Apparatus and method for dispensing water and ice

Abstract

A portable apparatus for dispensing ice, water and/or ice water in large quantities to large groups of people is provided. The apparatus includes a portable housing including a plurality of ice making machines disposed to dispense ice into an ice hopper. A plurality of finger members is movably disposed within the ice hopper to prevent ice from clumping. The hopper is adapted to dispense ice into a plurality of ice and water dispensing compartments. Each compartment is provided with an ice dispensing passageway and a water dispensing conduit that are preferably situated close to one another so that water and ice can be simultaneously dispensed into a container placed within a compartment. The apparatus includes an ice button and a water button for each compartment to control dispensing of ice and water. Pressing the ice button may also cause movement of the fingers members within the ice hopper.

1 . A portable apparatus for dispensing water and ice in large quantities comprising:
 a portable housing;   an ice hopper disposed within the portable housing;   a plurality of ice-making machines disposed within the portable housing to dispense ice into the ice hopper;   a plurality of ice and water dispensing compartments disposed to receive ice from the ice hopper, each ice and water dispensing compartment including an ice dispensing passageway disposed between the ice hopper and the ice and water dispensing compartment and adapted to dispense ice into the ice and water dispensing compartment, and a water dispensing conduit adapted to connect between a source of water and dispense water into the ice and water dispensing compartment;   an ice button adapted to open the ice dispensing passageway;   a water button adapted to open the water dispensing conduit; and   a plurality of finger members adapted for movement within the ice hopper.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a shaft adapted for movement within the ice hopper, the plurality of finger members being attached to the shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the shaft is adapted for reciprocating movement within the ice hopper. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further including an air compressor adapted to actuate at least one air cylinder coupled to the shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the shaft is adapted for rotatable movement within the ice hopper. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further including a motor coupled to the shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further including a second shaft disposed for rotatable movement within the hopper in substantially parallel relationship to the shaft, a motor coupled through a gear reducer to a first pulley attached to the shaft, and the first pulley being engaged through a continuous member to a second pulley attached to the second shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fingers are moved in response to pressing the ice button. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a timer adapted to cause movement of the finger members at a predetermined time for a predetermined time period. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the water dispensing conduit and ice dispensing passageway are disposed adjacent one another to permit simultaneous dispensing of water and ice into a container. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a valve assembly disposed between the hopper and each compartment, the valve assembly including an ice control valve and a water control valve. 
     
     
         12 . A portable apparatus for dispensing water and ice in large quantities comprising:
 a portable housing;   an ice hopper disposed within the portable housing;   a plurality of ice-making machines disposed within the portable housing to dispense ice into the ice hopper;   a plurality of ice and water dispensing compartments disposed to receive ice from the ice hopper, each ice and water dispensing compartment including an ice dispensing passageway disposed between the ice hopper and the ice and water dispensing compartment and adapted to dispense ice into the ice and water dispensing compartment, and a water dispensing conduit adapted to connect between a source of water and dispense water into the ice and water dispensing compartment, the water dispensing conduit and the ice dispensing passageway being disposed adjacent one another to permit simultaneous dispensing of water and ice into a container;   an ice button associated with each compartment adapted to control the flow of ice from the ice dispensing passageway into the compartment;   a water button associated with each compartment adapted to control the flow of water from the water dispensing conduit into the compartment; and   a shaft adapted for moving a plurality of finger members within the ice hopper.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the shaft is adapted for reciprocating movement within the ice hopper. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the shaft is adapted for rotatable movement within the ice hopper. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of fingers are moved in response to pressing the ice button. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further including a timer adapted to cause movement of the finger members at predetermined times for a predetermined time period. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further including a valve assembly disposed between the hopper and each compartment, the valve assembly including an ice control valve and a water control valve. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the ice control valve is one of a knife valve, a pneumatically-operated valve and an electrically-operated valve. 
     
     
         19 . A method of dispensing water and ice in large quantities comprising:
 positioning a portable housing near a large group of people in need of at least one of ice, water and ice water, the portable housing including a plurality of ice-making machines situated to dispense ice into a hopper and then into a plurality of ice and water dispensing compartments, each compartment including an ice dispensing passageway and a water dispensing conduit situated to simultaneously dispense ice and water into a container;   connecting a source of water to the water dispensing conduit;   pressing an ice dispensing button to cause ice to be dispensed from the hopper into one of the ice and water dispensing compartments;   pressing a water dispensing button to cause water to flow through the water dispensing conduit into the one of the ice and water dispensing compartments; and   causing a plurality of finger members within the hopper to move within the hopper to prevent ice contained within the hopper to clump together.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein pressing the ice dispensing button causes the plurality of fingers members to move within the ice hopper.