US1986992A - Drip pan for water coolers - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 8, 1935; R. c. WOLFE DRIP PAN FOR WATER COOLERS Filed April 19, 1932 Fig.3

Fig. 5 .Riahatd.Q.WQ[fe Mr 0 H A th V m ifs notohedflnd; provideclfwithfstops so u po tin r ckets w:r. t n a;g --An0the17; obj eet y of; this invention 151130 provide a; drip-pan which must be lifted slightly above its supporting brackets in order :to remove -it;from the coolenfrar'ne. t

Other wobjects and advantages of this invention will beanparent from the following-I detailed de-' efilitidrihfii prefffed'e'rnbodirhent of the inveni 'on,f "wh"en feed. in connection 'vrith the acoomthebody ofth f i t Figureil.

tie elevat on on I ineI II I I of 3 is a lside el evet ion on of H detail of j a f subporting bracket on n lers erfiffya m ""Flg i 6"is afberspetive View of i'the pan in its normal position on its suppqrting brackets and shows a. broken-away portion of the water cooler pecially in the case of the cooler whichutilizes tainer.

guard or shield which surrounds the water con- Referring to Figure 1, the numeral "10 represents a drip pan constructed according to this invention. The three legs or supports for the conventional water cooler are represented by numerals 11, 12 and 13 respectively, while the brackets attached to these legs and on which the pan normally rests are represented by 14.

In its normal position, when it issupported by brackets 14, and as shown in Figure 6, the catch basin 15 of pan 10 lies midway between legs 11 and 13, so that these brackets are beneath the outwardly extending flange 16 of thepan 10.

[This position is represented. in Figure 1 by the line A, 7 A small projection 1'7 (Figure 3) may be placed on the lower edge of the flange 16 to insure that the catch basin is registered in its proper relation with the faucet of the cooler (not shown). Under these conditions the pan 10 and catch basin 15 may be rotated, approximately 20 to the left or in a clockwise direction from line CA, on which the faucet lies, in order that a receptacle which is too high to be received between the faucet of the cooler (not shown), and the top of the'catch basin, may be filled. Pan 10 is prevented from turningrany farther in this direction by'the edge of catch basin l5 striking against'legj 13 (Figure 1). Pan and catch basin may also be rotated approximately to the right or in a counter-clockwise direction from line 0A whereupon it will be arrested by the downward. projections or lugs 18, on flange 16,

illustrated in Figures 2,3 and 4, .for a purpose which will-be explained below.

The outwardly extending flange 16 of :pan 10 is provided with three notches 19, as indicated in Figure 1, which are spaced at the same intervals as legs 11, 12 and 13 of the cooler support. These are sorelated to the diameter ofthe flange of the drip pan and to the brackets 14, on the frame of the cooler support that the panwill be free to drop vertically downward when notches 19 coincide or register with these'brackets as illustrated'in Figure 1. It is to prevent the accidental droppingof pan 10 that the downward projections 18 are fitted to the rim 16 of the pan.

When itis intended, however, that they pan shall be removed, the'catch basin 15 may be rotated approximately 20 to the right or in a counter clockwise direction and then lifted so'that proj'ections 18 will pass over brackets 14. It may then be rotated in the same direction (counterclockwise) until notches 19 coincide orreg'ister with these brackets, allowing the' pan to be dropped vertically downward and'removed from between the legs 11, 12 and 13 of thecooler frame, without danger of tipping. Downwardly extend-,-

ing lugs 20' may be added on the opposite sides of notches 19 from lugs 18to insure accurate. alignment of'these notches with-thelbracketsbypreventing over-travel of the pan 110. The panlll obviously cannot be removed from thefframe by lifting it upwardly because of the presence ofths water cooler structure, illustrated in part inFigure 6 by shield 25.

Referring now to Figure 5, the brackets 14 may be constructed as there detailed. The .bracket itself may be made from a strip of metal'bent to provide a horizontal ledge 21 which is adapted to receive the horizontal flange 16 of thepan'lO. The vertical upward extension .22 may be proportioned to prevent transverse sliding of the flange 16 of the pan 10 when it is in its normal position. The bracket member 14 maybe secured to the leg 13 by means of machine screws 23 and nuts 24 which pass through drilled holes in both the leg- 13 and the bracket member.

It will. be seen from this description that a drip pan, constructed according to this invention, will have advantages over those previously used in stability during normal operation and in ease of removal and replacement when such is desired. It is alsoespecially suited for use with the porous sleeve cooler construction outlined above, as it is adapted to be lowered vertically when being removed, and raised vertically when being installed, thereby leaving the'lower end of the sleeve undisturbed.

Although a specific construction embodying this invention has been described and illustrated, itis to be understood that the invention is not limited to'thatspecific device, and all such modifications and changes as come within the scope of'the appended claims are embraced thereby.

I claim: V 4

1.. In'combination with a water cooler having supporting legs, brackets on said legs, a drip pan adapted to fit between said brackets and supported by an annularly extending rim resting on said brackets, said drip pan being capable of limited rotation between saidbrackets, notches in said rim adapted to register with said brackets upon rotation of said drip pan and stop members on said rim extending downwardadjacent said notches. i

2. In combination, a watericooler frame, a drip pan within said frame, a flanged rim extending outwardly from said drip pan, spaced notches in said rim, spaced supports on said frame to engage said rim andpermit removal of said pan whensaid pan'is rotated to register said notches with said supports. j

3'. In combination, a water cooler frame, spaced brackets in said frame, and a drip pan provided with a flange and capable of limited rotation in said frame, spaced notches in said. flange, said flange provided with a stop adjacent one of said notches to limit the rotationof said pan.

4. In combination, a water cooler frame provided with a shield, spaced supports in said frame below said shield, and a drip pan provided with means to engage said supports upon partial rotation of'said panand without tipping the latter from'a' horizontal position, said shield acting to prevent a 'vertically upward removal of said drip panfrom said frame; 4

'5. In combination, 'a watercocler frame provided with a shield, spaced'supports in said frame below .said shield, a drip pan provided with means to engage said supports upon partial rotation of said pan. and without tipping the latter from a horizontalposition, and stop' means to limit the rotation of said pan, said shield acting to prevent a vertically upward removal of said drip pan from said frame.

Images