into ozone. Ozone is an excellent sanitizer and further sanitizes the water dispensing surfaces. After the ozone is created it may settle toward the lower portion of the dispensing chamber surrounding the outlet spout and outlet spout cover. The design of the outlet spout cover allows this settling ozone to encompass the entire outlet spout sanitizing its entire surface. This ozone sanitization ensures no bacteria or organisms from air exposure during use and from any potential splash back remain, and in turn that no contamination is passed to the next user of the bottle filler.
In addition to the features mentioned above, other aspects of the exemplary embodiments will be readily apparent from the following descriptions of the drawings and exemplary embodiments, wherein like references numerals across the several views refer to identical or equivalent features, and wherein:
The front of the bottle filler 10 may define a recessed bottle alcove 16. The bottle alcove 16 may be adapted to receive a container 40 (shown in
The bottle filler 10 may also include an activation button 18 on a front surface thereof. The activation button 18 is positioned to be easily accessible to a user. When a user engages the activation button 18, liquid is dispensed from the bottle filler 10. Upon release of the activation button 18, the flow of liquid from the bottle filler 10 is stopped and the sanitation process begins. In other exemplary embodiments, the filter indicator 12, UV indicator 14, and activation button 18 may be located on a front plate 52 (shown in
A Bottle filler 10 placed adjacent to a water fountain 30 may share the same supply line filtration system or maintain independent supply line filters (not shown in the Figures). The supply line filtration system may be located behind the wall 32 accessible by a locking panel to prevent unauthorized access. In other exemplary embodiments, the supply line filtration system may be exposed and wall mounted. In still other exemplary embodiments, the supply line filtration system may be contained with the casing 50 (shown in
In the embodiment shown in
The dispensing mechanism 60 of the exemplary bottle filler 10 is depicted in
The liquid retention cap 72 is affixed to a top portion of the retention vessel 70 forming an air tight seal between the liquid retention cap 72 and the liquid retention vessel 70. In other exemplary embodiments, the liquid retention cap 72 and the liquid retention vessel 72 may have a unitary design. The liquid inlet 74 extends from the liquid retention cap 72 and is adapted to connect to the fluid supply line (not shown in the Figures). The UV chamber 76 is removably inserted into the liquid retention vessel 70 through an aperture in the liquid retention cap 72. The UV chamber 76 has a hollow body adapted to retain at least one UV bulb 102 (shown in
The exemplary embodiment of the liquid retention vessel 70, illustrated in
The dispenser door 80 is slidably attached to the vessel support 84. In embodiments having no vessel support 84, the dispenser door 80 is affixed to the top portion of the bottle alcove 16. The dispenser door 80 includes an angled portion adapted to engage the angled portion of the outlet spout cover 78 forming an air tight seal. When the dispenser door 80 is engaged with the outlet spout cover 78 (closed position), fluid is prevented from passing through the liquid guide 88 in the top portion of the bottle alcove 16. The extension of the outlet spout cover 78 downward past the outlet spout 104 prevents the contaminating contact between the outlet spout 78 and the dispenser door 80.
When the dispenser door 80 is disengaged from the outlet spout 78 liquid (open position) liquid is allowed to flow from the liquid retention vessel 70 through the outlet spout 104 and into the liquid guide 88, as illustrated in
The liquid retention cap 72 may be adapted to receive a bulb chamber cap 86 locking the UV bulb chamber 76 into place and forming an air tight seal around the UV bulb chamber 76. In other embodiments, the liquid retention cap 72 may be adapted to firmly hold the UV bulb chamber 76 creating an air tight seal and eliminating the need for a bulb chamber cap 86. In still other exemplary embodiments, the bulb chamber cap 86 is adapted to fit over the UV bulb 102 creating an air tight seal.
The bottle filler 10 according to the present invention is basically constructed as described above. Operation and additional embodiments of the bottle filler 10 will be described below with reference to
To begin dispensing fluid, a user presses the activation button 18 in communication with a controller 100. The controller 100 may be battery powered or wired directly to a power source. In battery powered embodiments, the battery (not shown in the Figures) may be mounted inside the casing 50. The controller 100 is in communication with the dispenser door solenoid 82, UV Bulb 102, and the liquid solenoid valve. After the activation button 18 has been selected, the control 100 directs the dispenser door solenoid 82 to activate. The dispenser door solenoid 82 then disengages the dispenser door 80 from the outlet spout cover 78, moving the dispenser door into an open position, as illustrated in
The controller 100 may then provides power to the UV bulb 102 illuminating the interior of the liquid retention vessel 70. In other embodiments, a separate UV light drive may be included. The controller 100 then directs the liquid solenoid valve to open allowing fluid from the supply line to pass through the fluid inlet 74 into the liquid retention vessel 70. Once inside the liquid retention vessel 70, the liquid may pass over and around the UV bulb chamber 76 or UV bulb 102. Exposing the liquid to UV light within the liquid retention vessel 70 removes contaminates from the liquid missed by the fluid supply filtration system. Gravity and the pressure from the supply line force the liquid downward through the outlet spout 104. The outlet spout 104 directs the liquid through the fluid guide 88 into an awaiting container 40 positioned in the bottle alcove 16.
To aid in the alignment of the container 40 with the liquid stream, the controller 100 may illuminate a light 106 located adjacent the fluid guide 88 in the bottle alcove 16. The light 106 may be an LED or other suitable lighting device. The positioning of the light 106 may be such that the emitted light illuminates the liquid stream exiting the fluid guide 88. In other embodiments, the light 106 may be directed at the grille 22 providing a target area for container 40 placement. In still other embodiments, multiple lights 106 may be arranged in the bottle alcove 16 and directed toward the fluid stream and the grille 22. A light may also be mounted inside the liquid retention vessel 70 directly above the outlet spout 104 directing the light downward so as to illuminate the light stream from within. The light 106 may be powered continuously or activated after the activation button 18 has been depressed.
After the container 40 has been filled to a desired level, the user releases the activation button 18. The release of the activation button 18, triggers the controller 100 to direct the liquid solenoid valve to cease the flow of liquid to the fluid inlet 74. The remaining liquid in the liquid retention vessel 70 empties through the outlet spout 104, leaving only air and possibly a small amount of liquid in the liquid retention vessel 70.
At a predetermined time after the liquid solenoid valve has been shut off, the controller 100 directs the dispenser door solenoid to seal the liquid retention vessel 70 by mating the dispenser door 80 to the outlet spout cover 78 (closed position). Air remaining in the retention vessel 70 becomes trapped therein. The time between the shut off the liquid supply line and the closing of the dispenser door 80 may be determined by the amount of time necessary for the majority of liquid to drain from the liquid retention vessel 70. This time may be dependent upon the size of the liquid retention vessel 70 and the distance of the supply line between the liquid inlet 74 and the liquid solenoid valve.
The controller 100 directs the UV bulb 102 to remain illuminated for a predetermined amount of time after the dispenser door 80 moves into the closed position. This allows the UV radiation from the UV bulb 102 to convert a portion of the oxygen in the trapped air within the retention vessel 70 into ozone. Because the liquid retention vessel 70 is sealed the ozone cannot escape and remains in the liquid retention vessel 70 and sanitizes the interior of the liquid retention vessel 70, the outlet spout 104, and the interior of the outlet spout cover 78.
The controller 100 may direct the UV bulb 102 to remain illuminated for a time sufficient to allow substantially all of the bacteria and contaminating organisms to be killed or sterilized inside the liquid retention vessel 70, by way of UV radiation or ozone production. This illumination time may be dependent on the size of the liquid retention vessel 70 and the filtration of the liquid before entering the liquid retention vessel 70. In other embodiments, the UV bulb 102 may remain on for approximately 20 to 45 seconds after the dispenser door 80 has mated with the outlet spout cover 78.
In other exemplary embodiments, the liquid retention vessel 70 may be in a vertical configuration. A vertical configuration may allow for increased room in a casing 50. This configuration may also allow the light from the UV bulb 102 to illuminate the liquid stream. This illumination may aid in the alignment of a container 40 with the liquid stream.
In other exemplary embodiments, an LCD display (not shown in the Figures) may be located on the interior of the front plate 52. The LCD display may be used to program the bottle filler 10. The LCD display may also be used to provide a visual signal indicating any malfunction with the bottle filler 10. In other exemplary embodiments, the LCD display may be mounted inside the casing 50 (shown in
In other exemplary embodiment, the dispensing mechanism 60 may be replaced the supply line and the supply line solenoid. In this configuration, once the activation button 18 is engaged, the control 100 directs the supply line solenoid to allow water to flow through the fluid guide 88. After dispensing a desired amount of water the activation button 18 may be released and the controller 100 directs the supply line solenoid to stop the water flow through the bottle filler 10.
While certain exemplary embodiments are described in detail above, the scope of the invention is not to be considered limited by such disclosure, and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/041,096, filed Mar. 31, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61041096 | Mar 2008 | US |