US3641785A

US3641785A - Water cooler

Info

Publication number: US3641785A
Application number: US29174A
Authority: US
Inventors: William H Portz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-04-16
Filing date: 1970-04-16
Publication date: 1972-02-15
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-15
Also published as: CA938802A

Abstract

A water cooler including a frame having a plurality of vertically spaced chambers, including a compressor chamber, a food storage chamber, and a water storage chamber. The water storage chamber is provided with an open end and covered by a hingedly connected cover member. A support bracket for supporting a water container is mounted on the underside of the cover. A water container is placed in the support bracket and includes a tube for connecting the container to a water spout.

Description

United States Patent 51 3,641,785

Portz 1 Feb. 15, 1972 [54] WATER COOLER 2,408,704 10/1946 Taylor ..62/338 72} Inventor: William rr. Portz, 1454 State Line 2'788642 W957 Bu'khead Avenue, Calumet City, 111. 60409 Primary Examiner Meyer Peru" [22] Filed: Apr. 16, 1970 Attorney-Sabin C. Bronson [21] Appl. No.: 29,174 [57] ABSTRACT A water cooler including a frame having a plurality of verti- ((2.11 Cally Spaced chambers, including a compressor chamber a n. food Storage chamber and a water storage chamber. The [58] Field of Search ..62/338, 339, 389, 393, 396, h d

62/397 water storage chamber is provided wit an open end an covered by a hrngedly connected cover member. A support bracket for supporting a water container is mounted on the [56] References cued underside of the cover. A water container is placed in the sup- UNITED STATES PATENTS port bracket and includes a tube for connecting the container to a water s out. 2,274,409 2/1942 Harbinson ..62/396 p 2,276,937 3/1942 Cordova ..62/338 6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEBFEB 15 I972 INVENTOR.

W/'///'am H. Ponz ATTORNEY WATER COOLER BACKGROUND-SUMMARY-DRAWINGS The present invention relates to water coolers and more particularly to a new and improved structure for storing and supporting a water container in a water cooler.

l-leretofore, water coolers have generally included a frame housing, a refrigeration unit for cooling the water and a support for the water bottles on the top of frame. The water bottles are usually of from 1 to 3 gallons capacity. The larger capacity bottles are particularly difficult to insert on the top of the frame.

Moreover, the water coolers have been constructed in such a manner that only a water cooling function is performed. This is uneconomical because the refrigeration unit is generally of sufficient capacity so that it may be used to cool a food storage compartment.

By the present invention it is proposed to provide a water cooler which is constructed and arranged so that the installation of the water container may be more easily accomplished. Also the water cooler is constructed such that a portion thereof may be used as a food storage compartment. The water cooler of the present invention comprises generally a housing, including a plurality of vertically disposed chambers of which one of the chambers has a refrigeration compressor unit disposed therein. The uppermost of the chambers is -open ended and enclosed by a cover. A bracket is fixed to the underside of the cover for supporting a container of water therein. Means are provided for connecting the water bottle to a spout so that the water may be discharged.

A food storage chamber may be formed between the upper water container chamber and the compressor chamber, utilizing the cooling effect which is used to cool the water.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a water cooler embodying the structure of the present invention showing the front door and cover closed.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the front door and top cover in the open position and showing some of the parts broken away to show underlying details of structure.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the water container in its stored position in the water cooling chamber and showing in particular the structure for connecting the container to the water cooler spout.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a water cooler embodying the structure of the present invention. The water cooler 10 comprises generally a cabinet 11 having a lower compressor chamber 12, a food storage chamber 13, and a water container cooling chamber 14.

The cabinet includes a rectangular frame fabricated from angle irons (not shown) or the like. Steel sheets having bonderized coating are fixed to the exterior of the frame.

The walls of the cabinet 11 may be provided with an insulation material 15 such as a closed cell plastic, as for example polyurethane.

Along one side, the cabinet 11 is provided with a grid covered access opening 16 which serves to pennit access to the refrigeration compressor assembly 41 housed in the compressor chamber12. The grid also provides air circulation to the compressor assembly to expose the latter to ambient temperatures. Refrigerant-carrying tubes or lines 38 extend through the rear side of the cabinet 11 and serve to cool the

chambers

13 and 14.

The front of the cabinet 11 is formed with a front opening 17 providing communication to the food storage chamber 13. A door 18 hinged along side hinges l9 seals the opening 17 in the closed position of the door. The door 18 may be maintained latched in the closed position by a magnetic latch 20. The food storage chamber 13 may be separated from the compressor chamber 12 by a shelf 40. The chamber 13 is separated from the water cooler chamber 14 by a partition 21.

Preferably, the partition 21 is constructed and made from a material which does not inhibit heat transfer between the water cooling chamber 14 and the food storage chamber 13. It is to be appreciated that the cooling effect realized by circulating the refrigerant tubes 38 through the chamber 13 may also be used to cool the chamber 14.

The water cooler chamber 14 is defined by the partition 21 and an opposite open end 22 which is adapted to be sealed by a cover 23. The cover 23 is hingedly connected to the rear top edge of the cabinet 11. The underside of the top or cover 23 may be lined with insulation material similar to that used along the sides. Also fixed to the underside of the cover is a bracket or receptacle 24 which serves to hold a water container 26. The bracket 24 is generally U-shaped including a plate 24a spaced from the inner wall of the top 23, and end walls 24b extending normal from the end edges of the plate 24a and fixed at the free edges thereof to the top 23. A base plate 24c similarly extends normal from the lower edges of the bracket 24a and end walls 24b. It is to be noted that the bracket 24 tapers somewhat downwardly to facilitate the insertion of the container 26 therein.

As shown, the container 26 is of generally elongated rectangular cross section and includes a somewhat tapered end which is received in the bracket 24. The container 26 may be made from plastic or the like and if desired may be discarded after use. Connected to the underside of the container 26 is a feeder tube 27 which communicates from the interior of the water container 26 and is of sufficient rigidity to force itself down within a funnellike end 45 of the tube 28 to seal itself therein. Tube 28 leads to the spout 31 and has a push release button 29 for convenience in opening spout 31 when water is desired therefrom through said nozzle.

As shown, the water container 26 is initially inserted into the holder or bracket 24 with the cover 23 in the fully open position. Thereafter, the cover 23 is closed, whereupon the tube 27 passes through an opening in the base and into the funnel 45 of tube 28 sealing itself therein by the weight of the container and cover 23.

The spout 31 may be of the more or less standard push or plunger type which when the plunger is depressed opens a valve (not shown) so that the water may be discharged therefrom. The spout 31 is fixed to a concave plate 33 within a recess 32 in the front of the cabinet 11, and an open grid screen or support 34 defines the base of the recess 32.

Disposed below the grid screen base 34 is a drain trough 36 which is inclined downwardly toward and connected to an evaporator trough in which the overflow or discarded water is evaporated. The evaporator trough may communicate with a water drain pipe (not shown) if preferred.

The food storage compartment may include a plurality of shelves or rack 39. The refrigeration unit 41 may be of any suitable type capable of achieving the desired temperature in the water cooler chamber 14.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it is believed one versed in the art may readily understand the operation of the structure as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Iclaim:

l. A refrigerated water cooler comprising a housing including a refrigeration unit stored in the base,

an upper open end,

a cover hinged to said upper end,

a bracket secured to the under side of said cover,

a water container detachably supported in said bracket and stored within the upper end of said housing when said cover is closed,

a feeder tube leading from said water container,

a partition immediately below the bracket in the closed position of the cover fonning a water cooling compartment between the partition and cover,

a water spout mounted on said housing,

and means providing a passage between said water spout and said feeder tube of said water container, whereby carrying tubes extend along one of the walls of said housing.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the passage means between the container and spout is of sufficient rigidity to seal itself within said passage by the weight of the cover thereon.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said passage means includes a tube, having a funnel at one end, leading to a spout, and said container has a semirigid feeder tube scalable within said funnel when said cover is closed.

i t i

Claims

1. A refrigerated water cooler comprising a housing including a refrigeration unit stored in the base, an upper open end, a cover hinged to said upper end, a bracket secured to the under side of said cover, a water container detachably supported in said bracket and stored within the upper end of said housing when said cover is closed, a feeder tube leading from said water container, a partition immediately below the bracket in the closed position of the cover forming a water cooling compartment between the partition and cover, a water spout mounted on said housing, and means providing a passage between said water spout and said feeder tube of said water container, whereby when said spout is manually actuated water may be drawn from the container.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said bracket includes a plate portion spaced from said cover and a pair of legs extending from said plate portion, said legs at the free edges thereof being attached to said underside of said cover.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein a food storage compartment is provided between said refrigeration unit and said water cooling compartment.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which refrigerant carrying tubes extend along one of the walls of said housing.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said passage means includes a tube, having a funnel at one end, leading to a spout, and said container has a semirigid feeder tube sealable within said funnel when said cover is closed.