Apparatus for producing and delivering ozonated water

• US 9,540,259 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2012
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enozo Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Electrolytic Ozone, Inc.
• Inventors: Lutz, Carl David, Booth, Jeffrey D., Boudreau, Donald J., Lauder, Nicholas R., Zarrin, Hossein, Roster, William, Federico, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hendricks, Keith
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jain, Salil
• Application Number:
  US13/594,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20130206604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• Field of Search: 205/626, 210/760
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/11 by electric discharge
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2201/60 Feed streams for electrical dischargers
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/46104 Devices therefor; Their operating or servicing
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4672 by electrooxydation
• 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 2303/04 Disinfection
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2307/02 as part of a bottle
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2307/04 as part of a pitcher or jug
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2307/10 as part of a potable water dispenser, e.g. for use in homes or offices
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/13 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 15/02 Process control or regulation

Abstract

An apparatus has a tank with an interior for containing water, a nozzle for directing ozonated water out of the spray apparatus, and an electrolytic cell located between the nozzle and the tank. The electrolytic cell is configured to ozonate water as the water flows from the tank to the nozzle. The apparatus also includes a power source for providing electric potential to the electrolytic cell. The tank, nozzle, and electrolytic cell all are part of a single spray bottle or dispenser (e.g., like a soap dispenser).

Claims

1. A system for dispensing ozonated water, the system comprising:

an electrolytic cell;

a base portion comprising a tank having an interior for containing water, and a power source to provide power to the electrolytic cell;

a head portion having a nozzle for releasing ozonated water from the system; and

a rod coupling the base portion to the head portion and providing structural integrity to the system, wherein the rod contains wires electrically coupling the power source to the electrolytic cell;

the electrolytic cell disposed in fluid communication with the nozzle and the tank and configured to ozonate water as the water flows from the tank to the nozzle.

2. The system for dispensing ozonated water according to claim 1, further comprising a pump for directing water from the tank to the electrolytic cell.

3. The system for dispensing ozonated water according to claim 1, wherein the rod is threaded so that the rod is removably coupleable to the base portion and the head portion.

4. The system for dispensing ozonated water according to claim 1, further comprising a trigger configured to activate the electrolytic cell.

5. The system for dispensing ozonated water according to claim 2, further comprising a pump monitoring circuit configured to monitor the power drawn by the pump.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the pump monitoring circuit is further configured to withhold power from the pump if the power drawn by the pump exceeds a threshold.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the pump monitoring circuit is further configured to withhold power from the electrolytic cell if the power drawn by the pump exceeds a threshold.

8. A spray bottle for dispensing ozonated water, the system comprising:

a base portion comprising a tank having an interior for containing water;

an exhaust valve in fluid communication with the tank interior to exhaust gas from the tank to the exterior of the tank;

an inlet valve in fluid communication with the tank interior to allow gas to enter the tank from the exterior;

a water inlet to allow water to enter the tank, and a plug to mate with the water inlet, at least one of the inlet valve and exhaust valve disposed in the plug;

a head portion having a nozzle for releasing ozonated water from the bottle; and

an electrolytic cell disposed in fluid communication with the nozzle and the tank and configured to ozonate water as the water flows from the tank to the nozzle.

9. The spray bottle of claim 8, wherein the plug is threaded with threads that mate with the water inlet.

10. The spray bottle of claim 8 further comprising a pump for directing water from the tank to the electrolytic cell, and a trigger configured to activate the electrolytic cell and the pump.

11. The spray bottle of claim 10 further comprising a pump monitoring circuit configured to withhold power from the pump and from the electrolytic cell if the power drawn by the pump exceeds a threshold.

12. The spray bottle of claim 8, further comprising a hydrogen return path from a cathode of the electrolytic cell to the tank, to prevent hydrogen from recombining with ozonated water downstream from the cell.

13. A spray bottle for dispensing ozonated water, the system comprising:

a base portion comprising a tank having an interior for containing water;

an exhaust valve in fluid communication with the tank interior to exhaust gas from the tank to the exterior of the tank;

an inlet valve in fluid communication with the tank interior to allow gas to enter the tank from the exterior;

a water inlet to allow water to enter the tank;

a plug threaded with threads that mate with the water inlet;

a head portion having a nozzle for releasing ozonated water from the bottle; and

an electrolytic cell disposed in fluid communication with the nozzle and the tank and configured to ozonate water as the water flows from the tank to the nozzle.

14. The spray bottle of claim 13 further comprising a pump for directing water from the tank to the electrolytic cell, and a trigger configured to activate the electrolytic cell and the pump.

15. The spray bottle of claim 14 further comprising a pump monitoring circuit configured to withhold power from the pump and from the electrolytic cell if the power drawn by the pump exceeds a threshold.

16. The spray bottle of claim 13, further comprising a hydrogen return path from a cathode of the electrolytic cell to the tank, to prevent hydrogen from recombining with ozonated water downstream from the cell.

17. A spray bottle for dispensing ozonated water, the system comprising:

a base portion comprising a tank having an interior for containing water;

an exhaust valve in fluid communication with the tank interior to exhaust gas from the tank to the exterior of the tank;

an inlet valve in fluid communication with the tank interior to allow gas to enter the tank from the exterior;

a head portion having a nozzle for releasing ozonated water from the bottle;

an electrolytic cell disposed in fluid communication with the nozzle and the tank and configured to ozonate water as the water flows from the tank to the nozzle; and

a hydrogen return path from a cathode of the electrolytic cell to the tank, to prevent hydrogen from recombining with ozonated water downstream from the cell.

18. The spray bottle of claim 17 further comprising a pump for directing water from the tank to the electrolytic cell, and a trigger configured to activate the electrolytic cell and the pump.

19. The spray bottle of claim 18 further comprising a pump monitoring circuit configured to withhold power from the pump and from the electrolytic cell if the power drawn by the pump exceeds a threshold.

20. The spray bottle of claim 17, further comprising a hydrogen return path from a cathode of the electrolytic cell to the tank, to prevent hydrogen from recombining with ozonated water downstream from the cell.