Oxygenated water cooler

A water cooler comprising:

• (a) a housing adapted to receive a bottle containing oxygen enriched water having a dissolved oxygen content at a supersaturated level previously established during bottling of the water;
• (b) a tank within said housing for receiving water from the bottle when installed on said housing;
• (c) means for dispensing water from said tank;
• (d) a refrigeration source associated with said housing for cooling water in said tank;
• (e) an oxygen source associated with said housing;
• and
• (f) means for introducing oxygen from said source through the water in said tank to a headspace above the water in the bottle so that the dissolved oxygen content of water in the bottle is maintained substantially at said supersaturated level throughout the time that the water is dispensed from the bottle by said cooler.

Apparatus for dispensing drinking water comprising:

• (a) a housing adapted to receive on an upper end thereof an inverted bottle containing drinking water having a dissolved oxygen content at a supersaturated level;
• (b) a tank within said housing located below said upper end to receive water flowing from said bottle by force of gravity;
• (c) an outlet for dispensing water from said tank;
• (d) an oxygen source within said housing;
• and
• (e) means for introducing oxygen from said source through the water in said tank to a headspace above the water in said bottle to maintain the dissolved oxygen content of the water in the bottle substantially at said supersaturated level throughout the usage cycle of said bottle.

A water cooler comprising:

• a water tank for receiving water from a bottle containing water having a dissolved oxygen content at a supersaturated level;
• a system for dispensing water from the water tank;
• a refrigeration source for cooling water in the water tank;
• a compressed gas source;
• and
• a system for introducing compressed gas from the compressed gas source through the water in the water tank to a headspace above the water in the bottle to maintain the dissolved oxygen content of the water in the bottle at a supersaturated level throughout the usage cycle of the bottle.