Patent Publication Number: US-7216778-B2

Title: Self-leveling drip catcher for fluid containers

Description:
I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to drip catchers and, more particularly, to a device that is designed to self level as it catches or receives excess water or other fluid unintentionally dispensed from the nozzle of a fluid container when the fluid container is not in use or not received into an intended drinking receptacle. 
   II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
   Water coolers and similar drink dispensers have been around for many years. Of the various sizes and shapes available, the typical water cooler provides a reservoir for containing purified or distilled water or other fluid and a nozzle for dispensing this fluid from the reservoir into a glass, plastic cup, or any other type of receptacle for drinking. The nozzle provided in these water coolers or fluid containers utilizes a lever that may be articulated between an open position to release the fluid from the reservoir through the nozzle and into the drinking receptacle and a closed position to stop the flow of fluid through the nozzle. 
   The problem with these types of nozzles is that, after the water cooler or drink dispenser has dispensed water or fluid through the nozzle and the nozzle is articulated back to the closed position, the water or fluid that remains in the nozzle continues to flow or drip out of the nozzle. If the drinking receptacle has already been removed, this excess water or fluid will fall on the floor at the base of the water cooler or fluid dispenser. As this excess water or fluid accumulates, a pool of water/fluid is created which presents a hazardous walking condition that may ultimately cause injury to those persons that pass by or use the water cooler or fluid container who slip or fall on the substance. Additionally, this pool of water/fluid may be caused by the drinking receptacle being filled to high with the excess water/fluid overflowing out of the drinking receptacle and/or the nozzle being accidentally articulated thereby dispensing water/fluid directly onto the floor. 
   Some water coolers have drains or drip catchers built into the water cooler. Applicant&#39;s invention is designed to be attached to those water coolers or fluid dispensers not having a built in drain or drip catcher. 
   Thus, there is a need and there has never been disclosed Applicant&#39;s unique self-leveling drip catcher for water coolers or fluid containers. 
   III. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a drip catcher device for water or other fluid dispensers. A related object of the present invention is to provide a drip catcher device that receives or catches any excess water that flows out of or drips from the water cooler which is not received into a drinking receptacle. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a drip catcher that is designed to self level as it fills with water. A related object of the invention is to provide a drip catcher that is stabilized about a center of gravity position for maintaining a substantially fixed position relative to the water cooler and independent of the volume of water or fluid received therein. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a drip catcher device that is designed to be attached to the water cooler or fluid dispenser. A related object of the present invention is to provide a drip catcher device that freely hangs or is suspended from the water cooler or fluid dispenser. 
   Still another object of the invention is to provide a drip catcher device that is safe and easy to use. 
   Other objects of the present invention will become more apparent to persons having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
   IV. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is an apparatus for providing a self-leveling drip catcher for water coolers or fluid dispensers. Throughout this application, the term fluid container is meant to embrace all water coolers, drink and fluid dispensers having a reservoir with the water or fluid contained therein and dispensed through a nozzle or spigot. 
   The apparatus comprises an elongated neck and a mouth attached to the neck. A collar is provided in the neck to releasably attach the apparatus to the fluid container. The mouth is designed to catch the fluid dispensed from the fluid container which is not received in a drinking receptacle. The fluid flows into the mouth and is directed to and collected in the bottom. The apparatus&#39; center of gravity maintains the apparatus in a level orientation as the fluid fills the apparatus. 

   
     V. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The Description of the Preferred Embodiment will be better understood with reference to the following figures: 
       FIG. 1  is a left corner perspective view of Applicant&#39;s drip catcher device as attached to a water cooler and having received water or fluid therein. 
       FIG. 2  is front view of the drip catcher device. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the drip catcher device and, in particular, illustrating the center of gravity point for the device in relation to the contour of the device and water received therein. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of an alternative embodiment of Applicant&#39;s drip catcher device. 
   

   VI. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Turning first to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a drip catcher apparatus  10  suspended from a fluid container  11 . As illustrated and in a non-limiting example, the fluid container  11  is provided with a reservoir  13  and a tube  15  extending outwardly from the reservoir  13 . A nozzle  17  comprising an arm  19 , a projecting spout  21 , and an articulating lever  24  is provided. The arm  19  of the nozzle  17  is received into the tube  15  for attaching the nozzle  17  to the reservoir  13  and thereby permitting the means for dispensing water or fluid from the fluid container  11 . In a closed position, the nozzle  17  acts as a valve by prohibiting the flow of water or fluid from the fluid container  11 . When the nozzle  17  is articulated to an open position, the nozzle  17  acts as a conduit by permitting the unrestricted flow of water or fluid to pass from the fluid container  11  through the nozzle  17  and thereby exit the fluid container  11 . The fluid container  11  is also supported by legs  26 . This fluid container  11  is known to persons skilled in the art and the information provided herein is for informational purposes only to facilitate a better understanding of Applicant&#39;s invention. 
   Applicant&#39;s drip catcher apparatus  10  comprises an elongated neck  12 , shoulder  14 , and a mouth  16 . In the preferred embodiment, the drip catcher apparatus  10  is made of a durable plastic material. Alternatively, the drip catcher apparatus  10  may be made of any other type of material provided that the material is impermeable to water or fluid and of sufficient strength to suspend the device and retain the water or fluid received without cracking or breaking. 
   The neck  12  has a base wall  18  and sidewalls  20  separated by a proximal end  28  and distal end  30 . Integrally formed within the base wall  18  at the proximal end  28  of the neck  12  is a collar  22 . The collar  22  is preferably an ovid shape, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , having a collar height  32  and a collar width  34 . In the preferred embodiment, the collar height  32  and collar width  34  ( FIG. 2 ) coact to provide an aperture within the base wall  18  which has dimensions large enough to receive the nozzle  17  or such that the collar  22  may be manipulated in some easy manner to slide it over the nozzle  17 . Once slidably received over the nozzle  17  the collar  22  hangs from the tube  17  or arm  19  thereby enabling the drip catcher apparatus  10  to be freely suspended from the fluid container  11  in a vertical position due to the normal gravitational pull on the drip catcher apparatus  10 . This is further illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Alternatively, it is contemplated that any other means for attaching the drip catcher apparatus  10  may be used provided that the neck  12  of the drip catcher apparatus  10  is capable of supporting the weight of both the drip catcher apparatus  10  and the water or fluid received in the apparatus  10  from the fluid container  11 . 
   The base wall  18  of the neck  12 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , is preferably positioned in a parallel relationship to the front of the reservoir  13  and perpendicular to the center axis of the tube  15  or arm  19 . In this manner, the drip catcher apparatus  10  is suspended from the tube  15  of the reservoir  13  or the arm  19  and remains separate and apart from and does not otherwise interfere with or engage the fluid container  11 . The base wall  18  defines a center line  68  which extends into a fluid containment portion  70 . The neck  12  has a neck length  36 . In the preferred embodiment, the neck length  36  is approximately eight inches (8″). Alternatively, the neck length  36  may be longer or shorter depending upon the size of the fluid container  11 . 
   At the distal end  30  of the neck  12 , the neck  12  rotates through a neck angle  38  to the shoulder  14 . The shoulder  14  then continues to extend outwardly from the neck  12  along angle  38  for a total distance  40  until it reaches a back wall  42 . In the preferred embodiment, the neck angle  38  is substantially between ninety degrees (90°) and one hundred seventy-five degrees (175°) and the distance  40  is preferably between one inch (1″) and one and one-quarter of an inch (1¼″). When the shoulder  14  reaches the back wall  42 , the shoulder  14  rotates through a shoulder angle  44  to the back wall  42 . In the preferred embodiment, the shoulder angle  44  is equal to neck angle  38 . Preferably, the back wall  42  extends downward in a substantially in a vertical plane. Alternatively, the shoulder angle  44  may be greater or lesser than the neck angle  38  or any angle greater than ninety degrees (90°) provided that the shoulder angle  44  results in the back wall  42  extending downwardly in a substantially in a vertical plane. 
   Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the drip catcher apparatus  10  catches or receives water or other fluid  46  that is dispensed from the projecting sprout  21  of the nozzle  17  from the fluid container  11  and into the mouth  16 . The mouth  16  is defined by the back wall  42 , front wall  48 , mouth sides  50 , and a bottom  52  which essentially forms a type of pocket or essentially concave member to receive and collect the fluid  46 . 
   The mouth  16  is further illustrated in  FIG. 3 . When the back wall  42  reaches the bottom  52 , the back wall  42  rotates through an arc  54  to the bottom  52 . The bottom  52  continues with the arc  54  until it reaches a cusp  56 . At the cusp  56 , the bottom  52  rotates through a bottom angle  58  to the front wall  48 . The front wall  48  continues along bottom angle  58  until it reaches a lip  60  at the opening of the mouth  16 . 
   In combination, drip catcher apparatus  10 , based upon the configuration of the neck  12 , the shoulder  14 , the back wall  42 , the bottom  52 , mouth sides  50 , and the front wall  48 , has a center of gravity  62 . In the preferred embodiment, the center of gravity  62  is located a distance D behind the neck  12 . Preferably, the distance D is substantially one-half of an inch (½″). In the preferred embodiment, water or fluid  46  passing through the nozzle  17  and dispensed from the projecting spout  21  will be directed toward and engage the front wall  48  within the mouth  16 . Once engaged, the water or fluid  46  will be directed by the front wall  48  downward and into the bottom  52  of the mouth  16  and toward the back wall  42 . As a result, all of the volume of fluid  46  received into the mouth  16  is directed to and collected in the bottom  52  between the back wall  42 , mouth sides  50 , and front wall  48 . As more fluid  46  is received into the mouth  16 , the fluid volume will rise in the apparatus  10 . Based on the design configuration of the apparatus  10  and the fluid containment portion  70 , the center of gravity  62  is maintained between the center line  68  and line  72  which defines the distance D. Due to the position of the center of gravity  62 , the drip catcher apparatus  10  receives the fluid  46  and continues to remain level. As a result, the drip catcher apparatus  10  maintains a balanced equilibrium which is in a substantially vertical position due to the equal distribution of the fluid  46  on both sides of the center line  68  within the drip catcher apparatus  10  as the total volume of fluid  46  in the fluid containment portion  70  is increased. 
   An alternate embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . This alternate embodiment is the same as the original embodiment with the exception of the bottom  52  and front wall  48 . In this alternate embodiment, the bottom  52  extends outwardly and upwardly from the back wall  42  until it reaches the front wall  48 . The front wall  48  likewise continues outwardly and upwardly from the back wall  42  until it reaches the lip  60 . In combination, the bottom  52  and the front wall  48  form a single and continuous wall having multiple tiers  64 . In use, each of the tiers  64  act to catch the fluid  46  dispensed from the projecting spout  21  and then redirect this fluid  46  toward the bottom  52  to be collected as described herein. In this configuration, the center of gravity  62  remains substantially in the same location between the center line  68  and the line  72  which defines the distance D behind the neck  12 . This alternate embodiment also maintains a balanced equilibrium which causes the apparatus  10  to remain in a substantially vertical position due to the equal distribution of the fluid  46  within the drip catcher apparatus  10  as the total volume of fluid  46  received is increased. 
   Thus, there has been provided a self-leveling drip catcher for fluid containers. While the invention has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it in intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.