Refrigerator-mounted water filtration apparatus

• US 6,337,015 B1
• Filed: 09/11/2000
• Issued: 01/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Poirier, Malcolm D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Simmons, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PRINCE JR, FREDDIE GARY
• Application Number:
  US09/659,142
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 210/232, 210/263, 210/282, 210/285, 210/286, 210/416.3, 210/443, 210/473, 210/501, 210/502.1, 210/503, 210/504, 210/506, 222/146.6, 222/189.06, 222/189.11, 623/38, 623/39
• US Class Current: 210/232
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/006 Cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/20 Portable or detachable small-scale multistage treatment devices, e.g. point of use or laboratory water purification systems
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/126 Water cooler
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/121 the refrigerator is characterised by a water filter for the water/ice dispenser

Abstract

The present invention provides a water filtration apparatus for mounting on the exposed exterior surfaces of a refrigerator to provide filtered water to the interior of a refrigerator cabinet. The apparatus may be mounted on the exposed or visible surfaces of the refrigerator for ease of installation, monitoring, and filter replacement. A readily replaceable filter cartridge is also provided.

Claims

1. A water filtration apparatus for mounting on the exposed exterior surfaces of a refrigerator, said apparatus comprising:

a housing defining a receptacle for receiving a replaceable filter cartridge, said housing having an unfiltered water inlet and a filtered water outlet, said housing further comprising a substantially flat side mountable generally flush against a flat exterior surface of the refrigerator and said receptacle defining a substantially flat receiving surface for said filter cartridge;

said unfiltered water inlet being connectable to a conduit for supplying unfiltered water to said receptacle and said filtered water outlet being connectable to a conduit for transporting filtered water away from said receptacle;

said filter cartridge comprising a filter media and being releasably connectable to said receptacle through an unfiltered water inlet port and a filtered water outlet port, said filter cartridge including a substantially flat back surface which rests against said flat receiving surface defined in said receptacle; and

a mounting means located upon said substantially flat side of said housing for mounting said housing to an exposed exterior surface of a refrigerator.

2. The water filtration apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water filter media comprises activated carbon.

3. The water filtration apparatus of claim 2, wherein said filter media comprises a flat water filter media.

4. The water filtration apparatus of claim 3, wherein said flat water filter media has a total volume of less than about 3 cubic inches.

5. The water filtration apparatus of claim 3, where said flat water filter media has a greatest length to thickness ratio of greater than about 15 to 1.

6. The water filtration apparatus of claim 3, wherein the flat water filter media comprises activated carbon.

7. The water filtration apparatus of claim 3 wherein said flat filter media has a total volume of less than about 3 cubic inches and has a greatest length to thickness ratio of greater than about 15 to 1.

8. The water filtration apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a flexible hose releasably connected to said unfiltered water inlet and a flexible hose releasably connected to said filtered water outlet.

9. A refrigerator having a water or ice dispensing unit that is accessible without opening a door to the refrigerator, said refrigerator comprising the water filtration apparatus of claim 8 mounted on an exposed exterior surface of said refrigerator, said water filtration apparatus being connected to said water or ice dispensing unit so that filtered potable water is supplied thereto.

10. The water filtration apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting means attached to said housing for mounting said housing to an exposed exterior surface of a refrigerator is a magnet attached to said housing.

11. The water filtration apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting means attached to said housing for mounting said housing to an exposed exterior surface of a refrigerator is an adhesive tape attached to said housing.

12. The water filtration apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting means attached to said housing for mounting said housing to an exposed exterior surface of a refrigerator are screws for attaching said housing to said refrigerator surface.

13. A refrigerator having a water or ice dispensing unit that is accessible without opening a door to the refrigerator, said refrigerator comprising the water filtration apparatus of claim 1 mounted on an exposed exterior surface of said refrigerator, said water filtration apparatus being connected to said water or ice dispensing unit so that filtered potable water is supplied thereto.

14. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein said water filtration apparatus is mounted on the top exterior surface of said refrigerator.

15. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein said water filtration apparatus is mounted on a side exterior surface of said refrigerator.

16. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein said water filtration apparatus is mounted on the front exterior surface of said refrigerator.

17. A water filtration apparatus for mounting on the exposed exterior surfaces of a refrigerator, said apparatus comprising:

a housing defining a receptacle for receiving a filter cartridge, said housing having an unfiltered water inlet and a filtered water outlet;

said unfiltered water inlet being connectable to a conduit for supplying unfiltered water to said receptacle and said filtered water outlet being connectable to a conduit for transporting filtered water away from said receptacle;

said filter cartridge comprising a flat water filter media comprising activated carbon and being releasably connectable to said receptacle through an unfiltered water inlet port and a filtered water outlet port;

a mounting means located upon said housing for mounting said housing to an exposed exterior surface of a refrigerator; and

wherein said flat water filter media comprises a laminate of filter media.

18. The water filtration apparatus of claim 17, wherein said flat water filter media has a total volume of less than about 3 cubic inches.

19. The water filtration apparatus of claim 17, where said flat water filter media has a greatest length to thickness ratio of greater than about 15 to 1.

20. The water filtration apparatus of claim 17 wherein said flat filter media has a total volume of less than about 3 cubic inches and has a greatest length to thickness ratio of greater than about 15 to 1.

21. A refrigerator having a water or ice dispensing unit that is accessible without opening a door to the refrigerator, said refrigerator comprising the water filtration apparatus of claim 17 mounted on an exposed exterior surface of said refrigerator, said water filtration apparatus being connected to said water or ice dispensing unit so that filtered potable water is supplied thereto.