Combination water dispenser with heating mechanism

Abstract

A combination water dispenser with heating mechanism including a reservoir having an automatic inlet means for replenishing water into the reservoir and a controlled water outlet means for dispensing water from the reservoir. The reservoir includes a reservoir heating element which has an applied electric current for heating the water. An indicating means for indicating the activation and deactivation of the reservoir heating element is included on the dispenser. A user actuated means adapted to simultaneously activate the reservoir heating element and the indicating means is positioned on the dispenser. A temperature regulating means responsive to the temperature of the water monitors the temperature of the water during the heating of the water. The dispenser includes an automatic deactivation means adapted to deactivate the reservoir heating element upon receiving a signal from the temperature regulating means.

Description

a one or more temperature cycling thermistors that monitor the temperature of the water. A thermistor is a type of resistor whose resistance varies with temperature. Specifically the cycling thermistors is are calibrated to monitor and control the temperature of the water when it is heated. As such the one or more temperature cycling thermistors also interacts interact and reflects reflect the activation of the indicating means 17. More specifically, the temperature cycling thermistor 19 also works in conjunction with the user actuated means 18 to regulate the activation of the indicating means 17. In one implementation, the temperature regulating means is a series of thermistors calibrated to monitor the pre-determined temperature of the water. Upon the temperature cycling thermistor 19 monitoring and sensing that the water has reached the predetermined hot temperature, a signal is sent to deactivate the reservoir heating element 15 and actuate the indicating means 17 to a steady on state. The reservoir heating element 15 will automatically shut down upon completion of the user actuated heating cycle, and will remain in a dormant state indefinitely until re-activation by means of the user actuated mechanism 18.

The combination water dispenser with heating mechanism 10 may also include a second reservoir adapted to have a reservoir cooling element within the second reservoir operable from the applied electric current for cooling the water in the reservoir. In this embodiment the combination water dispenser may dispense hot or room temperature water out of a first dispensing tap and dispense cooled water from a second dispensing tap. The second reservoir may be filled from the automatic inlet means to a desired level.

Other variations and modifications of the invention are possible. All such modifications or variations are believed to be within the sphere and scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A combination water dispenser with user activated hot water on a required basis heating mechanism consisting essentially of:

(a) a reservoir for accommodating both room temperature water and hot water having an automatic inlet means for replenishing water into the reservoir and a controlled water outlet means for dispensing both room temperature water and hot water from the reservoir;

(b) a reservoir heating element within the reservoir operable from an applied electric current for heating the water within the reservoir;

(c) an indicating means for indicating the activation and deactivation of the reservoir heating element;

(d) an user actuated means adapted to simultaneously activate the reservoir heating element and the indicating means;

(e) a temperature regulating means responsive to a pre-determined temperature of the water; and

(f) an automatic deactivation means adapted to deactivate the reservoir heating element upon receiving a signal from the temperature regulating means that the predetermined temperature of water has been reached until re-activation by means of the user actuated means.

2. A combination water dispenser with user activated hot water on a required basis heating mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the automatic inlet means is a gravity flow feed systems or a pressurized feed systems.

3. A combination water dispenser with user activated hot water on a required basis heating mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein the gravity flow feed system or a pressurized feed system further includes a one way check valve that prevents backflow from the first and/or second reservoirs during operation of the combination water dispenser.

4. A combination water dispenser with user activated hot water on-demand heating mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the controlled water outlet means is a single dispensing tap.

5. A combination water dispenser with user activated hot water on a required basis heating mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reservoir heating element is a conventional electric resistance heating element having an applied AC current when the user actuated means is activated.

6. A combination water dispenser with user activated hot water on a required basis heating mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the indicating means is a visible indicator mechanism.

7. A combination water dispenser with user activated hot water on a required basis heating mechanism as claimed in claim 6 wherein the visible indicator mechanism is an indicator light.

8. A combination water dispenser with user activated hot water on a required basis heating mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the indicating means is an audible indicator.

9. A combination water dispenser with user activated hot water on a required basis heating mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the user actuated means is a manually engaged member.

10. A combination water dispenser with user activated hot water on a required basis heating mechanism as claimed in claim 9 wherein the manually engaged member is a biased button.

11. A combination water dispenser with user activated hot water on-demand heating mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the temperature regulating means is a series of thermistors calibrated to monitor the pre-determined temperature of the water.

12. A combination water dispenser with user activated hot water on a required basis heating mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the including a second reservoir has having a reservoir cooling element within the second reservoir operable from the applied electric current for cooling the water in the second reservoir.

13. A combination water dispenser with user activated hot water on a required basis heating mechanism as claimed in claim 12 wherein the controlled water outlet means includes a first dispensing tap for hot or room temperature water and a second dispensing tap for dispensing cooled water.

14. A combination water dispenser with user activated hot water on a required basis heating mechanism as claimed in claim 1 including a cooling element configured to provide cooled water.

15. A combination water dispenser with user activated hot water on a required basis heating mechanism consisting essentially of:

(a) a reservoir for accommodating both room temperature water and hot water having an automatic inlet means for replenishing water into the reservoir and a controlled water outlet means for dispensing both room temperature water and hot water from the reservoir;

(b) a reservoir heating element within the reservoir operable from an applied electric current for heating the water within the reservoir;

(c) an indicating means for indicating activation and deactivation of the reservoir heating element;

(d) a user actuated means adapted to simultaneously activate the reservoir heating element and the indicating means;

(e) a temperature regulating means responsive to a predetermined temperature of the water;

(f) an automatic deactivation means adapted to deactivate the reservoir heating element upon receiving a signal from the temperature regulating means that the predetermined temperature of water has been reached until reactivation by means of the user actuated means; and

(g) a cooling means for providing cooled water.

16. A combination water dispenser with user activated hot water on a required basis heating mechanism as claimed in claim 15 wherein the heating reservoir heating element is only activated upon engagement of the user actuated means.

17. A combination water dispenser with user activated hot water on a required basis heating mechanism as claimed in claim 15 wherein the automatic inlet means comprises a gravity flow feed system or a pressurized feed system.

18. A combination water dispenser with user activated hot water on a required basis heating mechanism as claimed in claim 15 wherein the indicating means comprises an indicator light.

19. A combination water dispenser with user activated hot water on a required basis heating mechanism as claimed in claim 15 wherein the user actuated means comprises a tab or a button.

20. A combination water dispenser with user activated hot water on-demand heating mechanism as claimed in claim 15 wherein the temperature regulating means comprises one or more thermistors configured to monitor the temperature of the water.

21. A combination water dispenser with user activated hot water on a required basis heating mechanism as claimed in claim 15 wherein the controlled water outlet means includes a first dispensing tap for hot or room temperature water and a second dispensing tap for dispensing cooled water.

22. A combination water dispenser with user activated hot water on a required basis heating mechanism consisting essentially of:

(a) a reservoir for accommodating both room temperature water and hot water having an automatic inlet means for replenishing water into the reservoir and a controlled water outlet means for dispensing both room temperature water and hot water from the reservoir;

(b) a reservoir heating element within the reservoir operable from an applied electric current for heating the water within the reservoir;

(c) a user actuated means adapted to activate the reservoir heating element when hot water is desired.

23. A combination water dispenser with user activated hot water on a required basis heating mechanism as claimed in claim 22 wherein the heating reservoir heating element is only activated upon engagement of the user actuated means.

24. A combination water dispenser with user activated hot water on a required basis heating mechanism as claimed in claim 22 wherein the automatic inlet means comprises a gravity flow feed system or a pressurized feed system.

25. A combination water dispenser with user activated hot water on a required basis heating mechanism as claimed in claim 22 including an indicator light.

26. A combination water dispenser with user activated hot water on a required basis heating mechanism as claimed in claim 22 wherein the user actuated means comprises a tab or a button.

27. A combination water dispenser with user activated hot water on-demand heating mechanism as claimed in claim 22 including one or more thermistors configured to monitor the temperature of the water.

28. A combination water dispenser with user activated hot water on a required basis heating mechanism as claimed in claim 22 wherein the controlled water outlet means includes a first dispensing tap for hot or room temperature water and a second dispensing tap for dispensing cooled water.

29. A combination water dispenser with user activated hot water on a required basis heating mechanism as claimed in claim 22 including a housing, a frame or both.

30. A combination water dispenser with user activated hot water on a required basis heating mechanism as claimed in claim 22 including an electrical system configured to receive electrical power and to supply electricity to elements of the combination water dispenser.

31. A combination comprising:

a combination water dispenser with user activated hot water on a required basis heating mechanism according to claim 22; and

a source of water.

32. The combination of claim 31, wherein the source of water comprises:

a jug of water or a water dispenser filtration system.