Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject matter of the present disclosure relates generally to a fluid dispensing system that fills a container from the bottom and may be mounted to a countertop. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Fluid dispensers, such as beverage dispensers, traditionally fill containers through a main opening in the container. This may be accomplished by simply pouring a fluid into the container or by positioning the container under a faucet with a sufficient vertical profile to accommodate the height of the container. For instance, in the context of a kitchen, a container may be filled with tap water by positioning the container in a sink underneath a tap water faucet. 
     In addition to a tap water faucet over a sink, some households may also include a separate, auxiliary faucet in fluid connection with a water filter, or more particularly, with a point of use water filter. Such a water filter may be installed, e.g., under a kitchen countertop or in a refrigerator. An auxiliary faucet such as this may be used to provide filtered water for direct consumption. 
     Certain challenges exist with this construction, however. Such construction, for example, may take up additional counter space as the auxiliary faucet must have a sufficient vertical profile to accommodate the height of a container. Additionally, an auxiliary faucet may be aesthetically unacceptable in certain situations. Accordingly, a fluid dispensing system capable of filling a container while having one or more features that facilitate a lower profile or that allows the system to take up less space on a countertop would be beneficial. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure provides a bottom fill, fluid dispensing system having a dispenser capable of being mounted to a countertop. Further, a container may be placed onto the dispenser to allow the dispenser to fill the container with a fluid. The container may be filled through a one way valve in the container wall. Once the container is filled to a desired level the container may be removed from the dispenser without the fluid leaking from the one way valve in the container wall. Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure provides a bottom fill, fluid dispensing system, including a valve housing mountable to a countertop, the valve housing including a fluid inlet and a chamber that defines an axial direction. The bottom fill, fluid dispensing system may also include a valve body received within the chamber and slidable along the axial direction of the valve housing. The valve body may define a channel for the flow of fluid, the channel extending between an inlet port and an outlet port of the valve body. The valve body may be slidable between a first position and a second position. In the first position the inlet port of the channel may be aligned with the fluid inlet of said valve housing so that fluid may flow from the fluid inlet, through the inlet port, and into the channel. In the second position fluid may be blocked from flowing from the fluid inlet through the inlet port of said valve body. The bottom fill, fluid dispensing system may also include a biasing member configured so as to urge the valve body towards the second position, and a container removably positioned onto the valve body. The container may have a container wall in contact with the valve body when the container is positioned onto the valve body. Additionally, the bottom fill, fluid dispensing system may include a one-way valve received onto the container wall. The one-way valve may be positioned at the container wall so as to be able to receive fluid from the outlet port of the valve body when the container is positioned onto the valve body. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure provides a bottom fill, fluid dispensing system, including a valve housing mountable to a countertop, the valve housing including a fluid inlet and a chamber that defines an axial direction. The bottom fill, fluid dispensing system may also include a valve body including a first end and a second end, and a channel for the flow of fluid extending between an inlet port and an outlet port. The inlet port may be positioned at the first end of the valve body, and the second end of the valve body may be received within the chamber of the valve housing such that the valve body may slide in the axial direction between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the inlet port of the valve body may be aligned with the fluid inlet of the valve housing so that fluid may flow from the fluid inlet, through the inlet port, through the channel, and through the outlet port. In the second position, fluid may be blocked from flowing from the fluid inlet of the valve housing to the inlet port of the valve body. The bottom fill, fluid dispensing system may also include a biasing member positioned at the second end of the valve body configured for urging the valve body towards the second position, and a container removably positioned onto the valve body. The container may have a container wall in contact with the first end of the valve body when the container is positioned onto the valve body. Additionally, the bottom fill, fluid dispensing system may include a one-way valve received into an aperture in the container wall. The one-way valve may be positioned in the aperture in the container wall so as to be able to receive fluid from the outlet port of the valve body when the container is positioned onto the valve body. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  provides a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a bottom fill, fluid dispensing system of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  provides a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary embodiment of a bottom fill, fluid dispensing system of the present disclosure in a position where fluid does not flow into the container. 
         FIG. 3  provides a cross-sectional front view of the flow of a fluid through an exemplary embodiment of a bottom fill, fluid dispensing system of the present disclosure in a position where fluid can flow into the container. 
         FIG. 4  provides a close-up, cross-sectional and perspective view of a portion of an exemplary embodiment of a bottom fill, fluid dispensing system of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 5  provides an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a bottom fill, fluid dispensing system of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the present disclosure, not limitation of the present disclosure. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit of the present disclosure. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  provide a side view and a side cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a bottom fill, fluid dispensing system  10  of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, bottom fill, fluid dispensing system  10  includes a container  12 , a valve body  22 , and a valve housing  50 , wherein valve housing  50  may be mounted to a countertop  62 . Countertop  62 , as used herein, refers to any fixed surface and is not limited to, e.g., a kitchen or bathroom countertop. For instance, the present disclosure contemplates exemplary embodiments wherein valve housing  50  may be mounted to tabletops, bar tops, a sink, a fixed surface, and other embodiments as well. 
     Valve housing  50  includes a fluid inlet  64  and a chamber  68 , wherein chamber  68  defines an axial direction A. In one exemplary embodiment, valve housing  50  may have an exterior surface  52  that includes a threaded portion  58  allowing it to be mounted to countertop  62  using two retaining nuts  60 . Retaining nuts  60  may be positioned on opposing sides of countertop  62  and may be in engagement with threaded portion  58  of valve housing  50 , allowing valve housing  50  to remain in a fixed position relative to countertop  62 . By mounting valve housing  50  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , bottom fill, fluid dispensing system  10  may achieve a low profile and consume little space on countertop  62 . 
     Valve body  22  may include a first end  32  and a distal end, or a second end  34 , as well as a channel  36  for the flow of fluid that extends between an inlet port  38  and an outlet port  24 . Valve body  22  may also define a circumferential direction, C. Outlet port  24  is positioned at first end  32  of valve body  22 . Second end  34  of valve body  22  is received within chamber  68  of valve housing  50  such that valve body  22  may slide along axial direction A. Valve body  22  is slidable between a first position shown in  FIG. 3  and a second position shown in  FIG. 2 . In the first position, as shown in  FIG. 3 , valve body  22  is positioned within valve housing  50  such that fluid inlet  64  of valve housing  50  aligns with inlet port  38  of valve body  22 . This position allows fluid to flow from fluid inlet  64 , through inlet port  38 , into and through channel  36 , and through outlet port  24 , as is indicated by the arrows in  FIG. 3 . In the second position, as shown in  FIG. 2 , valve body  22  is positioned within valve housing  50  such that fluid is blocked from flowing from the inlet  64  of valve housing  50  through inlet port  38  of valve body  22 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , fluid inlet  64  of valve housing  50  may be in fluid connection with any pressurized fluid source. In this exemplary embodiment, fluid inlet  64  is in fluid connection with a water filtering system  66 , including a filter for removing particles from the water. Water filtering system  66  may be a point of use water filter installed beneath countertop  62 , and it may be in fluid communication with, e.g., a commercial or residential water supply. This would enable bottom fill, fluid dispensing system  10  to deliver filtered water to the user for, e.g., direct consumption. Other configurations may be used as well. 
     For the exemplary embodiment shown, valve body  22  includes an exterior surface  40  defining a plurality of grooves  42 , spaced apart along axial direction A and extending in a circumferential direction C around valve body  22 . Additionally, bottom fill, fluid dispensing system  10  includes a plurality of seals, such as O-rings  44 , positioned in plurality of grooves  42  and configured for providing a fluid seal between valve body  22  and valve housing  50 . In this exemplary embodiment, O-rings  44  are positioned along valve body  22  such that when valve body  22  is in the first position, as shown in  FIG. 3 , or in the second position, as shown in  FIG. 2 , a pair of O-rings  44  are positioned on opposing sides in axial direction A of where fluid inlet  64  meets chamber  68 . 
     Bottom fill, fluid dispensing system  10  includes a biasing member, such as a spring  48 , configured so as to urge valve body  22  towards the second position, as is shown in  FIG. 2 . Spring  48  is positioned in chamber  68  and is in contact with second end  34  of valve body  22 . In this exemplary embodiment, valve body  22  further includes a stem  46  extending from second end  34  of valve body  22  along axial direction A, while other embodiments may not. Stem  46  is slidably received through an opening  54  in valve housing  50 . Stem  46  may have a non-circular cross-sectional geometry, such as a square. This may prevent valve body  22  from rotating in circumferential direction C, and thus help keep fluid inlet  64  of valve housing  50  in alignment with inlet port  38  of valve body  22  when valve body  22  is in the first position, as in  FIG. 3 . Additionally, a pin  56  may be positioned at the end of stem  46 . Pin  56  may function to ensure valve body  22  is in a proper axial position when in the second position, as in  FIG. 2 . 
     In this exemplary embodiment, container  12  includes a container wall  14  and a main opening  70 . Container  12  is removably positioned onto the first end  32  of valve body  22 , such that container wall  14  is in contact with valve body  22  when positioned onto valve body  22 . Additionally, as shown in  FIG. 2  and in the close-up view of  FIG. 4 , container  12  includes a one-way valve received within container wall  14 , or more particularly, received within an aperture  18  in container wall  14 . The one-way valve may be a flexible member made from any suitable material, such as silicone, and configured for opening to allow fluid to flow from outlet port  24  of valve body  22  through aperture  18  of container  12  when container  12  is positioned on valve body  22 . When fluid is not flowing through one-way valve into container  12 , the one-way valve is configured for closing to block a flow of fluid from container  12  and out of aperture  18  in container wall  14  into, e.g., outlet port  24  or otherwise. In one exemplary embodiment, the one-way valve may be a duckbill valve  16  as shown that defines a slot  72  created by the edges  74  of a flexible member  76 . A flow of fluid through outlet port  24  opens flexible member  76  and slot  72  to allow a flow of fluid into container  12 . When fluid is not exiting outlet port  24 , slot  72  closes as the edges  74  of flexible member  76  collapse onto each other to form a seal. Other flexible members for providing one-way flow may be used as well. 
     As shown more clearly in  FIG. 4 , in one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, valve body  22  includes a boss  30  extending along axial direction A. In complementary fashion, container  12  defines a recess  20  into which boss  30  is received when container  12  is positioned onto valve body  22 . Boss  30  and recess  20  are configured to align outlet port  24  of valve body  22  with the one-way valve in aperture  18  in wall  14  of container  12 . Other embodiments of the present disclosure, however, are contemplated without boss  30  and recess  20 . In another exemplary embodiment, outlet port  24  further includes a conduit  26  extending along axial direction A and out of first end  32  of valve body  22 . Conduit  26  is positioned for mating alignment with the one-way valve in aperture  18  of container  12 , when container  12  is positioned onto valve body  22 . In still another exemplary embodiment, first end  32  of valve body  22  further includes a top plate  28  positioned so as to make contact with and support container  12  when container  12  is positioned onto valve body  22 . In yet another exemplary embodiment, outlet port  24  extends through top plate  28 , and boss  30  extends along axial direction A from top plate  28 . For this exemplary embodiment, boss  30  also encircles valve  16  along the circumferential direction. Other configurations may be used. 
       FIG. 5  shows an exploded view of bottom fill, fluid dispensing system  10 , illustrating how the various parts are disposed along axial direction A of chamber  68  of valve housing  50 . For this exemplary embodiment, spring  48  is received into valve housing  50 , followed by retaining nuts  60 , each engaged, one after the other, around threaded portion  58  of valve housing  50 . Valve body  22  is also received within valve housing  50 , such that stem  46  is slidably received through opening  54  in valve housing  50 . Additionally, duckbill valve  16  is received into container  12 , and container  12  may be removably mounted to first end  32  of valve body  22 . While duckbill valve  16  may be a component added to container  12 , it should be understood that valve  16  could also be insert molded with container  12  as an integrated feature. 
     This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

Technology Category: b