US20130001243A1

US20130001243A1 - Portable, powered water station

Info

Publication number: US20130001243A1
Application number: US13/535,903
Authority: US
Inventors: John T. Quick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-07-01
Filing date: 2012-06-28
Publication date: 2013-01-03

Abstract

A portable water station includes a container or bucket with a flat bottom, a sidewall, and a top cover or lid. An electric pump resides within the bucket. A rechargeable battery is provided on the top of the lid, and is electrically connected to the pump. A pipe is connected to the pump and extends through the lid and terminates in a spigot for dispensing water from the bucket when the battery switch is turned on. A valve on the pipe can be opened and closed to control water flow from the spigot. A soap dispenser is also provided on the lid.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to provisional application Ser. No. 61/503,691 filed Jul. 1, 2011, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Workers are often at job sites that do not have a water supply. For example, construction workers may be at sites or developments far from a water source. At times, there is a need for the worker to wash their hands, or other body parts, such as for their lunch break. Similarly, campers, hunters and fishermen sometimes go to remote sites without running water, but still have a need or desire to wash their hands, faces or other areas. However, such washing is difficult without water.
Various types of portable water containers are well-known. One type of portable water station often used for camping is a water bag which can be hung, with an outlet for gravity flow from an outlet in the bottom of the bag. A hose or line includes a valve which can be opened and closed to control flow of water from the bag.
Portable sinks are also known for bringing to a site without water so that people can wash their hands. Such sinks typically include a fresh water tank and a grey water tank for collecting dirty water. The clean water tank of such a portable sink is normally filled from a water supply truck after the sink is set in place at the site.
These prior art portable water supplies have numerous shortcomings. The gravity flow bag is subject to puncture or other damage and does not function well when set on the ground. Portable sinks are larger and normally are not carried to the site by one person. The portable sinks are also relatively complex in construction and are not pre-filled with water.
Therefore, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved portable water station.
Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a water station which can be manually carried, full of water, to a site.
A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a portable water station having a submersible pump and a power supply for dispensing water on demand from a five gallon bucket.
Still another objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved battery powered water station for use at sites without running water.
Yet another objective of the present invention is the provision of a portable water station which can be carried to a site in one hand.
A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a portable water station which can be used for washing hands or as a shower.
Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a portable water station which can be set on the ground, on the floor, or upon an elevated surface.
Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a portable water station which can be quickly and easily filled with water before the station is moved to a use site.
A further objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved portable, powered wash station which is economical to manufacture, and durable and effective in use.
Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a portable water station which is a self-contained assembly, which can be easily carried to a desired site, and which is immediately ready for use.
These and other objectives will become apparent from the following description of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The portable water station of the present invention includes a bucket or container for holding water, with a removable lid or cover mounted to the bucket. A rechargeable battery is mounted on the lid, and is operatively connected to a submersible electric pump located in the bottom of the bucket. A conduit or pipe extends from the pump upwardly through the lid and terminates in a spigot. A switch is provided for turning the battery on and off, and a valve is provided for turning the spigot on and off. A soap dispenser may also be provided on the lid of the water station. When the switch is turned on and the valve is opened, water is pumped from the bucket by the pump, and through the piping for discharge from the spigot.
The bucket can be filled with water, and then transported to a work site, job site, or other remote location. A handle is pivotally connected to the bucket for carrying the bucket to a desired use location. The bucket has a flat bottom for setting the wash station on the ground, on a floor, or on an elevated surface, such as a table, work bench or counter top. An optional extension conduit can be added to raise the spigot to a shower height.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND PHOTOGRAPHS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the portable water station according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the water station according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is another side elevation view of the water station according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the water station according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the water station shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the water station showing the internal components mounted for use.

FIG. 7 is a view of an alternative embodiment of the wash station according to the present invention having elongated vertical tube for raising the spigot to an elevated shower height.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The water station 10 of the present invention generally comprises a water container or bucket 12 with a removable lid or cover 14. The lid 14 can be mounted on the upper end of the bucket 12 in any convenient manner, such as by snap fit or mating threads. The bucket 12 includes a handle 16 having opposite ends pivotally connected to the bucket 12. The bucket 12 includes a flat bottom 13 and a sidewall 15, with an open upper end.
As seen in the drawings, the water station 10 includes a submersible electric pump 18 which sits in the bottom of the bucket 12. The pump 18 includes an outlet pipe or conduit 20 which is connected to a spigot, tap or other outlet 22. The pump 18 is electrically connected to an on/off switch 24 on a base or controller 26 mounted on the lid 14. The pump 18 is powered by a rechargeable battery 28 operatively mounted to the base 26. When the switch 24 is turned to the on position, the battery 28 powers the pump 18 to pump water from the bucket 12 to the spigot 22, until the switch 24 is turned off. A valve 30 may be provided on the plumbing 20 for the spigot 22 to prevent discharge of water if the switch 24 is accidentally turned on.
A soap dispenser 32 is also mounted to the lid 14. The dispenser 32 includes a bottle 33 with a cap 34 with a pump spout 36. The cap 34 mounts to the lid 14 via threads or a snap fit or friction fit. The soap dispenser 32 can be removed from the lid 14 so that the bucket 12 can be quickly and easily filled with water from a hose or faucet via the opening in the lid 14 which receives the dispenser 32.
In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the spigot 22 can be elevated via an elongated extension pipe or tube 38 so that the water station 10 can be used for a shower. The water station 10 can be quickly and easily converted from the hand washing configuration shown in FIGS. 1-6 to the shower configuration shown in FIG. 7. More particularly, for hand washing, the spigot plumbing includes the vertical pipe or conduit 20 with a threaded cap 40 and an elbow 42 to which the spigot 22 is threadably coupled. To convert from the hand washing configuration to the shower configuration of FIG. 7, the spigot 22 is removed from the elbow 42 and the cap 40 is placed on the end of the elbow 42 in place of the spigot 22. The elongated shower pipe or tube 38 is mounted in place of the cap 40 and the spigot 22 is threadably mounted to the upper end of the shower tube 38.
Preferably, all of the plumbing pipes are plastic PVC so as to be lightweight, yet durable, with threaded ends for connecting the spigot 22, the cap 40, the extension pipe 38, and other attachments. Preferably, the bucket 12 has a five gallon capacity so that it can be easily carried full of water to the job or work site by one person. Thus, the work station 10 can be filled before leaving for the site, placed in a truck or vehicle for transport to the site, and then carried to any desired location at the site, without the need for a separate water supply or water truck at the site. Also, since the bucket 12 has a flat bottom, the water station 10 can be set on the ground, the floor, a table or other support surface for use. The battery 28 can be charged each night, or as otherwise needed.
It is understood that the configuration of the water station 10 can vary from that shown in the drawings and described above. For example, the conduit 20 may have any desired height, and may extend through a sidewall of the bucket 12, rather than through the lid 14. The bucket or container 12 can also have other shapes and sizes. Furthermore, the lid 14 may be sealed to the bucket 12. Also, a separate fill opening may be provided in the lid 14, apart from the soap dispenser 32.
The invention has been shown and described above with the preferred embodiments, and it is understood that many modifications, substitutions, and additions may be made which are within the intended spirit and scope of the invention. From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

Claims

1. A portable, powered water station, comprising:

a bucket for holding water;

a lid removably mounted to the bucket;

a handle pivotally connected to the bucket;

a battery mounted on the top of the lid;

a submersible electric pump in the bucket and electrically connected to the battery;

a pipe mounted on the lid, with an inlet connected to the pump and an outlet above the lid; and

a spigot on the outlet of the pipe.

2. The portable powered water station of claim 1 further comprising a soap dispenser mounted to the lid.

3. The portable powered water station of claim 1 further comprising a switch on the lid to activate the pump.

4. The portable powered water station of claim 1 wherein the bucket, lid, battery, pump, pipe and spigot form a self-contained assembly.

5. The portable powered water station of claim 1 wherein the bucket, lid, battery, pump, pipe and spigot form an assembly for carrying by the handle when the bucket is filled with water.

6. The portable powered water station of claim 1 wherein the bucket has a flat, unobstructed bottom for sitting on a support surface.

7. The portable powered water station of claim 1 further comprising a hole in the lid for filling the bucket with water.

8. The portable powered water station of claim 7 further comprising a soap dispenser removably mounted in the hole.

9. The portable powered water station of claim 1 further comprising a pipe extension connected to the pipe, and the spigot being removed from the pipe and mounted on an upper end of the extension to extend the spigot upwardly to a shower height.

10. A water supply assembly for providing water at a site without running water, comprising:

a container for holding water, and having a flat bottom, a sidewall and a top cover;

an electric pump inside the container;

a battery outside the container and operatively connected to the pump;

a conduit having a lower end connected to the pump and an upper end residing outside the container to discharge water on demand;

a handle mounted on the container for carrying the container with a single hand while the container is full of water.

11. The assembly of claim 10 further comprising an opening in the top cover to fill the container with water.

12. The assembly of claim 10 further comprising a soap dispenser mounted on the container.

13. The assembly of claim 10 further comprising a control valve on the conduit to open and close the conduit.

14. The assembly of claim 10 further comprising a switch to turn the battery on and off.

15. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the conduit has an adjustable height.

16. The assembly of claim 10 further comprising a spigot on the upper end of the conduit.

17. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the conduit has a plurality of outlets.

18. The assembly of claim 17 further comprising a removable cap on the outlets.

19. A method of providing water to a site without running water, comprising:

filling a bucket of water;

then transporting the bucket to the site;

then setting the bucket on a support surface; and

then actuating a battery powered pump in the bucket to dispense water from the bucket.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the water-filled bucket is manually carried to the site.