Liquid purification or separation – With means to add treating material
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-12
2001-02-20
Simmons, David A. (Department: 1724)
Liquid purification or separation
With means to add treating material
C222S146600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06190549
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the art of coolers for dispensing fluids such as drinking water, and more particularly to a new and improved water cooler for dispensing oxygen enriched water.
Oxygen enriched drinking water has an enhanced taste appeal and offers the health and fitness conscious consumer an alternative and supplemental source of oxygen that is absorbed through the stomach. The term drinking water is intended to include, without limitation, spring water, filtered water, water treated by the reverse osmosis process, etc.
The dissolved oxygen content of natural pure spring water ranges from between about 5 mg/liter to 9 mg/liter depending on the source of the water, purification and processing techniques applied prior to bottling, and other factors. The water can be supersaturated with oxygen by injecting molecular oxygen into a water pipeline controlled at a pressure of 40-90 PSIG (pounds per square inch gage), or using other known methods. Using this technique, the dissolved oxygen level of the water can be increased to about 80 mg/liter. If bottled immediately in hermetically sealed bulk glass bottles or other suitable containers, the water will maintain the elevated dissolved oxygen level indefinitely.
Bulk water bottles typically are in the 3-5 gallon range. Upon opening a bulk water bottle containing water that is supersaturated with oxygen, and installing the water bottle on a standard water cooler, the dissolved oxygen in the water decreases to near the baseline level of about 5-9 mg/liter within about 3-5 days. Since the average time required to consume a 3-5 gallon bulk water bottle typically is in the 10-14 day range, the rapid decrease in dissolved oxygen prevents the commercial marketing of oxygen enriched drinking water in 3-5 gallon bulk bottles for use on standard water coolers.
It would, therefore, be highly desirable to provide a new and improved water cooler for dispensing oxygen enriched water wherein the dissolved oxygen content of water in the water bottle installed on the water cooler is maintained above about 50% of the original supersaturated level during the entire time water is dispensed from the water bottle by the cooler, i.e., during the entire usage cycle of the water bottle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a new and improved water cooler and method of operating the same for dispensing oxygen enriched water from a water bottle installed on the cooler, the water having a dissolved oxygen content maintained optimally above about 50% of a supersaturated level previously established during bottling of the water. The supersaturated level established during bottling of the water is preferably about 80 mg/liter. Over the usage cycle of the bottled water, the dissolved oxygen content is maintained preferably above about 15 mg/liter, but optimally above about 40 mg/liter. A pressurized gas source combined with the water cooler delivers a gas through the water to a headspace in the water bottle above the water to maintain the dissolved oxygen content of water in the water bottle substantially above about 50% of the original supersaturated level during the entire time water is dispensed from the water bottle by the cooler. Without the pressurized gas, the oxygen content level would fall to about 5-9 mg/liter during the usage cycle of the water. The pressurized gas source preferably comprises a compressor mounted in the water cooler for providing pressurized air. Alternatively, the pressurized gas source can be of various other forms including stored air or gas in bottles. The gas can be other non-toxic gasses such as nitrogen, oxygen, etc.
Other features are included in the oxygenated water cooler to improve the operation and functionality of the water cooler. For instance, the water cooler of the present invention may include a control system including, for example, a pressure regulator and a pressure switch for automatically maintaining a desired gas pressure level in the headspace of the water bottle.
Alternatively, a water bottle may be placed on the cooler which has not been oxygen enriched. The oxygen may be added by, for example, injecting oxygen into the water just prior to exiting the spout.
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Crowley Dennis E.
Mowers Doug
Mravlja, Jr. George P.
Ritton Jason
Schwartz Henry
Hoey Betsey Morrison
Oxygen8, Inc.
Schmeiser Olsen & Watts
Simmons David A.
LandOfFree
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