Bottled water cooler with improved valve construction
US4903935A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 31, 1988 |
| Grant date | Feb 27, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 31, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB67D2210/00118
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The improved valve construction provides low force actuation and is therefore suitable in applications where children and handicapped persons may need to operate the valves. The pinch-type valve employs a lever arm pilot which supports a section of tubing in the fluid dispensing circuit. The lever arm is snap fit onto a valve plate and is adapted for rocking movement about a pivot point at one end of the lever arm. A valve cage supports a compression spring which applies a force upon the lever arm tending to depress the lever arm and its associated tube pinching valve seat into pinching contact with the tube. A force applied to the lever arm opposite the pivot point relieves the pinching force and the tube is thus opened for dispensing. An alternate flapper-type valve employs a valve pad encapsulated on the end of a lever arm which is in turn encapsulated in an O-ring seal so that the valve pad is situated at the center of the O-ring and the lever arm is disposed along a radial of the O-ring. The O-ring, lever arm and valve pad assembly is placed in a valve body which provides an inlet and outlet port, the inlet port having a serpentine bend to absorb turbulent shock. A spring is p…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.