Abstract:
A platform receives at least two water bottles. A handtruck is configured to engage under a water bottle on the platform and carry it to the dispensing cabinet. In the handtruck, the water bottle is tilted so that the lowest corner of the bottle is directly below its neck. The handtruck engages and locks into the cabinet with the water bottle in proper, tilted position. A suction tube is dropped straight down into the bottle so that it reaches the lowest corner of the bottle. The suction tube carries a pump and discharge spout so that actuation of the pump causes dispensing of water.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention is directed to a water-handling system where water is delivered in bottles. A handtruck moves the bottles from storage into a dispensing cabinet. In the cabinet, the handtruck holds the water bottle in position, and the suction tube of a pump is lowered into the water bottle for the pumping and dispensing of water. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Many homes and businesses receive drinking water in bottles, which bottles range in size up to 5 gallons. These bottles are placed in dispensers so that the persons in the area of the dispenser can receive the bottled water. Many persons believe that the bottled water is more healthy, more pure or better tasting than the tap water. The question of taste or wholesomeness of bottled water with respect to tap water is personal opinion and a function of the quality of the two different supplies. This taste and quality question brings about the desire or need for providing the bottled water. 
   The bottled water supply company leaves these full water bottles in a convenient storage area designated by the user, who must then move the full water bottle to the dispensing location. Usually, the user must pick up the bottle and load it into a dispenser. This is hard work for some, and there is always the danger of spilling the water. A more convenient water-handling system, including moving of the full water bottle and placing it into a position where dispensing can be achieved is desirable. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In order to aid in the understanding of this invention, it can be stated in essentially summary form that it is directed to a water-handling system which includes a platform upon which water bottles are placed. The system includes a handtruck which can be manipulated to lift the water bottle, transport it and insert it into the dispensing cabinet. The dispensing cabinet has a pump with a suction tube in the bottle to withdraw and dispense water therefrom. 
   It is, thus, a purpose and advantage of this invention to provide a water-handling system in which the requirements of physically lifting and positioning a water bottle for the dispensing of water therefrom are greatly facilitated. 
   It is another purpose and advantage of this invention to provide a water-handling system which includes a handtruck which can pick up a full water bottle from a storage location and transmit it to the dispensing cabinet in a position where the pump suction tube can be inserted into the bottle. 
   It is a further purpose and advantage of this invention to provide a water-handling system where the bottle is retained at an angular position so that the pump suction tube can be inserted therein to reach the bottom corner of the bottle in order to dispense a maximum amount of water therefrom. 
   It is a further purpose and advantage of this invention to provide a water-handling system in which the user can pick up a full water bottle with a handtruck and handtruck that bottle into the dispensing cabinet in a position so that the suction tube of the pump can be inserted down into the water bottle to take water therefrom. 
   Other purposes and advantages of this invention will be noted from the study of the following portion of the specification, the claims and the attached drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the water-handling system of this invention, showing the handtruck with a full water bottle, the dispensing cabinet and a platform with the water bottle therein. 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged section taken along the line  2 — 2  of  FIG. 1 , with the handtruck and water bottle in dispensing position. 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged side use, with parts broken away and parts taken in section, of the top of the cabinet, further including a schematic of the electrical system. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The water-handling system  10  is shown in  FIG. 1  as having three principal parts: platform  12 , handtruck  14  and cabinet  16 . 
   The platform  12  has a back wall  18  to which are secured three dividers  20 ,  22 , and  24 . A pair of supports is provided between each pair of dividers. Supports  26  and  28  are positioned between dividers  22  and  24 . A similar pair of supports is provided between the dividers  20  and  22 . These supports have a space  30  therebetween. The dividers are spaced and the supports are positioned so that a water bottle  32  can be rested on the supports between the dividers  20  and  22 . A similar water bottle  34 , shown in  FIG. 1  as being carried by handtruck  14 , can be positioned on supports  26  and  28  between dividers  22  and  24 . It is on this platform that the user stores empty bottles and the deliverer of water bottles places the newly received bottles in the customer&#39;s premises. 
   Handtruck  14  has a U-shaped main frame  36  which has a crossways handle  38  and two uprights  40  and  42 . The uprights have a bend  44  (see  FIG. 2 ) of a specific angle, hereinafter described. The uprights extend angularly downward to shelf  46 . The shelf is part of the main frame  36 , and both are preferably formed of bent metallic tubing. The shelf may be U-shaped with its closing to the right in  FIG. 2 . The width of the shelf is such that it fits into the space  30  without engagement on the side supports  26  and  28 . The lower part of the uprights below bend  44  is attached to the shelf at a right angle. Attachment is preferably by means of welding. 
   The lower back end of the shelf carries an axle  48  upon which are mounted rotating wheels  50  and  52 . The open end of the U-shaped shelf extends back of the uprights so that the axle is directly below the upper part of the main frame when the handtruck is in its rest position shown in  FIG. 2 . The handtruck has a crossbar  54  on the underside of its U-shaped shelf. This crossbar is positioned so that it engages over cabinet crossbar  56  when in its rest position. Crossbar  56  is secured to the cabinet sidewalls. Cover plate  58  is mounted on the outside of the main frame in its upper part and against the back of axle  48  at its lower end. The axle is in line with the upper part of the main frame, as seen in  FIG. 2 . 
   The rest position of the handtruck in the cabinet is shown in  FIG. 2 , wherein the upper part of the main frame and the cover plate  58  are upright. In this position, the shelf  46  is engaged over the top of cabinet crossbar  56 . The lower part of the uprights and the shelf are secured at a right angle with respect to each other. The height from the shelf to the bend  44  is at least equal to the height to the shoulder of water bottle  34 . The angle of repose of the bottle is such that a line through the lower corner  62  and the neck  64  of the bottle is upright or parallel to the upper part of the main frame and cover plate  58 . This configuration is shown in  FIG. 2 . Pivotable coil  66  is mounted on the main frame of the handtruck and is sized to loop over the neck  64  of the water bottle. This holds the water bottle in place during tilt up off platform  12  and during movement of the water bottle. 
   Cabinet  16  is an upright cabinet formed with left and right sidewalls  68  and  70 , back  72 , bottom  74  and top  76 . The front is open. The bottom of the front is recessed with toe board  78  set back from the front edge of the sidewalls. The center of the toe board is notched to permit entry of the shelf  46  and the bottle  34 . The recess of the toe board is sufficient so that, when the wheels engage against the toe board (see  FIG. 2 ) the crossbar  54  engages over crossbar  56 . This engagement retains the handtruck in position within the cabinet. In this position, the cover plate  58  is flush between the front edges of the sidewalls. Shelf  80  extends between the two sidewalls of the enclosure and has notches therein to clear the uprights of the handtruck. Notch  82  is seen in  FIG. 1  to clear the upright  40 . The handtruck can, thus, bring the water bottle  34  into the cabinet and retain it in a specific location within the cabinet. 
   Cabinet  16  has an interior front wall  84 , which extends down from top  86  and between the sidewalls  68  and  70  and extends forward to become shelf  80 . The front of the front wall  84  carries a laterally extending hook flange  86  upon which is hooked catch basin  88 . The top  76  is notched back over the catch basin. 
   Pump  90  is driven by an electric motor  92  ( FIG. 3 ). The pump has a discharge spout  94  which has a downwardly directed outlet over catch basin  88 . Pump  90  has a suction tube which extends downward through an opening in top  76 . It extends down through lock bar  98  and, at its lower end, has a check valve  100 . The check valve is configured to permit upward flow and prevent downward flow through the suction tube  96 . 
   Lock  98  is pivoted on the back of interior wall  87 . Operating handle  102  is pivoted to the outer end of lock bar  98  and extends upward through top  76  to terminate in cap  104 . Compression spring  106  is positioned between cap  104  and top  76  to resiliently urge the operating handle  102  and lock bar  98  in the upward direction. Suction tube  96  passes through a hole in lock bar  98 . the hole is sized so that, when the lock bar is lowered from the position shown in  FIG. 3 , the tube is free to move up and down. When the spring  106  moves the operating handle and lock bar up to the position shown in  FIG. 3 , the lock bar binds on the exterior of the suction tube  96 . Thus, cap  104  can be manually depressed and the suction tube raised to the position shown in  FIG. 1 . In this position it is retained out of the water bottle  34  so that the water bottle may be removed and replaced. When a new water bottle is put in place, the suction tube is manually lowered until registration with the bottom of the bottle is felt. The pump  90 , motor  92  and outlet spout  94  are all mounted on the suction tube and are raised and lowered therewith. 
   The motor  92  is connected into its power circuit when its lower end is moved down into socket  108 . The motor has two separate electrical contacts on its lower end, and there are two corresponding contacts within the socket. The cabinet contacts are spring-mounted, and extend into the interior of the cabinet by way of terminal stud  112 . A compression spring  113  in the terminal housing urges the contact  110  upward to make contact to the contact  115  on the bottom of the motor  92 . Contact  110  is seen on the top of terminal stud  112 . There is a similar spring-loaded contact and a similar terminal stud beyond those illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The terminal stud  112  is connected to power line  114 . The other power line  116  is connected through parallel switches  118  and  120  to the other contact in the socket. These switches  118  and  120  are respectively positioned on the left and right sidewalls adjacent the top of the cabinet. Switch  118  is shown in  FIG. 1 . Switch  120  is on the opposite side in a similar location. Two switches aid in serving right- and left-handed users. While a 115 volt system is illustrated, it is clear that a higher or lower voltage system could be employed. As an alternative to an electric pump, a manual pump can be utilized. 
   Assuming that the water-handling system is in the condition shown in  FIG. 1 , a full bottle of water  34  has been picked up by the handtruck  14 . It is wheeled into position in the cabinet and, when the handle is released to the upright position, crossbar  54  engages over crossbar  56  to retain the handtruck and water bottle in place. Now, the suction tube is lowered from the raised position of  FIG. 1  to the lowered position of  FIG. 2  wherein the lower end of the suction tube is in the lower corner of the water bottle. The pump is operated by actuation of either switches  118  or  120 , and water is dispensed out of the spout  94 . Any dripping resulting from improper filling of a cup is caught in basin  88 . The basin  88  can be lifted out and dumped, as required. Dispensing continues as required. The check valve  100  prevents the pump from losing its prime, and water is always available at the pump for instant dispensing. 
   When the bottle  34  is empty, the pump, motor, outlet spout and suction tube are raised by releasing lock bar  98  and lifting the entire pumping assembly until the indicator mark  124  appears, signifying that the lower end of the suction tube with its check valve  100  is above the neck of the bottle. Now the handtruck can be tilted out with the bottle thereon. The empty bottle is dollied to the platform and manually placed on an empty platform stall. A full bottle is then picked up and trucked to the cabinet. Thus, water replacement is easily achieved without the lifting and inverting of full water bottles. 
   This invention has been described in its presently preferred embodiment, and it is clear that it is susceptible to numerous modifications, modes and embodiments within the ability of those skilled in the art and without the exercise of the inventive faculty. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is defined by the scope of the following claims.