FORM 2
The Patent Act 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patent Rules  2005

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(SECTION 10 AND RULE 13)

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

“Volumetric regulation system integrated with an overflow control mechanism for use in liquid dispensing devices”

APPLICANTS:

Name : Eureka Forbes Ltd.

Nationality : Indian

Address : No.42  P-3/C  Haralukunte Munishwara Layout
Kudlu  Bangalore- 560068

The following specification particularly describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:-

FIELD OF INVENTION
[001] The embodiments herein relates to a liquid dispenser  and more particularly but not exclusively to a liquid regulating system integrated with an over flow control mechanism for use in liquid dispenser.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[002] Water pollution has become a major global problem. The water bodies such as rivers  lakes  ground water and so on get contaminated due to the discharge of pollutants from industries and other setups to such water bodies. The water from the water bodies is utilized for irrigation and domestic purposes. However  for drinking purposes  the water has to be purified since the water from the water bodies may be contaminated with physical  chemical and microbiological impurities and may also have a high total dissolved solids (TDS) level.
[003] At present  numerous water purification systems are being used for purifying the water. The water purification systems are designed for specific types of contaminants. Some of the basic water purification systems are categorized into high pressure systems and low pressure systems. High pressure water purification systems such as reverse osmosis systems require high pressure. The high pressure water purification systems remove contaminants from water by applying pressure to the water when it is on one side of a selective membrane  as a result the contaminants are retained on the pressurized side of the membrane and the pure water is allowed to pass to the other side. Although  high pressure water purification systems such as reverse osmosis systems are capable of providing drinking water with reduced total dissolved solids (TDS) level  most of the high pressure water purifiers require electricity to activate certain activators such as pump to increase the pressure of water. Further  the usage of electricity and activators increases the cost associated with manufacturing and maintenance of high pressure water purifiers  thereby making the high pressure water purifier not affordable for the consumers. Furthermore  in field/rural areas where there is a limited or no access to either piped water or electricity  the usage of high pressure water purifiers becomes a tedious process.
[004] Low pressure water purification systems are preferred by quite a majority of population  as these systems do not require electricity to purify water. Further  these systems are effective and suited for use in field/rural areas where there is a limited or no access to either piped water or electricity. The low pressure purification systems such as gravity water purification system take advantage of gravity to pass water through a filter medium  requiring no electricity to function. The filter medium is configured to remove contaminants such as harmful bacteria and viruses from water thereby providing pure water to the consumers. Although  low pressure water purification systems are cost effective  in actual practice for most of the purifiers there is no mechanism to determine the efficiency at which the low pressure water purifiers purify water. The efficiency at which the low pressure water purification systems purify water is related to the efficiency of the filter medium. For example  say the filter medium’s efficiency expectancy is about 2000litres. That way  if you use the filter medium beyond 2000litres  the filter medium may not be able to effectively remove the contaminants in the water  thereby reducing the efficiency of the water purification system as a whole. Furthermore  in the conventional water purification system or liquid dispenser there is no mechanism to control the amount of purified water that is obtained from the purifier. Hence  there is a possibility of overflow of purified water thereby reducing the efficiency with which the water purifiers are used.
[005] Therefore  there is a need for a system that could block the water flow once the efficacy of filter medium used in water purification systems is depleted. Further  there is a need for a system to provide a liquid dispenser that could prevent the overflow of water.

OBJECT OF INVENTION
[006] The principal object of this invention is to provide a liquid regulating system that could block the water flow once the efficacy of filter medium used in water purification systems is depleted.
[007] Another object of the invention is to provide an over flow control mechanism that could be used in liquid dispenser to prevent overflow of water.
[008] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a cost effective water regulating system that could block the water flow when the efficacy of filter medium used in water purification systems is depleted.
[009] These and other objects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood  however  that the following descriptions  while indicating preferred embodiments and numerous specific details thereof  are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. For example  although  some embodiments are explained with respect to a water regulating system for use in low pressure water purification systems or low pressure dispensers  it should be noted that the system could also be used with any other liquid dispensers with little or no modifications. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof  and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0010] This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings  throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings  in which:;
[0011] FIG. 1 shows a water dispenser having a water regulating system and an overflow control mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a water regulating system and overflow control mechanism under normal condition according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0013] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a water regulating system blocking the water flow according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0014] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. For example  although  some embodiments are explained with respect to a water regulating system for use in low pressure water purification systems or low pressure dispensers  it should be noted that the system could also be used with any other liquid dispensers with little or no modifications. Accordingly  the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0015] The embodiments herein achieve a water regulating system that could block the water flow when the efficacy of filter medium used in water purification systems is depleted. Further  the embodiments herein achieve a water regulating system that could block the water flow when there is an overflow of water obtained from the water purification systems. Referring now to the drawings  and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 3  where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures  there are shown embodiments.
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a water dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention. The water dispenser (P) includes a first container (A)  a second container (B)  a filter membrane (F) and a water regulating system 100. The first container (A) is configured to receive and store the water that has to be purified (contaminated water). Further  the first container (A) is configured to channelize the water to the second container (B) via filter membrane (F) and water regulating system 100. In an embodiment  the first container (A) is designed and positioned in a manner that could channelize the water to the second container (B) via filter membrane (F) and water regulating system 100 by means of gravitational force. In an embodiment  the first container (A) includes at least one opening (E) that is configured to channelize the water to the second container (B). The filter membrane (F) is provided in fluid communication with the first container (A) and configured to remove contaminants such as harmful bacteria and viruses from the contaminated water thereby providing pure water. In an embodiment  the filter membrane (F) is provided inside the first container (A)  enclosing the opening (E) such that the water that exits the first container (A) is free of contaminants. The second container (B) is configured to receive and store the pure water obtained from the first container (A). In an embodiment  the second container (B) includes an open portion (I) that functions in correspondence with opening (E) of the first container (A) to receive the pure water. In another embodiment  the filter membrane (F) includes a filter inlet (not shown) and a filter outlet (not shown) such that the filter inlet receives the water from the first container (A)  filter membrane (F) removes the contaminants from the water and the filter outlet channelize the pure water to the opening (E). It is also within the scope of the invention that the filter membrane (F) could be provided at any desired portion in the water dispenser (P) or as a separate element that is provided in fluid communication with the water dispenser (P)  without otherwise deterring intended function of the water dispenser as could be understood from this description.
[0017] The water regulating system 100 is configured to block the water flow when the efficacy of filter medium is depleted. The water regulating system 100 is provided in fluid communication with the opening (E)  such that the second container (B) receives the pure water  after the pure water is passed through the water regulating system 100. FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a water regulating system and overflow control mechanism under normal condition according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment  the water regulating system 100 is provided inside the second container (B) enclosing the opening (I). In an embodiment  the water regulating system 100 includes an inlet 101  a base 102  a regulating element 104  a weight 106  a blocker 108  an actuating mechanism 110 and an outlet 112. The inlet 101 is configured to receive the pure water from the first container (A). In an embodiment  the inlet 101 is provided in accordance with the opening (E). The base 102 is configured to accommodate the regulating element 104  the weight 106  the blocker 108 and the actuating mechanism 110. In an embodiment  the base 102 is a spherical shaped rigid structure made of high strength plastic that is configured to accommodate the dissolvable element 104  the weight 106  the blocker 108 and the actuating mechanism 110. However  it is also within the scope of invention that the base 102 could be made in any other shape using any other material without otherwise deterring the intended function of the water regulating system 100 as could be understood from this description. In an embodiment  the regulating element 104 is a dissolvable element and is secured to the base 102. Further  the dissolvable element 104 is selected in accordance with the filter membrane (F). In an embodiment  the dissolvable element 104 is removably attached to the base 102. Further  the rate at which the dissolvable element 104 dissolves in water is proportional to the life of the filter membrane (F). The weight 106 is configured to rest on the dissolvable element 104. In an embodiment  the weight 106 includes a container which could receive desired load  and the container is mounted on the dissolvable element 104. The weight 106 is selected such that it could activate the actuating mechanism 100 as could be understood from this specification. The actuating mechanism 100 provides a structural connection between the blocker 108 and the weight 106. Further  the blocker 108 is a structure that is designed in accordance with the opening through which the water exits the first container (A). In an embodiment  the blocker 108 is designed in accordance with the inlet 101 and configured to move from a first position to a second position such that the blocker 108 acts as a releasable stoppage to close or open the inlet 101. In the first position  the blocker 108 is configured to allow the water passage through the inlet 101. Further  in the second position  the blocker 108 is configured to block the inlet 101 thereby the water passage through inlet101.
[0018] The water regulating system 100 is positioned such that inlet 101 receives the pure water from the first container (A). Further  the pure water passes through the dissolvable element 104 provided in the base 102 before exiting the water regulating system 100 to the second container (B) through the outlet 112. During this process  the pure water keeps passing through the dissolvable element 104 and subsequently dissolves the dissolvable element. As the rate at which the dissolvable element 104 dissolves correspond to the life of filter membrane (F)  the dissolvable element 104 gets completely dissolved when the efficacy of the filter membrane (F) is depleted. The complete dissolution of dissolvable element 104 brings down the weight 106 mounted on the top of dissolvable element 104 thereby actuating the actuating mechanism 110 which in turn actuates the blocker 108 and moves the blocker from the first position to the second position. The blocker 108 when activated  blocks the inlet 101 thereby blocks the water flow from the first container (A) to the second container (B). FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a water regulating system blocking the water flow according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] In an embodiment  the actuating mechanism 110 includes a pillar 114 having at least one shoulder 116 and an extending member 118 having at least one limb 120. The pillar 114 is configured to support the blocker 108. In an embodiment  the pillar 114 is a vertically extending member having a first end 114a and a second end 114b. The first end 114a is configured to receive the blocker 108. Further  the second end 114b is telescopically connected to the receiving portion 102a of the base 102. The shoulder 116 is a horizontally extending member from the pillar 114. In an embodiment  the pillar 114 includes two shoulders.
[0020] The extending member 118 is connected to the pillar 114. In an embodiment  the extending member 118 includes a first end 118a and the second end 118b. The first end 118a is hingedly connected to the weight 106. Further  the second end 118b includes two limbs. The limbs are designed in accordance with the shoulder 116a and 116b. The actuating mechanism 110 is provided such that the when the weight 106 goes down as a result of complete dissolution of dissolvable element 104  the weight activates the extending member 118. The extending member 118 by using the limbs 120 subsequently pushes the shoulder 116 thereby the pillar 114 upwards till the blocker 108 blocks the opening (E) through which the water flows into the water regulating system 100. The telescopic arrangement of the pillar 114 with respect to the receiving portion 102a of the base 102 enables the movement of the pillar 114 till the blocker 108 blocks the inlet 101.
[0021] Although  specific embodiment of the actuating mechanism 110 is described in this specification  it should be noted that any other mechanism that could be used to block the water flow once the dissolvable element 104 is completely dissolved  could also be used with the water regulating system 100 without otherwise deterring the intended function of the water regulating system 100 as could be understood from this description. In another embodiment  the actuating mechanism 110 includes at least one of an alarm means  a mechanical timer and so on  which could be configured to actuate the actuating mechanism 110 to move the blocker 108 from the first position to the second position after a predetermined period of time. The predetermined period of time could be obtained based on the efficacy period of the filter medium. In yet another embodiment  the actuating mechanism 100 includes an alarm means or similar mechanism which along with a control device could be configured to alert the consumer once the dissolvable element is completely dissolved.
[0022] It should be noted that the aforementioned configuration of water regulating system 100 is provided for the ease of understanding of the embodiments of the invention. However  certain embodiments may have a different configuration of the components of the water regulating system 100 and certain other embodiments may exclude certain components of the water regulating system 100. For example in an embodiment  a suitable enclosing mechanism could be included in the liquid dispenser to cover the over flow control mechanism. Therefore  such embodiments and any modification by addition or exclusion of certain components of the water regulating system 100 without otherwise deterring the intended function of the water regulating system 100 as is apparent from this description and drawings are also within the scope of this invention. In an embodiment  the dissolvable element 104 is selected from materials that do not harm the desired water quality. In another embodiment  the dissolvable element 104 is removably secured to the base 102. The base 102 includes a removable portion 102r above which the dissolvable element 104 is placed. Further  the dissolvable element 104 could be accessed for replacement and maintenance using the removable portion 102r.
[0023] In another embodiment of the invention  the water regulating system further includes an over flow control mechanism 200. The over flow control mechanism 200 is configured to block the water flow from the first container (A) to the second container (B) once the water collected in the second container reaches the desired threshold level. In an embodiment  the over flow control mechanism 200 includes an extending portion 202 having a first end 202a and a second end 202b. The first end 202a is attached to the base 102 of the water regulating system 100. Further  the second end 202b includes at least one over flow control valve 204. In an embodiment  the second end 202b includes two over flow control valve. However  it is also within the scope of invention that any number of over flow control valve could be used with the over flow control mechanism 200 without otherwise deterring the intended function of over flow control mechanism 200 as could be deduced from this description. The over flow control valve 204 is selected from suitable material such that the over flow control valve 204 does not sink in the water. The extending portion 202 and the over flow control valve 204 is designed and connected to each other such that the bottom portion 204a of the over flow control valve 204 is provided in contact with the water in the second container (B)  such that the raise in water level inside the second container (B) subsequently moves the over flow control valve 204  thereby moving the extending portion 202 along with the blocker 108 from the first position to the second position. Further  when the water level inside the second container (B) reaches the desired water level  the blocker 108 which is in the second position blocks the inlet 101 thereby the water flow to the second container (B).
[0024] It should be noted that the aforementioned configuration of over flow control mechanism 200 is provided for the ease of understanding of the embodiments of the invention. However  certain embodiments may have a different configuration of the components of the over flow control mechanism 200 and certain other embodiments may exclude certain components of the over flow control mechanism 200. For example in an embodiment  a suitable enclosing mechanism could be included in the liquid dispenser to cover the over flow control mechanism. Therefore  such embodiments and any modification by addition or exclusion of certain components of the over flow control mechanism 200 without otherwise deterring the intended function of the over flow control mechanism 200 as is apparent from this description and drawings are also within the scope of this invention.
[0025] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can  by applying current knowledge  readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept  and  therefore  such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore  while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments  those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

CLAIMS
We claim:
1. A liquid regulating system for regulating function of a liquid dispenser  said liquid regulating system comprising:
a base configured to accommodate a weight;
a blocker configured to move from a first position to a second position;
an actuating mechanism configured to be engaged with said blocker and said weight; and
a regulating element configured to operate said weight  wherein
said weight is configured to actuate said actuating mechanism to move blocker from said first position to said second position.
.

2. The liquid regulating system as claimed in claim 1  wherein said actuating mechanism comprising:
an extending member having a first end attached to said weight and a second end; and
a pillar having a first end attached to said blocker and a second end attached to said base  wherein
said weight is configured to actuate said extending member to move said pillar thereby said blocker from said first position to said second position.

3. The liquid regulating system as claimed in claim 2  wherein said first end of said extending member is hingedly connected to the weight.

4. The liquid regulating system as claimed in claim 2  wherein
said second end of the extending member includes at least one limb;
said first end of the pillar includes at least one shoulder; and
said second end of the pillar is telescopically attached to said base.

5. The liquid regulating system as claimed in claim 1  wherein said regulating element is removably attached to the liquid regulating system.

6. The liquid regulating system as claimed in claim 1  wherein said weight is configured to rest on said regulating element; and said regulating element dissolves in said liquid to operate said weight.

7. The liquid regulating system as claimed in claim 1  further includes an over flow control mechanism  wherein said over flow control mechanism comprising:
an extending portion having a first end attached to said base and a second end attached to an over flow control valve  wherein
said over flow control valve is configured to operate said extending portion to move said base thereby said blocker from said first position to said second position.
8. The liquid regulating system as claimed in claim 1  wherein said weight is configured to actuate said actuating mechanism to move blocker from said first position to said second position when a predetermined volume of liquid is collected from the liquid dispenser.
9. A liquid dispenser comprising:
a first container configured to receive a pre-processed liquid;
a filter medium configured to process said pre-processed liquid to produce a processed liquid;
a liquid passage configured to allow flow of said processed liquid to a second container;
a liquid regulating system provided in communication with said liquid passage; and
a second container configured to receive said processed liquid after the processed liquid is passed through said system  wherein
said liquid regulating system comprising:
a dissolvable element configured to get dissolved in said processed liquid;
a weight provided in communication with said dissolvable element;
a blocker configured to block said liquid passage; and
an actuating mechanism configured to activate said blocker  wherein rate at which the dissolvable element dissolves in said processed liquid depends on the efficiency of said filter medium.
10. A liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 9 further includes an over flow control mechanism  said over flow control mechanism comprising:
an extending portion having a first end in communication with said blocker and a second end in communication with an over flow control valve  wherein
said over flow control valve is provided in communication with the processed liquid received in said second container; and
said over flow control valve is configured to operate said blocker to block the liquid passage  when a predetermined volume of processed liquid is collected in the second container.

Dated: 14th day of November  2012 Signature:
Dr Kalyan Chakravarthy
Patent agent

ABSTRACT

A liquid regulating system having a base configured to accommodate a weight  a blocker configured to move from a first position to a second position  an actuating mechanism configured to be engaged with the blocker and the weight; and a regulating element configured to operate the weight. The weight in turn is configured to actuate the actuating mechanism to move blocker from the first position to the second position. The liquid regulating system further includes an over flow control mechanism having an extending portion and an over flow control valve. The overflow control valve is configured to operate the extending portion to move the blocker from the first position to the second position.

FIG 2