US 6,679,400 B1 · Water cooler drip tray drainage apparatus

Abstract

A water cooler with a drip tray in which liquid in the drip tray drains through a drain hole connected to a pump. When liquid is detected, the pump activates to pump the liquid to a remote drain. A filter at the drain hole traps overly-large particles. One filter embodiment includes a vertical rigid pipe with a plurality of side wall apertures through which the liquid drains. Another filter embodiment includes a fine mesh at the drain hole. The drip tray is covered by a removable strainer. With the first filter embodiment, the strainer includes a plug that fits into the upper opening of the filter pipe to hold the strainer in place. The electric pump is activated by a sensor that detects the presence of liquid in the inlet hose and remains on for a period after liquid is no longer detected so that the liquid is pumped the full distance to the drain.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A water cooler comprising:

(a) a housing;
(b) a water source;
(c) at least one spigot in said housing fed by said water source;
(d) a drip tray in said housing below said at least one spigot, said drip tray including a receptacle having a floor, walls, open top, and a drain hole in said floor;
(e) a filter at said drain hole to prevent passage of particles of a predetermined and larger size into said drain hole;
(f) a pump having an inlet and outlet, said inlet operatively connected to said drain hole by an inlet hose and said outlet operatively connected to a drain by an outlet hose;
and
(g) a control circuit with a sensor for activating said pump when liquid is present in said inlet hose.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Water cooler drip tray drainage apparatus

Life of this patent

Water cooler drip tray drainage apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12