US 5,635,079 AGranted

Method and apparatus for filtering water with reduced spillage

OwnerPaul E. Becking, IIinventor

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Abstract

Method for filtering treated water and apparatus to practice the method. The method taught herein consists of filling a first container with water, attaching a special filter apparatus thereto and finally attaching a second, empty bottle to the filter apparatus. When the conjoined containers and filter apparatus are inverted, the water in the first container, now atop the filter apparatus passes through that apparatus and into the second container under the impetus of gravity. Air displaced from the second container by the transfer of water therein is exchanged into the first container by means of a vent located in the body of the filter apparatus. The apparatus taught herein comprises a filter body having disposed within the previously discussed vent, at least one filter element and a check valve to preclude the unwanted re-filtration of previously filtered water. The apparatus further provides for the secure attachment to the two containers for sealing therewith, thereby precluding leakage from the conjoined filter and containers during filtration.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method for filtering treated water from a first container into a second container, said first and said second containers each including a threaded neck portion, said method comprising the steps of:

forming a hollow, substantially cylindrical filter body;
disposing a first receptacle means at a first end of said filter body, said first receptacle means for receiving therein and for threadably engaging the threaded neck portion of said first container, said first receptacle means having a first container seal disposed therein;
disposing a second receptacle means at a second end of said filter body, said second receptacle means for receiving therein and for threadably engaging the threaded neck portion of said second container, said second receptacle means having a second container seal disposed therein;
disposing a vent means within said filter body for defining a simultaneous communication path for water from said first container through said filter body and to said second container and for air from said second container through said filter body to said first container, thereby effecting the efficient exchange of water and air between said first and said second containers during filtration, said vent means further comprising a hollow conical structure disposed coaxially within said filter body above said filter element, said wider end proximal to said filter element and said narrower end extending through said first receptacle means and insertable into said first container, said hollow conical structure further defining a tapered tube having a wider end and a narrower end
disposing a filter element within said filter body;
filling a first container with water;
attaching said first container to said first receptacle and sealing said first container to said filter body with said first container seal;
attaching a second container to said second receptacle and sealing said second container to said filter body with said second container seal;
and
inverting said first container, said second container and said filter body as a unit and allowing said water to flow from said first container through said filter element and into said second container.

7 more elements

A water filtration apparatus which is securely attachable to a first and a second container, said apparatus and said first and said second containers, when assembled, forming a substantially air-tight and water-tight whole, said first and said second containers each having a neck, the apparatus comprising:

a hollow, substantially cylindrical filter body;
first receptacle means disposed at a first end of said filter body for attaching to and for receiving therein the neck of a first container;
second receptacle means disposed at a second end of said filter body for attaching to and for receiving therein the neck of a second container;
first seal means disposed within said first receptacle for sealing said filtration apparatus to said neck of said first container;
second seal means disposed within said second receptacle for sealing said filtration apparatus to said neck of said second container;
vent means disposed within said filter body for defining a simultaneous communication path for water from said first container to said second container and for air from said second container to said first container, thereby effecting the efficient exchange of water and air between said first and said second containers during filtration;
and
a filter element further disposed within said filter body.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.