Patent Publication Number: US-2015060495-A1

Title: Water Pitcher Having a Filter

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates generally to water pitchers. More specifically, the invention is directed to a water pitcher having a filter. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Water pitchers having filters are used to purify drinking water. These types of pitchers have filter compartments positioned above water reservoirs. The filters extend downwardly from the filter compartments into the water reservoirs. Water placed in the filter compartments passes through the filters and into the water reservoirs for storage. In these types of pitchers, the filtered water in the water reservoirs is in contact with the filters during storage. This invention provides, among other things, a water pitcher in which the filtered water in the water reservoir is not in contact with the filter. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is a water pitcher having a filter including, among other things, a body having an open end and a closed end. A filter compartment having a bottom is positioned adjacent to the open end. A water filter extends upwardly from the bottom. A water reservoir is positioned in the body between the bottom and the closed end. The water reservoir is in fluid communication with the filter compartment through the water filter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view taken through the center of an embodiment of a water pitcher having a filter according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken through the center of the filter compartment, lid and filter of the water pitcher having a filter as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken through the center of the filter compartment, lid and filter of the water pitcher having a filter as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken through the center of an alternative embodiment of a filter compartment, lid and filter of a water pitcher having a filter according to the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken through the center of the alternative embodiment filter compartment, lid and filter as show in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken through the center of an embodiment of a filter for a water pitcher having a filter according to the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken through the center of an alternative embodiment of a filter for a water pitcher having a filter according to the invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective exploded view of an alternative embodiment of a filter compartment, lid and filter of a water pitcher having a filter according to the invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the lid as shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a side elevational view of the filter compartment, lid and filter as shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a bottom plan view of the lid as shown in  FIG. 8 ; and 
         FIG. 12  is front elevational view of the filter compartment, lid and filter as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The water pitcher having a filter according to the invention will now be described in detail with reference being made to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the water pitcher having a filter is identified generally by the reference number “ 10 .” Referring to  FIG. 1 , the water pitcher  10  includes a body  12  having an open end  14  and a closed end  16 . The body  12  has a lid  18  positioned adjacent to the open end  14  and a base  20  positioned adjacent to the closed end  16 . A handle  22  is positioned on the body  12 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , a filter compartment  24  having a bottom  26  is positioned adjacent to the open end  14  of the body  12 . A space  28  between the bottom  26  of the filter compartment  24  and the base  20  of the body  12  forms a water reservoir  30  in the water pitcher  10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2-5 , the filter compartment  24  includes an opening  32  in the bottom  26 . In an embodiment, the filter compartment  24  has a filter recess  36  including the opening  32 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , a water filter  38  extends upwardly from the bottom  26  of the filter compartment  24 . The water filter  38  includes a conduit  40  that extends through the opening  32  into the space  28 . In an embodiment, the water pitcher  10  includes an attachment device  42  for attaching the water filter  38  to the filter compartment  24 . In an embodiment, an O-ring seal  44  is positioned between the water filter  38  and the bottom  26 . 
     Various embodiments of water filters  38  are shown in  FIGS. 1-7 . For example, the water filter  38  can be a two-part filter as shown in  FIG. 6  including an outer dome  46  and loose filtering media  48 . The water filter  38  can also be a three-part filter as shown in  FIG. 7  including an outer dome  50 , loose filtering media  52 , and an inner core dome  54 . It should be understood that other types of water filters can be used. 
     An alternative embodiment filter compartment  24 , lid  18  and water filter  38  is shown in  FIGS. 8-12 . These components can be used with the body  12  of the water pitcher  10  as shown in  FIG. 1  or other types of bodies. 
     The water pitcher  10  can be constructed of suitable materials. For example, the body  12 , lid  18  and filter compartment  24  can be constructed of plastic. The water filter  38  can be constructed of ceramic and loose filtering media materials, such as carbon. 
     The operation and use of the water pitcher  10  will now be described. When water is placed in the filter compartment  24 , it passes through the water filter  38  and the conduit  40  into the water reservoir  30  for storage. As it will be appreciated, the stored water is not in contact with the water filter  38  after filtering due to the positioning of the water filter  38  within the filter compartment  24 . The stored water can be dispensed through the open end  14  of the body  12 . 
     Certain embodiments of the apparatus disclosed herein are defined in various examples. It should be understood that these examples, while indicating particular embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only. From the above discussion and these examples, one skilled in the art can ascertain the essential characteristics of this disclosure, and without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various usages and conditions. Various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the essential scope of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof.