Abstract
An apparatus for filtering water with a refillable, activated-charcoal receptacle or cartridge.
Claims
1. An apparatus for filtering water comprising: a frusto-conical hollow section providing a reservoir having an open top and an open bottom; and the open bottom fixedly engaged with a cylindrical filter body; and the cylindrical filter body having a cylindrical sidewall, a bottom surface and an open top; and said cylindrical filter body's open top in fluid communication with said reservoir and fixedly engaged with the open bottom of said frusto-conical section; and at least a portion of the sidewall and bottom of the cylindrical filter body being perforated; wherein activated carbon placed in the cylindrical filter body provides a filter medium for filtering water that is poured into said frusto-conical reservoir and thus flows through said open bottom of said reservoir, into said open top of said cylindrical filter body and through the filter medium and out of said perforations in said cylindrical filter body sidewall and bottom.
2. The apparatus of claim one, further comprising: a protrusion engaged with said cylindrical filter body; the side cross-section of the protrusion extending tangentially and arcuately downward and away from the cylindrical sidewall; and turning arcuately back toward the cylindrical sidewall; and meeting the sidewall substantially perpendicularly; wherein the protrusion fits within the spout of an hourglass shaped carafe, and when rotated away from the throat, the downward arcuate curve follows the contour of the hourglass shape while interfering with the throat of the hourglass shape such that the apparatus for filtering water remains seated in the carafe while tilting the carafe from a vertical position to a canted position at which the vessel is rotated by 90 degrees or more relative to the vertical position.
3. The apparatus of claim one further comprising a lid, the lid comprising: a frusto-conical section, the wide end fixedly engaged with the handle therein; and the narrow end, a surface having radially oriented grooves providing a crenelated surface; and a cylindrical portion extending downward from said narrow end surface; and at least one radial protrusion extending from said cylindrical portion; wherein the frusto-conical section fits within the frusto-conical reservoir and the crenelated surface engages against the inner surface of said reservoir, and water flows through openings created by said crenelated surface; and a handle at the top of the lid.
4. The apparatus of claim one further comprising a substantially annular flange about the open bottom of said frusto-conical section, and said flange disposed toward the center of the frusto-conical section; and said substantially annular flange occupying less than 360 degrees and between 300 and 355 degrees of the open bottom of said frusto-conical section providing an opening in the substantially annular flange; wherein a protrusion on a lid configured to pass through the provided opening may be rotated while residing under the substantially annular flange to prevent the lid from moving upward unless rotated to align the protrusion with the opening.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] To assist those of skill in the art in making and using the disclosed invention and associated methods, reference is made to the accompanying figures, wherein example figure descriptions follow:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective, exploded view of the present embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a section view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective, exploded view of an iteration of the embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 4 is an exploded, perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 3;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a section view of the embodiment of FIG. 3.
[0018] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a third iteration of the embodiment shown with an example carafe;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 6;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 6 shown with an example carafe;
[0021] FIG. 9 is a section view of the embodiment of FIG. 6;
[0022] FIG. 10 is a section view of the embodiment of FIG. 6;
[0023] FIG. 11 is a detailed perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 6 showing the flow through the lid.
DESCRIPTION
[0024] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an exploded, perspective view of the present embodiment and a cross section assembled view, respectively, are illustrated. A vessel 110 holds and dispenses filtered water. A funnel 112 is designed to fit atop or inside the upper opening of the vessel 110. Dashed lines surround the components of a cartridge 115 (FIG. 1) that is made up of a lower portion 114 and a cap 116 and is configured to be filled with granular activated charcoal. The cartridge cap FIGS. 1 and 2 116 has holes 120 that allow unfiltered water to enter the cartridge. The lower portion of the cartridge has holes 118 for allowing filtered water to pass out of the cartridge and into the vessel 110. Water poured into the funnel 112 passes through holes 120, through granular activated charcoal, and out holes 118 into the vessel 110.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, perspective, exploded views of an iteration of the embodiment are shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, and a cross-section of the iteration of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 is shown in FIG. 5. A vessel 210 holds filtered water for dispensing. A funnel 212 has a perforated bottom with holes 218. A cap 216 fits atop the funnel 212 with a water-tight seal. The cap 216 has holes 220 that are configured to allow water to flow through without allowing granular activated charcoal to pass through. Water poured into the funnel 212 passes through the holes 220 in the cap 216, through the activated charcoal contained in the funnel 212 and through the perforations 218 in the bottom of the funnel 212 and finally into the vessel 210 where the filtered water may be dispensed.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 6, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8: FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of an iteration of the embodiment with a carafe; FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the embodiment; and FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the embodiment assembled with a carafe. The embodiment 300 is shown within the dashed lined box. An example carafe 310 is used to contain filtered water and to support the embodiment 300 and is not a claimed part of the embodiment. The embodiment comprises a frusto-conical section 312 that is fixedly engaged with a substantially cylindrical portion 314. The substantially cylindrical portion 314 is open at the top for water to flow into it. Its bottom surface has an array of holes 318 that allow water to permeate it. The cylindrical portion 314 has a protrusion 322 that creates interference when properly fitted into the carafe 310 and prevents the apparatus 300 from falling out of the carafe during pouring. Holes 318 in the cylindrical portion may penetrate the side walls as well as the bottom surface of the cylinder 314.
[0027] One skilled in the art understands that a sufficient number of holes is required for activated charcoal filtration, and that a substantial number of holes may, in addition, provide a vessel for infusing tea, or other infused beverages, in a carafe.
[0028] A lid 316 (FIG. 6) is removably engaged between the frusto-conical section 312 and the cylindrical portion 314. The lid has at least one protrusion 326 that engages the lid with a flange in the cylindrical portion 332 (FIGS. 9, 10, 11). One skilled in the art is familiar with the manner in which a common tea pot lid engages with an annular flange about the opening in a tea pot.
[0029] Most commonly, a lid has two protrusions: one of which is inserted under a flange at the top of a vessel, and a second which fits through a notch in a flange. A lid is rotated at least turn to engage the protrusions with the flange so that the lid does not slip out during use. A lid of this type is removed in the reverse order of operations.
[0030] In some embodiments a rubber gasket 324 (FIG. 6) is affixed to the upper edge of the frusto-conical section 312 to provide a cushion between the carafe 310 and the filter 300.
[0031] Two section views are depicted in FIGS. 9 and 10. The section view of FIG. 9 shows the protrusion 322 fitting through the spout 311 of the carafe 310. The protrusion is of a dimension that allows it to pass through the spout when inserted along the direction of arrow 328. FIG. 10 shows the protrusion 322 resting in the carafe after the filter 300 has been inserted and rotated 90 about the vertical center of the filter 300 and carafe 310. It can be seen in the illustration that the filter 300 will not fall out of the carafe 310 upon tipping as the protrusion 322 would interfere with the side walls of the carafe 310. It can be seen from the section views of FIGS. 9 and 10 that protrusions 326 in the lid 316 keep the lid in place when the carafe 310 is tipped to pour, because the protrusions 326 are held in place by the flange 332 residing between the frusto-conical portion 312 and the cylindrical portion 314 of the filter 300.
[0032] In FIG. 11 a detailed, partial section view shows the relationship between grooves 320 and the flange 332. The lid 316 with protrusions 326 is fitted about the flange 332 as previously described. Grooves 320 are arrayed annularly about the lid in the region where the lid comes into contact with the flange 332. The grooves 320 are sized so as to allow water to flow from the frusto-conical section 312 into the cylindrical portion 314 as illustrated by arrow 330. These grooves 320 are sized to allow water to pass through while keeping granular charcoal contained in the cylindrical portion 314. In some embodiments the grooves are semi-cylindrical openings having a 0.5 mm-2 mm radius and preferably a 0.75 mm radius. Granular charcoal commonly used for filtration has a granular size of 2 mm or larger.
