Bottled-water cooler

Claim 2

A water cooler having a cabinet generally divided into an upper compartment and a lower compartment and enclosing a refrigerated water supply means comprising: a replaceable water supply container in said lower compartment; a water reservoir in said upper compartment, said reservoir partitioned into a first tank and a second tank being in fluid communication and heat transfer relationship with each other; refrigeration means including cooling coil associated with said second tank, for cooling the water in said second tank to a predetermined low temperature and through said heat transfer relationship cooling the water in said first tank to a somewhat higher temperature than said low temperature of said second tank; means for raising water in said container to said reservoir; water outlet means communicating with the lower part of said first and second tanks for dispensing water therefrom whereby water is generally stored at separate reduced temperatures to increase the capacity of the cooler to provide cool water.

Claim 3

A water cooler according to claim 1 wherein: said water supply container comprises a pressure bottle; and said means for raising water in said container comprises; a low pressure electrically actuated air pump having an ambient deliver inlet and a pressure air outlet in communication with said pressure bottle to delivery compressed air thereto; and water conduit means disposed in said bottle and in communication with said reservoir to convey water from said bottle to said reservoir.

Claim 4

A water cooler according to claim 2 including: switch means associated with said low pressure air pump for controlling electrical actuation of said pump; float sensing means disposed in said first tank and attached to said switch means for sensing the level of water in said reservoir and thereby controlling said switch means to actuate the pump in accordance with a predetermined position of said float means.

Claim 5

A water cooler according to claim 3 wherein: said first and second tanks are in fluid communication through a restricted flow passage connecting them; and, said cooling coils of said refrigeration means are disposed in said second tank.

Claim 6

A water cooler according to claim 4 wherein: said first tank and said second tank have a common partition wall; and said restricted flow passage comprises a hole through said wall.

Claim 7

A water cooler according to claim 5 wherein said water outlet means comprises gravity flow valves, at least one of said valves associated with each of said tanks, said valves being in fluid communication with the lower part of said tanks.

Claim 8

A water cooler according to claim 1 wherein said water outlet means comprises a gravity flow valve.

Claim 9

A water cooler having a cabinet generally divided into an upper compartment and a lower compartment and enclosing a refrigerated water supply means, comprising: a replaceable pressure container in said lower compartment and having a supply of water therein; a water reservoir in said upper compartment, said reservoir having a generally centrally located wall partitioning said reservoir into a firSt tank and a second tank; said tanks being in fluid communication with each other through a hole in said wall, said partition also providing a heat transfer relationship between said tanks; refrigeration means having cooling coils, said coils disposed in said second tank for cooling water therein to a predetermined low temperature and through said heat transfer relationship cooling the water in said first tank to a somewhat higher temperature than said low temperature of said second tank; means for raising water in said bottle to said reservoir; and, water outlet means in the lower part of said first and second tanks for dispensing water therefrom, whereby water is provided at generally separate reduced temperatures.

Claim 10

A water cooler having a cabinet generally divided into an upper compartment and a lower compartment and enclosing a refrigerated water supply means, comprising: a replaceable pressure container in said lower compartment and having a supply of water therein; a water reservoir in said upper compartment, said reservoir having a generally centrally located wall partitioning said reservoir into a firSt tank and a second tank; said tanks being in fluid communication with each other through a hole in said wall, said partition also providing a heat transfer relationship between said tanks; refrigeration means having cooling coils, said coils disposed in said second tank for cooling water therein to a predetermined low temperature and through said heat transfer relationship cooling the water in said first tank to a somewhat higher temperature than said low temperature of said second tank; means for raising water in said bottle to said reservoir; and, water outlet means in the lower part of said first and second tanks for dispensing water therefrom, whereby water is provided at generally separate reduced temperatures.