Patent Publication Number: US-2012024765-A1

Title: Filtering core for fluid

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a filtering core for fluid, and more in particular to a technique which provides users to identify the service life of the filtering core so that the user may decide when he needs to replace or wash the filtering core. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The filtering core is installed inside the water filter to filter fluid like liquid or water. Most of the users replace or wash the filtering core depending on the usage duration. In fact, the disposal of the filtering core should be based on the amount of the contaminants to be absorbed. Furthermore, the environment at each place is different on contaminating status. Therefore, the replacement time of filtering core should be different. The conventional filtering core doesn&#39;t have a design which provides a reference of replacement time. The replacement is just based on the usage duration. It may cause a waste due to early replacement. 
     In view of above defect, there is a prior design which reminds the user of the contaminant absorbing degree in filtering material, such as Taiwanese Utility Patent No. M253408 for a filter net. The filter net is made of color cotton film and the filter cotton under high temperature hot pressing. The color cotton film is provided with a color area and an uncolored area. When the color in uncolored area becomes dark for being contrasted with the color area, the user may judge if it is the time for replacing the filter net. However, the defects of this patent are: (a) The flat filter net can filter only the contaminants in the air; (b) The replacement of the filter net is based on the difference between the color area and the uncolored area. It is not easy to make a precise comparison and judgment only depending on the difference of two colors; (c) Neither the color area nor the uncolored area can suggest the user doing a perfect disposal because no information is provided about the types of the contaminants absorbed by the filter net. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The purpose of the present invention is to provide an identify portion for color comparison so as to simplify the identification of replacing the filtering core. The technical means includes one main body and several identify portion. The identify portion have different colors, which are different from the original color of the main body. When the main body accumulates a certain amount of contaminants after filtering liquid, and changes its original color to a second color, the user may match the second color with the colors on the identify portion, and decide if he needs to replace the filtering core of the main body. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a 3D drawing of the filtering core of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the filtering core structure of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is schematic drawing of the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic drawing of the third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic drawing of the fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a 3D exploded view of the fifth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a 3D view of the sixth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a 3D view of the seventh embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a 3D exploded view of the eighth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a 3D view of the ninth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a 3D view of another embodiment of the filtering core of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a 3D view of another embodiment of the filtering core of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a 3D view of the tenth embodiment of the present invention, and 
         FIG. 14  is a 3D view of the eleventh embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the filtering core of the present invention is used in a variety of filter utensils, drinking fountains, water purifying materials, or for water filtration. The filtering core includes a main body  10  and a plurality of identify portion  20 . The main body  10  is in form of a column, and served as a filtering core to filter liquid. The filtering core is made of the filter materials which have absorbing and filtering functions, such as polypropylene, non-woven cloth, cotton cloth, foam sponge, filter net, filter paper, cotton fiber, filter bag, etc. . . . The main body  10  is ordinarily in form of a column, and is white. The identify portion  20  is provided at a position close to the main body  10 , and can be printed, dyed, stuck or added on/to the place close to the main body  10 . The plurality of the identify portion  20  is different from one another on color, and their colors are also different from one original color of the main body  10 . When the main body  10  accumulates a certain amount of contaminants after filtering liquid, its original color will turn into a second color. The user may match the second color of the main body  10  with the closest color on one of identify portion, and decides if he needs to replace the main body  10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is a plurality of identify portion  20  longitudinally arranged in order along the main body  10 , and each identify portion has a unique color. If the main body  10  is white, the colors of the plurality of the identify portion are of gray series from light grey to dark grey. If the main body  10  is light red, the colors of the plurality of the identify portion  20  are of red series from light red to dark red. The identify portion  20  are provided on top of the main body  10 . The identify portion are provided on the main body  10  by means of printing, dyeing or sticking. Furthermore, there is a plurality of identify portion  20  with different longitudinal widths—H 1 , H 2 , H 3 , H 4  and H 5 , along the main body  10 . If the main body  10  is white, the main body  10  will change color gradually from white to grey, or even dark grey as the contaminants are increasing after the main body  10  filters liquid for a period of time. The user may match the color of the main body  10  with the colors of the identify portion, and decides if the main body needs a replacement or wash. Besides, based on the experience of using the first main body  10 , the user may know the usage life of the first main body from installation to replacement. When next main body  10  changes its color to the similar replacement color of the first main body  10 , the user may figure out an approximate usage life for the second main body  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the main body  10  is provided in a transparent tube body  11 . The identify portion  20  are colored on the outside of the tube body  11 . Referring to  FIG. 14 , the identify portion  20  can be a hot shrinking film or a cold shrinking film to be fixed on the main body  10  after being heated or cooled. Referring to  FIG. 9 , the main body  10  is provided in the transparent tube body  11 , and the identify portion are stuck to the outside of the tube body  11 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , there is a plurality of identify portion  20 . Some of identify portion  20  are with colors from light grey to dark grey gradually. Some of the identify portion  20  are with colors from light red to dark red gradually, and some of the identify portion  20  are with colors from yellow to red gradually. No matter what liquid is filtered by this main body  10 , there must be an identify portion  20  enough for color comparison and identification. Referring to  FIG. 10 , one end of the main body  10  is provided with a plurality of second identify portion  30  with colors different to one another for user&#39;s comparison with the second color of the main body  10 . Each color on the second identify portion  30  stands for one kind of contaminant. If it is green, it means that the main body  10  might absorb more contaminants like algae or microbes. If it is brown, it means that the material absorbed by the main body  10  might be iron rust. If it is soil-like yellow, it means that the contaminants absorbed by the main body  10  might be sludge. If it is grey, it means that material absorbed by the main body  10  might be cement-like material. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the identify portion  20  are marked with digital values or words. There is a plurality of identify portion  20  longitudinally arranged along the main body  10 . The identify portion  20  are provided with digital vales in decrease order. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , one of the embodiments of the present invention has a plurality of identify portion  20  longitudinally arranged along the main body  10  with the same widths surrounding one neighbor end of the main body  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , one of the embodiments of the present invention has a plurality of identify portion  20  joining together to form one area surrounding the main body  10 . The color of the plurality of the identify portion  20  changes gradually from light to dark. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , one of the embodiments of the present invention has a plurality of identify portion  2  in form of separate small areas arranged on one line. 
     Referring  FIG. 6 , one of the embodiments of the present invention is in form of labels, tags or paper stickers stuck to the main body  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , one of the embodiments of the present invention has a plurality of identify portion  20  with indications  21  of digital value or words. If the indications  21  are digital values, the digital values are arranged in increase order to show the amount of the contaminants accumulated in the main body  10 . It allows the user to clearly identify the amount of the contaminants in the main body  10 . For embodiment, the 70% on the fourth circle stands for about 70% usage life of the main body  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , the present invention is a filtering core structure. The main body  10  is designed with a multiple-layer structure. The outset layer is a mesh ring. Referring to  FIG. 12 , it is another filtering core structure of the present invention. The main body  10  has a multiple-layer structure. The outset layer is a filter bag which the identify portion  20  is provided on. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , it is one of the embodiments of the present invention. The identify portion  20  is provided with a tag on or close to the main body  10 , as if it is hung on the filtering core frame or in the filtering core container. 
     The advantages of the present invention: 
     1. The present invention has a plurality of identify portion with different color tones from light to dark. It greatly enhances the accuracy of identifying the replacement time for the filtering core. 
     2. The identify portion can be a printing, a sticker or a tag. It won&#39;t change the original making procedure of the main body. It makes the production easier. 
     3. The ready-made filtering core sold in the market can be modified to make the identify portion with identification function. The production cost won&#39;t be increased much. 
     4. As the identify portion is made of stickers or tags, it can be installed at a place near the main body of the filtering core. It is easy to make the identify portion. 
     5. The identify portion of the present invention can be easily made, and fit a variety of brands of filtering cores and filter utensils. 
     6. The identify portion of the present invention can be quickly produced in large quantity by printing. It is easy to reduce cost. 
     7. The identify portion of the present invention has several color tones. A short text on the outer packing will allow the uses to easily understand its application. 
     8. The identify portion of the present invention is added with digital vales or words so that the user can clearly make a color comparison, and understand the amount of the contaminants in the main body. 
     9. The main body of the present invention is added with one second identify portion so that the user may identify the types and the sources of the dirt or the contaminants absorbed by the main body. It is helpful for the user to make a better subsequent cleaning or treatment. 
     While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.