A container for liquids that measures flow using capacitive sensor strips. Capacitance data is processed to identify points in time when liquid levels reach or pass specified levels, and flow metrics may be calculated from these points in time. Embodiments may use one or more horizontal capacitive strips, which may be located in a removable sensing package that is not in contact with the liquid in the container. Because discrete points in time are used instead of analog fluid level measurements, flow metrics are more robust than previous approaches that use vertical parallel capacitors within the container to continuously measure fluid levels. The container may have a filter, and capacitance data may be used to calculate metrics such as filter flow rate and cumulative volume through the filter, and to identify when the filter needs to be replaced. Embodiments may use UV light to sanitize the liquid or the filter.

The present invention relates to a portable liquid purifier for purifying liquid contained in the purifier using an ozone flow that passes through the liquid. The invention comprises a container, an ozone generator built into the base of the container, a blower extending from the ozone generator and provided with blow holes in the lower part of the container, and a standalone power source that does not have to be connected to the network during the operation of the purifier in order to power the ozone generator and the blower. The invention can be used to purify drinks in any location, while camping, hiking, travelling in exotic countries, etc., owing to the bactericidal, viricidal, and fungicidal properties of the ozone, as well as offering the unexpected or additional advantage of performing disinfection in the same container into which the ozone generator is built.

A liquid treatment device includes a base with a power source, a UV-LED module for providing UV-B or UV-C light to liquid, an LED for providing visible light, and a processor for selectively powering the UV-LED module and the LED, and having a UV transmissive material above the UV-LED module for allowing the UV-B or UV-C band light from the UV-LED module to be transmitted from the base housing, and a liquid storage housing removably coupled to the base housing with a storage portion configured to hold liquid and having a bottom portion comprising a UV transmissive material for allowing the UV-B or UV-C band light from the UV-LED module to be transmitted into the liquid, and an output coupled for restricting outflow of the liquid from the storage portion.

A reusable water filter cartridge comprises a housing having a water-permeable base and a body extending from the base. The base and the body define a cavity for receiving filter media. There is a water-permeable lid which is removably securable to the housing via interlocking connectors on the lid and the housing. The lid is securable to the housing by rotating the lid relative to the housing in a first rotational direction to engage the connectors on the lid and the housing with each other. The lid is releasable from the housing by rotating the lid relative to the housing in a second rotational direction which is opposite to the first rotational direction to disengage the connectors on the lid and the housing from each other. Water to be filtered enters the housing via the lid, passes through the filter media contained in the cavity, and exits the housing via the base.

This disclosure relates to a drink container with lid for the mixing and blending of liquids for consumption, wherein the unique design of the drink container tends to improve the texture and flavor of the liquid blended within it.

A method for a water bottle comprising, coupling a cap to bottle housing such that an interior of the water bottle and the cap form a water-tight region, receiving a button push on the cap, determining with a light sensor whether visible light is present in a vicinity of a UV LED light source disposed within the cap, in response to the push of the button, initiating providing with a UV LED light source UV light to the interior in response to the push of the button and in response to absence of the visible light within the vicinity of the UV LED light source, and inhibiting providing with the UV light to the interior after a period of time after the initiating providing UV light to the interior or in response to determining the visible light being present in the vicinity of the UV LED light source.

A water filter cartridge is provided for gravity-feed water filtration applications, and includes a granular filter media made from a mixture of titanium dioxide particles interspersed with granular activated charcoal. The granular filter media is placed in a filter housing having an upper inlet opening and a lower outlet opening. A seal may be disposed around an outer periphery of the housing at its upper region, and may include a flange region that flexes upwardly upon insertion of the sidewall into a filter cartridge opening. Optionally, the filter media is arranged in several distinct layers, such as a top media layer that is a mixture of agglomerated nanoparticles of titanium dioxide interspersed with granular activated charcoal, an intermediate media layer in the form of agglomerated nanoparticles of titanium dioxide, and a lower media layer that is another mixture of agglomerated nanoparticles of titanium dioxide interspersed with granular activated charcoal.

A nanocomposite composition for controlling water hardness and a method of producing the nanocomposite, is disclosed. The nanocomposite composition comprises a plurality of semi-interpenetrating polymer network/zeolite-silver nanocomposite, including a polymer matrix. The polymer matrix is dispersed with a plurality of zeolite nanoparticles and a plurality of silver nanoparticles. The method of producing semi-interpenetrating polymer networks/zeolite-silver nanocomposite as hydrogel form comprises microemulsion polymerization of monomeric mixture uses methyl methacrylate (MMA) in presence of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDM) cross-linker for MMA monomer, acrylamide (AAm), acrylic acid (AAc) and linear poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) monomers in the presence of N,N-methylene bisacrylamide (MBA) cross-linker and TX-100 surfactant. Further, the prepared nanocomposite is a water hardness removal filter and an efficient inhibition of sulfate-reducing bacteria nanocomposite. Also, the water filter cartridge exhibits a stable filtration performance during large scale production with reduced fluctuation infiltration flow rate and shows highly stable behaviors in high salt concentration.

A container assembly is disclosed. The container assembly includes a container that contains a volume. Selected portions of the container assembly may provide indication to a user of features or status of the container assembly.

A novel fibrous membrane comprises at least one substrate layer comprising at least 80% by weight of microfibers that carry positively charged and/or negatively charged functional groups, and at least one layer of filtration material attached to the substrate layer, wherein the layer of filtration material comprises at least 80% by weight of nanofibers that carry negatively charged and/or positively charged functional groups. The fibrous membrane is able to remove or reduce the concentration of bacteria, viruses and heavy metals while maintaining relatively high water flow. A filter comprising the fibrous membrane and a method for manufacturing the fibrous membrane are also provided.