Patent CA-2412480-A1 (CA)
Title: Water cooler cleaner
Inventor: LETOURNEAU LANA
IPC: B67D3/00
Filed: 2002-11-25
Abstract: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION      This invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning and disinfecting a conventional water cooler. More particularly the invention relates to an apparatus for scrubbing and disinfecting the surfaces of a water cooler which come into contact with water dispensed by the cooler. Water coolers which dispense water from bottles of water are found throughout North America. Bottles filled with potable water are available for purchase at retail outlets such as grocery stores, variety stores and the like. The bottles are attached to the coolers by turning them upside down over rods which extend upwardly from the top of the coolers. The rods pierce the caps and allow the contents of the bottles to flow downwardly into the coolers. The coolers are provided with taps for dispensing the water. A shortcoming of many water coolers is that they are difficult to clean and disinfect. There are many surfaces of coolers, both exterior and interior, which are contacted by water from the bottle and many of those surfaces are not readily accessible for cleaning and disinfecting. The exterior area where a bottle is seated on a cooler is, for example, usually so confined that it is inaccessible for cleaning and disinfecting. Such area can be a site of bacteria and harmful deposits from the water. Hoses within a cooler and the taps from which water is dispensed can also be sites for bacteria and deposits.      SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I have invented a vessel which is useful for cleaning and disinfecting a water cooler. The vessel removes by friction deposits on the exterior surfaces of a cooler contacted by water.     Moreover, the contents of the vessel disinfect the hoses and taps through which the water passes. Briefly the vessel of my invention includes a neck having an outlet from which liquid within the vessel discharges. The neck, when the vessel rests on the seat on which a bottle of water is situated, is surrounded by an annular side wall. A plurality of bristles extend outwardly from the neck and contact the annular side wall. A diaphragm is disposed within the vessel and separates the interior of the vessel into two vertically spaced lower and upper compartments. A valve is connected to the diaphragm and allows liquid to flow between the compartments.      DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The cleaning and disinfecting vessel of the invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an elevation of a conventional water cooler and a replaceable bottle of water; Figure 2 is an elevation of the vessel of the invention in combination with a water cooler;      Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the vessel; Figure 4 is an fragmentary enlarged perspective view of the neck of the bottle; Figure 4a is a plan view of a split ring or clip which attaches to the outside wall of the neck of the vessel; Figure 4b is a plan view of a split ring or clip which attaches to the inside wall of the neck of the vessel;      Figure 5 is an elevation of a pail and hose; Figure 6 is an elevation of the pail and vessel of the invention, the two being separated from one another; and Figure 7 is an elevation of the vessel within the pail. Like reference characters refer to like parts through the description of the drawings.      DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to Figure 1, the vessel of the invention is used in conjunction with a conventional water cooler, generally 14. The cooler has a seat 16 which supports the shoulder 18 of a replaceable bottle of water 20 turned upside down over the cooler. Water in the bottle flows downward into the cooler through an inlet at the bottom of the seat. From the inlet, the water flows through a conduit 22 to a tap 24 where it is discharges. The seat has a lower wall 26 on which the lip 28 of the outlet of the bottle rests and an annular side wall 30 which surrounds the outlet. A rod 32 extends upwardly from the lower wall and into the interior of the bottle. The rod serves to pierce cap 34 of the bottle and to prevent the bottle from falling over when it is seated on the cooler. With reference to Figures 2, 3 and 4, the vessel of my invention, generally 40, has a enlarged hollow cylindrical upper body 42 and a hollow cylindrical neck 44.  The neck terminates at an annular lip 46. When the vessel rests on the seat of the cooler, the lip rests on the lower wall 26, the neck is surrounded by annular side wall 30 and the rod extends upward and into the neck. Bristles 47 extend radially outwardly from the outer surface 44a of neck 44 and bristles also extend radially inward from the inner surface 44b of the neck. The bristles on the outer surface contact the annular side wall of the seat of the cooler while the bristles on the inner surface contact the rod. The bristles 47 illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 are integral with the neck of the vessel. Alternatively the bristles may be attached to split rings or clips which snap into contact with the neck and which may be removed to facilitate cleaning of the neck. Such bristles and rings are illustrated in Figures 4a and 4b. With reference first to Figure 4a, bristles 47a extend radially outwardly from a split ring 48 and with reference to Figure 4b, bristles extend radially inward from split ring 49. Ring 48 clips to the outside wall of neck 44 of the vessel while ring 49 fits through the mouth and snaps into contact with the inside wall of the neck. Both rings 48, 49 are composed of resilient material which fit tightly around the outside and inside walls, respectively, of the neck and can only be removed by applying a force opposed to the bias of the material. In the case of ring 48, the force will be applied to open it and in the case of ring 49 to compress it. A diaphragm 50 is disposed within the upper body of the vessel and two further diaphragms 52, 54 are disposed within the neck of the vessel. The diaphragms separate the interior of the vessel into three vertically spaced lower, intermediate and upper compartments 56, 58, 60 respectively. A valve 62 is attached to the upper diaphragm 50 for controlling the flow of liquid between the upper and intermediate compartments. The valve is operated by a handle 64 at the top of a shaft 66 which extends through the interior of the upper compartment from the valve to the handle. Turning of the handle in opposite directions alternately opens and closes the valve.     The vessel is prepared for use in the following manner: first the vessel is turned upside down and diaphragm 52 is inserted into the neck of the vessel. A layer of salt is then poured into the neck while the vessel is upside down. Alternatively, a packet of salt may be inserted into the neck of the vessel. The packet must have walls composed of water-permeable material such as paper which will allow water to enter the packet and dissolve the salt. Diaphragm 54 is then inserted into the neck of the vessel to contain the salt within the neck of the vessel. Diaphragms 52, 54 are composed of frangible material which will be pierced by the rod and are placed such that both diaphragms will be penetrated and pierced by the rod when it is inserted into the neck of the vessel. Until the diaphragms are pierced they must remain intact. Strong plastic is suitable for this purpose. The salt in the lower diaphragm must effervesce when it contacts water. Baking soda is one of a number of salts suitable for this purpose. The vessel is then returned to its upright position and valve 62 is opened so that a liquid disinfectant can be poured into the intermediate compartment 58. The disinfectant can be water to which iodine, chlorine or the like, in controlled amount, is added. When the compartment is filled, the valve is closed and potable water such as tap water or well water is poured into the upper compartment 60. Before the vessel of the invention can be used, the bottle of water must first be removed from the cooler. Once removed, the vessel is positioned such that when it is lowered, the rod will enter the neck. As it is lowered, the rod will pierce first the lowermost diaphragm 54 then the intermediate diaphragm 52 thereby releasing the salt into the intermediate compartment. When the salt contacts the liquid disinfectant, it will effervesce and fill the liquid with bubbles. At the same time the bristles on the outer wall of the neck will scour the annular side wall of the seat and remove solid impurities from it. Likewise, the bristles on the inner surface will scour the rod and remove solids from it. Raising and lowering the vessel several times will further clean the seat and rod. The final step is to open valve 62 by turning handle 64. Water will then flow from the upper compartment into the intermediate compartment and hasten the downward flow of liquid into the cooler. Liquid which discharges from the vessel into the cooler will clean and disinfect the seat of the cooler and conduit 22 which runs to the tap. The liquid will also clean and disinfect the tap. If desired, the outside walls of the tap and the seat of the cooler may also be wiped with a disinfectant at this time. With reference to Figures 5 to 7, the vessel is preferably used in conjunction with a pail 70 in which the vessel is stored before and after use. Liquid from the vessel collects in the pail and does not spill onto a floor or elsewhere before and after the vessel is used.  The pail is of conventional construction. A hose 72 and funnel 74 which are also conventional are used to direct liquid which discharges into the pail from the vessel after use. In Figure 6, the vessel is shown being lowered into the pail and in Figure 7, the vessel is within the pail. It will be understood of course that modifications can be made in the vessel as described herein without departing from the scope of the invention.