US 6,024,867 A · Counter top water filter with replaceable electronic display monitor

Abstract

A counter top water filter unit intended for domestic use to be placed adjacent to a sink and having an inlet at its lower end which is coupled to the sink faucet. The filter unit includes a cylindrical-shaped carbon particle filter cartridge which has a longitudinal passage extending from one end to the other, and a removable pre-filter screen coaxial with the cartridge and surrounding the cartridge, both elements being removably mounted within a cylindrical filter housing, the housing being closed at its upper end and open at its lower end. A replaceable electronic display monitor unit is mounted in an outlet housing fitted to the top of the cylindrical filter housing. The state of the life-span of the filter cartridge is shown on the display monitor in terms of colored indicator lights which denote whether the filter cartridge is within, nearing an end to, and outside its expected life-span.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A counter top water filter unit used by an operator, comprising:

a) a filter unit having filter housing containing a removable cylindrical filter cartridge and a removable pre-filter screen coaxial with said cartridge and surrounding said cartridge;
b) an outlet housing mounted to said filter housing;
c) replaceable means associated with said outlet housing for evaluating the life-span of said filter cartridge, wherein when said life-span for said filter cartridge has expired said replaceable life-span evaluation means is replaced;
and
d) means associated with said replaceable life-span evaluation means for powering said replaceable evaluation means.

2 more elements

A counter top water filter unit used by an operator, comprising:

a) a filter housing having a closed top and an open bottom;
b) a base removably mounted on said filter housing open bottom and closing said filter housing open bottom;
c) an inlet extending through said base into an interior of said filter housing;
d) a filter cartridge removably mounted in said filter housing and having an upper end and a lower end with a central passage extending between said upper and lower ends;
e) a pre-filter screen extending around said filter cartridge in coaxial relationship therewith between the periphery of said filter cartridge and an inner bore surface of said filter housing to form an annular passage extending around a periphery of said pre-filter screen;
f) upper end cap being spaced between said filter housing closed top and said filter cartridge upper end;
g) lower end cap being spaced between said base and said filter cartridge lower end;
h) an elongated outlet fitting mounted on said upper end cap in a space between said upper end cap and said filter housing closed top coaxial with said filter cartridge and extending longitudinally into said filter cartridge central passage and protruding longitudinally through said filter housing closed top;
i) an outlet housing in coaxial relationship with said elongated outlet fitting and rotatable about a longitudinal axis of said elongated outlet fitting;
j) a radial spout fitted into said rotatable outlet housing and communicating with said central passage of said filter cartridge through passages extending through said elongated outlet fitting;
k) replaceable means for evaluating if said filter cartridge is within a predetermined life-span, wherein when said life-span for said filter cartridge has expired said replaceable life-span evaluation means is replaced;
and
l) means associated with said replaceable life-span evaluation means for powering said replaceable evaluation means.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Counter top water filter with replaceable electronic display monitor

Life of this patent

Counter top water filter with replaceable electronic display monitor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12