Filter assembly and systems/methods of dispensing from and storing the filter assembly

A gravity-driven water filtering system comprising:

• a gravity-driven water filter configured to engage and deliver treated water through apertures of various sizes and a filter receiving device,
• wherein the gravity-driven water filter comprises:
• a bottom portion having at least one treated water outlet, an upper perimeter, and a bottom portion side wall that defines an interior volume of the bottom portion and wherein the bottom portion side wall is a shaped surface that is configured to frictionally engage a plurality of differently sized water vessel openings and still allow treated water to be delivered to the interior of a water vessel through the at least one treated water outlets;
• a water filter comprising a water treatment medium positioned within the water filter wherein the filter is operably engaged with the bottom portion and having a water intake location and a water outgoing location that delivers treated water to the interior volume of the bottom portion and out of the at least one treated water outlet of the bottom portion;
• a top portion having an interior volume defined by at least one wall, at least one water inlet, and a bottom perimeter defining an opening and wherein the top portion is configured to received water from at least one water inlet and the bottom perimeter defines an opening that is configured to allow water from the at least one inlet to flow into contact with an intake surface of the water filter;
• a perimeter side-wall within the water filter;
• wherein the sidewall receives the water treatment medium, and a filter top portion of the water filter seals the water treatment material within the perimeter sidewall of the water filter;
• and
• wherein the water filter is configured to be removably engaged by hand without the use of tools from the bottom portion and the water filter, the bottom portion and the top portion are each configured to be removably engaged and disengaged to allow for replacement of the filter and reassembly of the overall gravity-driven water filter by hand and without the use of tools and wherein the water treatment medium allows for a water flow rate of at least about one liter per minute of flow through the water treatment medium under a force of gravity;
• wherein the filter receiving device comprises a filter receiving device chosen from the group consisting of:
• a) a flat bottomed stand that receives the top portion of the gravity-driven water filter where the stand has a top portion receiving center section insert that has the same shape as the top portion such that the top portion matingly engages the top portion receiving center section insert and wherein the top portion receiving center section insert is detachable from a perimeter stand portion positioned about the perimeter of the top portion receiving center section insert when engaged therewith;
• b) a carrying device that engages the gravity-driven water filter and includes at least one carrying aperture;
• and
• c) an adapter configured to either (1) provide an ability for the gravity-driven water filter to deliver treated water to a vessel having a aperture larger than the width of the gravity-driven water filter or (2) engage a side wall of the vessel and suspend the gravity-driven water filter from a side wall over an aperture larger than the width of the gravity-driven water filter.

A gravity-driven water filtering system comprising:

• a gravity-driven water filter configured to engage and deliver treated water through apertures of various sizes and a filter receiving device,
• wherein the gravity-driven water filter comprises:
• a bottom portion having at least one treated water outlet, an upper perimeter, and a bottom portion side wall that defines an interior volume of the bottom portion and wherein the bottom portion side wall is a shaped surface that is configured to frictionally engage a plurality of differently sized fluid vessel openings and still allow treated fluid to be delivered to the interior of a fluid vessel through the at least one treated fluid outlets the bottom portion of the gravity-driven water treatment device, wherein the bottom portion further comprises:
• an overmolded material matingly engaged with a host component of the bottom portion and the overmolded material is a plastic or elastomeric material that is a separate component from the host component;
• a water filter comprising a water treatment medium positioned within the water filter wherein the filter is operably engaged with the bottom portion and having a water intake location and a water outgoing location that delivers treated water to the interior volume of the bottom portion and out of the at least one treated water outlet of the bottom portion wherein the water filter is configured to reduce chlorine taste and odor components (CTO) per NSF 42 to a minimum of 60 gallons and allows for a water flow rate of at least about one liter per minute of flow through the water treatment medium under a force of gravity and wherein the water filter includes a water filter housing with an interior volume containing the water treatment medium positioned within the water filter housing wherein the water filter housing comprises a top surface with a plurality of apertures for receiving water through the top surface and into contact with the water treatment medium, a bottom surface with a plurality of apertures for delivering treated fluid to the bottom portion, and at least one perimeter wall extending between the top surface and the bottom surface wherein the at least one perimeter wall has an exterior surface and at least one outwardly projecting lip positioned between the bottom surface of the fluid treatment housing and about ⅔ of the distance up from the bottom surface toward the top surface of the water filter housing wherein the outwardly projecting lip rests upon a shelf on the interior of the bottom portion and extending inwardly toward the interior of the bottom portion;
• and
• a top portion having an interior volume defined by at least one wall forming a curved exterior, at least one water inlet, and a bottom perimeter defining an opening and wherein the top portion is configured to received water from at least one water inlet and the bottom perimeter defines an opening that is configured to allow water from the at least one inlet to flow into contact with an intake surface of the water filter;
• wherein the water filter is configured to be removably engaged by hand without the use of tools from the bottom portion and the water filter, the bottom portion and the top portion are each configured to be removably engaged and disengaged to allow for replacement of the filter and reassembly of the overall gravity-driven water filter by hand and without the use of tools;
• wherein the water filter housing is cylindrically shaped and further comprises at least one or a plurality of tabular members extending downward from the outwardly projecting lip and away from the at least one perimeter wall and wherein the bottom portion further comprises a plurality of spaced apart tabular members that extend into the interior volume of the bottom portion and define spaces therebetween that are configured to receive the tabular members of the filter housing and wherein the tabular members have an upper shelf extending into the interior of the bottom portion and tapered sides extending downward toward the treated water outlet of the bottom portion;
• and
• wherein the at least one perimeter wall has at least one visible indicator thereon that is visible through a cutout portion of the bottom portion of the gravity water treatment device.