WO2003035540A2

WO2003035540A2 - Bottled water station

Info

Publication number: WO2003035540A2
Application number: PCT/US2002/034060
Authority: WO
Inventors: Donal Garrihy; Oliver Hood
Original assignee: Oasis Corporation
Priority date: 2001-10-23
Filing date: 2002-10-23
Publication date: 2003-05-01
Also published as: WO2003035540A3

Abstract

A bottled water station is provided for receiving and supporting an inverted water bottle (1), wherein the station includes chiller means (39) positioned for chilling a portion of the water within the inverted water bottle mounted thereon. In one preferred form, the inverted water bottle is subdivided into a first or lower region (7) in thermal communication with said chiller means, and a second or upper region (8). The station includes means (20, 30) for separately dispensing water from said first and second regions.

Description

BOTTLED WATER STATION

Introduction

The invention relates to a water bottle from which water is selectively dispensed when the bottle is inverted. The invention also relates to a bottled water station of the type adapted to receive and support such bottles.

A bottled water station with a bottle cap and valve assembly for delivering bottled water substantially without contamination to a station reservoir in a smooth flow manner with simultaneous water-air exchange within the bottle to prevent or rrm imise bottle fatigue is described in EP-A-0569584__The entire contents of this document are herein incorporated by reference.

Bottled water is delivered at the water station into a separate storage reservoir which is cooled by external means. In use, it is necessary to clean this storage reservoir on a regular basis - European industry guidelines recommend that all parts in contact with either cold or room temperature water must be sanitised every 13 weeks. This requirement to install a sanitised set of water contact parts causes logistics difficulties for companies that own water coolers. An inventory of replacement parts is required which are relatively bulky and expensive. In addition, the size of the replacement parts and the relatively complex process that must be used to replace them, means that service personnel are required at the user's premises to install the sanitised parts.

This invention is directed towards providing a bottled water station which will address at least some of these issues. Statements of Invention

According to the invention there is provided a water bottle for a bottled water station, the bottle having a cap and comprising a separator for dividing the bottle into different regions. Preferably the regions comprise a lower region adjacent to the cap and an upper region above the lower region.

In one embodiment the separator comprises a neck region above the cap which divides the bottle into a lower region below the neck and an upper region above the neck. The neck may be defined by a number of indents. There may be two indents which may be symmetrically arranged. The neck region/indents may also function as handle area(s).

The bottle may have reinforcement in the area of the neck. The reinforcement may comprise webs between upper and lower parts of the bottle.

In one embodiment the bottle comprises an integral carrying handle. In one arrangement the handle is defined in the region of a neck which divides the bottle into a lower region below the neck and an upper region above the neck. There may be a pair of symmetrically arranged handles or indeed two pairs of handles.

In one embodiment the bottle is substantially elliptical in transverse cross section.

In another embodiment the bottle is substantially round in transverse cross section.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a botde cap for mounting onto a water bottle for a bottled water station, the bottle cap having a separator for separating water in a water bottle to which the cap is mounted into at least two distinct regions. Preferably the distinct regions are a lower region adjacent to the cap and an upper region above the cap. In a preferred embodiment the separator is moveable between a closed insertion configuration and an open configuration in which the open separator separates the water into the regions. The separator may be pivotally moveable between the closed and open configuration. In one arrangement the separator is biased into a normally open configuration.

In one embodiment the cap comprises an outer cap body and an inner valve member, the valve member being operable for downward flow of water from a water bottle. ^■

The mvention also provides a water bottle having a water bottle cap of the invention.

In another aspect the invention provides an actuator probe for actuating flow of water from a water bottle at a bottled water station, the probe having at least two different water pathways for drawing water from two distinct regions of a water bottle. Preferably the distinct regions comprise a lower region and an upper region for drawing water from the bottle at different heights.

The invention also provides a bottled water station incorporating a water bottle of the invention.

The bottled water station may comprise an actuator probe of the invention.

The bottled water station preferably comprises a cooler for selectively cooling water in a region of a water bottle. The region in which the water is selectively cooled is preferably a lower region of a water bottle. Preferably the cooler is in contact with the region of the bottle to be cooled. In this case the bottled water station may also comprise a condensation guard

1 covering at least the lower region of the bottle.

In a preferred embodiment a seal is provided between the condensation guard and the upper region of the bottle.

The bottled water station may also comprise a water outlet manifold to which water from the bottle is delivered.

The manifold may comprise a cold water faucet. _;

The manifold may comprise an ambient water faucet.

In one embodiment the manifold comprises a feed to a vessel. The vessel may be a heating vessel.

The invention also provides a bottled water station comprising two water bottles of the invention. In this case, preferably a first water bottle has an associated first manifold and a second water bottle has an associated second manifold. In one embodiment the first manifold provides cold water. to a faucet. Alternatively or additionally the second manifold provides a water supply to a heating vessel.

A separate storage reservoir is no longer required at the bottled water station - the reservoir is provided in the bottle. As the bottle is removed and returned to be re- filled when it is empty, there is no requirement for sanitisation of a separate reservoir to take place.

When the cooler is sanitised it is only necessary to replace the manifold and faucet. This reduces the size of the parts to be transported. It would be possible to supply a full manifold and faucet assembly to the end user who could install them himself, thus negating the requirement for a water cooler company to send service personnel to carry out this task.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bottle according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the bottle of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the bottle;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a cap for the bottle;

Fig. 5 is an exploded view of the components of the cap of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of part of a bottled water station with the bottle installed;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of another cap for the bottle;

Fig. 8 is an exploded view of the components of the cap of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of part of a bottled water station with the bottle installed;

Fig. 9A is a cross sectional view of part of another bottled water station; Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view of a probe and bottle assembly;

Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view of a portion of a water cooling station according to the invention;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a cooling coil part of the station;

Fig. 13 is a cross sectional view on the line A-A in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a cross sectional view of a bottle assembly including a condensation guard;

Fig. 15 is a cross sectional view of a manifold according to the invention mounted to a probe;

Fig. 16 is a cross sectional view of the manifold of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a cross sectional view of another manifold;

Fig. 18 is a cross sectional view of the manifold of Fig. 17 mounted to a probe;

Fig. 19 is a perspective, partially cut-away view of a water cooler station according to the invention;

Fig. 20 is a cut-away view of part of the station of Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a side view of part of the station;

Fig. 22 is a side view of a two bottle detail of the station; Fig. 23 is a perspective view of the two bottle detail of Fig. 22;

Fig. 24 is a top plan view on the line X in Fig. 20;

Fig. 25 is a cross sectional view of a bottle cap according to another aspect of the invention;

Fig. 26 is a cross sectional view of a probe of the mvention;

Fig. 27 is a cross sectional view of a bottle cap of Fig. 1 assembled to a probe of

Fig. 26;

Fig. 28 is a perspective view of another bottle according to the invention;

Fig. 29 is an elevational view of the bottle of Fig. 28;

Fig. 30 is another elevational view of the bottle of Fig. 28;

Fig. 31 is a plan view of the bottle of Fig. 28;

Fig. 32 is a perspective view of another bottle according to the invention;

Fig. 33 is another perspective view of the bottle of Fig. 32;

Fig. 34 is a side view of the bottle of Fig. 32;

Fig. 35 is a perspective view of the bottle of Figs. 32 to 34 in a dispensing orientation;

Fig. 36 is a side view of the bottle of Fig. 35; Fig. 37 is a cross sectional view on the line A-A in Fig. 36;

Fig. 38 is a cross sectional view on the line B-B in Fig. 36; and

Fig. 39 is a plan view of the bottle of Fig. 36.

Detailed Description

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 there is illustrated a bottle 1 according to the invention which is illustrated in a dispensing configuration. The bottle 1 has a base 2 and a generally cylindrical sidewall 3 extending from the base. The bottle 1 has an outlet 4 at a lower end, for dispensing water or any suitable beverage. The outlet 4 is closed by a cap. The sidewall 3 of the bottle has a necked or waisted portion 5 which separates or divides the bottle, in this case into two regions. The regions are a lower region 7 adjacent to the outlet 4 and an upper region 8 above the lower region 7. Typically the lower region 7 contains cold water and the upper region 8 contains water at ambient temperature.

A conventional water bottle for a water cooling station has a capacity of 19 litres.

The necked portion 5 of the bottle according to the invention divides the bottle into a lower region 7 with a capacity of typically 1.75 litres and an upper region 8 of typically 13.25 litres. The bottle and the regions therein may however be any suitable size and shape. The neck or constricted waist 5 of the bottle 1 limits convection between the lower and upper regions 7, 8.

Referring to Figs. 4 to 6 there is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 elements of a cap 20 for use with the bottle of Figs. 1 to 3 and in Fig. 6 part of a water cooler station in which the bottle 1 is mounted. The assembled cap 20 is illustrated in Fig. 4 and comprises an outer sealing lid 21, a central sleeve 22 and a valve member 23 with a side inlet port 24. The sleeve 22 in this case has a radially extending upper membrane 25 which may typically comprise a plurality of adjacent fingers 26. At least the fingers 26 are sufficiently flexible for insertion of the sleeve 22, on assembly. The membrane 25 assists in preventing convection between the upper and lower regions 7, 8 of the bottle 1.

Referring in particular to Fig. 6, on mounting of the water bottle 1 with the cap 20 at a bottled water station, a probe 30 which is part of the water station is engaged by the cap 20 and the valve 23 and sleeve 22 are pushed upwardly into the position illustrated in Fig. 6. The probe 30 has two separate water channels, namely a central water channel 31 for water drawn from the upper region ^ι8 of the bottle 1 and an outer channel 32 for water drawn from the lower region 7 of the bottle 1. Water from the upper region 8 enters this inner channel 31 through the bore of the sleeve 22 and the inlet 24 of the valve 23. Water from the lower region 7 enters the outer channel 32 through an inlet 35 at a lower end of the probe 30.

A support part 37 of a water station housing is illustrated in Fig. 6 and comprises a generally frustro-conical support section to receive and support the bottle 1 for dispensing. An elastomeric seal 38 extends circumferentially between the bottle 1 and the support 37 to prevent condensation forming around the bottle 1. The support 37 has a chiller unit 39 incorporated therein for chilling of water in the lower region 7 of the bottle. Thus, water in the lower region 7 of the bottle 1 is directly chilled in the bottle without the necessity of first dehvering the water from the bottle into a reservoir in which the water is chilled. A heat transfer interface may be provided between the chiller unit 39 and the bottle 1. The interface may comprise a silicon gel filled bag or other conformable means to conform to the bottle shape and thereby enhance thermal transfer efficiency.

The probe 30 also has a channel 36 through which air may enter for pressure equalisation. The cap and probe operate in a similar manner to those described in EP-A-569584. Referring to Figs. 7 to 9 there is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 elements of a two part cap for use with the bottle of Figs. 1 to 3, and in Fig. 9 part of a water cooler station in which the bottle 1 is mounted. The arrangement is similar to Figs. 4 to 6 and like parts are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case a probe 40 has a single water outlet 41 for dehvery of chilled water from an inlet 42 at a lower end of the bottle 1. The cap is of simple two part construction as a separate valve is not required. This embodiment is particularly suitable for dispensing water from one region only, in this case the chilled region of the bottle. Such an arrangement may, for example, be used with a twin bottle water station as described in more detail below. ?

It is particularly envisaged that the bottle 1 of the invention may be used with a conventional cap and probe system as described in EP-A-569584. In the case of dispensing a single water supply from the bottle the necking of the bottle may be sufficient to form an anti-convection barrier. Referring to Fig. 9A there is illustrated a bottle according to the invention mounted on a conventional water cooler station 44 fitted with an adapter/ support collar 45.

Fig. 10 illustrates a probe of Fig. 26 mounted to a bottle 50. Cold water is drawn from a lower region 52 of the bottle 50 through the lower inlet 138 and water at ambient temperature is drawn from the upper region 51 of the bottle 50 through the upper inlet 137.

Referring to Figs. 11 to 13 there is illustrated part of a water cooler station which includes a cooling coil 200. The coil 200 is in this case a spiral winding through which a coolant/refrigerant is circulated. The coil 200 lies in a lower body 201 of insulation material. A cone of heat conductive flexible material 202 overlies and is in intimate contact with the coil 200. The flexible material 202 provides protection against damage to the coil 200 when a bottle is installed. The flexible material 202 also provides a wide area of contact with the bottle face for efficient cooling. Referring to Fig. 14 there is illustrated an assembly of a bottle, probe and cap which includes a condensation guard 60. The condensation guard 60 defines an outer bottie location face 61 which extends up to the upper region of the bottle from which water at ambient temperature is drawn. A seal 65 is provided between the condensation guard 60 and the bottle to ensure that condensation does not build up on the outer surface of the bottle. Thus, the condensation guard avoids the problems of a damp outer face on the bottle.

Referring to Figs. 15 and 16 there is illustrated a manifold system 70 for use with a probe 71 having a single set of water holes 72. The manifold 70 is fitted with a conventional faucet 73. An air pathway 75 is provided through which air is drawn directly into the side of the probe 71 when the faucet 73 is opened.

Referring to Figs. 17 and 18 there is illustrated another mamfold 80 which comprises a probe together with an airflow path. The mamfold 80 has an outlet 81 for dehvery of water from a bottle to a vessel such as a heating vessel.

There are a number of options:

a) Two bottle system would use two manifolds of the following form:

I. A manifold of Figs. 15 and 16 for cold water and either;

II. A manifold of Figs. 15 and 16 for room temperature water or; III. A manifold of Figs. 17 and 18 for hot water.

b) A single bottle system would use a double manifold that would be attached to a probe of Figs. 26 and 27 to provide two water flow paths from the bottle. The double manifold would have the following form: I. Two faucets attached (one for cold water drawn from the lower region of the bottle, and the other for room temperature water drawn from the higher region of the bottle) or,

II. One faucet attached and one adapter for supplying water to a heating vessel.

A dual bottle water cooling station 120 is illustrated in Figs. 19 to 24. In this case there are two separate water bottles 121, 122 of the type described above. The cooling station 120 has two faucets 123, 124 and associated drip trays 125. The faucet 123 can be used to dispense cold water from the bottle 121 and the faucet

124 can be used to dispense room temperature water from the bottle 122, for example.

Referring to Figs. 25 to 27 thereof there is illustrated in Fig. 25 a bottle cap 100 for mounting onto a conventional water bottle 101 at a bottled water station. The bottle cap 100 is typically formed from a lightweight molded plastic for closing and sealing an open neck of the water bottle to maintain the bottle contents in a clean and sanitary condition. A valve member 102 is provided as part of the bottle cap 100 and is adapted for engagement with an actuator probe 130 to open the water bottle 101 for downward water flow as described in EP-A-569584.

The bottle cap 100 in this case has a separator 103 for separating water in the water bottle 101 to which the cap 100 is mounted into at least two distinct regions. In this case the regions are a lower region 107 adjacent to the cap 100 and an upper region 108 above the lower region 107. Typically, the lower region 107 of the bottle 101 contains cold water and upper region 108 contains water at ambient temperature.

The separator 103 has a generally cylindrical lower body 110 with an upper section which is constructed somewhat in the manner of an umbrella with a number of arms 112 which are pivotally mounted at 113 to the lower cylindrical body 110. The arms 112 of the separator are movable between a closed insertion configuration illustrated by full lines in Fig. 25 and an open configuration illustrated by interrupted lines in Fig. 25. In the open configuration the separator separates the bottle to which it is attached into two regions, namely a lower cool water region 107 below the separator 103 and an upper ambient water region 108 above the separator 103.

The mechanism for moving the separator into the open configuration may be of any suitable type such as a living hinge arrangement in which the separator is biased into a normally open configuration.

An actuator probe 130 for activating flow of water is illustrated in Fig. 26 and 27. The probe 130 has two different water pathways 131, 132 for draining water from two distinct regions of the water bottle 101. The probe 130 has an outer housing 135 and an inner flow divider 136. The central flow divider 136 is snap fitted into the outer housing 135. The flow divider 136 has an upper inlet 137 forming part of a water pathway 131 for water at ambient temperature drawn from an upper level 108 in the bottle 101 and a lower inlet 138 forming part of a water pathway 132 for cold water at a low level 107 in the bottle 101.

A typical assembly of the cap 100 of Fig. 25 and the actuator probe 130 of Fig. 26 mounted to a conventional bottle 101 is illustrated in Fig. 27. When the separator 103 is in the open configuration illustrated the bottle 101 is divided into a lower region 107 from which cold water is drawn through the lower inlets 138 in the probe 130 and an upper region 108 from which water at ambient temperature is drawn through the upper inlets 137 in the probe 130.

Referring to Figs. 28 to 31 there is illustrated another bottle 300 according to the invention which is similar to the bottle of Figs. 1 to 3 and like parts are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case the neck construction is provided by two symmetrical indents 301 in the elliptical cooling cone 7. The indents 301 also function as handles. A second set of handles 302 are also provided approximately midway up the main body of the bottle.

The elliptical bottle 300 is particularly suitable in a two bottie cooler and in this arrangement may have a two part cap as described above. One of the cooler bottles may be chilled while another could be either cool, ambient or hot. The bottles typically supply separate water circuits, thus simplifying sanitation.

Bottles of Figs. 28 to 31 have good mechanical properties while being easy to wash and facilitate rapid wash water draining.

Referring to Figs. 32 to 39 there is illustrated another bottle 400 according to the invention which is similar to the bottle of Figs. 1 to 3 and like parts are assigned the same reference numerals. The bottle 400 is illustrated in a dispensing configuration in Figs. 35 to 39 and in an upright orientation in Figs. 32 to 34.

The necked portion 5 of the bottle 400 in this case divides the bottie into a lower chilled region 7 with a capacity of typically 1.5 litres and an upper region 8 of typically 15.5 litres capacity for water at ambient temperature. The neck or constricted waist 5 of the bottle 400 limits convection between the upper and lower regions 7, 8.

In this case the bottle is of generally round cross section and the necked region 5 is defined by four symmetrically arranged indents 401 in the cooling cone 7. The indents 401 function as handles. )

The bottle 400 also has crrcumferentially extending strengthening ribs 405 which can also function as handles.

One important advantage of the invention is that there is no longer a need to use a separate reservoir - the bottle is divided into two zones. Cooling of the water in the lower region of a conventional bottie can be achieved by any suitable refrigeration method. Intimate contact is maintained between the bottom surface of the bottle and a cooling plate/coil.

The invention thus provides both single bottie systems or dual bottle systems. In the case of single bottie systems a conventional standard bottie can be converted to produce two separate water paths. A new necked bottie is also described which can be used with a modified probe to provide two separate water paths.

For dual systems, a cooling water station may include one or more of the same or different of the single bottle systems described.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in detail.

Claims

1. A water bottle for a bottled water station, the bottle having a cap and comprising a separator for dividing the bottie into different regions.

2. A bottle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the regions comprise a lower region adjacent to the cap and an upper region above the lower region.

3. A bottle as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the separator comprises a neck region above the cap which divides the bottle into a lower region below the neck and an upper region above the neck.

4. A bottle as claimed in claim 3 wherein the bottle has reinforcement in the area of the neck.

5. A bottle as claimed in claim 4 wherein the reinforcement comprises webs between upper and lower parts of the bottle.

6. A bottle as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the bottle comprises an integral carrying handle.

7. A bottle as claimed in claim 6 wherein the handle is defined in the region of a neck which divides the bottie into a lower region below the neck and an upper region above the neck.

8. A bottle as claimed in claim 7 wherein there are a pair of symmetrically arranged handles.

9. A bottle as claimed in claim 7 or 8 wherein there are two pairs of handles.

10. A bottle as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the bottle is substantially elliptical in transverse cross section.

11. A bottle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9 wherein the bottie is substantially round in transverse cross section.

12. A bottle cap for mounting onto a water bottle for a bottled water station, the bottle cap having a separator for separating water in a water bottie to which the cap is mounted into at least two distinct regions.

13. A bottle cap as claimed in claim 12 wherein the distinct regions are a lower region adjacent to the cap and an upper region above the cap.

14. A bottle cap as claimed in claim 12 or 13 wherein the separator is moveable between a closed insertion configuration and an open configuration in which the open separator separates the water into the regions.

15. A bottie cap as claimed in claim 14 wherein the separator is pivotally moveable between the closed and open configuration.

16. A bottie cap as claimed in claim 14 or 15 wherein the separator is biased into a normally open configuration.

17. A bottle cap as claimed in any of claims 12 to 16 wherein the cap comprises an outer cap body and an inner valve member, the valve member being operable for downward flow of water from a water bottie.

18. A bottle cap substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. A water bottie having a bottle cap as claimed in any of claims 12 to 18.

20. An actuator probe for actuating flow of water from a water bottle at a bottled water station, the probe having at least two different water pathways for drawing water from two distinct regions of a water bottie.

21. An actuator probe as claimed in claim 20 wherein the distinct regions comprise a lower region and an upper region for drawing water from the bottie at different heights.

22. An actuator probe substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

23. A bottled water station comprismg a water bottle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11.

24. A bottied water station comprising a water bottle as claimed in claim 19.

25. A bottied water station comprising an actuator probe as claimed in any of claims 20 to 22.

26. A bottied water station comprising a water bottie as claimed in claim 14 and an actuator probe as claimed in any of claims 20 to 22.

27. A bottied water station comprising a water bottie as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 and an actuator probe as claimed in any of claims 20 to 22.

28. A bottled water station as claimed in any of claims 23 to 27 comprising a cooler for selectively cooling water in a region of a water bottle.

29. A bottled water station as claimed in claim 28 wherein the region in which the water is selectively cooled is a lower region of a water bottle.

30. A bottled water station as claimed in claim 28 or 29 wherein the cooler is in contact with the region of the bottle to be cooled.

31. A bottied water station as claimed in any of claims 28 to 30 comprising a condensation guard covering at least the lower region of the bottle.

32. A bottied water station as claimed in claim 31 comprising a seal between the condensation guard and the upper region of the bottie.

33. A bottled water station as claimed in any of claims 23 to 32 comprising a water outlet manifold to which water from the bottie is delivered.

34. A bottled water station as claimed in claim 33 wherein the manifold comprises a cold water faucet.

35. A bottied water station as claimed in claim 33 or 34 wherein the manifold comprises an ambient water faucet.

36. A bottled water station as claimed in claim 34 or 35 wherein the manifold comprises a feed to a vessel.

37. A bottled water station as claimed in claim 36 wherein the vessel is a heating vessel.

38. A bottied water station comprising two water bottles as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11.

39. A bottled water station as claimed in claim 38 wherein a first water bottle has an associated first manifold and a second water bottie has an associated second manifold.

40. A bottled water station as claimed in claim 39 wherein the first manifold provides cold water to a faucet.

41. A bottled water station as claimed in claim 38 or 39 wherein the second manifold provides a water supply to a heating vessel.

42. A bottied water station substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

43. A water bottle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.