A water heater system for a water dispensing fountain having a refrigerated water reservoir, is disclosed. The water heater system is comprised of a plastic molded hot water tank formed in a support membrane. A feed conduit is also formed in the membrane and extends from a connector, which secures to the bottom wall of the refrigerated water reservoir, to the bottom end of a serpentine array of the conduit which extends upwardly to the bottom wall of the hot water tank. The purpose of the serpentine conduit is to prevent hot water from the tank from flowing back into the refrigerated water reservoir. A dispensing conduit extends from the hot water tank and is located at a position whereby water can be extracted from a valve connected thereto by gravity flow. An exhaust pipe also extends from the hot water tank and is provided with an exhaust port located above the top water level of the refrigerated water reservoir whereby to exhaust water pressure vapors from the hot water tank.

The dispenser of the present invention is operative to dispense both uncarbonated and carbonated drinking water. It consists of a reservoir for retaining uncarbonated drinking water and a first heat exchange associated with the reservoir and supplied with a fluid refrigerant, for maintaining the water at an optimum drinking temperature. The reservoir has a direct connection to a dispensing faucet for dispensing uncarbonated water. In conjunction with this, the unit makes use of a carbonator for dispersing carbon dioxide in water, and a second heat exchanger located within the reservoir in contact with the uncarbonated water. A pump is arranged to take drinking water from the reservoir and delivers it to the carbonator the carbonated water is supplied to the inlet of the second heat exchanger. A second faucet is connected to the outlet of the second heat exchanger to dispense the carbonated water. The invention also includes the method in which the dispensing unit is operated to supply either chilled uncarbonated or carbonated water.

An improved water bottle design for use with a water cooler type bottled water dispensing apparatus is provided in which the water bottle includes a horizontal surface area positioned around the base of the neck of the bottle, where the bottle contacts an annular opening of the housing above an open end of a reservoir portion of the housing of the bottled water dispensing apparatus. This flat horizontal surface area results in greater stability for the water bottle on the housing than can be achieved with conventional bottles which engage the annular opening of the housing at a vertically curved surface of the bottle. Moreover, no special adapters or couplings are necessary to produce an interfit between the water bottle and the housing, and therefore, the improved stability is achieved in a very simple manner. In second and third embodiments, the water bottle further includes a transition region that is substantially perpendicular to the horizontal surface area and may contact with an interior periphery of the bottle-receiving opening of the housing. By contacting with the interior periphery, the transition region further provides for a tighter fitting of the water bottle to the housing, so that the inverted bottle seats with greater stability on the housing without increasing the complexity of the overall structure as the case for the use of special adapters or couplings.

Apparatus and methods for converting a bottled water dispenser for use with a continuous source of water are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, means for reducing the pressure and filtering the continuous source of water are provided. In a most preferred embodiment, the apparatus is configured to substantially reside within the existing dispenser apparatus, thus eliminating the need for bottled water. A housing is provided which contains a filter in an upper portion thereof, the lower portion shaped to conform to an existing tank within the bottled water dispenser in order to provide good thermal communication between the apparatus of the present invention and the existing refrigeration means. Chilled water is retained in the lower portion of the housing and is filtered upon demand, thus providing freshly filtered water to the user at a pressure and velocity substantially the same as that produced using a bottled source, without the contaminants expense and inconvenience associated with bottled water. Also provided are methods and apparatus for converting bottled water dispensers having means for dispensing heated water for use with a continuous source of water.

A self-filling bottled-water cooler dispenses pure water from a transparent water bottle mounted on the top of a free-standing cabinet body. The cooler attaches to a tap-water or other continuous water source and provides a continuous supply of pure water without need to change the water bottle The free-standing cabinet body includes a water tank located within the upper portion of the cabinet body and at least one tap for dispensing water from the water tank. The water bottle is securely attached on the top of the cabinet body to the water tank such that water freely flows between the bottle and the tank. Water from the tap water or other source is purified in a reverse osmosis, carbon block or other water purifier and is routed to the water tank. An inlet valve connected to a float mechanism within the water bottle regulates the flow of purified water into the water tank. The fload mechanism closes the inlet valve only when the purified water in the water bottle is at or above a desired full level. A venting system prevents overfilling of the water bottle and a change in air pressure within the bottle whenever the level of purified water in the bottle changes.