Abstract:
A water dispensing device that is so small it fits on a kitchen countertop that provides very accurate measurements of water by using a pressure regulator on water coming in from a typical kitchen water faucet and then using a timer in order to better control the amount of fluid dispensed. In an alternative embodiment, the timer is eliminated and replaced with a flowmeter. The water dispensing device has an interactive panel to allow a user to input how much water to dispense, or to pre-set the device to dispense a specific amount of water at a specific time of day. It is contemplated that this system would be a convenient way to accurately dispense the exact amount of water to fill a particular user&#39;s favorite coffee mug, or to assist a small volume baker in quickly and accurately getting just the right of water for a baking recipe, where accuracy is critical.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a measuring device for measuring the amount of fluid being dispensed from an outlet. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     At times it is desirable to accurately determine an amount of fluid being dispensed from an outlet or the flow rate of the fluid. However, it can be difficult to accurately measure an amount of fluid flowing from a source. For example, when a person is using a measuring cup, it can be difficult to accurately measure the amount of desired fluid, such as water. A person has to adjust the faucet to a desired flow rate, fill the measuring cup, set it on a flat surface, and determine the amount of water in the measuring cup. It can be time consuming and inefficient to continue the above steps until a desired amount of water is accurately measured. 
     Similarly, it can be difficult to measure the amount of fluid required when the units used to measure the fluid are different then the units for the known amount of fluid. For example, if directions reference cups and a person only has a measuring device for fluid ounces and, if the person does not have the knowledge of the cups to fluid ounces conversion they must determine the equation for converting and then convert the units before being able to measure the desired amount of fluid. The above example, is intensified if one has to convert from English units to Metric units or any other measuring unit. 
     Further, it can be difficult to determine the amount of fluid needed when one wishes to multiple the amount of known fluid needed. For example, if the recipe requires one amount of fluid, but a person is making a triple batch of the recipe, then the person must multiply the amount or separately measure the single amount out how ever many times it is being multiplied. Likewise, one may be required to divide the required amount if only a portion of the batch is being made. 
     Therefore, it is desirable to develop a measuring device which is interactive, so that a predetermined amount of fluid can be determined based upon an input, and the measuring device can accurately dispense the desired amount of fluid. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One embodiment of the present invention relates to a measuring device providing at least one inlet, at least one outlet, at least one valve, and at least one interactive panel. The inlet and the outlet are in fluid communication with one another. The valve is in fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet. The interactive panel is interfaced with the valve in order for a predetermined amount of fluid to be dispensed from the outlet. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a measuring device providing at least one inlet, at least one outlet, at least one valve, an actuator, an interactive panel, and a key pad. The inlet and the outlet are in fluid communication with one another. The valve is in fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet. The actuator is operably connected to the valve. The interactive panel is interfaced with the actuator. The key pad is at least a portion of the interactive panel so that a value is entered into the interactive panel by the key pad in order for a predetermined amount of fluid to be dispensed from the at least one outlet. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a measuring device providing at least one inlet, at least one outlet, at least one valve, an actuator, a timer, at least one interactive panel, a key pad, and a pressure regulator. The inlet and outlet are in fluid communication with one another. The valve is in fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet. The actuator is operably connected to the valve. The interactive panel is interfaced with the actuator. The pressure regulator is in fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet. The timer is interfaced with the interactive panel. The key pad is at least a portion of the interactive panel, and the interactive panel performs calculations to a value entered into the interactive panel by the key pad and a predetermined amount of fluid is dispensed at the at least one outlet. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a measuring device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a measuring device having at least one sensor in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a measuring device having a dual flow valve in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the measuring device is generally shown at  10 . The measuring device  10  has at least one inlet  12  and at least one outlet  14  in fluid communication. At least one valve  16  is in fluid communication between the inlet  12  and the outlet  14 . Also, at least one interactive panel, generally indicated at  18 , is interfaced with the valve  16 . 
     A key pad generally indicated at  20 , forms at least a portion of the interactive panel  18 . Typically, the key pad  20  has a plurality of keys  22  which are related to numerals, characters, measuring units, or the like. The keys  22  are related to the desired characters by any suitable way, such as but not limited to, a microprocessor that receives a signal when the keys  22  are pressed to make an electrical connection in a digital circuit or the like. The interactive panel  18  can have a screen  24  which provides a visual display in response to the entry the interactive panel  18  from the key pad  20 . 
     An actuator  26  can be operably connected to the valve  16 . Typically, the interactive panel  18  is coupled or interfaced with the actuator  26 . Thus, the interactive panel  18  transmits signals to the actuator  26  in order to command the actuator  26  to actuate the valve  16  in a predetermined manner, such as but not limited to, the valve  16  being placed in a fully open position or a fully closed position. It will be appreciated that the interactive panel  18  can cause the actuator  26  to actuate the valve  16  to any point between the positions. 
     A timer  28  can be is interfaced with the interactive panel  18 , so that the interactive panel  18  transmits a signal to the actuator  26  after a predetermined period of time has expired from the timer  28 . Thus, once the interactive panel  18  sends an initial signal to the actuator  26 , the timer  28  determines when a predetermined period of time expires after the initial signal is transmitted from the interactive panel  18  to the actuator  26 . That is, the timer  28  is used to time how long the valve  16  is opened. Once the predetermined period of time has expired, the timer  28  signals the interactive panel  18  so that the interactive panel  18  transmits a second signal to the actuator  26 . Because the flow rate is known, the quantity of flow delivered is related to the time the valve  16  is open. 
     The timer  28  can also be used to set the time of day so that the measuring device  10  will automatically measure a predetermined amount of fluid at a particular time of the day. It will be appreciated that the timer  28  can be separate from or a part of the interactive panel  18 . 
     Additionally, a pressure regulator  32  can be in fluid communication between the inlet  12  and the valve  16 . The pressure regulator  32  regulates the pressure of the fluid flowing from the pressure regulator  32  to the outlet  14 , so that the pressure of the fluid remains substantially constant between the pressure regulator  32  and the outlet  14 . This results in fluid that is flowing from the pressure regulator  32  to the outlet  14  to flow at a substantially constant rate with respect to the valve  16  position. Secondly, when the valve  16  is fully open the substantially constant pressure of the fluid results in the fluid flowing at a substantially constant rate. By having the fluid flow at a substantially constant rate, the amount of fluid being dispensed from the outlet  14  can be accurately determined for any given time period. 
     In an alternate embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , at least one measurer  30  can be between the valve  16  and the outlet  14 . The measurer  30  measures the amount of fluid that has flown from the valve  16  to the outlet  14 . The measurer  30  is interfaced with the interactive panel  18  so that the interactive panel  18  determines the amount of fluid flowing from the valve  16  to the outlet  14  in order to transmit signals to the actuator  26 , accordingly. By way of explanation and not limitation, the measurer  30  can be any type of sensor device that measures a predetermined operating characteristic of the measuring device  10 , such that the amount of fluid being dispensed from the outlet  14  can be determined based upon the operating characteristic monitored by the sensor. Alternately, the measurer  30  can be a volumetric meter that measurer the volume of flow in the measuring device  10 . When the measurer  30  is used, it is unnecessary to have the timer  28  transmit and receive signals as to the time period the valve  16  is open because the amount of fluid being dispensed can be determined by the measurer  30 . However, it should be appreciated that the timer  28  can be used in the measuring device  10  when the measurer  30  is being used in the measuring device  10  in order to perform other functions as described above. 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , a filter  34  can be in fluid communication between the inlet  12  and the valve  16 . A filter  34  is used to remove debris from the fluid flowing through the measuring device  10  or for any other desirable purpose. 
     In another alternate embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , a dual flow valve  16   a  can be in fluid communication with a plurality of outlets  14 . The dual flow valve  16   a  controls a fluid to flow from the dual flow valve  16   a  to either or both of the multiple outlets  14 . In this manner, the dual flow valve  16   a  can direct full fluid flow, partial fluid flow, or no fluid flow to any combination of the outlets  14 . 
     The inlet  12  is in fluid communication with a fluid source  36 . By way of explanation and not limitation, the fluid source  36  is a water source, such as but not limited to, a domestic water source in a dwelling. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , by way of explanation and not limitation, in operation, the measuring device  10  is used for measuring predetermined amounts of fluid. Thus, the measuring device  10  can be used in a kitchen for measuring predetermined amounts of water for cooking purposes. The measuring device can be free standing or embedded in a fixture, such as but not limited to, a counter top, kitchen cabinet, or wall. The user of the measuring device  10  enters a desired amount of water into the interactive panel  18  by using the key pad  20 . The key pad  20  can have keys  22  which represent numerals, characters, measuring units, or the like. After the user has entered the predetermined measuring amount, the screen  24  can show the amount entered by the user. Also, the interactive panel  18  can be used to perform calculations on any entered amount to determine a multiple of the measuring amount of the same units as entered by the user or perform calculations for unit conversions between measuring units. 
     Once the amount of fluid to be measured is determined, the interactive panel  18  sends a signal to the actuator  26  which alters the valve  16  to allow fluid to flow from the water source  36  to the inlet  12 , through the valve  16 , and ultimately dispensed from the outlet  14 . The water that flows through the inlet  12  can then flow through a filter  34  and a pressure regulator  32 . The pressure regulator  32  alters the pressure of the fluid flowing through the measuring device  10  so that the pressure of the fluid is at a substantially constant pressure between the pressure regulator  32  and the outlet  14 . The fluid flows through the filter  34  to remove debris. 
     The timer  28  sends a signal to the interactive panel  18  after a predetermined period of time has expired from an initial signal transmitted from the interactive panel  18  to the actuator  26 . The predetermined amount of time is based upon the measuring amount entered into the interactive panel  18 . Thus, after the interactive panel  18  signals the actuator  26  to open the valve  16 , the timer  28  signals the interactive panel  18  after the predetermined period of time has expired so that the interactive panel  18  will signal the actuator  26  to close the valve  16 . The amount of time elapsed by the timer  28  is based upon the measuring amount. Since the fluid flowing through the measuring device  10  is at a constant pressure due to the pressure regulator  32 , the amount of fluid flowing out the outlet  14  is determined by the time the valve  16  is open. 
     In another embodiment, the measurer  30  can be located between the valve  16  and outlet  14 . The measurer  30  measures the amount of fluid flowing from the valve  16  to the outlet  14 , and transmits a signal to the interactive panel  18 . The interactive panel  18  then commands the actuator  26  to close the valve  16  after the interactive panel  18  determined that the desired measuring amount of fluid has flown past the measurer  30  based upon the measurer&#39;s  30  measurements. Typically, the timer  28  does not receive or transmit signals as to the valve  16  being actuated in order to determine the flow through the measuring device  10  in this embodiment, since the measurer  30  is being used, but the timer  28  can be used for other desirable purposes. 
     In another embodiment, the measuring device  10  has a dual flow valve  16   a  that is connected to a plurality of outlets  14 . Thus, the fluid flows through any predetermined number of outlets  14  depending upon which part of the dual flow valve  16   a  is open. As described above, the dual flow valve  16   a  is interfaced with the interactive panel  18  such that the interactive panel  10  is interfaced with the actuator  26  and the actuator  26  moves the dual flow valve  16   a  accordingly. 
     Further examples of the measuring device  10  in operation are, but not limited to, integrating the measuring device  10  in a refrigerator (not shown). Thus, the measuring device  10  can function similar to an ice and water dispenser in the refrigerator, except that the functions described above for measuring the amount of water dispensed from the measuring device  10  would be included. A user could use the interactive panel  18  on the refrigerator which would then dispense the accurate desired amount of water. 
     Another example of the measuring device  10  in operation is to integrate the measuring device  10  with a coffee maker (not shown). Thus, the timer  28  can be set to dispense a predetermined measured amount of water at a predetermined time into the coffee maker. The desired measured amount of water is then dispensed from the measuring device into the coffee maker so that the coffee maker can brew the coffee. It should be appreciated that the above examples are by way of explanation and not limitation as to the function of the measuring device  10 , and it is within the scope of the present invention for the measuring device to function independently or integrated with other devices. 
     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.