Portable water filter and valve assembly

A valve assembly, in combination with a portable water filter, comprising:

• a portable hand-held filter housing;
• an inlet conduit for directing water into a water filter within said housing;
• means for drawing water through the inlet conduit;
• a check valve operatively connected to the inlet conduit for allowing flow of water only in a direction toward the water filter;
• and a relief valve for redirecting water if pressure within the filter increases beyond a predetermined level, the water being redirected back down the inlet conduit to confine the location of the redirected water to keep outer surfaces of the filter dry and free of contamination, the increased pressure resulting from the filter being clogged or from the flow of water through the filter being otherwise obstructed, and wherein the check valve comprises a fluid stopper and a valve seat, wherein the fluid stopper is forced away from the seat when water is drawn into the filter through the seat, and wherein the stopper is forced into sealing engagement with the seat when water attempts to escape back through the seat into the inlet conduit, and wherein the relief valve comprises a valve housing having a wall, a popper which seats against the housing wall, and a valve spring coupled to the popper wherein the poppet is forced away from the housing wall when pressure inside the valve housing increases beyond a predetermined level, and wherein a single element comprises the valve seat for the check valve and the popper for the relief valve to form a combination valve seat/poppet such that when pressure increases beyond the predetermined level in the valve housing, the stopper engages the combination valve seat/popper and urges the combination valve seat/popper away from the housing wall to open a passageway back into the inlet conduit to relieve pressure in the water filter.

A valve assembly in combination with a portable water filter, comprising:

• a portable hand-held filter housing;
• an inlet conduit for directing water into a water filter within said housing;
• means for drawing water through the inlet conduit;
• a check valve comprising a fluid stopper and a valve seat operatively connected to the inlet conduit for allowing flow of water only in a direction toward the water filter;
• and
• a valve spring and poppet for redirecting water if pressure within the filter increases beyond a predetermined level, the valve seat and the poppet comprise a single element.

A valve assembly in combination with a portable water filter, comprising:

• a portable hand-held filter housing;
• an inlet conduit to direct water into a water filter within said housing;
• a pump to draw water through the inlet conduit;
• a check valve operatively connected to the inlet conduit to allow the flow of water only in a direction toward the water filter;
• and
• a relief valve to redirect water if pressure within the filter increases beyond a predetermined level, the water being redirected back down the inlet conduit to confine the location of the redirected water to keep outer surfaces of the filter dry and free of contamination, the increased pressure resulting from the filter being clogged or from the flow of water though the filter being otherwise obstructed.

A valve assembly, in combination with a portable water filter, comprising:

• a portable hand-held filter housing;
• an inlet conduit to direct water into a water filter within said housing;
• a pump to draw water through the inlet conduit;
• a check valve operatively connected to the inlet conduit to allow the flow of water only in a direction toward the water filter;
• and a relief valve to redirect water if pressure within the filter increases beyond a predetermined level, the water being redirected back down the inlet conduit to confine the location of the redirected water to keep outer surfaces of the filter dry and free of contamination, the increased pressure resulting from the filter being clogged or from the flow of water through the filter being otherwise obstructed, and wherein the check valve comprises a fluid stopper and a valve seat, wherein the fluid stopper is forced away from the seat when water is drawn into the filter through the seat, and wherein the stopper is forced into sealing engagement with the seat when water attempts to escape back through the seat into the inlet conduit, and wherein the relief valve comprises a valve housing having a wall, a popper which seats against the housing wall, and a valve spring coupled to the popper wherein the poppet is forced away from the housing wall when pressure inside the valve housing increases beyond a predetermined level, and wherein a single element comprises the valve seat for the check valve and the poppet for the relief valve to form a combination valve seat/popper such that when pressure increases beyond the predetermined level in the valve housing, the stopper engages the combination valve seat/popper and urges the combination valve seat/popper away from the housing wall to open a passageway back into the inlet conduit to relieve pressure in the water filter.

A valve assembly in combination with a portable water filter, comprising:

• a portable hand-held filter housing;
• an inlet conduit to direct water into a water filter within said housing;
• a pump to draw water through the inlet conduit;
• a check valve comprising a fluid stopper and a valve seat operatively connected to the inlet conduit to allow the flow of water only in a direction toward the water filter;
• and
• a valve spring and poppet to redirect water away from the water filter if pressure within the filter increases beyond a predetermined level, the valve seat and the poppet comprising a single element.