A filter assembly for fluid filtration having a push-activated lock and release mechanism. A push filter design activates a floating key lock upon insertion and extraction, where the filter key may be used simultaneously as a lock and as an identifier for particular filter attributes. The filter base may be situated inline, and in fluid communication, with influent and effluent piping, such as within a refrigerator. The filter housing assembly may be attached to, and removed from, the filter base by a push-actuated release. Upon insertion, the filter key shifts the filter lock longitudinally to receive interlocking segments. Upon extraction, the same axial push shifts the filter lock further to align the interlocking fingers within gaps that allow for easy extraction. The specific key lock design allows a user to identify and match certain filter configurations received by the mechanical support, and reject other filter configurations.

A filter assembly for fluid filtration having a push-activated lock and release mechanism. A push filter design activates a floating key lock upon insertion and extraction, where the filter key may be used simultaneously as a lock and as an identifier for particular filter attributes. The filter base may be situated inline, and in fluid communication, with influent and effluent piping, such as within a refrigerator. The filter housing assembly may be attached to, and removed from, the filter base by a push-actuated release. Upon insertion, the filter key shifts the filter lock longitudinally to receive interlocking segments. Upon extraction, the same axial push shifts the filter lock further to align the interlocking fingers within gaps that allow for easy extraction. The specific key lock design allows a user to identify and match certain filter configurations received by the mechanical support, and reject other filter configurations.

A filter base for receiving a mating filter housing assembly having a base platform having fluid ingress and egress stanchions, and a wire harness assembly including a connector housing integral with or connected to the base platform for establishing an electrical connection between the filter base and the mating filter housing assembly. The wire harness assembly having conductors extending between first and second connectors, with one or more resilient contacts provided on the second connector. The contacts are flexible from a first position to a second position when curved contact sections of the one or more contacts engage a mating connection surface of the complementary mating filter housing assembly. The mating connection surface may be a circuit pad of a printed circuit board, wherein the contact curved contact sections are configured to be positioned in mechanical and electrical engagement with the circuit pads when the filter housing assembly is received within the filter base.

A filter base for receiving a mating filter housing assembly having a base platform having fluid ingress and egress stanchions, and a wire harness assembly including a connector housing integral with or connected to the base platform for establishing an electrical connection between the filter base and the mating filter housing assembly. The wire harness assembly having conductors extending between first and second connectors, with one or more resilient contacts provided on the second connector. The contacts are flexible from a first position to a second position when curved contact sections of the one or more contacts engage a mating connection surface of the complementary mating filter housing assembly. The mating connection surface may be a circuit pad of a printed circuit board, wherein the contact curved contact sections are configured to be positioned in mechanical and electrical engagement with the circuit pads when the filter housing assembly is received within the filter base.

A pod for storing and dispensing a beverage preparation ingredient during a dispensing operation. The pod comprises a body defining a cavity for storing the beverage preparation ingredient, said body comprising a dispensing side and a closed side, and at least one side wall extending from the closed side to the dispensing side; and an actuation member contained within said cavity. The actuation member is configured to cause an opening to be formed between said cavity and a region outside the pod when actuated. The opening is formed around a perimeter of a dispensing surface of the pod at a junction formed between the at least one side wall and the dispensing surface, the dispensing surface being provided at the dispensing side of the body.

A pod for storing and dispensing a beverage preparation ingredient during a dispensing operation. The pod comprises a body defining a cavity for storing the beverage preparation ingredient, said body comprising a dispensing side and a closed side, and at least one side wall extending from the closed side to the dispensing side; and an actuation member contained within said cavity. The actuation member is configured to cause an opening to be formed between said cavity and a region outside the pod when actuated. The opening is formed around a perimeter of a dispensing surface of the pod at a junction formed between the at least one side wall and the dispensing surface, the dispensing surface being provided at the dispensing side of the body.

A filtering system (10) includes a filtering apparatus having a filter unit for receiving liquid to be filtered, a receptacle for receiving filtered liquid, and an adapter (14) for coupling the filter unit to the receptacle, and also includes a base (12) having a cradle (26) for receiving the filtering apparatus and a base vacuum delivery port (28). The adapter includes an adapter vacuum receiving port (22) coupled to the vacuum delivery port for driving the liquid through the filter and—as filtered liquid—into the receptacle. The cradle and the adapter have an interlocking mechanism (52, 54) that locks the filtering apparatus to the cradle in a locking position in which the vacuum receiving port is sealingly coupled to the base vacuum delivery port. The base vacuum delivery port has a vacuum valve (30) constituted as a normally-closed valve automatically forced open when the filtering apparatus locks to the cradle.

A filtering system (10) includes a filtering apparatus having a filter unit for receiving liquid to be filtered, a receptacle for receiving filtered liquid, and an adapter (14) for coupling the filter unit to the receptacle, and also includes a base (12) having a cradle (26) for receiving the filtering apparatus and a base vacuum delivery port (28). The adapter includes an adapter vacuum receiving port (22) coupled to the vacuum delivery port for driving the liquid through the filter and—as filtered liquid—into the receptacle. The cradle and the adapter have an interlocking mechanism (52, 54) that locks the filtering apparatus to the cradle in a locking position in which the vacuum receiving port is sealingly coupled to the base vacuum delivery port. The base vacuum delivery port has a vacuum valve (30) constituted as a normally-closed valve automatically forced open when the filtering apparatus locks to the cradle.

Various example embodiments relate to a filtration system. The filtration system comprises a housing having a first housing end and a second housing end. The housing defines a central compartment therein. The housing comprises a key slot disposed on the first housing end and a housing key element protruding from the first housing end toward the second housing end. The filtration system further comprises a filter element positioned within the central compartment of the housing. The filter element has a first filter end and a second filter end. The filter element includes filter media and an endplate disposed on the first filter end. The endplate includes a central endplate opening, a key element configured for engagement with the key slot, and an installation guidance element formed along the central endplate opening. The installation guidance element is configured for engagement with the housing key element.

Various example embodiments relate to a filtration system. The filtration system comprises a housing having a first housing end and a second housing end. The housing defines a central compartment therein. The housing comprises a key slot disposed on the first housing end and a housing key element protruding from the first housing end toward the second housing end. The filtration system further comprises a filter element positioned within the central compartment of the housing. The filter element has a first filter end and a second filter end. The filter element includes filter media and an endplate disposed on the first filter end. The endplate includes a central endplate opening, a key element configured for engagement with the key slot, and an installation guidance element formed along the central endplate opening. The installation guidance element is configured for engagement with the housing key element.