Water filter assembly for use in an appliance
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorKarl Fritze
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for filtering water dispensed from an appliance (e.g. a refrigerator) includes a low-profile filter cartridge (or a bank of filter cartridges) releasably connected to a manifold assembly. The manifold assembly is in communication with the water inlet of appliance and routs the filtered water to points of use. A water usage sensor in the manifold monitors the filter cartridge life and alerts the user when it is time to replace the filter. A latching mechanism includes a latching member 200 on the cartridge and a linearly moveable actuator 174 for releaseably securing the filter cartridge to the manifold assembly. A flow control valve ensures that the water circuit remains closed when the filter cartridge is removed from the manifold.
Claims21
A modular water filter assembly in combination with an appliance, the modular water filter assembly comprising:
- a manifold assembly having a flow control valve operatively disposed therein, the manifold assembly being operatively disposed within the appliance and in operable communication with a water inlet conduit and a water outlet conduit;
- a bank of filter cartridges having a plurality of serial, individually replaceable cartridges, the bank of filter cartridges adjoining the manifold assembly and in operable communication therewith, the filter cartridges having inlet and outlet protrusions;
- and
- a linearly actuated latching assembly to operably secure the filter cartridges to the manifold assembly, the latching including (i) a resilient latching member disposed at least one filter cartridge and separate from the inlet and outlet protrusions, and (ii) a linearly moveable actuator.
A modular water filter assembly in combination with a water dispensing device, the modular water filter assembly comprising:
- a manifold assembly operatively disposed within an appliance and in operable communication with a water inlet conduit and a water outlet conduit, the manifold assembly including a flow meter housing portion in fluidic communication with the outlet conduit;
- a bank of filter cartridges having a plurality of serial, individually replaceable cartridges, the bank of filter cartridges adjoining the manifold assembly and in operable communication therewith, the filter cartridges having inlet and outlet protrusions;
- and
- a linearly actuated latching assembly to operably secure the filter cartridges to the manifold assembly, the latching assembly including (i) a resilient latching member disposed on at least one filter cartridge and separate from the inlet and outlet protrusions, and (ii) a linearly moveable actuator.
A modular water filter assembly in combination with an appliance, the modular water filter assembly comprising:
- manifold assembly having a flow control valve operatively disposed therein, the manifold assembly being operatively disposed within the appliance and in operable communication with a water inlet conduit and a water outlet conduit;
- a filter cartridge adjoining the manifold assembly and in operable communication therewith, the filter cartridge having inlet and outlet protrusions;
- and
- a linearly actuated latching assembly to operably secure the filter cartridge to the manifold assembly, the latching assembly including (i) a resilient latching member disposed on the filter cartridge and separate from the inlet and outlet protrusions, and (ii) a linearly moveable actuator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.