Patent ID: 8153074

Claim:
An ozone sterilizing system for use in a bottled water dispenser, said dispenser defining an internal reservoir including an opening formed in a top cover thereof for accepting a water supply bottle having a neck extending to a mouth, said bottle mountable by a bottle receptacle positioned on top of the top cover of the reservoir in an inverted position such that the neck of the water bottle extends into the reservoir through said bottle receptacle and opening in the top cover of the reservoir, to supply water to the reservoir, said bottle, bottle receptacle and top of the reservoir forming a seal therebetween to prevent release of gas from said reservoir; said system further including an ozone generator, positioned outside the reservoir, and an ozone diffuser positioned inside the reservoir, connected to the ozone generator by a connector tube, whereat said diffuser emits ozone into the water within the reservoir for sterilization thereof, said reservoir including an ozone filter for capturing excess ozone and decomposing same having a gas intake situated higher than the seal formed between the bottle and the bottle receptacle.