Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of liquid dispensers, particularly for office and home use.

Background of the Invention

Existing mineral water dispensing systems make use of natural mineral stones or mechanically and/or chemically processed ceramic balls containing different natural minerals to mineralise water. A major drawback of such mineral water dispensing systems is difficulty in controlling the degree of mineralisation of the water, resulting in inconsistencies in taste of the mineralised water. It would therefore be desirable to provide a liquid dispenser that is able to dispense a consistent liquid product.

Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a liquid dispenser including a liquid inlet; a liquid reservoir in fluid communication with the liquid inlet; a first liquid level sensor; an additive dispenser; and a liquid outlet in fluid communication with the liquid reservoir. The first liquid level sensor is operable to detect a first liquid level in the liquid reservoir. The additive dispenser is operable to dispense an additive into the liquid reservoir when the first liquid level sensor detects that liquid in the liquid reservoir is at the first liquid level.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides an additive cartridge for the liquid dispenser according to the first aspect. The additive cartridge includes a cartridge body; and an additive housed in the cartridge body.

Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention. Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective view of a liquid dispenser in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1 B is a schematic side view of the liquid dispenser of FIG. 1 A;

FIG. 1C is a schematic perspective view of a liquid reservoir of the liquid dispenser of FIG. 1;

FIG. 1 D is a schematic perspective view of an additive dispenser of the liquid dispenser of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 1 E is a schematic exploded view of the additive dispenser of FIG. 1 D;

FIG. 2A is a schematic exploded view of another embodiment of the additive dispenser of FIG. 1 D;

FIG. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the additive dispenser of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating operation of the liquid dispenser of FIG. 1 when a first liquid level is detected; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating operation of the liquid dispenser of FIG. 1 when a second liquid level is detected. Detailed Description of Exemplary Embodiments

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions may be accomplished by different embodiments that are intended to be encompassed within the scope of the invention.

The term "about" as used herein refers to both numbers in a range of numerals and is also used to indicate that a value includes the standard deviation of error for the device or method being employed to determine the value. The term "about" as used herein can allow for a degree of variability in a value or range, for example, within 10%, within 5%, or within 1 % of a stated value or of a stated limit of a range.

Referring now to FIGS. 1A through 1E, a liquid dispenser 10 is shown. The liquid dispenser 10 includes a liquid inlet 12, a liquid reservoir 14 in fluid communication with the liquid inlet 12, a first liquid level sensor 16, an additive dispenser 18, and a liquid outlet 20 in fluid communication with the liquid reservoir 14. The first liquid level sensor 16 is operable to detect a first liquid level in the liquid reservoir 14. The additive dispenser 18 is operable to dispense an additive into the liquid reservoir 14 when the first liquid level sensor 16 detects that liquid in the liquid reservoir 14 is at the first liquid level. Advantageously, this allows control of additive-to-liquid ratio in the liquid reservoir 14 and thus allows the liquid dispenser to dispense a consistent liquid product.

The liquid inlet 12 may be connected to a faucet (not shown) for supply of water to the liquid dispenser 10.

The liquid reservoir 14 may be a built-in water tank for storing water.

A valve 22 may be provided in fluid communication between the liquid inlet 12 and the liquid reservoir 14, the valve 22 being operable to allow liquid flow into the liquid reservoir 14 when the first liquid level sensor 16 detects that the liquid in the liquid reservoir 14 is at the first liquid level. Advantageously, this also helps with control of the additive-to-liquid ratio in the liquid reservoir 14. The valve 22 may be a commercially available solenoid valve. In one embodiment, the valve 22 may be a 3.6 volt (V) solenoid valve. An outlet 22a of the valve 22 may be connected to an inlet of the liquid reservoir 14.

The liquid dispenser 10 may include a second liquid level sensor 24 operable to detect a second liquid level in the liquid reservoir 14, the second liquid level being higher than the first liquid level. Advantageously, the second liquid level sensor 24 further helps to control the additive-to-liquid ratio in the liquid reservoir 14. The first and second liquid level sensors 16 and 24 may be commercially available photoelectric water level sensors. In one embodiment, the first liquid level may be at a height H1 equivalent to about 10 percent (%) of the volume of the liquid reservoir 14. In the same or a different embodiment, the second liquid level may be at a height H2 equivalent to about 95 % of the volume of the liquid reservoir 14.

In the embodiment shown, the liquid dispenser 10 further includes a filtration system 26 in fluid communication with the liquid reservoir 14. Advantageously, the filtration system 26 allows the liquid dispenser 10 to dispense filtered water for immediate consumption. An inlet 22b of the valve 22 may be connected to an outlet of the filtration system 26. The filtration system 26 may include a series of filtration cartridges 28, each containing a filter media. Advantageously, this facilitates control of the degree of filtration. In an exemplary embodiment, a first of the filtration cartridges 28 immediately downstream of the liquid inlet 12 may contain a fibre-made filter media to remove coarse contaminants such as, for example, sand and/or other debris, whilst each of the second and third filtration cartridges 28 downstream of the first may contain activated carbon and/or other finer filtration media to remove smaller contaminants, odour, toxins, etc. Although three (3) filtration cartridges 28 are shown in the present embodiment, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited by the number of filtration cartridges 28 provided. In alternative embodiments, a greater or fewer number of filtration cartridges 28 may be employed depending on the composition of the filtration cartridges 28 and/or the degree of filtration desired. The filtration system 26 may be provided upstream of the liquid reservoir 14 as shown. Advantageously, this ensures that only filtered water is stored in the liquid reservoir 14.

The additive dispenser 18 may include an additive storage section 30 and a pump 32 operable to draw the additive from the additive storage section 30 and to discharge the additive into the liquid reservoir 14. The additive storage section 30 may be configured as a drawer that may be slid out to fill or replenish the additive storage section 30 with the additive.

The additive dispenser 18 may further include a controller 34 operable to regulate a quantity of the additive drawn from the additive storage section 30 and discharged into the liquid reservoir 14 by the pump 32. The controller 34 may be powered by one or more batteries stored in a battery compartment 36 of the additive dispenser 18.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the additive storage section 30 of the additive dispenser 18 may be configured to receive an additive cartridge 50 in an alternative embodiment as shown. The additive cartridge 50 for the liquid dispenser 10 may include a cartridge body 52 and an additive 54 housed in the cartridge body 52.

The additive cartridge 50 to be located inside the additive storage section 30 may be a disposable sealed cartridge made of plastic material having a shape and dimensions similar to and slightly smaller than that of the additive storage section 30.

Advantageously, the cartridge body 52 may be made of a see-through material to enable a user to determine a quantity of the additive 54 remaining in the cartridge body 52.

To facilitate a substantially complete discharge of the additive 54 from the cartridge body 52, the cartridge body 52 may include a downward-sloping base 56. In the embodiment shown, the downward-sloping base 56 includes a plurality of slopes on an interior bottom surface of the additive cartridge 50 leading to and forming a valley at a centre of a base of the additive cartridge 50. The valley at the base of the additive cartridge 50 may be sealed by a perforable seal 58. In the present embodiment, the additive dispenser 18 may include a perforator 38 in the additive storage section 30, the perforator 38 being arranged to perforate the seal 58 of the additive cartridge 50 when the additive cartridge 50 is fitted into the additive storage section 30. In the present embodiment, the perforator 38 is correspondingly provided at a centre of a base of the additive storage section 30 and is provided in the form of an upward protruding tube with a hard and sharp pointed top end for snapping or piercing the seal 58 of the additive cartridge 50. In an exemplary embodiment, the perforator 38 may have a height of about 8 millimetres (mm).

The perforator 38 may be in fluid communication with the pump 32 via a tubing 40. The tube 40 may extend beneath the additive cartridge 50 and may be connected to the pump 32 in order that the pump 32 may pump out the additive 54 from the additive cartridge 50 into the liquid reservoir 14.

To provide space for the perforator 38 and the tube 40 in the additive storage section 30, a plurality of spacers 42 may be provided in the additive storage section 30 to support the additive cartridge 50.

The additive 54 may be in liquid form. In liquid form, the liquid additive 54 may include a mineral solution. The mineral solution may include a mixture of minerals and trace elements from natural sources such as, for example, natural water bodies like seas, oceans, rivers, lakes and/or ponds and plant produce like fruit and/or vegetables. The trace elements may include one or more of calcium, potassium, sodium and magnesium, etc. In an exemplary embodiment, the mineral solution may be a concentrated solution of a natural mixture of more than seventy (70) natural minerals and trace elements that is water soluble and may have a shelf life of more than 10 years. The additive 54 may also include vitamins and flavourings, etc.

To install the additive cartridge 50, the additive storage section 30 may be drawn out from the additive dispenser 18 and the additive cartridge 50 inserted into the the additive storage section 30. Pressure may then be applied downwards on the additive cartridge 50 until the additive cartridge 50 rests on the spacers 42, causing the perforator 38 to pierce through the seal 58 of the additive cartridge 50. When the additive cartridge 50 is spent, the additive cartridge 50 may be lifted upwards to detach the additive cartridge 50 from the perforator 38 and a fresh additive cartridge 50 may be installed in place of the spent additive cartridge 50.

Having described various elements of the liquid dispenser 10, an exemplary operation of the liquid dispenser 10 of the present embodiment will now be described below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. Referring now to FIG. 3, when a liquid level in the liquid reservoir 14 drops to the first liquid level H1, this is detected by the first liquid level sensor 16 which then sends a signal to the controller 34 to activate the pump 32 in the additive dispenser 18 to dispense a pre-determ ined quantity of the additive 54 from the additive dispenser 18 into the liquid reservoir 14. In the present embodiment, detection of the first liquid level H1 by the first liquid level sensor 16 may also cause the valve 22 to be switched on to allow liquid flow into the liquid reservoir 14. The controller 34 may also be configured to switch on a red light-emitting diode (LED) light 44 to inform users that the liquid dispenser 10 is not ready to dispense liquid as the the liquid reservoir 14 is being filled. Referring now to FIG. 4, when the liquid level in the liquid reservoir 14 rises to the second liquid level H2, this is detected by the second liquid level sensor 24 and causes the valve 22 to be switched off to stop the liquid flow into the liquid reservoir 14. The controller 34 may also be configured to switch off the red LED light 44 and to turn on a green light-emitting diode (LED) light 46 instead to inform the users that the liquid dispenser 10 is now ready to dispense a liquid for consumption. To dispense liquid from the liquid reservoir 14, a user may activate a switch 47 which in turn activates a liquid pump 48 to draw the liquid from the liquid reservoir 14 and discharge the liquid from the liquid outlet 20.

In this manner, the liquid dispenser 10 with the built-in additive dispensing system 18 is able to automatically dispense at an appropriate time a pre determined volume of natural liquid minerals into water, resulting in a consistent, fresh, good tasting and sufficiently mineralized water, without any foul, strange or inconsistent taste. Further advantageously, the liquid dispenser 10 also allows users to choose, depending on personal taste preferences, the degree of mineralisation desired.

As is evident from the foregoing discussion, the present invention provides a liquid dispenser that is able to dispense a consistent liquid product and an additive cartridge for use with the liquid dispenser. Advantageously, because the timing, quantity and composition of additive added is predetermined and controlled relative to the volume of liquid in the liquid reservoir, a consistent liquid product can be had with the liquid dispenser of the present invention. Further advantageously, control of the quantity and composition of the additive added also allows control of the taste and properties of the liquid product. Additionally, because the liquid dispenser of the present invention does not require sophisticated or complex components such as, for example, flow meters, mineral content analyzers, multiple liquid reservoirs and multiple separate additives, the liquid dispenser of the present invention may provide an economical and effective option for household or commercial water filtration systems as embodiments of the liquid dispenser of the present invention may provide filtration ability in addition to flavouring of the filtered water by addition of consumable liquid minerals. While preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the invention is not limited to the described embodiments only. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as described in the claims.

Further, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words "comprise", "comprising" and the like are to be construed in an inclusive as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not limited to".