IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0460538
(2006-07-27)
|
등록번호 |
US-7309418
(2007-12-18)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Joyce,Patrick C.
- Lynch,Toni L.
- Rinker,Edward B.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
22 인용 특허 :
6 |
초록
▼
A filtering device for a gravity-flow liquid treatment system includes a first filter component that can be either exposed or adjacent to a substantially transparent region in at least a portion of a filter housing. The first filter component is capable of providing a visual indication of exposure t
A filtering device for a gravity-flow liquid treatment system includes a first filter component that can be either exposed or adjacent to a substantially transparent region in at least a portion of a filter housing. The first filter component is capable of providing a visual indication of exposure to at least one contaminant. The contaminants for which the first filter component can indicate exposure include particles, inorganic, and organic contamination. Particle contamination is indicated by a change in color of the first filter component through particle collection. Inorganic and organic contaminants are indicated by reaction with at least one agent capable of undergoing a color-change reaction in response to at least one contaminant. Water treatment systems and filtration devices that include at least one agent capable of undergoing a color-change reaction and thus give a visual indication of exposure to at least one contaminant for use in both gravity-driven and pressure-driven environments are also described.
대표청구항
▼
We claim: 1. A gravity-flow water treatment filter system, comprising: a first liquid container; and a filter device in communication and below the first container, the filter device comprising a first filter component capable of providing a user with a visual indication of device exposure to at le
We claim: 1. A gravity-flow water treatment filter system, comprising: a first liquid container; and a filter device in communication and below the first container, the filter device comprising a first filter component capable of providing a user with a visual indication of device exposure to at least one contaminant, said first filter component having a curved lower surface, a second filter component having an irregular upper surface and a flexible intervening porous layer therebetween substantially conforming to both the curved lower surface and the irregular upper surface to prevent significant trapping of air between the first and second filter components in order to maintain flow therethrough, wherein said flexible intervening porous layer comprises a material capable of sufficient expansion and compression to substantially conform to the curved lower surface and the irregular upper surface, wherein an average flow rate greater than 0.05 liters per minute when averaged over the passage of one liter of liquid through the filter device is achieved with a liquid head pressure of less than about 1.0 psi; and a second liquid container configured such that the second liquid container receives liquid from the first liquid container after the liquid has passed through the filter device wherein the first liquid container and the second liquid container are disposed in a pitcher or a drinking bottle. 2. The gravity-flow water treatment filter system of claim 1, wherein the intervening porous layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of cotton, rayon, nylon, wood pulp, polymers, and fiberglass. 3. The gravity-flow water treatment filter system of claim 2, wherein intervening porous layer comprises fine mesh hydrophilic beads. 4. The gravity-flow water treatment filter system of claim 1, wherein the first filter component comprises a hydrophilic porous material. 5. The gravity-flow water treatment filter system of claim 4, wherein the hydrophilic porous material has a water pass rate greater than about 1 μm/sec at a pressure of approximately 1 atm. 6. The gravity-flow water treatment filter system of claim 4 wherein the hydrophilic porous material is selected from the group consisting of polyester, nylon, rayon, wood pulp, hydrophilized polypropylene, hydrophilized polyethylene, hydrophilized PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), hydrophilized PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), thermoplastic fibers, abaca, cellulosic fibers, a porous polyester-polyethylene bi-component material and combinations thereof. 7. A gravity-flow water treatment system, comprising: a first liquid container; a filter device in communication with and below the first liquid container, said filter device comprising a first filter component having a curved lower surface, a second filter component having an irregular upper surface; and a flexible intervening porous layer therebetween substantially conforming to both the curved lower surface and the irregular upper surface to prevent significant trapping of air between the first and second filter components in order to maintain flow therethrough, wherein said flexible intervening porous layer comprises a material capable of sufficient expansion and compression to substantially conform to the curved lower surface and the irregular upper surface, and a first contaminant indicator element within the first liquid container, the element containing at least one agent capable of undergoing a color-change reaction in response to at least one contaminant, wherein an average flow rate greater than 0.05 liters per minute when averaged over the passage of one liter of liquid through the filter device is achieved with a liquid head pressure of less than about 1.0 psi; and a second liquid container configured to receive treated liquid from the first liquid container after the liquid has passed through the filter device wherein the first liquid container and the second liquid container are disposed in a pitcher or a drinking bottle. 8. The gravity-flow water treatment system of claim 7 wherein the first contaminant indicator element is attached to a wall of the first liquid container in a position in which the contaminant indicator element can come into contact with source liquid. 9. The gravity-flow water treatment system of claim 7 wherein the first contaminant indicator element is attached to the filter device. 10. The gravity-flow water treatment system of claim 7 wherein the first contaminant indicator element is able to move freely throughout the first liquid container. 11. The gravity-flow water treatment system of claim 7 wherein the color-change reaction occurs when the first filter component makes aqueous contact with an inorganic contaminant, an organic contaminant, a bacteria, a virus, or combinations thereof. 12. The gravity-flow water treatment system of claim 7, further comprising: a second contaminant indicator element within the second liquid container, the element containing at least one agent capable of undergoing a color-change reaction in response to at least one contaminant. 13. The gravity-flow water treatment system of claim 12 wherein the second contaminant indicator element is attached to a wall of the second liquid container in a position in which the contaminant indicator element can come into contact with the treated liquid. 14. The gravity-flow water treatment system of claim 12 wherein the second contaminant indicator element is attached to the filter device. 15. The gravity-flow water treatment system of claim 12 wherein the second contaminant indicator element is able to move freely throughout the second liquid container. 16. The device of claim 12 wherein the color-change reaction occurs when the second contaminant indicator element makes aqueous contact with an inorganic contaminant, an organic contaminant, a bacteria, a virus or combinations thereof. 17. A gravity-flow water treatment system comprising: an upper liquid container; a filter device in communication with and below the upper liquid container; and a lower liquid container configured such that the lower liquid container receives liquid from the upper liquid container after the liquid has passed through the filter device; said filter device comprising a first filter component capable of providing a user with a visual indication of device exposure to at least one contaminant, said first filter component having a curved lower surface, a second filter component, said second filter component having an irregular upper surface, and a flexible intervening porous layer therebetween substantially conforming to both the curved lower surface and the irregular upper surface to prevent significant trapping of air between the first and second filter components in order to maintain flow therethrough; wherein said flexible intervening porous layer comprises a material capable of sufficient expansion and compression to substantially conform to the curved lower surface and the irregular upper surface, wherein an average gravity flow rate greater than 0.05 liters per minute when averaged over the passage of one liter of liquid through the filter device is achieved with a liquid head pressure of less than about 1.0 psi and wherein the upper liquid container and the lower liquid container are disposed in a pitcher or a drinking bottle. 18. The gravity-flow water treatment filter system of claim 17, wherein the filter device is integrated into a beverage-making apparatus. 19. The gravity-flow water treatment filter system of claim 17, wherein the intervening porous layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of cotton, rayon, nylon, wood pulp, polymers, and fiberglass. 20. The gravity-flow water treatment filter system of claim 19, wherein intervening porous layer comprises fine mesh hydrophilic beads. 21. The gravity-flow water treatment filter system of claim 17, wherein the first filter component comprises a hydrophilic porous material. 22. The gravity-flow water treatment filter system of claim 21, wherein the hydrophilic porous material has a water pass rate greater than about 1 μm/sec at a pressure of approximately 1 atm. 23. The gravity-flow water treatment filter system of claim 21 wherein the hydrophilic porous material is selected from the group consisting of polyester, nylon, rayon, wood pulp, hydrophilized polypropylene, hydrophilized polyethylene, hydrophilized PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), hydrophilized PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), thermoplastic fibers, abaca, cellulosic fibers, a porous polyester-polyethylene bi-component material and combinations thereof.
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