Abstract:
An animal watering system including a water tank, interior container and base for connecting to a bowl. The interior container fluidly connects the water tank and the base/bowl. The interior container in addition to supplying water from the water tank to the bowl, also receives water from the bowl as it circulates. The interior container includes a filter to filter the water as it leaves the water tank and enters the bowl and as it flows from the bowl into the interior container.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/239,315 entitled “Pet Watering Device with Filter,” filed on Sep. 2, 2009. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present invention relates to pet feeding and watering devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a pet watering bowl with a filtration system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Animal drinking supplies often become polluted with particles, organisms and other materials. These materials may be in the water, as water is added to the watering supply, for instance from a hose or kitchen sink. Frequently, however, the animal itself adds a significant portion of pollutants to the water supply. For example, fur surrounding a dog&#39;s face and nose may have dirt, sticks, bugs, or the like attached. When the dog drinks the water from the bowl, pieces of fur may come in contact with the water supply, thus releasing some of the dirt, sticks, and other debris into the water supply. Additionally, many particles may be deposited into the watering supply by the environment. For example, if the water supply is located outside, leaves, dust and other particles may be blown into the water supply by the wind/rain/other elements. Current pet watering supplies filter the water before the water enters the bowl, typically as the water is poured into the bowl. Thus, the water remaining in the bowl generally does not get re-filtered and may have to be replaced in order to clean the supply and remove the particles deposited by the animal or the environment. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Certain embodiments take the form of a watering device for an animal. The watering device may include a water storage or water tank, a bowl configured to hold water and provide an animal access to the water, and a water passageway fluidly connecting the water storage and the bowl. The passageway may include a filter disposed within it, such that the filter is positioned beneath a water fill level of the bowl. 
     In other embodiments, a watering system for animals is disclosed. The system has a water tank, an interior container and a bowl, such that the water tank, interior container and the bowl are fluidly connected. The interior container may be configured to secure a filter, and may be positioned to be at least partially submerged within the bowl. In these embodiments, the filter may also be partially submerged within the bowl. The interior container may include at least one aperture, wherein the aperture fluidly connects the interior container to the bowl and the bowl to the interior container. 
     While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modifications in various aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a top isometric view of an embodiment of the pet water filtration system. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a right elevation view of the pet water filtration system. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a top plan view of the pet water filtration system. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the pet water filtration system. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a right side cross-sectional view of a pet water filtration system viewed along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a front cross-sectional view of the pet water filtration system. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view an interior container for the water filtration system. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the interior container without a filter attached, viewed along line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a bottom isometric view of the top base of the water filtration system. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a top isometric view of a second embodiment of the interior container for the water filtration system. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates an exploded view of the second embodiment of the interior container shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  illustrates an exploded view of a third embodiment of the interior container, filter and filter strap for the water filtration system. 
         FIG. 13A  illustrates a top plan view of the third embodiment of the interior container shown in  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 13B  illustrates a top plan view of the third embodiment of the interior container with the filter and filter strap secured into the interior container. 
         FIG. 14  illustrates an elevation view of the third embodiment of the interior container. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Disclosed herein is an animal watering device that continuously filters the water supply. The watering device includes a water tank or supply that attaches to an interior container. The water tank and interior container sit within a base; the base secures the water tank and interior container together and supports the system. The base additionally may include a bowl configured to store water as well as provide the animal to access the water. The bowl may have an open aperture that fills with water from the water tank and interior container. The inner container sits below the water tank, and water flows from the water tank through the interior container and into the bowl. Additionally, the interior container may be positioned to located slightly above the bottom of the base, such that water can flow through the base and underneath the interior container, while still allowing the interior container to be partially submerged within the bowl. The interior container may secure a filter at its bottom portion. In these embodiments, the filter may be located beneath the water line when the bowl is full or substantially full. The bottom portion of the interior container also contains apertures or holes at the bottom, allowing water in the bowl to fluidly connect to the interior container and the water tank. In other embodiments, the interior container may contain filtering apertures along its sidewalls with a filtering material secured therein, such that water may flow between the base into ht interior container via the sidewalls and be filtered. Furthermore, water in the bowl may continuously flow through the filter in the interior container, via the apertures and the water in the bowl may be re-circulated past the filter. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a top isometric view of the water filtration system;  FIG. 2  illustrates a right elevation view of the water filtration system; and  FIG. 3  illustrates a top plan view of the water filtration system. Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , according to some embodiments, the water filtration system  10  may include a water tank  12  or water supply or water storage. The water tank  12  is operatively connected to an interior container  16  or core (shown in  FIG. 4 ), and the water tank  12  and interior container  16  are removably attached to a base  26 . The water tank  12  holds water or other fluids to be provided to the animal. The water tank  12  may be substantially cylindrical shaped and generally hollow. It should be noted that the water tank  12  may be designed in any appropriate shape and the cylindrical design is merely one embodiment. Additionally, the water tank  12  may be constructed out of a flexible material, such as plastic. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an exploded view of the water filtration system;  FIG. 5  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the water filtration system viewed along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 3 . Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the water tank  12  may include a neck  14  having a passageway for the fluid. The neck  14  may include threading  36  or other types of attachment mechanisms, to attach the water tank  12  to the interior container  16 . Additionally, the threading  36  may also be used to secure the water tank  12  to the base  26 . The neck  14  of the water tank  12  may be concealed via a lip  28 . In this embodiment, the inner connections, that is, the threading  36  and fluid passageway may be hidden from view thereby providing a more refined appearance. 
     The water tank  12  may also include a funnel  34  at its distal end. The funnel  34  may be located between the end of the water tank  12  and the neck  14 . The funnel  34  may be included in some embodiments, in order to better direct the water or fluid from the water tank  12  to the interior container  16 . Additionally, the funnel  34  may include other features, such as a filter or screen to prevent particles in the water tank  12  from entering the interior container  16 . However, the funnel  34  may be omitted in other embodiments. 
     The water tank  12  is fluidly connected to the interior container  16  via the neck  14 . The water tank  12  and the interior container  16  may be attached via complementary threading, on the neck  14  and on the interior container  16 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the interior container  12  may contain threading  44  in the inner portion of the body  17 . The threading  44  of the interior container  16  is designed to be complementary to the threading  36  of the water tank  12 , allowing the two to be threadly attached. The water tank  12  and the interior container  16  may be attached to help prevent leaks as water travels between the water tank  12  and the interior container  16 . In other embodiments, the interior container  16  and the water tank  12  may be connected in other implementations, e.g., snap-fit, locking configuration, tabs, or the like. 
     A perspective top view of the interior container is illustrated in  FIG. 7  and a cross-sectional view of the interior container is shown in  FIG. 8 . Referring now to  FIGS. 5 ,  7  and  8 , the interior container  16  may include a generally cylindrical body  17  having ridges  46  spaced along the outer side of the body  17 . The ridges  44  may be included in some embodiments in order to allow the user to better grip the interior container  16 . For example, if the user wishes to clean the interior container  16  or otherwise remove it from the system  10 , the ridges  44  provide a gripping surface. However, in some embodiments, the ridges  44  may be omitted. 
     Additionally, the body  17  may include level apertures  20 , which may help determine the water fill level of the bowl  32 . This is because, in some embodiments, when the water level in the bowl  32  is approximately equal the height of the level apertures  20  the pressure may be approximately equal between the exterior and interior of the interior container  16  and/or water tank  12 . This pressure equalization may substantially prevent water from flowing from the water tank  12  into the bowl  32 , thus substantially stopping the bowl  32  from filling further with water. However, if the height of the water in the bowl  32  is approximately lower than the level apertures  20  there may be a pressure differential between the interior and exterior of the interior container  16 , which may cause water to flow from the water tank  12  into the bowl  32 . Therefore, in these embodiments, if the level apertures  20  are located 2 inches from the bottom of the bowl  32 , the water level (when the water tank  12  is full or substantially full) may be approximately 2 inches high. 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the bottom  25  of the interior container  16  may be slightly raised above a top surface of the base  26 . These embodiments allow fluid to more easily be transported between the water tank  12  and the base  26 , because the interior container  16  may not be sealed against the top surface of the base  26 . The bottom  25  of the interior container  16  also may include multiple container apertures  24  and a filter  18 . Additionally, in some embodiments, the body  17  may also include apertures located around the sides. In these embodiments, water may more easily flow from the base  26  to the interior container  16  and vice versa. 
     The container apertures  24  located on the bottom  25  of the interior container  15  fluidly connect the water tank  12  to the base  26  and, as there is a separation between the bottom  25  of the interior container  16  and the base  26 , water may pass underneath the interior container  26 . Additionally, as the container apertures  24  in the bottom  25  of the interior container  16 , allows water to flow between the interior container  16  and the base  26 . In some embodiments, the interior container  16  may be located beneath the water fill line of the base  26  or bowl  32 . In these embodiments, the interior container  16  may be submerged within water when the bowl  32  is full. This embodiment allows the water stored in the base  26  to be re-circulated through the filter  18  attached to the bottom  25  of the interior container  16 . 
     In addition to fluidly connecting the interior container  16  with the base  26 , the container apertures  24  may also act as a screen or filter, preventing large particles from traveling between the water tank  12  and the interior container  16 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  4 - 6  and  8 , in some embodiments the filter  18  may be secured to the bottom  25  of the interior container  16  via attachment hooks  22 . The attachment hooks  22  may be formed integrally with the bottom  25  or body  17  of the interior container  16 , or may be releasably attached to the bottom  25  of the interior container  16 . The attachment hooks  22  secure the filter  18  in place, while allowing easy replacement of the filter  18 . For example, the attachment hooks  22  prevent the filter  18  from substantially moving, but also allow the filter  18  to be slid or pulled out from under the attachment hooks  22 . In some embodiments the attachment hooks  22  may be omitted. For example, the filter  18  may be unattached and rest along the bottom  25  of the interior container (see the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 13 ) or in other embodiments, the filter  18  may be formed of a separate screen above or integrated with the bottom  25  and/or sidewalls of the interior container  16 . 
     The filter  18  may remove particles, chemicals, and other materials from the water supply, both from the water tank  12  and a water bowl  32  located in the base  26 . In some embodiments, the filter  18  may be located beneath the water fill line or water level when the bowl  32  has water stored in it. In these embodiments, the filter  18  may be submerged in water when the bowl  32  is partially or completely full. Similarly, in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the filtering apertures  19  may be submerged in water when the bowl  32  is full or partially full. 
     The filter  18  may be any type of water filter, for example a carbon filter, charcoal water filter, carbon filter material, and so on. In some embodiments, the filter  18  may include additives to the main filter material. In these embodiments, the filter  18  may be a carbon filter and include as an additive, silver, which may inhibit the growth of bacteria. Other additives may be charged plastic particles that prohibit the growth of amoeba type debris that may be harmful to animals. Further, other additives may be added to the filter  18  to increase the filtering capabilities. Similarly, the filter  18  may be any shape and may be configured to be secured within the interior container  16 . Additionally, the filter  18  may be one-use/replaceable or may be designed to be reusable. The filter  18  acts to filter water as it enters the base  26  from the water tank  12 , as well as water as it flow through the apertures  24  into the interior container  16  from the base  26 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the water filtration system  10  base  26  may include a top base  30  and a bottom base  38 . The bottom base  38  includes a bowl  32  that provides the drinking supply to the animal. The bowl  32  may be shaped in any manner and includes an open region to allow the animal to access the water. The bowl  32  may be substantially hollow and include a portion that surrounds the inner container  16 . For example, the bowl  32  may be shaped as two joined cylinders, such that one cylinder is exposed to the air (and allows an animal to drink water in the bowl) and the other cylinder is located beneath the water tank  12 . In these embodiments, the bowl  32  may be formed integrally as the two cylinders, or may be two distinct pieces. Also, it should be noted that the bowl  32  may be any shape, and the disclosure of any shape is merely one embodiment. 
     In some embodiments, as the inner container  16  is suspended above the bottom base  38 , water in the bowl  32  is able to flow under the inner container  16  and surround the inner container  16  on substantially all sides. In these embodiments, as discussed with respect to the filter  18 , the water supply stored in the bowl  32  may be continuously filtered by the filter  18 . For example, as an animal drinks the water in the bowl  32 , the wind blows, or the water is otherwise disturbed, the water in the bowl  32  may be swirled around and otherwise rotated throughout the bowl  32 . As this happens, water previously located in the bowl  32  may flow, via the apertures  24 , into the interior container  16 . As this happens, the filter  18  and the apertures  24  work together to remove particles, and the like from the water, which then re-enters the bowl  32  via the apertures  24 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a bottom isometric view of the top base  30  removed from the other components of the water filtration system  10 . In some implementations, the top base  30  may be configured to be removably attached to the water tank  12 , the bottom base  38  and interior container  16 , in other embodiments the top base  30  may be integrated with the bottom base  28 . The water tank aperture  60  and the bowl aperture  58  may be configured to receive the water tank  12 , interior container  16  components and the bowl  32 , respectively. Additionally, the water tank aperture  60  and the bowl aperture  58  may be circular shaped, or otherwise include a complementary shape to the water tank  12  and bowl  32 . Furthermore, the top base  30  may be configured to snap onto the embodiment of the bowl  32  that includes two joined cylinders. In this embodiment, a first cylinder of the bowl  32  may be received in the tank aperture  60  and be configured to receive the interior container  16 , and the second cylinder may be received within the bowl aperture  58 . 
     In these embodiments, the top base  30  may include a variety of tabs which may be used to snap each component into place. For example, the water tank tabs  42  are configured to join with the neck  14  of the water tank  12  to secure the water tank  12  into place, as well as stabilize the water tank  12  within the base  26 . The bowl tabs  50  may be used to secure the bottom base  38  and bowl  32  to the top base  30 . In these embodiments, the bowl tabs  50  help to prevent the bowl  32  from moving while an animal drinks. The top base  30  also includes the lip  28  used to conceal the attachment between the water tank  12  and the interior container  16 . The lip  28  may include lip tabs  56  to secure the neck  14  to the top base  26 . 
     Additionally, a tank wall  54  may be used to support the water tank  12  and interior container  16  connection, as well as host the water tank tabs  42 . The tank wall  54  may additionally include a top ring  54 , which may be used to insure the connection between the tank wall  54  and the water tank  12  and interior container  16 . The tank wall  54  may be shaped generally in the same shape as the neck  14  and the interior container  16 , as in some embodiments the interior container  16  and neck  14  may connect via the water tank aperture  60  surrounded by the tank wall  54 . Furthermore, the tank wall  54  may be supported via a circular scoop  46 . The scoop  46  surrounds the tank wall  54  and may be configured to have an generally downward sloping shape. This shape allows an outside portion of the scoop  46  to be convex. The scoop  46  may catch water that flows out of the water tank  12  and interior container  16  connection. However, it should be noted that the top base  30  may be configured in any suitable manner, in order to support the water tank  12 , interior container  16  as well as provide a location for the bowl  32 . 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate a second embodiment of the interior container  15 . In this embodiment, the interior container  15  may include filtering apertures  19  dispersed along the sidewalls of the body  17 . The filtering apertures  19  may be open to allow fluids to flow between the body  17  and the base  26 . Additionally, in some embodiments, the filtering apertures  19  may include a filtering material disposed within the filtering apertures  19 . In these embodiments, the filtering material may filter fluids traveling between the base  26  and the sidewalls of the interior container  15 . The filtering material may be charcoal, carbon or the like (see e.g., the materials discussed above with respect to the filter  18 ). The filtering material may be inserted into all or a portion of the filtering apertures  19 . These embodiments allow the water to enter the interior container  15  via the sidewalls of the body  17 . As with the first embodiment of the interior container  16 , the second embodiment of the interior container  115  may be substantially submerged in water when the bowl  32  is substantially or completely full. 
     Additionally, in this second embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the interior container  15  may also include a cap  27  which may form the bottom surface of the interior container  15 . The cap  27  may include a conical extension  29  extending from the top surface of the cap  27 . The conical extension  29  may also include a flow aperture  32 . The flow aperture  32  transports the fluid from the water tank  12  through the interior container  15  to the base  26 . The conical extension  29  may also act to substantially funnel the water through the flow aperture  32 . A screen  31  or other structure may be placed over the flow aperture  32  to add an additional level of filtering to water exiting the interior container  15 . 
       FIGS. 12-13B  illustrate a third embodiment of the interior container. In this embodiment, the interior container  70  includes a depressed filter container  80  that extends past the bottom surface  88  of the interior container  70 . In this embodiment, the filter container  80  may be configured to hold the filter  18  within the interior container  70 , and as such the attachment hooks  22  may be omitted. Additionally, as the filter container  80  is lower than the bottom surface  88  of the interior container  70 , the filter container  80  may be submerged within the water when the bowl  32  is filled or partially filed. 
     Similar to the first embodiment of the interior container  16 , the bottom surface  88  of the interior container  70  and/or the bottom  82  of the filter container  80  may include apertures  86  to allow water to travel between the interior container  70  and the water tank  12 . These embodiments allow the filter  18 , which when stored within the filter container  70 , to filter water as it travels between the water tank  12 , the interior container  70  and the bowl  32 . Further, also similar to the first embodiment of the interior container  15 , the third embodiment of the interior container  70  may include level apertures  90 . The level apertures  90  may be approximately the same as the level apertures  20  in the first embodiment, and may determine the water level of the bowl  32  when the water tank  12  is full or substantially full. For example, if the level apertures  90  are located 1 inch from the bottom of the bowl  32 , the water level in the bowl  32 , when full or substantially full, may be approximately 1 inch deep. 
     The filter container  80  may be similarly shaped to the filter  18 , such that the filter  18  may rest within the filter container  80 . In some embodiments, the filter container  80  may include strap receiving apertures  84  along sides of the filter container  80 . The strap receiving apertures  84  may extend downward from the sidewall of the filter container  80  where the filter container  80  extends from the bottom surface  88  of the interior container  70 . Although the strap receiving apertures  84  may be any shape or size, in one embodiment there are two strap receiving apertures  84  and both are substantially rectangular, however other implementations are possible. 
     The strap receiving apertures  84  may be used to secure the filter  18  within the filter container  80 . For example, in some embodiments, the filter  18  is placed within the filter container  80  and a strap  72  is placed over the filter  18 . The sides or tabs  74  of the strap  72  may then be inserted into the strap receiving apertures  84  securing the filter  18  in place within the filter container  80 . 
     The strap  72  may be substantially flexible and include a substantially rectangular body  78  any may include two tabs  74  at the distal ends. In some implementations the strap may be rubber, fabric, metal, or the like. In embodiments where the strap  72  may be flexible, when pressure is applied to the ends or near the ends, the strap  72  may bend upwards. The ends of the strap  72  may form tabs  74 , which as discussed above, may be used to secure the strap  72  into the strap receiving apertures  84 . 
     Additionally, the strap  72  may include finger apertures  76  along the body  78 . In these embodiments, the finger apertures  76  may be used to assist a user in removing the tabs  74  from the strap receiving apertures  84 , thus removing the strap  72 . In one implementation, a user may insert one or more of his or her fingers into the finger apertures  76 . Once the finger(s) have been inserted the user may then slightly squeeze or apply a pressure towards the center of the strap  72 . The strap  72  then may flex upwards allowing it to more easily be grasped by the user and removed. This may be helpful, because in some implementations the strap  72  may lay essentially flush on top of the filter  18 , especially after water has been deposited on top of the filter  18  from the water storage tank  12 . In some embodiments the finger apertures  76  may be substantially half-moon shaped, or otherwise configured to allow a user&#39;s finger to be inserted therein. For example, in some embodiments, the finger apertures  72  may be substantially circular, oval or the like. Additionally, it should be noted that in other embodiments, the finger apertures  76  may omitted and other user assisting devices could be used, for example gripping prongs, tabs or the like. 
     The strap  72  may be secured to the filter  18  or separate from the filter  18 . For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 12  the strap  72  is a separate element from the filter  18  and is used primarily to secure the filter  18  in place. However, in other embodiments, the strap  72  may be secured to the filter  18  and be used to additionally pull the filter  18  out of the filter container  18 . 
     It should be noted that any of the embodiments illustrated for the interior container  15 ,  16 ,  70  may be implemented with any of the features illustrated in any of the other embodiments. Additionally, the strap  72  may be used with any of the other filter  18  and/or interior container  15 ,  16 ,  70  embodiments. 
     The foregoing describes some example embodiments to achieve a continuous water filtration watering system for animals. Although the present invention has been described with reference to illustrated embodiments, persons skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Indeed, in other embodiments, the water filtration design may be used in other applications besides pet watering devices, for example in water displays or fountains. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that other components may be added to the water filtration system. For example, a water pump may be used to circulate the water in the bowl  32  and in the interior container  16  or to pump water from the water tank  12  into the interior container  15 . Accordingly, the specific embodiments described herein should be understood as examples and not limiting the scope of the disclosure.