Water container with floatable filter system and method

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional water filtration pitchers require multiple fills due to a small filtered water reservoir and slow filling or dispensing, leading to frustration and inefficiency, as the unfiltered water reservoir needs frequent refilling to achieve a fully filtered water volume.

Innovation Solution

A portable drinking water pitcher with a floatable body and seal system that auto-retracts as water is dispensed, allowing for continuous filtration and efficient use of space, where the floatable body moves between positions to maintain engagement with the pitcher's sidewalls, ensuring filtered water is dispensed without manual repositioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the unfiltered water reservoir is enlarged to increase water capacity, then the filtered water reservoir space decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunfiltered water capacityVSAvoidfiltered water reservoir volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The floatable body dynamically moves between a raised position (when filtered water volume is high) and a lowered position (when filtered water volume is low), automatically adjusting the division between unfiltered and filtered water spaces. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by allowing both reservoirs to effectively utilize the available pitcher volume at different operational stages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The floatable body automatically repositions itself based on the filtered water level without manual intervention. As filtered water is dispensed and the level drops, the floatable body lowers to increase the unfiltered water reservoir capacity, and rises again as filtering progresses, enabling the system to self-adjust the reservoir allocation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of time

If the filtered water reservoir is enlarged to reduce multiple fills, then the unfiltered water reservoir space decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime for multiple fillsVSAvoidunfiltered water capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The dynamic floatable body allows the unfiltered water reservoir to expand as the filtered water level drops during dispensing. This ensures maximum unfiltered water capacity is available while still providing a large filtered water reservoir when full, eliminating the need for multiple fills without sacrificing unfiltered water storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous filtering action from the unfiltered water through the filter to produce filtered water. The floatable body ensures that as filtered water is dispensed, the unfiltered water reservoir automatically increases in capacity, maintaining a continuous supply for filtering and avoiding interruptions that would require multiple fills.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Productivity

If filtering is done while filling or dispensing water, then the process is slower

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilling and dispensing speedVSAvoidfiltering time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The floatable body is pre-positioned to allow rapid filling of the unfiltered water reservoir without interruption. The filter operates continuously in the background while water is being filled or dispensed, and the floatable body automatically adjusts to maintain optimal flow paths, eliminating the need to pause for filtering to complete.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The filtering process operates continuously alongside filling and dispensing operations. The floatable body maintains unobstructed flow paths that allow water to be filled into the unfiltered reservoir and simultaneously filtered through the filter media without interrupting either process, maximizing productivity while completing filtration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system eliminates wasted space and reduces the need for multiple fills by allowing continuous filtration and efficient use of the filtered water capacity, providing a more convenient and time-saving experience.

Implementation Method 1

a floatable body surrounding a filter opening adapted to receive and engage a replaceable water filter therein... as water is dispensed through the spout, the floatable body auto-retracts towards the base

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentUS10981093B2Water container with floatable filter system and method

Publication Date: 2021.04.20 PLENTY CO LLC

AI summary

A portable drinking water filter system, such as a pitcher, having a sleeve and a floatable body including a filter opening configured to receive a water filter, the floatable body having a seal extending outward from an outer surface of the floatable body. The floatable body is disposed in a sleeve cavity such that a body seal engages the sidewall and restricts water from passing between the floatable body and the sidewall. The seal is configured to create friction with the sidewall, wherein the friction created when the floatable body rises in the sleeve is different than when the floatable body lowers in the sleeve. The friction created when the floatable body rises in the sleeve is greater than when the floatable body lowers in the sleeve, allowing the floatable body to auto-retract toward a cavity base without burping.