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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. Liquid purification apparatus comprising:
(a) a tubular housing having a through bore and including first and second
portions, said first portion including an inlet port to the bore and said
second portion including an outlet port from the bore, and coupling means
for securing said first and second portions to one another with the inlet
and outlet ports at opposite ends of the housing;
(b) a flexible tube coupled to said inlet port and having a filter mounted
over a through bore;
(c) filtration means contained in said first portion for filtering
suspended particulates from liquid passing therethrough;
(d) bactericide means contained within said first and second portions for
devitalizing contaminants from liquid passing therethrough; and
(e) means for separating and isolating said bactericide means and
filtration means from one another and said inlet and outlet ports.
2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second housing
portions each include a surface which is shaped to interconnect and
restrain one to the other end-to-end.
3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first and second housing
portions include concentrically aligning surfaces which slip couple to one
another and wherein one of the surfaces includes a slot and the other
surface includes at least one radially extending projection which aligns
with the slot and further including means for forming a liquid tight seal
at the juncture between the first and second housing portions upon
securing one to the other.
4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the slot includes a radially
offset portion whereat the projection mounts upon rotating said first and
second housing portions relative to one another.
5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of the first and second
housing portions includes a threaded surface.
6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 including a resilient annular clip
which mates with aligning annular recesses formed in surfaces of said
first and second housing portions.
7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means for forming a liquid
tight seal at a juncture between said first and second housing portions.
8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the filter secured to said
flexible tube includes a rigid portion having a plurality of through
apertures and means for supporting a porous foam member thereto.
9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the filter secured to said
flexible member includes an expansible meshwork which meshwork radially
projects from said filter.
10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a removable mouthpiece
mounted to said outlet port.
11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a flexible tube coupled to
said outlet port.
12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a mouthpiece having a
surface shaped to interconnect with a mating surface of said second
housing portion adjacent said outlet port.
13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein (1) said first housing
portion contains a penta-valent iodine bactericide proximal to the inlet
port and a granular activated carbon and (2) said second housing contains
in seriatim order, a penta-valent iodine bactericide adjacent the juncture
between said first and second housing portions, a granular activated
carbon and a tri-valent iodine bactericide.
14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first housing portion is
substantially filled with a granular activated carbon and said second
housing portion is substantially filled with a granular activated carbon
and a penta-valent iodine bactericide.
15. Liquid purification apparatus comprising:
(a) a container having an open end and whereto a watertight cover is
removably secured, said cover including vent means and an outlet aperture;
(b) cartridge means mounted within said container for filtering and
purifying liquids passing therethrough and including,
1) filter means secured to an inlet port of a tubular cartridge housing,
2) bactericide means contained within the cartridge housing proximal said
filter means,
3) granular active carbon filtration means contained within the cartridge
housing,
4) means for separating the filtration and bactericide means from one
another and the inlet port and an outlet port of the cartridge housing,
and
5) means for coupling the outlet port of the cartridge housing to the
container in communication with the outlet aperture; and
(c) wherein the container walls are resiliently flexible and whereby the
container can be pressurized upon flexing the container walls.
16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 including meshwork means radially
extending in said container for stabilizing the cartridge means against
lateral movement.
17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein said cover includes an
annular recess aligned with an outlet bore, which recess receives the
outlet port of said cartridge means, and further including O'ring seal
means and resilient retainer clip means which cooperating with adjoining
surfaces of said annular recess and cartridge means for restraining said
cartridge means in liquid tight engagement to said cover.
18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said container includes
means projecting from an interior surface for coupling to said cartridge
housing and supporting said cartridge housing in aligned relation to said
container.
19. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 including first and second tubular
members coupled to said cartridge means, wherein said first tubular member
is coupled between a filter and the inlet port and said second tubular
member is secured to the outlet port and passes through the outlet
aperture.
20. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein the outlet aperture includes
nozzle means for sealing the outlet aperture in a first position and
exposing the outlet aperture to express liquid at a second position.
21. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said filter means is coupled
to a tubular member which extends from said inlet port and said cartridge
housing includes a surface which interconnects with a projecting surface
of said recess to restrain one to the other and further including means
for sealing the juncture between said cartridge housing and recess.
22. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said cartridge housing
includes in seriatim relation:
(a) a penta-valent iodine bactericide proximal said filter means;
(b) a granular activated carbon;
(c) a tri-valent bactericide; and
(d) porous means for passing liquid and separating each of the said
penta-valent and tri-valent bactericides and granular activated carbon
from one another and said inlet and outlet ports.
23. Liquid purification apparatus comprising:
(a) a first housing having an open end and means for securing and sealing
the open end to a manifold, said manifold including inlet and outlet ports
which communicate with the interior of the first housing and further
including a projection having a bore aligned with the outlet port;
(b) cartridge means for filtering and purifying liquids passing through
said first housing and having a second housing including an inlet and an
outlet port, wherein said second housing includes a surface adjacent the
outlet port shaped to interconnect with a surface of said projection and
restrain said second housing to said projection, and wherein said second
housing contains, a bactericide, granular activated carbon and porous
means for passing liquid and separating said bactericide and granular
activated carbon from the inlet and outlet ports.
24. Apparatus as set forth in claim 23 including a filter having a bore,
wherein said second housing extends in the bore of said filter, and
wherein the filter extends between said manifold and a bottom surface of
said first housing.
25. Liquid purification apparatus comprising:
(a) a housing having a through bore and including first and second
portions, wherein said first portion includes an inlet port to the bore
and said second portion includes an outlet port from the bore, and wherein
the first and second portions include surfaces having threads which
threaded surfaces interconnect to restrain the first and second portions
to one another with the inlet and outlet ports at opposite ends of the
housing;
(b) filtration means mounted to said first portion for filtering suspended
particulates from liquid passing therethrough;
(c) bactericide means contained within said first and second portions for
devitalizing contaminants from liquid passing therethrough; and
(d) porous means contained in said first and second housing portions for
passing liquid and for isolating said bactericide means and filtration
means from one another and said inlet and outlet ports.
26. Apparatus as set forth in claim 25 wherein said first portion includes
a penta-valent iodine bactericide proximal of the inlet port and a
granular activated carbon and said second housing includes a penta-valent
iodine bactericide adjacent the juncture of said first and second housing
portions, a granular activated carbon and a tri-valent iodine bactericide.
27. Apparatus as set forth in claim 25 wherein said first housing portion
is substantially filled with a granular activated carbon and said second
housing portion includes a penta-valent iodine bactericide.
28. Liquid purification apparatus comprising:
(a) a housing having a through bore and including first and second
portions, wherein said first portion includes an inlet port to the bore
and said second portion includes an outlet port from the bore, wherein
said first and second portions include concentrically aligning surfaces
which couple to one another, and wherein one of the surfaces includes a
slot and the other surface includes at least one radially extending
projection which aligns with the slot and further including means for
forming a liquid tight seal at the juncture between the first and second
portions upon securing one to the other;
(b) filtration means mounted to said first portion for filtering suspended
particulates;
(c) bactericide means contained within said first and second portions for
devitalizing contaminants from liquid passing therethrough; and
(d) porous means contained in said first and second housing portions for
passing liquid and for isolating said bactericide means and filtration
means from one another and said inlet and outlet ports.
29. Liquid purification apparatus comprising:
(a) a housing having a through bore and including first and second
portions, wherein said first portion includes an inlet port to the bore
and said second portion includes an outlet port from the bore, an wherein
said first and second portions include surfaces which are shaped to
cooperatively interconnect and restrain the first and second portions to
one another with the inlet and outlet ports at opposite ends of the
housing;
(b) filtration means mounted to said first portion for filtering suspended
particulates from liquid passing therethrough;
(c) bactericide means contained within said first and second portions for
devitalizing contaminants from liquid passing therethrough; and
(d) porous means contained within said first and second portions for
passing liquid and for isolating said bactericide means and filtration
means from one another and said inlet and outlet ports. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to potable water supply systems, and in
particular, to modular, transportable personal systems for use in
recreational, military and household applications.
A logistical concern of backpackers, hunters and those generally involved
in the outdoors is that of having an available supply of potable water. A
further concern is how to transport sufficient quantities between water
depots or sources to sustain the affected individuals between re-supply.
Such considerations are of special concern to the outfitting of ground
troops, especially under conditions where potable water supplies may be
scarce to non-existent, even though contaminated water is otherwise
available.
Presuming some type of water is available, considerations can be focused on
making the available water potable, for example, by way of a variety of
filtration, purification, distillation or other known techniques. In these
regards, Applicant is aware of U.S. Pat. No. 4,298,475 which discloses a
straw like purifier. The purifier includes a granular activated carbon
(GAC) filtration section in combination with an iodine resin purification
section. A filtered inlet and mouthpiece enable ingestion with the water
being purified prior to exiting the straw.
Although effective in practice, usage of the foregoing assembly can be
rather strenuous. That is, the user must exert a rather large vacuum or
"sucking" action at the straw to overcome the resistance to liquid flow of
the intermediate iodine resin and GAC materials. A light-headed condition
can result.
Applicants are aware of still another straw-like personal purification
device sold by Water Technologies, Inc. of Minneapolis, Minn. and
discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,976. This device includes a removable
distal filter and separate iodine resin purification beds or bactericides
positioned to either side of a GAC bed. While offering improvements over
the prior device, this device too has been found to be physically taxing
to the user.
In appreciation of the foregoing shortcomings of prior personal
purification systems and assemblies, Applicants have developed a
disposable, cartridge based system which finds application in a number of
personally transported assemblies. Depending upon the volume of drinking
water required by the user, various ones of the assemblies can be
selected.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide a
disposable, cartridge based water filter/purifier.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a cartridge which
accommodates liquid flow at reduced pressures, whether positive or
negative.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a multi-section
straw-like assembly with disposable sections.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a cartridge which is
adaptable for use with pressurizable water storage containers for
temporarily storing contaminated water and expelling treated, potable
water.
It is a further object of the invention to provide cartridges which are
readily mountable within plastic squeeze bottles, intermediate a nozzle or
mouthpiece and wherefrom potable water is expressed.
It is a further object of the invention to stabilize the cartridge relative
to a large volume container, such as disposable plastic bottles or durable
canteens.
It is a still further object of the invention to adapt the cartridges to
presently available manifold systems serving the household, water
filtration industry.
Various of the foregoing objects, advantages and distinctions of the
invention are obtained in one improved straw-like assembly which provides
a number of interconnecting tubular sections. At least one section
includes a filtered inlet, while another includes a mouthpiece, and
intermediate of which a twist, bayonet or other sealed mount coupler means
is provided to secure the sections to one another. The coupled sections
may variously contain GAC particulate mixtures of varying porosities
and/or iodine resins of differing purification properties. Improved
throughput is however obtained at reduced pressures. In other cartridge
assemblies, the cartridge is adapted to provide couplers for mating with a
removable mouthpiece.
A number of pressurizable assemblies are also provided. In some assemblies
a squeeze bottle is provided which includes a molded bottle cover that is
formed to provide an annular projection or recess for supporting a
cartridge in relation to an O'ring and/or snap ring. A nozzle, straw or
outlet aligned with the cartridge can thereby express potable water via a
gravity action, a sucking action or a squeeze action. An assembly
adaptable to a pressurized household water system is also provided which
includes a manifold and housing portion adapted to support the present
invention.
Still other objects, advantages and distinctions of the invention can be
appreciated from the following description with respect to a variety of
assemblies that are disclosed in detail in the appended drawings. To the
extent various modifications and improvements have been considered, they
are described as appropriate. The following description is therefore
intended to be illustrative only of considered constructions of the
invention and the description should not be interpreted in strict
limitation thereto. Rather, the invention should be interpreted within the
scope of following appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a cross section view through a one-piece prior art survival
straw.
FIG. 2 shows a cross section view through an improved multi-section straw
assembly.
FIG. 3 shows an exploded assembly drawing in partial cutaway of an
alternative twist, coupled assembly similar to that of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a cross section drawing through another multi-section assembly.
FIG. 5 shows a vented squeeze bottle construction including a cartridge
which is stabilized relative to the bottle via a depending, tube supported
pre-filter and sedimentation trap.
FIG. 6 shows a vented squeeze bottle assembly including a cap supported
purification cartridge.
FIG. 7 shows another squeeze bottle configuration including a straw
supported cartridge.
FIG. 8 shows a cartridge purifier adapted for external use with a bag or
squeeze bottle.
FIG. 9 shows a cross section view through a manifold configured household
purifier.
FIG. 10 shows an alternative configuration of a manifold mounted purifier
supported in concentric relation to a housing supported filter.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1, a longitudinal, cross section view is shown through a
prior art, straw-like purification assembly 2 of which Applicants are
aware. This assembly generally provides a tubular, hard walled outer
housing 4 which terminates at a replaceable foam filter 6 mounted at a
distal end and a permanently secured, molded mouthpiece 8 having a bore 10
at a proximal end.
Water is ingested through the housing 4 via a mouth induced sucking action
at the mouthpiece 8. As the water traverses the housing 4, sediment is
filtered at the filter 6 and a number of porous, high density washers or
disk spacers 12, and a bed 14 of granular activated carbon (GAC) or a
mixture or GAC and charcoal. Supported between ones of the spacers 12 at
the distal end is a quantity of resin beads which are coated or
impregnated with a penta-valent iodine material, sometimes referred to as
a pentacide or by it tradename penta pure.
Supported at the proximal end or adjacent the mouthpiece 8 of the assembly
2 is an additional quantity of trivalent iodine resin beads or triocide.
Whereas the pentacide material is relatively fast acting as it purifies
the water of most bacteria, viruses and the like, the triocide material is
slower acting, less costly and more efficient as a bactericide for
saliva-borne and airborne bacteria, viruses and the like. For convenience
only and throughout the drawings, the GAC, pentacide and triocide
materials are shown in diagrammatic form as partially filling each
chamber. In practice, however, they completely fill the allotted volume
within each chamber.
Although the assembly of FIG. 1 performs its intended function, in
practice, relatively large negative pressures are required to sustain
liquid flow. Appreciating that such pressures are developed through a
sucking action, the jaw muscles of the user can be strained and/or blood
pressure may rise, which can cause lightheadedness. Accordingly,
Applicants have sought to develop an improved assembly with sustainable
throughput at lower vacuums and/or positive pressures. Constructions
depending upon mouth induced vacuum suction are shown at FIGS. 2 through
4. Positively pressurized assemblies which utilize soft-walled containers,
which are squeezable to induce positive internal pressures, are shown at
FIGS. 5 through 8. Otherwise, FIGS. 9 and 10 disclose positively
pressurized household assemblies which are compatible with ones or
portions of the purification cartridges shown in FIGS. 2 through 8.
Turning attention to FIG. 2, an improved, multi-section, straw-like
purifier 20 is shown. This assembly generally provides a section 22 which
contacts the water and a mouthpiece section 24 which contacts the user's
mouth. The sections 22, 24 detach from one another via a mating coupler
assembly 26 which is positioned approximately midway along the assembly
20. Threaded couplers 28, 30 are particularly shown, which are integrally
formed with the housings of the sections 22, 24. Alternatively, detachable
threaded couplers might be used. The sections 22, 24 may also exhibit
different lengths and diameters or be the same. In the latter case, any
unused interior space may be occupied with a filler.
The section 22 particularly provides a tubular, hard walled housing 32. The
housing 32 may be made of plastic or any other durable material, provided
the walls don't collapse under normally encountered conditions. Secured to
the distal end is a tubular coupler 34 having a through bore 36. The
coupler 34 is adhesively bonded to the housing 32, although may be secured
by sonic welding and other known fasteners. Ridged surface projections 33
are provided on the protruding external surface of the coupler 34 for
receiving and containing an adjustable length of flexible, plastic tube
stock 38 or the like thereto. Mounted to the distal end of the tube 38 is
a replaceable filter 40. Presently, the foam filter 40 comprises a
relatively open celled media.
Mounted within the interior of the housing 32 and separated from one
another via a plurality of porous spacers 42 are suitable volumes of
bactericide and filter media. The dimensions and porosity of the spacers
42 may be varied to enhance liquid throughput at lower pressures.
Presently, they are constructed from a porous plastic filter media having
a pore size in range of 100 to 200 microns and exhibit a diameter
equivalent to that of the housing interior. The spacers may be constructed
from plastic, ceramic, foam, screen or a variety of other porous
materials.
Positioned adjacent the coupler 34 and adjacent spacer 42 is a volume of
pentacide 44. For a housing having an internal bore diameter of
approximately three-fourths of an inch, the pentacide is deposited to an
approximate bed depth in the range of 3/4 to 11/4 inches. This material is
very fast acting and has proven effective for purifying water of most
commonly encountered bacterial, viral and other contaminants.
Proximal of the pentacide 44 is a filtrate of granular activated carbon
(GAC) media 46. This material may comprise a mixture of carbon and
charcoal of different grain sizes, although an industry graded 8-32
material is presently used. Preferably, the GAC filtrate media 46 provides
relatively large nominal dimensions. Greater porosity or space between
particles is thereby obtained, while still permitting sufficient contact
time between the water and bactericide. The GAC media 46 is provided to an
approximate bed depth in the range of 21/2 to 31/2 inches which removes
any iodine taste and filters suspended contaminants that may pass through
the foam filter 40. A concentration ratio in the range of 3 parts filtrate
46 to approximately one part pentacide 44 is preferred.
Formed at the aft end of the section 22 is a male, threaded coupler 28
having a through bore 48. The diameter of the coupler bore 48 is
preferably made as large as possible to facilitate liquid throughput.
The mouthpiece containing cartridge section 24, otherwise, includes a hard
walled tubular housing 50 which is constructed of a material similar to
that of the housing 32. A female coupler portion 30 includes mating
threads to the coupler 28 and is bonded to the distal end of the housing
50. Suitable spacers 42 are disposed along the interior of the housing 50
to separate a second filtration bed 52 of GAC media from a second bed of
bactericide 54. The filtration bed 52 particularly comprises a 20-50 GAC
media which is deposited to a shallower depth than the first GAC bed 46 or
approximately two inches. Appreciating that most contaminants are filtered
at the cartridge section 22, a finer porosity filtrate is desired, but
which still does not restrict liquid throughput or require excessive
vacuum.
Proximal to the second filtration bed 52 is a second bed of bactericide 54
which is deposited to a depth in the range of 1/2 to 3/4 inches. A
triocide material is used. This material is generally slower acting that
the pentacide bactericide 44, but is more effective with respect to
saliva-borne or airborne bacteria which might enter the housing from the
mouthpiece.
Secured to the housing 50 at the proximal end is a mouthpiece coupler 56
having a through bore 58. The coupler is adhesively bonded or welded to
the housing 50 and includes a portion exhibiting suitable ridged
protrusions 60 for containing a tubular mouthpiece 62 thereto. As
depicted, a straw-like tubular, pliable mouthpiece 62 is shown.
Alternatively, the mouthpiece 62 can be configured as a molded unitary
construction, similar to that of the prior art. For the construction of
FIG. 2, the mouthpiece 62 can be cut to a preferred length. It provides a
removable mounting. Such a mounting also permits the adaptation of the
present cartridge to differing circumstances, which will become more
apparent hereinafter.
As mentioned and during normal use, the assembly 20 of FIG. 2 provides for
greater liquid throughput with less suction or pressure requirements over
the prior art. This is achieved through the use of filtration materials of
varying porosities which are disposed apart from one another over the
length of a nominally longer assembly 20. This assembly 20 has a nominal
filtration/purification life of 150 gallons.
The assembly 20 is configured to distribute the filtration and bactericide
over each of the sections 22, 24 of the assembly. Such an arrangement
finds advantage if and/or when the respective filtration and purification
beds 46, 52 and 44, 24 become plugged or obstructed, the spent cartridge
section 22 or 24 can then be separately replaced. The life of the assembly
20 can thus be extended and/or adapted to anticipated conditions and all
within a compact, lightweight, personally transportable assembly.
FIGS. 3 and 4 depict alternative multi-sectional assemblies which
accommodate some of these latter considerations. FIG. 3 particularly
discloses a perspective drawing of a two-piece assembly 64 wherein the
water contacting, cartridge section 66 is primarily intended to purify the
ingested liquid. The section 66 includes a removeable forward filter 68,
but otherwise the he housing interior is substantially filled with a
pentacide media 70. End spacers 42 separate the pentacide 70 within the
section 66. The length of the section 66 is approximately three inches,
which is shorter than the aft general purpose section 72. The section 66
may alternatively be configured as a filter section and be substantially
filled with a filtrate, such as a GAC media. A short proximal bed of
pentacide must, however, still be included to prevent contamination of the
filtrate.
The purification section 66 is coupled to the general purpose section 72
via a twist locking, bayonet-type slip coupler assembly 74. A number of
projections 76 extend from a coupler end 78 bonded to the cartridge
section 66 and mate with slots 80 formed in a coupler end 82 at a purifier
cartridge section 72. Upon slip coupling the sections 66, 72 to one
another and with the seating of the projections 76 at the aft end of the
slots 80, the sections are rotated to secure one to the other. A pliable
O'ring seal (not shown) can be used to seal the joint and a spring washer
81 maintains tension at the joint.
Although a twist lock action is provided, it is to be appreciated that
other forms of locking action can be obtained. For example and as shown at
FIG. 4, a pair of slide coupler sections 124 provide an O'ring seal 126
and a snap ring 128 which cooperate to seal and retain the cartridge
sections to one another. The details of this assembly will be described
below.
Otherwise, the general purpose section 72 contains another proximal bed 86
of pentacide and aft of which is positioned a foam filter 90. A bed of
triocide 86 is provided before the mouthpiece, which is molded as a
removable assembly 92. A mouth contacting portion 94 includes an annular
recess 96 and slip couples to an end portion 98 of the housing 72 which
supports a snap ring retainer 100.
FIG. 4 discloses a cross-section drawing of an assembly 102 which provides
an O'ring containing coupler assembly 104. A water contacting cartridge
section 106 is filled with a pentacide bed 108 to partially purify the
water and a proximal bed 110 of GAC media to filter suspended
particulates. A mouthpiece containing section 112, in turn, includes
respective pentacide and triocide purification beds 114, 116 which are
disposed on opposite sides of a bed of GAC media 118 and intervening
spacers 42. A replaceable mouthpiece 120 is otherwise secured to the
cartridge section 112 via a threaded coupling 122. Instead of using a
separately attached threaded coupler, the end of the housing section 114
is formed to include threads which mate with threads formed into the
mouthpiece 120.
The coupler assembly 104, otherwise, comprises a slip connector 124 which
is bonded to the cartridge section 106. A forward portion supports an
O'ring seal 126 and a split, C-shaped snap ring 128 at included annular
grooves. The mating end of the cartridge section 112 is shaped to present
an end cavity 127 which includes a recess 126 to receive the snap ring
128. The O'ring 129 otherwise compresses against the bore walls. A
resilient, end seal or washer 130 is also shown which can be used or not
as desired.
Referring next to FIGS. 5 through 8, various pressurizable assemblies 140,
142, 144 and 249 are shown which utilize sectional cartridges akin to
those of FIGS. 2 through 4. Although, too, single sections are shown,
multiple sections might be used in the following assemblies.
The assemblies of FIGS. 5 through 8 provide organizations wherein a water
containment means is included which is pressurizable by way of a squeeze
action and/or a sucking action. A positive pressure is thus obtainable via
the mechanical compression of the container, which alone or in combination
with a sucking action forces the water through the purification/filtration
cartridge. The physical exertions of the user are thereby minimized. The
container is also useable as a temporary storage device and can be
transported by the user.
Referring to FIG. 5, a plastic thin walled container 148 is shown which
exhibits a so-called "sport bottle" configuration. The container 148 is
typically fabricated to contain twenty to thirty-two ounces of liquid. A
molded end cover or cap 150 is threadably secured to an upper end of the
container and through which a straw 152 extends. A separate vent port 154
and sliding pegged stake or vent seal 156 is provided to one side of the
straw. The interior of the container can thereby be vented or not, as
desired.
The container 148 is typically constructed from a pliable plastic material
to a nominal wall thickness which permits flexing, yet accommodates the
typically anticipated stresses and abuses. Upon flexing the walls with the
vent stake 156 closed, the interior of the container 148 can be
pressurized to facilitate ejection of liquid from the straw 152. A
separate vacuum sucking action can also be imparted by the user to the
straw 152. Additional vacuum is particularly desired as the liquid level
is drawn down or as the purification/filtration assembly becomes clogged.
A purification/filtration cartridge subassembly 158 is particularly
supported at the bottom of the container 148 and to the straw 152. A cap
153 covers the straw 152 when not being used. A hard walled tubular
cartridge housing 160 supports a straw coupler 162 at one end and a
pre-filter assembly 164 and radially extending sedimentation trap 166 at
the other end. Mounted intermediate the housing ends are beds of pentacide
168, GAC media 170 and either a pentacide or triocide 172.
Secured to the distal end of the housing 160 is a pre-formed, semi-rigid
filter assembly 164. The filter 164 provides a rigid outer shell 176,
which includes a plurality of bores 178, and which internally supports a
replaceable foam filter 180. An end bore 174 indexes the shell 176 to a
dimpled projection 178 which projects from the center of the container
bottom. In normal use, the straw tube 152 is cut to a length which permits
the indexing of the cartridge 158 to the projection 178. This stabilizes
the cartridge 158 and minimizes movement of the cartridge within the
bottle 148. The cartridge subassembly 158 need not nowever be restrained
to the bottom of the bottle.
Appreciating that the available water can contain large volumes of
suspended particulates, the container 148, once filled, can be allowed to
set for a period of time. During this time, the particulates, can settle
out of the water and be partially trapped beneath a flexible, annular
meshwork trap 166. The trap 166 mounts between the shell 176 and the
bottom of the bottle 148. A void 182 is thereby provided below the trap
166 to collect the settled particles. The trap 166 can be constructed of
appropriate screening material to collapse for insertion into the bottle
148, yet expand upon insertion to support the housing in registration with
the bottle walls. Where the cartridge 158 is not registered to the bottle
148, the trap 166 can center the cartridge to the bottle.
Contained within the cartridge 158 is a bed of pentacide 168 which is
contained between a distal disk screen 184 and a proximal foam | | |
