An automatic, water dispensing, filter shutoff device having a disposable and
replaceable filter. The shutoff device is in removable engagement and fluid communication
with a water container such as a water bottle, and is adapted to disable dispensing
after a predetermined amount of dispensing has occurred, which may but need not
substantially correspond to the filtration capacity of the filter. In a preferred
embodiment, the shutoff device includes a monitoring and disabling with plunger
components moveable between dispensing and disabling locations, and a rotating
indexing mechanism. At the disabling location, a plunger component is placed in
an interfering position with the engagement between the shutoff device and the
water container. The shutoff device can distinguish between water bottles having
different volumetric capacities, and terminate dispensing accordingly. Preferable,
a replaceable filter cartridge is provided which, when removed, causes the indexing
mechanism to be reset.