External refrigerator-mounted liquid dispenser

• US 5,542,265 A
• Filed: 06/30/1995
• Issued: 08/06/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Michael D. Rutland
• Original Assignee: Michael D. Rutland
• Inventors: Rutland, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sollecito, John M.
• Application Number:
  US08/497,289
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 62/338, 62/339, 62/389, 62/390, 62/391, 62/440, 222/146.6, 222/146.1
• US Class Current: 62/389
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0004 the beverage being stored in a container, e.g. bottle, cartridge, bag-in-box, bowl
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0858 using compression systems
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00036 for use with or in refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/126 Water cooler

Abstract

A chilled liquid dispensing apparatus having a housing mounted to an exterior surface of a refrigerator. A liquid pumping means, a downwardly disposed dispensing tube and a pumping means actuation means are enclosed within the housing, and a liquid storage bottle is contained within the refrigerator. A suction line connects the

Claims

1. A chilled liquid dispensing apparatus for use with a refrigerator and a drinking glass, the apparatus comprising:

A dispensing assembly including a hollow housing adapted for mounting to an exterior surface of the refrigerator, the housing enclosing a liquid pumping means, a downwardly disposed dispensing tube and a pumping means actuation means; and

a suction line, the suction line including a nipple means and a flexible suction hose means, the apparatus further including a trough positioned below the dispensing tube and spaced apart therefrom, positioned for collecting liquid drips from the dispensing tube, the suction line terminating within at least one liquid storage bottle within the refrigerator, the actuation means positioned for engagement with the drinking glass when said glass is under the dispensing tube to energize the pumping means for pumping a liquid from the storage bottle to the glass.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the suction hose means interconnects with the suction nipple means within the housing and is routed therefrom, around a door of the refrigerator and thence, into the interior of the refrigerator and terminated within the at least one storage bottle.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the suction line includes a plurality of fluid conduits, and further including a multiposition electrical selection means mounted on an exterior surface of the housing electrically interconnected so as to actuate a multichannel valve positioned in the suction line to select one of the fluid conduits.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the suction nipple means penetrates a door of the refrigerator with a nipple portion extending into the interior of the refrigerator, the suction hose means interconnecting therewith and further routed from the nipple portion to the at least one storage bottle within the refrigerator.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dispensing assembly includes an upwardly extending L-shaped hanger bracket configured to engage the refrigerator.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dispensing assembly includes a fastening means for engaging the dispensing assembly with the refrigerator.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fastening means is double sided adhesive tape.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fastening means is a hook and loop fastening system.