Abstract:
An improved bottled water station is provided of the type having a removable reservoir for drop-in installation into and lift-out removal from a station housing. The reservoir is constructed from a lightweight molded plastic or the like to have an open upper end for receiving and supporting an inverted water bottle. A bottom wall on the reservoir includes an upwardly recessed portion defining an inverted receiver cup for slide-fit reception of an upstanding chiller probe provided as part of a refrigeration system on the station housing. A vent path is provided to vent the space between the chiller probe and the receiver cup during drop-in installation or lift-out removal of the reservoir. However, when the reservoir is seated in a fully installed position, the vent path is closed and a vapor seal prevents air circulation into the space between the chiller probe and the receiver cup, to correspondingly prevent undesired formation of condensation and/or frost. One or more faucet valves are provided to extend through openings in a front wall of the station housing for dispensing water from the reservoir.
Abstract:
A self sanitizing bottle filler supplying filtered water. The bottle filler utilizes UV light to create ozone in a sealed dispensing chamber after each use. The UV light and ozone sanitize the interior surfaces of the dispensing mechanism and water delivery components. The bottle filler encloses the outlet spout after each use to prevent airborne contamination. The water stream may be illuminated helping users to position a container, preventing spills and splash back.
Abstract:
A beverage cooler is provided with an improved thermoelectric chiller unit for chilling a supply of water or other selected beverage within a cooler reservoir. The improved thermoelectric chiller unit includes a thermoelectric heat transfer module captured by a spring mount with substantially uniform pressure distribution between a chiller probe for chilling the water within the cooler reservoir, and a heat exchanger for dissipating heat drawn from the chilled water. The cooler reservoir has a faucet mounted thereon for on-demand dispensing of the water, and is mounted as a removable unit within a cooler housing with a bottom wall of the reservoir defining an inverted cup-shaped receptacle for close slide-fit reception of the chiller probe.
Abstract:
A water dispensing station includes a source of water a water temperature adjustment system connected to the source of water and adapted to adjust water obtained from the source of water, a temperature sensor positioned to sense water temperature of water in the temperature adjusting system, and a dispensing system connected to the water temperature adjusting system and adapted to selectively dispense water. A controller has processing and memory means and is connected to the water temperature adjusting system and the temperature sensor. The controller is adapted to receive and store water temperature information from the temperature sensor. The station preferably includes a display screen to display information from the controller and input means for the user to input information to the controller. The station can further include a modem so that the controller can communicate with a remote service center. Preferably, the modem is in communication with the controller via transceivers and the modem automatically receives calls from the remote service center. The controller can automatically alert the remote service center when there is a need for service such as filter replacement, component replacement, or bottled water delivery or can alert the remote service center that the user desires to be contacted by the remote service center. The remote service center can check status of the station and send message to the user such as replacement filters are on the way or bottled water will be delivered on a certain date.
Abstract:
A mounting adapter and related bottle cap are provided for use in a bottled water cooler having an upwardly open reservoir for receiving a supply of water from a bottle mounted over the reservoir in an inverted orientation to permit water downflow from the bottle to the reservoir. The mounting adapter comprises a compact housing for press-fit installation into an upper region of the reservoir, wherein the adapter housing carries an outer seal ring for sealing engagement with an inner wall surface of the reservoir. An upstanding feed tube or probe carried by the adapter housing includes separate air and water flow passages as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,152, and has an upper tip end shaped for opening and closing a valved bottle cap mounted on the neck of a water-containing bottle supported in an inverted position over the reservoir. The bottle cap may be constructed, e.g., according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,232,125, with an outer skirt adapted for reusable snap-fit mounting onto and removal from the necks of successive water bottles mounted on the cooler. The adapter housing includes handle ports formed in an upper segment thereof for facilitated mounting of the adapter into and removal from a cooler reservoir. In addition, a lower end of the dual flow path feed tube includes a radially outwardly extending baffle disk to assist in isolating the separated air and water flows during air-water exchange between the cooler reservoir and the overlying inverted water bottle.