Bottled water station with removable reservoir and manifolded support platform

An improved bottled water station is provided of the type including a removable reservoir for drop-in installation into a station housing, wherein the reservoir is adapted for slide-fit engagement with a manifolded support platform for coupling the reservoir to at least one temperature control device and to at least one faucet valve for dispensing. The reservoir is constructed, in the preferred form, from a molded plastic or the like to have an open upper end for receiving and supporting an inverted water supply bottle. The reservoir, upon drop-in installation into the station housing, is supported upon the manifolded support platform, wherein the reservoir and platform include mating slide-fit connectors for coupling the reservoir to temperature control devices such as a chiller probe for chilling water within the reservoir, and/or a hot water tank for heating a portion of the water coupling from the reservoir. The support platform also includes dispenser fittings for connection to faucet valves disposed at the front of the station housing for individual dispensing of water supplies at different temperatures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to bottled water dispenser stations of the 
type adapted to receive and support a water supply bottle in an inverted 
position, and to selectively dispense water therefrom. More specifically, 
this invention relates to an improved bottled water station having a 
removable reservoir designed for drop-in installation into a station 
housing, wherein the station housing includes a manifolded support 
platform for slide-fit engagement with the removable reservoir. The 
support platform includes the appropriate fittings and/or flow paths for 
slide-fit connection of the reservoir to one or more temperature control 
devices, and dispenser fittings for connection to one or more faucet 
valves. 
Bottled water dispenser stations are well-known in the art for containing a 
supply of relatively purified water in a convenient manner and location 
ready for substantially immediate dispensing and use. Such bottled water 
stations commonly include an upwardly open reservoir mounted on a station 
housing and adapted to receive and support an inverted water bottle of 
typically three to five gallon capacity. Water within the inverted supply 
bottle flows downwardly into the station reservoir for selective 
dispensing therefrom through a faucet valve located at the front of the 
station housing. Such bottled water stations are widely used to provide a 
clean and safe source of water for drinking and cooking, especially in 
areas wherein the local water supply is suspected to contain undesired 
levels of contaminants. 
In bottled water stations of the above-described type, the water bottles 
are normally provided in a clean and preferable sterile condition within 
an appropriate sealed cap to prevent contamination of the water contained 
therein. When an inverted supply bottle on a station housing reaches an 
empty condition, the empty bottle can be lifted quickly and easily from 
the station housing and replaced by a filled bottle having the sealing cap 
removed therefrom or otherwise opened to permit water downflow. The empty 
bottle can then be returned to the bottled water vendor for cleaning and 
refilling. 
Although bottled water stations of this type utilize a sequence of water 
bottles which have been individually sanitized, the water reservoir within 
the station housing is not subjected to periodic cleaning or replacement. 
In this regard, the housing reservoir commonly comprises a metal or 
ceramic tank mounted within the station housing in association with a 
refrigeration system for maintaining water within the reservoir in a 
chilled condition. In other station housing designs, an auxiliary 
reservoir is provided in association with suitable heating elements for 
providing a heated water supply. Unfortunately, the integration of the 
station housing reservoir with associated chilling and/or heating systems 
has generally precluded easy reservoir removal for cleaning purposes. 
Instead, the housing reservoir has typically been used for prolonged time 
periods without cleaning, thus creating the potential for undesired growth 
of harmful bacteria and other organisms. Reservoir cleaning has generally 
been accomplished by taking the station out of service and returning the 
station to a centralized facility for cleaning purposes. 
In one proposed construction for a bottled water station, a removable 
reservoir container has been suggested for easy drop-in placement and 
lift-out removal with respect to a supporting chiller plate within a 
station housing. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,096. While this configuration 
beneficially permits reservoir removal for cleaning purposes, no provision 
has been made to supply a desirable heated water supply in addition to a 
chilled water supply. Moreover, the supported placement of the removable 
reservoir container onto a refrigerated chiller plate inherently and 
undesirably provides a large surface area and associated space conducive 
to frost and/or condensation buildup between the chiller plate and the 
reservoir container. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,192,004 discloses an improved bottled water station of the 
type having a removable reservoir, wherein multiple temperature water 
supplies are provided and significant condensation problems at the 
exterior of the reservoir are overcome. More specifically, a removable 
reservoir is disclosed for slide-fit reception of a chiller probe directly 
into the interior of the reservoir, and for separate slide-fit coupling of 
a water flow to a hot water tank. The requisite slide-fit connections, 
however, involve various plumbing connections and fittings which must be 
assembled at the bottom of the removable reservoir and/or within the 
station housing, resulting in an overall construction which can be 
relatively complex. 
The present invention provides a further improvement in bottled water 
stations of the type having a slide-fit removable reservoir, wherein 
slide-fit connections between the reservoir and the station housing are 
simplified by the provision of a manifolded support platform formed to 
include fittings and/or flow paths for slide-fit connection of the 
reservoir to one or more temperature control devices, and to one or more 
faucet valves for dispensing. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the invention, an improved bottled water station is 
provided of the type having a removable reservoir for drop-in, slide-fit 
installation into a station housing, and for receiving and supporting a 
water supply bottle in an inverted position. The station housing includes 
a manifolded support platform for receiving and supporting the removable 
reservoir. The reservoir and support platform include interengageable 
slide-fit connectors for coupling the reservoir to one or more temperature 
control devices, such as a chiller probe for chilling water within the 
reservoir and/or a hot water tank for heating a portion of the water from 
the reservoir. The support platform also includes dispenser fittings for 
connecting the individual water supplies at different temperatures to 
respective faucet valves mounted at the front of the station housing. 
In the preferred form of the invention, the support platform includes at 
least one upwardly projecting flow tube for sealed and slide-fit 
connection through a flow port formed in the bottom wall of the removable 
reservoir. The flow tube defines a flow path for water downflow from the 
interior of the reservoir to a dispenser fitting adapted for connection to 
a faucet valve at the front of the station housing. In the preferred form, 
the reservoir additionally defines means for slide-fit reception or 
engagement with a chiller probe projecting upwardly through the support 
platform for cooling or chilling water within the reservoir interior. 
A second flow tube is desirably provided on the manifolded support platform 
and projects upwardly therefrom for sealed and slide-fit reception through 
a second flow port formed in the bottom wall of the reservoir. In one 
embodiment, the second flow tube defines a flow path for connecting a flow 
of water from the reservoir to a hot water tank suspended from the support 
platform and preferably adapted for slide-fit mounting thereto. The hot 
water tank includes heater means for producing a hot water supply which is 
connected back through the support platform via a slide-fit connected 
discharge tube to a second dispenser fitting adapted for mounting of a 
second faucet valve. In an alternative embodiment, the second flow tube is 
connected by a standpipe within the reservoir to an upper reservoir 
chamber disposed above a baffle plate, whereby water within the upper 
reservoir chamber is substantially unchilled by the chiller probe. In this 
alternative version, the second flow tube defines a flow path directly to 
the second dispenser fitting and faucet valve associated therewith for 
dispensing of water substantially at room temperature. 
The manifolded support platform, including the flow tubes and associated 
dispenser fittings, is preferably constructed as a unitary molding of 
lightweight plastic or the like. The platform includes means for fixed 
installation within the station housing to receive and support the 
removable reservoir. When a hot water tank is provided, a mounting cap is 
formed at the underside of the platform for removable slide- fit 
connection and suspended support of the hot water tank. 
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more 
apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction 
with the accompanied drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the 
principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
As shown in the exemplary drawings, a bottled water dispenser station 
referred to generally in FIG. 1 by the reference numeral 10 is provided 
for receiving and supporting a water bottle 12 containing a supply of 
relatively purified water for drinking and cooking uses, etc. The bottled 
water station 10 includes a removable reservoir 14 (FIGS. 3 and 4) for 
receiving and supporting the water bottle 12, wherein the reservoir 14 can 
be removed quickly and easily as required for purposes of cleaning or 
replacement. The removable reservoir 14 is supported in turn by a 
manifolded support platform 16 (FIGS. 2-4) adapted to establish the 
necessary plumbing connections between the reservoir 14 and associated 
faucet valves 18 and 20 upon drop-in installation of the reservoir. 
The illustrative bottled water station 10 has a generally conventional 
overall size and shape to include an upstanding station housing 22. The 
station housing 22, in combination with the reservoir 14, supports the 
water bottle 12 in an inverted orientation such that water contained 
therein will flow downwardly by gravity into the interior of the reservoir 
14. In accordance with the present invention, the reservoir 14 and support 
platform 16 include interegageable slide-fit connectors for coupling the 
reservoir water to at least one temperature control device and also to at 
least one faucet valve for dispensing. In addition, the support platform 
16 provides the requisite flow connections and flow paths for dispensing 
water from the faucet valves 18 and 20 at different selected temperature 
levels. The manifolded support platform 16 provides a relatively simple 
structure which may be formed as a unitary plastic molding to provide the 
dual functions of supporting the reservoir 14 and water contained therein, 
while additionally forming the necessary flow paths for delivering water 
to the faucet valves 18, 20. 
With reference to FIGS. 1-3, the station housing 22 is shown with an 
upstanding, generally rectangular configuration to include a front wall 24 
joined to a pair of housing side walls 26, and a housing back which has a 
typically open construction (FIG. 2). The support platform 16 is mounted 
within the station housing to define a generally horizontal shelf 28 
disposed at a position spaced downwardly from the housing upper end. As 
shown in FIG. 2, the platform 16 includes a downturned rear flange 30 
adapted for secure attachment to side edge strips 32 extending along the 
rear edges of the side walls 26, wherein the rear flange 30 is securely 
attached to the side strips 32 by mounting screws 34 or the like. A 
forward edge 35 of the platform 16 is rested upon an internal rib or 
bracket 36 or the like at the inboard side of the housing front wall 24. 
The platform 16 cooperates with the front and side walls of the station 
housing 22 to define an upwardly open cavity for drop-in reception of the 
removable reservoir 14, as will be described in more detail. This upwardly 
open cavity is normally lined with insulation material 38. 
A refrigeration system 40 is normally mounted within the station housing to 
include a compressor (not shown) located below the support platform 16 and 
finned heat transfer tubing 42 mounted across the open back of the station 
housing 22 (FIG. 2). The illustrative refrigeration system 40 includes a 
generally cylindrical chiller probe 44 which projects upwardly through an 
opening 46 in the support platform 16 and is secured thereto by a threaded 
mounting ring 47. The interior of the chiller probe 44 carries a chiller 
coil 48 for purposes of reducing the temperature of water within the 
reservoir 14, as will be described in more detail. For improved heat 
transfer between the chiller coil 48 and the probe 44, the residual 
internal volume of the probe is preferably filled with a heat transfer gel 
or mastic material 49, as described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 
5,246,141, which is incorporated by reference herein with respect to 
further constructional and mounting details of the chiller probe. 
A pair of dispenser fittings 50 and 52 are also formed on the support 
platform 16 and project upwardly from the shelf 28 at side-by-side 
positions near the forward edge 35 of the platform. In the preferred form 
as illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, the first dispenser fitting 50 includes an 
upwardly projecting flow tube 54 which defines a short flow path 55 (FIG. 
4) in communication with a threaded bore 56 adapted in turn for thread-in 
mounting of the faucet valve 18. The second dispenser fitting 52 defines a 
second flow tube 57 forming a second flow path 58 (FIG. 5) extending 
downwardly through the support platform 16, and also communication with a 
threaded bore 60 for thread-in mounting of the second faucet valve 20. For 
ease of production by injection molding, the upper end of the flow tube 57 
is initially open, but closed by a plug 62 prior to installation of the 
platform 16 into the station housing. 
As shown in FIG. 4, drop-in installation of the reservoir 14 into the 
station housing 22 is accompanied by slide-fit reception of the reservoir 
with the chiller probe 44 and the flow tube 54 associated with the first 
dispenser fitting 50. More particularly, the reservoir 14 is shown with a 
seal collar 64 formed in a bottom wall 65 thereof for slide-fit and 
fluid-tight sealed reception of the chiller probe 44 into a lower region 
of the reservoir interior. At the same time, a flow port 66 formed in the 
bottom of the reservoir 14 is slide-fitted about the upper end of the 
upstanding flow tube 54. Appropriate seal rings 67 and 68 respectively 
seal the passage of the chiller probe 44 and the flow tube 54 into the 
reservoir interior. With this construction, water within the lower portion 
of the reservoir is cooled by the chiller probe 44, and that chilled water 
is adapted for direct dispensing via the dispenser fitting 50 and 
associated faucet valve 18. Alternately, if desired, the illustrative 
reservoir construction wherein the chiller probe 44 protrudes directly 
into the reservoir interior may be modified to provide an inverted 
receiver cup for slide-fit reception of the chiller probe at the bottom 
exterior of the reservoir. This receiver cup geometry is described and 
claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,951, which is incorporated by reference 
herein. 
As shown in FIG. 5, a hot water supply tube 70 projects upwardly from the 
platform 16 for slide-fit reception through a flow port 72 formed in the 
bottom of the reservoir 14, upon drop-in installation of the reservoir 
into the station housing. A seal ring 73 within the flow port 72 provides 
a slide-fit sealed connection, such that a portion of the water within the 
reservoir can flow downwardly through the platform 16 into a hot water 
tank 74 suspended below the platform. In general terms, the hot water tank 
74 includes means for elevating the temperature of water therein for 
selective dispensing as a heated water supply via the second faucet valve 
20. 
More specifically, with reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the hot water supply 
tube 70 permits water downflow from the reservoir 14 to the interior of a 
mounting cap 76 formed as a portion of the manifolded support platform 16. 
The mounting cap 76 comprises a generally cylindrical and downwardly open 
structure which circumscribes a pair of smaller tubular fittings 78 and 80 
depending from the platform shelf 28. These tubular fittings 78 and 80 are 
formed in respective flow communication with the hot water supply tube 70 
and the flow path 58 associated with the second dispenser fitting 52. 
Thus, the tubular fittings 78 and 80 provide slide-fit connectors for 
respectively supplying water to and dispensing water from the hot water 
tank 74. Both of the tubular fittings 78, 80 are lined by one or more seal 
rings 82. 
The hot water tank 74 is constructed generally as described and claimed in 
copending U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,141, which is incorporated by reference 
herein. More particularly, the tank 74 has a generally cylindrical shape 
with tubular nipples 84 and 86 projecting upwardly for sealed and 
slide-fit reception respectively into the tubular fittings 78 and 80, when 
the tank upper end is slide-fitted into the mounting cap 76. A spring clip 
88 is removably mounted about the cap 76 to extend through cap slots 90 
into tank grooves 92 to retain the hot water tank in an installed 
position. As electrical resistance heater unit 94 is mounted at the bottom 
end of the tank to heat the water. In operation, a portion of the water 
within the reservoir is thus supplied downwardly through the platform and 
into the tank for heating, followed by dispensing back upwardly via the 
second dispenser fitting 52 and associated faucet valve 20. 
In one alternative preferred form of the invention, the manifolded support 
platform 16 can be adapted for dispensing substantially room temperature 
water via the faucet valve 20 in lieu of hot water by use of the hot water 
tank 74. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, a modified second 
dispenser fitting 52' may be constructed to include an upstanding flow 
tube 57' for sealed and slide-fit reception through a flow port 66' in the 
bottom of the reservoir. A standpipe 96 interconnects this flow port 66' 
through an aperture 98 formed in a perforated baffle plate 100 which 
centrally subdivides the interior of the reservoir into upper and lower 
chambers, 102 and 104, respectively. In this embodiment, the second faucet 
valve 20 is thus coupled via the dispenser fitting 52' and the standpipe 
96 to the upper reservoir chamber 102, with the baffle plate 100 
effectively isolating the water within the upper chamber from the cooling 
effect provided within the lower chamber 104 by the chiller probe 44. 
Opening of the second faucet valve 20 is thus effective to dispense water 
at substantially room temperature from the upper chamber 102 of the 
reservoir. 
The manifolded support platform of the present invention thus includes the 
necessary fittings and plumbing connections, in a simplified and 
integrated unit, for coupling the removable reservoir 14 in a slide-fit 
manner with other components of the bottled water station as an incident 
to drop-in reservoir installations. The support platform provides the dual 
functions of reservoir support as well as providing the requisite flow 
paths for coupling water flows at different temperatures to respective 
faucet valves for dispensing. 
It will be understood, of course, that additional modifications and 
improvements to the bottled water station as described herein are within 
the scope of skill and normal expertise of a person skilled in the art. 
For example, a modified bottled water station geometry may be provided to 
include cold and hot water dispensing as described in FIGS. 1-5, while 
additionally including a third faucet valve of the type shown in FIG. 6 
for dispensing of water at room temperature. Accordingly, no limitation on 
the invention is intended by way of the foregoing description and 
accompanying drawings, except as set forth in the appended claims.