Portable electric water cooler suitable for outdoor use
OwnerGeorge C. Wadeinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A portable electrically refrigerated water cooler is adapted for year-round outdoor use by means of a thermostatically controlled heating cable wrapped about the water-containing components, and a similarly controlled heating element immersed in the water reservoir. A combined faucet-switch unit permits cool water to be pumped through the faucet for immediate use and prevents contaminants from entering the water when the switch is off.
Claims4
A portable refrigerated water cooler comprising:
- a reservoir for storing water to be refrigerated;
- refrigeration means for cooling water passed therethrough;
- an electrically-actuable pump having an inlet connected to draw water from said reservoir and an outlet connected to deliver water through said refrigeration means;
- means for supplying electrical power to said water cooler;
- a combined faucet valve-switch unit for delivering cool water from said refrigeration means, said unit including:
- a faucet member having first and second positions and containing a flow path which in said first position provides flow communication for water from said refrigeration means to externally of said water cooler and in said second position is blocked from providing said flow communication;
- and an electrical switch arranged to be actuated by said faucet member in said first position, said switch being connected in circuit with said pump to apply electrical power to actuate said pump when said switch is actuated;
- an electrical heating cable wrapped about the outer surface of and in direct contact with said reservoir and said refrigeration means;
- an electrical heating element disposed in said reservoir;
- and
- thermostatically-operated switch means connected in series with said cable and said heating element and arranged to pass current from said electrical power supply means through said cable and element when the ambient temperature in said water cooler falls below freezing.
A refrigerated water cooler characterized in that it is adapted for outdoor use in sub-freezing temperatures, said water cooler comprising:
- a reservoir for storing water to be refrigerated;
- refrigeration means for cooling water passed therethrough from said reservoir;
- an outlet spigot connected to receive cooled water passed through said refrigeration means and conduct said cool water externally of said water cooler;
- actuable means for selectively delivering water from said reservoir through said refrigeration means to said outlet spigot;
- and
- thermostatically-controlled electrical heating means disposed in said water cooler for automatically maintaining the temperature in said water cooler above the freezing temperature of water;
- wherein said heating means comprises an electrical heating cable wrapped about the outer surface of and in direct contact with said reservoir and said refrigeration means.
A refrigerated water cooler characterized in that it is adapted for outdoor use in sub-freezing temperatures, said water cooler comprising:
- a reservoir for storing water to be refrigerated;
- refrigeration means for cooling water passed therethrough from said reservoir;
- an outlet spigot connected to receive cooled water passed through said refrigeration means and conduct said cool water externally of said water cooler;
- actuable means for selectively delivering water from said reservoir through said refrigeration means to said outlet spigot;
- and
- thermostatically-controlled electrical heating means disposed in said water cooler for automatically maintaining the temperature in said water cooler above the freezing temperature of water;
- wherein said electrical heating means includes:
- a pair of electrical terminals adapted to be connected to a source of voltage;
- an electrical heating cable wrapped around the outer surface of and in direct contact with said reservoir and said refrigeration means;
- an electrical heating element disposed in said reservoir;
- a thermostat switch;
- and
- circuit means connecting said cable, element and thermostat switch in series between said pair of terminals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.