Water cooler cover having adjustable and relocatable openings

Abstract

A cover for a fluid-containing reservoir. The cover comprises a front surface defining a plurality of adjustable openings to access one or more of a control and an outlet of the reservoir, wherein the front surface comprises a plurality of slats, and wherein a position of the slats is adjustable to relocate or resize the plurality of adjustable openings for alignment of the openings with the one or more of the control and the outlet.

1 . A cover for a fluid-containing reservoir, comprising:
 a front surface defining a plurality of adjustable openings to access one or more of a control and an outlet of the reservoir;   wherein the front surface comprises a plurality of slats, and wherein a position of the slats is adjustable to relocate or resize the plurality of adjustable openings for aligning the openings with the one or more of the control and the outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The cover of  claim 1  wherein the front panel includes left and right channels affixed to a rear surface of the front panel, and wherein the slats are positioned within the right and left channels. 
     
     
         3 . The cover of  claim 2  wherein the right and left channels are vertically oriented such that the slats are horizontally oriented and stacked within the right and left channels, and wherein a left edge of each slat is positioned within the left channel and a right edge of each slat is positioned within the right channel such that the slats extend between the left and the right channels. 
     
     
         4 . The cover of  claim 2  wherein the slats are configured to be vertically repositioned within the right and left channels, such that the adjustable openings are relocated for alignment with the one or more of the control and the outlet. 
     
     
         5 . The cover of  claim 2  wherein the slats are configured to be removed or added within the right and left channels, such that the adjustable openings are relocated for alignment with the one or more of the control and the outlet. 
     
     
         6 . The cover of  claim 2  wherein the channels are U-shaped, and wherein one leg of the U-shaped channel is positioned within a groove formed in the rear surface of the front panel, and wherein a depth of the groove is responsive to a thickness of the leg of the U-shaped channel. 
     
     
         7 . The cover of  claim 2  wherein the channels are U-shaped, wherein a plurality of holes are formed in opposing surfaces of each U-shaped channel, and wherein a pin is positioned through the holes at a selected height to prevent downwardly vertical movement of the slats due to gravitational force. 
     
     
         8 . The cover of  claim 2  wherein the channels are U-shaped, and wherein the channels and slats are made from a steel material, and wherein magnets are positioned at a selected height on the U-shaped channels to prevent downwardly vertical movement of the slats due to gravitational force. 
     
     
         9 . The cover of  claim 1  wherein the reservoir comprises a water cooler. 
     
     
         10 . The cover of  claim 1  wherein one or more of the plurality of slats defines an opening therein, and wherein alignment of the opening with one or more of the control and the outlet permits access thereto through the opening. 
     
     
         11 . A cover for a fluid-containing reservoir, comprising:
 a housing for the reservoir comprising a top panel, a right side panel, a left side panel and a front panel, the front panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, a right edge, a left edge, and a middle region, wherein the right panel is attached to said right edge and the left panel is attached to the left edge; and   right and left vertical channels disposed in spaced-apart relation on a rear surface of the front panel, and right and left edges of each one of one or more horizontally-disposed slats received within the respective right and left vertical channels, such that when one slat is disposed in abutting or proximate relationship to another slat, an obscured region behind abutting or proximate slats is not visible, wherein the one or more slats can be selectively positioned within the right and left vertical channels to modify one or both of a height or a location of the obscured region.   
     
     
         12 . The cover of  claim 11  further including a retaining mechanism positioned within the right and left vertical channels to prevent downwardly vertical movement of the horizontally-disposed slats due to gravitational force. 
     
     
         13 . The cover of  claim 12  wherein the right and left vertical channels each comprise a U-shaped channel and respectively include a front leg in contact with rear surface of the front panel and a rear leg opposite to the front leg, and wherein the retaining mechanism comprises a center member disposed between the front and rear legs of each of the right and left vertical channels, the center member urged against one or both of the rear and front legs of the right and left vertical channels to prevent downwardly vertical movement of the horizontally-disposed slats due to gravitational force. 
     
     
         14 . The cover of  claim 11  wherein a material of the slats comprises one of a wood, plastic, metal, glass or rubber material. 
     
     
         15 . The cover of  claim 11  further comprising a stationary stop element positioned below a bottom-most slat of the one or more horizontally-disposed slats and positioned within the vertical channels. 
     
     
         16 . The cover of  claim 11  wherein the horizontally-disposed slats are positioned within the vertical channels to form a plurality of openings in the front panel to permit access to one or more of a reservoir control and a reservoir outlet. 
     
     
         17 . The cover of  claim 11  wherein the horizontally-disposed slats are positioned within the vertical channels to form an opening in the front panel to determine a fluid level within the reservoir. 
     
     
         18 . The cover of  claim 16  wherein the horizontally-disposed slats are positioned within the vertical channels to form a top and bottom of an oval-shaped opening in the front panel, access to one or more of the reservoir control and the reservoir outlet is gained through the oval-shaped opening. 
     
     
         19 . The cover of  claim 11  wherein the reservoir comprises a water cooler. 
     
     
         20 . A cover for a reservoir, comprising:
 a right side panel;   a left side panel;   a front panel joined to the right side panel and the left side panel at a respective right edge and left edge, the front panel including;   a plurality of slats positioned within a pair of spaced-apart channels, the channels affixed to a rear surface of the front panel;   wherein a position of the slats within the channels is adjustable to selectively vary at least one of a size and a location of an opening in the front panel such that the opening is aligned with at least one of a reservoir control and a reservoir fluid outlet.