Cold water tank and parts thereof

Abstract

A probe for use in a system for dispensing water from a water bottle having a neck extending to an open mouth covered by a cap. The system includes a water bottle receptacle adapted to hold an inverted water bottle. The probe is positioned centrally and upright within the receptacle so as to be inserted through the mouth and pierce or lift a central portion of the cap of the bottle when said bottle is positioned in an inverted position within said receptacle. The probe comprises an elongate vertically upright tubular member extending from an upper portion to a lower seat portion, said upper portion being positioned within the bottle when said bottle is positioned within the receptacle, said upper portion defining an opening therein, in communication with a passageway within the tubular member, said passageway extending through to a lower opening defined in the seat portion. The upper portion of the tubular member including an upwardly tapering head, and a compressible resilient portion positioned below said head, connecting the head to the tubular member. The compressible resilient portion allows the head to have its angular orientation altered relative to the vertical axis of the tubular member if the head is subject to non vertically oriented forces when the probe inserted through the mouth of the bottle.

1 . A probe for use in a system for dispensing water from a water bottle, said bottle having a neck extending to an open mouth of the bottle, the mouth being covering by a cap, said system including a water bottle receptacle adapted to hold an inverted said water bottle, said probe being positioned centrally and upright within the receptacle so as to be inserted through the mouth and pierce or lift a central portion of the cap of the bottle when said bottle is positioned in an inverted position within said receptacle, said probe comprising: 
 an elongate vertically upright tubular member extending from an upper portion to a lower seat portion, said upper portion being positioned within the bottle when said bottle is positioned within the receptacle, said upper portion defining an opening therein, in communication with a passageway within the tubular member, said passageway extending through to a lower opening defined in the seat portion, said upper portion including a head, and a compressible resilient portion positioned below said head, connecting the head to the tubular member, said compressible resilient portion allowing the head to have its angular orientation altered relative to the vertical axis of the tubular member if the head is subject to non vertically oriented forces when the probe inserted through the mouth of the bottle.    
   
   
       2 . A probe as recited in  claim 1  wherein said head is upwardly tapering to an upper conical portion.  
   
   
       3 . A probe as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said cap includes an outer cap portion, having a skirt portion adapted to be sealingly engaged with the mouth of the bottle, and a central tube portion joined to the skirt by an annular base, the tube extending to a free end, said free end having an inner cap releasably sealingly engaged therewith, the probe being inserted through the tube, the head engaging and lifting the inner cap off the free end of the outer cap, said inner cap being releasably secured to the head, the opening in the upper portion of the probe being positioned within the bottle creating a passageway for water flow from the bottle to the receptacle, and as said bottle is lifted out of the water receptacle, the inner cap sealingly reengages the free end and the head releases from engagement from the inner cap.  
   
   
       4 . A probe as recited in  claim 3  wherein the compressible portion includes at least one bead extending radially outwardly from an outer surface of the upper portion, the inner cap forming an inner cavity, said cavity sized and shaped to snuggly hold said probe head in releasable engagement therewith, said inner cavity having an inwardly extending lip extending around an outer portion of said inner cavity, said lip adapted to be inserted over and releasably engage the lower portion of said bead.  
   
   
       5 . A probe as recited in  claim 4  wherein the compressible portion and head have a circumference which is less than that of the tubular member and a plurality of said beads are regularly spaced around outer surface of the compressible portion.  
   
   
       6 . A probe as recited in  claim 5  wherein if a water bottle cap engages the head of the probe and an angle to the vertical, the head, capable of changing its angular orientation to the tubular member, will be caused to adjust its angular orientation, so as to center the head within the inner cavity of the cap such that the head will be inserted and snuggly fit therewithin.  
   
   
       7 . A probe as recited in  claim 1  wherein said seat portion includes an outer threading formed therein adapted for threaded engagement with the bottom of the bottle receptacle, thereby providing releasable sealing engagement of the probe within the water system.  
   
   
       8 . A probe as recited in  claim 5  wherein 4 beads, are regularly spaced around the circumference and have a smooth outer surface.  
   
   
       9 . A resilient sealing ring for forming a seal between an upper open portion of a water tank defined by a water tank wall and an element of a dispensing system said element positioned within the upper open portion of the tank adjacent interiorly the wall of the tank around the entire circumference thereof, so as to seal water within the tank below the seal, said sealing member comprising a central upper portion, an inner member extending downwardly from one side of the central portion and an outer member extending downwardly and outwardly from an opposite side of the central portion, each member having an inside and an outside surface, the outer member being longer than the inner member, the inner member adapted to be sealingly engaged with the element around the circumference of the element and when the inner member is so sealingly engaged with the element, the outside surface of the outer member is positioned to sealingly engage the interior of the tank wall, thereby providing a seal between the element and the tank wall, preventing water from leaking through the top of the tank over a top edge thereof.  
   
   
       10 . The sealing ring as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said inner member is sealingly engaged within a groove formed around the circumference of the element.  
   
   
       11 . The sealing ring as recited in  claim 10  wherein said element is a bracket secured to a bottle receptacle for holding an inverted water bottle which delivers water to the tank below the seal, the bracket being positioned between cold water tank and bottle receptacle.  
   
   
       12 . The sealing ring as recited in  claim 9  wherein said outer member has a thickness which diminishes as it extends outwardly and downwardly.  
   
   
       13 . The seal as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the bracket further comprises a plurality of leading feet positioned at regular intervals around the circumference of the bracket positioned to abut the wall of the water tank and ensure even spacing of the bracket with respect to the cold water tank wall.  
   
   
       14 . The seal as recited in  claim 10  wherein the inner surface of the inner member includes semicircular shaped protuberances extending therefrom adapted to enhance sealing engagement within said groove.  
   
   
       15 . The sealing member as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the portion of the cold tank wall which engages the outer member, tapers inwardly as it extends downwardly.