Water filtering apparatus

Abstract

A drinking water filter assembly has a filter cartridge which includes a filter element contained in a pressure vessel for unitary disposal, the cartridge received on a base containing attachment fittings for ease in installation and replacement with limited exposure to contaminants during a filter change. A flow powered flow meter is provided which measures the quantity of flow through the filter for alerting the user to replace the filter cartridge.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority in U.S. Provisional patent application No. 60 / 329,278, filed Oct. 13, 2001.TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] This invention relates to a water filtering apparatus particularly suited for use in the home. The water filtering apparatus may be counter top or under sink mounted. BACKGROUND [0003] The quality of drinking water is of concern to those obtaining water from public water systems as well as those obtaining water from private wells. There can be a wide variation in the amount and type of contaminants contained in drinking water, such as those occurring with seasonal runoff, or those present as by-products from water chlorination. To assure individual water quality, local filters may be used for removing contaminants from drinking water, mounted on or under a counter top, or on a faucet. These have gained in popularity. [0004] In U.S. Pat. No. 6,001,249, a water filter system having multiple filters is shown. In...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] It is object of the present invention to provide a water filtering apparatus that has a simple design.

[0009] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a water filtering apparatus with a contained filter element to avoid leakage and exposure of the user to contaminants.

[0014] Using a self-contained filter element avoids the user having to contact a contaminated filter element as the contained filter element and container are disposed of as a unit. The container itself is a pressure vessel, but one of low cost and simple construction, so as to minimize replacement cost. A non-water receiving cover may be used for aesthetic purposes to cover the assembly.

[0015] To change a filter element, the self-contained filter element or cartridge is released from the base and a new cartridge mounted in its place. Because it is a simple unit, this can be done without exposing the user to the filtered contaminants, or even wetting their hands.

Problems solved by technology

However, the success of these and other filters for drinking water has been limited primarily because they require periodic user attention to change the filter at the appropriate time.

Several of the filters are complex in design, making it difficult for the user to change a filter.

Consequently when changing the filter element, the user must remove the housing to expose the filter element and the user is then exposed to a wet, contaminated filter, removal possibly causing some contaminants to dislodge and enter the drinking water after the new filter element is installed.

If not changed at the correct interval, due to inconvenience or otherwise, filtration efficiency could deteriorate to the point where the contaminants begin to pass through into the drinking water.

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