초록 ▼

A system for enhancing water is described. The system includes a housing with an inlet and an outlet, source water at the inlet, which can flow through a filter component in the housing and thus become treated water, and at least one enhancement module that can dispense an enhancement into the treat

A system for enhancing water is described. The system includes a housing with an inlet and an outlet, source water at the inlet, which can flow through a filter component in the housing and thus become treated water, and at least one enhancement module that can dispense an enhancement into the treated water as it flows through the outlet. Water can flow through the system only by the force of gravity, pressure in a building's water line, and/or hand pumps. Enhancement that can be used in the system include flavorings, dyes, minerals, vitamins, herbal supplements, nutritional supplements, phytonutrients, probiotics, homoepathic remedies, amino acids, enzymes, hormones, standard prescription medications, and over-the-counter medications, and combinations thereof. A control is also provided, through which a consumer can regulate an amount of enhancement that is added to the treated water.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A system for enhancing water, comprising: a housing including a source water container having an inlet and a treated water container having an outlet; source water capable of being in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet; a filter component within the housing, the filter c

We claim: 1. A system for enhancing water, comprising: a housing including a source water container having an inlet and a treated water container having an outlet; source water capable of being in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet; a filter component within the housing, the filter component containing water treatment material, and the filter component capable of having fluid communication with the inlet; a fluid path within the water treatment material wherein the source water can flow along the fluid path and be treated by the water treatment material, thereby converting the source water to treated water, the treated water capable of being in fluid communication with the outlet; and a first enhancement module disposed outside the housing adjacent the outlet such that the first enhancement module is downstream and spaced apart from the filter, and said first enhancement module is capable of dispensing a first enhancement into a stream of treated water upon exiting the outlet; a first consumer control, whereby a consumer can regulate an amount of the first enhancement that is dispensed into the outlet; and wherein water flow in the system is driven solely by a force selected from the group consisting of gravity, pressure from a source water line, pressure from a hand pump, and combinations thereof. 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is a gravity flow system selected from the group consisting of stand-alone filtration pitchers, countertop systems, water dispensers, and portable water bottles. 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the water treatment material is selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, carbonized synthetic materials, hydrophobic polymeric adsorbents, activated alumina, activated bauxite, fuller's earth, diatomaceous earth, silica gel, calcium sulfate, zeolite particles, inert particles, sand, surface charge-modified particles, ceramic particles, metal oxides, metal hydroxides, and combinations thereof. 4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a valve adjacent the outlet, the valve capable of preventing enhanced water from flowing from the outlet toward the filter component. 5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a chamber as a component of the outlet whereby the treated water and the first enhancement can be mixed together in the chamber before exiting the system. 6. The system of claim 5 wherein the chamber comprises an agitation tool to augment mixing of the treated water and the first enhancement. 7. The system of claim 6 wherein the agitation tool is selected from the group consisting of rotors, baffles, screws, and augers. 8. The system of claim 1 wherein the first enhancement is selected from the group consisting of flavorings, dyes, minerals, vitamins, herbal supplements, nutritional supplements, phytonutrients, probiotics, homeopathic remedies, amino acids, enzymes, hormones, standard prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, and combinations thereof. 9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second enhancement module adjoining the outlet and capable of dispensing a second enhancement into the treated water as the treated water flows through the outlet. 10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a second consumer control, whereby a consumer can regulate an amount of the second enhancement that is dispensed into the outlet. 11. The system of claim 1 wherein the source water and the treated water are maintained at pressures less than about 125 psi throughout the system. 12. The system of claim 11 wherein the source water and the treated water are maintained at pressures less than about 100 psi throughout the system. 13. A system for enhancing water, comprising: a housing including a source water container having an inlet and a treated water container having an outlet; source water capable of being in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet; a filter component within the housing, the filter component containing water treatment material, and the filter component capable of having fluid communication with the inlet; a fluid path within the water treatment material wherein the source water can flow along the fluid path and be treated by the water treatment material, thereby converting the source water to treated water, the treated water capable of being in fluid communication with the outlet; and a first enhancement module disposed outside the housing adjacent the outlet such that the first enhancement module is downstream and spaced apart from the filter, and said first enhancement module is capable of dispensing a first enhancement into a stream of treated water upon exiting the outlet; a first consumer control, whereby a consumer can regulate an amount of the first enhancement that is dispensed into the outlet; wherein said housing is free of a mixing chamber; and wherein the system contains no electrically powered water pumps. 14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a valve adjacent the outlet, the valve capable of preventing enhanced water from flowing from the outlet toward the filter component. 15. The system of claim 13, further comprising a chamber as a component of the outlet wherein the treated water and the first enhancement can be mixed together in the chamber before exiting the system. 16. A system for enhancing water, comprising: a housing including a source water container having an inlet and a treated water container having an outlet; source water capable of being in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet; a filter component within the housing, the filter component containing water treatment material and the filter component capable of having fluid communication with the source water; a fluid path within the water treatment material wherein the source water can flow along the fluid path and be treated by the water treatment material, thereby converting the source water to treated water, the treated water capable of being in fluid communication with the outlet; and a first enhancement module disposed outside the housing adjacent the outlet such that the first enhancement module is downstream and spaced apart from the filter, and said first enhancement module is capable of dispensing a first enhancement into a stream of treated water upon exiting the outlet; a first consumer control, whereby a consumer can regulate an amount of the first enhancement that is dispensed into the outlet; wherein said housing is free of a mixing chamber; and wherein the source water and the treated water are maintained at pressures less than about 125 psi throughout the system. 17. The system of claim 16 wherein the source water and the treated water are maintained at pressures less than about 100 psi throughout the system. 18. The system of claim 16, further comprising a valve adjacent the outlet, the valve capable of preventing enhanced water from flowing from the outlet toward the filter component. 19. The system of claim 16, further comprising a chamber as a component of the outlet wherein the treated water and the first enhancement can be mixed together in the chamber before exiting the system. 20. The system of claim 1, wherein said housing is free of a mixing chamber. 21. A gravity-flow water enhancement system, comprising: a housing including a source water container having an inlet for receiving source water and a treated water container for storing treated water; a filter component within the housing and in fluid communication with both the source water container and the treated water container, wherein source water introduced to the source water container is converted into treated water as it flows through the filter component under the influence of gravity; the housing farther including an outlet in fluid communication with the treated water container for outflow of a stream of treated water; and a first enhancement module disposed outside the housing adjacent the outlet, the first enhancement module being effective to dispense a desired amount of a first enhancement into an outflow stream of treated water. 22. The system of claim 21 further comprising a first consumer control, whereby a consumer can regulate an amount of the first enhancement that is dispensed into the outlet. 23. The system of claim 22, wherein the housing is free of a mixing chamber.