초록 ▼

An indicator for the status of the filter is provided. The indicator comprises at least one erodable member in contact with the source fluid and a visual indication arrangement that permits a viewer to gauge the appearance of the erodable member to thereby gauge the filter status. The erodable membe

An indicator for the status of the filter is provided. The indicator comprises at least one erodable member in contact with the source fluid and a visual indication arrangement that permits a viewer to gauge the appearance of the erodable member to thereby gauge the filter status. The erodable member is eroded by interaction with the fluid or with an element within the fluid. The indicator may be incorporated as an integral component of a filter or may be a stand-alone device to be incorporated into a filter or filtration system.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A liquid filter for filtering a source liquid, comprising: an indicator device comprising: (i) at least one erodable member positioned in the liquid filter to be in contact with a source liquid;(ii) an indicator member; and(iii) a visual indication arrangement;wherein said erodable member is conf

1. A liquid filter for filtering a source liquid, comprising: an indicator device comprising: (i) at least one erodable member positioned in the liquid filter to be in contact with a source liquid;(ii) an indicator member; and(iii) a visual indication arrangement;wherein said erodable member is configured to: (a) be gradually eroded by interaction with the source liquid or with an element within the source liquid and(b) have an erosion profile that correlates to an extent of use of the liquid filter,wherein the indicator member is configured to: (a) be gradually displaced by a change in size of said erodable member and(b) allow the source liquid to flow through the liquid filter when the indicator member is displaced to an end state,wherein the end state is when the erodible member is completely eroded; andwherein the visual indication arrangement is configured: (a) for directly viewing said change in size of the erodable member or(b) for directly viewing a gradual displacement of the indicator member. 2. A filter according to claim 1, wherein the liquid is water and the erodable member releases during its erosion, a substance of nutritional or health value into the water. 3. A filter according to claim 1, wherein the at least one erodable member is contained within a housing having one or more ports to permit contact between the liquid and the erodable member. 4. A liquid filter for filtering a source liquid, comprising: an indicator device comprising: (i) an indicator member arranged for direct viewing thereof by a user and(ii) at least one erodable member;wherein the indicator member is configured to: (a) be visibly and gradually displaceable from an initial state to an end state(b) be biased for displacement to the end state, and(c) allow the source liquid to flow through the liquid filter when the indicator member is displaced to the end state,wherein the end state is when the erodible member is completely eroded;wherein the at least one erodable member is configured to: (a) be visibly and gradually erodable through interaction with the source liquid or with an element within the liquid(b) have an erosion profile correlating with the extent of use of the filter, and(c) block the biased displacement of the indicator member;wherein erosion of the at least one erodable member causes gradual displacement of the indicator member from the initial state towards the end state; andwherein said displacement is visible to a user. 5. A filter according to claim 4, wherein the displacement bias is gravitational. 6. A filter according to claim 4, comprising an urging device for biasing displacement of the indicator member from the initial towards the end state. 7. A filter according to claim 4, wherein the displacement of the indicator member from the initial to the end state includes movement thereof within a track. 8. A filter according to claim 4, wherein the indicator member has an arm pivoted about an axis and angularly displaceable between the two states. 9. A filter according to claim 4, wherein the indicator member and the at least one erodable member are contained within a housing having one or more ports to permit contact between the liquid and the at least one erodable member. 10. An indicator device for use in combination with a liquid filtration system for filtering source liquid, the device comprising: (i) at least one erodable member in contact with the source liquid, wherein said at least one erodable member is configured to: (a) be gradually eroded by interaction with the source liquid or with an element within the liquid and(b) have an erosion profile that correlates to an extent of use of the liquid filter, and(ii) a visual indication arrangement configured for directly viewing said change in size of the erodable member and(iii) a gradually displaceable indicator member configured to:(a) be gradually displaced by the change in size of said erodable member, and(b) allow the source liquid to flow through the liquid filter when the indicator member is displaced to an end state;wherein the end state is when the erodible member is completely eroded. 11. An indicator device for use in combination with a source liquid filtration system, comprising: (i) an indicator member arranged for direct viewing thereof by a user and(ii) at least one erodable member;wherein the indicator member is configured to (a) be visibly and gradually displaceable from an initial state to an end state,(b) allow the source liquid to flow through the liquid filter when the indicator member is displaced to an end state, and(c) be biased for displacement to the end state,wherein the end state is when the erodible member is completely eroded;wherein the at least one erodable member is configured to: (a) be visibly and gradually erodable through interaction with the source liquid or with an element within the liquid,(b) have an erosion profile correlating with an extent of use of the filter, and(c) block the biased displacement of the indicator member;wherein erosion of the at least one erodable member causes gradual displacement of the indicator member from the initial state towards the end state, andwherein said displacement is visible to a user. 12. A liquid filtration system for filtering a source liquid, comprising: (i) a liquid filter configured for filtering the source liquid; and(ii) an indicator device for the status of the filter that comprises: (a) an indicator member arranged for direct viewing thereof by a user and(b) at least one erodable member,wherein the indicator member is configured to: (1) be visibly and gradually displaceable from an initial state to an end state and(2) be biased for displacement to the end state,(3) allow the source liquid to flow through the liquid filter when the indicator member is displaced to the end state,wherein the end state is when the erodible member is completely eroded;wherein the at least one erodable member is configured to: (1) be visibly and gradually erodable through interaction with the source liquid or with an element within the liquid(2) have an erosion profile correlating with the extent of use of the filter, and(3) block the biased displacement of the indicator member;wherein erosion of the at least one erodable member causes gradual displacement of the indicator member from the initial state towards the end state, andwherein said displacement is visible to the user. 13. A method for monitoring extent of use of a filter comprising: providing an indicator device comprising: (i) an indicator member arranged for direct viewing thereof by a user and(ii) at least one erodable member;wherein the indicator member is configured to: (a) be visibly and gradually displaceable from an initial state to an end state,(b) allow a source liquid to flow through the filter when the indicator member is displaced to the end state, and(c) be biased for displacement to the end state,wherein the end state is when the erodible member is completely eroded;wherein the at least one erodable member is configured to: (a) be visibly and gradually erodable through interaction with liquid or with an element within the liquid(b) have an erosion profile correlating with the extent of use of the filter, and(c) block the biased displacement of the indicator member;wherein erosion of the at least one erodable member causes gradual displacement of the indicator member from the initial stat towards the end state; andmonitoring a state of the indicator member,wherein said gradual displacement of the indicator member is visible to the user. 14. A filter assembly comprising: a liquid filter for filtering a source liquid;a housing sized to receive said liquid filter, said housing having an opening at one of its walls;an indicator device for the status of the filter that comprises at least one erodible member in contact with the source liquid, said indicator device being an integral part of the filter and extends out of the opening in the housing; anda visual indication arrangement configured for directly viewing a change in size of said erodable member or for directly viewing a gradual displacement of a gradually displaceable indicator member associated with said erodable member,wherein said indicator member is configured to: (a) be gradually displaced by said change in size of said erodable member, and(b) allow the source liquid to flow through the liquid filter when the indicator member is displaced to an end state,wherein the end state is when the erodible member is completely eroded; andwherein said erodable member is configured to: (a) be gradually eroded by interaction with the liquid or with an element within the liquid and(b) have an erosion profile that correlates to an extent of use of the liquid filter. 15. A filter assembly according to claim 14, wherein the liquid is water and the erodable member releases during its erosion, a substance of nutritional or health value into the water. 16. A filter according assembly to claim 14, wherein the at least one erodable member is contained within a filter housing having one or more ports to permit contact between the liquid and the erodable member.