Method for hands free auto-filling one or more water reservoirs of a liquid dispenser and a related apparatus

A method of hands free auto-filling of one or more water reservoirs of a liquid dispenser for dispensing one or more consumable liquids, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a liquid dispenser for dispensing one or more consumable liquids, the liquid dispenser having a water dispensing assembly including a water inlet port, a first water reservoir and a first water outlet port, the water inlet port is configured to receive water from a water source operably connected to said water dispensing assembly, said water dispensing assembly is configured to direct water entering said water inlet port to said first water reservoir, said first water outlet port being connected to said first water reservoir to receive water from said first water reservoir, said liquid dispenser further including a first venting assembly including a float valve and a housing for housing said float valve, said housing of said first venting assembly further including a vent port, said housing of said first venting assembly is fluidly connected to said first water reservoir such that during filling of said first water reservoir said float valve moves between a first position in which said vent port is open and a second position in which said float valve closes said vent port when said first water reservoir is filled with water to a predetermined level;
• (b) automatically directing water from the water source to said water manifold so that water passes through said water inlet port and enters said first water reservoir to fill or refill said first water reservoir;
• (c) while water is being directed into said first water reservoir, monitoring at least one condition of said liquid dispenser that changes as said float valve moves between said first position and said second position as a water level in said first water reservoirs changes;
• and,
• (d) automatically discontinuing water flow to said first water reservoir when the at least one condition being monitored indicates that the float valve is in the second position closing the vent port.

A liquid dispenser for dispensing at least two different consumable liquids, said liquid dispenser comprising:

• (a) a liquid dispenser housing for housing a water manifold including a water inlet port, a first water reservoir, a first water outlet port and a second water outlet port, the water inlet port is configured to receive water from a water source operably connected to said water manifold, said water manifold is configured to direct water entering said water inlet port to said first water reservoir and said second water outlet port, said first water outlet port being connected to said first water reservoir to receive water from said first water reservoir to dispense a first consumable liquid from said liquid dispenser;
• (b) a first venting assembly including a float valve and a housing for housing said float valve, said housing of said first venting assembly further including a vent port, said housing of said first venting assembly is fluidly connected to said first water reservoir such that during filling of said first water reservoir said float valve moves between a first position in which said vent port is open and a second position in which said float valve closes said vent port when said first water reservoir is filled with water to a predetermined level;
• (c) said second water outlet port being connected to a second water reservoir to supply water to said second water reservoir;
• (d) a second venting assembly including a float valve and a housing for housing said float valve, said housing of said second venting assembly further including a vent port, said housing of said second venting assembly is fluidly connected to said second water reservoir such that during filling of said second water reservoir said float valve moves between a first position in which said vent port is open and a second position in which said float valve closes said vent port when said second water reservoir is filled with water to a predetermined level;
• and,
• (e) a control system for monitoring at least one condition of the liquid dispenser that varies with movement of the float valve of at least one of the first venting assembly and the second venting assembly to automatically shut off the flow of water to the water manifold when the float valve of at least one of the first venting assembly and the second venting assembly is in the second position.