CA2375310C - Adapter for use in connection with combined coolers and dispensers for liquids, particularly water - Google Patents

Adapter for use in connection with combined coolers and dispensers for liquids, particularly water Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2375310C
CA2375310C CA002375310A CA2375310A CA2375310C CA 2375310 C CA2375310 C CA 2375310C CA 002375310 A CA002375310 A CA 002375310A CA 2375310 A CA2375310 A CA 2375310A CA 2375310 C CA2375310 C CA 2375310C
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CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
adapter
container
dispenser
pipe
combined
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
CA002375310A
Other languages
French (fr)
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CA2375310A1 (en
Inventor
Jens Stray
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Biogreen AS
Original Assignee
Biogreen AS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Biogreen AS filed Critical Biogreen AS
Publication of CA2375310A1 publication Critical patent/CA2375310A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2375310C publication Critical patent/CA2375310C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67DDISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D3/00Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes
    • B67D3/0029Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes provided with holders for bottles or similar containers

Abstract

The invention relates to an adapter for use in connection with combined coolers and dispensers for liquids, particularly drinking water, which coole rs and dispensers are intended for receiving a bottle-shaped container placed bottom-up on the top of the combined cooler and dispenser. The adapter comprises a support for supporting a container for a liquid, a chamber extending downwardly from the support, said chamber having an opening in its wall, a lower part with a bottom, a vertical pipe arranged in the bottom of the lower part of the adapter, which pipe is open or can be opened at its lower end and is closed at its upper end and which at its upper part has a flange which is open towards the inside of the pipe, said flange being intended to be connected to a flexible hose between the flange and the container which is to be placed in the adapter and where the vertical pipe i s intended to communicate with the pipe system in the combined cooler and dispenser.

Description

Title of invention Adapter for use in connection with combined coolers and dispensers for liquids, particularly water.
Field of invention The present invention relates to an adapter for use in connection with combined coolers and dispensers for liquids, particularly water.
Background art In the later years a number of offices, private and public institutions, hotels, ships etc. have installed combined coolers and dispensers for drinking water and for other types of drinks. One kind of such combined coolers and dispensers comprises a unit where a rather large bottle-shaped container is placed bottom up on the top of the combined cooler and dispenser. The bottle-shaped container has a standardised shape and a volume of 5 gallons ( 18,9 litres). The upper part of the combined cooler and dispenser unit has a downwardly extending top surface with an opening in its centre with a shape corresponding to the outer bottleneck part of the bottle-shaped standardised container. When the container is placed on the top of the combined cooler and dispenser unit, the container is thus supported by the top surface of the combined cooler and dispenser. In the outlet of the container there is arranged a valve which 2o automatically opens when the container is placed bottom-up on the top of the combined cooler and dispenser. When the valve in the outlet opening of the container is in open position, the inner volume of the container will communicate with a reservoir in the cooling unit and with the dispensing unit where water can be tapped into drinking cups or the like.
When using the above mentioned standardised bottle-shaped container, water tapped from the container has to be substituted by air. Air is supplied to the container as water is being tapped from the dispensing unit. It has, however, been found that by using this kind of containers, the air supplied to the container may contains bacteria and as the container which its content is normally kept at room temperature, the bacteria which enters the container may multiply in 3o number and a may give rise to infections when drinking the water. Further the use of bottle-shaped containers are not very efficient for transport and storage, as such containers occupies far more space than for instance brick-shaped containers.
Disclosure of invention It an object of the present invention to provide an adapter for use in connection with the above described combined cooling and dispensing units, which will allow use of other kinds of containers than the standardised bottle-shaped containers described above. It is further an object of the present invention to provide an adapter which allows the use of containers where supply of air to the container is not needed.
Accordingly the present invention relates to an adapter for use in connection with combined coolers and dispensers for liquids, particularly drinking water, which coolers and dispensers are intended for receiving a bottle-shaped container placed bottom-up on the top of the combined cooler and dispenser, said adapter comprising a support for supporting a container for a liquid, a chamber extending downwardly from the support, said chamber having an opening in its wall, a lower part intended to be supported by the combined cooler and dispensing unit, a vertical pipe arranged in the bottom part which pipe is closed at its upper end and is closable or open 2o at its lower end, and on its upper part has a flange which is open towards the inside of the pipe, said flange being intended to be connected to a flexible hose connecting the pipe to a container intended to be placed in the support of the adapter and where the lower part of the vertical pipe is intended to communicate with a reservoir and with the to the pipe system in the combined cooler and dispenser.
The support of the adapter can have many different shapes and can be made to receive containers of different shapes and sizes. It is, however, preferred that the support has a rectangular or square cross-section.
3o The adapter according to the present invention is particularly useful for containers comprising a reasonable stiff outer container having an inner flexible container made from soft plastic such that the inner container collapses as liquid is tapped from the container. The adapter according to the present invention can further be used for containers having its outlet opening in the bottom of the container.
According to a preferred embodiment of the adapter according to the present invention the vertical pipe is rigidly axed to the bottom of the lower part of the adapter, and the lower part of the vertical pipe is in this embodiment equipped with a valve which by means of a floating disk arranged in the reservoir of the combined cooler and dispenser, is intended to close the outlet opening of the vertical pipe when the reservoir is filled with water and to open when 1o water is being tapped from the reservoir.
According to another embodiment of the adapter according to the present invention the vertical pipe is arranged vertically movable in the bottom part of the lower part of the adapter and where the vertical pipe is intended to be moved downwardly in vertical direction in order to connect the vertical pipe to the pipe system in the combined cooler and dispenser.
The adapter according to the present invention is preferably axed to the combined cooling and dispenser by means of a mechanical fastening means such as a screw connection or the like in order to make sure that the adapter can not move in relation to the combined cooler and 2o dispenser.
By the use of the adapter according to the present invention, the adapter is placed on the top of the combined cooler and dispenser. Thereafter a container is placed in the support of the adapter. A flexible hose which is connected to the bottom of the container is thereafter connected to the flange of the pipe arranged in the lower part of the adapter.
The opening in the sidewall of the chamber below the support of the adapter make space for manual connection of the hose to the flange. For an adapter according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the valve in the bottom of the vertical pipe will now be in open position and water can flow from the container to the reservoir in the combined cooler and dispenser until 3o the floating disk arranged in the reservoir closes the valve. Further water will thereafter only flow from the container to the reservoir when water is being tapped form the combined cooler and dispenser.
For an adapter according to the second embodiment of the invention, the vertical movable pipe is pressed downwards until connection is obtained between the pipe and the pipe system in the combined cooler and dispenser thereby allowing flow of water from the container to the cooler unit and further to the dispensing unit in the combined cooler and dispenser.
As water is being tapped from the dispenser, the flexible inner container placed inside the stiff to container will collapse. Return air can thus not pass into the inner flexible container and the possibility of transport of bacteria to the water in the container has been eliminated. When the inner container has been emptied, the flexible hose is disconnected from the flange of the vertical pipe and the empty container can be removed from the support of the adapter and a new container can be installed.
In addition to eliminating supply of bacteria to the water, the adapter according to the present invention makes it possible to use containers regardless of the shape of the container, such as for instance prism-shaped containers or cube-shaped containers. Containers having such a shape are much more efficient to transport and to store than conventional bottle-shaped 2o container as they require less space for the same container volume.
Short description of the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the adapter according to the present invention, Figure 2 shows the adapter according to the invention seen from above, Figure 3 is a vertical cut taken along line I - I in Figure 2 for a preferred embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4 is a vertical cut taken along line I - I of Figure 2 for a second embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 5 shows the adapter according to the present invention placed on the top of a combined 5 cooler and dispenser unit.
Detailed description of the invention The adapter shown in figures 1 and 2 comprises a support l, which in the embodiment shown 1o in the figures has a quadratic cross-section. The support 1 has vertical walls 2. The support 1 is intended to support a container containing a liquid. Centrally in the support 1 there is arranged a downwardly extending chamber 3 which is open against the bottom of the support 1. The support 1 and the wall of the chamber 3 has in one of their sides a coinciding opening 4 which is used when connecting a container placed on the support 1 to the combined cooler and dispenser as will be explained later. The chamber 3 has a lower part 5 with a bottom 6.
According to the preferred embodiment shown in figure 3, it is in the bottom 6 of the lower part 5 of the adapter arranged a vertical pipe 7 connected to the bottom 6.
The pipe 7 is closed at its upper end and has at its lower end a closable valve 8. On the outside of the upper part of 2o the pipe 7 there is arranged a flange 9 which communicates with the inner part of the pipe 7.
The pipe 7 is preferably afFxxed in an opening in the bottom 6 of the lower part 5 by means of a threaded nut or the like.
On figure 5 the adapter according to the present invention is placed on the top of a combined cooler and dispenser 11. A container 12 is placed in the support 1 of the adapter. The container 12 has a flexible inner container made from plastic (not shown) and contains a liquid such as water. The container 12 has a flexible hose affixed to its bottom, said hose communicating with the inner flexible container. By installing the container 12, the adapter is first mounted on the top of the combined cooler and dispenser 11. Thereafter the container 12 3o is placed in the support 1 of the adapter. Through the opening 4 in the wall of the chamber 3 of the adapter, the flexible hose is manually connected to the flange 9 on the vertical pipe 7. For the adapter according to the preferred embodiment shown in figure 3, the valve 8 in the bottom of the vertical pipe 7 will now be open and liquid can flow from the container 12 to the reservoir in the combined cooler and dispenser until the floating disk arranged in the reservoir closes the valve 8. Further liquid will thereafter only flow from the container 12 to the reservoir when liquid is being tapped from the combined cooler and dispenser and the floating disk then sinks down and opens the valve 8.
The embodiment shown in figure 4 is different from the preferred embodiment shown in figure 3 in that the vertical pipe 7 is vertically movable down through the bottom 6 of the lower part 5 of the adapter and in that the pipe 7 on the outside of its upper end has a collar 10 which prevents the pipe 7 from sliding completely through the bottom 6 in the lower part 5 of the adapter.
By use of the adapter shown in figure 4, the hose connected to the container 12 is connected to the flange 9 on the pipe 7 in the same way as described above in connection with the embodiment shown in figure 3. Thereafter the pipe 7 is manually moved downwardly through the opening in the bottom 6 of the lower part 5 of the adapter until the lower end of the pipe 7 is connected to the pipe system in the combined cooler and dispenser 11.
Thereby a connection is obtained between the container 12 and the combined cooler and dispenser 11 and water can 2o be tapped from the dispenser.
As the inner container in the container 12 is flexible, the inner container will collapse as water is being tapped from the container 12. Return air will thus not flow into the inner container and the possibility of transport of bacteria to the inner container is eliminated.
Even if the support 1 in the embodiments shown in the figures has a quadratic cross-section, it is within the scope of the present invention to have supports with different geometry, such as for instance rectangular shape, triangular shape or circular shape. The adapter according to the present invention makes its thus possible to use containers of different shapes on combined 3o coolers and dispensers which originally were only made to support standard bottle-shaped containers.

Claims (5)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. An adapter for use in connection with combined coolers and dispensers for liquids, particularly drinking water, which coolers and dispensers are intended for receiving a bottle-shaped container placed bottom-up on the top of the combined cooler and dispenser, characterized in that the adapter comprises a support (1) for supporting a container (12) for a liquid, a chamber (3) extending downwardly from the support (1), said chamber (3) having an opening (4) in its wall, a lower part (5) with a bottom (6), a vertical pipe (7) arranged in the bottom (6) of the lower part (5) of the adapter, which pipe (7) is open or can be opened at its lower end and is closed at its upper end and which at its upper part has a flange (9) which is open towards the inside of the pipe (7), said flange (9) being intended to be connected to a flexible hose between the flange (9) and the container (12) which is to be placed in the adapter, and where the vertical pipe (7) is intended to communicate with the pipe system in the combined cooler and dispenser.
2. Adapter according to claim 1, characterized in that the vertical pipe (7) is rigidly affixed to the bottom (6) of the lower part (5) of the adapter, and that the lower part of the vertical pipe (7) is equipped with a valve (8) which by means of a floating disk arranged in the reservoir of the combined cooler and dispenser, is intended to close the outlet opening of the vertical pipe (7) when the reservoir is filled with water and to open when water is being tapped from the reservoir.
3. Adapter according to claim 1, characterized in that the vertical pipe (7) is arranged vertical movable in the bottom part (6) of the lower part (5) of the adapter and where the vertical pipe (7) is intended to be moved downwards in vertical direction in order to connect the vertical pipe (7) to the pipe system in the combined cooler and dispenser.
4. Adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the adapter is affixed to the combined cooling and dispenser by means of a mechanical fastening means in order to make sure that the adapter cannot move in relation to the combined cooler and dispenser.
5. Adapter according to claim 5, characterized in that the mechanical fastening means is a screw connection.
CA002375310A 1999-06-21 2000-02-28 Adapter for use in connection with combined coolers and dispensers for liquids, particularly water Expired - Fee Related CA2375310C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NO19993041 1999-06-21
NO993041A NO308209B1 (en) 1999-06-21 1999-06-21 Adapter for use in combination with combined coolers and dispensers for liquids, especially drinking water
PCT/NO2000/000069 WO2000078666A1 (en) 1999-06-21 2000-02-28 Adapter for use in connection with combined coolers and dispensers for liquids, particularly water

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2375310A1 CA2375310A1 (en) 2000-12-28
CA2375310C true CA2375310C (en) 2004-07-13

Family

ID=19903478

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002375310A Expired - Fee Related CA2375310C (en) 1999-06-21 2000-02-28 Adapter for use in connection with combined coolers and dispensers for liquids, particularly water

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US6557735B1 (en)
EP (1) EP1204586A1 (en)
AU (1) AU2950600A (en)
CA (1) CA2375310C (en)
NO (1) NO308209B1 (en)
WO (1) WO2000078666A1 (en)

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US7165700B2 (en) * 2003-08-25 2007-01-23 Henry Macler Portable water cooler for use with bagged fluids and bagged fluids for use therewith
MXPA05007748A (en) * 2003-09-12 2006-01-31 Macler Henry Ii Office water cooler adapter for use with bagged fluids.
US7188749B2 (en) * 2003-10-23 2007-03-13 Ammm Patent Holdings, Llc Container adapted to hold and dispense bagged fluids
US8167170B2 (en) * 2006-06-15 2012-05-01 Handy & Harman Adhesive dispenser system
US20080035498A1 (en) * 2006-06-30 2008-02-14 Macler Henry Ii Systems and Methods for Dilution of a Beverage Concentrate
US8770441B2 (en) 2007-03-27 2014-07-08 International Packaging Innovations, Llc Multiple channel single spike for a liquid dispensing system
US8177096B2 (en) * 2007-03-27 2012-05-15 International Packaging Innovations, Llc Bag cooler employing a multi-spike adapter and converter
US9790079B2 (en) * 2014-09-19 2017-10-17 Robert Clay Groesbeck Bag-in-box adapter for water dispenser
US9227828B2 (en) * 2013-03-16 2016-01-05 R. Clay Groesbeck Bag-in-box adapter for water dispenser
US9738506B2 (en) * 2013-03-16 2017-08-22 Robert Clay Groesbeck Bag-in-box adapter for water dispenser
TR201815077T4 (en) * 2014-11-07 2018-11-21 Vitop Moulding Srl A liquid dispensing device from water carboys containing a system or kit for exchanging water carboys with In-Box-Bag type containers.
US9580290B1 (en) * 2016-02-06 2017-02-28 Kenneth John Gallagher Counter water bottle dispenser
US9932219B1 (en) * 2016-02-06 2018-04-03 Kenneth John Gallagher Counter water bottle dispenser
US20170225937A1 (en) * 2016-02-06 2017-08-10 Kenneth John Gallagher Counter Water Bottle Dispenser
US20170240413A1 (en) * 2016-02-18 2017-08-24 Kenneth John Gallagher Desktop Water Bottle Dispenser
US10266386B1 (en) * 2018-06-03 2019-04-23 Kenneth John Gallagher Easy clean water bottle dispenser

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US3060703A (en) 1961-03-27 1962-10-30 Ebco Mfg Company Water cooler and dispenser
US3848776A (en) * 1972-12-19 1974-11-19 Corco Inc Disposable reservoir package for liquid-dispenser having valve and operating float
US5009028A (en) * 1987-10-19 1991-04-23 Lorenzana Moises B Apparatus for supplying water continuously to tree stand
US5232125A (en) * 1991-10-08 1993-08-03 Portola Packaging, Inc. Non-spill bottle cap used with water dispensers
US5493873A (en) * 1993-10-20 1996-02-27 Elkay Manufacturing Company Liquid dispensing device
US5397031A (en) * 1994-03-08 1995-03-14 Jensen; Martin T. Baby milk warmer
US5964376A (en) * 1997-02-07 1999-10-12 Kenosha; William J. Inverted bottle support and dispenser apparatus and methods of making and using the same thereof
US6098844A (en) * 1998-01-23 2000-08-08 Kenneth Nicolle Water dispensing system
US6206058B1 (en) * 1998-11-09 2001-03-27 The Procter & Gamble Company Integrated vent and fluid transfer fitment

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US6557735B1 (en) 2003-05-06
EP1204586A1 (en) 2002-05-15
AU2950600A (en) 2001-01-09
NO993041D0 (en) 1999-06-21
WO2000078666A1 (en) 2000-12-28
NO993041L (en) 2000-05-08
CA2375310A1 (en) 2000-12-28
NO308209B1 (en) 2000-08-14

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