Abstract:
A outlet valve structure of a water dispenser includes a body member, a first controller, a second controller and a control switch. The outlet valve has the function of controlling dispense and switch of hot water, cold water and warm water. Therefore, only one of such outlet valve is required for one water dispenser; and consequently, the front panel area of the water dispenser is reduced.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to an outlet valve structure for a water dispenser, and more particularly, to an outlet valve structure for controlling dispense of hot water, cold water and/or warm water. 
     FIG. 1  shows the structure of a conventional water dispenser. Recessed from the front panel of the water dispenser  1   a  is a space for disposing receptacles. On the top portion of the recessed space, three parallel outlet valves  11   a  are formed for controlling dispense of hot water, cold water and warm water, respectively. By disposing the receptacle underneath the selected outlet valve  11   a , water at required temperature can be dispensed by operating the select outlet valve  11   a.    
   The conventional water dispenser  1   a  comprises at least two outlet valves  11   a  to control dispense of hot water and cold water, respectively. When warm water is required, the user can mix hot water and the cold water with specific proportion, or an additional warm water outlet valve can also be formed. Either of the above methods requires a large front panel area and a large space for disposing the receptacles to receive water at various temperatures. 
   Therefore, there is a substantial need to provide a water dispenser that can dispense hot water, cold water and warm water with a reduced front panel area and space for disposing receptacle for receiving water. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a single outlet valve of a water dispenser that can provide hot, cold and warm water, such that the front panel area and volume for disposing receptacle can be reduced. 
   The outlet valve provided by the present invention comprises a hollow body member, a first controller, a second controller and a control switch. The body member has an inlet port, a water supply port, a first outlet port and a second outlet port on a bottom surface at a first end thereof. The second end of the body member is open to receive the first and second control member within the space. The first control member fixed within the space comprises an inlet port, a water supply port, a first outlet port distal to the inlet port and a second outlet port in proximity of the second outlet port. The first outlet port is connected to the water supply port by a channel. The inlet, water supply, first and second outlet ports of the body member are aligned with the inlet, water supply, first and second outlet ports of the first control member, respectively. The second control member is superposed on the first control member. The second control member comprises a slot and a water block extending into the slot. Under the normal closed status, the inlet port of the first control member is aligned with and blocked by the water block, and the water supply port of the first control member is connected to the slot of the second control member. Between the first and second outlet ports of the second control member, a third outlet port is formed. The switch member covers the open end of the body member and linked with the second control member. By operating the switch member, the second control member is moved relative to the first control member. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These, as well as other features of the present invention, will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a conventional water dispenser; 
       FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of a water dispenser provided by the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of the water dispenser from a different viewing angle; 
       FIG. 4  shows the planar schematics of the first and second controllers under off condition; 
       FIG. 5  shows the planar schematics of the first and second controllers when hot water is dispensed; 
       FIG. 6  shows the planar schematics of the first and second controllers when cold water is dispensed; 
       FIG. 7  shows the planar schematics of the first and second controllers when warm water is dispensed; 
       FIG. 8  shows another planar schematics of the first and second controllers when warm is dispensed; 
       FIG. 9  shows a block diagram of the water dispenser; and 
       FIG. 10  shows a perspective view of the water dispenser. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  10  show the exploded views of the first and second controllers from different viewing angles. The present invention provides an outlet valve used to control dispense and switch of hot water, cold water and warm water. The outlet valve includes a body member  1 , a first control member  2 , a second control member  3  and a control switch  4 . 
   The body member  1  is the bulk of the outlet valve. The body member  1  is hollow and defines a space  10  therein. On one side of the body member  1 , a water inlet port  11 , a water supply port  12 , a first outlet port  13  and a second outlet port  14  are formed on a bottom surface. A tube  15  extends from a sidewall of the body member  1  with one end in fluid communication with the space  10  of the body member  1  and the other end used as a water outlet  150 . The other side of the body member  1  is open for receiving the first control member  2 , the second control member  3  and the control switch  4  therein. 
   The first control member  2  is installed in the space  10  of the body member  1 . The first control member  2  includes an upper body  20  and a lower body  21  attached to each other. The lower body  21  is in contact with the bottom surface and preferably made from material such as silicone. The upper and lower bodies  20  and  21  include connecting perforations  200 ,  210  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) aligned with each other to allow fastening elements such as screws fastening the upper and lower bodies  20  and  21  into an integral body of the first control member  2 . 
   Axial perforations  201 ,  211  are formed through the centers of the upper body  21  and the lower body  22 , respectively. At the bottom surface of the body member  1 , an axial pole  16  is mounted for perforating through the upper body  21  and the lower body  22  at the axial perforations  201  and  211 . On the periphery of the upper and lower bodies  20  and  21 , notches  202  and  212  are formed, and corresponding to the notches  202  and  212 , a protrusion  17  is formed on the body member  1 . Therefore, the engagement of the protrusion  17  and the notches  202  and  212  allows the first control member  2  to be fixed in the body member  1  to avoid a relative rotation between the first control member  2  and the body member  1 . 
   Water inlets ports  203  and  213  are formed on the upper and lower bodies  20  and  21 , respectively. On the upper body  20 , a water supply port  204  is formed at proximity of the water inlet port  203 , and a first outlet port  205  is formed distal to the water inlet  203 . A through trench  206  connecting the water supply port  204  and the first outlet port  205  is formed on the upper body  20 . Similarly, a through trench  214  is formed on the lower body  21  and aligned with the slot  206 . Therefore, when the upper and lower bodies  20  and  21  are attached other, the trenches  206  and  214  define a channel allowing water to flow through. Second outlet ports  207  and  215  are formed on the upper and lower bodies  20  and  21  at positions distal to the inlet ports  203  and  213 , respectively. The water inlet port  11 , the water supply port  12 , the first outlet port  13  and the second outlet port  14  of the body member  1  are connected to the water inlet ports  203 ,  213 , the water supply port  204 , and the first and second outlet ports  205 ,  207  and  215 , respectively. 
   The second control member  3  is movably/rotatably mounted in the space  10  of the body member  1  superposing the first control member  2 . The second control member  3  includes a slot  30  and a water block  31  protruding into the slot  30 . Under the normally close condition of the water outlet valve, the water block  31  is aligned with the water inlet port  203  of the first control member  2  to seal the water inlet  203 . Meanwhile, the water supply port  204  of the first control member  2  is also aligned with the slot  30  and in fluid communication therewith. 
   The second control member  3  comprises at least a third outlet port  32  in addition to the slot  30 . The third outlet port  32  is aligned with the portion between the first and second outlet ports  205  and  207  of the upper body  20  of the first control member  2 . In one embodiment of the present invention, three third outlet ports  32  are formed on the second control member  3  staggered with the first and second outlet ports  205  and  207  of the first control member  2 . 
   Preferably, the second control member  3  includes a circular plate with a center thereof perforated with an axial perforation  33 . Similar to the axial perforations  201  and  211 , the axial pole  16  penetrates through the second control member  3  at the axial perforation  33 . In this embodiment, the contour of the space  10  of the body member  1  is conformal to the periphery of the second control member  3 , such that the second control member  3  can freely rotate relative to the first control member  2  within the space  10 . 
   The control switch  4  is mounted at the other side of the body member  1  and linked with the second control member  3 . By controlling the control switch  4 , the relative rotation between the first and second control members  2  and  3  is generated. In this embodiment, the control switch includes a control handle  40 , a lid  41  covering the other side of the body member  1 , and a shaft  42  connecting the lid  41  and the control handle  40  to the second control member  3 . By moving the control handle  40 , the second control member  3  is rotated relative to the first control member. To ensure the body member  1  and the lid  41  being closely engaged to avoid water leaking into the body member  1 , a sealing ring  410  is installed between the lid  41  and the body, and a sealing ring  420  can be installed between the shaft  42  and the lid  41 . 
   While moving the control hand  41  of the control switch  4 , a positioning effect is also obtained by forming a positioning recess  34  on the second control member  3 , a positioning column  411  extending from the lid  41 , and an elastic positioning bead  43  in the positioning column  411 . The positioning bead  43  is retained in the positioning recess  34  by exerting a force thereto. Alternatively, the elastic positioning bead  43  comprises a positioning bead  431  and a spring  430  within the positioning column  411 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  9 , under the normally closed condition of the water valve, the control handle  40  pointing at “0” as shown in  FIG. 9 . The water canister  50  disposed within the water dispenser  5  is connected to the water inlet port  11  of the body member  1  via tubing. Thereby, hot water is led to the inlet ports  203 ,  213  of the first and second control members  2  and  3 , However, as the inlet port  213  of the second control member  2  is blocked by the water block  31 , hot water cannot flow through, and the water outlet valve is off. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  5  and  9 , when the control handle  40  is turned to point at “1” ( FIG. 9 ), the second control member  3  is driven by the control hand  40  to rotate, such that the water block  31  is displaced from the inlet port  203  of the second control member  3 . Hot water can now flow in the slot  30 . Meanwhile, as one of the third outlet ports  32  is connected to the first outlet port  205  of the first control member  2 , and the water supply port  204  of the first control member  2  is connected to the slot  30  for supplying hot water. Hot water flows from the channel defined by the slots  206  and  214  to the first outlet port  205 , and exits from the third outlet port  32  of the second control member  3 . Thereby, hot water is accumulated downwardly and dispensed from the outlet port  150  of the body member. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  6  and  9 , when the control handle  40  is turned to point at “2” ( FIG. 9 ), the second control member  3  rotates to displace the water block  31  from the inlet port  203 . Therefore, hot water is allowed to flow into through the channel defined by the trenches  206  and  214 . However, the rotation of the second control member  3  resulted one of the third outlet port  32  being aligned with the second outlet ports  207  and  215  of the first control member  2 . Therefore, hot water cannot flow through the first outlet port  205  and can only be accumulated towards the first outlet port  13  of the body member  13 . The first outlet port  13  is connected with the cold water canister  51  within the water dispenser  5  by tubing, such that hot water flows into the cold water canister  51  to be cooled down. Preferably, to obtain an optimal cooling effect, the cold water canister  51  has an opening at a sidewall thereof allowing hot water to flow through. The top of the cold water canister  51  is connected to the second outlet port  14  of the body member  1  via tubing, such that while being is rushed out of the cold water canister  51  by hot water, the cold water flows from the second outlet port  14 , through the second outlet ports  207 ,  215 , and exit from the third outlet port  32  of the second control member  3 . Thereby, cold water is accumulated downwardly to be dispensed from the outlet port  150 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  7 ,  8  and  9 , when the control handle  40  is pointing at “3” ( FIG. 3 ), hot water is allowed to flow into the slot  30 . Meanwhile, according to the displacement of the second control member  3 , the first and second outlet ports  205  and  217  are partly open to dispense both hot water and cold water simultaneously. Therefore, warm water mixed by cold and hot water can be dispensed from the outlet port  150 . More specifically, when the second control member  3  is displaced as shown in  FIG. 7  or  FIG. 8 , one of the third outlet ports  32  is partially aligned with the first inlet port  205  or the second inlet port  207 , while one of the other third outlet ports  32  at two sides is partially aligned with the second outlet port  207  ( FIG. 7 ) or the first outlet port ( FIG. 8 ). Either condition will results in the above arrangement to dispense warm water from the outlet port  150 . 
   According to the above, the present invention provides an outlet valve of a water dispenser. Only one of such outlet valve is used to provide supply of hot, cold and warm water as desired. Therefore, the front panel area and space for accommodating water container are greatly reduced. Further, one can obtain warm water directly without the effort of mixing hot and cold water. 
   Other embodiments of the invention will appear to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples to be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.