Compact water bottle filling station and retrofitting method

Abstract

A compact water bottle filling station for mounting to a wall. The station includes a frame supported on the wall by a wall hanger bracket and a basin supported by the frame. The basin includes a receiptacle located between a front lip and a rear edge of the basin, which define a lateral distance therebetween. A cover surrounds the frame on at least three sides and includes a pair of opposed side panels and a front panel located there between. The front panel extends upwardly from the base of the compact bottle filling station and terminates at and underneath the basin. A backsplash extends upward from the basin, adjacent the rear edge, and has a nozzle provided therein to direct water toward the basin.

Claims

1. A compact water bottle filling station for surface mounting to a wall, the water bottle filling station comprising: a frame having a back plate configured to be in surface-to-surface contact with a front surface of the wall and configured to be supported on the wall by a wall hanger bracket secured to the front surface of the wall; a basin provided and supported on top of the frame and having a recessed receptacle including a drain opening, the basin including a front lip and a rear edge, and defining a lateral distance defined from the rear edge to the front lip; a cover located beneath the basin and surrounding at least three sides of the frame, the cover including a pair of opposed side panels and a front panel located between the side panels, the front panel extending upwardly from a base of the compact bottle filling station and terminating underneath the basin at a location positioned between the recessed receptacle and the front lip, a backsplash extending upward from the rear edge and configured to be in surface-to-surface contact with the front surface of the wall; and a singular water dispensing device provided on the compact water bottle filling station, the singular water dispensing device including a nozzle provided in the backsplash and configured to direct water downward from the nozzle into the basin.

2. A compact water bottle filling station for surface mounting to a wall, the water bottle filling station comprising: a frame having a back plate configured to be in surface-to-surface contact with a front surface of the wall and configured to be supported on the wall by a wall hanger bracket secured to the front surface of the wall; a basin provided and supported on top of the frame and having a recessed receptacle including a drain opening, the basin including a front lip and a rear edge, and a lateral distance defined from the rear edge to the front lip; a cover located beneath the basin and surrounding at least three sides of the frame, the cover including a pair of opposed side panels and a front panel located between the side panels, the front panel extending upwardly from a base of the compact bottle filling station and terminating underneath the basin immediately behind the front lip of the basin and immediately adjacent to a maximum lateral extent of the compact water bottle filling station; a backsplash extending upward from the rear edge and configured to be in surface-to-surface contact with the front surface of the wall; and a singular water dispensing device provided on the compact water bottle filling station, the singular water dispensing device including a nozzle provided in the backsplash and configured to direct water downward from the nozzle into the basin.

3. The compact water bottle filling station according to claim 2, wherein the lateral distance is greater than 4 inches and less than 13 inches.

4. The compact water bottle filling station according to claim 2, wherein the lateral distance is in the range of 11 to 12 inches.

5. The compact water bottle filling station according to claim 2, wherein the lateral distance is at least 6.5 inches less than a corresponding lateral distance of a wall mountable drinking fountain having a bubbler.

6. The compact water bottle filling station according to claim 2, further comprising a rear side, and wherein the front panel is planar and extends up to the basin at an oblique angle relative to the rear side of the compact water bottle filling.

7. The compact water bottle filling station according to claim 6, wherein the front panel extends at an angle in the range of 6 to 19.

8. The compact water bottle filling station according to claim 6, wherein the front panel extends at an angle in the range of 15 to 19.

9. The compact water bottle filling station according to claim 6, wherein the front panel extends at an angle in the range of 16 to 18.

10. The compact water bottle filling station according to claim 6, further comprising a chiller positioned within the frame.

11. In combination a water bottle filling station for retrofitting a drinking fountain surface-mounted to a wall into a surface-mounted water bottle filling station and employing a wall hanger bracket of the drinking fountain mounted to the wall, the water bottle filling station comprising: a frame supported on the wall by a wall hanger bracket of the drinking fountain secured to the wall, the frame having a backplate in surface-to-surface contact with a front surface of the wall; a basin provided and supported on top of the frame and having a recessed receptacle including a drain opening, the basin including a front lip and a rear edge, the front lip and rear edge defining a lateral distance therebetween extending perpendicularly from the wall; a cover located beneath the basin and surrounding at least three sides of the frame, the cover including a pair of opposed side panels and a front panel located between the side panels, the front panel extending upwardly from a base of the compact bottle filling station and terminating underneath a portion of the basin and forward of the recessed receptacle; a backsplash extending upward from the rear edge in surface-to-surface contact with the from surface of the wall; and a singular water dispensing device provided on the compact water bottle filling station, the singular water dispensing device including a nozzle provided in the backsplash and configured to direct water downward from the nozzle into the basin.

12. The combination according to claim 11, further comprising the nozzle being coupled to an existing water supply line extending from the wall.

13. The combination according to claim 11, further comprising the drain opening being coupled to an existing waste pipe extending from the wall.

14. The combination according to claim 11, wherein the lateral distance is in the range of 4 to 13 inches.

15. The combination according to claim 11, wherein the front panel is planar and extends up to the basin at an oblique angle relative to a rear side of the compact water bottle filling.

16. The combination according to claim 15, wherein the angle is in the range of 15 to 19.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wall-mounted drinking fountain.

(2) FIG. 2 is a side view of the drinking fountain seen in FIG. 1 mounted to a wall by a wall hanger bracket.

(3) FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the frame of a bottle filling station embodying the principles of the present invention.

(4) FIGS. 3B and 3C illustrate the wall hanger bracket utilized with the frame of the bottle filling station seen in FIG. 3A.

(5) FIG. 4 is a left side perspective view of a bottle filling station embodying the principles of the present invention.

(6) FIG. 5 is a right side perspective view of the bottle filling station of FIG. 4 mounted to the wall seen in FIG. 1 and replacing previously shown wall-mounted drinking fountain.

(7) FIG. 6 is another right side perspective view showing the bottle filling station.

(8) FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the present bottle filling station.

(9) FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the present bottle filling station and illustrating the compact construction thereof in comparison to the drinking fountain of FIG. 1, which is shown in phantom.

(10) FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the present bottle filling station and illustrating the compact construction thereof in comparison to the drinking fountain of FIG. 1, which is shown in phantom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(11) As used in the description that follows, directional terms such as upper and lower are used with reference to the orientation of the elements as presented in the figures. Accordingly, upper indicates a direction toward the top of the figure and lower indicates a direction toward the bottom of the figure. The terms left and right are similarly interpreted. The terms inward or inner and outward or outer indicate a direction that is generally toward or away from a central axis of the referred to part whether or not such an axis is designated in the figures. An axial surface is therefore one that faces in the axial direction. In other words, an axial surface faces in a direction along the central axis and a radial surface faces generally laterally away from or toward the central axis. It will be understood, however, that in actual implementation, the directional references used herein may not necessarily correspond with the installation and orientation of the corresponding components or device.

(12) Referring now to the drawings, generally illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a drinking fountain 10 according to the prior art. The drinking fountain 10 includes a bubbler 14 that provides, on demand, water for drinking purposes. The on demand aspect of the drinking fountain 10 is implemented via a pushbutton and valve assembly 16 connected to a water supply line 17 that is in turn coupled via an inlet connector 19 to a potable water source 21, as generally depicted in FIG. 2. The nozzle of the bubbler 14 is directed so that water is provided in an upward direction, out and over a basin 18 that collects the dispensed water. Water received in the basin 18 is directed by the shape of the basin 18 to a drain opening 20, which is also provided in the basin 18. From the drain opening 20, water is collected in a tailpipe 22 (seen in FIG. 2) flows through a P-trap 26, elbow connector 28 and coupling 29 to a waste pipe 24 extending from the wall 12. From the waste pipe 24, water is directed to the wastewater drain system of the facility. Enclosing the plumbing components of the drinking fountain 10 are an apron 30 and cover 32.

(13) As seen in FIG. 2, the drinking fountain 10 is mounted to the wall 12 and connected to the water supply 21 and waste pipe 24. To support the drinking fountain 10 on the wall 12, a wall hanger bracket 33 is secured to the wall 12 using fasteners 36. The fasteners 36 extend through apertures in the bracket 33 and into the wall 12. While the type of fastener 36 depends on the type of wall 12, concrete wall anchors 36 are shown. The rear side of the drinking fountain 10 is formed such that features of the rear panel or frame of the drinking fountain 10 engage with outwardly extending flanges of the wall hanger bracket 33 and hang the drinking fountain 10 thereon.

(14) Drinking fountains of the above general type are found in many public locations where it may now prove desirable to have a water bottle filling station, as opposed to a drinking fountain. According to the present invention, such water fountains 10 may be converted or retrofitted from a drinking fountain 10 to a water bottle filling station 40 whose singular purpose is to fill personal water bottles with water in a hands-free manner.

(15) As represented in FIGS. 3A, 5 and 7 and in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the water bottle filling station 40 may utilize the existing wall hanger bracket 33 of the drinking fountain 10 it is replacing to aid in the mounting of the water bottle filling station 40 to the wall 12 or, alternatively, the water bottle filling station 40 may use its own wall hanger bracket 34, but with the same fasteners 36 that secured the existing wall hanger bracket 33 to the wall 12. During retrofitting the drinking fountain 10 with the present water bottle filling station 40, the inlet connector 19 of the water supply line 17 is disconnected from the water supply 21, as is the tailpipe 22, P-trap, elbow connector 28 from the waste pipe 24. Thereafter, the drinking fountain 10 is disengaged from the wall hanger bracket 34 and removed.

(16) After the drinking fountain 10 has been removed, the water bottle filling station 40 is installed in the same location utilizing the same fasteners 36, water supply 21 and waste pipe 24, without requiring relocating or modification of any of the fasteners 36, water supply 21 or waste pipe 24. As such, the present water bottle filling station does not require opening of the wall 12 to provide access for relocating of the water supply 21 or waste pipe 24, thereby eliminating various inherent issues in older buildings relating to hazardous materials and exposure to the same.

(17) To support the water bottle filling station 40 on the wall 12, the wall hanger bracket 34, seen in FIGS. 3B and 3C, includes a central plate portion having apertures 37 that correspond to the spacing of the existing fasteners 36 and allow for reuse thereof. The wall hanger bracket 34, further includes flanges 38 that extend outwardly and upwardly from the central plate portion and from the wall 12 once the wall hanger bracket 34 is mounted thereon. The station 40 itself is provided with a frame 42 that includes a back plate 44, a bottom plate 46 and struts 48. The frame 42 is configured to engage the wall hanger bracket 34 and, as shown, includes apertures 50 provided in the back plate 44 and into which the flanges 38 of the wall hanger bracket 34 are received. With the frame 42 supported on the wall by the flanges 38 of the wall hanger bracket 34, a water supply line (not shown in FIG. 3A) may then be connected to the water source 21 and drain components (also not shown in FIG. 3A) connected to the waste pipe 24.

(18) Provided on top of the frame 42 is a top 53, which is herein referred to as a basin 53. The basin 53 includes a recessed receptacle or bowl 54 that is provided with a drain opening 56 similarly connected via a tailpipe, P-trap and elbow connector (the drain components) to the existing waste line 24 extending from the wall 12. To enclose the plumbing components of the water bottle filling station 40, a cover 52 surrounds at least three sides of the frame 42 and includes a planar front cover 70 located between a pair of opposed side panels 71.

(19) A nozzle 58 provides water on-demand for filling the user's personal water bottle. The nozzle 58 is provided in a backsplash 60 and coupled via the water supply line (also located in the backsplash and similar to water supply line 17 seen in FIG. 2) to the water source 21. During use of the water bottle filling station 40, water exiting the nozzle 42 is directed downward into a bottle located immediately below the nozzle 58 and toward the basin 53 and bowl 54. The backsplash 60 extends upward from a top surface 62 of the basin 53, adjacent to the wall 12 and a rear edge 55 of the basin 53 to protect the wall 12 from inadvertent splashing of water and to enable easy cleaning of the water bottle filling station 40, basin 53 and surrounding area.

(20) The nozzle 58 is intended to be operated hands-free. To initiate the flow of water from the nozzle 58, a sensor 64 is provided in an alcove 66 defined in the front of the backsplash 60. The sensor 64 may be of a well know variety, such as a motion detector, proximity sensor or other sensor, and is coupled to a flow switch (not shown) provided in the supply line. Accordingly, the sensor 64 will cause water to be provided from the nozzle 58 whenever a bottle or other object is detected in proximity to the sensor 64. Conversely, the sensor 64 prevents and stops the flow of water from the nozzle when a bottle is no longer detected near the sensor 64.

(21) Alternatively, the nozzle 58 may be operated by means other than the proximity sensor 64. Such means may include a foot pedal, hand operated button/bar or another mechanical or pneumatic actuation mechanism.

(22) Without a bubbler 14, was well as its associated actuation mechanism and water lines in the front region of the station, the present water bottle filling station 40 is made more compact and extends a shorter distance from the wall than a drinking fountain, such as that seen in FIG. 1 This difference is seen in FIGS. 8 and 9 where a conventional drinking fountain, like that seen in FIG. 1, is illustrated in phantom relative to the present water bottle filling station 40. As shown, the apron 30 of the traditional drinking fountain 10 extends from the wall 12 a distance D1. This distance, D1, is substantially greater than the distance D2 that the front lip or of the basin 53 is located from the wall 12 in the present water bottle filling station 40. In some implementations, this distance D2 may be 3 to 7 inches (or more) less than D1. As such, the water bottle filling station 40 only extends a distance D2 of between 4 to 13 inches from the wall 12. Preferably, however, the distance D2 ranges from 11 to 12 inches.

(23) By reducing this lateral distance D2 from the rear edge 55/wall 12 to the front lip 57, the compact construction of the present water bottle filling station 40 allows the nozzle 58 to be more readily and easily accessed by individual having a smaller physical stature, including smaller children in school settings. With a larger lateral distance, such as the D1 distance of the traditional drinking fountain, smaller stature individuals may feel compelled to reach or may physically only be able to reach the nozzle from a lateral side of station 40. A person on the lateral side of the station 40 might therefore compromise or violate the desired social distancing from an adjacent station 40.

(24) Additionally, by providing the water bottle filling station 40 with the lateral depth D2 noted above, approximately 11 to 12 inches, the water bottle filling station 40 may be internally provided with a chiller 68, designated phantom in FIG. 7, allowing the water bottle filling station 40 to provide chilled water via the nozzle 58. This is significant in a retrofit application since the wall 12 does not need to be opened up to provide a space within the wall 12 to accommodate a chiller, thereby increasing installation costs and potential exposure to hazardous materials in older buildings, as mentioned above. With the present water bottle filling station 40, the chiller 68 may be optional and provided where needed, for example in the southwestern states of Arizona and Nevada, but not provided in states having cold tap water supplies, such as Michigan and Wisconsin. Accordingly, water bottle filling stations 40 with a lateral depth D2 less than 11 inches and down to 4 inches may be desirable in locations not requiring the implementation of a chiller 68.

(25) To achieve this reduced depth of D2, as seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, the cover 52 of the water bottle filling station 40 includes a front panel 70 that extends from a base 72, at a constant angle , up to and under the basin 53 at the front lip 57 or immediately inside or adjacent thereto. The angle , measured from the back plate 44 (the rear side of the water bottle filling station 40) or surface of the wall 12 outward to the front lip 57 of the top 53 adjacent to the upper end of the front panel 70, is preferably in the range of 6 to 19, more preferably in the range of 15 to 19 and most preferably in the range 16 to 18. The angle may be more or less that that stated above, but the above angles provide for the requisite lateral distance D2 while maintaining a generally traditional look to the water bottle filling station 40, as seen in FIGS. 4-9.

(26) The above description is meant to be illustrative of at least one preferred implementation incorporating the principles of the invention. One skilled in the art will really appreciate that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the true spirit and fair scope of the invention, as defined in the claims that follow. The terminology used herein is therefore intended to be understood in the nature of words of description and not words of limitation.