IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,617,663
Granted Patent B2
US 12,617,663 · App. 17/402,168 · Granted May 5, 2026

Compact water bottle filling station and retrofitting method

Inventors: Donald E. Morris (Newport Coast, CA); Darryl M. Boeltl (Whittier, CA)
Assignee: Acorn Engineering Company
B67D1/0014E03B9/20B67D2210/00039
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,617,663
App. No.
17/402,168
Granted
May 5, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A compact water bottle filling station for mounting to a wall. The station includes a frame supported on the wall by a wall hanger bracket and a basin supported by the frame. The basin includes a receiptacle located between a front lip and a rear edge of the basin, which define a lateral distance therebetween. A cover surrounds the frame on at least three sides and includes a pair of opposed side panels and a front panel located there between. The front panel extends upwardly from the base of the compact bottle filling station and terminates at and underneath the basin. A backsplash extends upward from the basin, adjacent the rear edge, and has a nozzle provided therein to direct water toward the basin.

Claims (31)

1 . A compact water bottle filling station for surface mounting to a wall, the water bottle filling station comprising:

a frame having a back plate configured to be in surface-to-surface contact with a front surface of the wall and configured to be supported on the wall by a wall hanger bracket secured to the front surface of the wall;

a basin provided and supported on top of the frame and having a recessed receptacle including a drain opening, the basin including a front lip and a rear edge, and defining a lateral distance defined from the rear edge to the front lip;

a cover located beneath the basin and surrounding at least three sides of the frame, the cover including a pair of opposed side panels and a front panel located between the side panels, the front panel extending upwardly from a base of the compact bottle filling station and terminating underneath the basin at a location positioned between the recessed receptacle and the front lip,

a backsplash extending upward from the rear edge and configured to be in surface-to-surface contact with the front surface of the wall; and

a singular water dispensing device provided on the compact water bottle filling station, the singular water dispensing device including a nozzle provided in the backsplash and configured to direct water downward from the nozzle into the basin.

2 . A compact water bottle filling station for surface mounting to a wall, the water bottle filling station comprising:

a frame having a back plate configured to be in surface-to-surface contact with a front surface of the wall and configured to be supported on the wall by a wall hanger bracket secured to the front surface of the wall;

a basin provided and supported on top of the frame and having a recessed receptacle including a drain opening, the basin including a front lip and a rear edge, and a lateral distance defined from the rear edge to the front lip;

a cover located beneath the basin and surrounding at least three sides of the frame, the cover including a pair of opposed side panels and a front panel located between the side panels, the front panel extending upwardly from a base of the compact bottle filling station and terminating underneath the basin immediately behind the front lip of the basin and immediately adjacent to a maximum lateral extent of the compact water bottle filling station;

a backsplash extending upward from the rear edge and configured to be in surface-to-surface contact with the front surface of the wall; and

a singular water dispensing device provided on the compact water bottle filling station, the singular water dispensing device including a nozzle provided in the backsplash and configured to direct water downward from the nozzle into the basin.

3 . The compact water bottle filling station according to claim 2 , wherein the lateral distance is greater than 4 inches and less than 13 inches.

4 . The compact water bottle filling station according to claim 2 , wherein the lateral distance is in the range of 11 to 12 inches.

5 . The compact water bottle filling station according to claim 2 , wherein the lateral distance is at least 6.5 inches less than a corresponding lateral distance of a wall mountable drinking fountain having a bubbler.

6 . The compact water bottle filling station according to claim 2 , further comprising a rear side, and wherein the front panel is planar and extends up to the basin at an oblique angle relative to the rear side of the compact water bottle filling.

7 . The compact water bottle filling station according to claim 6 , wherein the front panel extends at an angle in the range of 6° to 19°.

8 . The compact water bottle filling station according to claim 6 , wherein the front panel extends at an angle in the range of 15° to 19°.

9 . The compact water bottle filling station according to claim 6 , wherein the front panel extends at an angle in the range of 16° to 18°.

10 . The compact water bottle filling station according to claim 6 , further comprising a chiller positioned within the frame.

11 . In combination a water bottle filling station for retrofitting a drinking fountain surface-mounted to a wall into a surface-mounted water bottle filling station and employing a wall hanger bracket of the drinking fountain mounted to the wall, the water bottle filling station comprising:

a frame supported on the wall by a wall hanger bracket of the drinking fountain secured to the wall, the frame having a backplate in surface-to-surface contact with a front surface of the wall;

a basin provided and supported on top of the frame and having a recessed receptacle including a drain opening, the basin including a front lip and a rear edge, the front lip and rear edge defining a lateral distance therebetween extending perpendicularly from the wall;

a cover located beneath the basin and surrounding at least three sides of the frame, the cover including a pair of opposed side panels and a front panel located between the side panels, the front panel extending upwardly from a base of the compact bottle filling station and terminating underneath a portion of the basin and forward of the recessed receptacle;

a backsplash extending upward from the rear edge in surface-to-surface contact with the from surface of the wall; and

a singular water dispensing device provided on the compact water bottle filling station, the singular water dispensing device including a nozzle provided in the backsplash and configured to direct water downward from the nozzle into the basin.

12 . The combination according to claim 11 , further comprising the nozzle being coupled to an existing water supply line extending from the wall.

13 . The combination according to claim 11 , further comprising the drain opening being coupled to an existing waste pipe extending from the wall.

14 . The combination according to claim 11 , wherein the lateral distance is in the range of 4 to 13 inches.

15 . The combination according to claim 11 , wherein the front panel is planar and extends up to the basin at an oblique angle relative to a rear side of the compact water bottle filling.

16 . The combination according to claim 15 , wherein the angle is in the range of 15° to 19°.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 13, 2021
From: MORRIS, DONALD E.; BOELTL, DARRYL M.
To: ACORN ENGINEERING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 057175/0805 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63065169 · Aug 13, 2020
Related Publication 20220048751A1 · Feb 17, 2022
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