# US 6,017,447 A · Oxygenated water cooler > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,017,447 A - Document ID: US6017447A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 09/124,490 - Filed: 1998-07-29 - Granted: 2000-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 1997-06-19 - Assignees: Oxygen8, Inc. - Inventors: R. Glenn Wright; George P. Mravlja, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6017447A ## CPC - C02F 9/20: Portable or detachable small-scale multistage treatment devices, e.g. point of use or laboratory water purification systems - B67D 1/0057: {Carbonators} - B67D 3/00: Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes (separating and dispensing metered quantities of liquids G01F) - B67D 3/0009: {provided with cooling arrangements (cooling perse F25)} - 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} - B67D 2210/00023: Oxygenators - C02F 1/74: with air (aeration of stretches of water C02F7/00) - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) - B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F) ## Abstract An oxygenated water cooler and method of operating the same for dispensing oxygen enriched water from a bottle installed on the cooler wherein an oxygen source integrated into the cooler delivers oxygen through the water to a headspace above the water in the bottle to maintain the dissolved oxygen content of water in the bottle at an elevated level during the entire time water is dispensed from the bottle by the cooler, the elevated dissolved oxygen level having been established previously during the water bottling process. The oxygen source preferably comprises an oxygen generator, and such generator preferably comprises pressure swing absorption oxygen generating apparatus. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A water cooler for dispensing oxygen enriched water from a water bottle installed on said water cooler wherein dissolved oxygen content of the water in the water bottle is at a supersaturated level prior to installation of the water bottle on said water cooler, comprising an oxygen source integrated into said water cooler for maintaining the dissolved oxygen content of water in said water bottle substantially at said supersaturated level during the time water is dispensed from said water bottle by said water cooler, wherein a tank within said cooler receives water from said bottle and wherein oxygen from said source is transmitted through the water in said tank to a headspace above the water in said bottle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The water cooler according to claim 1, wherein said oxygen source comprises an oxygen generator within said water cooler. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The water cooler according to claim 2, wherein said oxygen generator comprise pressure swing adsorption oxygen generating apparatus. ### Claim 4 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. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The water cooler according to claim 4, wherein said oxygen source comprises an oxygen generator. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The water cooler according to claim 5, wherein said oxygen generator comprises pressure swing adsorption oxygen generating apparatus. ### Claim 7 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) Apparatus according to claim 7, further including a source of refrigeration within said housing for cooling the water within said tank. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said oxygen source comprises an oxygen generator. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said oxygen generator comprises pressure swing adsorption apparatus. ### Claim 11 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.