US3351286A

US3351286A - Portable drinking water fountain

Info

Publication number: US3351286A
Application number: US485478A
Authority: US
Inventors: Franklin P Abshire
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-09-07
Filing date: 1965-09-07
Publication date: 1967-11-07
Anticipated expiration: 1984-11-07

Description

Nov. 7, 1967 F. P. ABSHIRE PORTABLE DRINKING WATER FOUNTAIN 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept.

Rm Wm EA WM V. T m 2 1 m L K N A R F B Q/ M /f 7 f fW F. P. ABSHIRE Nov. 7, 1967 PORTABLE DRINKING WATER FOUNTAIN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept.

INVENTOR.

FRANKLIN P. ABSHIRE BY I ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,351,286 PORTABLE DRINKING WATER FOUNTAIN Franklin P. Abshire, 5333 W. Edgemont Ave., Phoenix, Ariz. 85035 Filed Sept. 7, 1965, Ser. No. 485,478 2 Claims. (Cl. 23929.3)

My invention relates to a portable drinking water fountain, and more particularly to a portable drinking water fountain adapted to contain a plentiful supply of ice and a continuous supply of water furnished to it under pressure to provide the propulsion means for producing the water bubbling action.

There are many parts of the country where the supplying of readily available drinking water in cold condition presents many problems. In many areas, public drinking water piped to homes will be at a sufficiently low temperature for drinking even during the hottest summer weather. On the contrary, in some of the very warm climates such as in the southwest, the water temperature in delivery lines may be as hot as 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, particularly in instances where the water is drawn from an outside faucet. Whether it be because of the temperature of the water involved or for sanitary reasons, it has been a common practice to supply cold water in Dewar vessels or specially designed buckets supported in heat-insulating material for the inclusion of water together with ice to extend the period during which drinking water may be kept in a cold condition. Such pour receptacles are frequently provided with an integral cap used as a cup for drinking purposes, but the use of such cap or cup by a number of persons presents a problem in sanitation. Sometimes paper cups are provided but the use of paper cups results in additional problems, notably the disposal of the paper cups to prevent litter and the cost and bother of obtaining and making available when needed cups suitable for the intended purpose.

I am aware that it is a common practice to provide fountains with suitable bubbler spouts in public locations and to chill the water either by means of a refrigeration unit or by packing coils through which the water passes in chipped ice. Fountains of this type are not suitable for private or home use nor for use by small parties in the backyard or patio or other places where a group of people having common interests may gather.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a fountain for private use from which cold water under pressure may be delivered and preferably such a fountain in which the supply of water is replenished as it is used.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination drinking fountain and cold-storage container which may be a conventional type of receptacle and which is readily connectable to a source of pressure for forcing water contained in the receptacle to and through a bubbler spout.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of my invention, I provide a relatively large heat-insulated receptacle which may contain several trays of ice cubes taken from an "ordinary refrigerator and provide a cap therefor which is releasably attached to the container to cover its usual top opening. The cap is provided with an exteriorly threaded apertured boss for attachment of a fitting, as of a water hose, to deliver water to the interior of the container and provide pressure for forcing the water through a bubbler spout provided on the top surface of the cap. A passageway running from the container through the spout is normally closed by a spring-pressed valve ,Which may be digitally operated to release water generally upwardly so that the Water may be drunk directly without the use of a cup or glass in the same manner as water is drunk from public fountains. Suitably also, the drainage Patented Nov. 7, 1967 receptacle is provided in such a position that water passing through the bubbler spout and not consumed be projected directly into the receptacle for drainage to a selected area.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view showing the way in which the device of my present invention may appear when not in use;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the portable bubbler fountain of the present invention as it is set up ready for use, such as in a home patio;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 illustrating the valve mechanism by means of which the flow of water from the container is controlled;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view like FIG. 3 but showing the parts in the position which they assume when water is flowing; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a modification in the manner of delivering the water.

Looking now first to FIGS. 1 through 4, the device of my present invention includes an inner container 11 with a neck 12 at the top of which is an opening adapted to be closed by a cap indicated generally by the reference character 13 and attachable to the neck 12 by means of screw threads in the manner particularly shown in FIG. 2.

Surrounding the container 11 is a housing comprising an upper housing portion 14 and a bottom housing portion 16, the bottom edge of the upper housing portion 14 having a special groove 17, and the top edge of the bottom housing portion 16 having an annular rounded tongue 18, the

members

17 and 18 being so constructed that when the upper and lower housing portions are forced together, the

members

17 and 18 will assume the position shown in FIG. 2 with a snap action so as to lock the two housing portions together and form a continuous outer housing. A space 19 between the container 11 and outer housing is adapted to contain a suitable heat-insulating material such as, without limiting the generality, a foam plastic material which may, if desired, be expanded in position so as to take exactly the shape of the space between the container 11 and the outer housing portion.

To secure the housing portion in position, the neck 12 is provided with an annular exterior groove in which a compressible gasket 21 is insertable. The upper housing portion 14 has a generally cylindrical upper projection 22 which engages the outside of the gasket 21 frictionally and the parts are held together rigidly in this manner. Other constructions, of course, may be provided, but I have found that a housing shaped and assembled in this manner is relatively inexpensively produced and is very effective for the purpose.

As already pointed out, the container 11 is adapted to contain a supply of ice and water under pressure. A suitable gasket 23 setting on top of an enlarged top portion of the neck 12 is compressed between the neck portion and the cap 13 so as to provide a firm seal. For introduction of water under pressure, or other pressure-creating medium, the cap 13 carries an upwardly projecting boss 24 exteriorly threaded to receive a suitable fitting and having an opening 26 through which water under pressure may pass.

It should be understood that an ordinary garden hose can, if desired, be attached to the boss 24, but preferably a special heat-resisting insulation is provided as shown in FIG. 2. Here, a special faucet 27 receives water from the regular house water pipe 28 and delivers the same under pressure controlled by a valve stem 29 to a copper tube 31 provided with an insulating coating 32. The copper tube 31 is provided with a flared fitting 33 and a threaded clamping ring 34 which is threaded onto the boss 24 to releasably attach the water supply to the container without leakage and under conditions such that even in the hottest weather, there will be very little heat imparted to the water as it flows from the pipe 28 to the container 11.

The cap 13 is provided with a central thickened portion 36 through which a vertical circular uniform diameter passageway stands but which is provided with a top recess or enlargement 37 in which a coiled spring 38 may, under the conditions to be described, be held in compression. A button spout assembly includes a spout 39 and a button 41 spaced from each other together with an integral pistonlike downward projection 42 containing a passageway 43 which also extends through the spout 39. This same assembly contains an annular flange 44 which engages on top of the spring 38 and holds the spring between such annular projection and a shoulder formed on the central thickened portion of the cap. A sealing washer 46 may be disposed in an annular exterior groove in the piston-like projection 42, or as shown in the drawing, the bottom of the pistonlike projection 42 may be threaded to receive a cap nut 47 to facilitate insertion of the Washer 46 and the provision of a firm seal at this point. It should be noted that the piston-like downward projection 42 fits relatively snugly so that the possibility of seepage of water along its exterior is lessened.

In its normal position, the spring 38 maintains the parts in the position shown in FIG. 3. Here it should be noted that there is a radial passageway 48 connected to the passageway 43, and that when the valve mechanism comprising the piston-like projection 42 is held upwardly, radial passageway 48 is maintained out of contact with a source of water and no water will flow. When, however, the entire assembly is digitally depressed by engaging the thumb or finger on the button 41 and pressing downwardly, the radial passageway 48 is brought to a position below the cap 13 and water can flow through the radial passageway 48, into the passageway 43 and out through the bubbler spout 39.

The upper housing portion 14 has a drainage receptacle 51 forming a part of it, with a drainage spout 52 to which a rubber hose 53 is readily attachable. This hose may be led to any desired place in a patio, in a flower bed or in a grass plot for drainage. The receptacle 51 is so positioned that under normal pressure of about 40 pounds of water pressure, water passing through the bubble spout 39 will fail within the drainage receptacle 51. A cover 54 in the general shape of a cap is frictionally supported over the cap 13 to protect the same when not in use. It should be borne in mind that while the device of the present invention is preferably supplied with its own container, the cap 13 providing the functions described may be utilized with any other conventional container and may be attached to the container as the usual closure of such container would be attached, namely, by threading, or by merely inserting it frictionally such as is done in some instances.

It should be noted that while additional water is normally entering the container as water is drawn, the water within the container will remain cool for a relatively long period of time due to the heat diffusion of the ice. For this reason it is advisable to introduce a liberal supply of ice to the container when its use is started. In this connection it should be noted also that while normally ice cubes will be used, it is possible to partially fill the container with water and set the container in the freezing compartment of a refrigerator to provide a mass of ice somewhat greater in total amount than can be obtained by the use of separately frozen cubes. I have found that the capacity of the portable bubbler of the present invention is of the order of five to ten times that of the capacity of the same container it merely filled with cold water and the water poured therefrom. In this connection, it also should be noted that the device of the present invention may be used as an ordinary thermos receptacle by placing a cap on the boss 24 and removing it to pour water therefrom into a suitable paper cup or the like.

Those skilled in the art should understand that the container 11 may be produced in many sizes depending specifically on the use to which the portable drinking water fountain of the present invention is to be used.,If it is employed in a private home in a hot area on a patio, for example, I have found that a good size container is one which will hold about three trays of ice cubes. Water may be passed into and through such a container for a considerable period of time with a supply of cold water always available. Depending upon the amount of water consumed, it is possible, say in two or three hours, to remove the cap 13, replenish the ice which is now refrozen in the refrigerator, and again restore the device of the present invention to operation. If, on the other hand, the container is to be taken to a position where it cannot readily be replenished with ice, a somewhat larger container may be desired. FIG. .5 illustrates one form which the invention may take under such circumstances. Here the radial passageway 48 may be brought into contact with a passageway in the thickened portion 36 of the cap when the entire device is in lowered position. A tubular extension 56 extends from this opening to substantially the bottom of the container 11 so that all of the water in the container may be removed as long as there is a pressure source available.

A cartridge 57 containing gas under pressure may be provided with female threads securing the cartridge over the boss 24 in such a way that the gas pressure in the cartridge 57 will place the water in the container under the same pressure. Many modifications of this arrangement may, of course, be used including control means for metering the gas delivered from the cartridge 57, and of course the gas 57 may be liquified, so that its expansion into a gas may itself have a cooling effect on the water in the container 11. Still another method is to have the cartridge 57 merely filled with compressed air, or to employ a suitable handpump for providing air under pressure above the water so that it will continue to flow through the bubbler tube 39 even though it may be necessary to do away with the use of the continuously running water normally intended for use with the device of the present invention.

The device of my present invention has been shown in a preferred embodiment in the drawings, and such preferred embodiment described in detail so that those skilled in the art may understand the manner of practicing the invention. The scope of the invention, however, is defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. In a drinking water fountain;

(a) an inner water container with a neck portion, and

a top opening in said neck portion,

(b) an outer housing spaced from said container and including (1) an upper housing portion closely engaging said neck, said neck having an annular recess, and a gasket disposed in said recess and engaging said upper housing portion, and

(2) a bottom housing portion,

(3) annular tongue and groove portions on said said bottom and top housing portions respectfully being in pressed locking relation,

(0) space between said container and outer housing provided with heat insulation material,

(d) a cap releasably connected to the container to close said top opening,

(e) a recessed threaded boss on said cap for attachment of a fitting to deliver water under pressure to the container,

(f) a bubbler spout secured to said cap,

(g) a passageway between said container and spout,

and

(h) spring-actuated valve means normally closing said passageway, said valve means being digitally compressible to deliver water to said bubbler spout.

2. In a drinking water fountain;

(a) an inner water container with a neck portion, and

a top opening in said neck portion,

(2) a bottom housing portion,

(3) annular tongue and groove portions on said bottom and top housing portions respectfully being in pressed locking relation,

(c) space between said container and outer housing provided with heat insulation material,

(d) a cap releasably connected to the container to close said top opening,

(f) a bubbler spout secured to said cap,

(g) a passageway between said container and spout,

(h) spring-actuated valve means normally closing said passageway, said valve means being digitally compressible to deliver water to said bubbler spout, and

(i) means forming a part of said upper housing portion forming a drainage receptacle, said receptacle positioned to receive water from said bubbler spout when the path of such water is unobstructed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,071,753 9/1913 Kellan 239-28 1,158,104 10/1915 Bryan 239-293 2,238,093 4/1941 Brandt 239-24 3,142,443 7/1964 Morgan 23924 EVERETT W. KIRBY, Primary Exiaminer.

Claims

1. IN A DRINKING WATER FOUNTAIN; (A) AN INNER WATER CONTAINER WITH A NECK PORTION, AND A TOP OPENING IN SAID NECK PORTION, (B) AN OUTER HOUSING SPACED FROM SAID CONTAINER AND INCLUDING (1) AN UPPER HOUSING PORTION CLOSELY ENGAGING SAID NECK, SAID NECK HAVING AN ANNULAR RECESS, AND A GASKET DISPOSED IN SAID RECESS AND ENGAGING SAID UPPER HOUSING PORTION, AND (2) A BOTTOM HOUSING PORTION, (3) ANNULAR TONGUE AND GROOVE PORTIONS ON SAID SAID BOTTOM AND TOP HOUSING PORTIONS RESPECTFULLY BEING IN PRESSED LOCKING RELATION, (C) SPACE BETWEEN SAID CONTAINER AND OUTER HOUSING PROVIDED WITH HEAT INSULATION MATERIAL, (D) A CAP RELEASABLY CONNECTED TO THE CONTAINER TO CLOSE SAID TOP OPENING, (E) A RECESSED THREADED BOSS ON SAID CAP FOR ATTACHMENT OF A FITTING TO DELIVER WATER UNDER PRESSURE TO THE CONTAINER, (F) A BUBBLER SPOUT SECURED TO SAID CAP, (G) A PASSAGEWAY BETWEEN SAID CONTAINER AND SPOUT, AND (H) SPRING-ACTUATED VALVE MEANS NORMALLY CLOSING SAID PASSAGEWAY, SAID VALVE MEANS BEING DIGITALLY COMPRESSIBLE TO DELIVER WATER TO SAID BUBBLER SPOUT.