Liquid purification or separation – With repair or assembling means
Patent
1997-12-31
2000-09-12
Lithgow, Thomas M.
Liquid purification or separation
With repair or assembling means
210238, 210282, 210464, 210669, 2221891, 22218907, 22218909, 55502, 55503, 55505, C02F 128, C02F 900, B01D 2704, B01D 2708
Patent
active
061173193
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to improvements in and relating to fluid dispensing systems, and particularly with respect to fluid dispensing systems that involve filtration of the fluid before the fluid is dispensed. It is envisaged that the invention may be particularly suitable as a water bottle which allows for filtration of water within the water bottle before it is dispensed therefrom. However, it is to be understood and appreciated that the invention is not to be limited to such use.
BACKGROUND ART
Currently there appears to exist a need for a convenient and user-friendly fluid dispensing apparatus which is capable of storing fluid in a fluid storage area, and then providing a means for the fluid to be filtered before it is dispensed from the apparatus.
Such an apparatus may be particularly useful for people such as trampers, dwellers in crowded and/or unhygienic cities, or others, who require fluid such as water to be filtered (primarily for health reasons) prior to drinking the fluid (or using the fluid for other purposes, eg cooking).
Furthermore, such an apparatus may also be useful for people who have access to treated water supplies, but who wish to remove the sometimes mildly unpleasant taste associated with chlorine and other chemicals which are used to treat or purify such water supplies. Moreover, such an apparatus may be suitable for use by joggers or cyclists who wish to take a water bottle with them during their exertions.
Currently there exists a number of water bottles of various types which are used to store water before allowing the water to be dispensed from the bottle. For example, simple drinks containers or bottles are frequently used by cyclists and joggers. These containers usually consist of a simple container having an enclosure in which water may be stored, and a means (such as a cap or aperture) by which the water may be dispensed from the bottle. However, these bottles typically have no means by which the water may be filtered before being dispensed from the bottle.
There are available water purification tablets (comprised primarily of iodine) which may be used by people such as trampers to sterilise water. However, a disadvantage associated with the use of water purification tablets is that they leave the water with an unpleasant taste or tang.
To partially meet some of the problems described above, a water purification system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,443,336. This patent describes a fluid container in the form of a bag, which includes two enclosures in which fluid may be stored. The first enclosure is intended as a storage area for water (with impurities) which at some time later may wish to be drunk. Between the first fluid storage area and the second fluid storage area is located a filter which allows for some impurities from the water to be removed as the water is transferred (typically by squeezing the bag) from the first storage area to the second. There is additionally provided a further filter located between the second fluid storage area and the exit portion of the container, by which further impurities may be removed from the fluid before it is dispensed from the container.
Although this provides a system for filtering fluid before it is drunk or used by the user of the fluid storage apparatus, this apparatus suffers from a number of disadvantages. One disadvantage is that by the provision of two fluid storage areas, the fluid carrying capacity of the container is substantially halved, and hence water that has already been filtered must be carried together with unfiltered water. In addition, the two-step procedure of squeezing the first fluid storage area so that the water flows to the second fluid storage area, and then subsequently squeezing the second storage area so that fluid may flow to the fluid exit portion of this container is an unduly complex operation and somewhat fiddly and time consuming. This could cause frustration, leading to users of the apparatus not bothering to filter the fluid properly before drinking the fluid. A furthe
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