UV liquid storage and dispensing device

• US 8,128,820 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2009
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mr. Chiaphua Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Mr. Chiaphua Industries Limited
• Inventors: Wu, Ka Shing
• Primary Examiner(s): POPOVICS, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US12/380,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20100215552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 210/251
• 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 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/42 by ion-exchange ion-exchange in general B01J
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/009 Apparatus with independent power supply, e.g. solar cells, windpower, fuel cells for electrolysis apparatus C02F2201/46165
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/326 Lamp control systems
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2307/04 as part of a pitcher or jug
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/212 Solar-powered wastewater sewage treatment, e.g. spray evaporation

Abstract

A liquid storage and dispensing device with a filter for removing minerals and a UV light source for killing pathogens existing in a liquid. A liquid is introduced into the device via the inlet. The liquid passes through the filter into a collector. The filtered liquid flows from the collector through a passage into a UV chamber. The UV light source emits UV rays through a UV transmissive wall into the interior portion of the UV chamber. Exposure to the UV light kills pathogens present in the filtered liquid. Substantially purified liquid can then be dispensed from an outlet.

Claims

1. A water pitcher filter comprising:

a water pitcher having a base, body, handle and spout;

a liquid chamber within said body and occupying only an upper portion thereof, comprising;

a filtration compartment divided by a removable and replaceable filter into an upper reservoir and a lower collector chamber, said filter containing filter media capable of removing minerals from water;

an ultraviolet treatment compartment having an ultraviolet light source contained therein, said filtration compartment and said ultraviolet treatment compartment being separated by a vertical partition defining a liquid passage at a lowermost end thereof; and

an exit opening at an upper end of said ultraviolet treatment compartment, wherein said exit opening and said liquid passage are sufficiently narrow so that filtered liquid remains in the ultraviolet treatment compartment for a duration sufficient for ultraviolet light emitted from said ultraviolet light source to kill 99% of the pathogens present in water being treated prior to exiting said ultraviolet treatment compartment;

wherein water to be treated is introduced into said upper reservoir, passes though said filter into said lower collector chamber under the action of gravity, then passes through said liquid passage into said ultraviolet treatment compartment, where it is subjected to ultraviolet radiation, and subsequently flows through said exit opening.