AU2003100610A4 - Water dispenser - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA.

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: THE WATERWIZE COMPANY PTY. LTD.

TREVOR CLARKE NOLAN SANDERCOCK COWIE ASSOCIATES 69 ROBINSON STREET DANDENONG VIC 3175 WATER DISPENSER 1- 2003.O7-24,A:\459wwzerwie. filcewp<L I la- TITLE: WATER DISPENSER FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention concerns water dispensers which usually dispense cooled water and which may also incorporate a filter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In Patent No. 636360, this type of unit is described together with a filter through which the water flows before reaching the reservoir from which water is dispensed through a 2003.O7.24,A:\454watrwiz.innpu.wpd, I -2tap. In those units the reservoir was adapted to receive water from a bottle. This invention aims to provide a unit which will accept piped water. It is customary to control the inflow of water with a float operated valve, but the incorporation of a standard float valve where the leverage of a float arm is used to open and close the valve is not convenient to incorporate into the generally cylindrical housings generally provided with such units. A more compact geometry is necessary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a water dispenser having a reservoir, a passage for the inflow of water which is connectable to a piped source, an air passage for the ingress of air and a float in the reservoir for opening and closing the passage, wherein the float operates without provision of a float arm.

The passage may be a tube located uprightly above the reservoir. One end may receive a piped water fitting. The opposite end may receive a projection of the float which urges the seal against a seal located intermediate the ends. The tube may have one or more ports communicating with the reservoir so that water can leave the tube. The opposite end of the tube may have a closure through which the projection extends. The seal is preferably attached to the projection like a piston and a piston rod. The float, projection and seal need only move only a few millimetres in use. The seal may be at the lower end of the piped water fitting. The major flow is via the ports into the reservoir, but a minor flow continues along the passage past the projection toward the float. We prefer to confine the entire flow to the ports.

This is achieved by provision of a rolling diaphragm seal between the projection and surrounding wall of the passage. The diaphragm may be substantially tubular with an Oring formation at one end and a flared skirt at the opposite end, joined by a central cylindrical portion.

The projection may be a rod with a circumferential groove which retains the O-ring formation. The lower end of the passage may have a closure which imprisons the flared skirt of the diaphragm and prevents the escape of water from the end of the passage while 2003.07.24,A:\4S4watcrwizeinnpatwpd2 -3allowing the cylindrical mid-portion to flex with the float movement.

The passage may project through ahousing capable of accommodating a filter. The filter may be a hollow cylindrical container with a labyrinth for subjecting the flow of water to multiple filtrations. Such filters are described in Patent No. 636360.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One embodiment is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a layout diagram of the water admission part of a filter unit.

Figure 2 is a section through the water admission part of the unit with the filter removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH RESPECT TO THE DRAWINGS In Figure 1, the mouth 2 of the dispenser is closed by cylindrical filter chamber 4 which is made of a pair of interfitting mouldings 6, 8. An outlet 10 allows exit water to leave the chamber and join the reservoir 12 from which filtered water is dispensed. Air inlet 14 allows air into the unit to replace the volume of dispensed water. Central hollow column 16 receives elbow fitting 18. The column contains float valve (see Figure 2) actuated by float In Figure 2, the filter has been omitted for clarity. The interior of column 16 provides a flow passage from the elbow fitting to the reservoir through ports 22. The lower end of column 16 is closed by a screw cap 24 which urges washer 26 against the end of the column. The coaxial brass tube 28 ends in a seat 30 which is opened and closed by rubber disc 32. Disc 32 is connected to rod 34 which is push fit into the float 20. Rod 34 is a loose fit in the passage 36 and has a circumferential groove 38 in order to receive the O-ring formation 40 of a rolling diaphragm 42. The flared edge of the diaphragm is imprisoned between the washer 26 and the end of column 16. The rod rises and falls only a few millimetres under float movement as water is dispensed. The diaphragm flexes 2003-07-24.A:\4S4waterwize.mnnpaLwpd3 during this movement, but prevents seepage and when a filter is fitted, the diaphragm ensures all the flow passes through the ports.

We have found the advantages of the above embodiment to be:- 1. The unit can be plumbed to a town water supply.

2. The valve is silent in operation.

3. When it is desired to filter the water, it is possible to guarantee all the flow passes through the filter.

It is to be understood that the word "comprising" as used throughout the specification is to be interpreted in its inclusive form, ie. use of the word "comprising" does not exclude the addition of other elements.

It is to be understood that various modifications of and/or additions to the invention can be made without departing from the basic nature of the invention. These modifications and/or additions are therefore considered to fall within the scope of the invention.

2003-07-24,A:454waterwizc.ininpatwpd,4

Claims (5)

1. A water dispenser having a reservoir, a passage for the inflow of water which is connectable to a piped source, an air passage for the ingress of air and a float in the reservoir for opening and closing the passage, wherein the float operates without provision of a float arm.

2. A water dispenser as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the upper end of the passage receives a piped water fitting and the lower end receives a projection of the float for opening and closing a seal against the fitting and the passage has a port intermediate the ends which communicates with the reservoir.

3. A water dispenser as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the reciprocable projection is sealed to the passage by a rolling diaphragm which prevents flow of liquid out of the passage other than through the port.

4. A water dispenser as claimed in any one of Claims 1-3, wherein the float is hollow and made of a pair of interfitting mouldings.

5. A water dispenser as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a filter surrounds the passage in order to intercept and treat water flowing from the port to the reservoir. Dated this 2 4 th day of July, 2003. SANDERCOCK COWIE PATENT ATTORNEYS FOR THE WATERWIZE COMPANY PTY. LTD. 2003 07-24,A:\4S4waerwiz=.innpaLwpd.5