SIDE-LOADING TRANSVERSE SHOWER FILTER

Abstract

A side-loading shower filter having a body that may be easily be mounted between a shower arm and a showerhead without the need of special tools. The body has removable end caps to allow a water filter cartridge to be added to or removed from either side of a transverse hollow water filter cartridge chamber formed in the body by the removal of either of the pair of end caps. The shower filter is mounted between a shower arm and a showerhead by means of coupling means connected to a water inlet and a water outlet formed in the body.

Claims

1. A shower filter, comprising; a hollow housing having a water inlet and a water outlet for coupling between a shower arm and a showerhead; a hollow water filter cartridge chamber formed transversely to water entering and exiting the housing and, at least one end cap removably mounted on the hollow water filter cartridge chamber to allow side-loading of a water filter cartridge.

2. The water filter of claim 1, further including a removable water filter cartridge held in the hollow water filter cartridge chamber.

3. The water filter of claim 2, wherein there are a pair of end caps removably mounted on opposite ends of the hollow water filter cartridge chamber for holding the removable water filter cartridge therein.

4. The water filter of claim 3, further including passage means in the hollow water filter cartridge chamber to allow water entering the inlet to flow around and through the removable water filter cartridge and out the water outlet.

5. The water filter system of claim 4 wherein the housing is comprised of a top connector integrally coupled to the transverse hollow filter cartridge chamber.

6. The water filter system of claim 4 wherein the housing is comprised of the transverse water filter cartridge chamber with the water inlet and the water outlet integrally formed thereon on opposed side portions.

7. A water filter for a shower system, comprising; a hollow housing having a water inlet and a water outlet for coupling between a shower arm and a showerhead; the hollow housing including a hollow water filter cartridge chamber formed transversely to water entering and exiting the housing; and a pair of end caps removably mounted on opposite ends of the hollow water filter cartridge chamber to allow a water filter cartridge to by selectively loaded from either side end of the hollow water filter cartridge chamber.

8. The water filter of claim 7, further including a removable water filter cartridge held in the hollow water filter cartridge chamber.

9. The water filter of claim 8, wherein there are a pair of end caps removably mounted on opposite ends of the hollow water filter cartridge chamber include means for holding the removable water filter cartridge in place and for deflecting water entering the end caps.

10. The water filter of claim 8, further including passage means formed in the hollow water filter cartridge chamber to allow water entering the inlet to flow around and through the removable water filter cartridge and out the water outlet.

11. The water filter system of claim 10 wherein the hollow housing is comprised of a top connector integrally coupled to the transverse water filter cartridge chamber.

12. The water filter system of claim 11 wherein the hollow housing is comprised of a transverse water filter cartridge chamber with the water inlet and the water outlet integrally formed thereon on opposed side portions.

13. A water filter for a shower system, comprising; a transverse hollow housing having a water inlet and a water outlet adapted to be coupled between a shower arm and a showerhead; the transverse hollow housing including a water filter cartridge held therein; and the transverse hollow housing having opposed open ends with a pair of end caps removably mounted on the open ends to allow the water filter cartridge to by selectively side-loaded or removed from either end of the hollow water filter cartridge chamber.

14. The water filter of claim 13, wherein the pair of removable end caps include means for holding the removable water filter cartridge in place and for deflecting water entering the end caps.

15. The water filter of claim 14, further including passage means formed in the transverse hollow housing to allow water entering the inlet to flow around and through the removable water filter cartridge and out the water outlet.

16. The water filter system of claim 13 wherein the transverse hollow housing is comprised of a top connector integrally coupled to the transverse water filter cartridge chamber.

17. The water filter system of claim 13 wherein the transverse hollow housing has the water inlet and the water outlet integrally formed thereon on opposed side portions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a first embodiment of a transverse side-loading shower filter of the present invention; and

[0016] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a transverse side-loading shower filter of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide for a transverse side-loading shower filter for mounting between a shower arm and a showerhead.

[0018] The transverse side-loading shower filter of the present invention is mounted directly on a regular shower arm coming out of a shower wall, and is normally connected or secured to the shower arm by screwing thereon, or by means of a separate coupling means, with a further coupling means connecting the shower filter to a showerhead that extends into the shower area. Removable end caps on the transverse filter housing allow a shower filter cartridge to be side-loaded from either end of the transverse filter housing.

[0019] Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrate a first embodiment of a transverse side-loading shower filter 10 of the present invention connected between a shower arm 12 and a showerhead 14. The transverse side-loading shower filter 10 includes a hollow body or housing 16 having an integral, offset top or upper connecting portion or means 18 mounted on or secured to an upper surface of a transverse filter housing portion 20. The offset connecting portion 18 is fluidly connected to the filter housing portion 20 by means of openings formed therein, as well as internal baffles, deflectors or walls to allow water flowing from the shower arm 12 to pass through an inlet end or coupling 22 into connecting portion 18 and to be deflected down, through an opening, into the transverse filter housing 20 where it flows around an exterior surface of a filter cartridge 21 (shown in broken line) removably held in the filter housing, into an end cap 28, through filter media held in the filter cartridge into end cap 30, and then back through an opening into the offset connecting portion 18 where it is deflected into a further coupling means 24 and into the showerhead 14. This flow of the water is illustrated by arrows 26 in FIG. 1.

[0020] The end caps 28, 30 at the ends of hollow housing 20 are removably held on the ends by screw threads or similar holding means formed internally of the end caps and on the outer ends of the transverse filter housing to allow removal of an older filter cartridge 21, or side-loading of a new filter cartridge 21, when either end cap is taken off. Sealing means to prevent leakage are provided between the interior of the end caps and the exterior of the outer ends of the filter housing.

[0021] Turning now to FIG. 2, there shown is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention 10, which, for the sake of description only, is referred to as a direct flow device. This device 10 has an elongated hollow body 32 with end caps 34, 36, an inlet 38 having internal screw threads 39 and an outlet 40 having external screw threads 41. The body is substantially identical on both sides and the inlet 38 may be mounted on or to a shower arm 12 by screwing the inlet directly thereon or by screwing a separate coupling means between the shower arm and the inlet 38. The outlet 40 is mounted to the showerhead 14 by screwing the showerhead directly thereon or by insertion of a separate coupling means between the showerhead 14 and the outlet 40.

[0022] Water flow through shower filter 10 from the shower arm 12 is illustrated by arrows 42 as it passes through the inlet 38 into a hollow filter cartridge chamber formed in the elongated hollow body 32 where it is deflected around the outer body of the filter cartridge 21 and by the end cap 36 and into the filter cartridge 21 where it passes through filter media in the cartridge to exit into end cap 34 where it is deflected into a side passage 44 formed internally in the elongated hollow body 32 by means of a wall 46 formed at an outer end thereof, and then out the outlet 40 into an attached showerhead, such as 14.

[0023] In use, when either of the side-loading transverse shower filters 10 or 10 are properly mounted between the shower arm 12 and showerhead 14, as described above, they allow water to flow through the filter cartridge 21. The shower filters 10, 10 are sized and dimensioned to snugly and securely hold the filter cartridge 21 therein, spaced from or abutting an extension formed in, or an interior surface of the end caps, when they are tightened. Water passes through a filter media bed and exits the filter housing where the filtered water passes through the showerhead and into the shower area.

[0024] The side-loading transverse shower filters of the present invention may take any number of other different configurations, depending on the aesthetic look desired, and may be made from any desired material, such as metal or a thermoplastic, for example, as by casting or any other known or improved manufacturing means.

[0025] It, therefore, can be seen that the present invention provides an improved less cumbersome, easy-to-install and use shower water filter assembly providing an integrated design, with a single transverse housing having inlets and outlets that may be easily coupled between any available shower arm and showerhead without the need of special tools or adapters.

[0026] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment may be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than is specifically described herein.