Snap-on interlock for water dispenser

A water dispenser having an actuator that is displaced in order to dispense water from an overhead spout and an interlock member that prevents the actuator from being displaced an amount sufficient to dispense water unless a drinking glass is used to move the actuator. The interlock member surrounds the actuator and is slidably movable along the actuator from a first rest position, to a second disengaged position by the lip of a glass pressed against the actuator. In the first position, the interlock member will strike a stationary abutment to prevent the actuator from being displaced. In the disengaged position, the interlock member will not strike the abutment and the actuator can be displaced to dispense water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a water dispenser and more particularly to a 
water dispenser mounted on the exterior of a refrigerator door for 
dispensing chilled water. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Manufacturers of refrigerators have offered, as a feature of their product, 
a water dispenser mounted to the exterior of the refrigerator door. Such a 
water dispenser is usually combined with a water reservoir, remotely 
located within the refrigerated compartment, to provide ready access to 
chilled water without the need to open the refrigerator door. The water 
dispenser is provided at a height about midway on the refrigerator door to 
allow use of the dispenser by various size persons. 
One problem presented by the convenient location of the water dispenser is 
the possibility of inadvertent operation of the dispenser by a person 
accidentally bumping into the actuator of the dispenser. Further, such a 
water dispenser is often located closely adjacent an ice dispenser mounted 
within a common housing on the exterior of the refrigerator door and 
operation of the ice dispenser can sometimes result in the user's hand 
inadvertently operating the water dispenser. This inadvertent operation 
not only can result in spilling of water on the person's clothing, but can 
also cause a water puddle on the floor. 
Various attempts have been made at providing interlock devices for 
preventing inadvertent operation of liquid dispensers. These attempts, 
however, have resulted in devices that are complicated to build and 
install and that make the dispenser more difficult for the consumer to 
use. The present invention provides an effective interlock means for a 
water dispenser while avoiding the problems of the prior art devices. In 
the present invention a water dispenser is provided having an actuator 
that must be displaced in order to dispense water from a spout located 
above the actuator and an interlock member slidably mounted to the 
actuator. The interlock member normally assumes a position on the actuator 
that will interfere with a stationary abutment to prevent the actuator 
from being displaced without a drinking glass being utilized to operate 
the actuator. When, however, a drinking glass or other suitable receptacle 
is pressed against the dispenser actuator, the force of the glass against 
the actuator slides the interlock member to a disengaged position free of 
interference with the abutment so that the actuator can be displaced 
sufficiently to operate the dispenser. 
In the preferred embodiment the actuator is rotatably mounted and the 
interlock member is a sleeve that is slidably mounted to, and surrounds, 
the actuator. The interlock member is normally gravity biased to a 
downward position on the actuator where it will strike a stationary 
abutment behind the actuator unless slidably moved upwardly by the lip of 
a drinking glass. The interlock member has a clasp in its peripheral wall 
that can be opened, and the peripheral wall expanded, to allow the 
interlock member to be mounted to the actuator of an existing water 
dispenser as a field installation. The interlock member additionally has 
inwardly projecting fingers that contact the actuator to enhance the 
slidability of the member and properly space its peripheral wall from the 
surface of the actuator. 
The present invention has the advantage of preventing improper operation of 
the water dispenser while not interfering with the operation of the 
dispenser by a drinking glass or other suitable receptacle. Conveniently, 
the operation of the dispenser actuator by a drinking glass automatically 
moves the interlock member to a disengaged position wherein the dispenser 
will operate. Thus the person operating the dispenser does not have to 
consciously perform an extra step of disengaging the interlock means in 
order to operate the dispenser. As a further advantage in the preferred 
embodiment, the interlock member is easy to manufacture and can be mounted 
to or removed from a water dispenser without the need for tools and 
without having to disassemble the other parts of the water dispenser.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to FIG. 1 a refrigerator 10 is provided with a door 11 for 
gaining access to a below freezing compartment (not shown). Located 
centrally on the outer face of door 11 is an outwardly opening housing 12 
in which are mounted an ice dispenser 13 and water dispenser 14. 
As shown in FIG. 2 water dispenser 14 has an actuator 16 which is pivotally 
attached to a back surface 18 of housing 12 by a pin 20. An upper 
extension 24 of dispenser actuator 16 terminates in a pad 26. A dispensing 
switch 30 is mounted with a push button type operator 28 in alignment with 
pad 26 so that when dispenser actuator 16 is rotated counterclockwise 
around pin 20, pad 26 will actuate operator 28, as seen in FIG. 3. A 
torsion spring (not shown) associated with pin 20 biases actuator 16 to 
the position shown in FIG. 2. Thus after the actuator is rotated to the 
position shown in FIG. 3, it will subsequently return to the position 
shown in FIG. 2. 
Operation of switch 30 completes an electrical circuit between a source of 
power and a solenoid operated valve 31 (FIG. 1) connected to a water 
supply. Solenoid valve 31 is also connected to a water reservoir 33 which 
is connected to a water spout 35 by interconnecting tube 34. Thus, when 
valve 31 is opened pressurizing reservoir 33, water is caused to be 
delivered to water spout 35. 
A lower extension 21 of operator 16 terminates in a cradle shaped glass 
receiving portion 22. As illustrated in FIG. 3, glass receiving portion 22 
is configured to allow a drinking glass to be conveniently pressed against 
the dispenser actuator, thus rotating the actuator to operate switch 30 
and dispense water from spout 35, located above glass receiving portion 
22, into the glass. 
To prevent inadvertent operation of water dispenser 14 by an individual 
bumping actuator 16 with the back of their hand while operating the 
adjacent ice dispenser 13 or by an individual accidentally contacting the 
water dispenser actuator while standing near the refrigerator, an 
interlock means has been provided. Referring to FIG. 2, an interlock 
member 38 is slidably mounted on lower extension 21 of actuator 16. 
Interlock member 38 is gravity biased downwardly against glass receiving 
portion 22. An abutment 42 protrudes forwardly from back surface 18 of 
housing 12 in general alignment with actuator 16. When interlock member 38 
is in its normal rest position against glass receiving portion 22, a rear 
wall 40 thereof will strike abutment 42. When rear wall 40 of the 
interlock member strikes abutment 42, actuator 16 cannot be rotated a 
sufficient angular distance for pad 26 to actuate operator 28 of switch 
30. Therefore, with interlock member 38 in its normal downward position, 
an inward force placed on glass receiving portion 22 will not operate the 
water dispenser. 
FIG. 3 shows water dispenser 14 activated by a drinking glass 44. With a 
glass 44 pressed against glass receiving portion 22 by a user, an upper 
lip 45 of the glass contacts lower lip 46 of interlock member 38. The 
generally rearward and upward thrust of glass 44 pressed against glass 
receiving portion 22 will exert an upwardly directed force against 
interlock member 38 moving it upwardly along actuator 16. With interlock 
member 38 in its upwardly displaced position, as depicted in FIG. 3, its 
rear wall 40 will no longer strike abutment 42 as actuator 16 is rotated. 
With the interlock means thus disengaged, actuator 16 can be rotated a 
sufficient angular distance for pad 26 to operate switch 30. Abutment 42 
will, however, limit the travel of actuator 16 sufficiently to prevent 
damage to switch 30 from overtravel of pad 26. 
Referring to FIG. 4, interlock member 38 is generally a sleeve having a 
polygonal peripheral wall 48 and several inwardly extending fingers 50 
integrally formed with wall 48. Fingers 50 come into loose contact with 
the surface of lower extension 21 of actuator 16 to provide a low friction 
bearing between the interlock member and the actuator to ensure easy 
sliding movement of the interlock member along the actuator. In addition, 
fingers 50 space the peripheral wall 48 a sufficient distance rearwardly 
from lower extension 21 so as to position rear wall 40 to contact abutment 
42 before actuator 16 has travelled a distance sufficient to operate 
switch 30, with the interlock member in its downward position. Further, 
fingers 50 space the peripheral wall 48 forward of lower extension 21 a 
sufficient distance to provide a large overhang to ensure a drinking glass 
will contact lower lip 46 of the interlock member to move the member 
upwardly. 
Interlock member 38 is made from a resilient, plastic material such as 
polypropylene or polyester, and can be produced either by injection 
molding or by extrusion. A pair of living hinges 52, 53 are formed in 
peripheral wall 48, by reducing the thickness of the wall at 52a and 53a, 
allowing sidewall portions 54, 55 to be pivoted outwardly in order to 
install the interlock member on, or remove it from, the lower extension 
21. Rear wall 40 is separated at its mid portion by a clasp 56 comprising 
a pair of jaws 57, 58 and a bolt member 60. The arrow-shaped head of 
member 60 allows the clasp to be easily fastened to secure the interlock 
member on extension 21. A somewhat stronger force is needed to open the 
clasp in order to install it on or remove it from lower extension 21. 
Thus the construction of interlock member 38 allows it to be installed to 
existing water dispensers as a field installation in response to requests 
from consumers. In addition, if a consumer finds the interlock member to 
not be desired, he or she can remove it from the water dispenser and 
discard it. 
It is thus seen that the present invention comprehends a dispenser 
interlock member that is simple in structure and is disengaged by the 
general rearward and upward thrust of a drinking glass pressed against the 
actuator to allow dispensing as a normal incidence of using a glass to 
actuate the dispenser. The present invention further comprehends such an 
interlock member that can be easily assembled to or removed from the water 
dispenser without tools and without the need to disassemble the water 
dispenser. 
Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiment can be 
carried out without departing from the scope of the invention.