# US 11,110,397 B2 · Device and method for water priming microporous-carbon water filters using negative pressure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,110,397 B2 - Document ID: US11110397B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/035,554 - Filed: 2018-07-13 - Published: 2019-12-05 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-04 - Assignees: Pure Berkey, LLC - Applicants: Pure Berkey, L.L.C. - Inventors: John Davis Whitaker; Kelly Murphy Whitaker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11110397B2 ## CPC - B01D 61/10: Accessories; Auxiliary operations - C02F 1/283: {using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them} - B01D 24/46: Regenerating the filtering material in the filter (B01D24/44 takes precedence) - B01D 29/62: Regenerating the filter material in the filter (devices for taking out of action one or more units of multi-unit filters, e.g. for regeneration, B01D35/12) - B01D 39/2055: {Carbonaceous material (solid sorbent compositions comprising free carbon B01J20/20)} - C02F 1/003: {using household-type filters for producing potable water, e.g. pitchers, bottles, faucet mounted devices (C02F9/20 takes precedence)} - C02F 1/442: {by nanofiltration} - B01D 2201/081: using nozzles or suction devices - B01D 2201/204: Systems for applying vacuum to filters - C02F 2201/006: Cartridges - C02F 2303/16: Regeneration of sorbents, filters - C02F 2307/10: as part of a potable water dispenser, e.g. for use in homes or offices - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) ## Abstract A method and system for water-priming carbon micropore filter media using negative pressure. The method includes placing dry filter elements in a polymer bag, applying a vacuum of no more than approximately 33 kPa above zero pressure, and heat-sealing the bag using a heat-set bar; submerging, by a consumer, the vacuum-sealed bag with its the filter elements in water; the filters in the vacuum sealed bag are at least partially submerged, puncturing the bag to form one or more small openings in the bag below the water line. Breeching the vacuum causes the water to flow through the openings into the bag and the filter(s) to equalize the pressure between the water and the previously vacuum environment of the plastic bag, causing the surrounding water to quickly flow into the micro-pores of the filter media, thereby priming the carbon filter for use in the gravity-fed water-purification system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for priming a water filter, the apparatus comprising: a first water filter that includes an unfiltered-water inlet and a filtered-water exit port; a first removable exit-port water-infiltration barrier fitted to seal the exit port of the first water filter; a first bag-puncture-facilitation device, wherein the first bag-puncture-facilitation device includes a first hollow elongated generally cylindrical structure that has an elongated opening in at least a portion of a long side and at least one open end in fluid communication with the elongated opening; and a vacuum-sealed polymeric bag, wherein the first water filter, the first water-infiltration barrier fitted to seal the output port of the first water filter, and the bag-puncture-facilitation device are contained within the vacuum-sealed bag, and wherein the vacuum-sealed bag has a gas pressure inside of no more than about 33 kPa above absolute zero pressure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first cylindrical structure has a C-shaped cross section at the elongated opening, and wherein the first water-infiltration barrier is connected to the cylindrical structure by a flexible elongated connector. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first cylindrical structure has a generally C-shaped cross section at the elongated opening, and the elongated opening is at least 2.5-cm long. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first bag-puncture-facilitation device includes: a second water filter that includes an unfiltered-water inlet and an output port; and a second removable output-port water-infiltration barrier fitted to seal the output port of the second filter, wherein the first water filter and the second water filter are positioned side-by-side in the bag such that a portion of the bag remains stretched across a space between the first water filter and the second water filter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a second water filter that includes an unfiltered-water inlet and an output port; a second removable output-port water-infiltration barrier fitted to seal the output port of the second filter, wherein the first water filter and the second water filter are positioned side-by-side in the bag; and a second bag-puncture-facilitation device, wherein the second bag-puncture-facilitation device includes a second hollow elongated generally cylindrical structure that has an elongated opening in a length of a side and at least one open end in fluid communication with the elongated opening, wherein the first and second removable output-port water-infiltration barriers are each connected to respective ones of the first and second cylindrical structures by a respective flexible elongated connector. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a second water filter that includes an unfiltered-water inlet and an output port; a second removable exit-port water-infiltration barrier fitted to seal the exit port of the second filter, wherein the first water filter and the second water filter are positioned side-by-side in the bag, and wherein the first removable exit-port water-infiltration barrier is connected to the first cylindrical structure by a flexible elongated connector. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first bag-puncture-facilitation device is fused to an inside surface of the vacuum-sealed bag. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first cylindrical structure has a cross-section at the elongated opening having a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface, wherein the first water-infiltration barrier is connected to the first cylindrical structure by a flexible elongated connector. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bag includes a laminated film having a plurality of laminated layers including at least one layer that includes nylon and another layer that includes polyolefin or polyester. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vacuum-sealed bag has a gas pressure inside of no more than about 2 kPa above absolute zero pressure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first water filter and the first bag-puncture-facilitation device are packaged to be shipped together inside the vacuum-sealed bag to an end user with instructions for the user to submerge at least a portion of the vacuum-sealed bag in water such that water covers the elongated opening of the first cylindrical structure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a second water filter. ### Claim 13 A kit for making an apparatus for priming a water filter, the kit comprising: a first water filter that includes an unfiltered-water inlet end and a filtered-water exit port; a first removable exit-port water-infiltration barrier fitted to seal the exit port of the first water filter; a first bag-puncture-facilitation device, wherein the first bag-puncture-facilitation device includes a first hollow elongated generally cylindrical structure that has an elongated opening in at least a portion of a long side and at least one open end in fluid communication with the elongated opening; and a heat-sealable bag sized to contain the first water filter, the first water-infiltration barrier fitted to seal the output port of the first water filter, and the first bag-puncture-facilitation device within the heat-sealable bag, wherein the heat-sealable bag has a shore A durometer of at least 80. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The kit of claim 13, further comprising: a second water filter that includes an inlet end and an output port; and a second removable output-port water-infiltration barrier fitted to seal the output port of the second filter, such that when the first water filter and the second water filter are positioned side-by-side in the bag, and the bag is sealed with a gas pressure inside of no more than about 15 kPa above absolute zero pressure and the sealed bag is exposed to atmospheric pressure, a portion of the bag remains stretched across a space between the first water filter and the second water filter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The kit of claim 13, wherein the first bag-puncture-facilitation device is fused to an inside surface of the heat-sealable bag. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The kit of claim 13, wherein the first cylindrical structure has a cross-section at the elongated opening having a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface, wherein the first water-infiltration barrier is connected to the first cylindrical structure by a flexible elongated connector, the kit further comprising: a second water filter that includes an inlet and an output port; and a second removable output-port water-infiltration barrier fitted to seal the output port of the second filter, such that when the first water filter and the second water filter are positioned side-by-side in the bag, and the bag is sealed with a gas pressure inside of no more than about 33 kPa above absolute zero pressure and the sealed bag is exposed to atmospheric pressure, a portion of the bag remains stretched across a space between the first water filter and the second water filter. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The kit of claim 13, wherein the first water filter and the first bag-puncture-facilitation device are packaged to be shipped together inside the heat-sealable bag to an end user with instructions for the user to submerge at least a portion of the heat-sealable bag in water such that water covers the elongated opening of the first cylindrical structure.