초록 ▼

A filter housing can be configured to receive a filter media to form a filter assembly. Water filter media housings can be adapted for filter-as-you-pour filtration in the context of container (e.g., pitcher) systems where filtering is achieved as the user pours water from the container. The filter

A filter housing can be configured to receive a filter media to form a filter assembly. Water filter media housings can be adapted for filter-as-you-pour filtration in the context of container (e.g., pitcher) systems where filtering is achieved as the user pours water from the container. The filter housing can have a frame and an optional casing securable about the frame. A filter assembly can include a filter media within, connected to, or associated with a filter housing. The filter media can be securable in an at least partially curved configuration and/or within, connected to, or associated with the filter housing.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A filter housing, comprising: a frame comprising a body having a first end and an opposing second end, the body comprising one or more circumferential support members that extend around less than the entire circumference of the body such that a gap is defined between first and second opposing end

1. A filter housing, comprising: a frame comprising a body having a first end and an opposing second end, the body comprising one or more circumferential support members that extend around less than the entire circumference of the body such that a gap is defined between first and second opposing ends of a first one of the circumferential support members, and the body defining one or more openings, the frame partially defining a channel disposed partially within the body and extending partially between the first and second ends, the one or more openings being in fluid communication with the channel, the first end having an aperture therein, the aperture being in fluid communication with the channel; anda textile filter media having first and second terminal ends, the textile filter media surrounding the body of the frame and the first and second terminal ends positioned in the gap, wherein the textile filter media fills the gap and covers the one or more opening defined in the body;wherein the filter housing is configured to receive the textile filter media about the body such that a majority of the filter media is maintained by the frame and wherein except for the first and second terminal ends of the filter media received in the gap, inner and outer surfaces of the filter media assume a curved configuration when the filter media is present;wherein the textile filter media substantially precludes passage of unfiltered water through the gap and the one or more openings in the body. 2. The filter housing of claim 1, wherein the body is made of plastic. 3. The filter housing of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of axial support members extending between the first and second ends and two of the axial support members disposed in the gap defined between the first and second opposing ends of the first circumferential support member and the two axial support members spaced apart from each other so as to define part of a slot configured and arranged to receive the first and second terminal ends of the textile filter media. 4. The filter housing of claim 3, wherein the axial support members, first and second ends, and the one or more circumferential support members are all integral with each other. 5. The filter housing of claim 3, further comprising a casing secured about the frame and partially covering a portion of the body while maintaining a space between a portion of the casing and a portion of the frame, the casing comprising one or more openings in fluid communication with the channel via the one or more openings in the body, wherein the one or more openings in the casing, the space between the portion of the casing and the portion of the frame, the one or more openings in the body, the channel, and the aperture form a fluid flow path. 6. The filter housing of claim 5, wherein the filter housing is configured to receive the textile filter media in the space between the portion of the casing and the portion of the frame such that the water passing through the fluid flow path is filtered by the textile filter media. 7. The filter housing of claim 6, wherein the filter housing is configured to maintain a portion of the textile filter media in the curved configuration in the space between the portion of the casing and the portion of the frame such that the portion of the textile filter media presents a curved surface to the flow of water as the flow of water enters and/or exits the textile filter media. 8. The filter housing of claim 6, wherein the filter housing is operable to filter the water at a rate between about 0.3 GPM and about 3.0 GPM with the textile filter media positioned in the space between at least a portion of the casing and at least a portion of the frame. 9. The filter housing of claim 1, wherein the filter housing is operable to filter the water at a rate between about 0.3 GPM and about 3.0 GPM with the textile filter media positioned about the body of the frame. 10. The filter housing of claim 1, further comprising a casing configured to be disposed about an outside of the frame such that the casing and frame cooperate to define a spaced configured and arranged to receive the textile filter media between the frame and the casing, and the casing includes a plurality of radially oriented slots in fluid communication with an interior of the casing. 11. The filter housing of claim 5, wherein the casing further comprises a notch aligned with the slot, the notch being configured to secure the portion of the textile filter media within the slot. 12. The filter housing of claim 1, wherein the first end comprises a fastener for connecting the filter housing to a filter device. 13. The filter housing of claim 5, wherein the casing comprises a plurality of casing members configured to attach about the frame. 14. The filter housing of claim 5, wherein the casing comprises a sleeve configured to be slidably positioned about the frame. 15. The filter housing of claim 1, wherein the second end has a closed configuration. 16. A filter housing, comprising: a plastic frame at least partially defining a cavity, the plastic frame having a first end and an opposing second end, the plastic frame defining a plurality of openings in fluid communication with the cavity, and the plastic frame defines an axial slot extending along a majority of a length of the plastic frame, and the axial slot communicates with an interior channel defined by the plastic frame;a plastic casing at least partially surrounding the plastic frame and having one or more radially oriented openings therein that are disposed along a majority of a length of the plastic casing, the one or more radially oriented openings being in fluid communication with the cavity, and each of the radially oriented openings has a smaller area than an area of each of the openings defined by the plastic frame; anda filter media receiving area defined between an inner portion of the plastic casing and an outer portion of the plastic frame, the filter media receiving area being in fluid communication with the one or more radially oriented openings in the plastic casing and with the cavity, and the filter media receiving area having a depth that is about the same as a thickness of a single flattened sheet of filter media,the first end of the plastic frame comprising a first cap having a first inner surface, a first outer surface, and a first circumferential out edge, the first end of the plastic frame having an aperture therein, the aperture being in fluid communication with the cavity such that a fluid can flow between the aperture and the one or more radially oriented openings via the cavity and the filter media receiving area,the second end of the plastic frame comprising a second cap having a second inner surface, second outer surface, and a second circumferential out edge, the second end of the plastic frame having a closed configuration such that the fluid is prohibited from flowing therethrough,the plastic casing having a first end engaging the first inner surface of the first cap and extending radially out to the first circumferential outer edge,the plastic casing having a second end engaging the second inner surface of the second cap and extending radially out to the second circumferential outer edge, andthe filter housing being configured to receive a filter media in the filter media receiving area such that a fluid passing between the one or more radially oriented openings in the plastic casing and the cavity is filtered by the filter media when the filter media is present in the filter media receiving area. 17. The filter housing of claim 16, wherein the first end and the second end of the plastic frame comprise a first flange and a second flange, respectively. 18. The filter housing of claim 16, wherein the filter housing is configured to permit the fluid to enter the cavity laterally through the one or more radially oriented openings in the plastic casing. 19. The filter housing of claim 16, wherein the filter housing is configured to maintain a portion of the filter media in a curved configuration in the filter media receiving area such that the portion of the filter media, when present, presents a curved surface to a flow of fluid as the flow of fluid enters and/or exits the portion of the filter media. 20. The filter housing of claim 16, wherein the plastic frame comprises one or more support members positioned between the cavity and the filter media receiving area, the one or more support members being configured to interface with the filter media such that the filter media is maintained partially within the filter media receiving area. 21. The filter housing of claim 20, wherein the one or more support members comprises a plurality of support members that cooperate to define the axial slot. 22. The filter housing of claim 20, wherein the one or more support members comprises a plurality of support members extending axially between the first and second ends and a plurality of support members extending circumferentially about the plastic frame. 23. The filter housing of claim 16, wherein the casing comprises a securing element configured to secure a portion of the filter media within the filter media receiving area. 24. A filter housing, comprising: a plastic frame having a first end, an opposing second end, and a framework extending between the first and second ends, the framework comprising one or more axial support members extending between the first and second ends and one or more circumferential support members connected to the one or more axial support members, each of the circumferential support members extending around less than the entire circumference of the body and having a first end that terminates at a first one of the axial support members and a second end that terminates at a second one of the axial support members, and the first and second axial support members are spaced apart from each other such that an axially oriented and unobstructed slot is defined between the first and second axial support members, the framework partially defining a cavity and a plurality of openings, the first end having an aperture therein, the aperture and the plurality of openings in the framework being in fluid communication with the cavity, the second end having a closed configuration; anda plastic casing removably secured about the plastic frame and partially covering the framework while maintaining a space between a portion of the plastic casing and a portion of the framework, the space having a depth that is about the same as a thickness of a single flattened sheet of textile filter media, the plastic casing defining a plurality of radially oriented openings that are disposed along a majority of a length of the plastic casing and are in fluid communication with the cavity via the plurality of openings in the framework, and each of the radially oriented openings has a smaller area than an area of each of the openings defined by the plastic frame;the first end of the plastic frame comprising a first cap having a first inner surface, a first outer surface, and a first circumferential outer edge,the second end of the plastic frame, comprising a second cap having a second inner surface, second outer surface, and a second circumferential outer edge,the plastic casing having a first end engaging the first inner surface of the first cap and extending radially out to the first circumferential outer edge,the plastic casing having a second end engaging the second inner surface of the second cap and extending radially out to the second circumferential outer edge, andwherein the plurality of openings in the plastic casing, the plurality of openings in the framework, the cavity, and the aperture collectively form a fluid flow path,the filter housing being configured to receive a portion of the textile filter media in the space between the portion of the outer casing and the portion of the framework such that the textile filter media is maintained in a curved configuration such that a fluid passing through the flow path is filtered by a curved surface of the textile filter media.