Five-gallon water supply systems

Abstract

A five-gallon water supply system for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes. The system may have at least one water reservoir interface, at least one expandable plumbing assembly, and at least one platform. The at least one water reservoir interface may have a first water reservoir interface, second, third, fourth, and last water reservoir interface. The expandable plumbing assembly may be hydraulically coupled to the first water reservoir interface and the last water reservoir interface. The expandable plumbing assembly may be configured to plumb potable water from to a single water outlet. The platform may include a first water bottle stand, which may be removably coupled together with a last water bottle stand. The platform further may include a second, third, and fourth water bottle stand that are removably coupled with the first water bottle stand and the last water bottle stand.

Claims

1. A system for delivering water, the system comprising: a first water reservoir interface configured to hydraulically couple with a first water bottle; a last water reservoir interface configured to hydraulically couple with a last water bottle, the last water reservoir interface at a higher elevation than the first water reservoir interface; an expandable plumbing assembly hydraulically coupled to the first water reservoir interface and to the last water reservoir interface, the expandable plumbing assembly configured to plumb potable water from the first water bottle and from the last water bottle to a single water outlet, said expandable plumbing assembly including an air vent, said air vent having a higher elevation than the last water reservoir interface; and a platform including a first water bottle stand removably coupled together with a last water bottle stand, the first water bottle stand configured to support the first water bottle at a first elevation, the last water bottle stand configured to support the last water bottle at a last elevation that is higher than the first elevation, wherein said last water bottle stand includes a basic stand and a last riser, said basic stand being substantially similar to the first water bottle stand, and said last riser configured to elevate the last water bottle by a last increment, said last increment being the difference between the last elevation and the first elevation.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a second water reservoir interface configured to hydraulically couple with a second water bottle, the second water reservoir interface at a higher elevation than the first water reservoir interface; a third water reservoir interface configured to hydraulically couple with a third water bottle, the third water reservoir interface at a higher elevation than the second water reservoir interface; and a fourth water reservoir interface configured to hydraulically couple with a fourth water bottle, the fourth water reservoir interface at a higher elevation than the third water reservoir interface; and wherein the expandable plumbing assembly is also hydraulically coupled to the second water reservoir interface, to the third water reservoir interface, and to the fourth water reservoir interface, the expandable plumbing assembly further configured to plumb potable water from the second water bottle, from the third water bottle, and from the fourth water bottle to the single water outlet.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said platform further includes a second water bottle stand, a third water bottle stand, and a fourth water bottle stand that are removably coupled together and to the first water bottle stand and to the last water bottle stand, the second water bottle stand configured to support the second water bottle at a second elevation, the third water bottle stand configured to support the third water bottle at a third elevation, and the fourth water bottle stand configured to support the fourth water bottle at a fourth elevation.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said platform is configured to hold five standard 5-gallon water bottles in a single line.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein said single water outlet is configured to interface with a drain to provide an exit point to release said potable water from said at least one expandable plumbing assembly.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said drain is configured with an electrically-powered on-demand pump to transfer said potable water to a distribution point for consumption.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first water bottle and the last water bottle are standard 5-gallon drinking water bottles.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said platform further comprises a plurality of adjustable legs forming a rectangular vertical-base can be lengthened or shortened to provide a level surface.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said rectangular vertical-base has an upper-platform surface configured in a square shape and sized to accommodate the outer circumference of standard 5-gallon drinking water bottles.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said rectangular vertical-base is configured at least partially of durable metal materials capable of bearing substantial weight.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said expandable plumbing assembly has a first interconnecting tube joining said first water reservoir interface to a water-flow assembly.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising: a second interconnecting tube joining said second water reservoir interface to said water-flow assembly; a third interconnecting tube joining said third water reservoir interface to said water-flow assembly; a fourth interconnecting tube joining said fourth water reservoir interface to said water-flow assembly; and a last interconnecting tube joining said last water reservoir interface to said water-flow assembly.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein a water-flow assembly has a lower elevation at said single water outlet and a higher elevation at said last water bottle stand.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein a water-flow assembly is configured of tubing having threaded connections.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein said system for delivering water is configured to mount to a vertical planar surface.

16. A system for delivering water comprising: a first water reservoir interface configured to hydraulically couple with a first water bottle; a last water reservoir interface configured to hydraulically couple with a last water bottle, the last water reservoir interface at a higher elevation than the first water reservoir interface; an expandable plumbing assembly hydraulically coupled to the first water reservoir interface and to the last water reservoir interface, the expandable plumbing assembly configured to plumb potable water from the first water bottle and from the last water bottle to a single water outlet, said expandable plumbing assembly including an air vent, said air vent having a higher elevation than the last water reservoir interface; and a platform including a first water bottle stand removably coupled together with a last water bottle stand, the first water bottle stand configured to support the first water bottle at a first elevation, the last water bottle stand configured to support the last water bottle at a last elevation that is higher than the first elevation, wherein said last water bottle stand includes a basic stand and a last riser, said basic stand being substantially similar to the first water bottle stand, and said last riser configured to elevate the last water bottle by a last increment, said last increment being the difference between the last elevation and the first elevation; wherein said second water reservoir interface configured to hydraulically couple with said second water bottle, the second water reservoir interface is at a higher elevation than said first water reservoir interface; a third water reservoir interface is configured to hydraulically couple with a third water bottle, said third water reservoir interface is at a higher elevation than said second water reservoir interface; and a fourth water reservoir interface configured to hydraulically couple with a fourth water bottle, said fourth water reservoir interface at a higher elevation than said third water reservoir interface; wherein the expandable plumbing assembly is also hydraulically coupled to the second water reservoir interface, to the third water reservoir interface, and to the fourth water reservoir interface, the expandable plumbing assembly further configured to plumb potable water from the second water bottle, from the third water bottle, and from the fourth water bottle to the single water outlet; wherein said platform further includes a second water bottle stand, a third water bottle stand, and a fourth water bottle stand that are removably coupled together and to the first water bottle stand and to the last water bottle stand, the second water bottle stand configured to support the second water bottle at a second elevation, the third water bottle stand configured to support the third water bottle at a third elevation, and the fourth water bottle stand configured to support the fourth water bottle at a fourth elevation; wherein the first water bottle and the last water bottle are standard 5-gallon drinking water bottles; wherein said platform further comprises a plurality of adjustable legs forming a rectangular vertical-base can be lengthened or shortened to provide a level surface; wherein said single water outlet is configured to interface with a drain to provide an exit point to release said potable water from said plumbing assembly; wherein said drain is configured with an electrically-powered on-demand pump to transfer said potable water to a distribution point for consumption; wherein said rectangular vertical-base has an upper-platform surface configured in a square shape and sized to accommodate the outer circumference of the standard 5-gallon drinking water bottles; wherein said platform is configured to hold the standard 5-gallon water bottles in a single line; wherein said rectangular vertical-base is configured at least partially of durable metal materials capable of bearing substantial weight; wherein said expandable plumbing assembly has a first interconnecting tube joining said first water reservoir interface to a water-flow assembly; wherein said second interconnecting tube joins said second water reservoir interface to said water-flow assembly, a third interconnecting tube joins said third water reservoir interface to said water-flow assembly, a fourth interconnecting tube joins said fourth water reservoir interface to said water-flow assembly, and a last interconnecting tube joins said last water reservoir interface to said water-flow assembly; wherein said water-flow assembly has a lower elevation at said single water outlet and a higher elevation at said last water bottle stand, and wherein said water-flow assembly is configured of tubing having threaded connections.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising a kit including: said at least one water reservoir interface; said at least one expandable plumbing assembly; said at least one platform; and a set of user instructions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, five-gallon water supply system, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view illustrating a five-gallon water supply system during an in-use condition showing five-gallon water supply assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the five-gallon water supply system comprising a five-gallon water supply assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 is an exploded view illustrating the five-gallon water supply assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIGS. 1-2.

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the five-gallon water supply assembly according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention of FIGS. 1-3.

(6) FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of use for the five-gallon water supply assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIGS. 1-4.

(7) The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a device for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes and more particularly to a five-gallon water supply system as used to improve an on-demand gravity-fed water dispensing means.

(9) Generally speaking, the five-gallon water supply system is an easy-to-use water supply for a home, an office, or an event where standard sized five-gallon bottles are lined up in a row at different elevations. As water is dispensed, the gravity of the water will individually empty a water bottle and when that bottle is empty, the flow continues without stopping from the next five-gallon bottle in the series. The system can be re-filled at anytime with out stopping the flow of water. Water can be sent to any outlet that is supplied such as a faucet, refrigerator, coffee maker, water fountain, chiller or water heater tank using an on-demand pump. The system may be set up near the water bottle delivery and storage area, such as a home garage or an office storage room.

(10) To use, the five-gallon bottles are opened and put into place on stands that are about 30 inches off the ground. Each stand will have spacer that increases the height of the stand by one inch. For example the first stand 30 inches high; with the spacer installed, the second stand 31 inches high and so on. By doing this the five gallon bottles at the highest point will empty before the next lower bottle, thus allowing both an endless flow of water and the ability to keep filling the system. The stands for the five-gallon water bottles are all the same size and have an elevation of 24 inches off the ground. They are 15 by 15 inches square. A single installation may accommodate up to 24 stands and may be connected to an additional installation for a total of 48 water bottles. The stands can be made out of hard plastic, wood, or metal with four legs to hold up the risers and water bottles. In an alternative embodiment, the water bottles may be suspended with wall brackets on a vertical planar surface if the stands are not desired.

(11) Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in FIG. 1, five-gallon water supply system 100 having user 140 adding last water bottle 170 (FIG. 2) during an in-use condition 150. The system for delivering water 110 may comprise at least one water reservoir interface 160, at least one at least one expandable plumbing assembly 180, and at least one platform 200, useful for transferring potable water to a distribution point for consumption.

(12) Referring now to FIG. 2, showing system for delivering water 110 which may comprise at least one water reservoir interface 160 may further comprise a first water reservoir interface 161, second water reservoir interface 163, third water reservoir interface 165, fourth water reservoir interface 167, and last water reservoir interface 169. At least one water reservoir interface 160 may be configured to hydraulically couple with first water bottle 162. Second water reservoir interface 163 may be configured to hydraulically couple with second water bottle 164, and second water reservoir interface 163 may be at a higher elevation than first water reservoir interface 161. Third water reservoir interface 165 may be configured to hydraulically couple with third water bottle 166, and third water reservoir interface 165 may be at a higher elevation than second water reservoir interface 163. Fourth water reservoir interface 167 may be configured to hydraulically couple with fourth water bottle 168, and fourth water reservoir interface 167 may be at a higher elevation than third water reservoir interface 165. Last water reservoir interface 169 may be configured to hydraulically couple with last water bottle 170, and last water reservoir interface 169 may be at a higher elevation than first water reservoir interface 161. Further, first water bottle 162 and the last water bottle 170 are standard 5-gallon drinking water bottles 175.

(13) In continuing to refer to FIG. 2, at least one expandable plumbing assembly 180 may be hydraulically coupled to first water reservoir interface 161 and to last water reservoir interface 169. At least one expandable plumbing assembly 180 may be configured to plumb potable water from first water bottle 162 and from last water bottle 170 to single water outlet 181. Single water outlet 181 may be configured to interface with drain 182 to provide an exit point to release potable water from at least one expandable plumbing assembly 180. Drain 182 may be configured with electrically-powered on-demand pump 183 to transfer potable water to a distribution point for consumption.

(14) In further referring to FIG. 2, at least one expandable plumbing assembly 180 may include air vent 184, with air vent 184 having a higher elevation than last water reservoir interface 169. At least one expandable plumbing assembly 180 may also be hydraulically coupled to second water reservoir interface 163, third water reservoir interface 165, and fourth water reservoir interface 167. At least one expandable plumbing assembly 180 may be further configured to plumb potable water from second water bottle 164, third water bottle 166, and fourth water bottle 168 to single water outlet 181. At least one expandable plumbing assembly 180 may have first interconnecting tube 185 joining first water reservoir interface 161 to water-flow assembly 190. Second interconnecting tube 186 may join second water reservoir interface 163 to water-flow assembly 190, third interconnecting tube 187 may join third water reservoir interface 165 to water-flow assembly 190, fourth interconnecting tube 188 may join fourth water reservoir interface 167 to the water-flow assembly 190, and last interconnecting tube 189 may join last water reservoir interface 169 to water-flow assembly 190. Further, water-flow assembly 190 has a lower elevation at the single water outlet 181 and a higher elevation at the last water bottle stand 203. The water-flow assembly 190 may be configured of tubing 191 having threaded connections 192.

(15) In continuing to refer to FIG. 2, platform 200 may include first water bottle stand 202, which may be removably coupled together with last water bottle stand 203. Platform 200 further may include second water bottle stand 210, third water bottle stand 211, and fourth water bottle stand 212 that may be removably coupled together and to first water bottle 162 stand and to last water bottle 170 stand. First water bottle stand 202 may be configured to support first water bottle 162 at first elevation 220. Second water bottle stand 210 may be configured to support the second water bottle 164 at second elevation 221, third water bottle stand 211 may be configured to support third water bottle 166 at third elevation 222, and fourth water bottle stand 212 may be configured to support fourth water bottle 168 at fourth elevation 223. Last water bottle stand 203 may be configured to support last water bottle 170 at last elevation 224 that may be higher than first elevation 220.

(16) Further, last water bottle stand 203 may include basic stand 201 and last riser 204, with basic stand 201 being substantially similar to first water bottle stand 202, and last riser 204 may be configured to elevate last water bottle 170 by last increment 205, with last increment 205 being the difference between last elevation 224 and first elevation 220. Platform 200 may be configured to hold five standard 5-gallon water bottles 175 in a single line. Further, platform 200 may further comprise plurality of adjustable legs 206 forming a rectangular vertical-base 207 which may be lengthened or shortened to provide a level surface. Rectangular vertical-base 207 may be configured at least partially of durable metal materials 208 capable of bearing substantial weight.

(17) It should be noted that five-gallon water supply system 100 may be sold as kit 440 comprising the following parts: at least one water reservoir interface 160; at least one at least one expandable plumbing assembly 180; at least one platform 200; and a set of user instructions 340. The kit has instructions such that functional relationships are detailed in relation to the structure of the invention (such that the invention can be used, maintained, or the like in a preferred manner). Five-gallon water supply system 100 may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, customized parts, different color combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient.

(18) Referring now to FIG. 3, an exploded view of five-gallon water supply system 100. Rectangular vertical-base 207 may have upper-platform 220 surface which may be configured in a square shape and sized to accommodate the outer circumference of standard 5-gallon drinking water bottles 175 (FIG. 2). Fourth water bottle stand 212 may be configured to support fourth water bottle 168 (FIG. 2). Last water bottle stand 203 may be configured to support last water bottle 170 at last elevation 224 (FIG. 2) with last riser 204. Further, at least one expandable plumbing assembly 180 may join to water-flow assembly 190, and water-flow assembly 190 may be configured of tubing 191 having threaded connections 192.

(19) Referring now to FIG. 4, showing an alternative embodiment of an installation of five-gallon water supply system 100. Alternative embodiment for system for delivering water 110 may be configured to mount to a vertical planar surface with brackets. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as user preferences, design preference, structural requirements, marketing preferences, cost, available materials, technological advances, etc., other five-gallon water supply system arrangements such as additional water bottle stand configurations and materials, water heating and cooling features, and vertical planar surface mounting arrangements, etc., may be sufficient.

(20) Referring now to FIG. 5 showing flowchart 550 illustrating method of use 500 for system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIGS. 1-4. As shown, method of use 500 may comprise the steps of: step one 501, assembling at least one water reservoir interface 160, at least one at least one expandable plumbing assembly 180, and at least one platform 200; step two 502, installing at least one 5-gallon water bottle 175; step three 503, actioning an electrically-powered on-demand pump 183 to transfer potable water to a distribution point for consumption; step four 504 replacing at least one 5-gallon water bottle 175 as desired; and step five 505, disassembling at least one water reservoir interface 160, at least one at least one expandable plumbing assembly 180, and at least one platform 200 as desired.

(21) It should be noted that step 505 is an optional step and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method of use 500 are illustrated using dotted lines in FIG. 5 so as to distinguish them from the other steps of method of use 500.

(22) It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of step of should not be interpreted as step for, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, 6. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods of use arrangements such as, for example, different orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc., may be sufficient.

(23) The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.