US2998162A - Water cooler reservoir - Google Patents

Description

1961 T. R. VARNELL 2,998,162

WATER COOLER RESERVOIR Filed June 19, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 3mm Y I k i l q 75 0111515 12? fiynzzz l/lm 75 k 7 f Aug. 29, 1961 T. R. VARNELL 2,993,152

WATER COOLER RESERVOIR 3 Sheets-Sheet? Filed Jxine 19, 1959 1961 T. R. VARNELL 2,998,162

WATER COOLER RESERVOIR Filed June 19, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 gwvmbo a 6/ lgmifas a Veg/HELL 2,938,162 WATER COOLER RESERVOIR Thomas Roscoe Varnell, 422 Bible St. NE, Cleveland, Tenn, assignor of twenty-five percent to Robert H. Langford and Blanche M. Langford, Grlando, Fla. Filed June 19, 1959, Ser. No. 821,456 4 Claims. (Cl. 22254) The present invention relates to a water cooler and particularly to a water cooler for use in a refrigerator.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a reservoir type water cooler from which cooled water may be dispensed as desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a water cooler of the class described above having dual compartments arranged to maintain warmer water against dispensing until it has been cooled.

A further object of the invention is to provide a water cooler having a pair of superposed compartments with automatic means for permitting the flow of water which has been cooled in the upper compartment into the lower compartment to replace cooled water dispensed therefrom.

A still further object of the invention is to'provide a two compartment water cooling device of the class described above in which the flow of water from the upper compartment to the lower compartment is controlled by the use of water from the lower compartment.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in light of the attached drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-section taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse cross-section taken along. the line 33 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section taken along the line 66 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a removable cover adapted to be used with the lower compartment.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral 10 indicates generally a water cooler constructed in accordance with the invention.

The water cooler 10 includes a lower compartment, generally indicated at 11, and an upper compartment, generally indicated at 12. The lower compartment 11 has a spaced apart pair of parallel side walls 13, 14, a rear wall 15 integrally connecting the side walls 13, 14 and a front wall 16 integrally connected to the forward edge of the side wall 14 terminating in an upright edge 17 spaced from the forward edge of the side wall 14.

A bottom wall 18 extends between the side walls 13, 14 and engages the rear wall 15. The bottom wall 18 slopes downwardly and forwardly and is supported on a plurality of bars 19 secured to the side walls 13, 14 and the rear wall 15. The bottom wall 18 terminates in a forward edge 20 spaced from and parallel to the front wall 16, A relatively short wall 21 is arranged parallel to Patented Aug. 29, 1961 the side walls 13, 14, and is joined to the edge 17 of the front wall 16 extending rearwardly therefrom.

A second relatively short wall 22 extends parallel to the front wall 16 and the rear wall 15 and connects the rear edge of the short wall 21 with the side wall 13.

A generally horizontal transverse wall 23 extends rearwardly from the front wall 16 to a point overlying the forward edge 20 of the bottom wall 18 and connects the side wall 14 to the relatively short wall 21. An upright wall 24 is secured to the forward edge 20 of the bottom wall 18 and extends upwardly connecting with the rear edge of the horizontal wall 23. The upright wall 24 terminates at a point 25 spaced from and parallel to the side wall 14. The bottom wall 18 extends forwardly of the upright wall 24 between the edge 25 of the wall 24 and the side wall 14, and connects with the front wall 16. An upright partition 26 arranged parallel to the side walls 13, 14 connects the edge 25 of the wall 24 with the front wall 16 and connects the horizontal wall 23 with the bottom wall 18.

A pair of transversely extending support bars 27 are secured to the lower edges of the side walls 13, 14 to support the cooler 18/ on the shelf of a refrigerator. The forward edge 20 of the bottom wall 18 is supported on a bar 28 secured to the upright wall 24, as can be seen in FIGURE 2.

A pair of spaced apart parallel baffle partitions 29, 30 are secured in upstanding relation on the bottom wall 18 and have their opposite side edges secured to the side walls 13, 14. The bafile partitions 29, 30 are each provided with a pair of ports 31 opening through the outer lower corners thereof and a central recess 32 formed in the upper edge thereof. The bafiles 29, 30 extend nearly to the top of the lower compartment 11 and have the dual function of strengthening the lower compartment 11 as well as assisting in preventing the slooshing of water when the lower compartment 11 is carried without the upper compartment 12 being positioned thereon.

A spout, generally indicated at 33, is of tubular form and has a generally horizontal section 34 and an outer section '35 integrally connected thereto and extending perpendicularly therefrom. The horizontal section 34 of the spout 33 is positioned below the horizontal wall 23 and is journalled at its opposite ends in the relatively short wall 21 and the partition 26. An annular collar 36 is formed on the partition 26 surrounding the horizontal section 34 of the spout 33 on the side of the partition 26 adjacent the relatively short wall 21. A collar 37 is secured to the horizontal section 34 of the spout 33 closely adjacent the relatively short wall 21, retaining the spout 33 in position on the lower compartment 11. A flexible rubber tube 38 has one end sealed to the collar 36 and the opposite end sealed to the collar 37 to permit the horizontal section 34 of the spout 33 to be rotated about its horizontal axis without leakage. A coil spring 39 encompasses the flexible rubber tube 38 and has its opposite ends respectively secured to the collar 36 and the collar 37 to normally bias the horizontal section 34 of the spout 33 in a counter clockwise direction, when viewed in FIG- URE 2.

The spout 33 has a handle 40 rigidly secured to the outer section 35 thereof to permit the spout 33 to be rotated to a horizontal position when dispensing liquids therethrough.

A U-shaped block 41 extends between and connects the forward ends of the relatively short wall 21 and the side wall 13 at the lower edge thereof to provide a support limiting the downward swinging movement of the spout 33, as illustrated in FIGURE 1. A generally U-shaped horizontal guide block 42 is spaced intermediate the upper and lower edges of the side wall 13 and extends to the relatively short wall 21 to provide a guide for the spout 33 when in its upper, or folded, position, The guide block 42 also connects to the wall 22 at the rear end thereof. The side wall 13 forwardly of the wall 22 and upwardly of the guide block 42 is cut away to permit the handle 40 to fold with the spout 33 and to extend laterally outwardly beyond the wall 13 to permit it to be readily grasped when moving the spout 33 to the dispensing position illustrated in FIGURE 1.

The U-shaped guide support 42 is provided with an integral resilient latch 43 which grasps the spout 33 and restrains it from moving out of its upright position until pulled by the user. A flat, generally rectangular cover 44 is provided for the lower compartment 11 for use therewith when the upper compartment 12 is detached therefrom. The cover 44 has one corner recessed at 4-5 corresponding to the recessed corner of the lower compartment 11. An upstanding flange 46 is secured to the upper edge of the side walls 13, 14, the rear wall 15 and the front wall 16 to receive the upper compartment 12 or the cover 44.

The upper compartment 12 includes a pair of spaced apart parallel side walls 47, 48 joined by a rear wall 49 and a front wall A generally rectangular top wall 51 is supported on the side walls 47, 48 and the rear wall 49 and is sealed thereto. The top wall 51 terminates in a forward edge 52 arranged in spaced parallel relation to the front wall 50. A transversely extending partition 53 is secured to and depends from the wall 51 adjacent the forward terminal edge 52 thereof. A forwardly and downwardly sloping wall 54 has its upper rear edge secured to the partition 53 and its lower forward edge secured to the upper edge of a transverse partition 55, arranged in spaced parallel relation to the front wall 50. An inner wall 56 is arranged in parallel relation to the wall 55 and spaced therefrom oppositely of the front wall 50. The inner wall 56 has its upper terminal edge 57 spaced substantially below the sloping wall 54. A U-shaped panel 58 integrally connects the lower end of the wall 56 with the lower end of the front wall 50 and the partition 55 has its lower terminal edge 59 spaced above the arcuate panel 58.

A generally rectangular cover 60 is pivotally secured to the forward edge 52 of the cover 51 by means of a hinge pin 61. A pair of oppositely disposed segmental plates 62 depend from opposite edge portions of the cover 60 and project into the upper compartment 12 when the cover 61) is in closed position. With the cover 61) in open position, the segmental plates 62 serve as confining members to irect water into the upper compartment 12 when filling the same. A transverse b aille panel 63 is formed on the cover 61) extending between the segmental plates 62 to protect the hinge when filling the upper compartment 12 with water.

A filter bag 64 is positioned between the partition 55 and the front wall 50 and is supported on a frame 65 between the upper end of the partition 55 and the front wall 51 The upper compartment 12 has a pair of downwardly and inwardly sloping bottom wall panels 66, 67 having their outer edges secured respectively to the side walls 47, 48 substantially above the lower edge thereof. The panels 66, 67 slope downwardly and inwardly and have their inner edges arranged in spaced apart parallel relation and secured to a pair of spaced apart parallel upright strengthening webs 68, 69. A downwardly and centrally sloping central panel 70 is positioned between the webs 68, 69 and is sealed thereto. A pair of inverted U-shaped yokes 71, 72 are secured in centrally positioned parallel relation to the webs 68, 69 in upwardly extending relation thereto. A valve body 73 is supported in the U-shaped yokes 71, 72 for vertical reciprocation. A valve seat 74 having a resilient washer 75 positioned therein is secured centrally of the central panel 70, as can be clearly seen in FIGURE 7. A valve 76 is adjustably secured to the valve body 73 and is adapted to engage the resilient washer 75 in the valve seat 74 to close the passage through the central panel 70. A pair of oppositely disposed glass plates 77, 78 have their outer ends anchored in recesses 79, 80, respectively, formed in the upper compartment 12 adjacent the rear wall 49 and the inner wall 56.

The adjacent inner ends of the glass plates 77, 78 engage 'opposite sides of the valve body 73 so that upon expansion and contraction of the glass plates 77, 78 the valve 76 is moved with respect to the seat 74. Differences in co-eflicient of expansion of the glass plates 77, 78 and the central panel 76 cause the valve 76 to open when the water in the upper compartment 12 is cool and to close when the water in the upper compartment is warm.

A tubular breather pipe B extends through the bottom wall panel 67 adjacent the web 69 with its lower terminal end E substantially below the upper edge of the side wall 13, 14- and its upper terminal edge 81 closely adjacent the top wall 51. As water passes out of the lower compartments 11 through the spout 33 air from the compartment 11 is permitted to flow upwardly through the breather pipe B so as to permit water from the upper compartment 12 to flow into the lower compartment 11 when the valve 76 is open. Since the breather pipe B has its lower terminal end E well below the upper edge of the side walls 13, 14, the breather pipe B will be sealed oil by the level of water in the lower compartment 11 to stop additional flow before the water in the compartment 11 would flow over the tops of the side walls 13, 14.

The upper compartment 12 is provided with a recess 82, corresponding to the recess in the lower compartment 11, and has a horizontal U-shaped guide clip 83 positioned in the recess 82 to guide the upper end of the spout 33 as it is raised to its folded position.

The wall 56, arcuate panel 58 and partition 55, along with the front wall 50 provides a trap through which water can be added to the upper compartment 12 while maintaining the upper compartment 12 sealed against the admission of air thereto. With the upper compartment 12 sealed, all air to balance the flow from the upper compartment 12 must pass through the breather pipe B, as described above.

In the use and operation of the invention, the lower compartment 11 is filled with water and placed on the refrigerator shelf. The upper compartment 12 is then mounted on the lower compartment 11, in the position illustrated in FIGURES l, 2 and 3, where it is filled with water by opening the cover 60 and pouring the water therein. As the water in the compartments 11, 12 is cooled and used by lowering the spout 33, the cool Water in the upper compartment 12 will pass through the valve seat 74- into the lower compartment 1 1 with the air from the lower compartment 11 passing upwardly through the breather pipe B. As the water is drained through the spout 33, additional warm water can be added to the upper compartment 12 through the opening of the cover 60. The warm water passing into the upper compartment 12 will close the valve 76 to retain the warm Water in the upper compartment until it is cooled. Obviously, as soon as the newly added water in the upper compartment 12 has become cooled, the valve 76 will open to permit the water from the upper compartment 12 to flow into the lower compartment 11 as rapidly as it is dispensed through the spout 33. Vent holes 34 are formed in the wall 56 adjacent the bottom wall 70 to retain water in the trap T as long as any water remains in the compartment 12.

Having thus described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A water cooler reservoir comprising a lower sealed compartment and an upper superposed sealed compartment, said upper compartment supported by said lower compartment, temperature-expansible glass plates separating said compartments, and a valve disposed between said plates wherein the change of temperature in said glass plates operates said valve to control the flow of water through said valve after the Water has cooled to a predetermined temperature in the upper compartment.

2. A water cooler reservoir comprising a lower substantially sealed compartment and an upper substantially superposed sealed compartment, temperature-expansible glass plates separating said compartments a valve disposed between said plates, a panel of less temperature expansion positioned adjacent, below and substantially parallel to said glass plates to receive the seat of said valve, whereby the temperature change and the difierence in coefiicients of expansion of said plate and said panel controls said valve.

3. A water cooler reservoir comprising a lower sealed compartment and an upper superposed sealed compartment, said upper compartment supported by said lower compartment, temperature-expansible glass plates separating said compartments, a valve disposed between said plates wherein the change of temperature in said glass plates controls the flow of water through said valve from said upper compartments to said lower compartment after the water has cooled to a predetermined temperature in said upper compartment, a spout having a generally horizontal section journalled in said lower compartment, a handle mounted on said spout, and a U-shaped guide having a resilient latch mounted on the exterior wall of said lower compartment to receive and maintain said spout in upright position when not in use.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a vertically positioned breather pipe connects the upper portion of said lower compartment to the upper portion of said upper compartment whereby the flow of water from said lower compartment will cause a flow of water from said upper compartment to said lower compartment with said flow valve in open position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 215,771 Pierce May 27, 1879 473,325 Merrill Apr. 19, 1892 672,504 Wolfensperger Apr. 23, 1901 1,826,791 Kellogg Oct. 13, 1931 2,698,022 Fahnoe Dec. 28, 1954 2,786,606 Dushek et a1 Mar. 26, 1957 2,883,921 Morrison Apr. 28, 1959

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