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Abstract

A bottled water plastic cap opener and flow controller assembly includes a three-part unit forming a hollow housing which has a generally circular cross section and is slightly tapered from end to end. The larger end of the housing is open and has a diameter sufficient to receive the end of a five-gallon water bottle provided with a plastic 'tear-away' cap. The smaller end of the housing is closed except for a central opening. A transverse partition extends across the housing about half way between the two ends thereof, and is provided with a large central opening, and at least one additional smaller drainage opening. A piercing member is mounted on the central partition enclosing the central opening and extends upwardly toward the larger open end of the housing but not beyond its edge, to pierce a hole in the plastic cap when the assembly is firmly pushed down on the top of one of the five gallon water bottles. Outwardly extending protrusions or nipples from the piercing member hold the assembly to the plastic cap and facilitate drainage. Between the central partition and the smaller end of the assembly is a flow restrictor arrangement which provides adequate time to raise the bottle and put it onto a cooling stand in accordance with normal practice, but without the problem of unrestricted water flow with a consequent splashing which is often encountered when the 5-gallon bottles are mounted onto the cooling stands. The flow restrictor may be made of several discs which are provided with small openings to permit a convoluted flow path for the water. The axial length of the flow restrictor is less than its diameter.

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