Patent Description:
In recent years, the population of people raising a pet has increased, in addition attachment and interest pets. Like most animals, pets must drink water to survive and maintain a biorhythm. Since pets are often left alone and since communication with their human owners is difficult, the demand for pet water dispensers or water supply devices has increased.

<CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT> (hereinafter referred to as "related art") disclose drinking bowls for pets. <CIT> relates to a fountain-type pet drinking installation. However, such drinking bowls have various disadvantages, which the present disclosure solves. Another example of pet drinking dispenser with an upper cover plate diverting water towards a drain passage between the upper cover plate and an upper cover is to be found in the document <CIT>.

The invention is specified by the independent claim. Further aspects of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a liquid dispenser, e.g., a pet water dispenser, according to an embodiment may include a water tank <NUM> having an upper opening defined by a wall, a pump <NUM> installed or located in the water tank or storage chamber <NUM> to pump water or liquid in the water tank <NUM>, a water supply pipe <NUM> through which water discharged from the pump <NUM> flows, a water supply plate or an upper plate <NUM> provided at a higher position than the wall of the water tank <NUM> and over which water supplied from the water supply pipe <NUM> flows, and a water guide <NUM> provided to be below and spaced apart from the water supply plate <NUM> to receive the water dropped from the water supply plate <NUM> and to guide water back into the water tank <NUM>.

A filter assembly <NUM> may be provided in the water tank <NUM> to filter foreign substances contained in the water before the water stored in the water tank <NUM> flows into the pump <NUM>. The pet water dispenser according to an embodiment may further include a power supply device or assembly, a lighting device or warning light, a water level sensor or weight sensor, a water temperature sensor, a proximity sensor, a pollution level or contamination sensor, a cooling or heating assembly and/or a thermoelectric element, and a sterilizing filter (e.g., ultraviolet light emitting diode). Referring to <FIG>, the water tank <NUM> may include a wall <NUM> having forming a side of the water tank <NUM> and a bottom plate <NUM> defining a bottom of a storage chamber or container of the water tank <NUM>.

The wall <NUM> may include a main wall 11c and an upper wall 11a. The main wall 11c may be provided above the bottom plate <NUM>, and the upper wall 11a may extend from a top end of the main wall 11c. The main wall 11c, upper wall 11a, and bottom plate <NUM> may define the container of the water tank <NUM> in which water is stored, while a container support or base 11b may be coupled to a bottom end of the main wall 11c and provided below the bottom plate <NUM>. The container support 11b may not store water, and instead may house various electronic devices described later. The container support 11b may alternatively be referred to as a base 11b.

The main wall 11c, the upper wall 11a, and the container support 11b may be separately manufactured and then later combined for integration, or may be integrally manufactured. The container of the water tank <NUM> may be formed in a truncated cone or trapezoidal shape such that the upper and main walls 11a and 11c are inclined inward from bottom ends to top ends. However, the container of the water tank <NUM> may be formed in various shapes without being limited to the above-mentioned truncated cone shape. As an example, the container of the water tank <NUM> may be cylindrical. However, when the water tank <NUM> is formed in a truncated cone shape as described above, the water tank <NUM> may be stably positioned and may not be easily overturned due to a lower center of gravity.

The upper wall 11a may include a first protruding plate <NUM> and a second protruding plate <NUM> protruding horizontally inward from an inner surface of the upper wall 11a toward a center of the water tank <NUM>. The first and second protruding plates <NUM> and <NUM> may be spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction. An inner tank wall or inner inclined surface <NUM> may extend between inner ends of the first and second protruding plates <NUM> and <NUM>. Lengths and positions of the first and second protruding plates <NUM> and <NUM> may be configured such that the inner tank wall <NUM> is inclined The first protruding plate <NUM> may be provided above the second protruding plate <NUM> and may have a shorter length than a length of the second protruding plate. The inner tank wall <NUM> may be inclined outward from a bottom end to a top end. The bottom end of the inner tank wall <NUM> may be coupled to the inner end of the second protruding plate <NUM>, while the top end of the inner tank wall <NUM> may be coupled to the inner end of the first protruding plate <NUM>.

The upper wall 11a may be formed with an extension <NUM> protruding upward from an outer end of the first protrusion <NUM>. A bumper <NUM> may be attached to an inner surface of the extension <NUM> and/or an upper surface of the first protruding plate <NUM>. The bumper <NUM> may be made of an elastic material (e.g., rubber) and may therefore also be referred to as packing or cushioning. The water guide <NUM> described later may be placed on the upper wall 11a so that an upper inclined surface <NUM> of the water guide <NUM> may be in close contact with the packing <NUM>.

A protrusion <NUM> having a cylindrical shell shape may be formed to protrude upward from a center of the bottom plate <NUM>, and a first wireless power transfer device <NUM> (e.g., a wireless power transmitter and/or a transceiver) may be provided in an inner space of the protrusion <NUM> below the bottom plate <NUM>. The bottom plate <NUM> may be provided on top of the container support 11b, while a base plate <NUM> may be provided below and coupled to a bottom of the container support 11b. An inner space of the base of the water tank <NUM> may be defined by the container support 11b at sides, the bottom plate <NUM> on top, and the base plate <NUM> on bottom. The base plate <NUM> may be placed on and electrically connected to a docking station <NUM> to which external power is applied.

Referring to <FIG>, the filter assembly <NUM> may include a first filter <NUM> and a second filter <NUM>. The first filter <NUM> may be a truncated (conical) strainer which is formed in a truncated cone or trapezoidal shape. A bottom end of the first filter <NUM> may have a diameter that is less than a diameter of the top end of the first filter <NUM>. The first filter may be made of a rigid material (e.g., metal) and may have a plurality of water inlets or through holes formed in sidewalls.

A second filter <NUM> may be provided inside of the first filter <NUM>, and the pump <NUM> may be provided inside an inner space of the second filter <NUM>. The second filter <NUM> may include an outer or first wall having a plurality of through holes, and an inner or second wall having a plurality of through holes. A filter medium or material (e.g., carbon filter) may be provided between the first and second walls of the second filter <NUM>, while the pump <NUM> may be provided inside of the second wall of the second filter <NUM>.

A second wireless power transfer device <NUM> (e.g., a wireless power receiver and/or a transceiver) may be provided inside a sealed space of the second filter <NUM>. The second wireless power transfer device <NUM> may receive and/or transmit wireless power from the first wireless power transfer device <NUM> via a wireless power transfer (WPT) method (e.g., electromagnetic induction method). The first wireless power transfer device <NUM> may generate a changing magnetic field, which may induce a current or voltage in the second wireless power transfer device <NUM>.

Although the second wireless power transfer device <NUM> is shown as being provided within a sealed space of the second wall of the second filter <NUM>, alternatively, the second wall of the second filter <NUM> may not be as long as the first wall of the second filter <NUM>, and the second wireless power transfer device <NUM> may be provided within a sealed space formed within the first wall of the second filter <NUM>. The space in which the second wireless power transfer device <NUM> is provided may be sealed by omitting a plurality of through holes in corresponding sections of the first and/or second walls of the second filter <NUM>.

An upper filter cover <NUM> through which the water supply pipe <NUM> passes may be provided on top ends of the first and second filters <NUM> and <NUM> so that an upper portion of the pump <NUM> and the first and second filters <NUM> and <NUM> are covered and/or closed. The water supply pipe <NUM> may be arranged in the vertical direction so that the water discharged from the pump <NUM> may be transported upward and then discharged through a water supply hole <NUM> of the water supply plate <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the water supply plate <NUM> may have a smooth upper surface <NUM> over which water cascades and/or flows. The water supply hole <NUM> may be formed at a center of the water supply plate <NUM>, and a first boss <NUM> may extend from a bottom surface of the water supply plate <NUM>. The first boss <NUM> may have a hole or opening that communicates with the water supply hole <NUM>.

Although the water supply plate <NUM> is shown in the figures to have a disk shape, it may be formed in various other shapes. For example, the water supply plate <NUM> may have a hexagon shape with six vertices. The water supply plate <NUM> may be configured to be removable from the inner assembly <NUM>. The water supply plate <NUM> may be lifted up and removed to be cleaned, repaired, or swapped with another water supply plate <NUM> having a different height, shape, angle of inclination, material, etc..

The upper surface <NUM> of the water supply plate <NUM> may be formed as a smooth surface inclined upward toward an edge <NUM>. The water supply hole <NUM> may be formed to have a trumpet shape such that a diameter of the water supply hole <NUM> gradually increases in an upward direction toward the upper surface <NUM> of the water supply plate <NUM>.

A float or nozzle stopper <NUM> may be at least partially inserted into the water supply hole <NUM>. The float <NUM> may serve as a diverter. A ring-shaped discharge port or hole may be formed between the float <NUM> and a portion of the water supply hole <NUM> that defines the water supply hole <NUM>. Water discharged from a water outlet of the water supply pipe <NUM> through the ring-shaped discharge port may be sprayed in a ring shape through the discharge port and cascade across the upper surface <NUM> of the water supply plate <NUM> toward the edge <NUM>. The water may fall vertically from the edge <NUM> toward the water guide <NUM> described later.

The float <NUM> may have a stem and a head. The stem of the float <NUM> may be configured to be inserted into the water supply hole <NUM>, while the head of the float <NUM> may have a size that cannot be inserted into the water supply hole <NUM>. The stem of the float <NUM> may include ribs to fix the stem within the water supply hole <NUM>. Alternatively, the ribs of the stem of the float <NUM> may be captured within grooves formed on an inner surface of the water supply hole <NUM> and/or the first boss <NUM>, and the float <NUM> may move up and down within the water supply hole <NUM> based on a pumping capacity of the pump <NUM>. In such an alternative embodiment, the float <NUM> may completely close the water supply hole <NUM> when the pump <NUM> is turned off.

A plate support <NUM> to support the water supply plate <NUM> may be provided below the water supply plate <NUM>. The plate support <NUM> may be supported by an illumination assembly <NUM> including a light base or support <NUM> and a support <NUM>. The support <NUM> may serve as a light diffuser and may also be referred to as a light guide or light guide plate.

The first boss <NUM> of the water supply plate <NUM> may be inserted into a hole formed in a second boss <NUM> extending from a bottom surface of the plate support <NUM>. A sealing ring <NUM> may be forcedly inserted between the first and second bosses <NUM> and <NUM>. The sealing ring <NUM> may be made of an elastic material (e.g., rubber) and may also be referred to as a packing ring.

A sterilizing filter <NUM>, e.g., an ultraviolet (UV) filter or light, may be provided around the water supply pipe <NUM> to sterilize water that passes through or is discharged from the water supply pipe <NUM>. A top end of the sterilizing filter <NUM> may be higher than a top end of an outlet of the water supply pipe <NUM> so that light may be sterilized directly. Alternatively or in addition thereto, sterilizing filters (e.g., UV lights) may be provided on bottom ends of the first and second filters <NUM> and <NUM> to sterilize water in the water tank <NUM>.

A reinforcing ring <NUM> may be provided on the bottom surface of the plate support <NUM>. The reinforcing ring <NUM> may be supported by reinforcing ribs <NUM> provided on an inner surface of the light base <NUM> of the illumination assembly <NUM>.

The illumination assembly <NUM> may be provided below the water supply plate <NUM> and the plate support <NUM>, and may include a light emitting device or light device <NUM>, the light base <NUM> on which the light device <NUM> is installed, and the support <NUM> provided on an outer side of the light base <NUM>.

The light base <NUM> may be formed in a cylindrical shape, while the support <NUM> may be formed in a trumpet or truncated cone shape having an upper end larger than a lower end. The edge <NUM> of the water supply plate <NUM> and an edge of an outer ring <NUM> of the plate support <NUM> may be provided on the upper end of the support <NUM>. A lower end of the support <NUM> may be placed on the partition plate <NUM>. The water dropped from the edge <NUM> of the water supply plate <NUM> may drip down a side of the support <NUM> or may fall directly down to the water guide <NUM> depending on a speed of the falling water.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the water guide <NUM> may be provided below the water supply plate <NUM>. The water guide <NUM> and the water supply plate <NUM> may together cover the upper opening of the water storage tank <NUM>. The water falling from the edge <NUM> of the water tank <NUM> may be guided back to the water tank <NUM> by the water guide <NUM>.

The water guide <NUM> may include an outer guide wall <NUM> forming an outer rim and an inner guide wall <NUM> forming an inner rim. A drain passage <NUM> may be defined between the outer guide wall <NUM> and the inner guide wall <NUM>, and a bottom wall <NUM> may extend between bottom ends of the outer and inner guide walls <NUM> and <NUM>.

The bottom wall <NUM> may be formed with at least one discharge hole <NUM> to discharge or guide the water dropped into the water guide <NUM> back into the water tank <NUM>. The discharge holes <NUM> may include one or more circular holes, ring-shaped holes, arc-shaped holes, etc. formed along a circumferential direction of the bottom wall <NUM>. Shapes of the discharge holes <NUM> are not limited to circular holes, ring-shaped holes, or arc-shaped holes, and the discharge holes <NUM> may have any shape configured to guide water to the water tank <NUM>.

The inner guide wall <NUM> may be formed with a guide or guide surface <NUM> projecting from an upper surface of the inner guide wall <NUM> out toward the outer guide wall <NUM>. The guide <NUM> may be rounded or curved so that the water dropped from the water supply plate <NUM> hits the guide <NUM> and rolls downward through the drain passage <NUM>. Although the figures show that the guide <NUM> is formed on the inner guide wall <NUM> of the water guide <NUM>, the guide <NUM> may alternatively be formed on the outer guide wall <NUM> to protrude toward the inner guide wall <NUM>.

A groove <NUM> may be formed inside an upper portion of the guide <NUM>, and an edge of the partition plate <NUM> may be positioned on the groove <NUM>. The lower end of the support <NUM> may be placed on the edge of the partition plate <NUM>, and a lower portion or protrusion of the support <NUM> may contact an upper end of the guide <NUM>.

The outer guide wall <NUM> may have a protrusion <NUM> formed on an inner side or surface and protrude inward toward the guide <NUM>. An inner surface <NUM> of an upper portion of the outer guide wall <NUM> may extend upward from the protrusion <NUM>. The inner surface <NUM> may be formed as an inclined surface extending upward. A narrow gap <NUM> of the drain passage <NUM> may be formed between the protrusion <NUM> and the guide <NUM>.

The inner guide wall <NUM> may include a first vertical wall <NUM> defining an inner opening of the inner guide wall <NUM>, and a second vertical wall <NUM> surrounding the first vertical wall <NUM>. The first vertical wall <NUM> may connect a lower side of the groove <NUM> to the bottom wall <NUM>. The second vertical wall <NUM> may be formed between a bottom surface of the guide <NUM> and the bottom wall <NUM>, and may increase a rigidity of the inner guide wall <NUM>. The first and second vertical walls <NUM> and <NUM> may support inner and outer sides, respectively, of the guide <NUM>.

A lower portion of the guide <NUM> may protrude from an upper end of the second vertical wall <NUM> toward the outer guide wall <NUM>. A water retention space <NUM> may be formed under the lower portion of the guide <NUM> between the bottom wall <NUM> and the lower end of the guide <NUM>. The water may be smoothly guided to an inside of the water tank <NUM> through the discharge hole <NUM> from the water retention space <NUM>. Since the discharge hole <NUM> may be a relatively small through-hole to additionally filter water, water may gather in the water retention space <NUM> before being guided through the discharge hole <NUM> to the water tank <NUM>.

A coating layer <NUM> made of a material different from a material of the water guide <NUM> may be coated on the inner surface <NUM> of the upper portion of the outer guide wall <NUM> and also on an upper surface of the protrusion <NUM>. A material of the coating layer <NUM> may be configured to enhance aesthetics, so that a tactile touch may be made smooth, and to prevent falling water from scattering. The coating layer <NUM> may be made of a same material of the water supply plate <NUM> (e.g., ceramic, stainless steel, or plastic) to enhance aesthetics and facilitate cleaning.

The outer guide wall <NUM> may be formed to be higher than an upper surface of the guide <NUM> and the upper end of the upper wall 11a. A protruding portion 51a of the outer guide wall 51a may protrude outward past the extension <NUM> of the upper wall 11a, and a predetermined angle Θ may be formed between the protruding portion 51a and the extension <NUM>. As an example, the predetermined angle Θ may be <NUM>°, and may be configured so that the inner surface <NUM> may catch water falling from the water supply plate <NUM>.

An outer surface of the outer guide wall <NUM> may have two upper and lower inclined surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> and a stepped portion <NUM> between the upper and lower inclined surfaces <NUM> and <NUM>. The lower inclined surface <NUM> may be supported on the inner tank wall <NUM>, while the upper inclined surface <NUM> may be supported by the extension <NUM> and the bumper <NUM> and include the protruding portion 51a of the outer guide wall <NUM>. The step portion <NUM> may be placed on the first protruding plate <NUM> formed on the upper wall 11a so that the water guide <NUM> may be firmly seated on the water tank <NUM>.

The bottom wall <NUM> of the water guide <NUM> may be formed with a protrusion or extension <NUM> protruding inward from the first vertical wall <NUM> of the inner guide wall <NUM>. The extension <NUM> may be provided on an upper side of an edge of the upper filter cover <NUM>. The extension <NUM> may protrude slightly upward from the bottom wall <NUM> so that that upper filter cover <NUM> may fit below the extension <NUM> and so that a side of an edge may fit within the bottom wall <NUM>.

A coupling between the upper filter cover <NUM> and the extension <NUM> and and between the partition plate <NUM> and the groove <NUM> may be configured to form a sealed space or chamber S where the battery B and the controller C may be installed. The space S may be defined by the upper filter cover <NUM> and partition plate <NUM> on bottom and top, respectively, and the first vertical wall <NUM> at a side. The extension <NUM> and the upper filter cover <NUM> may be assembled to be detachable from each other (e.g., by an arm, hook, or a screw method), or may be fixed to each other (e.g., by bonding, welding, fusion, or adhesion).

Referring to <FIG>, a second embodiment of the water guide <NUM> may be substantially similar to the first embodiment of the water guide <NUM> shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> except that a bottom wall 55a may cover an entire lower end of the water guide <NUM>. There may not be a protrusion <NUM> or opening for the upper filter cover <NUM>, and instead, the bottom wall 55a may replace the upper filter cover <NUM>, or alternatively may be placed on top of an upper filter cover. The bottom wall <NUM> may be placed on upper ends of the first and second filters <NUM> and <NUM>. The space S may be defined between the bottom wall <NUM> on bottom, the partition plate <NUM> on top, and the first vertical wall <NUM> at a side.

Referring to <FIG>, a third embodiment of the water guide <NUM> may be substantially similar to the first embodiment of the water guide <NUM> shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> except that an upper cover or wall <NUM> may extend from the first vertical wall <NUM> at an inner side of the groove <NUM> to cover an upper end of the inner wall <NUM>. The upper wall <NUM> may replace the partition plate <NUM>, or alternatively may support a partition plate placed on top of the upper wall <NUM>. The lower end of the guide <NUM> may be provided on top of the upper wall <NUM> within the groove <NUM>, which may be a recess within the upper wall <NUM>. The space S may be defined between the lower filter cover <NUM> on bottom, the upper wall <NUM> on top, and the first vertical wall <NUM> at a side.

As can be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the embodiments shown in <FIG> and <FIG> may be combined so that a water guide <NUM> may be formed to have both a bottom wall 55a that replaces the lower filter cover <NUM> and an upper wall <NUM> that replaces the partition plate <NUM>.

In the first through third embodiments of the water guide <NUM>, the water guide <NUM> may include the lower inclined surface <NUM>, the stepped portion <NUM>, and the upper inclined surface <NUM>, which may not extend from the lower inclined surface <NUM> due to the stepped portion <NUM>, may be supported on the inner tank wall <NUM>, the first protruding plate <NUM>, and the bumper <NUM> and the extension <NUM>, respectively. The inner assembly <NUM> may be firmly and easily installed in the water tank <NUM> at a predetermined position via the lower filter cover <NUM>, the upper and lower inclines surfaces <NUM> and <NUM>, and the stepped portion <NUM>. The filter assembly <NUM>, the pump <NUM>, the water supply pipe <NUM>, the water supply plate <NUM>, the illumination assembly <NUM>, and the water guide <NUM> may be combined or assembled together to form a single inner assembly <NUM>. The inner assembly <NUM> may be lifted up to be separated or removed from the water tank <NUM> to facilitate cleaning and reparation.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, a fourth embodiment of the water guide <NUM> may be similar to the first-third embodiments in that the water guide <NUM> may be part of an inner assembly <NUM>, and the inner assembly <NUM> may be easily seated on the water tank <NUM> by placing the water guide <NUM> on the upper wall 11a of the water tank <NUM>. Other components of the inner assembly <NUM> (the filter assembly <NUM>, the pump <NUM>, the water supply pipe <NUM>, the water supply plate <NUM>, and the illumination assembly <NUM>) may be substantially the same as the first-third embodiments exemplified in <FIG>.

In the fourth embodiment, the water guide <NUM> may include an outer wall <NUM>' forming an outer side of the water guide <NUM>, and a bottom wall <NUM>' extending horizontally inward from a bottom end of the outer wall <NUM>. The bottom wall <NUM>' may have an inner opening to accommodate the lower filter cover <NUM>.

A discharge hole <NUM>' to discharge or guide the water dropped from the water supply plate <NUM> back into the water tank <NUM> may be formed in the bottom wall <NUM>'. There may be a plurality of discharge holes <NUM>' formed in the bottom wall <NUM>' along the circumferential direction.

A coating layer <NUM>' may be coated on an inner surface of the outer wall <NUM>'. The coating layer <NUM>' may be formed of a material different from a material of the water guide <NUM> to enhance aesthetics and prevent scattering of falling water. As an example, the water guide <NUM> may be made of plastic or polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and the coating layer <NUM>' may be made of stainless steel or ceramic. The coating layer <NUM>' may be applied over only the inner surface of the outer wall <NUM>', as shown, or alternatively may be applied over an inner surface of the outer wall <NUM>' and an upper surface of the bottom wall <NUM>'. When a water-absorbent material is added to the coating layer <NUM>', a growth of odor and bacteria over a long period of time of the water guide <NUM> may be prevented.

The outer wall <NUM>' of the water guide may include a protruding portion 51a extending past and upward from the upper wall 11a. A height of the protruding portion 51a of the outer wall <NUM> may be greater than a height of the upper wall 11a of the water tank <NUM>. A predetermined angle Θ (e.g., <NUM>°) may be formed between the protruding portion 51a and the upper wall 11a so as to catch water falling from the water supply plate <NUM>.

An outer surface of the outer wall <NUM> may be an inclined surface supported by the inner tank wall <NUM> of the water tank <NUM> and also by the extension <NUM>. An inclination of the outer surface of the outer wall <NUM> may correspond to an inclination of the inner tank wall <NUM>, and the inner assembly <NUM> may coupled to the water tank <NUM> via the outer wall <NUM>' of the water guide <NUM>' and the lower filter cover <NUM> provided on the protrusion <NUM>.

The bottom wall <NUM>' may extend inward, and may have an inner end 55a' configured to support the upper filter cover <NUM>'. An upper filter cover <NUM>' may include walls <NUM>' extending upward from an outer edges of the upper filter cover <NUM>', and the walls <NUM>' may support the partition plate <NUM>'. The upper filter cover <NUM>' may have a truncated cylindrical shell shape, and the space S including the battery B and the controller C may be defined by the upper filter cover <NUM>' at a bottom and side and by the partition plate <NUM> at a top.

With reference to <FIG>, a fifth embodiment of a water guide <NUM> may be substantially similar as the fourth embodiment exemplified in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> except that an inner surface <NUM>" of an outer wall <NUM>" may include a plurality of projections and depressions. Light transmitted from the light device <NUM> (<FIG>) may be irregularly reflected by the inner surface <NUM>" to attract an animal. Shapes, curvatures, and inclinations of the projections and depressions in the inner surface <NUM>" may be configured to prevent scattering and splashing of water dropped from the water supply plate <NUM>.

An inner assembly <NUM> including the filter assembly <NUM>, the pump <NUM>, the water supply pipe <NUM>, the water supply plate <NUM>, and the illumination assembly <NUM> may be provided to be removable from the water guide <NUM>, or the upper filter cover <NUM>' may be fixed to the water guide <NUM>' to create a single inner assembly <NUM> including the water guide <NUM>'. The outer wall <NUM>" of the water guide <NUM> may be placed on the water tank <NUM>, and the inner assembly <NUM> may be easily placed on and removed from the water tank <NUM> to facilitate cleaning and maintenance. The water guide may have a size and shape suitable for a size and habit of a pet, and may be easily replaced.

Embodiments disclosed herein may provide a pet water dispenser capable of substantially expanding or contracting an upper side outer surface of a water tank <NUM> so as to conform to the size of an animal. Water may not be leaked to an outside of the water tank while the pet is drinking water dropped from a water supply plate.

The pet water dispenser that may always provide clean water to a pet by shielding a space between the water tank and the water supply plate so as to prevent contamination of water in the water tank. The pet may drink water from the pet water dispenser in a comfortable posture. Component parts may be installed in the water tank securely and easily at predetermined positions in the water tank.

A pet water dispenser may include a water tank having an upper opening, a pump installed inside the water tank, a water supply plate provided at a position higher than the water tank and having an upper surface through which water supplied from the pump flows, and a water guide arranged to be spaced apart from the water supply plate in the downward direction and supported by the water tank to guide the water dropped from the water supply plate to the inside of the water tank via a water drain passage.

The water guide may include an upward protruding wall or protruding portion extending upward from an outer wall of the water tank, and the upward protruding wall may be formed to be widened toward the upper side. The water guide may include an inner guide wall spaced inwardly from the outer wall to form a drainage passage with the outer wall, and a bottom wall connecting the outer wall and the lower portion of the inner wall. A hole for discharging the liquid may be formed in the water guide <NUM>.

A guide or guide surface may be inclined downward toward the outer wall on the inner wall, and the outer wall may be formed with an inward protrusion toward the guide so that a narrow drainage path is formed between the outer wall and the guide. The outer wall of the water guide may be formed to have a height higher than that of the inner wall, and an outer inclined surface may be formed on the outer wall to be supported on an inner inclined surface or inner tank wall formed on the wall of the water tank.

As an alternative, the water guide may include an extension protruding upward and outward from the upper side of the water tank. The water guide may include a wall portion or outer wall formed to be inclined from the upper side toward the lower side and a bottom wall portion extending inward from the lower side of the wall portion may be formed. The wall portion of the water guide may be formed with an outer inclined surface supported on an inner inclined surface or inner tank wall formed on the wall of the water tank.

An upper side of the water supply plate may be smoothly formed so that the water supplied from the pump flows along the upper side of the water supply plate and then falls vertically from an edge of the water supply plate into the water guide.

A water supply hole communicating with the water supply pipe may be formed at a center of the water supply plate, and an upper side of the water supply plate may be smoothly formed so that water supplied from the water supply hole flows along the upper side of the water supply plate to be vertically dropped from the edge and introduced into the water guide. The components such as the filter, the pump, a drain pipe, the water supply plate, and the water guide may be combined or assembled into a single inner assembly, or the filter, the pump, a drain pipe, and the water supply plate may be placed on the water guide.

A water guide to receive water flowing down from a water supply plate and to discharge or guide the water to a water tank may be installed or located between the water tank and the water supply plate so as to be detachable from the water tank. The water guide may be formed so as to protrude outward from n upper side of the water tank. The water guide suitable for a certain size of pets may be selected from water guides having various sizes and shapes. The selected water guide may be installed in the water tank so that an outer surface of the water tank may be expanded or reduced.

A water guide may be provided between the water tank and the water supply plate to receive water falling from the water supply plate and to guide or discharge the water to the water tank. An outer wall may be formed to contact a wall of the water tank so that the water dropped from the water supply plate may be recovered into the water tank without leaking to an outside.

Since an outer wall of the water guide may be formed higher than a guide or guide surface of the water guide in which water falling from the water supply plate directly bounces from the water supply plate, the pet may drink water in a comfortable posture. The outer wall of the water guide may be formed to extend outward from the wall of the water tank at a predetermined angle, and water falling from the water supply plate may be prevented from being scattered outside the water tank.

Since the outer wall of the water guide may protrude outward from the wall of the water tank, the water supply plate having a large surface area may be installed so that an edge of the water supply plate from where the water falls may be provided close to the outer wall of the water tank. Water falling from the water supply plate may be easily consumed without contacting the water tank.

Embodiments disclosed herein may prevent contamination of water in the water tank, and may predictably control a temperature and cleanliness of water in the water tank because an upper surface of the water tank is shielded from an outside so that the water tank is thermally insulated. A water tank may be selected among various water tanks to be suitable for a size of an animal so that a pet may drink water falling toward the guide in a comfortable posture in which a head of the may be leaned.

The water guide may extend outwardly from the wall of the water tank at a predetermined angle to prevent water falling from the water supply plate from scattering to an outside of the water tank. Since the water guide may be formed so as to protrude outward from the wall of the water tank, it is possible to position the water supply plate having a large surface area so that an edge of the water supply plate from which the water falls may be close to the outer wall of the water tank. The water falling from the water supply plate may be easily caught by the outer wall of the water tank. Component parts installed in a water tank such as a pump, a water supply plate, etc. may be combined to be a single inner assembly, and the inner assembly may be supported by the water guide so that the inner assembly may be securely positioned.

Embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as a liquid dispenser comprising a tank having an upper opening defined by an upper end of a wall, a pump installed in the water tank, a pipe through which liquid discharged from the pump may be transferred, a plate provided above the wall of the tank over which liquid supplied from the pipe flows, and a liquid guide provided on and supported by the wall of the water tank. An outer wall of the liquid guide may at least partially protrude upward and outward from the upper end of the wall of the tank.

The liquid guide may include a bottom wall extending inward from a bottom end of the outer wall. At least one hole may be formed in the bottom wall. An angle of <NUM>° may be formed between the wall of the tank and the outer wall of the liquid guide. The wall of the tank may include an inner tank wall that may be inclined outward from a bottom end to a top end. The outer wall of the liquid guide may be supported by the inner tank wall.

A coating layer may be coated on at least a part of an inner surface of the outer wall of the liquid guide. The coating layer may be made of stainless steel. The coating layer may be made of a ceramic material. The coating layer may be made from the same material as a material of the plate.

The inner surface of the outer wall may include a plurality of protrusions and depressions. The pump, the pipe, and the plate form an inner assembly mounted on the liquid guide.

The liquid guide may include an inner wall spaced inward from the outer wall, and a drain passage may be formed between the outer wall and the inner wall. An upper surface of the inner wall may be curved downward toward the outer wall. A height of the upper surface of the inner wall may be lower than a height of the outer wall. A bottom wall may connect the outer wall and the inner wall. The bottom wall may include at least one hole to discharge liquid passing through the drain passage into the tank. The inner wall may include first and second vertical walls connecting the upper surface of the inner wall and the bottom wall. A lower portion of the upper surface of the inner wall may protrude outward from the second vertical wall toward the outer wall.

The wall of the tank may include an inner tank wall that may be inclined outward from a bottom end to a top end. The outer wall of the liquid guide may have upper and lower inclined surfaces separated by a stepped portion. The lower inclined surface may be supported by the inner tank wall.

A filter assembly may be provided inside the tank to filter liquid in the tank. The filter assembly, the pump, the pipe, the plate, and the liquid guide may form an inner assembly mounted on the wall of the tank.

The liquid guide may include a bottom wall defining a bottom surface of the liquid guide. The bottom wall may cover a top end of the filter assembly.

The liquid guide may include a bottom wall defining a bottom surface of the liquid guide. The filter assembly may include an upper filter cover that may be inserted into an inner opening of the bottom wall of the liquid guide.

The liquid guide may include an upper wall defining an upper surface of the liquid guide. The plate may be provided above the upper wall.

It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being "on" another element or layer, the element or layer may be directly on another element or layer or intervening elements or layers.

Thus, the exemplary term "lower" may encompass both an orientation of above and below.

Embodiments of the disclosure are described herein with reference to cross-section illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments (and intermediate structures) of the disclosure. Thus, embodiments of the disclosure should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing.

Any reference in this specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "example embodiment," etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

Claim 1:
A liquid dispenser, comprising:
a tank (<NUM>) having an upper opening defined by an upper end of a wall (<NUM>);
a pump (<NUM>) installed in the water tank (<NUM>);
a pipe (<NUM>) through which liquid discharged from the pump (<NUM>) is transferred;
a plate (<NUM>) provided above the wall (<NUM>) of the tank (<NUM>) over which liquid supplied from the pipe (<NUM>) flows; and,
a liquid guide (<NUM>) provided below the plate (<NUM>), and provided on and supported by the wall (<NUM>) of the tank (<NUM>) and covering, together with the plate, the upper opening of the tank (<NUM>), wherein an outer wall (<NUM>) of the liquid guide (<NUM>) at least partially protrudes upward and outward from the upper end of the wall (<NUM>) of the tank (<NUM>) and is supported by the wall of the tank (<NUM>),
characterized in that the liquid guide (<NUM>) includes an inner wall (<NUM>) spaced inward from the outer wall (<NUM>), and a drain passage (<NUM>) is formed between the outer wall (<NUM>) and the inner wall (<NUM>).