Abstract:
An automatic freshening water dispenser includes a bottom and is defined by a sidewall engaging the bottom and rising to a top edge. The sidewall having a first height between the bottom and the top edge and includes a recessed portion having a lower height. Three water inputs are positioned in the bowl Two water inputs positioned adjacent to the bottom of the bowl to eject water in a direction away from the recessed portion. A third water input is positioned in the sidewall at a location in the bowl opposing the recessed portion to eject water in a direction toward the recessed portion. A conduit couples the first, second and third water inputs to a water source connection.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Domesticated animals require nourishment and fresh water. Unfortunately, caretakers of such animals may not always remember to freshen a water supply for a pet. Numerous solutions have been devised which allow automation of feeding and watering pets. Each type of solution provides advantages for the caretaker. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    Technology is described for an automatic freshening water dispenser. The dispenser includes a bowl including a bottom and defined by a sidewall engaging the bottom and rising to a top edge. The sidewall having a first height between the bottom and the top edge and includes a recessed portion having a lower height. Three water inputs are positioned in the bowl Two water inputs positioned adjacent to the bottom of the bowl to eject water in a direction away from the recessed portion. A third water input is positioned in the sidewall at a location in the bowl opposing the recessed portion to eject water in a direction toward the recessed portion. A conduit couples the first, second and third water inputs to a water source connection. 
         [0003]    This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram depicting an exemplary user of a dispensing apparatus in accordance with the technology described herein. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the dispensing apparatus. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the dispensing apparatus. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a side view and  FIG. 5  is a top view depicting water flow patterns within the apparatus when a source of water is coupled to the apparatus. 
           [0008]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view depicting the conduit coupling the water inlets to a water source such as a sprinkler system. 
           [0009]      FIGS. 7  is a cross sectional, side views along the line A-A in  FIG. 3  depicting the apparatus of  FIG. 2   
           [0010]      FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  are cross sectional, side views along a line similar to A-A in  FIG. 3  depicting alternative embodiments of the dispensing apparatus. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 9 and 10  are a top view and bottom view, respectively, of another alternative embodiment of the present technology. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Technology is described which provides an automatically freshening water dispenser for myriad uses. In one embodiment, the automatically freshened water dispenser is coupled to an automated sprinkler system, and when the sprinkler system turns on, water is supplied to the dispenser. The dispenser contains water inlets in a bowl which are arranged to that flow patterns of water supplied by the water source (such as the sprinkler system) allow r, water is continually flushed out of the dispenser as fresh water is input into the dispenser. The dispenser will be described herein with respects to a watering bowl for, for example, a dog or a pet. However, it should be understood that any number of different types of shapes of dispenser and arrangements of water inlets and supply conduits described herein, may be utilized within the scope of the present technology. 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary usage of the dispenser  100 .  FIG. 1  illustrates a domesticated animal, such as a dog  130  at a dispensing dispenser  100 . Dispensing apparatus is coupled by a conduit  115  to a sprinkler system  110 . The sprinkler system may be any of a number of different types of sprinkler systems including automatic sprinkler systems or manually engaged sprinkler systems. Exemplary sprinkler systems of this type are manufactured by, for example, RainBird® Corporation, Azusa, Calif. and RainDrip®, Inc., Woodland Hills, Calif. For example, the RainDrip® automatic irrigation and sprinkler systems include a variety of spray heads, nozzles, timers, valves, conduits, and other materials which are utilized to create sprinkler and irrigation systems. In one embodiment, conduit  115  may comprise distribution tubing in quarter inch or one half inch diameter. Many irrigation systems are “automatic” in that they are set to irrigate and supply water based on a timer actuated a water valve. This automatic actuation of the water valve in an automated system supplies water to conduit  115 . It should be understood that manually initiated water flow to a conduit  115  and to the dispenser  100  can also be used. 
         [0014]    Dispenser  100  includes a bowl having a number of water inlets which spray water supplied by the water supply into the bowl and remove stagnant water from the bowl when a water supply is engaged.  FIGS. 2 and 3  are a side view and top view, respectively, of dispenser  100 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , dispenser  100  includes a bowl defined by a bottom  104 , a side wall  102  which engages bottom  104  and has a top edge  103 . Bottom  104  and top edge  103  define a height H 1  throughout a major portion of the bowl, while recessed portion  120  defines a height H 2  with respect to bottom  104 . This lowered edge defined by recess  120  allows water to more easily escape dispenser  100 . Top edge  103  joins wall  102  to exterior wall  118 . Wall  118  has a bottom edge  150  which forms the support base for the dispenser  100 . As described below, the water is encouraged by water inlets to exit at the recess  120 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , three water inlets  125 ,  130  and  135  are provided. Water inlets may, in one embodiment, comprise quarter circle micro spray jets manufactured by Rain Drip Inc. These quarter circle micro spray jets provide a fan type spray which exits the inlets as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Inlets  125 ,  130  and  135  are positioned approximately 120° apart; however, it should be understood that alternative spray arrangements may be utilized. Inlets  125 ,  130  and  135  may be installed or created to direct the fan type-flow (or other flows) in various directions from their installed locations. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , inlets  125  and  130  are positioned adjacent to the top  104  of dispenser  100 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , inlets  125  and  130  may be angled downward (only inlet  130  is illustrated) and toward inlet  135 . Inlet  135  is positioned close to top edge  103  of the dispenser  100  and has an output directed toward recess  120 . 
         [0015]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate a flow pattern of water when water is provided via conduit  115  into the dispenser  100  via inlets  125 ,  130 ,  135 . As illustrated therein, flow exiting dispensers  125  and  130  provide flows  202  and  205 , respectively, which push water along the base of the dispenser  100  adjacent to the bottom  104  and toward the inlet  135 . When the flows  202  and  205  engage the portion of the walls below inlet  135 , the flow is directed upward toward inlet  135 . Flow  204  exiting inlet  135  pushes water in flows  204  and  206  along the top of the bowl so that it is forced out from recess  120  at  208 . Thus, whenever water is supplied by the conduit  115 , the circulation pattern as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5  will encourage water which is in the bottom of the bowl towards the top of the bowl and eventually out of the recess  120 . This allows fresh water to be maintained within the dispenser  100  and is recycled each time the water supply is engaged. 
         [0016]      FIG. 6  illustrates the coupling conduit  115  is coupled to each of the water inlets  125 ,  130  and  135 . In one embodiment, conduit  115  is connected to a T-connector which may be a quarter-inch cross barbed connector and quarter-inch vinyl tubing, both manufactured by RainDrip®, may comprise the conduits  212 ,  214 , and  216  which are coupled to each of the inlets  125 ,  130  and  135 . Inlets  125 ,  130 ,  135  may comprise the quarter circle micro spray jets previously described. Alternatively, inlets may be molded into the wall or bottom of dispenser  100 . 
         [0017]    It should be recognized that the couplings and fittings may be assembled in accordance with the manufacturer&#39;s instructions provided by RainDrip Inc. Other types of water inlets and other types of connector tubing may also be utilized. Connector  250  may be directly coupled to conduct  115  and may have a secondary coupling or adapter attached thereto to allow various different types of conduits  115  to engage the dispenser  100 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a side view along Line A-A in  FIG. 3  illustrating dispenser  100 . As noted therein, inlet  135  is positioned closer to the top edge  103  of dispenser  100 .  FIG. 8   a  is a first alternative implementation of dispenser  100  illustrating positioning of the inlet  135 A, and  130   a  adjacent to the bottom  104  of the dispenser  100 . Inlet  125  could also be positioned adjacent to the bottom  104  in this embodiment.  FIG. 8   b  is a second alternative implementation of dispenser  100  illustrating positioning of the inlet  135 B adjacent to the top  104  of the dispenser  100 , with inlets  125  and  130   b  positioned adjacent to the bottom of the dispenser. It should be further recognized that more or fewer water inlets may be used to induce water flows directing fresh water to the recessed portion  120 . 
         [0019]      FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate another alternative embodiment of the dispenser  100 . In this embodiment, the conduits  216  are molded into the base  104 A of the dispenser  100 . Plastic mold may be used to attach conduits  216  to the underside of the dispenser  100  and connect it to water inlets  125 ,  130 , and  135 . Water inlets may likewise be manufactured as horizontal, vertical, or other types of slits to allow a pressurized stream of water to exit each of the inlets and into the bowl to produce the flow patterns illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
         [0020]    Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.