US 5,638,991 AGranted

Bottled water pumping and dispensing apparatus

OwnerTerry J. Todden, Richard A. Thornberryinventors

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Abstract

A bottled water dispenser is similar in size to those available on the market today. An upright five gallon bottle slides onto a dolly and is held fast to the dolly by a stretch cord. The dolly with bottle is wheeled into the bottom of the dispenser. Alternately, the dispensing system may be assembled upon the dolly itself. A tube with a rubber stopper at one end and a check valve at the other end is inserted into the bottle. Pushing a button on the face plate of the dispenser cabinet activates an internal electric pump. The pump draws water from the bottle through the check valve and forces it out of the spigot under pressure. Internal solenoid valves force the water through a heating unit, cooling unit or filtration system before exiting through the spigot. Each temperature is achieved by pushing a different colored button on the face plate. The dispenser operates on 240 V AC, 120 V AC or 12 V DC. It has a built in auxiliary battery back up in the event of power outages or for portable use. The dispenser can be mobile on wheels, free standing, or built into a kitchen cabinet.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A bottled water pumping and dispensing apparatus system for use with a water bottle holding a supply of water comprising:

a spigot means for dispensing the supply of water;
a pump means for delivering the supply of water to the spigot means;
an electrical circuit including the pump means, means for transforming 120 V AC current to a low voltage DC, backup DC storage battery means, at least one push button micro switch for dispensing water, a plurality of electric valves and a plurality of relays interconnected for moving water through a water heater means, water cooler means and water filter means, the circuit interconnected such that the at least one push button micro switch activates appropriate ones of the electric valves and relays and the pump means for dispensing selected hot, cold, or room temperature amounts of the water supply;
the pump means being a non-self-priming pump set and mounted at a selected fixed angle such that an outlet of the pump is positioned above an inlet of the pump, the pump thereby maintaining prime when not pumping;
a transport means for carrying the water bottle, the transport means adapted by having at least one transport wheel set in an off-center position for holding the water bottle on an incline, so as to develop a lowest point in the water bottle;
and
a tube means for carrying the supply of water to the pump means and fitted at the lowest point in the water bottle, so as to allow most of the supply of water in the water bottle to be drawn by the pump means.

4 more elements

A combination water dispenser and water bottle support and transport system comprising:

a spigot means for dispensing a supply of water, the spigot means interconnected with;
a pump means for delivering the supply of water to the spigot means;
an electrical circuit including the pump means, means for transforming 120 V AC current to a low voltage DC, backup DC storage battery means, at least one push button micro switch for dispensing water, a plurality of electric valves and a plurality of relays interconnected for moving water through a water heater means, water cooler means and water filter means, the circuit interconnected such that the at least one push button micro switch activates appropriate ones of the electric valves and relays and the pump means for dispensing selected hot, cold, or room temperature amounts of the water supply;
the pump means being a non-self-priming pump set and mounted at a selected fixed angle such that an outlet of the pump is positioned above an inlet of the pump, the pump thereby maintaining prime when at rest;
a transport means for supporting the water bottle, the spigot means, the electric circuit, and the pump means, the transport means adapted by having at least one transport wheel set in an off-center position for holding the water bottle on an incline, so as to develop a lowest point in the water bottle;
and
a tube means for carrying the supply of water from the water bottle to the pump means and fitted at the lowest point in the water bottle, so as to allow most of the supply of water in the water bottle to be drawn by the pump means.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.