Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02412480 2002-11-25
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning and disinfecting a
conventional water
cooler. More particularly the invention relates to an apparatus for scrubbing
and disinfecting the
surfaces of a water cooler which come into contact' with water dispensed by
the cooler.
Water coolers which dispense water from bottles of water are found throughout
North
America. Bottles filled with potable water axe available for purchase at
retail outlets such as
grocery stores, variety stores and the like. The bottles are attached to the
coolers by turning them
upside down over rods which extend upwardly from the top of the coolers. The
rods pierce the
caps and allow the contents of the bottles to flow downwardly into the
coolers. The coolers are
provided with taps for dispensing the water.
A shortcoming of many water coolers is that they are difficult to clean and
disinfect.
There are many surfaces of coolers, both exterior and interior, which are
contacted by water from
the bottle and many of those surfaces are not readily accessible for cleaning
and disinfecting .
The exterior area where a bottle is seated on a coolex is, for example,
usually so confined that it
is inaccessible for cleaning and disinfecting. Such area can be a site of
bacteria and harmful
deposits from the water. Hoses within a cooler and the taps from which water
is dispensed can
also be sites for bacteria and deposits.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
I have invented a vessel which is useful fox cleaning and disinfecting a water
cooler. The
vessel removes by friction deposits on the exterior surfaces of a cooler
contacted by water.
CA 02412480 2002-11-25
Moreover, the contents of the vessel disinfect the hoses and taps through
which the water passes.
Briefly the vessel of my invention includes a neck having an outlet from which
liquid within the
vessel discharges. The neck, when the vessel rests on the seat on which a
bottle of water is
situated, is surrounded by an annular side wall. A plurality of bristles
extend outwardly from the
neck and contact the annular side wall. A diaphragm is disposed within the
vessel and separates
the interior of the vessel into two vertically spaced lower and upper
compartments. A valve is
connected to the diaphragm and allows liquid to flow between the compartments.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The cleaning and disinfecting vessel of the invention is described with
reference to the
accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is an elevation of a conventional water cooler and a replaceable
bottle of water;
Figure 2 is an elevation of the vessel of the invention in combination with a
water cooler;
Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the vessel;
Figure 4 is an fragmentary enlarged perspective view of the neck of the
bottle;
Figure 4a is a plan view of a split ring or clip which attaches to the outside
wall of the
neck of the vessel;
Figure 4b is a plan view of a split ring or clip which attaches to the inside
wall of the neck
of the vessel;
Figure 5 is an elevation of a pail and hose;
Figure 6 is an elevation of the pail and vessel of the invention, the two
being separated
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CA 02412480 2002-11-25
from one another; and
Figure 7 is an elevation of the vessel within the pail.
Like reference characters refer to like parts through the description of the
drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference to Figure l, the vessel of the invention is used in conjunction
with a
conventional water cooler, generally 14. The cooler has a seat 16 which
supports the shoulder 18
of a replaceable bottle of water 20 turned upside down over the cooler. Water
in the bottle flows
downward into the cooler through an inlet at the bottom ofthe seat. From the
inlet, the water
flows through a conduit 22 to a tap 24 where it is discharges.
The seat has a lower wall 26 on which the lip 28 of the outlet of the bottle
rests and an
annular side wall 30 which surrounds the outlet. A rod 32 extends upwardly
from the lower wall
and into the interior of the bottle. The rod serves to pierce cap 34 of the
bottle and to prevent the
bottle from falling over when it is seated on the cooler.
With reference to Figures 2, 3 and 4, the vessel of my invention, generally
40, has a
enlarged hollow cylindrical upper body 42 and a hollow cylindrical neck 44.
The neck terminates
at an annular lip 46. When the vessel rests on the seat of the cooler, the lip
rests on the lower wall
26, the neck is surrounded by annular side wall 30 and the rod extends upward
and into the neck.
Bristles 47 extend radially outwardly from the outer surface 44a of neck 44
and bristles
also extend radially inward from the inner surface 44b of the neck. The
bristles on the outer
surface contact the annular side wall of the seat of the cooler while the
bristles on the inner
CA 02412480 2002-11-25
surface contact the rod.
The bristles 47 illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 are integral with the neck of
the vessel.
Alternatively the bristles may be attached to split rings or clips which snap
into contact with the
neck and which may be removed to facilitate cleaning of the neck. Such
bristles and rings are
illustrated in Figures 4a and 4b. With reference first to Figure 4a, bristles
47a extend radially
outwardly from a split ring 48 and with reference to Figure 4b, bristles
extend radially inward
from split ring 49. Ring 48 clips to the outside wall of neck 44 of the vessel
while ring 49 fits
through the mouth and snaps into contact with the inside wall of the neck.
Both rings 48, 49 are composed of resilient material which fit tightly around
the outside
and inside walls, respectively, of the neck and can only be removed by
applying a force opposed
to the bias of the material. In the case of ring 48, the force will be applied
to open it and in the
case of ring 49 to compress it.
A diaphragm 50 is disposed within the upper body of the vessel and two further
diaphragms 52, 54 are disposed within the neck of the vessel. The diaphragms
separate the
interior of the vessel into three vertically spaced lower, intermediate and
upper compartments 56,
58, 60 respectively.
A valve 62 is attached to the upper diaphragm 50 for controlling the flow of
liquid
between the upper and intermediate compartments. The valve is operated by a
handle 64 at the top
of a shaft 66 which extends through the interior of the upper compartment from
the valve to the
handle. Turning of the handle in opposite directions alternately opens and
closes the valve.
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The vessel is prepared for use in the following manner: first the vessel is
turned upside
down and diaphragm 52 is inserted into the neck of the vessel. A layer of salt
is then poured into
the neck while the vessel is upside down. Alternatively, a packet of salt may
be inserted into the
neck of the vessel. The packet must have walls composed of water-permeable
material such as
paper which will allow water to enter the packet and dissolve the salt.
Diaphragm 54 is then inserted into the neck of the vessel to contain the salt
within the
neck of the vessel. Diaphragms 52, 54 are composed of frangible material which
will be pierced
by the rod and are placed such that both diaphragms will be penetrated and
pierced by the rod
when it is inserted into the neck of the vessel. Until the diaphragms are
pierced they must remain
intact. Strong plastic is suitable for this purpose.
The salt in the lower diaphragm must effervesce when it contacts water. Baking
soda is
one of a number of salts suitable for this purpose.
The vessel is then returned to its upright position and valve 62 is opened so
that a liquid
disinfectant can be poured into the intermediate compartment 58. The
disinfectant can be water to
which iodine, chlorine or the like, in controlled amount, is added. When the
compartment is filled,
the valve is closed and potable water such as tap water or well water is
poured into the upper
compartment 60.
Before the vessel of the invention can be used, the bottle of water must first
be removed
from the cooler. Once removed, the vessel is positioned such that when it is
lowered, the rod will
enter the neck. As it is lowered, the rod will pierce first the lowermost
diaphragm 54 then the
CA 02412480 2002-11-25
intermediate diaphragm 52 thereby releasing the salt into the intermediate
compartment. When the
salt contacts the liquid disinfectant, it will effervesce and fill the liquid
with bubbles. At the same
time the bristles on the outer wall of the neck will scour the annular side
wall of the seat and
remove solid impurities from it. Likewise, the bristles on the inner surface
will scour the rod and
remove solids from it. Raising and lowering the vessel several times will
further clean the seat and
rod.
The final step is to open valve 62 by turning handle 64. Water will then flow
from the
upper compartment into the intermediate compartment and hasten the downward
flow of liquid
into the cooler. Liquid which discharges from the vessel into the cooler will
clean and disinfect
the seat of the cooler and conduit 22 which runs to the tap. The liquid will
also clean and disinfect
the tap.
If desired, the outside walls of the tap and the seat of the cooler may also
be wiped with a
disinfectant at this time.
With reference to Figures 5 to 7, the vessel is preferably used in conjunction
with a pail 70
in which the vessel is stored before and after use. Liquid from the vessel
collects in the pail and
does not spill onto a floor or elsewhere before and after the vessel is used.
The pail is of
conventional construction. A hose 72 and funnel 74 which are also conventional
are used to direct
liquid which discharges into the pail from the vessel after use. In Figure 6,
the vessel is shown
being lowered into the pail and in Figure 7, the vessel is within the pail:
It will be understood of course that modifications can be made in the vessel
as described
herein without departing from the scope of the invention.
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