Elkay Manufacturing Company

Edward H Donselman

Ronald C Katz

John B Baker

David H Baker

Henry E Baker

Peter K Baker

Lowell C Burnham

Scott E Sloan

Steve Suchanek

Michael Richard Pluta

David W Wendt

Michael S Marszalec

Knute Alstad

William L Schroer

Howard Meinert

Steven A Griffin

Robin R Saar

Richard Gordon Wells

Philip R Beyer

Automatic shutoff device for filtered bottled water dispenser

A liquid dispensing device and a hygienic adapter are provided wherein the dispensing device includes a cabinet housing a liquid reservoir open at its upper end with a generally annular ring portion for supporting the shoulder portion of an inverted bottle over the reservoir and the adapter includes a feed tube having a generally cylindrical outer portion and a substantially hollow interior defining at least one flow path for dispensing liquid from the inverted bottle into the reservoir and for admitting replacement air from the reservoir into the bottle and wherein the outer portion of the feed tube is formed integrally with and is supported by a cup-shaped structure having an inwardly stepped side wall and an opening for admitting air into the upper end of the reservoir.

Liquid dispensing device and hygienic adapter therefor

A liquid dispensing device and a hygenic adapter are provided wherein the dispensing device includes a cabinet housing a liquid reservoir open at its upper end and defining a generally annular ring portion for supporting the shoulder portion of an inverted bottle over the reservoir and the adapter includes a feed tube formed integrally with and supported by the cup-shaped structure having an inwardly stepped side wall including a peripheral flange portion adapted to be supported by the open upper end of the reservoir and an annular gasket carried by and surrounding the cup-shaped structure for sealingly closing the open upper end of the reservoir.

Liquid dispensing device and hygienic adapter

A liquid dispenser having a drop-in/lift-out reservoir that can be readily disassembled from or assembled to a housing, permitting easy cleaning of the reservoir, and not requiring the detachment of hoses or fittings. In another embodiment, alcove adaptors are provided that can be selectively used to permit various liquid dispenser configurations to be operably connected to the housing assembly.

Liquid dispenser with readily removable reservoir and adaptor permitting

A readily disassemblable cabinet for a liquid dispensing system includes a supporting frame assembly having a base plate and a shelf, and further includes readily removable front, rear, and side panels and a separately removable top support and top panel. Readily removable metal rods are provided to secure individual base, shelf and top support components to the frame assembly. Such rods permit the quick removal of the system components and thus facilitate routine maintenance of the liquid dispensing system while minimizing the number of tools required to service the unit. The upper surface of the shelf supports a readily removable reservoir and the underside of the shelf is formed with brackets for receiving cross pins which removably support a hot tank for pivotal and translational movement toward and away from a valved waterway suspended below the reservoir.

Cabinet and supporting frame for liquid dispensing system with removable

A hollow feed tube has a pair of generally radial openings adjacent the tip end thereof for dispensing water from an inverted bottle having a cap with an axially inwardly extending central recess. The feed tube is dimensioned to penetrate and sealingly engage the cap recess and disengage a sealing plug from the recess when the inverted water bottle is lowered onto the feed tube so as to expose the radial openings to water in the bottle. A conical diverter is disposed within the tip end of the hollow feed tube for intercepting bubbles of replacement air rising upwardly through the hollow feed tube and diverting the bubbles outwardly through one radial opening while water from the bottle flows inwardly through the other radial opening.

Water dispensing feed tube with improved flow

A liquid dispenser is provided including a cabinet housing a liquid reservoir open at its upper end and readily releasable from engagement with the evaporator coil of a refrigeration unit for removal from the cabinet. The reservoir is surrounded by insulation which may be removed in sections. The dispenser also includes a removable valve assembly with inlet couplings press-fit to the reservoir outlets and to the inlets and outlets of a hot tank removably suspended below the valve assembly and liquid reservoir. The valve body is formed with separable parts connected together along a parting line to facilitate opening for cleaning. The valve operating lever for the hot water discharge is provided with a safety interlock catch to prevent inadvertent discharge of hot water from the valved faucet.

Liquid dispensing device with separable waterway

A liquid dispenser is provided including a cabinet housing a liquid reservoir open at its upper end and readily releasable from engagement with the evaporator coil of a refrigeration unit for removal from the cabinet. The reservoir is surrounded by insulation which may be removed in sections. The dispenser also includes a removable valve assembly with inlet couplings press-fit to the reservoir outlets and to the inlets and outlets of a hot tank removably suspended below the valve assembly and liquid reservoir. The hot tank may be pivoted down and shifted away from the valve assembly to facilitate removal of the latter. The valve operating lever for the hot water discharge is provided with a safety interlock catch to prevent inadvertent discharge of hot water from the valved faucet. The hot tank drain is also provided with a recessed cam-operated compression valve to facilitate authorized draining of the hot tank with a suitable cam engaging tool but to preclude inadvertent draining of the hot tank by a child. The dispenser may be used as a conventional inverted bottled water cooler or fitted with an adapter including a dispensing feed tube for opening and closing special no-spill type bottle caps.

Liquid dispensing device

A hygienic liquid dispensing system includes a coaxial cap to close the opening of an inverted liquid container enclosing drinking water or other potable liquid. The cap has a lid portion to overlie and sealingly close the opening and an annular skirt portion extending axially away from the lid to surround a portion of the container neck. The lid portion is provided with an axially inwardly extending recess including an outer sleeve and an inner plug portion connected thereto. An upstanding probe or feed tube is dimensioned for forcible insertion into the recess for separating the plug portion from the sleeve to permit the discharge of liquid from the container. A removable mounting apparatus is also provided to fit on the upper portion of a water cooler cabinet and defines an annular ring for supporting the shoulder of an inverted bottle or container thereon. The mounting apparatus also defines a tapered entry portion having a closed inner wall extending downwardly and inwardly from the annular ring for receiving the neck and cap of the inverted container therein.

Hygienic liquid dispensing system including feed tube or probe for

A two-piece hygienic cap to close the neck opening of an inverted liquid container has a lid portion to overlie and sealingly close the container opening and an annular skirt portion extending axially away from the lid to surround a portion of the container neck. The lid portion is provided with an axially inwardly extending recess including an outer sleeve and an inner plug portion connected thereto. The cap is adapted to cooperate with a feed tube or probe dimensioned for insertion into the recess for separating the plug portion from the sleeve to permit the discharge of liquid from the container. When the tube or probe is withdrawn from the recess, the plug portion is drawn into the sleeve to close the recess and reseal the container. The tearable skirt of the cap includes a line of weakness and a pull tab permitting easy removal of the cap from the container.

Two-piece hygienic cap with resealable plug and tearable skirt with pull

A hygienic liquid dispensing system includes a removable mounting apparatus adapted to fit on the upper portion of a water cooler cabinet and to define an annular ring for supporting the shoulder of an inverted bottle or container thereon. The mounting apparatus also defines a tapered entry portion having a closed inner wall extending downwardly and inwardly from the annular ring for receiving the neck of the inverted container therein. The container neck opening is closed by a cap having a lid portion to overlie and sealingly close the opening and an annular skirt portion extending axially away from the lid to surround a portion of the container neck. The lid portion is provided with an axially inwardly extending recess including an outer sleeve and an inner plug portion connected thereto. An upstanding feed probe is dimensioned for forcible insertion into the recess for separating the plug portion from the sleeve to permit the discharge of liquid from the container when the inverted container shoulder is supported on the annular ring of the mounting apparatus.

Liquid container support and probe-type hygienic liquid dispensing system

A two-piece hygienic cap to close the neck opening of an inverted liquid container has a lid portion to overlie and sealingly close the container opening and an annular skirt portion extending axially away from the lid to surround a portion of the container neck. The lid portion is provided with an axially inwardly extending recess including an outer sleeve and an inner plug portion connected thereto. A feed tube or probe is dimensioned for forcible insertion into the recess for separating the plug portion from the sleeve to permit the discharge of liquid from the container. When the tube or probe is withdrawn from the recess, the plug portion is drawn into the sleeve to close the recess and reseal the container. A removable protective seal overlies the recess to prevent contamination from entering the sleeve and a tearable skirt on the cap includes a line of weakness and a pull tab permitting easy removal of the cap from the container.

Two-piece hygienic cap and opening probe or feed tube

A one-piece hygienic cap to close the neck opening of an inverted liquid container has a lid portion to overlie and sealingly close the container opening and an annular skirt portion extending axially away from the lid to surround a portion of the container neck. The lid portion is provided with an axially inwardly extending recess including an outer sleeve and an inner plug portion integrally formed with a frangible connection therebetween. The cap cooperates with a probe dimensioned for insertion into the recess for breaking the frangible connection and separating the plug portion from the sleeve to permit the discharge of liquid from the container. When the probe is withdrawn from the recess, the plug portion is drawn into the sleeve to close the recess and reseal the container.

One-piece hygienic cap and liquid dispensing probe

A hygienic cap to close the opening of an inverted liquid container is provided for a liquid dispensing system for drinking water or other potable fluid. The cap has a lid portion to overlie and sealingly close the container opening and an annular skirt portion extending axially away from the lid to surround a portion of the container neck. The lid portion is provided with an axially inwardly extending recess including an outer sleeve and an inner plug portion integrally formed with a frangible connection therebetween. A feed tube is dimensioned for forcible insertion into the recess for breaking the frangible connection and separating the plug portion from the sleeve to permit the discharge of liquid from the container through the tube. When the tube is withdrawn from the recess, the plug portion is drawn into the sleeve to close the recess and reseal the container.

Growing community of inventors

Freeport, IL, United States of America

Edward H Donselman