Patent Application
20070297776
A detailed description of the preferred embodiments is provided herein below by way of example only and with reference to the following drawings, in which:
In the drawings, preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings are only for the purpose of illustration and as an aid to understanding, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.
Referring to
The dispenser 10 further includes an indicating means 24 for indicating the activation and deactivation of the reservoir heating element 18. A user actuated means 22 is adapted to simultaneously activate the reservoir heating element 18 and the indicating means 24. The dispenser 10 further includes a temperature regulating means 26 that is responsive to the temperature of the water and monitors the temperature of the water during the heating of the water. Finally the dispenser 10 includes an automatic deactivation means 28 adapted to deactivate the reservoir heating element 18 upon receiving a signal from the temperature regulating means 26.
More specifically the reservoir 12 accommodates both room temperature water and hot water thereby having only a single reservoir for both types of water. The reservoir's 12 automatic inlet means 14 may be further defined as a gravity flow feed system 30 that utilizes gravity to replenish the water level in the reservoir 12. This system only requires a one-way check valve that stops the water from entering the reservoir 12 once the desired water level is achieved. Conventional water jugs may sit on top of the dispenser 12 to act as a supply of water. The controlled water outlet means 16 may be further defined as a dispensing tap 32 that can be used to both dispense both room temperature water and hot water.
The reservoir heating element 18 which has an applied electric current 20 for heating the water may be further defined as a conventional electric resistance heating element that is supplied with AC current when the reservoir heating element 18 is activated. The indicating means 22 for indicating the activation and deactivation of the reservoir heating element 18 may be further defined as indicator lights, or an audible indicator or a visible indicator mechanism that identifies when the reservoir heating element 18 has been activated. Specifically the indicator light will be on or light up when the water within the reservoir is heating.
The user actuated means 22 may be further defined as a mechanism that the user can engage such as a tab or button on the outside surface of the dispenser 10 that when engaged, simultaneously activates the reservoir heating element 18 to heat up the water at the user's request, and therefore also engages the indicating means 24 or turns on the indicator light. The user therefore controls when the hot water is required and therefore the activation of the reservoir heating element 18, resulting in a more effective use of heat energy as it is only used on a required basis.
The temperature regulating means 26 that is responsive to the temperature of the water and monitors the temperature of the water during the heating of the water may be further defined as a series of thermistors that monitor the temperature of the water. Specifically the thermistors are calibrated to monitor the temperature of the water when it is heated. The desired temperature of the hot water is therefore calibrated into the thermistors. As such the thermistors also interact and reflect the actuation and de-actuation of the indicating means 24. More specifically the thermistors also work in conjunction with the user actuated means 22 to regulate the activation of the indicating means 24. Upon the thermistors monitoring and sensing that the water has reached the predetermined hot temperature, a signal is sent to the automatic deactivation means 28 to deactivate the reservoir heating element 18 and actuate the indicating means 24. Upon the deactivation of the reservoir heating element 18, the unit remains off until manually reset.
The combination water dispenser with heating mechanism 10 may also include a second reservoir adapted to have a reservoir cooling element within the second reservoir operable from the applied electric current for cooling the water in the reservoir. In this embodiment the combination water dispenser may dispense hot or room temperature water out of a first dispensing tap and dispense cooled water from a second dispensing tap. The second reservoir may be filled from the automatic inlet means to a desired level.
Other variations and modifications of the invention are possible. All such modifications or variations are believed to be within the sphere and scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60814562 | Jun 2006 | US |
