Patent Application
20050150824
The present invention generally relates to tank systems comprising filters for filtration of the water contained therein, along with dispensing units for connecting with the tank system. More specifically, the present invention relates to water filtration tank dispensing systems where at least some portion of the tank system is removable, and refillable, at a location remote from the dispensing unit.
Bottled-water dispensers are found in homes, offices and other locations where pure drinking water is desired. Typically, bottled-water dispensers include a cooling and heating unit, with an interchangeable glass or plastic water-filled bottle mounted in an inverted position on the top of the dispensing unit. Pure drinking water is available from commercial vendors and supplied in the interchangeable bottle. The water is dispensed through a manually operated tap on the dispensing unit. When the water in the bottle is completely dispensed, the empty bottle is replaced with a filled bottled by removing the empty bottle and inverting the filled replacement bottle onto the top of the dispensing unit.
Changing the bottles can be particularly difficult for small persons or persons of limited strength. Further, quickly inverting a heavy, filled bottle without spilling quantities of water is a challenge and a disadvantage of conventional bottled-water dispensers. Therefore, the bottles of conventional water dispensers cannot be changed without risk of wetting the areas around the dispensers or the persons changing the bottles. Also, conventional bottled-water dispensers cannot be placed in a location where water spillage could cause damage. Conventional water dispensers, therefore, can be messy and wasteful.
Bottle-less water dispensers overcome some of the disadvantages of conventional bottled-water dispensers. In bottle-less water dispensers, water is continuously pumped or otherwise supplied from a pure water source into a cooling-dispensing unit similar to the cooling-dispensing unit of a conventional bottled-water dispenser. Because the water is pumped from a continuous source and a bottle is not needed, bottle-less water dispensers, as their name implies, do not employ bottles to store the pure water.
Bottle-less water dispensers are less psychologically attractive to the public than bottled-water dispensers. The public associates the quality of water dispensed by a conventional bottled-water dispenser with the pure, crystal-clear look of the water in the bottle above the dispensing unit. The pure, crystal-clear appearance of the water in the bottle reminds the user that the dispenser only dispenses pure water. A water dispenser without a bottle displaying pure water, however, appears to dispense little more than tap water and does not provide the psychological assurance provided by conventional bottled-water dispensers that pure water, rather than tap water, is being dispensed. Therefore, bottle-less water dispensers are less popular with the public than bottled-water dispensers. Also, bottle-less dispensers require plumbing connections and can only be used in locations where a water supply is available.
In particular, there is a need for a water filtration tank dispensing system which is easy to refill, while also supplying pure, crystal-clear water that can be viewed by users. The present invention satisfies these and other needs, as set forth in the following description.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a water filtration tank dispensing system comprises a cabinet body with either or both a cooling chamber and a heating chamber disposed within the cabinet body, and at least one tap disposed on the cabinet body. A filtration tank is mounted on top of the cabinet body and comprises a watertight fill tank portion, a filter holder tray, and a removable reservoir. The filter holder tray is fluidically connected between the fill tank and the removable reservoir. The removable reservoir is disposed in the cabinet top and fluidically connected to the cooling and heating chambers. Preferably, the watertight fill tank is an ultrasonically welded tank which is removable and refillable at a location remote from the cabinet.
These and other aspects, features, and advantages can be further appreciated from the accompanying drawing Figures and description of certain illustrative embodiments.
A tap 22, disposed on an outer surface of the cabinet body, is in fluid communication with the chamber(s) within the cabinet. Also disposed on the outer surface of the cabinet is a spill reservoir 23. The spill reservoir is positioned below the tap in a manner to permit overflow and spillage from the tap to fall into the spill reservoir 23. At the top of the cabinet body the outer surfaces of the cabinet body are truncated to form an aperture 24. The aperture is shaped and sized to accommodate the lower portion of the water filtration tank 30.
As depicted in
The fill tank 40 is formed to have a top, a plurality of separate side pieces, and a bottom 42. In an alternative configuration, a unitary, formed tubular body can be substituted for the separate side pieces. The fill tank is a watertight unit, preferably joined by ultrasonic welding. However, the invention is not so limited to a single construction technique. Other methods for creating a watertight unit known to persons of skill in the art are suitable for the invention. The fill tank bottom 42 includes a cap assembly 44 and a valve 46. The valve 46 is self-closing, for instance, of the spring-loaded variety.
In operation a user removes the fill tank portion 40 from the filtration tank dispensing system 10 and transports the fill tank 40 to a location for filling with water, which may be remote from the dispensing system 10. In alternative embodiments the fill tank portion 40 includes protruding hand grips 48 or recessed hand holds (not shown) to aid the user in transporting the fill tank between the dispensing system 10 and the remote source of water. Removal of the fill tank from the dispensing system 10 causes valve 46 to close. The closing of valve 46 prevents spillage from the fill tank 40 during removal, transportation, and installation.
The filter holder tray 50 includes at least one cartridge filter holder 54, and an upward protrusion 56 extending from the bottom of the filter tray and ending in a generally horizontal, flat surface portion. Placement of the fill tank 40 onto the tank dispensing system 10 seats the valve 46 on the flat portion, causing the valve to open. Water will then flow from the fill tank 40 into the filter holder tray 50 and through the cartridge filter holder 54. The water will then be collected in the removable reservoir 60.
Referring again to
The removable reservoir further comprises a lift-out grip 66 integrated around the circumference of its body. The filter holder tray 50 is placed within the reservoir 60 and rests on an inwardly protruding ledge 68. The form of the filter tray 50 interlocks with the form of the reservoir to create a watertight fit.
Thus, while there have been shown, described, and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to several embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Substitutions of elements from one described embodiment to another are also fully intended and contemplated. It is also to be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, but that they are merely conceptual in nature. The invention is defined solely with regard to the claims appended hereto, and equivalents of the recitations therein.
