Water bottle with flow meter

• US 9,212,067 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2013
• Issued: 12/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Gellibolian
• Original Assignee: Flozinc LLC
• Inventors: Gellibolian, Robert, Stump, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Stelling, Lucas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dewan, Rohit K
• Application Number:
  US13/906,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20130319915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 212/500, 212/501, 210/198.1, 210/748.1, 210/143, 210/87, 210/97, 220/705, 215/386
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/002 using small portable filters for producing potable water, e.g. personal travel or emergency equipment, survival kits, combat gear C02F1/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/44 by dialysis, osmosis or reverse osmosis general membrane separation processes B01D61/00, membrane modules B01D63/00, electrodialysis C02F1/4693, combination of membrane modules and bioreactors C02F3/1268
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/68 by addition of specified substances, e.g. trace elements, for ameliorating potable water medicinal water A61K
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/40 Liquid flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2307/02 as part of a bottle

Abstract

According to the present invention, a fluid and/or aqueous additive delivery system is provided. According to the present invention, a modular fluid container is described for consumption of liquids. Fluid containers according to the present invention include any combination of four distinct modular components; (1) an end-point filter purification module for removal of impurities from water, (2) a UV purification module for emitting ultraviolet (UV) light in a germicidal spectrum for disinfection, (3) a tablet storage and dispensing module to emit ultraviolet (UV) light in a germicidal spectrum for disinfection of a volume of drink liquid held in the container, (4) a flow meter module for quantitatively monitoring hydration in real time. The user can personalize the bottle with any or all modules that are required.

Claims

1. A modular fluid container having an inner bottle selectively slidably received within an outer bottle, the fluid container comprising:

a filtration module comprising a filter assembly configured for operable engagement within the inner bottle comprising a first and a second end, the first end opposite the second end, the filter assembly comprising a filter inlet hole disposed on the first end and inside the outer bottle, a filtration material and filtration membrane disposed between the first end and the second end in fluid communication with the filter inlet hole, and an inner bottle one-way valve disposed on the second end offset from the filter inlet hole and substantially separated from the filter inlet hole by the filtration material and the filtration membrane, the inner bottle one-way valve configured for allowing fluid flow from the filter inlet hole through the filtration material and into the inner bottle but not out of the inner bottle back into the filtration material, the filtration module configured for removal of pathogens and harmful substances from a fluid;

a UV purification module comprising a UV light housing having at least one UV light source operably installed within the UV light housing configured for emitting UV light in a germicidal spectrum for disinfection of a volume of a fluid held in the inner bottle;

an additive storage and dispensing module configured for operable installation on the outer bottle and to contain and selectively dispense an additive that can be added to a volume of filtered fluid held in the inner bottle; and

a flow meter module formed within one of a pour mouthpiece, a pull-up straw mouthpiece, and a straw configured for operable installation within a lid sealably engageable with the inner bottle for selectively closing the upper inner bottle opening, the flow meter module configured for quantitatively monitoring fluid flow from the inner bottle substantially in real time.

2. A fluid container comprising:

an outer bottle having an outer bottle base and a substantially opposite outer bottle opening, the outer bottle further having an outer bottle one-way valve formed within the outer bottle base and configured for allowing fluid flow into the outer bottle but not out of the outer bottle;

an inner bottle configured for slidable receipt within the outer bottle through the outer bottle opening, the inner bottle having an inner bottle base and a substantially opposite upper inner bottle opening, the inner bottle further having a filter assembly formed at the inner bottle base with a first end and a second end, the first end opposite the second end, wherein the filter assembly comprises a filter inlet hole disposed on the first end and inside the outer bottle, a filtration material and filtration membrane disposed between the first end and the second end in fluid communication with the filter inlet hole, and an inner bottle one-way valve disposed on the second end offset from the filter inlet hole and substantially separated from the filter inlet hole by the filtration material and the filtration membrane, the inner bottle one-way valve configured for allowing fluid flow from the filter inlet hole through the filtration material and into the inner bottle but not out of the inner bottle back into the filtration material;

a sliding dynamic seal formed between the outer and inner bottles, whereby slidably shifting the inner bottle higher within the outer bottle draws fluid into the outer bottle through the outer bottle one-way valve, and further whereby slidably shifting the inner bottle lower within the outer bottle causes fluid in the outer bottle to pass through the filter assembly and into the inner bottle; and

a UV purification module operably installed within the inner bottle, the UV purification module comprising a UV light housing having at least one UV light source operably installed within the UV light housing configured for emitting UV light in a germicidal spectrum for disinfection of a volume of a fluid held in the inner bottle.

3. The fluid container of claim 2, wherein slidably shifting the inner bottle lower within the outer bottle causes fluid in the outer bottle to pass through the filter inlet hole, the filtration material, and the inner bottle one-way valve and into the inner bottle, and further whereby slidably shifting the inner bottle higher within the outer bottle closes the inner bottle one-way valve so as to draw fluid into the outer bottle through the outer bottle one-way valve.

4. The fluid container of claim 3, wherein:

the inner bottle base defines a lower inner bottle opening substantially opposite of the upper inner bottle opening; and

the filter assembly is positioned in the lower inner bottle opening.

5. The fluid container of claim 4, wherein the filter assembly further comprises:

a lower filter enclosure cap having the filter inlet hole; and

a filter upper media enclosure installed on the lower filter enclosure cap, the filtration material being housed substantially between the filter upper media enclosure and the lower filter enclosure cap.

6. The fluid container of claim 5, wherein:

the lower filter enclosure cap extends beyond an annular outer wall of the inner bottle; and

the sliding dynamic seal extends substantially outwardly from the lower filter enclosure cap substantially radially beyond the outer wall of the inner bottle.

7. The fluid container of claim 5, wherein:

the lower filter enclosure cap is installed on a filter lower enclosure; and

the filter upper media enclosure is installed on the filter lower enclosure substantially opposite of the lower filter enclosure cap.

8. The fluid container of claim 7, wherein:

the filter lower enclosure extends beyond an annular outer wall of the inner bottle; and

the sliding dynamic seal extends substantially outwardly from the filter lower enclosure substantially radially beyond the outer wall of the inner bottle.

9. The fluid container of claim 5, wherein the inner bottle one-way valve is formed within the filter upper media enclosure.

10. The fluid container of claim 5, wherein:

the filter upper media enclosure defines a filter honeycomb; and

the inner bottle one-way valve is positioned within the filter honeycomb.

11. The fluid container of claim 5, wherein:

the UV light housing is mounted adjacent to the filter upper media enclosure of the filter assembly; and

the at least one UV light source is directed generally toward the upper inner bottle opening.

12. The fluid container of claim 3, wherein the filter assembly comprises two or more filtration materials.

13. The fluid container of claim 3, wherein the filtration material is selected from the group consisting of carbon, sepharose, sephadex, sand, glass, fiberglass, cotton, polyester, ceramic, ceramic sand, porous ceramic balls, porous ceramic, KDF, KDF55, activated carbon, porcelain and FMS.

14. The fluid container of claim 3, wherein an additive dispensing system is formed on the outer bottle base.

15. The fluid container of claim 14, wherein the additive dispensing system comprises a rotating ring operably installed within the additive dispensing system, the rotating ring being formed with a ring hole for dispensing an additive.

16. The fluid container of claim 15, wherein the additive is selected from the group consisting of a tablet, a tablet contained within a capsule, a tablet contained within a package made of paper, a tablet contained within a package made of aluminum foil, a tablet contained within a package made of plastic, a tablet contained within a package made of a composite, a tablet contained within a package configured as a blister pack, a powder, a powder contained within a capsule, a powder contained within a package made of paper, a powder contained within a package made of aluminum foil, a powder contained within a package made of plastic, a powder contained within a package made of a composite, a powder contained within a package configured as a sealed cup, a powder contained within a package configured as a pouch, a liquid, a liquid contained within a capsule, a liquid contained within a package made of paper, a liquid contained within a package made of aluminum foil, a liquid contained within a package made of plastic, a liquid contained within a package made of a composite, a solid, a solid contained within a capsule, a solid contained within a package made of paper, a solid contained within a package made of aluminum foil, a solid contained within a package made of plastic, a solid contained within a package made of a composite, a solid contained within a package configured as a blister pack, a solid contained within a package configured as a sealed cup, and a solid contained within a package configured as a pouch.

17. The fluid container of claim 2, further comprising a lid sealably engageable with the inner bottle for selectively closing the upper inner bottle opening, the lid operably incorporating a flow meter.

18. The fluid container of claim 17, wherein the flow meter comprises:

a flow meter housing having installed therein a magnetic sensor; and

a flow meter impeller operably installed within the flow meter housing, the flow meter impeller having an impeller magnet configured for detection by the magnetic sensor as the flow meter impeller spins with the flow thereby of a fluid.

19. The fluid container of claim 17, wherein the flow meter is incorporated within one of a pour mouthpiece, a pull-up straw mouthpiece, and a straw formed within the lid.

20. A fluid container comprising:

an outer bottle having an outer bottle base and a substantially opposite outer bottle opening and an outer bottle one-way valve formed within the outer bottle base and configured for allowing fluid flow into the outer bottle but not out of the outer bottle;

an inner bottle configured for slidable receipt within the outer bottle through the outer bottle opening, the inner bottle having an inner bottle base defining a lower inner bottle opening and having a substantially opposite upper inner bottle opening;

a filter assembly positioned in the lower inner bottle opening comprising a first end and a second end, the first end opposite the second end, the filter assembly comprising a filter upper media enclosure installed on a lower filter enclosure cap having a filter inlet hole disposed on the first end and inside the outer bottle, the filter assembly housing a filtration material and filtration membrane disposed between the first end and the second end in fluid communication with the filter inlet hole, and an inner bottle one-way valve disposed on the second end offset from the filter inlet hole and substantially separated from the filter inlet hole by the filtration material and the filtration membrane, and further having the inner bottle one-way valve formed within the filter upper media enclosure, the inner bottle one-way valve configured for allowing fluid flow through the filtration material and into the inner bottle but not out of the inner bottle back into the filtration material;

a sliding dynamic seal formed between the outer and inner bottles as being installed so as to extend substantially radially outwardly from the filter assembly, whereby slidably shifting the inner bottle higher within the outer bottle draws fluid into the outer bottle through the outer bottle one-way valve and whereby slidably shifting the inner bottle lower within the outer bottle causes any fluid in the outer bottle to pass through the filter assembly, and particularly the filter inlet hole, the filtration material, and the inner bottle one-way valve, and into the inner bottle; and

a UV purification module operably installed within the inner bottle, the UV purification module comprising a UV light housing having at least one UV light source operably installed within the UV light housing configured for emitting UV light in a germicidal spectrum for disinfection of a volume of a fluid held in the inner bottle.