Method and apparatus for programably treating water in a water cooler

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.

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;   d) said cabinet housing having a central opening surrounded by a bottle support surface that is configured to support an inverted water supply bottle having a neck;   e) the housing having an interior and a probe that extends upwardly for connecting to a water supply bottle opening;   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 contained within said annular housing and being operably connected to the diffuser;   i) 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;   j) a controller operably connected to the ozone generator;   k) the controller being programmable regarding the timing and duration of ozone generated by the ozone generator and sent to the diffuser; and   l) wherein the controller is programmable regarding activation of the pump.   
     
     
         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 9 , 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 . A water dispenser, comprising:
 a) a cabinet having upper and lower end portions, an interior and a cabinet opening at said upper end portion;   b) reservoir contained within the cabinet below said cabinet opening, the reservoir being capable of holding water;   c) an anti-spill annular housing that is attached to the cabinet above the reservoir and at said cabinet opening, said cabinet 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 wherein said anti spill receiver has a probe that extends upwardly for connecting to a water supply bottle opening on the bottle;   d) at least one spigot in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing water from the reservoir;   e) a diffuser contained within the reservoir for emitting bubbles into the reservoir;   f) 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;   g) a controller contained within the annular housing and connected to the ozone generator inside the annular housing; and   h) wherein the controller controls multiple functions of the water dispenser, including at least a beginning time of ozonation and a duration time of ozonation.   
     
     
         11 . The water dispenser of  claim 10 , 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. 
     
     
         12 . The water dispenser of  claim 10 , 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. 
     
     
         13 . The water dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is programmed to have air pumped through the diffuser for a set period of time after ozone is generated. 
     
     
         14 . The water dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is programmed to have air pumped through the diffuser for a set period of time before ozone is generated. 
     
     
         15 . The water dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein the 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. 
     
     
         16 . A water dispenser, comprising:
 a) a cabinet having upper and lower end portions, an uppermost cabinet opening and an interior;   b) reservoir contained within the cabinet below said uppermost cabinet opening, 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 at said uppermost opening, said housing having a central housing 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 opemng;   e) at least one spigot m fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing water from the reservoir;   f) a refrigeration system for cooling water within the reservoir;   g) a diffuser contained within the reservoir for emitting bubbles into the reservoir;   h) an ozone generator housed within said annular housing;   i) a flow line that enables the transmission of ozone from the ozone generator to the diffuser;   j) a controller within said annular housing and operably connected to the ozone generator; and   k) the controller being programmable regarding activation of the refrigeration system and the timing and duration of ozone generated by the ozone generator.   
     
     
         17 . A water dispenser, comprising:
 a) a cabinet having upper and lower end portions and an interior;   b) reservoir contained within the cabinet, the reservoir having an open top and being capable of holding water;   c) an annular, hollowed housing that is attached to the cabinet above the reservoir, said housing having an interior and a lower panel including a central opening;   d) a flow line that supplies water to the reservoir, said flow line supported in part by the housing, the flow line having a discharge that is positioned to discharge water into the reservoir top via the housing central opening;   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 housed within said annular, hollowed housing;   h) a flow line that enables the transmission of ozone from the ozone generator to the diffuser;   i) a controller inside said annular housing and operably connected to the ozone generator; and   j) the controller being programmable regarding multiple water dispenser the functions including at least the timing and duration of ozone generated by the ozone generator that is sent to the diffuser.   
     
     
         18 . The water dispenser of  claim 17  wherein the housing supports an ozone destruct filter that filters ozone exiting the reservoir via the filter. 
     
     
         19 . The water dispenser of  claim 17  further comprising multiple probes that extend from the housing into the reservoir, said probes indicating when the reservoir contains water. 
     
     
         20 . The water dispenser of  claim 19  wherein one for more of the probes indicates when the reservoir contains too much water above a selected water level. 
     
     
         21 . The water dispenser of  claim 19  wherein one for more of the probes indicates when the reservoir contains too much water above a selected water level, the probe communicating with the controller to prevent operation of the ozone generator. 
     
     
         22 . The water dispenser of  claim 19  wherein one for more of the probes indicates when the reservoir contains not enough, the probe communicating with the controller to preventing operation of the ozone generator.