US 12,391,535 B1
Variable temperature control assembly for a water dispenser
Arman Melkonian, La Cañada Flintridge, CA (US); Mark Melkonian, Northridge, CA (US); Ravi Sawhney, Malibu, CA (US); Craig Steele, Manhattan Beach, CA (US); Samaykumar Patel, Santa Clarita, CA (US); and Michael Kulick, Simi Valley, CA (US)
Assigned to Brio Water Technology, Inc., City of Industry, CA (US)
Filed by Brio Water Technology, Inc., City of Industry, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 12, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/883,804.
Application 18/883,804 is a continuation of application No. 18/581,130, filed on Feb. 19, 2024, granted, now 12,168,600.
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B67D 7/00 (2010.01); B67D 1/00 (2006.01); B67D 1/12 (2006.01)
CPC B67D 1/1204 (2013.01) [B67D 1/0014 (2013.01); B67D 2001/1263 (2013.01); B67D 2210/00118 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A variable temperature control assembly, for use in a water dispenser having a water dispensing nozzle through which an amount of water at a user-specified temperature is dispensed, comprising:
a variable temperature selector having a range of available temperatures for a user to select a specific temperature for the amount of water at a user-specified temperature to be dispensed through the water dispensing nozzle;
a hot water system in communication with the water dispensing nozzle, comprising a hot water tank, at least one hot water temperature sensor and a hot water solenoid, wherein the hot water solenoid is in communication with the hot water tank and, in use, the hot water tank holds a supply of hot water having a present temperature measured by the at least one hot water temperature sensor;
a cold water system in communication with the water dispensing nozzle, comprising a cold water tank, at least one cold water temperature sensor and a cold water solenoid, wherein the cold water solenoid is in communication with the cold water tank and, in use, the cold water tank holds a supply of cold water having a present temperature measured by the at least one cold water temperature sensor;
a processor, in communication with the variable temperature selector, the at least one hot water temperature sensor, the hot water solenoid, the at least one cold water temperature sensor and the cold water solenoid; capable of retrieving the present temperature of the hot water in the hot water tank from the at least one hot water temperature sensor, capable of retrieving the present temperature of the cold water in the cold water tank from the at least one cold water temperature sensor, capable of calculating a ratio of an amount of hot water from the hot water tank needed to be mixed with an amount of cold water from the cold water tank to produce the amount of water at a user-specified temperature at the specific temperature selected by the user and capable of simultaneously sending signals to the hot water solenoid to dispense the amount of hot water from the hot water tank and to the cold water solenoid to dispense the amount of cold water from the cold water tank at the calculated ratio of the amount of hot water to the amount of cold water needed to be mixed together to produce the amount of water at a user-specified temperature at the specific temperature selected by the user; and
wherein, in use:
the user selects from the range of available temperatures on the variable temperature selector a temperature at which the amount of water at a user-specified temperature is to be dispensed through the water dispensing nozzle
the user selected temperature is communicated to the processor;
the processor retrieves the present temperature of the hot water in the hot water tank from the at least one hot water temperature sensor, and retrieves the present temperature of the cold A water in the cold water tank from the at least one cold water temperature sensor;
using the retrieved present temperatures of the hot water in the hot water tank and the cold water in the cold water tank, along with the user selected temperature, the processor calculates a ratio of an amount of hot water from the hot water tank needed to be mixed with an amount of cold water from the cold water tank to produce the amount of water at a user-specified temperature at the specific temperature selected by the user;
the processor simultaneously sends signals to the hot water solenoid to dispense the amount of hot water from the hot water tank and to the cold water solenoid to dispense the amount of cold water from the cold water tank at the calculated ratio of the amount of hot water to the amount of cold water needed to mix together to produce the amount of water at a user-specified temperature at the specific temperature selected by the user.