US 4,792,059 A · Sealed hot, cold and room temperature pure water dispenser

Abstract

Purified water is fed into an elevated sealed first tank by means of a float valve assembly. The first tank is vented by a bacteria microscreen which is located above the level of a three-way spigot manifold. A second insulated, sealed hot water tank and a third insulated, sealed cold water tank, both positioned below and fed by the first tank, are vented into the first tank. The second tank is heated by a controlled heat strip or thermoelectric module. The second tank is positioned above and feeds into the third tank, which is cooled by a thermoelectric module. Each of the three tanks is connected by a respective tube into a three-way spigot manifold. An ergonomically designed cabinet in which the three tanks are housed includes a three button spigot control assembly located in a recess approximately 36 inches above the floor. The spigot manifold is positioned in a front panel recess beneath the button recess adjacent to a paper cup dispenser. Airborne and human-carried bacteria and contaminants are prevented from entry into the sealed system.

Apparatus for dispensing purified water, comprising in combination:

(a) sealed holding tank means for holding water at room temperature and means for delivering purified water into the holding tank means;
(b) a first delivery tube coupled between a first dispensing port and the holding tank means, and first valve means for controlling flow of water through the first dispensing port;
(c) microfilter venting means for filtering minute bacteria, particles, and the like from any air vented into the holding tank;
(d) sealed hot water tank means for heating and storing water;
(e) a second delivery tube coupled between a second dispensing port and the hot water tank means, and second valve means for controlling flow of hot water through the second dispensing port;
(f) first feed tube means for gravity feeding room temperature water from the holding tank means into the hot water tank means;
(g) a first vent tube coupled between the top of the hot water tank means and the top of the holding tank means;
(h) sealed cold water tank means for cooling and storing water;
(i) a third delivery tube coupled between a third dispensing port and the cold water tank means, and third valve means for controlling flow of cooled water through the third dispensing port, the first, second, and third dispensing ports being below the level of water in the holding tank means;
(j) second feed tube means for gravity feeding room temperature water from the holding tank means into the cold water tank means;
(k) a second vent tube coupled between the top of the cold water tank means and the top of the holding tank means;
(l) means for supporting the holding tank means above the hot water tank means and the cold water tank means, whereby purified water is isolated from airborne bacteria and other contaminants in the apparatus;
(m) first, second, and third actuating buttons remote from the first, second, and third dispensing ports, and linking means for operatively connecting the first, second, and third actuating buttons to the first, second, and third valve means, respectively, wherein each of the first, second, and third valve means includes a section of flexible tubing and means for pinching off the section of flexible tubing, and wherein the linking means includes, for each actuating button, a spring engaging that button and deformable by depressing that button, an elongated linking member connected to the spring and the pinching means for pinching off the section of flexible tube when that button is not depressed, and for unpinching the section of flexible tube by depressing that button, wherein the first, second, and third buttons are disposed in a button recess in a front panel of a housing of the apparatus located above a dispensing recess, the first, second, and third dispensing ports being located at the top of the dispensing recess, the button recess having a lower surface having a slope of approximately fifteen degrees and limiting downward movement of the first, second, and third actuating buttons, each linking member extending directly downward from the corresponding actuating button to the corresponding pinching means.

10 more elements

Sealed hot, cold and room temperature pure water dispenser

Life of this patent

Sealed hot, cold and room temperature pure water dispenser

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12