Abstract: Devices for carbonating drinking water are disclosed. The devices include a container that is configured to hold a volume of carbonated drinking water; a CO2 gas supply line that is configured to deliver CO2 gas to the volume of carbonated drinking water within the container; and a variable speed electric motor located outside of and adjacent to an external surface of the container. In addition, the devices include a turbine type impeller that is magnetically coupled to and driven by the variable speed electric motor. The turbine type impeller is configured to rotate at variable speeds and spray carbonated drinking water transferred from a bottom portion of the container into an air space located above the volume of carbonated drinking water and the top internal surface of the container.

Abstract: Combined water dispensers and coffee making devices are disclosed, which include a cabinet configured to house a water bottle in a bottom half of the interior portion of the cabinet; a cold tank that is configured to receive water from the water bottle, which is connected to an evaporator; one or more hot tanks that are configured to receive water (directly or indirectly) from the cold tank, which are connected to a heating coil to heat the water that is contained therein; and a coffee making device located on a top side of the cabinet. The coffee making device receives water from the hot tank, receives a disposable cartridge that contains coffee grinds for a single-serving of coffee, causes water to contact the coffee grinds to produce a coffee beverage, and employs a set of spikes to make water entry and exit apertures in the cartridge.

Abstract: Combined water dispensers and coffee making devices are disclosed, which include a cabinet configured to house a water bottle in a bottom half of the interior portion of the cabinet; a cold tank that is configured to receive water from the water bottle, which is connected to an evaporator; one or more hot tanks that are configured to receive water (directly or indirectly) from the cold tank, which are connected to a heating coil to heat the water that is contained therein; and a coffee making device located on a top side of the cabinet. The coffee making device receives water from the hot tank, receives a disposable cartridge that contains coffee grinds for a single-serving of coffee, causes water to contact the coffee grinds to produce a coffee beverage, and employs a set of spikes to make water entry and exit apertures in the cartridge.

Abstract: Water dispenser and coffee making devices that include a cabinet configured to house a water bottle in a bottom half of the interior portion of the cabinet; a cold tank that is configured to receive water from the water bottle, which is connected to an evaporator; one or more hot tanks that are configured to receive water (directly or indirectly) from the cold tank, which are connected to a heating coil to heat the water that is contained therein; and a coffee making device located on a top side of the cabinet, which (i) receives water from the hot tank, receives a disposable cartridge that contains coffee grinds for a single-serving of coffee, and causes water to contact the coffee grinds to produce a coffee beverage and (ii) employs a blunt- and sharp-ended spike, which are positioned to make water entry and exit apertures in the coffee cartridge, which are positioned in a way that prevents user injury from such spikes.

Abstract: Bottled water dispensers are disclosed that include a cabinet having an exterior portion and an interior portion. The interior portion of the cabinet is configured to house a water bottle in an upright position. The dispensers include a cold tank; at least one hot tank, which is connected to a heating element that is configured to heat the water that is contained within the hot tank; and a central processing unit (CPU), which is programmable by a user through a control panel. The CPU is configured to communicate with the heating element and cause power to be delivered to the heating element according to a defined protocol. The protocol may specify (i) the frequency and magnitude of pulsed energy to be delivered to the heating element from a power source; and (ii) a set temperature, or range of temperatures, for water contained within the hot tank and cold tank.

Abstract: Bottled water dispensers that include a cabinet having an exterior portion, which includes side walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall. The water dispensers include at least one water dispensing actuator, which includes a cap portion having an exterior top surface that is flush with the top wall of the bottled water dispenser. The cap portion also includes a button that is substantially parallel with a side wall of the dispenser. The exterior top surface of the cap portion must be pressed downwards, and the button must be pushed inwards, in order to release water from the dispenser.

Abstract: Bottom loading water coolers are disclosed, which include (1) a cabinet having an exterior portion and an interior portion; (2) a water bottle disposed in the bottom half of the interior portion of the cabinet; (3) a cold tank disposed in the top half of the interior portion of the cabinet and above the water bottle; (4) a bottle tray disposed in the bottom half of the interior portion of the cabinet that is configured to receive the water bottle in an upright position, such that the bottle tray may be reversibly pulled out of, and pushed into, the interior portion of the cabinet; (5) a pump that injects air into the water bottle at defined and periodic intervals; and (6) a specialized probe for transferring water from the water bottle to the cold tank (and for delivering air from a pump to the water bottle).

Abstract: Bottom loading water coolers are disclosed, which include (1) a cabinet having an exterior portion and an interior portion; (2) a water bottle disposed in the bottom half of the interior portion of the cabinet; (3) a cold tank disposed in the top half of the interior portion of the cabinet and above the water bottle; (4) a bottle tray disposed in the bottom half of the interior portion of the cabinet that is configured to receive the water bottle in an upright position, such that the bottle tray may be reversibly pulled out of, and pushed into, the interior portion of the cabinet; (5) a pump that injects air into the water bottle at defined and periodic intervals; and (6) a specialized probe for transferring water from the water bottle to the cold tank (and for delivering air from a pump to the water bottle).

Abstract: Bottled water dispensers that include a cabinet having an exterior portion, which includes side walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall. The water dispensers include at least one water dispensing actuator, which includes a cap portion having an exterior top surface that is flush with the top wall of the bottled water dispenser. The cap portion also includes a button that is substantially parallel with a side wall of the dispenser. The exterior top surface of the cap portion must be pressed downwards, and the button must be pushed inwards, in order to release water from the dispenser.

Abstract: Devices and methods for sterilizing bottled water coolers and water dispensed therefrom. According to certain embodiments, the invention includes a bottled water cooler, which comprises a water bottle, an exterior cabinet, a cold tank, a bottle receptacle located on top of the cold tank that is configured to receive the water bottle in an inverted position, and an ozone generator. The ozone generator is capable of dispensing ozone gas within the space located above a volume of water contained within the cold tank, such that the ozone gas will be effective to sterilize the interior portions of the cold tank located above the volume of water.

Abstract: Bottled water dispensers are disclosed that include a water bottle receptacle. The water bottle receptacle includes a first and second floating baffle (with a hole disposed in the center portion of the second floating baffle). A raised ring having a triangular cross-sectional shape is located at the bottom portion of the receptacle, which makes contact with the second floating baffle, when the second floating baffle is buoyantly forced upwards into the raised ring to close an aperture through which water is transferred from the water bottle into a cold tank of the water dispenser (during hot water sterilization procedures, when the water level in a cold tank of the dispenser exceeds a threshold level). The second floating baffle is effective to prevent the undesirable heating of water contained within the water bottle during such hot water sterilization procedures.

Abstract: Devices and methods for dispensing bottled water are provided. More particularly, devices and methods for preventing water from overflowing out of bottled water coolers are provided. According to certain embodiments, a bottled water dispenser is provided which comprises: (1) a water bottle; (2) a pump; (3) a control unit which instructs the pump to inject air into the water bottle (or, under certain circumstances, to cease injecting air into the water bottle); (4) a cold tank that receives water from the water bottle through an inlet tube and one-way valve; and (5) a baffle disposed within the cold tank. The invention provides that upon a volume of water within the cold tank exceeding a threshold level, a surface of the water contacts and exerts a force on the baffle, which causes the baffle and the one-way valve to close the inlet tube.

Abstract: A child resistant tap has a valve body (12) with an inlet (22) and an outlet (24) and a valve seat (26) therebetween. An axially slidable valve element (28) engages the valve seat (26) to open and close the valve. A handle or lever (1) is pivotally connected to the valve element (28) outside the valve body. The handle has a fulcrum portion (1-2), so that pivotal movement of the handle (1) operates the valve element (28). A safety lever (6) is pivotally attached to the handle (1) and has a locking arm (6-2) which engages the valve body (12) to prevent the handle from pivoting to open the valve. The safety lever (6) also has an actuator arm (6-1) located adjacent to a transverse lever arm (1—1) of the handle, so that squeezing together of the actuator arm (6-1) and the handle lever arm (1—1) causes the safety lever (6) to pivot out of engagement with the valve body (12) allowing the valve to be opened.

Abstract: A tank for retaining and heating water is defined by tank walls, including a bottom wall portion comprised of stainless steel. The tank has a water inlet and a water outlet for dispensing hot water. An aluminium intermediate plate is brazed to the lower surface of the bottom wall portion. A heating element secured within a heat conductive sheath, is brazed to the intermediate plate. A baffle is positioned within the walls of the tank, dividing the tank into an upper water reservoir and a lower preheating chamber, the baffle having at least one open portion defined therethrough. A thermostat which activates the heating element to provide heat to the tank when the thermostat reads a temperature at or below a preset temperature is positioned on the tank wall below the midway point between the top and bottom wall of the tank and where a baffle is present in the tank, below the position of the baffle.

Abstract: A child resistant tap has a valve body (12) with an inlet (22) and an outlet (24) and a valve seat (26) therebetween. An axially slidable valve element (28) engages the valve seat (26) to open and close the valve. A handle or lever (1) is pivotally connected to the valve element (28) outside the valve body. The handle has a fulcrum portion (1-2), so that pivotal movement of the handle (1) operates the valve element (28). A safety lever (6) is pivotally attached to the handle (1) and has a locking arm (6-2) which engages the valve body (12) to prevent the handle from pivoting to open the valve. The safety lever (6) also has an actuator arm (6-1) located adjacent to a transverse lever arm (1-1) of the handle, so that squeezing together of the actuator arm (6-1) and the handle lever arm (1-1) causes the safety lever (6) to pivot out of engagement with the valve body (12) allowing the valve to be opened.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus provides rigid support for the grinding wheel by having the wheel shaft off center in the support housing. The one-piece housing can now have mass and bulk disposed in the plane of the contact force, for greater rigidity. The extra bulk provides room for a conduit internally in the housing to feed coolant to the wheel.

Abstract: An add-on bidet includes a moulded plastic seat (12) which has a channel-shaped cross-section. A pivoting spray-arm (108) is stowed between the toilet-bowl rim and the inside of the channel. The inner wall (16) of the seat acts as a splash guard. The spray-arm is mounted in bearings (214,102) which are formed in the walls (16,18) of the seat. The seat is able to pivot, for raising, on a pair of stubby pivot pins (36,38) widely spaced apart. One (38) is hollow, to convey water to the seat. There are no exposed hose pipes or other obtrusive components. The water control knobs (70,71,76) are accessibly located. Water leaves the spray-head (116) as a coherent tube of water, which gives rise to a soft, gentle stream, whether the flow volume is large or small. This is achieved by deflecting jets of water from nozzles so that the jets coalesce back into a stream.

Abstract: An add-on bidet includes a moulded plastic seat (12) which has a channel-shaped cross-section. A pivoting spray-arm (108) is stowed between the toilet-bowl rim and the inside of the channel. The inner wall (16) of the seat acts as a splash guard. The spray-arm is mounted in bearings (214,102) which are formed in the walls (16,18) of the seat. The seat is able to pivot, for raising, on a pair of stubby pivot pins (36,38) widely spaced apart. One (38) is hollow, to convey water to the seat. There are no exposed hose pipes or other obtrusive components. The water control knobs (70,71,76) are accessibly located. Water leaves the spray-head (116) as a coherent tube of water, which gives rise to a soft, gentle stream, whether the flow volume is large or small. This is achieved by deflecting jets of water from nozzles so that the jets coalesce back into a stream.