Faucet-mounted water treatment device

• US 5,928,504 A
• Filed: 04/08/1996
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Helen of Troy Limited
• Original Assignee: Recovery Engineering, Incorporated (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Brian F., Hembre, Richard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Silbaugh, Jan H.
• Application Number:
  US08/628,956
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: 210/85, 210/87, 210/88, 210/89, 210/91, 210/100, 210/259, 210/282, 210/418, 210/419, 210/424, 210/433.1, 210/434, 210/435, 210/449, 210/460, 73/861.79, 73/861.88, 73/861.93, 116/264, 116/273, 222/14, 222/16, 222/20
• US Class Current: 210/88
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 24/008 arranged concentrically or coaxially
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 24/04 the filtering material being clamped between pervious fixed walls B01D24/10, B01D24/20 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 24/4861 by flow measuring
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/043 Reversible faucet filters
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/143 Filter condition indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/147 Bypass or safety valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/153 Anti-leakage or anti-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/003 using household-type filters for producing potable water, e.g. pitchers, bottles, faucet mounted devices C02F9/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/006 Cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/445 Filter life

Abstract

A faucet-mounted water treatment device including a flow totalizer and an end-of-life indicator cooperating with the totalizer to tell the user when it is necessary to replace the filter cartridge. End-of-life indication is provided by a valve which stops flow after a predetermined volume has been filtered and by a rotating screen which shows the amount of useful life remaining in the filter cartridge.

Claims

1. A faucet-mounted water treatment device comprising:

a mounting member, a replaceable filter cartridge and an arrangement;

wherein said mounting member is for mounting the water treatment device on a household faucet;

wherein said replaceable filter cartridge is in fluid communication with said mounting member;

wherein said arrangement comprises

totalizing means for adding up the volume of water that has flowed through said filter cartridge, and

means, cooperating with said flow totalizing means, for indicating when said replaceable filter cartridge has reached the end of its useful life, wherein said indicating means is retained within said arrangement and is not replaced upon replacement of said replaceable filter cartridge.

2. A faucet-mounted water treatment device according to claim 1, wherein said indicating means is a visual indicator.

3. A faucet-mounted water treatment device according to claim 2, wherein said visual indicator also provides an indication of the useful life remaining in said replaceable filter cartridge before said filter cartridge has reached the end of its useful life.

4. A faucet-mounted water treatment device according to claim 1, wherein said totalizing means is a mechanical totalizer.

5. A faucet-mounted water treatment device according to claim 1, wherein said indicating means is a valve which reduces the amount of water flowing through said filter cartridge.

6. A faucet-mounted water treatment device according to claim 5, wherein said valve is constructed and arranged to stop water flowing through said filter cartridge.

7. A faucet-mounted water treatment device according to claim 5, wherein said valve is mechanically activated.

8. A faucet-mounted water treatment device comprising:

a mounting member, a replaceable filter cartridge and an arrangement;

wherein said mounting member is for mounting the water treatment device on a household faucet;

wherein said replaceable filter cartridge is in fluid communication with said mounting member;

wherein said arrangement comprises

totalizing means for adding up the volume of water that has flowed through said filter cartridge, and

visual means, cooperating with said flow totalizing means, for visually indicating when said replaceable filter cartridge has reached the end of its useful life, wherein said visual means is retained within said arrangement and is not replaced upon replacement of said replaceable filter cartridge.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein said visual means also provides an indication of the useful life remaining in said replaceable filter cartridge before said filter cartridge has reached the end of its useful life.

10. A device according to claim 8, wherein said totalizing means is a mechanical totalizer.

11. A faucet-mounted water treatment device comprising:

a mounting member, a replaceable filter cartridge and an arrangement;

wherein said mounting member is for mounting the water treatment device on a household faucet;

wherein said replaceable filter cartridge is in fluid communication with said mounting member;

wherein said arrangement comprises

a flow totalizer which adds up the volume of water that has been treated by said filter cartridge, and

a visual indicator, cooperating with said flow totalizer, to visually indicate when said replaceable filter cartridge has reached the end of its useful life, wherein said visual indicator is retained within said arrangement and is not replaced upon replacement of said replaceable filter cartridge.

12. A water treatment device according to claim 11, wherein said flow totalizer is a mechanical totalizer.

13. A water treatment device according to claim 12, wherein said mechanical totalizer includes a turbine and a plurality of interconnected gears.

14. A water treatment device according to claim 11, wherein said visual indicator also provides a visual indication of the useful life remaining in said replaceable filter cartridge before said filter cartridge has reached the end of its useful life.

24. A water treatment device according to claim 11, wherein said flow totalizer and visual indicator are substantially separate from said filter cartridge proximate a top of the water treatment device.

25. A water treatment device according to claim 11, wherein said flow totalizer and visual indicator are mechanical.

26. A water treatment device according to claim 11, wherein said flow totalizer is constructed and arranged to measure flow volume directly without having to assume a flow rate to determine volume over a timed interval.

27. A water treatment device according to claim 11, wherein said visual indicator provides a visual indication of the amount of useful life remaining when the water treatment device is not being operated.

28. A water treatment device according to claim 11, wherein said mounting member is also in fluid communication with said flow totalizer and indicator.

29. A water treatment device according to claim 11, wherein said flow totalizer, indicator and replaceable filter cartridge are in a common housing.

30. A water treatment device according to claim 11, further including a flow totalizer and indicator reset device constructed and arranged to automatically reset said totalizer and indicator upon replacement of said replaceable filter cartridge.

31. A water treatment device according to claim 30, wherein said reset device is mechanical.

15. A faucet-mounted water treatment device comprising:

a mounting member, a replaceable filter cartridge and an arrangement;

wherein said mounting member is for mounting the water treatment device on a household faucet;

wherein said replaceable filter cartridge is in fluid communication with said mounting member;

wherein said arrangement comprises

a flow totalizer which adds up the volume of water that has been treated by said filter cartridge, and

an end-of-life indicator, cooperating with said flow totalizer, to indicate when said replaceable filter cartridge has reached the end of its useful life, wherein said end-of-life indicator is retained within said arrangement and is not replaced upon replacement of said replaceable filter cartridge.

16. A water treatment device according to claim 15, wherein said end-of-life is a visual indicator.

17. A water treatment device according to claim 16, wherein said visual indicator also provides visual indication of the amount of useful life remaining in said filter cartridge before said filter cartridge has reached the end of its useful life.

18. A water treatment device according to claim 15, wherein said flow totalizer and said end-of-life indicator are mechanical.

19. A water treatment device according to claim 15, wherein said flow totalizer includes a turbine.

20. A water treatment device according to claim 15, wherein said end-of-life indicator is a valve which reduces the amount of water flowing through said filter cartridge.

21. A water treatment device according to claim 15, wherein said flow totalizer and end-of-life indicator are substantially separate from said filter cartridge proximate a top of the water treatment device.

22. A water treatment device according to claim 16, wherein said flow visual indicator provides a visual indication of the amount of useful life remaining when the water treatment device is not being operated.

23. A water treatment device according to claim 15, wherein said flow totalizer is constructed and arranged to measure flow volume directly without having to assume a flow rate to determine volume over a timed interval.

32. A water treatment device according to claim 15, wherein said mounting member is also in fluid communication with said flow totalizer and indicator.

33. A water treatment device according to claim 15, wherein said flow totalizer, indicator and replaceable filter cartridge are in a common housing.

34. A water treatment device according to claim 15, further including a flow totalizer and indicator reset device constructed and arranged to automatically reset said totalizer and indicator upon replacement of said replaceable filter cartridge.

35. A water treatment device according to claim 34, wherein said reset device is mechanical.

36. A faucet-mounted water treatment device, comprising:

(a) a member constructed and arranged to mount the water treatment device on a household faucet;

(b) a replaceable filter cartridge in fluid communication with said mounting member;

(c) a flow totalizer which adds up the volume of water that has been treated by said filter cartridge; and

(d) a visual indicator, cooperating with said flow totalizer, to provide a visual indication of the useful life remaining in said replaceable filter cartridge before and after said filter cartridge has reached the end of its useful life.

37. A faucet-mounted water treatment device, comprising:

(a) a member constructed and arranged to mount the water treatment device on a household faucet;

(b) a replaceable filter cartridge in fluid communication with said mounting member;

(c) a flow totalizer which adds up the volume of water that has been treated by said filter cartridge;

(d) an end-of-life indicator, cooperating with said flow totalizer, to indicate when said filter cartridge has reached the end of its useful life; and

(e) a flow totalizer and indicator reset device constructed and arranged to automatically reset said totalizer and indicator upon replacement of said replaceable filter cartridge.