Liquid purification or separation – With repair or assembling means – Removable treatment part with normally disabled flow controller
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-21
2001-07-10
Cintins, Ivars (Department: 1724)
Liquid purification or separation
With repair or assembling means
Removable treatment part with normally disabled flow controller
C210S424000, C210S449000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06258266
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to water filters and more particularly to faucet mount water filtration devices that can be mounted directly on a faucet for filtering impurities from water flow.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Tap water often includes impurities such as minerals, chlorine, particulates and other contaminants that effect the taste, odor, appearance and health quality of the water. To remove such impurities, water filtration devices are becoming increasingly utilized for filtering tap water. One approach utilized to filter impurities from water is to mount a water filtration device directly on the faucet. These faucet mount water filtration devices are often used in domestic applications such as in a kitchen sink or a bathroom sink for example. Faucet mount filtering devices have several advantages over other related types of water filtration devices that are not faucet mountable, such as under-the-sink water filtration devices which are stored in a cabinet. Such advantages of faucet mount filtration devices include low cost, ease of installation and the fact that hoses for communicating water to remote locations from the faucet are not necessary.
The common approach of prior faucet mount filtering devices includes the use of a tubular filtering cartridge disposed in a larger tubular filter housing. Unfiltered water surrounds the tubular filter cartridge and enters the filter cartridge from the cylindrical peripheral and flows radially inward to the center of the filter cartridge. Filtered water in center of the tubular filter cartridge is then discharged out an outlet for filtered water. The filter cartridge usually contains activated carbon material such as activated charcoal and is typically replaceable, being replaced after the filtering capacity is used up. To maximize the life span of the removable filter cartridge, faucet mount filtering devices also commonly have a valve assembly that allows the user to selectively obtain either filtered or unfiltered water from the filtration device. Filtered water is often selectively used for drinking and cooking applications while unfiltered water is often selectively used for such applications as cleaning.
Although there are several advantages of faucet mount water filtration devices, one disadvantage of prior attempts at faucet mount water filtration devices is that they are bulky and therefore interfere with other operations in the sink, particularly where space in the sink is limited. Moreover, the bulkiness is not aesthetically pleasing and diminishes other aesthetic features that are often specially designed into the sink or the faucet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore the general object of the present invention to overcome these and other problems and deficiencies existing in the art of faucet mount water filtration devices.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a more compact or lower profile faucet mount water filtration device.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a faucet mount water filtration device that maximizes the amount of filtering material for a given size of filter housing.
It is a related object of the present invention to provide a faucet mount water filtration device in which the flow through the filtering cartridge is more direct and simple. In this connection, it is another objection of the invention to minimize any pressure differential of flow into and through the filter.
It is yet another object to provide a novel sealing means for precluding flow through the filter device passage when the cartridge is removed.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a faucet mount water filtration device that provides for flow of water in substantially one linear direction through a filter cartridge therein. The water filtration device includes a valve assembly having an inlet connectable to the faucet and a first outlet for discharging unfiltered water. The valve assembly can be operated in a first position connecting the inlet to the first outlet for generating unfiltered water and a second position directing water flow through the filtering cartridge for generating filtered water. The filtering cartridge is disposed in a housing between a collection chamber for unfiltered water and a collection chamber for filtered water. The filtering device facilitates water flow through the filter cartridge in substantially one linear direction from the unfiltered collection chamber to the filtered chamber. A second outlet is fluidically connected to the second collection chamber for discharging filtered water.
According to the preferred embodiment, the filter cartridge is a generally disc shaped block comprising activated carbon material. The disc shaped block has an outer peripheral annular edge that is in close proximity to the filter housing and first and second opposing side faces in direct fluid communication with the filtered and unfiltered collection chambers, respectively. With the block or disc shaped filter as used herein, there is little if any pressure differential in passage through the filter as there is no reduction in the inlet passage through the filter. The water filtration device preferably includes a water barrier such as annular lips in the filter housing that engage the side faces of the filter cartridge to operate as approximate seals. The water barriers or lips prevent most flow of water between the outer annular peripheral edge of the filtering block and the housing so that the vast majority of water flows in one direction directly through the filtering block from the first face to the second face.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a water filtration device includes a valve assembly that is movable between two positions for selectively generating filtered and unfiltered water. The valve assembly includes a first outlet for discharging unfiltered water. The water filtration device includes a filter housing comprising first and second plates and a side wall disposed transversely between the plates. The first plate is connected to the valve assembly and has an opening that is selectively connected to the inlet through a bypass for receiving unfiltered water. The second plate provides a second outlet for discharging filtered water. The disc shaped filtering block is disposed in the filtering housing between the first and second plates.
It is an advantage that the disclosed embodiment of the present invention provides for a faucet mount water filtration device that has more compact lower profile than prior art filtering devices. Another advantage of the disclosed embodiment is that more direct and simpler flow of water through a filtering block is accomplished in substantially one linear direction, thereby eliminating the need for radially inward flow from the cylindrical periphery of a filtering tube as is common in other prior attempts. The flow paths also ensure uniform water flow through the filtering cartridge so that the filtering capacity of the filtering cartridge is uniformly and efficiently utilized. The disc shaped filtering block of the disclosed embodiment leaves little void space in the filtering housing and thereby advantageously increases the amount of filtering media for the given size of the filter housing. The filtering block may be thicker than tubular filter cartridges which results in more effective filtering of water and reduces the frequency at which the filtering element needs replacing.
These and other aims, objectives, and features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Cowles William
Kurth Mark
Riback Richard
Cintins Ivars
Leydig , Voit & Mayer, Ltd.
Sta-Rite Industries, Inc.
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