摘要 |
An adapter used in association with conventional bottled water dispensers which normally accept five gallon bottles of water and dispense hot or cold water or only cold water into a receptacle upon actuation of a manually operated spigot. The adapter enables multiple smaller containers to be supported on top of an existing water dispenser after the water bottle has been removed therefrom with the existing reservoir or reservoirs on the dispenser being provided with a closure uniquely communicating the reservoir with the multiple containers in a quick, easy and sanitary manner. The adapter also includes a support structure for the multiple containers, a spill plate which channels any water spills into the regular overflow basin of the dispenser and fittings, connectors and valve assemblies associated with the containers. In one embodiment of the invention, the adapter is connected to the existing valve structure on the container, in another embodiment a unique new valve and associated structure is provided on the container and in a third embodiment of the invention, a unique container is provided together with a connector structure which includes a feature which penetrates the peripheral wall of a container when the container is placed in its supporting structure.
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