The novel features which are characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, together with further objects and attendant advantages thereof, can be better understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
Set forth below is a description of what are believed to be the preferred embodiments and/or best examples of the invention claimed. Future and present alternatives and modifications to this preferred embodiment are contemplated. Any alternatives or modifications which make insubstantial changes in function, in purpose, in structure, or in result are intended to be covered by the claims of this patent.
Referring first to
A cradle 20 may include structural members 22, such as bent metal tubes, attached to door 17 via retaining member 23, such as a cylindrical metal flange, and clasps 24 attached to flange 23. Metal struts (spacers) 19 may be used to secure the cradle to the door. Once the water bottle has been secured to cradle 20, the door may be pivoted upward and closed in the direction of the arrows. The door and cradle should be made of sufficient rigidity and strength to support the water bottle weight. The pivot point for the door may be located at an end portion of the cradle, and may rest (directly or indirectly) on the base and transfer the load/weight to the base during door closure, as further explained below.
The pivoting point for the door/cradle is preferably located at an end portion of cradle 20, and may lie adjacent and/or on base 14 and transfers the load/weight to the base. To use the bottom load cooler of the present invention, a user may roll or carry a bottle containing liquid such as water to a front end of the open door/cradle from a storage area, place the bottle upright, tip over the bottle toward the door/cradle, and push the bottle into the direction of the bottom of the door/cradle. The bottle may be permitted to glide smoothly onto the cradle and engage the dispensing interface device, described below.
A variety of retaining devices, such as flexible rubber, plastic or metal clasps bottom area (opposite the neck) to the cradle, while the bottle's neck area has been secured to a filling device such as a hollow probe, as discussed below.
It will be appreciated that because the lifting point for door closure is preferably located at the distal end of the door/cradle opposite the bottle neck, a user may only need to lift about half of the bottle weight to close the bottle/cradle due to the leverage advantage.
Referring to
Referring now to
A conventional bottle cap may be employed. However, preferably, a bottle cap is employed such as shown in
A conventional probe may be used to engage the water bottle, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,854 to Baker et al., while bottle caps of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,232,125 to Adams and U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,316 to Hidding et al., may be employed. The disclosures of these three patents are hereby incorporated by referenced herein in their entirety. However, a probe providing separate air and water flow paths may be preferred, such as disclosed in the Liquid Dispensing Invention.
Referring now to
In practice, and still referring to
The above description is not intended to limit the meaning of the words used in the following claims that define the invention. Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be, or will become, apparent to one having and claims, and persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that a variety of other designs still falling within the scope of the following claims may be envisioned and used. For example, the cradle may pivot along an axis either generally parallel or generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the water cooler frame. Further, the cradle may, but need not be, attached to the door of the unit. Also, consumable liquids other than water, such as but not limited to carbonated beverages, may be dispensed. It is contemplated that these or other future modifications in structure, function or result will exist that are not substantial changes and that all such insubstantial changes in what is claimed are intended to be covered by the claims.
The following terms are used in the claims of the patent as filed and are intended to have their broadest meaning consistent with the requirements of law. Where alternative meanings are possible, the broadest meaning is intended. All words used in the claims are intended to be used in the normal, customary usage of grammar and the English language.
Co-pending U.S. Ser. No. 11/382,114 filed May 8, 2006 and titled “Bottle Cap And Method Of Use With A Liquid Dispensing Apparatus And System” (“the Bottle Cap Invention”) is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into this disclosure, as is U.S. Ser. No. 11/468,342, filed Aug. 30, 2006 and titled “Liquid Dispensing Apparatus And System” (“the Liquid Dispensing Invention”).