Abstract:
A method and apparatus for providing sanitized water in a bottled water dispenser uses a refrigeration system to cool the water and an ozone generating system to generate ozone for sanitizing the water. Ozone is generated and collected within an ozone generator housing. A blower transmits air to the housing, the air carrying the ozone through a flow line to an air diffuser that is positioned inside the reservoir of the water dispenser. A time deactivates the refrigeration system and at about the same time activates the ozone generator and the blower. The blower continues to pump air for a selected time period after the ozone generator is shut down, the water in the reservoir having been sanitized. This action dispenses any ozone odor. The pump then shuts off and the refrigeration system resumes operation of cooling the water in the reservoir.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/472,320, filed Dec. 23, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,690 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/220,554, filed Dec. 23, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,085,540 all incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable 
     REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to bottled water dispensers, and more particularly to an improved bottled water dispenser for dispensing water that has been sanitized using ozone and more particularly to an improved method and apparatus for sanitizing a water cooler of the type having an inverted bottle for containing water with a neck portion of the bottle communicating with an open reservoir. 
     2. General Background of the Invention 
     One of the most common types of bottled water dispensers is a floor standing cabinet having an open top that receives a large inverted bottle. The bottle is typically of a plastic or glass material having a constricted neck. The bottle is turned upside down and placed on the top of the cabinet with the neck of the bottle extending into a water filled reservoir so that the water seeks its own level in the reservoir during use. As a user draws water from a spigot dispenser, the liquid level in the reservoir drops until it falls below the neck of the bottle at which time water flows from the bottle and bubbles enter the bottle until pressure has equalized. 
     These types of inverted bottle water dispensers are sold by a number of companies in the United States. Many are refrigerated. 
     One of the problems with bottled water dispensers that use an inverted bottle is that of cleansing the unit from time to time. Because the top is not air tight, it breathes so that bacteria can easily enter the reservoir over a period of time. 
     In addition to the problem of an open top, the five gallon bottles that are typically used in combination with a cabinet having an open reservoir are themselves a source of bacteria and germs. Most of these bottles are transported on trucks where the bottles are exposed to outside air. They are handled by operators that typically grab the bottle at the neck, the very part of the bottle that communicates with the open reservoir during use. Unfortunately, it is difficult to convince every person that handles these bottles to wash their hands frequently enough. 
     In order to properly sanitize such a water dispenser or cooler, the user must carefully clean the neck of the bottle prior to combining the bottle with the cabinet. Further, the user should drain and sanitize the reservoir from time to time. The cleansing of the reservoir in such a water dispenser is a time consuming project that is typically not done often enough. 
     The present invention provides an improved self sanitizing water dispenser apparatus as well as a method for generating ozone for cleaning the reservoir and the water contained within it. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a self sanitizing bottled water dispenser that includes a cabinet having upper and lower end portions, the upper end portion of the cabinet having a cover with an opening for receiving and holding a bottle of water to be dispensed. 
     The bottle contains water to be dispensed, and provides a neck portion and a dispensing outlet portion. 
     A reservoir contained within the cabinet next to the upper end portion thereof contained water with a water service that communicates with a bottle neck during use. A refrigeration system cools the water within the reservoir. A diffuser ring emits bubbles into the reservoir, the diffuser ring being disposed within the reservoir at the lower end portion thereof and next to the reservoir wall so that bubbles emitted by the diffuser ring helps scrub the wall. 
     An ozone generator is supported within the housing. Air flow lines communicate with an air pump to carry ozone from the ozone generator housing to the diffuser ring. A blower generates air flow and a flow line connects the blower to the ozone generator housing. 
     A timer is provided for activating the ozone generator at a selected time and for a selected time interval. The timer initially deactivates the refrigeration system compressor while simultaneously activating the air pump. The timer activates the ozone generator after the air pump is activated. 
     The ozone generator is activated for a selected time interval (e.g. a few minutes). After the selected time interval, the ozone generator is shut off, but the air pump continues air flow for a time period of a few minutes in order to help disperse any odor of ozone. The air pump is then shut off and the refrigeration system compressor starts operation again to cool the water. 
     The diffuser ring is preferably positioned around the side of the reservoir at the bottom of the reservoir, close to the intersection of the reservoir bottom wall and reservoir side wall. 
     The diffuser ring can be preferably circular in shape, and having a composite construction that includes a porous core that is partially covered with a non-porous coating. 
     The reservoir preferably has a center portion and the diffuser ring has openings positioned to direct air away from the center portion of the reservoir. 
     The reservoir includes a generally vertical side wall and the diffuser ring is positioned to discharge bubbles against the side wall so that the side wall is scrubbed with ozone bubbles during use. 
     The ozone generator housing is comprised of an upper housing section, a lower housing section and a gasket positioned in between the upper and lower sections. An ozone generator is contained within the interior of the housing. Fittings on the housing enable air to flow into and out of the housing. A blower generates air flow to carry air into the ozone housing and from the ozone generator housing to the air diffuser. A HEPA filter at the air intake removes airborne microorganisms. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a sectional elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a partial perspective exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the ozone generator portion thereof; 
     FIG. 3 is a partial sectional elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the reservoir, bottle, and ozone diffuser portions thereof; 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating the open reservoir and ozone diffuser; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines  5 — 5  of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating the ozone diffuser and its position in relation to the reservoir; 
     FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating an alternate construction for the diffuser; 
     FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the diffuser of FIG. 7 showing the porous body portion thereof; 
     FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the diffuser of FIG. 7 prior to a grinding of part of the non-porous surface therefrom; 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic, fragmentary view illustrating the diffuser of FIG. 7 during construction; 
     FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along lines  11 — 11  of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along lines  12 — 12  of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 13 is a fragmentary, perspective view illustrating the diffuser of FIG. 7; and 
     FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along lines  14 — 14  of FIG.  7 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1-3 show generally the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention designated by the numeral  10  in FIG.  1 . Water dispenser  10  provides an improved apparatus that sanitizes the open reservoir from time to time with ozone. The apparatus  10  includes a cabinet  11  having a lower end portion  12  and an upper end portion  13 . The upper end portion  13  carries a cover  14  having an opening  17 . 
     The opening  17  provides an annular flange  15  and a gasket  16  that defines an interface with bottle  18 . The bottle  18  is a commercially available bottle that is typically of a several gallon volume (e.g. five gallons). in the United States. The bottle  18  provides a constricted bottled neck  19  that is placed inside an open reservoir  20  as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 during use. The bottle neck  19  has an opening for communicating with a reservoir  20  at the interior of the cabinet  11  that holds the water product to be dispensed and consumed. When the reservoir  21  is lowered during use, air bubbles enter the bottle and water replenishes the reservoir  20  until pressure equalizes. 
     The reservoir  20  has an interior  21  surrounded by reservoir sidewall  22  and reservoir bottom wall  23 . The reservoir can be, for example, generally cylindrically shaped and of a stainless steel or plastic material. The reservoir  20  provides an open top for communicating with the neck  19  of bottle  18 . 
     During use, reservoir  20  has a water surface  25  that fluctuates slightly as water is dispensed and then replenished by bottle  18 . One or more spigots  26 ,  27  can be provided for withdrawing water contained in reservoir  20 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, for example, a left hand spigot  26  has a flow line  35  that extends up to and near the surface  25  of water contained in reservoir  20 . The spigot  26  thus removes ambient temperature water from reservoir  20  that is not in close proximity to the cooling coils  28 . The spigot  27  provides a port  36  for communicating with water contained in reservoir  20 . Because the refrigeration coils  28  are positioned at the lower end of reservoir  20 , the spigot  26  withdraws cool water. As a practical matter, a water dispenser apparatus  10  could provide either ambient temperature water, cold water or heated water if, for example, a flow line  35  were to be provided with a heating element. 
     For cooling the water at the lower end portion of the reservoir  20 , a cooling system that includes a compressor  29  can be provided. The refrigeration system includes flow lines  30 ,  31  in combination with compressor  29  to transmit cooling fluid to coils  28  and then to heat exchanger  32  as part of a system for cooling water in reservoir  20 . Power to the apparatus  10  is provided by electrical lines, including an electrical line  33  provided with plug  34 . The plug  34  can be fitted to controller  42  having receptacle  44  and plug  43  as shown in FIG.  2 . In this fashion, electricity can be selectively routed to the compressor  29  via electrical line  33  or to the housing  40  containing ozone generator  50  using electrical line  41 . This feature enables the compressor to be deactivated when the ozone generator  50  is to be used to transmit ozone to reservoir  20  for cleaning water contained in it and for scrubbing the inside walls of reservoir  20 . 
     In FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing  40  includes an ozone generator  50  that generates ozone for cleaning water contained in reservoir  20 . Additionally, the housing  40  contains a motor drive  53  and blower  54  that move air through an ozone generator housing  57  to diffuser  37 . Air line  38  communicates between ozone generator housing  57  and ozone diffuser  37 . Fitting  39  provides a connection for attaching the exit air flow line  38  to ozone generator  57  as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     Housing  40  can be provided with flanges  45  and openings  46  for enabling the housing  40  to be retrofitted to an existing cabinet  11  by bolting the housing  40  to the cabinet  11  as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     In FIG. 2, housing  40  includes a lower end portion  47  and an upper end portion  48 . The upper end portion  48  provides an opening  49  to which ozone generator housing  57  can be affixed. An ozone generator  50  is contained within the housing  57  as shown in FIG.  2 . Housing  57  includes a lower housing section  58  and an upper housing section  59 . Flange  60  of lower housing section  58  and flange  61  of upper housing section  59  each engage gasket  62  upon assembly. 
     Bolted connections  63  can be used for attaching the housing  57  to housing  40  at internally threaded openings  64  on housing  40  as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. During use, the controller  42  normally deactivates the ozone generator  50  during normal hours when the users are dispensing water from the apparatus  10 . Because the ozone used to disinfect reservoir  20  has a distinctive smell, it is preferable to clean the water contained in reservoir  20 , to clean the inside walls of reservoir  20  and the bottle neck  19 , at a selected time. The controller  42  could be activated for example during early morning hours (e.g. 3:00 a.m.-4:00 a.m.) and can be a commercially available controller that activates transformer  51  and motor drive  53  only after compressor  29  and the refrigeration system have been deactivated by the controller  42 . This accomplished by shutting off the flow of electricity to plug  34  and electric line  33  that supply electricity to compressor  29 . 
     After electricity is disconnected from compressor  29 , transformer  51  and motor drive  53  are activated. The transformer  51  produces electricity with a very high voltage at ozone generator  50  for generating ozone within the confines of ozone generator housing  57 . As this ozone is generated within housing  57 , air is pumped with air pump  54  into inlet flow line  55  and via opening  56  into the interior of housing  57 . HEPA filter  71  removes airborne microorganism before they can enter air pump  54  and flow line  55 . This positive flow of air pressure into housing  57  causes a simultaneous discharge of air through fitting  39  into air flow line  38 . The air flow line  38  then carries air to diffuser  37  or  37 A (FIGS. 7-14) that is contained at the bottom at the side wall of reservoir  20 . The specific placement of diffuser  37  or  37 A and the flow of air therefrom containing ozone is shown more particularly in FIGS. 4-14. In FIG. 4, a top view of the reservoir shows that the diffuser  37  or  37 A preferably extends 360 degrees about the periphery of reservoir  20  and at the sidewall  22  thereof. This is preferable because ozone bubbles  67  are used to scrub the side wall  22  at the inside surface as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     The diffuser  37  or  37 A can be is supported by a plurality of feet  68  that extend between the diffuser  37  or  37 A and a bottom wall  23  of reservoir  20 . Openings  69  in diffuser  37  are directed at an angle with respect to the bottom wall  23  and side wall  22  of reservoir  20  as shown in FIG.  6 . An angle  70  of preferably about 45 degrees defines the orientation of openings  69  with respect to the walls  22 ,  23 . This configuration of the openings  69  relative to the walls  22 ,  23  ensures that bubbles  67  will be discharged outwardly toward side wall  22 , to maximize the scrubbing effect at the interior wall  22  of reservoir  20 . This scrubbing action using ozone bubbles  67  cleans the sidewall  22  and produces a rolling flow of water within reservoir  20 . The bubbles  67  will strike the surface  25  of the reservoir  20  and flow inwardly. Such a circulation ensures that all of the water within the reservoir  20  is cleaned. Further, directing the bubbles from diffuser  37  outwardly toward wall  22  ensures that none of the bubbles  67  will enter bottle  18  via neck  19  which would cause the device to overflow. 
     FIGS. 7-14 show an alternate construction of the diffuser, wherein the diffuser is designated generally by the numeral  37 A. Diffuser  37 A has a porous body  72  as shown in FIG. 8 that begins with a cylindrically shaped hollow cross section. Porous body  72  can be a food grade porous ceramic material. The porous body  72  is generally C shaped as shown in FIG. 7, but provides the cross section shown in FIG.  11 . FIGS. 8,  9  and  10  show the method of construction of the diffuser  37 A which begins with porous body  72 . In FIG. 8, porous body  72  has an inner surface  73  that surrounds hollow bore  75  and an outer surface  74 . In FIG. 9, a non-porous coating (e.g. food grade non-porous epoxy that can e fired) is provided on porous body  72  to provide an outer coating  76  that is substantially impervious to the escape of air. In FIG. 10, rotary grinding tool  88  having rotary shaft  89  is used to grind away part of the non-porous coating  76  to provide an exposed face  90  (see FIGS.  10  and  11 ). 
     When air is injected through inlet elbow fitting  79 , the air enters hollow bore  75  and then diffuses through porous body  72 . Coating  76  prevents the escape of air so that air can only escape through exposed face  90 . Exposed face  90  is positioned on the outer portion of C shaped diffuser  37 A as shown in FIGS. 7 and 11. An enlarged view of this exposed face  90  is shown in FIG. 13 with arrows  91  indicating the escape of bubbles  92 . 
     The inlet elbow fitting  79  has a body  80  with two legs  81 ,  82  extending therefrom. Coupling material  83  such as food grade epoxy can be used to join the combination of porous body  72  and its coating  76  to inlet elbow fitting  79 . Each of the legs  81 ,  82  provides an internal hollow flow bore, said bores  84  and  85  intersecting at body  80  so that air flow can proceed from bore  84  of leg  81  to bore  85  of leg  82 . The leg  81  can provide external threads  86  so that it can be connected to an influent air flow line  38 . Other connectors could be used on leg  81  such as a stab fitting type connection, clamp connection or the like. Elbow fitting  79  at leg  82  can provide similar connective material for forming a connection with porous body  72  at its inner surface  73 . This connective structure on leg  82  can be a stab fitting type connection as shown in FIG. 12, external threads, or like connective structure. 
     In FIG. 7, the diffuser  37 A has closed end portion  78  and end portion  79  that receives elbow fitting  79 . Closed end  78  can be closed by using the same material that constitutes coating  76  as shown in FIG.  14 . 
     The following table lists the parts numbers and parts descriptions as used herein and in the drawings attached hereto. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 PARTS LIST 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Part Number 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 10 
                 water dispenser 
               
               
                 11 
                 cabinet 
               
               
                 12 
                 lower end 
               
               
                 13 
                 upper end 
               
               
                 14 
                 cover 
               
               
                 15 
                 annular flange 
               
               
                 16 
                 gasket 
               
               
                 17 
                 opening 
               
               
                 18 
                 bottle 
               
               
                 19 
                 bottle neck 
               
               
                 20 
                 reservoir 
               
               
                 21 
                 interior 
               
               
                 22 
                 reservoir side wall 
               
               
                 23 
                 reservoir bottom wall 
               
               
                 24 
                 open top 
               
               
                 25 
                 water surface 
               
               
                 26 
                 spigot 
               
               
                 27 
                 spigot 
               
               
                 28 
                 refrigeration coil 
               
               
                 29 
                 compressor 
               
               
                 30 
                 flow line 
               
               
                 31 
                 flow line 
               
               
                 32 
                 heat exchanger 
               
               
                 33 
                 electrical line 
               
               
                 34 
                 plug 
               
               
                 35 
                 flow line 
               
               
                 36 
                 outlet port 
               
               
                 37 
                 diffuser 
               
               
                     37A 
                 diffuser 
               
               
                 38 
                 air line 
               
               
                 39 
                 fitting 
               
               
                 40 
                 housing 
               
               
                 41 
                 electrical line 
               
               
                 42 
                 controller 
               
               
                 43 
                 plug 
               
               
                 44 
                 receptacle 
               
               
                 45 
                 flange 
               
               
                 46 
                 opening 
               
               
                 47 
                 lower end 
               
               
                 48 
                 upper end 
               
               
                 49 
                 opening 
               
               
                 50 
                 ozone generator 
               
               
                 51 
                 transformer 
               
               
                 52 
                 electrical line 
               
               
                 53 
                 motor 
               
               
                 54 
                 blower 
               
               
                 55 
                 air line 
               
               
                 56 
                 air inlet 
               
               
                 57 
                 ozone generator housing 
               
               
                 58 
                 lower housing section 
               
               
                 59 
                 upper housing section 
               
               
                 60 
                 flange 
               
               
                 61 
                 flange 
               
               
                 62 
                 gasket 
               
               
                 63 
                 bolted connection 
               
               
                 64 
                 internally threaded opening 
               
               
                 65 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 66 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 67 
                 bubble 
               
               
                 68 
                 foot 
               
               
                 69 
                 opening 
               
               
                 70 
                 angle 
               
               
                 71 
                 filter 
               
               
                 72 
                 porous body 
               
               
                 73 
                 inner surface 
               
               
                 74 
                 outer surface 
               
               
                 75 
                 hollow bore 
               
               
                 76 
                 non-porous coating 
               
               
                 77 
                 end portion 
               
               
                 78 
                 end portion 
               
               
                 79 
                 elbow fitting 
               
               
                 80 
                 body 
               
               
                 81 
                 leg 
               
               
                 82 
                 leg 
               
               
                 83 
                 coupling material 
               
               
                 84 
                 bore 
               
               
                 85 
                 bore 
               
               
                 86 
                 external threads 
               
               
                 87 
                 stab fitting 
               
               
                 88 
                 grinding tool 
               
               
                 89 
                 shaft 
               
               
                 90 
                 exposed face 
               
               
                 91 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 92 
                 bubble 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.