US4597423A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for opening bottled water containers
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1985-03-26
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Granted: 1986-07-01
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Expires: 2005-03-26
Abstract
Abstract The invention comprises a refrigerated water cooler having seat for supporting an inverted water bottle and an interior inverted funnel whose narrow upper portion terminates in a knife edge. Insertion of the inverted water bottle causes the sealed mouth to engage the knife edge, open the seal and permit water to flow into the funnel and then into the cooling and dispensing portion of the cooler.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary D. Chenot
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 17:15
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D3/00; B67D3/0019; B67B; B67B7/00; B67B7/24; B67B7/26; B67B7/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
In a water cooler comprising a refrigerated container and a seat for supporting an inverted water bottle directly over the mouth of said refrigerated container so that the mouth of said bottle is located within said refrigerated container when said inverted bottle is supported on said seat, the improvement comprising an inverted funnel having a frusto-conical portion connected to a tubular portion terminating in a slanted knife edge; said funnel being supported within said container on the wide end of said frusto-conical portion, the dimensions of said container and said funnel being so related to one another and said bottle that a sealed cap for said inverted water bottle remains spaced from said knife edge until said inverted bottle has its mouth aligned over the mouth of said container and said knife edge extends through said cap immediately before said inverted water bottle lowers onto a supporting portion on said seat so that water flows through said tubular portion, through said frusto-conical portion and into said container thereby enabling said inverted water bottle to be installed on said cooler without either exterior or interior water spillage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
In a water cooler comprising a refrigerated container and a seat for supporting an inverted water bottle directly over the mouth of said refrigerated container so that the mouth of said bottle is located within said refrigerated container when said inverted bottle is supported on said seat, the improvement comprising an inverted funnel having a frusto-conical portion connected to a tubular portion terminating in a slanted knife edge; said funnel being supported within said container on the wide end of said frusto-conical portion, the dimensions of said container and said funnel being so related to one another and said bottle that a sealed cap for said inverted water bottle remains spaced from said knife edge until said inverted bottle has its mouth aligned over the mouth of said container and said knife edge extends through said cap immediately before said inverted water bottle lowers onto a supporting portion on said seat so that water flows through said tubular portion, through said frusto-conical portion and into said container thereby enabling said inverted water bottle to be installed on said cooler without either exterior or interior water spillage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The improvement as in claim 1, further including drain holes for said funnel to insure the upward flow of air from said container to said inverted water bottle when water flows from said inverted water bottle into said container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The improvement as in claim 1, further characterized by a flange extending outwardly said wide end of said frusto-conical portion, said flange being slightly smaller than the size of the floor of said container to insure reasonable alignment of said funnel within said container.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
145 words
A device for modifying a conventional water cooler comprising an inverted funnel having a frusto-conical portion connected to a tubular portion terminating in a slanted knife edge; said funnel being supported within said container on the wide end of said frusto-conical portion, the dimensions of said container and said funnel being so related to one another and said bottle that a sealed cap for said inverted water bottle remains spaced from said knife edge until said inverted bottle has its mouth aligned over the mouth of said container and said knife edge extends through said cap immediately before said inverted water bottle lowers onto a supporting portion on said seat so that water flows into said tubular portion, through said frusto-conical portion and into said container, thereby enabling said inverted water bottle to be installed on said cooler without either exterior or interior water spillage.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
145 words
A device for modifying a conventional water cooler comprising an inverted funnel having a frusto-conical portion connected to a tubular portion terminating in a slanted knife edge; said funnel being supported within said container on the wide end of said frusto-conical portion, the dimensions of said container and said funnel being so related to one another and said bottle that a sealed cap for said inverted water bottle remains spaced from said knife edge until said inverted bottle has its mouth aligned over the mouth of said container and said knife edge extends through said cap immediately before said inverted water bottle lowers onto a supporting portion on said seat so that water flows into said tubular portion, through said frusto-conical portion and into said container, thereby enabling said inverted water bottle to be installed on said cooler without either exterior or interior water spillage.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US203924A
Cited
US1142210A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-06-30 | 1989-12-30 | 1990-07-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-06-30 | 1993-12-30 | 1994-07-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-06-30 | 1997-12-30 | 1998-07-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |