AU2007294477B2

AU2007294477B2 - A water transfer regulating means for a water dispenser

Info

Publication number: AU2007294477B2
Application number: AU2007294477A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Randall Scott Pearce; Wolfgang Ritter
Original assignee: Scholle Corp
Current assignee: Scholle IPN Corp
Priority date: 2006-09-08
Filing date: 2007-09-07
Publication date: 2011-02-24
Anticipated expiration: 2027-09-07
Also published as: WO2008028240A1; BRPI0715001A2; KR20090057098A; NZ575501A; AU2007294477A1; KR101505035B1

Description

WO 2008/028240 PCT/AU2007/001315 A WATER TRANSFER REGULATING MEANS FOR A WATER DISPENSER Related Applications 5 This international patent application claims priority to Australian provisional patent application 2006904984, the specification of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Field of the Invention 10 The present invention relates to water dispensers of the type that have an unregulated flow of supply water, such as a water dispenser having a removable water container supported thereon for the dispensing of drinking water via a tap. The dispenser can include heating or cooling means and the 15 removable container is usually a rigid bottle that is inverted for use. The present invention specifically relates to a means for use in the regulation of water transferred from such an unregulated flow of supply water to the dispenser. 20 Background of the Invention International patent application PCT/NOOO/00069 in the name of Biogreen A/S describes the use of containers other than the traditional rigid, bottle-shaped containers for water dispensers. In so doing, it describes the normal operation 25 of those water dispensers, where, as water leaves the rigid bottle-shaped containers, it requires replacement by air, and discusses several difficulties and problems that are encountered due to this replacement. The Biogreen A/S patent application then describes the use of a substitute 30 water container, suggesting the use of a container in the form of a reasonably stiff outer container having an inner flexible container made from soft plastic such that the inner container collapses as liquid is tapped therefrom. This tendency to collapse has previously provided design difficulties in replacing the WO 2008/028240 PCT/AU2007/001315 -2 rigid containers with non-rigid containers, mainly due to the tendency for such non-rigid containers to immediately empty themselves (due to gravity dispensing) of their contents once inverted upon a traditional water dispenser and in fluid communication with the reservoir therein. This type of non-rigid 5 container is of course better known as a "bag-in-box" container or as "bag-in box" packaging. Bag-in-box packaging is now commonplace for a variety of commodities due to its economy, convenience and storage capabilities. Examples of commodities 10 economically packaged in this manner include milk, water, juice and wine, together with more viscous products such as cooking and edible oils, and tomato sauce (ketchup). In Australia, perhaps the best known of this type of packaging is the wine cask. 15 Typically, such packaging consists of a flexible bag for reception of the commodity, and a paperboard box for reception of the filled bag. The bag is normally equipped with a tubular spout through which the bag may be filled and the contents subsequently dispensed. The box is provided with perforated tabs adjacent the location of the spout within the box to facilitate access to, removal 20 of, and mounting of, the spout in a wall of the box (usually near the bottom thereof) for convenient gravity dispensing of the contents. It is readily achievable to locate the spout (and thus a suitable perforated tab) in the bottom wall of a box, as would be required if the box were to be placed upon a water dispenser in the manner suggested above. 25 Given the very large number of water dispensers in the marketplace that use the traditional rigid bottles mentioned above, it is desirable for any alternative form of container to be configured so as to easily replace the rigid bottle without requiring any alteration to the existing water dispenser, whether that desirable 30 configuration be by way of adaptation of the container and how it engages with the existing water dispenser, or by the use of an intermediary mechanism that allows existing containers (or only slightly modified containers) to engage with the existing water dispenser. Of course, any such intermediary mechanism WO 2008/028240 PCT/AU2007/001315 -3 must also operate to prevent the immediate emptying of the water container when inverted and when in fluid communication with the reservoir of a water dispenser. The present invention has been developed with precisely that desire in mind. Indeed, the present invention will also find use where there is no such 5 water container but there is a supply of water to the dispenser whose flow is not regulated (such as by a valve). In this situation, it will be appreciated that it may be useful to, rather than plumb a valve into that water supply, merely provide a suitable intermediary means for regulating water transfer from the water supply to the dispenser. 10 Before turning to a summary of the present invention, it must be appreciated that the above description of the prior art has been provided merely as background to explain the context of the invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any of the material referred to was published or known, or was a 15 part of the common general knowledge in Australia or elsewhere. Also, throughout this specification (including in the claims) the liquid to be dispensed is labeled as "water" and the dispenser is labeled as a "water" dispenser. While water is certainly the liquid envisaged for use with this 20 invention, the reference to water alone has been done for the sake of clarity and for ease of reference throughout the document. However, it must be understood that the type of liquid in a container (or provided by a water supply), and thus the type of liquid being dispensed, need not be water but could be another liquid. Also, the dispenser may be one that is capable of heating or 25 cooling the liquid being dispensed, but need not be. The dispenser may also include more than one dispensing tap. Summary of the Invention 30 The present invention provides a water transfer regulating means for a water dispenser, the water dispenser including a body, a reservoir in the body capable of receiving water transferred from an outlet of a water supply, and at least one iMeceiveu Uo uy LUVO -4 tap for dispensing water from the reservoir, the water transfer regulating means including: a water inlet capable of fluid communication with the outlet of the water supply; and 5 a float valve within a cradle, the cradle adapted to be located within the reservoir having at least one aperture that permits, in use, fluid communication from the water inlet to the reservoir and access to the float valve by water in the reservoir; whereby the float valve is capable of, in use, closing the water inlet when the 10 reservoir is full of water, and of opening the water inlet when the reservoir is not full of water. The present invention further provides a water transfer regulating means for a water dispenser, the water dispenser including a body, a reservoir in the body 15 capable of receiving water transferred from an outlet of a removable water container supported on the body, and at least one tap for dispensing water from the reservoir, the water transfer regulating means including: a water inlet capable of fluid communication with the outlet of the removable water container; and 20 a float valve within a cradle, the cradle adapted to be located within the reservoir and having at least one aperture that permits, in use, fluid communication from the water inlet to the reservoir and access to the float valve by water in the reservoir; whereby the float valve is capable of, in use, closing the water inlet when the 25 reservoir is full of water, and of opening the water inlet when the reservoir is not full of water. The present invention also provides a water dispenser per se, the water dispenser including a body, a reservoir in the body capable of receiving water 30 transferred from an outlet of a water supply, and at least one tap for dispensing water from the reservoir, the water dispenser also including a water transfer regulating means including: - a water inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the water supply; and Amended Sheet

IPEA/AU

-5 - a float valve within a cradle, the cradle adapted to be located within the reservoir and having at least one aperture that permits fluid communication from the water inlet to the reservoir and access to the float valve by water in the reservoir; 5 whereby the float valve is capable of closing the water inlet when the reservoir is full of water, and of opening the water inlet when the reservoir is not full of water. The present invention further provides a water dispenser per se, the water 10 dispenser including a body, a reservoir in the body capable of receiving water transferred from an outlet of a removable water container supported on the body, and at least one tap for dispensing water from the reservoir, the water dispenser also including a water transfer regulating means including: a water inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the removable 15 water container; and - a float valve within a cradle, the cradle having at least one aperture that permits fluid communication between the water inlet and the reservoir and access to the float valve by water in the reservoir; whereby the float valve is capable of closing the water inlet when, the reservoir 20 is full of water, and of opening the water inlet when the reservoir is not full of water. The present invention also provides a removable water container adapted for use with the water transfer regulating means of the present invention and a 25 water dispenser, the removable water container having an outlet, the water dispenser including a body, a reservoir in the body capable of receiving water transferred from the outlet of the removable water container when supported on the body, and at least one tap for dispensing water from the reservoir, the water dispenser also including a water transfer regulating means including: 30 - a water inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the removable water container; and - a float valve within a cradle, the cradle having at least one aperture that permits fluid communication between the water inlet and the reservoir and access to the float valve by water in the reservoir; Amended Sheet

]IPEA/AU

WO 2008/028240 PCT/AU2007/001315 -6 whereby the float valve is capable of closing the water inlet when the reservoir is full of water, and of opening the water inlet when the reservoir is not full of water. 5 Before further summarizing the present invention, it is useful to provide an explanation of some of the terms often used to define the spatial relationship of various aspects of water dispensers of the general type described herein. This will be useful not only for an understanding of the prior art, but also for a proper understanding of the present invention. In this respect, spatial references 10 throughout this specification will generally be based upon a normal in-use, at rest environment for a water dispenser, namely when a water container (of some type) is supported on the body of a dispenser in fluid communication therewith. With this environment as the basis, some parts may then be defined with reference to the "horizontal", allowing further references to "upper" and 15 "lower", and also to the "vertical". Also, some aspects of the present invention that may ultimately be claimed in isolation (and not in an in-use environment), may nonetheless be difficult to describe and understand in isolation. Thus, most of the following description 20 does describe the invention and its embodiments in such an in-use environment (for example, with a water container in place and with water present). Of course, it must be appreciated that the use of such description, and the use of such spatial relationships, to define the present invention, is not to be seen 25 as a limitation and certainly is not to be seen as a limitation only to the in-use environment. General Description of the Invention 30 Turning now to a description of various preferred aspects of the present invention, the float valve mentioned above is preferably constrained in the cradle for vertical movement within the cradle, this vertical movement being such as to be capable of closing the water inlet when the reservoir is full of WO 2008/028240 PCT/AU2007/001315 -7 water, and of opening the water inlet when the reservoir is not full of water. In this form, the upper surface of the float valve preferably includes an upwardly projecting male member configured so as to engage, in use, with a correspondingly shaped female portion of the water inlet to close the water inlet. 5 The vertical movement of the float valve, reciprocating with the rise and fall of the water level within the cradle, thus serves to engage and disengage the male member with the female portion, opening and closing the water inlet to permit water to re-fill the reservoir in the body of the water dispenser as water is dispensed therefrom, but not to overfill the reservoir. 10 The float valve preferably includes a hollow sealed body to provide suitable buoyancy during use, the body preferably being generally disc shaped. The float valve body thus has upper and lower surfaces, with the male member mentioned above projecting upwardly from the centre of the upper surface of 15 the float valve body. A preferred configuration for this male member, and thus for the correspondingly shaped female portion of the water inlet, will be described below in relation to a preferred embodiment. The cradle is preferably sized and configured so as to closely surround the float 20 valve, whilst still permitting the preferred vertical movement mentioned above. Thus, in the form where the float valve is generally disc shaped, the cradle is preferably a generally hollow cylindrical housing, with a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the disc shaped body of the float valve. The cradle need not provide a complete enclosure for the float valve, and thus may be provided 25 by a series of arms or guides within which the float valve is constrained whilst still permitting the preferred vertical movement mentioned above. In a preferred form, the cradle is a housing for the float valve that preferably has a plurality of apertures, and the cradle and the float valve are preferably able to 30 be at least partially located within the reservoir of the water dispenser, such that there can be fluid communication between the water inlet and the reservoir (via the apertures of the cradle) and such that water in the reservoir can access the float valve (again, via the apertures of the cradle). In this respect, it will be WO 2008/028240 PCT/AU2007/001315 -8 appreciated that the water transfer regulating means of the present invention may be provided integrally with the body of a water dispenser (and thus integrally with its reservoir), or may be provided integrally with a water container (or at least integrally with a supporting member for a water container). 5 However, it is envisaged that the most likely form of the present invention will see the water transfer regulating means being provided as a separate unit that can be removed from both the water dispenser and, in the preferred form, a water container. 10 In one form of the present invention, where the water transfer regulating means is separate and removable, there is provided a sealing adapter about the cradle that permits the cradle to engage with an upper portion of the reservoir of a water dispenser to sealingly engage the cradle within the reservoir. The sealing adapter is ideally removable and is shaped so as to fit about the cradle, 15 regardless of the cradle's external shape and configuration, and also to seal the cradle within the reservoir regardless of the reservoir's internal shape and configuration. It is envisaged that, in most instances, the cradle and the reservoir will both be 20 generally cylindrical. Therefore, the sealing adapter will usually be annular with an inner diameter suitable to fit the adapter about the cradle and an outer diameter suitable to provide the sealing engagement with the reservoir. The use of such a sealing adapter (which can then be provided in different sizes as necessary) is advantageous in that it permits use of the water transfer 25 regulating means of the present invention with a variety of differently sized reservoirs in different styles and sizes of water dispensers, without having to have different sized cradles and float valves. The apertures in the cradle can be of any size and shape that permits the fluid 30 communication mentioned above. Where the cradle is a housing and is of the generally cylindrical shape mentioned above, apertures will generally be formed in the sidewalls of the cradle, but will preferably extend from the sidewalls around to the bottom wall of the cradle. This ensures that, when the reservoir WO 2008/028240 PCT/AU2007/001315 -9 empties (such as when a water container has also emptied and is perhaps being changed), there is no opportunity for water to pool in the bottom of the cradle and stagnate. 5 The water inlet of the water transfer regulating means of the present invention is preferably incorporated in a cradle cover, the cradle cover serving to also, in use, function as a reservoir cover. The water inlet preferably includes the female portion mentioned above (opening downwardly, below the cradle cover), which is able to sealingly receive the upwardly projecting male member of the 10 float valve. This upwardly projecting male member need merely be a plug that can seal a correspondingly shaped entrance (the female portion) of the water inlet. In this form, as the float valve rises in use, the male member will plug the water inlet to 15 prevent any further flow of water into the reservoir (via the cradle) from the water container. Conversely, as the float valve lowers in use (namely, as water is dispensed and the water level in the reservoir decreases), the male member unplugs and thus water is allowed to flow from the water container through the water inlet to the reservoir (via the cradle). 20 Much of the following description will now be provided in relation to the preferred form of the present invention, where the water supply for use with the water transfer regulating means is a water container (as opposed to a mere unregulated flow of supply water). 25 The water inlet preferably additionally includes an upwardly extending male probe, with a water container coupling at its upper free end that is able to engage with a suitably configured outlet of a water container. The male probe is preferably hollow such that water can flow therethrough from the outlet of the 30 water container to the reservoir, in the manner described above. The water container coupling may be of any suitable type, but preferably will be configured such that removal of the male probe from the water container outlet WO 2008/028240 PCT/AU2007/001315 -10 causes a re-sealing of that water container outlet. In a preferred form, the coupling and the outlet will be of the same general type as that described in either of international patent applications PCT/NL98/00385 (W099/05446) and PCT/NLO1/00704 (WO02/26585), both in the name of Itsac N.V. of the 5 Netherlands, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The arrangement described in international patent application PCT/NLO1/00704 (WO02/26585) is envisaged to be particularly preferred for use with this form of the present invention. 10 The water transfer regulating means of the present invention is useful as an adapter in that it is able to be used to convert existing water dispensers, set up for use with the traditional rigid, plastic water bottles, for use with other types of water containers, particularly non-rigid containers such as the bag-in-box containers mentioned above. The water transfer regulating means will operate 15 with the traditional reservoirs of those water dispensers without the need for any modification thereof. Also, the water transfer regulating means, due to its valved operation, is able to operate with non-rigid water containers which tend to collapse on themselves as 20 water leaves the containers. As also mentioned above, this tendency to collapse on emptying would result in the almost immediate and complete emptying of the contents of a non-rigid water container when placed in fluid communication with the reservoir of a water dispenser, unless an intermediary mechanism of some sort (such as that of the present invention) is located so as 25 to regulate the transfer of water from the water container to the reservoir. Brief Description of the Drawings Having briefly described the general concepts involved with the present 30 invention, a preferred embodiment of a water transfer regulating means will now be described that is in accordance with the present invention. However, it is to be understood that the following description is not to limit the generality of the above description. In particular, it will be seen that the following description is WO 2008/028240 PCT/AU2007/001315 -11 of the preferred situation where the water supply for use with the water transfer regulating means is a water container (as opposed to a mere unregulated flow of supply water) 5 In the drawings: Figure 1 is a schematic section view of part of a water dispenser showing, in use, a water transfer regulating means in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 10 Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view from below of the water transfer regulating means of Figure 1; Figures 3a and 3b are further views of the water transfer regulating means 15 shown in Figure 2, this time in use with a removable water container together with a raising and lowering mechanism for that container; Figures 4a and 4b are section views of the water transfer regulating means shown in Figure 2, with the view in Figure 4a showing the water inlet open and 20 the view in Figure 4b showing the water inlet closed; Figures 5a and 5b are further schematic section views of part of a water dispenser showing, in use, the water transfer regulating means of Figure 2, but also showing a further type of a container raising and lowering means; 25 Figure 6 is a perspective view from above of just the water container raising and lowering means shown in Figures 5a and 5b; and Figures 7a and 7b are perspective views from above and below of the water 30 container raising and lowering means shown in Figures 3a and 3b.

WO 2008/028240 PCT/AU2007/001315 - 12 Description of the Drawings Illustrated in Figure 1 is the upper part of a standard water dispenser 10, the water dispenser 10 including a body 12, a reservoir 14 in the body 12 capable 5 of receiving water transferred from the outlet 16 of a removable water container 18 supported (or about to be supported) on the body 12. A mechanism for raising and lowering the water container is not properly illustrated in Figure 1, but a version of such a mechanism is illustrated in Figures 3a, 3b, 7a and 7b, with another version being illustrated in Figures 5a, 5b and 6. 10 The water dispenser 10 will of course include in its body 12, in fluid communication with the reservoir 14, at least one dispensing tap (not shown) for dispensing water from the reservoir 14. It should be understood that a particular advantage of the present invention is that the water dispenser 10, and 15 particularly the reservoir 14, are able to be of a traditional form - thus, the reservoir 14 is the same shape and form as a reservoir that would normally operate in conjunction with a traditional rigid, plastic water bottle, without the water transfer regulating means about to be described. 20 The water dispenser 10 also includes a water transfer regulating means 20 (better illustrated separately in Figures 2, 4a and 4b), which includes a water inlet 22 in fluid communication with the outlet 16 of the removable water container 18, and a float valve 24 within a cradle 26. The cradle 26 is shown as having the general form of a housing, the housing having apertures 28 that 25 permit fluid communication between the water inlet 22 and the reservoir 14 and access to the float valve 24 by water in the reservoir 14. The float valve 24 is capable of closing the water inlet 22 when the reservoir 14 is full of water, and of opening the water inlet 22 when the reservoir 14 is not full of water, as will now be explained. 30 The float valve 24 is shown in Figures 1, 4a and 4b to be constrained in the cradle 26 for vertical movement within the cradle 26. This vertical movement is such as to be capable of closing the water inlet 22 when the reservoir 14 is full WO 2008/028240 PCT/AU2007/001315 - 13 of water, and of opening the water inlet 22 when the reservoir 14 is not full of water. In this respect, the upper surface 29 of the float valve 24 includes an upwardly projecting male member 30 configured so as to engage, in use, with a correspondingly shaped female portion 32 of the water inlet 22 to close the 5 water inlet 22. The vertical movement of the float valve 24, reciprocating with the rise and fall of the water level within the cradle 26, thus serves to engage and disengage the male member 30 with the female portion 32, opening and closing the water inlet 10 22 to permit water to re-fill the reservoir 14 as water is dispensed therefrom, but not to overfill the reservoir 14. The upwardly projecting male member 30 incorporates a plug 34 that can seal the correspondingly shaped exit (the female portion 32) of the water inlet 22. In this form, as the float valve 24 rises in use (shown in Figure 4b), the male member 30 plugs the water inlet 22 to 15 prevent any further flow of water into the reservoir 14 (via the apertures 28 of the cradle 26) from the water container 18. Conversely, and as shown in Figure 4a, as the float valve 24 lowers in use (namely, as water is dispensed and the water level in the reservoir 14 20 decreases to be below the lowermost part of the cradle 26), the male member 30 unplugs the water inlet 22 and thus water is allowed to flow from the water container 18 through the outlet 16 through the water inlet 22 and to the reservoir 14 (via the apertures 28 in the cradle 26). 25 This regulated operation of the float valve 24 acts to prevent the immediate and complete emptying of the water from the water container 18 where the water container 18 is flexible and is of the bag-in-box type. As mentioned above, the flexible nature of such bag-in-box containers means that, when inverted, they tend to collapse upon themselves (or, rather, the flexible bag portion tends to 30 collapse upon itself) as they empty, thus resulting in the potential for the water container 18 to completely empty under the effects of gravity alone. This would cause the reservoir to fill and overflow, but for the regulated operation of the water transfer regulating means 20.

WO 2008/028240 PCT/AU2007/001315 -14 The float valve 24 includes a hollow sealed body 34 to provide suitable buoyancy during use, the body 34 being generally disc shaped. The body 34 thus has upper 29 and lower 31 surfaces, with the male member 30 mentioned above projecting upwardly from the centre of the upper surface 29 of the body 5 34. The cradle 26 is shown sized and configured so as to closely surround the float valve 24, whilst still permitting the preferred vertical movement mentioned above. Thus, in this form where the float valve 24 is generally disc shaped, the 10 cradle 26 is preferably a generally hollow cylindrical housing, with a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the disc shaped body 34 of the float valve 24. In Figure 1, the cradle 26 and the float valve 24 are shown located fully within the reservoir 14 of the water dispenser 10. This permits the type of fluid 15 communication between the water inlet 22 and the reservoir 14 (via the apertures 28 of the cradle 26) mentioned above, and such that water in the reservoir 14 can access the float valve 24 (again, via the apertures 28 of the cradle 26). 20 Additionally, the water transfer regulating means 20 includes a sealing adapter 40 about the cradle 26 that permits the cradle 26 to engage with an upper portion 42 (shown in Figure 2) of the reservoir 14 to sealingly engage the cradle 26 within the reservoir 14. 25 The sealing adapter 40 is annular with an inner diameter suitable to fit the adapter 40 about the cradle 26 and an outer diameter suitable to provide the sealing engagement with the interior of the reservoir 14. The use of such a sealing adapter 40 permits use of the water transfer regulating means 20 of the present invention with a variety of differently sized reservoirs 14 in different 30 styles and sizes of water dispensers 10, without having to have different sized cradles 26 and float valves 24.

WO 2008/028240 PCT/AU2007/001315 - 15 The apertures 28 in the cradle 26 can be of any size and shape that permits the fluid communication mentioned above. With the particular cradle 26 illustrated, where the cradle 26 is the generally cylindrical shape mentioned above, the apertures 28 have been formed in the sidewalls of the cradle 26, but extend 5 from the sidewalls around to the bottom wall of the cradle 26. This ensures that, when the reservoir 14 empties (such as when the water container has also emptied and is perhaps being changed), or when the water level in the reservoir 14 drops below the bottom wall of the cradle 26, there is no opportunity for water to pool in the bottom of the cradle 26 and stagnate. 10 The water inlet 22 of the water transfer regulating means 20 is shown incorporated in a cradle cover 44, the cradle cover 44 serving to also, in use, function as a reservoir 14 cover. As mentioned above, the water inlet 22 includes the female portion 32 (opening downwardly, below the cradle cover 15 44), which is able to sealingly receive the upwardly projecting male member 30 of the float valve 24. The cradle cover 44 may be formed as a separable unit able to operatively engage with either a water dispenser or a removable water container, or may be formed integrally with another intermediate member, such as is illustrated in Figures 3a and 3b (and indeed in Figures 4a, 4b, 7a and 7b) 20 where it forms a part of the base 70 of the raising and lowering means (indicated generally by the reference numeral 72). Returning now to a description of further elements evident in Figures 4a and 4b, the water inlet 22 includes an upwardly extending male probe 46, with a water 25 container coupling 48 at its upper free end that is able to engage with a suitably configured outlet 16 of a water container 18. The male probe 46 is of course preferably hollow such that water can flow therethrough from the outlet 16 of the water container 18 to the reservoir 14, in the manner described above. 30 As mentioned above, the water container coupling 48 may be of any suitable type, but is ideally configured such that removal of the male probe 46 from the water container outlet 16 causes a re-sealing of that outlet 16. The probe 46 and outlet 16 illustrated in, for example, Figure 1 are of the same general type WO 2008/028240 PCT/AU2007/001315 - 16 as that described in PCT/NLI01/00704 (WO02/26585) in the name of Itsac N.V. of the Netherlands, and thus will not be described further here. Also evident in Figures 4a and 4b (and indeed evident in various of the other 5 Figures) is a vent 90 provided in the cradle cover 44. The vent 90 is an element commonly provided in water dispensers that include mechanisms for heating the water, and is primarily provided in order to vent any expanding warm gases above the level of the water as it rises in the water reservoir 14. 10 Illustrated in Figures 5a, 5b and 6 is another form of water container raising and lowering means, hereafter referred to as a container raising mechanism 50 (which is different to the mechanism 72 briefly described above in relation to Figures 3a and 3b, and as will be further described below in relation to Figures 7a and 7b). The raising and lowering of the water container 18 preferably 15 occurs such that the outlet 16 of the water container 18 is brought into and out of coupling engagement with the male probe 46. The container raising mechanism 50 includes a handle 52 that is pivotally attached to a container support 54 and that includes a cam member 56 configured so as to interact with a cam surface 58 to pivotally raise the container support 54 about the main 20 pivot point 60. Thus, by lowering the handle 52 from the position shown in Figure 5a to the position shown in Figure 5b, this is in turn raises the water container 18 upwardly and uncouples the male probe 46 from the outlet 16. The water 25 container 18 can then be replaced as necessary, and a new water container can be easily coupled with the male probe 46 without having to be concerned about manually aligning the male probe 46 with the outlet 16 of the water container 18. 30 The alternative container raising mechanism 72 that is illustrated in Figures 3a, 3b, 7a and 7b operates similarly but includes a cammed bridge member 74 that is operated by the lever 76. The bridge member 74 is urged upwardly by leaf springs 78 against the weight of a water container (not shown in Figures 7a and WO 2008/028240 PCT/AU2007/001315 - 17 7b) mounted upon the mounting and alignment plate 80, and advantageously supports the weight of that water container across the full width of the plate 80. Once a full water container is placed upon the mounting and alignment plate 80, and the lever 76 is raised to force the bridge member 74 downwardly against 5 the springs 78, the water container can be lowered (reasonably slowly and gently) until the outlet 16 of the water container couples with the male probe 46. In conclusion, it must be appreciated that there may be other various and 10 modifications to the configurations described herein which are also within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A water transfer regulating means for a water dispenser, the water dispenser including a body, a reservoir in the body capable of receiving 5 water transferred from an outlet of a removable water container supported on the body, and at least one tap for dispensing water from the reservoir, the water transfer regulating means including: a water inlet capable of fluid communication with the outlet of a removable water container; and 10 a float valve within a cradle, the cradle adapted to be located within the reservoir and having at least one aperture that permits, in use, fluid communication from the water inlet to the reservoir and access to the float valve by water in the reservoir; whereby the float valve is capable of, in use, closing the water inlet when 15 the reservoir is full of water, and of opening the water inlet when the reservoir is not full of water.

2. A water transfer regulating means according to claim 1, wherein the float valve is constrained in the cradle for vertical movement within the cradle, 20 the vertical movement being such as to be capable of closing the water inlet when the reservoir is full of water, and of opening the water inlet when the reservoir is not full of water.

3. A water transfer regulating means according to claim 2, wherein the float 25 valve has an upper surface and the upper surface includes an upwardly projecting male member configured so as to engage, in use, with a correspondingly shaped female portion of the water inlet to close the water inlet. 30

4. A water transfer regulating means according to claim 3, wherein the vertical movement of the float valve serves to engage and disengage the male member with the female portion, opening and closing the water inlet Amended Sheet IPEAIAU Amended Sheet IPEA/AU WO 2008/028240 PCT/AU2007/001315 - 19 to permit water to re-fill the reservoir in the body of the water dispenser as water is dispensed therefrom.

5. A water transfer regulating means according to any one of claims 1 to 4, 5 wherein the float valve includes a hollow sealed body to provide suitable buoyancy during use.

6. A water transfer regulating means according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cradle is sized and configured so as to closely surround the 10 float valve.

7. A water transfer regulating means according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the float valve is generally disc shaped, and the cradle is a generally hollow cylindrical housing, with a diameter slightly larger than 15 the diameter of the disc shaped body of the float valve.

8. A water transfer regulating means according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein there is provided a sealing adapter about the cradle that permits the cradle to engage with an upper portion of the reservoir to sealingly 20 engage the cradle within the reservoir.

9. A water transfer regulating means according to claim 8, wherein the sealing adapter is annular with an inner diameter suitable to fit the adapter about the cradle and an outer diameter suitable to provide the 25 sealing engagement with the reservoir.

10. A water transfer regulating means according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the cradle is generally cylindrically shaped, having a single perimetric side wall and a bottom wall, there being a plurality of apertures 30 are formed in the sidewall of the cradle, extending from the sidewall around to the bottom wall of the cradle. - 20

11. A water transfer regulating means according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the water inlet is incorporated in a cradle cover. 5

12. A water transfer regulating means according to claim 11, wherein the water inlet includes a female portion which is able to sealingly receive the upwardly projecting male member of the float valve.

13. A water transfer regulating means according to claim 12, when appended 10 via claim 3, wherein the male member includes a plug portion that can seal the correspondingly shaped female portion of the water inlet.

14. A water transfer regulating means according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the water inlet includes an upwardly extending male probe 15 having a water container coupling at its upper free end that is able to engage with a suitably configured outlet of a water container.

15. A water transfer regulating means according to claim 14, wherein the male probe is hollow such that water can flow therethrough from the 20 outlet of the water container to the reservoir.

16. A water transfer regulating means according to claim 15, wherein the water container coupling is configured such that removal of the male probe from the water container outlet causes a re-sealing of that outlet. 25

17. A water dispenser including a body, a reservoir in the body capable of receiving water transferred from an outlet of a removable water container supported on the body, and at least one tap for dispensing water from the reservoir, the water dispenser also including a water transfer 30 regulating means including: a water inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the removable water container; and Amended Sheet IPEA/AU -21 a float valve within a cradle, the cradle adapted to be located within the reservoir and having at least one aperture that permits fluid communication from the water inlet to the reservoir and access to the float valve by water in the reservoir; 5 whereby the float valve is capable of closing the water inlet when the reservoir is full of water, and of opening the water inlet when the reservoir is not full of water.

18. A water dispenser including a water transfer regulating means in 10 accordance with any one of claims 2 to 16.

19. A removable water container adapted for use with the water transfer regulating means of any one of claims 1 to 16 and a water dispenser, the removable water container including an outlet, the water dispenser 15 including a body, a reservoir in the body capable of receiving water transferred from the outlet of the removable water container when supported on the body, and at least one tap for dispensing water from the reservoir, the water dispenser also including a water transfer regulating means including: 20 a water inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the removable water container; and a float valve within a cradle, the cradle adapted to be located within the reservoir and having at least one aperture that permits fluid communication from the water inlet to the reservoir and 25 access to the float valve by water in the reservoir; whereby the float valve is capable of closing the water inlet when the reservoir is full of water, and of opening the water inlet when the reservoir is not full of water. 30

20. A water transfer regulating means according to claim 1, substantially as herein described in relation to the accompanying drawings. Amended Sheet IPEA/AU -22

21. A water dispenser according to claim 17, substantially as herein described in relation to the accompanying drawings.

22. A water dispenser according to claim 18, substantially as herein 5 described in relation to the accompanying drawings.

23. A removable water container according to claim 19, substantially as herein described in relation to the accompanying drawings. 10

24. A water transfer regulating means for a water dispenser, the water dispenser including a body, a reservoir in the body capable of receiving water transferred from an outlet of a water supply, and at least one tap for dispensing water from the reservoir, the water transfer regulating means including: 15 a water inlet capable of fluid communication with the outlet of the water supply; and a float valve within a cradle, the cradle adapted to be located within the reservoir and having at least one aperture that permits, in use, fluid communication from the water inlet to the reservoir 20 and access to the float valve by water in the reservoir; whereby the float valve is capable of, in use, closing the water inlet when the reservoir is full of water, and of opening the water inlet when the reservoir is not full of water.

25 25. A water dispenser including a body, a reservoir in the body capable of receiving water transferred from an outlet of a water supply, and at least one tap for dispensing water from the reservoir, the water dispenser also including a water transfer regulating means including: a water inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the water 30 supply; and - a float valve within a cradle, the cradle adapted to be located within the reservoir and having at least one aperture that permits Amended Sheet IPEA/AU -23 fluid communication from the water inlet to the reservoir and access to the float valve by water in the reservoir; whereby the float valve is capable of closing the water inlet when the reservoir is full of water, and of opening the water inlet when the reservoir 5 is not full of water. Amended Sheet IPEA/AU