DE20011682U1 - Device for producing carbonated water - Google Patents

Description

Dipl.-Phys. WOLF&ÄKf<S'@OY' ': :: PATENT ATTORNEY

EUROPEAN PATENT ATTORNEY

D-79108 FREIBURG
Zaehringer Str. 373

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Kundo SystemTechnik GmbH
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78112St. Georgen 943

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Date 4.7.2000

Device for producing carbonated table water

The invention relates to a device for producing carbonated table water according to the preamble of claim 1.

As an alternative to buying ready-made sparkling water, it is known that you can also make sparkling water at home in a special sparkling water machine. To do this, water from the tap is mixed with carbon dioxide in the machine. In this way, you can get table water without any major technical effort.

The devices known to date for producing carbonated table water for domestic use have the main disadvantage that only uncooled table water is provided. In order to cool the table water, it is necessary to put it in the refrigerator after tapping. Another disadvantage of the known devices is that they take up more space in the kitchen and are also difficult to handle. After all, only a limited amount of table water can be produced per production process.

The invention is based on the object of creating a simple possibility for providing chilled table water.

The technical solution is characterized by the features in the characterizing part of claim 1.

Postbank Karlsruhe. <BLZ.66Q3ÜO75)*.
Account No. 438 69-752

The basic idea of the invention is to integrate the entire system for producing carbonated table water into a conventional refrigerator. This includes the storage tank for the water, the carbon dioxide bottle, the carbonator, the pump and the dispensing device. The advantage of the device according to the invention is that it does not have to be equipped with an additional cooling unit in order to obtain chilled table water, but that the device is integrated into a kitchen appliance that is already present in the kitchen, namely the refrigerator. Since the table water device is integrated into the refrigerator, it does not require any additional space in the kitchen. It is easy to handle overall and can be dispensed into bottles, glasses, cups, etc., whereby different quantities can be produced per production process. The invention is therefore suitable and usable in all private households with a refrigerator.

A preferred development according to claim 2 proposes that the device is integrated in the refrigerator door. The advantage is that, on the one hand, the units of the table water production device are easily accessible if, for example, the carbon dioxide bottle has to be replaced, and, on the other hand, that the tap is accessible from the outside and can be integrated in the refrigerator door.

Preferably, according to the further development in claim 3, the device is arranged in one of the two side areas of the refrigerator door. The entire height of the refrigerator door can be used. The rest of the refrigerator door is then available for the "conventional" refrigerated items such as bottles.

It is basically conceivable that the table water produced is stored in a container inside the refrigerator and that this container is taken out of the refrigerator to take out table water. However, the development according to claim 4 proposes a tap. This enables simple, needs-based dispensing, for example, into glasses.

The further development thereof according to claim 5 has the advantage that the tap is integrated inside the refrigerator door and thus does not protrude disturbingly over the front surface of the refrigerator door.

A preferred development of this proposes according to claim 6 that the container can be placed in the recess. This creates a simple possibility, for example, to fill a glass with table water by placing it in the recess provided for this purpose in the front of the refrigerator door (as the development

cation according to claim 7) in order to then carry out the filling process

It is basically conceivable to store a certain supply of table water that has already been mixed with carbon dioxide in the refrigerator. However, it is also conceivable that the water is mixed with carbon dioxide as required when the table water is drawn, according to the development in claim 8. This has the advantage that the carbon dioxide cannot evaporate over time when the table water is left standing for a long time, thus reducing the concentration.

In order to provide the necessary water, it is conceivable to provide a water storage tank according to claim 9. The water is constantly cooled in this storage tank.

A further development according to claim 10 proposes that the device is connected to the building's water network. This has the advantage that the provision of the water required for carbon dioxide enrichment is made much easier. A water storage tank is not necessarily required, so that this space inside the refrigerator can be used for other purposes, but the water can be taken from the water network and mixed with the carbon dioxide at the same time as it is being drawn off. When connected to the domestic water network, the water can be cooled before (when using a water storage tank) or during drawing off (without using a water storage tank), which can be achieved, for example, by routing the water supply line past the refrigerator's cooling unit.

A further development according to claim 11 proposes that buttons are provided to control the filling process. The filling process can be started with these buttons and stopped again when the desired filling level is reached. These buttons can be integrated into the front surface of the refrigerator door. Alternatively, a manually operated dispensing tap can of course also be used.

Finally, the development according to claim 12 proposes that a display is provided. This display can show, for example, the temperature or the remaining volume of water.

An embodiment of a device according to the invention for producing table water mixed with carbon dioxide is described below with reference to the drawings. In these:

Fig.1

a view of the inside of a refrigerator door with the cover of the table water device removed;

Fig. 2

a view of the outside of the refrigerator door in Fig. 1.

In the right third of a refrigerator door 1 (the actual refrigerator is not shown) there is a device for producing table water mixed with carbon dioxide. For this purpose, a water storage container 2 with a volume of, for example, 5 liters is integrated into the refrigerator door 1. In addition, a carbon dioxide bottle 3 is housed next to the water storage container 2 in the refrigerator door 1. Above this there is a mixing device 4 and possibly a pump 5. Below this there is a dispensing mechanism 6. The devices described above are covered with a cover (not shown), which can be removed as required, for example opened up.

The front of the refrigerator door 1 (Fig. 2) has a recess 7 in the lower area. This defines a tap point 9 for the table water with a tap nozzle 8. In the upper area there are two buttons 10 and a display 11.

The operation of this device for producing carbonated table water, which is integrated in the refrigerator door 11, is as follows:

It is assumed that the water storage tank 2 is filled with water and the carbon dioxide bottle 3 is filled with carbon dioxide. Since the water storage tank 2 is in the refrigerator, the water in it is cooled.

To dispense table water, a glass is placed in the recess 7 of the tap 9 below the tap nozzle 8. By pressing one of the two buttons 10, water is pumped to the tap 9 and at the same time carbon dioxide is added to the water in the mixing device 4. The filling process can be ended by pressing the other button 10. The function can also be performed by a single button.

List of reference symbols

1 Refrigerator door 2 Water storage tank 3 Carbon dioxide bottle 4 Mixing device 5 pump 6 Dispensing mechanism 7 Recess 8th Tap nozzle 9 Tap point 10 button 11 Advertisement

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Claims (12)

1. Device for producing table water mixed with carbon dioxide, wherein carbon dioxide is added to the water by means of a mixing device ( 4 ), characterized in that the device is integrated in a refrigerator. 2. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the device is integrated in the refrigerator door ( 1 ). 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the device is arranged in one of the two side regions of the refrigerator door ( 1 ). 4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a tap ( 9 ) is provided for filling the table water into a container. 5. Device according to claim 2 or 3 and according to claim 4, characterized in that the tapping point ( 9 ) is arranged in a recess ( 7 ) of the refrigerator door ( 1 ). 6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the container can be placed into the recess ( 7 ). 7. Device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the recess ( 7 ) is provided in the front side of the refrigerator door ( 1 ): 8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the water is mixed with carbon dioxide as required when the table water is dispensed. 9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a water storage container ( 2 ) is provided. 10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device is connected to the water network of the building. 11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a button ( 10 ) is provided for controlling the filling process. 12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a display ( 11 ) is provided.