A filterwell cartridge holder having a face for compressible engaging pleats on a water filter cartridge and a further face holding a dispensing cartridge thereon in a position to release dispersants into a filterwell containing a water filter cartridge.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dispensing cartridges are known in the art and are used to dispense sanitizing chemicals into bodies of waters such as pools and hot tubs through water contact with the dispersant within the dispensing cartridge. Typically, the dispensing cartridges have a chamber for holding a dispersant and a set of variable openings that permits ingress and egress of water into the chamber to bring the water into contact with the disperant therein. Since water conditions affect how and when the dispersant is released from the dispensing cartridges there are a number of different types of dispensing cartridges that have evolved for delivery of a sanitizing disperant into a body of water. An example of a free floating dispensing cartridge that gradually releases disperant into a body of water as water seeps into the disperant chamber in the dispensing cartridge is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 10,047,535. An example of a dispensing cartridge that is fitted and secured within a dispenser with water flowing through the disperant containing chamber is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 9,314,747. An example of a dispensing cartridge system that dispenses two separate dispersants into the body of water as the dispensing cartridge system floats in a body of water is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,060,190. An example of a dispensing cartridge having diffusion ports that can be used in either a stagnate water environment or a moving fluid environment is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 9,714,129. An example of a dispensing cartridge where the release of dispersant is dependent on how far the dispensing cartridge is lowered into a stream of water flowing through a valve is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,270,565.

While the prior art reveals multiple types of dispensing cartridges for use in various bodies of water one of the more challenging locations for a dispensing cartridge is in the open top filterwell of a hot tub or spa where water flows from a main tub area, where persons sit, into a separate smaller water compartment containing a filter, with the smaller water compartment referred herein as a filterwell. The water then flows through a cartridge filter in the filterwell to remove debris from the water before returning the water to the main tub area.

While the location of a dispensing cartridge in the filterwell has the advantage of keeping the dispensing cartridge out of the main tub area of the hot tub or spa and into a region where water flows therethrough the filterwell dispensing cartridge needs to be able to reliably deliver disperant into the water as the water flows through the filterwell without interfering with the filtering action within the filterwell. In addition since the flow of water through the filterwell, which is a small compartment where water flow patterns change as a result of change of the activity level in the hot tub, can cause a free floating filterwell cartridge to be tossed about in the filterwell. Such tossing action can affect the delivery rate of the cartridge as well as cause damage to cartridge filter in the filterwell and to the dispensing cartridge. For example, one should prevent the dispensing cartridge from hitting the walls of the filterwell due to the changing or swirling water flow patterns within the filterwell since either or both the dispensing cartridge or the walls of the filterwell could be damaged. In addition such violent action of the dispensing cartridge can generate unwanted noises and improper dispensing rates. Furthermore since the filterwell dispensing cartridges need to be periodically replaced the filterwell dispensing cartridges should be easily removable and easily replaceable within the filterwell.

While replacement of a dispensing cartridges is important it is also desirable to have dispensing cartridges located in the filterwell in a position where the amount of delivery of the dispersant into the filterwell can be changed on-the-go. Typically, changing the dispensing rate of disperant needs to be convenient as well easily accomplished by a person without any tools as changing the dispensing rate depends on an ongoing bacterial load in the hot tub. Various dispensers have been placed proximate the filterwell including a dispenser mounted on the gate to the filterwell and a dispenser mounted within the core of the cartridge filter in the filterwell as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,165,358.

Neither of these devices allows a hot tub user to easily change the rate of dispersant therefrom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the invention comprises a filterwell dispensing cartridge holder having a panel with a front face for removably supporting a dispensing cartridge thereon and an arcuate back face with a pair of circumferentially extending arcuate arms extending therefrom for compressive securement of the filterwell dispensing cartridge holder to the pleats on a water filter cartridge with the filterwell dispensing cartridge holder supporting the filterwell dispensing cartridge thereon in position that minimizes interferences with the filtering action of the water cartridge filter while the filterwell dispensing cartridge thereon delivers dispersants into the body of water in the filterwell containing the filterwell dispensing cartridge holder.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1is a perspective view of a filterwell dispensing cartridge holder10that is compressively engageable with a water filter cartridge whileFIG. 4shows the filterwell dispensing cartridge holder10compressively mounted on a vertical extending water filter cartridge50, which is located in a filterwell9of a hot tub or spa.

In this example filterwell dispensing cartridge holder10includes an elongated panel13having an arcuate face13aabuttable and mateable with the outer peripheral curvature of water filter cartridge50.FIG. 4shows panel13mateable along a peripheral length of a cylindrical water filter cartridge50. A set of arcuate arms17and18extending outward from elongated panel13to hold arcuate face13ain circumferential and compressive engagement with pleats50con cylindrical water filter cartridge50with sufficient force so as to maintain cartridge holder10proximate water filter cartridge50during the flow of water through the filterwell9and into the water filter cartridge50. In this example the arcuate face13aand arms17and18have a circular shape as does the pleats50cof the water filter cartridge50, however, holder arcuate face13aand arms17and18may be formed into a non circular shape for compressively gripping the water filter cartridge50without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In this example panel13includes a toe25that extends from a bottom end of the elongated panel13to engage a bottom surface9aof the filterwell9to limit downward displacement of the dispensing cartridge holder. To prevent accidental engagement of toe25with water filter cartridge end cap50athe toe25is spaced slightly outward from end panel13to create a gap therebetween as shown inFIG. 4. Similarly, a lip10aextends from a handhold20, which is located on a top end of elongated panel13, to engage an underside of a top water filter cartridge rim50b(FIG. 5) to limit upward displacement of the dispensing cartridge holder10with respect to the water filter cartridge50, which is fixedly mounted in filterwell9.FIG. 5andFIG. 6show a rib40that extends from elongated panel13that can be used to maintain a fixed rotational relationship of dispensing cartridge holder10with respect to the vertical25extending cylindrical water filter cartridge50through the extension of rib40between adjacent pleats50con water filter cartridge50thereby limiting rotational displacement of water filter cartridge50with respect to dispensing cartridge holder10. Rib40also engages the underside of filter cartridge rim50bas an alternate method to limit upward displacement of the dispensing cartridge holder10with respect to the water filter cartridge50, which is fixedly mounted in filterwell9. In this example the dispensing cartridge holder10hugs the water filter cartridge50while the lip10aand rib40either alone or in conjunction with each other limit upward displacement of the panel13and toe25limits downward displacement of panel13to maintain the dispensing cartridge holder10in an operating condition shown inFIG. 4. In this example the rib40(as shown inFIG. 6) is sufficiently short so that dispensing cartridge holder10can be rotated across pleats50cif sufficient rotational, force is applied to dispensing cartridge holder10. In other cases it may be desired rib40extend sufficiently far between pleats50cto prevent rotation of dispensing holder from rotating across pleats50when a rotational force is applied to dispensing cartridge holder10.

FIG. 7shows a top view of filterwell dispensing cartridge holder10in an open condition revealing a first arcuate arm17extending from one side of face of elongated panel13with arcuate arm17having a hinge17afor folding a portion of arcuate arm17inward for storage or transporting. Similarly, extending from the opposite side of elongated panel13is a second arcuate arm18with the arcuate arm18having a hinge18afor folding the second arm inward18for transporting or storage as shown inFIG. 8.

To attach dispensing cartridge holder10to water filter cartridge50one places the first arcuate arm17and the second arcuate arm18in an open position shown inFIG. 7before placing the dispensing cartridge holder10around water filter cartridge50.FIG. 10shows a cutaway top view of water filter cartridge50. In this example the pleat diametrical dimension D2of water filter cartridge50is greater than the diametrical diameter D1, (FIG. 7) between arcuate arm17and arcuate arm18. Consequently, circumferential engagement of dispensing holder arcuate arm17and arcuate arm18with the water filter carriage pleats50cpreferably produces a compressive engagement (i.e. an interference fit) therebetween. The compressive engagement or hugging engagement therebetween as shown inFIG. 4andFIG. 10is sufficient to support the dispensing cartridge holder10in a vertical operating condition proximate the vertical extending water filter cartridge50. The resiliency of arms17and18permit radial spreading the arms so that the filterwell dispensing cartridge holder10can be axially inserted around the water filter cartridge50as shown inFIG. 10. Once the filterwell dispensing cartridge arms17and18are around the outside of water filter cartridge50the arms are released and the resiliency of the arms brings arms17and18into compressive engagement with the pleats50cof the water filter cartridge50as shown inFIG. 10.

In the example shown the arcuate foldable arms17and18each have a tapered end that folds inward for storage or transportation, however, if desired the foldable arms could fold outward enabling one to fold the arms outward before laterally inserting the arcuate arms around the larger diameter water filter cartridge. The foldable arms could then be closed to bring the folding arms to a closed or hugging position around the water filter cartridge.

In this example the panel front face13bincludes a first set of upper resilient dispensing cartridge engaging arms22and23that extend radially outward from panel front face13bto support a first dispensing cartridge60therebetween. (i.e. below a filterwell water line60c). Similarly, a second set of lower resilient dispensing cartridge engaging arms21and20extend radially outward from the arcuate panel front face13bto support a second dispensing cartridge61therebetween. As shown inFIG. 4both the dispensing cartridges60and61are located below the water line60c(i.e. an underwater condition) so that the dispersant therein can be dispersed directly into water30in filterwell9.

FIG. 11andFIG. 12show a dispensing cartridge60, which typically has dispensing openings (not shown) in a bottom end face60bfor delivery of dispersants therefromFIG. 12shows dispensing cartridge60sandwichingly supported on the dispensing cartridge holder10through mating engagement between arcuate resilient extension22and arcuate resilient extension23.FIG. 12shows that each arcuate extension vertically and horizontal engage two adjoining faces of a dispensing cartridge60located therein. That is, resilient extension22and resilient extension23engages diametrical opposite faces on rim60a, which exposes bottom end60bhaving dispensing opening therein in a position to deliver dispersants into the water in the filterwell. In this example the first set of resilient cartridge engaging arms and the second set of resilient cartridge engaging arms each have adjoining faces located at an angle of less than 90 degrees so that the adjoining faces are engageable with mating faces an end of a dispensing cartridge to sandwichingly support a dispensing cartridge thereon.

An example of dispensing cartridge for securement thereon is shown in our copending application titled dispensing cartridge that is filed on even date herewith.

Dispensing cartridge holder10includes a water port19proximate end60bof dispensing cartridge60with the water port19extending through the dispensing cartridge holder10to allow water to flow therethrough and past a dispensing end60bof dispensing cartridge60. A feature of water port19is that the dispensing rate of dispensing cartridge60increases as the pump (not shown) draws water through the water filter50as the restricted area of the water port19increases the velocity of the water past the bottom of the dispensing cartridge60which increases the dispensing rate of dispensing cartridge60.

Dispensing cartridge60is shown in a perspective view inFIG. 11to reveal a circumferential rim60athat can be sandwichingly engaged with and supported between lateral extension22and lateral extension23as dispersants are delivered through the bottom end60bof dispensing cartridge60. In this example a relief area62ain dispensing cartridge60provides access to a rotatable disk (not shown) that controls the size of the open area therein and consequently the dispensing rate of a dispersant through bottom end60bof dispensing cartridge60.

In order to minimize water flow interference through the water filter cartridge50the dispensing cartridge holder end panel13contains a set of water ports19a,19b,19c,19d,19e,19fand19gthat permit water to flow therethrough and into the pleats50cof the water filter cartridge50. Arcuate arm17also contains elongated water ports17cand17dthat permit water to flow therethrough and into the pleats50cof the water filter cartridge50. Similarly,FIG. 9shows the arcuate arm18contains identical elongated water ports18cand18dthat permits water to flow therethrough and into the pleats50cof the water filter cartridge50. In this example hinges18apivotally connect arcuate arm18to one side of panel13with the hinges detachable for removal of arm18from panel13.

Similarly, hinges17apivotally connect arcuate arm17to an opposite side of panel13also with the hinges detachable for removal of arm17from panel13.

As described and shown herein the invention includes a filterwell dispensing cartridge holder10removably engageable with a water filter cartridge50in a filterwell9with the filterwell dispensing cartridge holder10having a panel13with a face13aabuttable against a set of pleats50cof the water filter cartridge and a pair of arms17and18extending from the panel13with the pair arms compressively engageable with the water filter cartridge50to hug and maintain the filterwell dispensing cartridge holder10proximate the water filter cartridge with at least one cartridge holder on panel13. The filterwell dispenser cartridge holder, which is shown inFIG. 4, supporting a dispensing cartridge60in a dispensing position as water flows through the set of pleats50cof the water filter cartridge50.

FIG. 13shows a partial view of the filterwell dispenser cartridge holder10, which is positionable on an elongated water filter cartridge50with a dispensing cartridge60having a base11supported on resilient dispensing cartridge engaging arms22and23on filterwell dispenser cartridge holder10to enable dispensing of dispersants, such as minerals and a halogen, into a water port86through a flow ramp89, which is located below the bottom end of dispensing cartridge60, which typically contain a bottom with end ports for ingress and egress of water and dispersants therethrough. The filterwell dispenser cartridge holder10includes a first lip52aand a second lip52bthat coact with dispensing cartridge holder10to support the dispensing cartridge thereon. In this embodiment dispensing cartridge10includes a rib25aand a rib25bthat extend outward from a back face of dispensing cartridge60. Rib25ahas a top surface25gto abut lip52bon housing of dispensing cartage holder10to assist in maintaining dispensing cartridge60in a fixed position in the filterwell dispenser cartridge holder10. Similarly, rib25bextends outward from the dispensing cartridge60with a top surface25fabutting a second lip52aon filterwell dispenser holder10to further assist in maintaining dispensing cartridge60in a dispensable condition on the filterwell dispenser cartridge holder10.