Abstract:
A liquid filter housing with at least one handle molded into its perimeter enclosure, used in a Point of Entry water filtration system, or any similar water filtration system, wherein the handles on the filter housing operate to eliminate the necessity of a separate housing wrench used to detach and reattach the water filter housing during the changing of the filter media at the time of installation or ongoing maintenance.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    A Point of Entry (hereinafter, “POE”) water filtration system is primarily a sediment filtration system for the whole house because it connects to the main water line as it enters the house to filter water prior to the water being used by any person or system in house, thereby reducing the sediment levels of the water prior to its use. POE water filtration systems are under high water pressure. Periodically, consumers are required to change the filter media within the water filtration system, in order to maintain optimum performance of the system. 
         [0002]    Typical POE water filtration systems have a head to which one end of the filter housing is threaded, leaving the other end free and suspended in air. Ribs are spaced about the periphery of the filter housing. A housing wrench having an opening complementary to the periphery and ribs is slideable over the free end of the filter housing to engage the ribs, thereby enabling the rotation of the housing wrench to unthread the filter housing from the head to replace the filter media. The filter housing must be rethreaded onto the head and tightened enough to create a water tight seal without being over tightened, such that the water filter housing could crack. The wrench required for this process is not a standard size, it is larger than 4 inches in diameter. 
         [0003]    Performance of the water filtration system is controlled primarily by the filter media. There are four main types of filter media that are used in POE water filtration systems: string wound, pleated paper, grooved polypropylene microfiber and carbon. Regional location and local water conditions often dictate which type of filter media is most effective. Generally, POE water filtration systems are needed in areas where there are high levels of sediment in the water. Depending on the type of media chosen, the following can be removed or reduced in the water: chlorine, bad taste, odor, cysts, lead, sulfur, algae, turbidity and tannins. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The invention relates to a liquid filter housing wherein one or more sidewalls form a perimeter enclosure on the outside of the filter housing and a chamber on the inside of the filter housing. The liquid filter housing has at least a top portion and a bottom portion, and a closure at the bottom portion, substantially sealing the bottom portion. The liquid filter housing also has a connector at the top portion that aids in the attachment of the liquid filter housing to a filter head, and at least one handle attached to the outside of the liquid filter housing. 
         [0005]    This invention also teaches a method of changing filter media within a liquid filter housing without the use of a housing wrench. The features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a water filter assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention, which includes a filter head, a filter housing with handles and a filter media. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the water filter assembly of  FIG. 1 , with two handles on the outside of the filter housing, the filter media and the filter head. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the filter housing of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the water filter assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of the water filter assembly of  FIG. 1 , and further showing the incoming fluid source, bypass valve and home water system in block. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a filter housing according to a second embodiment of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the filter housing of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the filter housing according to a third embodiment of the invention, with the filter housing having a single bottom through-hole handle. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the filter housing of  FIG. 8 , showing use of a common tool as a lever to turn the filter housing. 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a filter housing according to a fourth embodiment of the invention, with a plurality of through-holes forming an integrated ring handle on the bottom portion of the filter housing. 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the filter housing of  FIG. 10 , showing use of a common tool as a lever to turn the filter housing. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    This invention relates to liquid filter housings, illustrated herein by water filter housings and systems. The water filter housing must be removed from a water filtration system in order to periodically replace the filter media. Once the filter media is replaced, the water filter housing must be reinstalled into the system. Historically, water filtration system manufacturers have included a housing wrench with their system to enable the consumer to remove the water filter housing and change the filter media. The consumer then uses the housing wrench again to reinstall the water filter housing, trying not to over tighten or over torque the filter housing, which could otherwise result in its cracking and/or leaking. The consumer is then required to maintain and recall the location of the housing wrench each time that the filter media needs to be changed. For some geographic locations, this could be as much as once per week, depending upon the level of sediment or contaminants present in the ground water. 
         [0018]    Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numbers indicate the same elements throughout the views,  FIG. 1  illustrates a first embodiment of a water filter assembly which is suitable for use in a POE filtration system. The water filter assembly  10  includes a filter housing  12 , connected to a filter head  14 , which collectively receive a filter media  16 . 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the details of the filter housing  12 , filter head  14 , and filter media  16  are seen more clearly. The filter head  14  has a filter head inlet  18 , which receives liquid from a fluid source, a filter head outlet  20 , which outputs the filtered liquid after it passes through the filter media  16 . The filter head inlet  18  and filter head outlet  20  may be any suitable fitting. 
         [0020]    A first connector, illustrated as a threaded segment  22  is provided on a lower end of the filter head  14 . The filter media  16  has a body defining an outer periphery  24  and a central passage  26 . When filtering, fluid is supplied to the outer periphery  24 , where it then flows through to the passage  26 . In an alternative design, the fluid could also be supplied to the passage  26  and flow outward through the filter media  16 . 
         [0021]    While the filter media  16  is illustrated as a cylinder with the central passage  26  passing through the center of the cylinder, the filter media  16  may have any desired shape. Depending upon the shape of the filter media  16 , additional alternatives for the direction of the fluid flow would also be likely, and determined in part from the shape of the filter media. Further alternatives could include the flow of the fluid from the top of the filter housing  12  to the bottom of the filter housing  12 . 
         [0022]    The filter housing  12  has an open-top body in the top portion  28  of the filter housing  12 . The perimeter enclosure, which is the outside of the filter housing, defines a chamber  30  within the filter housing  12  in which the filter media  16  is received. A second connector or engagement portion, illustrated as a threaded segment  32 , is provided at the top portion  28  of the filter housing  12 . While the first and second connectors are illustrated as threaded segments, other types of connectors may be used, such as a bayonet connector for example. A stabilizer  34  is provided within the chamber  30  on a closed bottom portion  36  of the filter housing  12 . The stabilizer  34  includes a stage  38 , provided on the closed bottom portion  36 , and an extension  40 , which is sized to be received within the central passage  26  of the filter media  16  to stabilize the filter media  16  when it is received within the chamber  30 . There are alternative designs that may be employed for stabilizing the filter media  16 , such as notches, guide posts, rings or other corresponding shapes to center and stabilize the filter media on the inside of filter housing. 
         [0023]    Multiple handles  42 , of which there are two in this embodiment, are provided on the exterior of the filter housing  12  and define openings  44  between the handles  42  and the filter housing  12 . The handles  42  are integrally molded onto the perimeter enclosure  45  of the filter housing  12  and are tapered in a direction toward the perimeter enclosure  45 . The handles have two attachment points, wherein, the first attachment point  46  is closer to the top portion  28  than the second attachment point  48 . The handles  42  assist a user in removing the filter housing  12  from the filter head  14  in order to periodically change the filter media  16 . 
         [0024]    There are three other embodiments herein showing various handle designs. In addition, there may be only one handle around the circumference of the housing attached at one or more points around the filter housing. There could also be a handle that is mounted in a diagonal direction, which could attach at one or more points on the filter housing. Many alternative designs exist that would include various shapes and various types and amounts of attachment points on the filter housing. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4 , shows a top view of the water filter assembly  10 , with two handles  42  and the filter head inlet  18  and the filter head outlet  20 . Also shown is a bypass valve handle  58  on the filter head  14 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 5  illustrates the flow of fluid through the water filter assembly  10  wherein the water filter assembly  10  fluidly couples a fluid source  48  to a water system  50 . The fluid source  48 , which could be a well or a municipal water system, supplies fluid, in this example water, to the entry point of the home. The water system  50  is the water system of a home. At the point of entry into the home, the unfiltered water flows into the water filter assembly  10  through the filter head inlet  18 . If the bypass valve  52  is not engaged, the unfiltered water flows into the water filter housing  12 , through the incoming fluid passage  54 , and through the filter media  16 . The filtered water flows through the outgoing fluid passage  56  and then exits the water filter assembly  10  through the filter head outlet  20 . The filtered water then flows into the home water system  50 . 
         [0027]    While the direction of the fluid as herein described, flows from the outside of the filter media  16  inward toward the central passage  26  of the filter media  16  in order to perform the liquid filtration, the fluid could also flow in the opposite direction from the central passage  26  outward through the outer periphery  24  of the filter media  16  and then exit the water filter assembly  10 . 
         [0028]    The bypass valve  52  is engaged when the user wants to change the filter media  16  without stopping the flow of the fluid source  48  or turning off the water to the house. In that case, the user would engage the bypass valve  52  by turning the bypass valve handle  58 . The unfiltered water would then flow through the bypass valve  52  and exit the water filter assembly  10  through the filter head outlet  20 . If the bypass valve was not present, the user would need to stop the flow of fluid through the water filter assembly by turning off the water or fluid prior to where the water or fluid enters the water filter assembly. 
         [0029]    These types of water filtration systems need to have periodic maintenance, such that the filter media  16  needs to be regularly changed, depending upon the level of sediment or contaminants found in the water from the fluid source  48 . In order to change the filter media  16 , the user will grasp the handles  42  by inserting his/her fingers into the space  44  between the perimeter enclosure  45  and the handles  42 . Once the user has grasped one or more of the handles  42 , they can then use the handles to rotate the filter housing  12  in order to break the water tight seal, formed at the connection between the filter head  14  and the filter housing  12 . After the user removes the filter housing  12  from the filter head  14 , they can then remove the used filter media  16  and insert the replacement filter media. Once again, the user would then grasp one or more of the handles  42  to engage and rotate the filter housing  12  onto the filter head  14 . The user can tighten the water filter housing  12  onto the filter head  14  such that a water tight seal is created to prevent water leakage from the water filter assembly  10 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 6  shows the second embodiment of the invention, which differs from the first embodiment primarily in the configuration of the filter housing  100 , which has a plurality of handles  102 , which are integrally molded onto the perimeter enclosure  104  of the filter housing  100  and are tapered in a direction toward the perimeter enclosure  104 , enabling the easy grasping of the handles  102  by the user. A stabilizer  106  in the chamber  108  is upon a closed bottom portion of the filter housing  100 . The stabilizer  106  includes a stage  112 , and an extension  114 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the second embodiment of the filter housing  100 , wherein there are three handles  102  integrally molded onto the perimeter enclosure  104  of the filter housing  100  and equally spaced about the perimeter enclosure  104  of the filter housing  100 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 8  shows the third embodiment of the invention, which differs from the first embodiment primarily in the configuration of a filter housing  200 , wherein the filter housing  200  has one handle  202  integrally attached to the closed bottom portion  204  on the outside of the filter housing  200 . The one handle  202  has a single through-hole  208 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 9  is a water filter assembly  210  for the third embodiment of the invention, which shows the handle  202  with the single through-hole  208 , sufficient to receive the placement of a common tool  212 . Once received, the common tool  212  may be used as a lever to turn the filter housing  200  in order to periodically replace the filter media  214 . A common tool can include any ordinary tool or straight tool, such as a screw driver, that fits into the through-hole. 
         [0034]      FIG. 10  shows the fourth embodiment of the invention, which differs from the first embodiment primarily in the configuration of a filter housing  300 , which shows the filter housing  300  wherein an integrated ring handle  302  extends around the perimeter of the a bottom portion  304  of the filter housing  300  by a plurality of through-holes  306 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 11  is a water filter assembly  308 , which shows how the plurality of through-holes  306  receive the placement of an ordinary tool  310  through the integrated ring handle  302 , thereby allowing the ordinary tool  310  to be used as a lever to turn the filter housing  300  in order to periodically replace the filter media  312 . The integrated ring handle  302  could also be positioned anywhere along the outside of the filter housing. A common tool can include any ordinary tool or straight tool, such as a screw driver, that fits into the through-holes. 
         [0036]    The disclosure also teaches a method of detaching the filter housing from the filter head without a housing wrench. The method used to detach the water filter housing depends upon where the handle or handles are located on the outside of the water filter housing. Each method begins with the cessation of the water entering the filter head. This can be accomplished by either turning off the water at the source or engaging the bypass function on the filter head. Once that occurs, then the removal options are as follows:
       Two handles with a space between each handle and the filter housing: hold two of the handles of the filter housing, one in each hand, by inserting one or more fingers between each handle and the perimeter enclosure and then rotate the filter housing in a first direction until the filter housing disengages from the filter head;   Two or more handles with no space between the handles and the housing: hold two of the handles of the filter housing, one in each hand, and then rotate the filter housing in the first direction until the filter housing disengages from the filter head;   One through hole at the bottom of the filter housing: insert an ordinary household tool to be used as a lever, into the through-hole of the handle attached at the bottom portion of the filter housing, and then rotate the filter housing in the first direction until the filter housing disengages from the filter head; or   Multiple through-holes at the bottom of the filter housing: insert an ordinary household tool to be used as a lever, into the plurality of through-holes of the handle formed at the bottom portion of the filter housing, and then rotate the filter housing in the first direction until the filter housing disengages from the filter head.       
 
         [0041]    The invention also teaches a method of reattaching the water filter housing to a filter head without a housing wrench. This method used to reattach the water filter housing depends upon where the handle or handles are located on the outside of the water filter housing. Once that is determined, then the reattachment options are as follows:
       Two handles with a space between the handle and the housing: hold two of the handles of the filter housing, one in each hand, by inserting one or more fingers between the handle and the perimeter enclosure and then rotate the filter housing in a second direction (opposite the first direction) until the filter housing reengages the filter head and is tightly attached to the filter head, in order to prevent water leakage.   Two or more handles with no space between the handles and the housing: hold two of the bumper handles of the filter housing, one in each hand, and then rotate the filter housing in the second direction (opposite the first direction) until the filter housing reengages the filter head and is tightly attached to the filter head, in order to prevent water leakage.   One through hole at the bottom of the filter housing: insert an ordinary household tool to be used as a lever, into the through-hole of the handle attached at the bottom portion of the filter housing, and then rotate the filter housing in the second direction (opposite the first direction) until the filter housing reengages the filter head and is tightly attached to the filter head, in order to prevent water leakage.   Multiple through-holes at the bottom of the filter housing: insert an ordinary household tool to be used as a lever, into the plurality of through-holes of the handles formed at the bottom portion of the filter housing, and then rotate the filter housing in the second direction (opposite the first direction) until the filter housing reengages the filter head and is tightly attached to the filter head, in order to prevent water leakage.       
 
         [0046]    Each method ends with restoring the water supply entering the filter head. This can be accomplished by either turning on the water at the source or disengaging the bypass function on the filter head.