Method and apparatus for programably treating water in a water cooler

• US 8,366,920 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2008
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SIP Technologies LLC (S.I.P. Technologies)
• Original Assignee: SIP Technologies LLC (S.I.P. Technologies)
• Inventors: Davis, Kenneth A.
• Primary Examiner(s): STELLING, LUCAS A
• Application Number:
  US12/137,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20080264877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,700 Days
• Field of Search: 210/760, 210138-142, 210/175, 210/192, 210/198.1, 210/205, 210/209, 210/220, 210/241, 210/244, 210/243, 210/86, 261/26, 261/77, 261/119.1, 261/121.1, 261/DIG.42, 261/122.1, 439/76.1, 361/752
• US Class Current: 210/86
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00007 for gas
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/0001 for liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00013 Sterilising means
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00023 Oxygenators
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0009 provided with cooling arrangements cooling perse F25
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0032 the bottle or container being held upside down and provided with a closure, e.g. a cap, adapted to cooperate with a feed tube
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0038 the liquid being stored in an intermediate container prior to dispensing
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0074 Safety or warning devices
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0077 Electronic circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0083 for the liquid container
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/003 using household-type filters for producing potable water, e.g. pitchers, bottles, faucet mounted devices C02F9/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/50 by addition or application of a germicide or by oligodynamic treatment C02F1/4606, C02F1/467, C02F1/76 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/782 Ozone generators
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/784 Diffusers or nozzles for ozonation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/235 in the gas phase
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/42 Liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/44 Time
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 : Disinfection
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2307/10 : as part of a potable water dispenser, e.g. for use in homes or offices
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/00 : Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/00 : Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/12 : Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartments; Combinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 31/002 : Liquid coolers, e.g. beverage cooler receptacle coolers F25D31/006
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/42 : Ozonizers

Abstract

An apparatus for a programmable self sanitizing water dispenser apparatus with a digital controller as well as a programmable method for generating ozone for cleaning the reservoir and the water contained within it. The apparatus includes an anti-spill receiver that houses the controller and that can contain a ozone generator.

Claims

1. A water dispenser, comprising:

a) a cabinet having upper and lower end portions and an interior;

b) a reservoir contained within the cabinet, the reservoir being capable of holding water;

c) an anti-spill annular housing that is attached to the cabinet above the reservoir, said anti-spill annular housing having a central opening surrounded by bottle support surface that is configured to support an inverted water supply bottle having a neck, and a probe extended upwardly and configured to connect to a water supply bottle at the bottle opening;

d) at least one spigot in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing water;

e) a diffuser contained within the reservoir for emitting bubbles into the reservoir;

f) an ozone generator contained within said annular housing and being operable connected to the diffuser;

g) a pump that is in fluid communication with the ozone generator and the diffuser so that the pump can transmit ozone from the generator to the diffuser;

h) a controller operably connected to the ozone generator;

i) the controller being programmable regarding the timing and duration of ozone generated by the ozone generator and sent to the diffuser;

j) wherein the controller includes a circuit board contained within an interior of said anti-spill housing and said circuit board extending along an arcuate path that extends at least partially circumferentially around said central opening; and

k) said anti-spill housing having an interior, an upper section, and a lower section that defines a separating wall that separates the housing interior from the water contained in said reservoir and wherein the circuit board is positioned within said interior above the lower section;

l) at least one water detection probe operably connected to the circuit board, the at least one water detection probe extending downward through the separating wall into the reservoir to detect a water level within the reservoir.

2. The water dispenser of claim 1, wherein the pump is programmable regarding the timing and duration of air to be sent to the diffuser from the pump.

3. The water dispenser of claim 2, wherein the pump is spaced apart from the ozone generator.

4. The water dispenser of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmable regarding the amount of ozone generated, the amounts being chosen from between about 25 to about 100 percent ozone generation.

5. The water dispenser of claim 2, wherein the controller is programmed to have air pumped through the diffuser for a set period of time before ozone is generated.

6. The water dispenser of claim 2, wherein the controller is programmed to have air pumped through the diffuser for a set period of time before ozone is sent through the diffuser and a set period of time after ozone is generated.

7. The water dispenser of claim 2, wherein the controller is programmed to have air pumped through the diffuser for a set period of time after ozone is generated.

8. The water dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a refrigeration system that enables cooling of water in the reservoir and wherein the controller is programmed to shut off the refrigeration system a set period of time before ozone is generated.

9. The water dispenser of claim 8, wherein the refrigeration system is shut off a selected time interval before ozone is generated.

10. The water dispenser of claim 1 wherein the ozone generator is attached to the circuit board.

11. A water dispenser, comprising:

a) a cabinet having upper and lower end portions and an interior;

b) a reservoir contained within the cabinet, the reservoir being capable of holding water;

c) an anti-spill annular housing that is attached to the cabinet above the reservoir, said housing having a central opening surrounded by a bottle support surface that is configured to support an inverted water supply bottle having a neck, and a probe that extends upwardly for enabling a connection to be made with a water supply bottle opening on the bottle;

d) the housing having an interior, an upper section, and a lower section that defines a separating wall that separates said interior from said reservoir;

e) at least one spigot in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing water;

f) a diffuser contained within the reservoir for emitting bubbles into the reservoir;

g) an ozone generator supported within said annular housing interior and being operably connected to transmit ozone to the diffuser during ozonation of water to be dispensed;

h) a controller contained within the annular housing and connected to the ozone generator inside the annular housing; and

i) wherein the controller includes a circuit board contained within the interior of said housing, and above the separating wall, said circuit board extended in an arcuate path at least partially circumferentially around said central opening and wherein the circuit board is positioned above the separation wall

j) at least one water detection probe operably connected to the circuit board, the at least one water detection probe extending downward through the separating wall into the reservoir to detect a water level within the reservoir.

12. The water dispenser of claim 11, wherein the ozone generator includes an air pump and the controller is programmed to have air pumped via the air pump through the diffuser for a set period of time before ozone is generated.

13. The water dispenser of claim 11, wherein the controller is programmed to have air pumped through the diffuser for a set period of time before ozone is sent through the diffuser and a set period of time after ozone is generated.

14. The water dispenser of claim 11, wherein the controller is programmed to have air pumped through the diffuser for a set period of time after ozone is generated.

15. The water dispenser of claim 11, wherein the controller is programmed to have air pumped through the diffuser for a set period of time before ozone is generated.

16. The water dispenser of claim 11, further comprising a refrigeration system within the cabinet that enables water to be cooled before it is dispensed and the controller is operably connected to the refrigeration system and programmable regarding the timing and duration of operation of the refrigeration system.

17. The water dispenser of claim 11 wherein the ozone generator is attached to the circuit board 18.

18. A water dispenser, comprising:

a) a cabinet having upper and lower end portions;

b) a reservoir contained within the cabinet, the reservoir being capable of holding water;

c) a bottle water supply having a bottle with a neck and an outlet opening;

d) an annular anti-spill housing that is attached to the cabinet above the reservoir, said housing having a central opening surrounded by a bottle support surface that is configured to support the bottle water supply in an inverted position, the housing having a probe that extends upwardly and that is configured to connect to the bottle opening;

e) the housing having an interior, an upper section, and a lower section that defines a separating wall that separates said interior from said reservoir and a controller that includes an arc shaped circuit board that is positioned above the separating wall;

f) at least one spigot in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing water from the reservoir;

g) a refrigeration system for cooling water within the reservoir;

h) a diffuser contained within the reservoir for emitting bubbles into the reservoir;

i) an ozone generator housed within said annular housing and attached to said circuit board;

j) a flow line that enables the transmission of ozone from the ozone generator to the diffuser;

k) the controller operably connected to the ozone generator; and

l) the circuit board extending along an arcuate path that is positioned at least partially circumferentially around said central opening;

m) at least one water detection probe operably connected to the circuit board, the at least one water detection probe extending downward through the separating wall into the reservoir to detect a water level within the reservoir.

19. The water dispenser of claim 18 wherein the ozone generator is attached to the circuit board.

20. A water dispenser, comprising:

a) a cabinet having upper and lower end portions and an interior;

b) a reservoir contained within the cabinet, the reservoir being capable of holding water;

c) a bottle having a neck, a bottle opening and a water supply;

d) an annular, hollow anti-spill receiver that is attached to the cabinet above the reservoir, said anti-spill receiver including a housing having a central opening surrounded by a bottle support surface that is configured to support the water supply bottle in an inverted position, the receiver having a probe configured to extend upwardly for connecting to the bottle opening;

e) the housing having an interior, an upper section, a lower section, and a separating baffle wall that separates said interior from said reservoir;

f) at least one spigot in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing water;

g) a diffuser contained within the reservoir for emitting bubbles into the reservoir;

h) an ozone generator housed within said annular, hollowed housing;

i) an flow line that enables the transmission of ozone from the ozone generator to the diffuser;

j) a controller inside said annular housing and operable connected to the

ozone generator; and

k) wherein the controller includes a circuit board contained within the interior of said housing, and above the separating baffle wall, said circuit board extending along an arcuate path that curves around said central opening, wherein the circuit board is positioned above the baffle wall;

l) at least one water detection probe operably connected to the circuit board, the at least one water detection probe extending downward through the separating baffle wall into the reservoir to detect a water level within the reservoir.

21. The water dispenser of claim 20 wherein the ozone generator is attached to the circuit board.