Disinfecting means within a water dispenser

Claim 1

In water dispensing apparatus, a container for storing water, a vessel below the container having an upper open end adapted to communicate with the lower open end of the container, means for dispensing water from the vessel, upwardly open basket means generally surrounding and extending below the lower open end of the container, the basket means having openings for flow of water from the interior of the same into the vessel, and a ceramic body disposed within the lower portion of the basket means below said lower open end of the container and immersed in the water within the vessel, said body being formed of porous ceramic material having metallic silver dispersed within the same and adapted to absorb water through its exterior surfaces and retain absorbed water in static condition within the body, said basket and said ceramic body being so disposed as to cause water to flow from the container downwardly toward and about the exterior surfaces of the body and through the openings in the basket when water is dispensed from the vessel, said ceramic body being provided with ribs on the lower side of the same which support the body on and spaced from the adjacent surface of the basket, and in which the central portion of the body has a hole extending through the same, said ribs serving to aid flow of water about the body.