Abstract:
A filtration device is provided whose body member has a transparent or translucent part (i.e., window) so that a user can directly see the colors of the filtering agents inside. If the colors of the filtering agents are changed due to the loss or degradation of functionality, the filtering agents can be replaced so that the performance of the filtration device is consistently maintained.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    (a) Technical Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention generally relates to filtration devices, and more particularly to a filtration device whose body has a transparent area for viewing the content inside. 
         [0003]    (b) Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Various water filtration or purification devices are widely popular recently as people become more concerned about the quality of the water they drink and use. However, most of the water filtration device or purification devices are single-purposed. For example, a reverse osmosis water purifier is usually installed at the kitchen faucet for filtering tap water; it cannot be used to filter the cultivation water of an aquarium device. As such, there are various types of filtration or purification devices and a user has to purchase and install different types of filtration purification devices, each for a specific demand of the user. This is obviously a costly approach. 
         [0005]    Therefore, a multi-purposed filtration device has beers proposed which contains a number of filtering agents inside, a water inlet that can be connected to the bath or kitchen faucet or the tap of a reverse osmosis (RO) water purifier or an aquarium device, and a water outlet to release the purified and filtered water. For both the single- or multi-purposed filtration devices, there are a number of disadvantages. 
         [0006]    First of all, the body of most of the filtration devices has a fixed and rigid shape to avoid explosion from the high water pressure. The colors of the filtering agents inside would change after a period of usage as their filtering function is lost or degraded. However, the body of the filtration devices is usually opaque so that a user cannot visually and immediately examine the quality of the filtering agents to make sure the filtration device always function properly. 
         [0007]    Secondly, even though the filtration is self-assembly, a user still has to disassembly the filtration device before the user can examine the filtering agents. This is a demanding task especially when the filtration device is complicatedly structured. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a titration device to obviate the foregoing shortcomings of prior arts. The filtration device allows a user to view the filtering agents inside to make sore if the filtering function of the filtering agents is lost or degraded and if they require replacement. 
         [0009]    The most significant characteristic of the present invention is that the body member of the filtration device has a transparent or translucent area (i.e., window) so that a user can directly see the colors of the filtering agents inside. If the colors of the filtering agents are changed, the filtering agents can be replaced so that the performance of the filtration device is consistently maintained. 
         [0010]    The foregoing object and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts. 
         [0011]    Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective exploded diagram showing the various components of a filtration device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective diagram showing the filtration, device of  FIG. 1  after its assembly. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective diagram showing the filtration device according to a second embodiment, of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective diagram showing the filtration device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a perspective diagram showing the filtration device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a perspective diagram showing the filtration device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    The following descriptions are of exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
         [0019]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a first embodiment of the present invention contains a hollow body member  10  having a water inlet  111  at a top end and a water outlet  13  at a bottom end; a number of open-top container members  20  vertically stacked inside the body member  10 ; and a number of agent members  31 ,  32 ,  33 , and  34  placed inside the container members  20  respectively. The water inlet  111  can be connected to the bath or kitchen faucet or the tap of a reverse osmosis (RO) water purifier so as to introduce water into the present invention for filtration. 
         [0020]    The body member  10  has a cover  11  at the top end which is twisted to the body member  10  or joined to the body member  10  by a similar mechanism. A ring washer  12  is provided between the cover  11  and the body member  10  to prevent water leakage. The cover  11  as such can be easily opened for a user to access the interior space of the body member  10  for maintenance. The water inlet  111  is provided in the center of the cover  11  and has a tubular shape with threads configured on the inner wall. On the other hand, at the bottom end of the body member  10 , the water outlet  13  also has a tubular shape but with threads configured on the outer wall. 
         [0021]    The container members  20  are identically shaped with a diameter slightly smaller than that of the body member  10  so that an appropriate number of the container members  20  can be vertically stacked and reliably positioned inside the body member  10  (in the present embodiment, four container members  20  are shown). Each container member  20  provides a storage space  21  inside and a number of through holes  22  spirally arranged from the center at the bottom of the container member  20 . As such, the water is forced to flow through the container member  20  in a swirl. 
         [0022]    The agent members  31 ,  32 ,  33 , and  34  can be made by one the following materials including far-infrared fine ceramic particles, high-purity copper-zinc alloy (KDF), calcium sulfite, active carbon, or similar material with water filtration function. Appropriate amounts of the agent members  31 ,  32 ,  33 , and  34  are placed inside foe storage spaces  21  of the container members  20  respectively. 
         [0023]    The present embodiment also contains two filtering members  40  positioned on top of the topmost container member  20  and beneath the bottommost container member  20  respectively. The present embodiment is designed such that when the body member  10  is sealed by its cover  11 , the top filtering member  40 , the stacked container members  20 , and the bottom filtering member  40  are tightly joined together. As such, the filtering member  40  on the top securely covers the open top of the topmost container member  20  so that the agent member  31  inside wouldn&#39;t escape from the storage space  21 . Similarly, the rest of the container members  20  are also securely and tightly stacked so that their respective agent members  32 ,  33 , and  34  wouldn&#39;t escape and mix with other agent members. The filtering members  40  also provide additional, filtration effect. Each of the filtering members  40  contains a planar frame  41  enclosing a layer of filtering cotton  42 . 
         [0024]    After assembly water is introduced to she present embodiment by connecting the water inlet  111  to the kitchen or bath faucet (the connection is common and therefore is not shown in the drawings), filtered through, the agent, members  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  of the container members  20  sequentially and then the filtered water is supplied through the water outlet  13 . 
         [0025]    For the first embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the body member  10  is made of a transparent material so that a transparent part  14  is integrally formed when the body member  10  is manufactured. Through the transparent part  14 , a user can directly see if the agent members  31 ,  32 ,  33 , and  34  have changed their colors and decide whether the filtering function of the agent members  31 ,  32 ,  33 , and  34  is lost or degraded. By removing the cover  11 , the interior of the body member  10  can be accessed and the agent members  31 ,  32 ,  33 , and  34  can be replaced to maintain the performance of the filtration device. 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the body member  10   a  of a second embodiment of tire present invention contains a transparent part  11   a  and another opaque part  12   a . The opaque part  12   a  can the integrally formed during the manufacturing of the body member  10   a  by an opaque material. Another approach is to have a transparent body member  10   a  but cover part of the body member  10   a  by a colored and opaque paint to form foe opaque part  12   a . Again, through the transparent part  11   a , a user can directly see if the agent members have changed their colors and decide whether the filtering function of the agent members is lost or degraded. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the body member  10   b  of a third embodiment of the present invention also contains a transparent part  11   b  and another opaque part  12   b . A curved interface  13   b  is provided along foe border between the transparent part  11   b  and the opaque part  12   b.    
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the body member  10   c  of a fourth embodiment of the present invention is made of the translucent material and a translucent part  11   c  is integrally formed. The translucent part  11   c  has a degree of haze or has a jelly-like color. Again, through the translucent part  11   c , a user can directly see if the agent members have changed their colors and decide whether the filtering function of the agent members is lost or degraded. 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the body member  10   d  of a fifth embodiment of the present invention contains a transparent part  11   d  and another translucent part  12   d  having a degree of haze or a jelly-like color. Through the translucent part  12   d , a user can directly see if the agent members have changed their colors and decide whether the filtering function of the agent members is lost, or degraded. 
         [0030]    It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing fern the type described above. 
         [0031]    While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made try those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.