Patent Publication Number: US-8540943-B2

Title: Portable ozonation apparatus for storing and purifying liquid

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application represents a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/834,803 entitled “Portable Ozonation Apparatus for Storing and Purifying Liquid” filed Aug. 7, 2007, pending. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention pertains to the art of liquid purification devices and, more particularly, to a portable ozonation apparatus for storing and purifying liquids. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Filtration and disinfecting systems are employed to provide cleaner, safer water for drinking and other uses. Most portable filtration systems used for camping or hiking are pump-style systems which include a number of components that must be assembled before, and disassembled after, each use. For example, many of the pump-style systems require separate containers, multiple hoses and pumps that must be routinely connected prior to each use and disconnected before packing the system away for travel. Many users have difficulty obtaining an adequate volume of water from such systems due to clogged filters. In addition, filters in such devices typically have limited life-spans resulting in significant costs associated with maintaining the systems. The need for replacement filters is of particular concern in disaster-type situations where potable water and spare filters are scarce. 
     In order to obtain an adequate volume of safe drinking water, chemical disinfectants, such as iodine and chlorine, are often utilized. However, chemical disinfectants can have a detrimental effect on the taste and smell of the fluid. Thus, in order to provide an adequate water supply that is both potable and appealing to the senses, other non-chemical disinfecting methods, such as ultraviolet radiation and ozonation, have recently become more popular. Unfortunately, such systems are not usually designed for a user who is traveling, hiking or otherwise on the move. 
     Ozone is one of the strongest oxidizing agents that is readily available and easily produced for use in treating fluid. Ozone is useful in eliminating organic waste and reducing color, odor and total organic carbon. In addition, ozone kills bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms more effectively and more quickly then ultraviolet light or chemicals, such as iodine and chlorine. Of course, the effectiveness of ozone treatment, as well as the processing time required for treatment, is dependent upon the quality of the fluid being treated. High levels of sediment in the fluid may contain high levels of metals, organic fluid and carbons, which may require a longer ozone treatment period. 
     Based on the above, despite the existence of water purification devices in the prior art, there still exists a need in the art for an ozone purification system. More specifically, there exists a need for a portable ozone purification system that is readily adapted to outdoor or transitory settings and which can provide an adequate supply of potable drinking water having both a pleasant taste and pleasant smell. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a portable ozonation apparatus for storing and purifying liquids. The portable ozonation apparatus includes a container having an opening for receiving a liquid and a cap including a self-contained ozone generating system. More specifically, the cap includes a main body portion having provided therein both an electricity generating device and an ozone generating device. 
     In further accordance with the invention, the electricity generating device includes an activating mechanism and an output terminal connected to the ozone generating device. The activating mechanism selectively establishes a flow of electricity through the output terminal to the ozone generating device. Preferably, the ozone generating device includes an input terminal and is detachably mounted to the main body portion of the cap. Most preferably, when the ozone generating device is properly seated, a circuit, connecting the input and output terminals, is completed. With this arrangement, un-purified liquid is introduced into the container. The container is inverted to bring the un-purified liquid into contact with the cap and the ozone generating device. At this point, the electricity generating device is activated to deliver an electrical current to the ozone generating device. Once powered, the ozone generating device produces ozone which is introduced into the container and diffused through the liquid. During a treatment period, the ozone transforms the un-purified liquid into a purified liquid suitable for human consumption. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the electricity generating device constitutes a hand cranked generator. When operated, the hand cranked generator delivers an electrical current to the ozone generating device. In this manner, the portable ozonation apparatus does not require a separate power supply, such as a battery, thereby making the device extremely portable and adaptable to emergency situations. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the cap is provided with a plurality of threads designed to cooperate with corresponding threads provided on standard drinking bottles such as those formed from Nalgene®. 
     Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an upper, partial cross-sectional, perspective view of a portable ozonation apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of the portable ozonation apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With initial reference to  FIG. 1 , a portable ozonation apparatus for storing and disinfecting a fluid constructed in accordance with the present invention is generally indicated at  2 . Ozonation apparatus  2  includes a container  4  and self-contained ozone generating system in the form of a removable treatment cap  8 . Container  4  is preferably formed from plastic, such as Nalgene® and includes a bottom wall portion  10  and a side wall portion  12 . Side wall portion  12  extends upward from bottom wall portion  10  to a threaded neck portion  14  which defines an opening  18 . In a manner known in the art, bottom, side wall and neck portions  10 ,  12  and  14  define an interior storage/treatment area  19  for receiving a fluid  21 . Also shown in  FIG. 1 , a handle  25  is provided on side wall portion  12  to enable a user to readily grasp container  4  and activate ozonation apparatus  2  in a manner that will be described more fully below. Finally, container  4  is shown to include a scale or level indicia  27  which allows a user to determine how much fluid  21  is present within interior storage/treatment area  19 . As will be discussed more fully below, fluid  21  is initially a raw or non-potable fluid, however, after treatment, fluid  21  becomes a potable liquid suitable for consumption. 
     In accordance with the invention, treatment cap  8  includes a main body portion  30  having an exterior side wall  32  including a lower edge portion  33  and a top wall  36  that define an interior cavity  37 . Lower edge portion  33  is provided with a plurality of internal threads  40  which are adapted to matingly engage with threaded neck portion  14  of container  4 . Treatment cap  8  is also shown to include a power switch  44  which, as will be discussed more fully below, enables activation of ozonation apparatus  2 . 
     In further accordance with the invention, ozonation apparatus  2  includes an electricity generating device  54  mounted within treatment cap  8 . Electricity generating device  54  preferably takes the form of a generator which, in the embodiment shown, is operated by a hand crank  58 . More specifically, upon activation of switch  44  and rotation of hand crank  58 , electricity generating device  54  creates an electrical current that passes to an output terminal  61 . Output terminal  61  preferably includes both positive and negative electrodes (not separately labeled). However, it should be understood that one electrode, for example the negative electrode, could be provided elsewhere in treatment cap  8 . 
     In still further accordance with the invention, ozonation apparatus  2  includes an ozone generator  72  that is detachably mounted within interior cavity  37  of treatment cap  8 . Ozone generator  72  includes a main body  74  having a first or threaded portion  75  and a second or discharge portion  76 . Threaded portion  75  includes an input terminal  79  that is adapted to engage with output terminal  61  of electricity generating device  54  when ozone generator  72  is properly seated within treatment cap  8 . Input terminal  79  of ozone generator  72  can include both positive and negative electrodes or simply a single electrode with a second electrode, such as ground, being provided by upper threaded portion  75 . 
     The present invention enables a user to readily and quickly purify an amount of fluid  21  stored within container  4 . More specifically, upon placing an amount of fluid  21 , such as unpurified water, within container  4 , treatment cap  8  is installed over opening  18  with ozone generator  72  extending into storage/treatment area  19 . At this point, container  4  is inverted, such as shown in  FIG. 2 , and switch  44  activated. Once switch  44  is in the “on” position, hand crank  58  is rotated, causing electricity generating device  54  to power ozone generator  72 . Once powered, ozone generator  72  outputs ozone gas, indicated by bubbles  100 , through discharge portion  76 . The ozone gas then diffuses through fluid  21 . More specifically, the ozone gas bubbles or diffuses through fluid  21  killing bacteria, microorganisms and the like to quickly transform fluid  21  into a potable liquid. At this point, it should be understood that the portable ozonation apparatus constructed with the present invention, provides for an easily operated convenient apparatus for purifying a liquid such as for camping, emergency situations and the like, without the need of chemical agents that might affect the taste and/or smell of the liquid. 
     Although described with reference to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be readily understood that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. For instance, while described as employing hand cranked generator, various other electricity generating devices such as batteries can also be employed. In addition, while treatment cap  8  is shown to include an activation switch  44 , in the case of a hand crank generator, the activation switch is not necessary but merely serves as a redundant system to ensure that ozonation apparatus  2  is not inadvertently activated. Finally, while the container is described as being formed from plastic, various other materials such as glass, stainless steel, aluminum, and the like components are also acceptable. In general, the invention is only intended to be limited by the scope of the following claims.